A statement win
11.4292
points clear of the field
Wider than 90% of the 4,742 championships in the data
The champion won by 11.4292 points — a wider margin than 90% of championships in the data.
Smokin' in Steele
2013-05-31 – 2013-06-01 · Owatonna, MN · 📍 Owatonna, MN
Grand Champion: TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW (697.7148) · 51 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 JAESTAR BBQ
The contest at a glance (read off the scored boards)
How the field scored
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
139.43
median 649.14
697.71 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 176.57
- Pork Ribs 175.43
- Pork 178.29
- Brisket 178.86
125.14
178.86
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2025 — this edition picked out.
Entries
50
4 judged meats
Top score
697.7148
Winning margin
11.4292
GC over RC
Field average
630.96
139.43697.71
median 649.14 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Chicken
1.7142 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
668.5716
139.43697.71
10th place overall
Field spread
558.2864
winner to last place
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 41%
beats 59% of 4707 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.69 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1512
avg power rating going in · stronger than 8% of contests
Storylines (3 found in this contest's numbers)
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 12 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 1–2: BLACK DOG BBQ IA and LUCKY'S Q tied on 176.5714 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 5–6: DRY 2 DA BONE and MOE CASON BBQ tied on 174.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 8–9: TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW and Wine & Swine BBQ tied on 172.5716 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Chicken 8–9 · tie
- Pork Ribs 4–5 · tie
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork ribs at 12th.
- Chicken 8th
- Pork Ribs 12th
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 2nd
Score curves (score by finishing position — steep cliffs mean a spread field, flat lines a knife fight)
Category showdown (top / average / median score per meat)
Score distribution
Biggest rating movers (power-rating points won and lost at this contest)
Did form hold? (pre-contest rating vs overall finish — ratings called it if the dots climb to the right)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-05-31 ← this one | Owatonna, MN | Owatonna, MN | 51 | 697.7148 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | JAESTAR BBQ |
| 2014-05-30 | Owatonna, MN | Owatonna, MN 55060 | 67 | 699.4056 | LUCKY'S Q | PIGSKIN BBQ |
| 2016-06-03 | Owatonna, MN | Owatonna, MN 55060 | 53 | 689.6684 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | BIG T'Z Q CRU |
| 2017-06-02 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 South Cedar st, Steele County Fairgrounds | 46 | 691.3140 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW |
| 2018-06-01 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 South Cedar st, Steele County Fairgrounds | 45 | 697.6688 | HOGLINE | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA |
| 2019-05-31 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 South Cedar Ave | 43 | 697.6916 | Lucky 19 Sauce Co | HOGLINE |
| 2022-06-03 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 S Cedar Ave | 33 | 689.6684 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ |
| 2023-06-02 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 S Cedar Ave | 29 | 692.5600 | Wags Backwoods BBQ | HOT DADDY'S BBQ |
| 2024-05-31 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 S Cedar Ave | 32 | 699.9656 | T-Rex bbq | MACHETE BOYS BBQ |
| 2025-05-30 | Owatonna, MN | 18th St SE & Elm Ave | 28 | 697.0856 | Dry 2 Da Bone | HOT DADDY'S BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 176.5714 | 174.8572 | 172.0000 |
| Pork Ribs | 175.4288 | 172.5714 | 168.5716 |
| Pork | 178.2858 | 173.1428 | 169.1430 |
| Brisket | 178.8572 | 176.5714 | 169.7144 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
50 entries · top 697.7148 · median 649.1427
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 2 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 3 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 4 | HOGLINE | |
