A first Grand Championship
3
tracked contests to get there
This was QUBED's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 3rd tracked contest.
Safeway National Capital Barbecue Battle 2013
Jun 22–23, 2013 · Washington, DC
QUBED won Grand Champion at the Safeway National Capital Barbecue Battle on June 22, 2013 in Washington, DC, scoring 682.8570 in a field of 42 teams. PORK BARREL BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 668.5712. Category winners: Chicken — ALQUEMY - VA (170.8570); Pork Ribs — COOL SMOKE (178.8572); Pork — SERIAL GRILLER (173.7142); Brisket — QUBED (176.5714). This is the 1st of 2 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2014.
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.
256.00
median 631.71
682.86 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 170.86
- Pork Ribs 178.86
- Pork 173.71
- Brisket 176.57
20
178.86
Entries
42
4 judged meats
Top score
682.8570
Winning margin
14.2858
GC over RC
Field average
608.88
256.00682.86
median 631.71 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Chicken
5.1428 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
654.8570
256.00682.86
10th place overall
Field spread
426.8564
winner to last place
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 85%
beats 15% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.62 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,508
avg power rating going in · stronger than 6% of contests
Storylines (4 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.
A statement win
14.2858
points clear of the field
Wider than 95% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The champion won by 14.2858 points — a wider margin than 95% of championships in the data.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 4–5: SERIAL GRILLER and SMOKIN TRIGGERS tied on 165.7142 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 6–7: DIZZY PIG and PORK BARREL BBQ tied on 164.5714 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: PORK BARREL BBQ and Tickled Pig BBQ tied on 164.5714 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Pork 7–8 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
QUBED took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 9th.
- Chicken 3rd
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 9th
- Brisket 1st
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 22, 2013 ← this one | Washington, DC | Washington, DC | 42 | 682.8570 | QUBED | PORK BARREL BBQ |
| Jun 21, 2014 | Washington, DC | Washington, DC 20716 | 41 | 689.2000 | PORK BARREL BBQ | COOL SMOKE |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 170.8570 | 165.7142 | 162.8570 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 171.4286 | 166.2858 |
| Pork | 173.7142 | 167.4286 | 165.1428 |
| Brisket | 176.5714 | 168.5716 | 161.1426 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
42 entries · top 682.8570 · median 631.7137
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | QUBED | |
| 2 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 3 | STUBBORN BULL BBQ | |
| 4 | BIG GUNS BBQ | |
| 5 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 6 | ALQUEMY - VA | |
| 7 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 8 | COOL SMOKE | |
| 9 | FIRE FIGHTING BBQ TEAM | |
| 10 | MYERS MEATS | |
| 11 | BABY GOT BUTT BBQ MD | |
| 12 | BOOTHEEL BBQ | |
| 13 | Psychodelic Smoke | |
| 14 | WALK THE SWINE | |
| 15 | HOG-IT-UP BBQ | |
| 16 | PURPLE PORK MASTERS | |
| 17 | Taste O' South | |
| 18 | LATE EMPIRE BBQ | |
| 19 | FISH NAKED | |
| 20 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 21 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 22 | M&E BBQ | |
| 23 | Tickled Pig BBQ | |
| 24 | Dry Hump BBQ East | |
| 25 | Top Tier BBQ | |
| 26 | Mama Mary's Barbeque | |
| 27 | THE CHEESEHEADS | |
| 28 | Tailgate Joe's | |
| 29 | Griffin's Barbeque | |
| 30 | HEAVENLY HOGS BBQ COMPANY | |
| 31 | 1 Bourbon, 1 Scotch, 1 B | |
| 32 | LYIN' PIGS | |
| 33 | PARTY PIGS BBQ | |
| 34 | HARVEY'S QUE | |
| 35 | Zom-B-Q | |
| 36 | Dyvine BBQ | |
| 37 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 38 | ALL PIGS CONSIDERED | |
| 39 | Ricky D's Rib Shack | |
| 40 | NaMa & Nems | |
| 41 | Hog Bones | |
| 42 | 2 RAC OF RIBS |
Chicken
42 entries · top 170.8570 · median 157.4286
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ALQUEMY - VA | |
| 2 | BIG GUNS BBQ | |
| 3 | QUBED | |
| 4 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 5 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 6 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 7 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 8 | Tickled Pig BBQ | |
| 9 | Mama Mary's Barbeque | |
| 10 | MYERS MEATS | |
| 11 | WALK THE SWINE | |
| 12 | PURPLE PORK MASTERS | |
| 13 | COOL SMOKE | |
| 14 | Psychodelic Smoke | |