| 5 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 6 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 7 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 8 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 9 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 10 | MOE CASON BBQ | |
| 11 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 12 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 13 | Wine & Swine BBQ | |
| 14 | Big Brads BBQ | |
| 15 | Morning Wood BBQ | |
| 16 | MYASSIS SMOKIN | |
| 17 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 18 | STONE BLUE BBQ | |
| 19 | Two Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 20 | MONKEYS' UNCLES BBQ | |
| 21 | C R BUTTS SMOKE | |
| 22 | FULL BOAR BBQ | |
| 23 | STUBQ | |
| 24 | We Be Porken | |
| 25 | FLYING ACES BBQ | |
| 26 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 27 | Big Time BBQ Buddies | |
| 28 | FARMBOY BBQ | |
| 29 | Piggy Blues BBQ | |
| 30 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 31 | THE Q CREW | |
| 32 | LUCKY 7'S BBQ | |
| 33 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 34 | BIG CITY BBQ | |
| 35 | Bend in the River BBQ | |
| 36 | Smokin Fat Racks | |
| 37 | LUCKY BRISKET | |
| 38 | APRIL'S BIG CITY BBQ | |
| 39 | GRUMPY OLD MEN BBQ | |
| 40 | BIG AL'S GRILL TEAM | |
| 41 | Smoke Magicians | |
| 42 | PIGS IN PERIL | |
| 43 | MOR' RON'S BBQ | |
| 44 | HEAT'S NEAT | |
| 45 | THE MISSING PIG | |
| 46 | OLD BOY'S BBQ | |
| 47 | RUB-A-QUE | |
| 49 | PIG APPROVED BBQ | |
| 50 | Butt Stuff BBQ | |
| 51 | Kodys |
Chicken
48 entries · top 176.5714 · median 163.7143
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 2 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 3 | Big Time BBQ Buddies | |
| 4 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 5 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 6 | MOE CASON BBQ | |
| 7 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 8 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 9 | Wine & Swine BBQ | |
| 10 | MYASSIS SMOKIN | |
| 11 | C R BUTTS SMOKE | |
| 12 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 13 | MONKEYS' UNCLES BBQ | |
| 14 | THE Q CREW | |
| 15 | Smoke Magicians | |
| 16 | STONE BLUE BBQ | |
| 17 | BIG CITY BBQ | |
| 18 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 19 | HOGLINE | |
| 20 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 21 | Smokin Fat Racks | |
| 22 | GRUMPY OLD MEN BBQ | |
| 23 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 24 | MOR' RON'S BBQ | |
| 25 | We Be Porken | |
| 26 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 27 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 28 | STUBQ | |
| 29 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 30 | FULL BOAR BBQ | |
| 31 | Big Brads BBQ | |
| 32 | THE MISSING PIG | |
| 33 | APRIL'S BIG CITY BBQ | |
| 34 | LUCKY 7'S BBQ | |
| 35 | FLYING ACES BBQ | |
| 36 | LUCKY BRISKET | |
| 37 | FARMBOY BBQ | |
| 38 | HEAT'S NEAT | |
| 39 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 40 | BIG AL'S GRILL TEAM | |
| 41 | Two Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 42 | RUB-A-QUE | |
| 43 | OLD BOY'S BBQ | |
| 44 | Morning Wood BBQ | |
| 45 | PIG APPROVED BBQ | |
| 46 | Bend in the River BBQ | |
| 47 | Piggy Blues BBQ | |
| 49 | PIGS IN PERIL |
Pork Ribs
49 entries · top 175.4288 · median 162.2856
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 2 | HOGLINE | |
| 3 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 4 | Wine & Swine BBQ | |
| 5 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 6 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 7 | FLYING ACES BBQ | |
| 8 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 9 | Big Brads BBQ | |
| 10 | PIGS IN PERIL | |
| 11 | MONKEYS' UNCLES BBQ | |
| 12 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 13 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 14 | STONE BLUE BBQ | |
| 15 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 16 | We Be Porken | |
| 17 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 19 | Piggy Blues BBQ | |
| 20 | LUCKY 7'S BBQ | |
| 21 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 22 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 23 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 24 | Bend in the River BBQ | |
| 25 | STUBQ | |
| 26 | C R BUTTS SMOKE | |
| 27 | Two Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 28 | Smokin Fat Racks | |
| 29 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 30 | LUCKY BRISKET | |
| 31 | Morning Wood BBQ | |
| 32 | MOE CASON BBQ | |
| 33 | MYASSIS SMOKIN | |
| 34 | RUB-A-QUE | |
| 35 | BIG AL'S GRILL TEAM | |
| 36 | APRIL'S BIG CITY BBQ | |
| 37 | Smoke Magicians | |
| 38 | THE Q CREW | |
| 39 | FULL BOAR BBQ | |
| 40 | Big Time BBQ Buddies | |
| 41 | OLD BOY'S BBQ | |
| 42 | BIG CITY BBQ | |
| 43 | FARMBOY BBQ | |
| 44 | HEAT'S NEAT | |
| 45 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 46 | GRUMPY OLD MEN BBQ | |
| 47 | THE MISSING PIG | |
| 48 | MOR' RON'S BBQ | |
| 49 | Kodys | |
| 50 | PIG APPROVED BBQ |
Pork
49 entries · top 178.2858 · median 161.7144
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 2 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 3 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 4 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 5 | FARMBOY BBQ | |
| 6 | Morning Wood BBQ | |
| 7 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 8 | STUBQ | |
| 9 | LUCKY BRISKET | |
| 10 | THE Q CREW | |
| 11 | FULL BOAR BBQ | |
| 12 | Big Brads BBQ | |
| 13 | We Be Porken | |
| 14 | HOGLINE | |
| 15 | Wine & Swine BBQ | |
| 16 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 17 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 18 | MOE CASON BBQ | |
| 19 | Big Time BBQ Buddies | |
| 20 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 21 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 22 | MYASSIS SMOKIN | |
| 23 | Piggy Blues BBQ | |
| 24 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 25 | STONE BLUE BBQ | |
| 26 | Butt Stuff BBQ | |
| 27 | Smokin Fat Racks | |
| 28 | APRIL'S BIG CITY BBQ | |
| 29 | C R BUTTS SMOKE | |
| 30 | Bend in the River BBQ | |
| 31 | LUCKY 7'S BBQ | |
| 32 | BIG CITY BBQ | |
| 33 | BIG AL'S GRILL TEAM | |
| 34 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 35 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 36 | Two Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 37 | GRUMPY OLD MEN BBQ | |
| 38 | THE MISSING PIG | |
| 39 | MOR' RON'S BBQ | |
| 40 | HEAT'S NEAT | |
| 41 | OLD BOY'S BBQ | |
| 42 | FLYING ACES BBQ | |
| 43 | RUB-A-QUE | |
| 44 | MONKEYS' UNCLES BBQ | |
| 45 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 46 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 47 | PIG APPROVED BBQ | |
| 48 | PIGS IN PERIL | |
| 49 | Smoke Magicians |
Brisket
49 entries · top 178.8572 · median 160.0000
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Two Little Pigs BBQ | |
| 2 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 3 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 4 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 5 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 6 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 7 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 8 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 9 | MOE CASON BBQ | |
| 10 | Morning Wood BBQ | |
| 11 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 12 | FULL BOAR BBQ | |
| 13 | HOGLINE | |
| 14 | Piggy Blues BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 16 | FLYING ACES BBQ | |
| 17 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 18 | FARMBOY BBQ | |
| 19 | MYASSIS SMOKIN | |
| 20 | MONKEYS' UNCLES BBQ | |
| 21 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 22 | STONE BLUE BBQ | |
| 23 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 24 | Big Brads BBQ | |
| 25 | GRUMPY OLD MEN BBQ | |
| 26 | BIG CITY BBQ | |
| 27 | Butt Stuff BBQ | |
| 28 | Bend in the River BBQ | |
| 29 | MOR' RON'S BBQ | |
| 30 | C R BUTTS SMOKE | |
| 31 | LUCKY 7'S BBQ | |
| 32 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 33 | STUBQ | |
| 34 | Big Time BBQ Buddies | |
| 35 | We Be Porken | |
| 36 | BIG AL'S GRILL TEAM | |
| 37 | HEAT'S NEAT | |
| 38 | THE MISSING PIG | |
| 39 | APRIL'S BIG CITY BBQ | |
| 40 | PIG APPROVED BBQ | |
| 41 | THE Q CREW | |
| 42 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 43 | Wine & Swine BBQ | |
| 44 | OLD BOY'S BBQ | |
| 45 | Smoke Magicians | |
| 46 | PIGS IN PERIL | |
| 47 | Smokin Fat Racks | |
| 48 | RUB-A-QUE | |
| 49 | LUCKY BRISKET |