| 15 | ALL PIGS CONSIDERED | |
| 16 | BABY GOT BUTT BBQ MD | |
| 17 | HOG-IT-UP BBQ | |
| 18 | Zom-B-Q | |
| 19 | HEAVENLY HOGS BBQ COMPANY | |
| 20 | STUBBORN BULL BBQ | |
| 21 | FISH NAKED | |
| 22 | Top Tier BBQ | |
| 23 | BOOTHEEL BBQ | |
| 24 | FIRE FIGHTING BBQ TEAM | |
| 25 | HARVEY'S QUE | |
| 26 | Hog Bones | |
| 27 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 28 | Dry Hump BBQ East | |
| 29 | Tailgate Joe's | |
| 30 | Griffin's Barbeque | |
| 31 | PARTY PIGS BBQ | |
| 32 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 33 | M&E BBQ | |
| 34 | Taste O' South | |
| 35 | LATE EMPIRE BBQ | |
| 36 | Ricky D's Rib Shack | |
| 37 | LYIN' PIGS | |
| 38 | THE CHEESEHEADS | |
| 39 | Dyvine BBQ | |
| 40 | 1 Bourbon, 1 Scotch, 1 B | |
| 41 | 2 RAC OF RIBS | |
| 42 | NaMa & Nems |
Pork Ribs
41 entries · top 178.8572 · median 161.7144
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | COOL SMOKE | |
| 2 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 3 | QUBED | |
| 4 | STUBBORN BULL BBQ | |
| 5 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 6 | Psychodelic Smoke | |
| 7 | M&E BBQ | |
| 8 | Griffin's Barbeque | |
| 9 | FISH NAKED | |
| 10 | MYERS MEATS | |
| 11 | ALQUEMY - VA | |
| 12 | Taste O' South | |
| 13 | WALK THE SWINE | |
| 14 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 15 | LATE EMPIRE BBQ | |
| 16 | FIRE FIGHTING BBQ TEAM | |
| 17 | 1 Bourbon, 1 Scotch, 1 B | |
| 18 | BIG GUNS BBQ | |
| 19 | BABY GOT BUTT BBQ MD | |
| 20 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 21 | HOG-IT-UP BBQ | |
| 22 | BOOTHEEL BBQ | |
| 23 | PURPLE PORK MASTERS | |
| 24 | LYIN' PIGS | |
| 25 | Top Tier BBQ | |
| 26 | Tickled Pig BBQ | |
| 27 | Tailgate Joe's | |
| 28 | Dyvine BBQ | |
| 29 | Dry Hump BBQ East | |
| 30 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 31 | HEAVENLY HOGS BBQ COMPANY | |
| 32 | Mama Mary's Barbeque | |
| 33 | HARVEY'S QUE | |
| 34 | PARTY PIGS BBQ | |
| 35 | NaMa & Nems | |
| 36 | ALL PIGS CONSIDERED | |
| 37 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 38 | Ricky D's Rib Shack | |
| 39 | Zom-B-Q | |
| 40 | THE CHEESEHEADS | |
| 41 | Hog Bones |
Pork
41 entries · top 173.7142 · median 159.9998
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 2 | STUBBORN BULL BBQ | |
| 3 | BABY GOT BUTT BBQ MD | |
| 4 | FIRE FIGHTING BBQ TEAM | |
| 5 | Psychodelic Smoke | |
| 6 | MYERS MEATS | |
| 7 | M&E BBQ | |
| 8 | COOL SMOKE | |
| 9 | QUBED | |
| 10 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 11 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 12 | Taste O' South | |
| 13 | HOG-IT-UP BBQ | |
| 14 | LATE EMPIRE BBQ | |
| 15 | Top Tier BBQ | |
| 16 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 17 | BIG GUNS BBQ | |
| 18 | BOOTHEEL BBQ | |
| 19 | PURPLE PORK MASTERS | |
| 20 | HEAVENLY HOGS BBQ COMPANY | |
| 21 | WALK THE SWINE | |
| 22 | Tickled Pig BBQ | |
| 23 | HARVEY'S QUE | |
| 24 | THE CHEESEHEADS | |
| 25 | Tailgate Joe's | |
| 26 | PARTY PIGS BBQ | |
| 27 | ALQUEMY - VA | |
| 28 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 29 | Dry Hump BBQ East | |
| 30 | Griffin's Barbeque | |
| 31 | FISH NAKED | |
| 32 | Mama Mary's Barbeque | |
| 33 | Hog Bones | |
| 34 | ALL PIGS CONSIDERED | |
| 35 | LYIN' PIGS | |
| 36 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 37 | Dyvine BBQ | |
| 38 | 1 Bourbon, 1 Scotch, 1 B | |
| 39 | Ricky D's Rib Shack | |
| 40 | Zom-B-Q | |
| 41 | NaMa & Nems |
Brisket
42 entries · top 176.5714 · median 151.7142
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | QUBED | |
| 2 | BOOTHEEL BBQ | |
| 3 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 4 | BIG GUNS BBQ | |
| 5 | FIRE FIGHTING BBQ TEAM | |
| 6 | STUBBORN BULL BBQ | |
| 7 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 8 | ALQUEMY - VA | |
| 9 | THE CHEESEHEADS | |
| 10 | BABY GOT BUTT BBQ MD | |
| 11 | Dry Hump BBQ East | |
| 12 | Taste O' South | |
| 13 | LATE EMPIRE BBQ | |
| 14 | MYERS MEATS | |
| 15 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 16 | WALK THE SWINE | |
| 17 | HOG-IT-UP BBQ | |
| 18 | FISH NAKED | |
| 19 | PURPLE PORK MASTERS | |
| 20 | 1 Bourbon, 1 Scotch, 1 B | |
| 21 | COOL SMOKE | |
| 22 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 23 | Psychodelic Smoke | |
| 24 | M&E BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 26 | Mama Mary's Barbeque | |
| 27 | Tickled Pig BBQ | |
| 28 | Zom-B-Q | |
| 29 | Hog Bones | |
| 30 | Top Tier BBQ | |
| 31 | LYIN' PIGS | |
| 32 | Tailgate Joe's | |
| 33 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 34 | NaMa & Nems | |
| 35 | HEAVENLY HOGS BBQ COMPANY | |
| 36 | Dyvine BBQ | |
| 37 | PARTY PIGS BBQ | |
| 38 | Griffin's Barbeque | |
| 39 | Ricky D's Rib Shack | |
| 40 | HARVEY'S QUE | |
| 41 | 2 RAC OF RIBS | |
| 42 | ALL PIGS CONSIDERED |