A new contest record
657.1200
highest overall ever cooked here
657.1200 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 646.8570 Q HAVEN BBQ set in 2013.
- old record 646.8570
- set 2013 by Q HAVEN BBQ
I Love Barbecue & Music Festival 2014
Jul 4–6, 2014 · Lake Placid, NY
MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ won Grand Champion at the I Love Barbecue & Music Festival on July 4, 2014 in Lake Placid, NY, scoring 657.1200 in a field of 27 teams. SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA took Reserve Grand Champion with 654.2516. Category winners: Chicken — GOOD SMOKE BBQ (166.2972); Pork Ribs — SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA (171.4288); Pork — SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS (166.8112); Brisket — BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ (169.7028). This is the 2nd of 11 editions of this contest on record; the 2013 edition was won by Q HAVEN BBQ; the next was held in 2015.
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.
558.81
median 612.46
657.12 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 166.30
- Pork Ribs 171.43
- Pork 166.81
- Brisket 169.70
120.54
171.43
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2023 — this edition picked out.
Entries
27
4 judged meats · 5 ancillary
Top score
657.1200
Winning margin
2.8684
GC over RC
Field average
612.41
558.81657.12
median 612.46 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Chicken
5.1200 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
616.4456
558.81657.12
10th place overall
Field spread
98.3088
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 99%
beats 1% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
50%
14 of 28 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.64 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,526
avg power rating going in · stronger than 18% of contests
Storylines (7 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.
An upset on the books
27-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 73 times in 100
MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 27-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1518
- top seed 1690
Won without a category win
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 3rd
- Pork Ribs 2nd
- Pork 7th
- Brisket 4th
A first Grand Championship
6
tracked contests to get there
This was MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 6th tracked contest.
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 11 tracked editions
MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 11 tracked editions.
- 2014
- 2016
Photo finishes
0.0116
closest of 9 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 8–9: BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ edged PISTOL PACKIN' PIGGIES by 0.0116. Chicken places 3–4: MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ edged HAWG DOCTORS by 0.0116. Brisket places 3–4: SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA edged MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ by 0.0228.
- Chicken 8–9 · 0.0116
- Chicken 3–4 · 0.0116
- Brisket 3–4 · 0.0228
- Chicken 1–2 · 0.0344
A contest record in pork ribs
171.4288
best pork ribs ever cooked here
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA turned in 171.4288 in pork ribs — past the 165.7142 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 165.7142
- across 1 past editions
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 4, 2013 | Lake Placid, NY | Lake Placid, NY | 28 | 646.8570 | Q HAVEN BBQ | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ |
| Jul 4, 2014 ← this one | Lake Placid, NY | Lake Placid, NY 12946 | 27 | 657.1200 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA |
| Jul 3, 2015 | Lake Placid, NY | Lake Placid, NY 12946 | 31 | 661.6800 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | QUAU |
| Jul 2, 2016 | Lake Placid, NY | Lake Placid, NY | 28 | 658.2856 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE |
| Jul 7, 2017 | Lake Placid, NY | 32 School St | 40 | 669.7028 | PISTOL PACKIN' PIGGIES | BLACK HART BBQ |
| Jul 6, 2018 | Lake Placid, NY | 32 School St | 39 | 661.0972 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA |
| Jul 5, 2019 | Lake Placid, NY | 32 School St | 32 | 677.1540 | Hot Wachula's | GOOD SMOKE BBQ |
| Sep 3, 2021 | Lake Placid, NY | Shipman Youth Center | 15 | 699.4628 | Top Gun barbecue | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS |
| Sep 2, 2022 | Lake Placid, NY | 5514 Cascade Road | 22 | 679.4060 | Chunky BBQ | BOGGS HOG BBQ |
| Sep 2, 2022 | Lake Placid, NY | 5514 Cascade Road | — | — | — | — |
| Sep 1, 2023 | Lake Placid, NY | 5514 Cascade Road | 18 | 690.8116 | Paddy McQ's | Dirt Bag Barbeque |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 166.2972 | 161.1772 | 159.9428 |
| Pork Ribs | 171.4288 | 160.5828 | 153.1428 |
| Pork | 166.8112 | 159.9772 | 153.6916 |
| Brisket | 169.7028 | 161.1544 | 158.8228 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
27 entries · top 657.1200 · median 612.4572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 3 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 4 | HAWG DOCTORS | |
| 5 | PISTOL PACKIN' PIGGIES | |
| 6 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 7 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 8 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 9 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 10 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 11 | BIG GUNS BBQ | |
| 12 | SLAP SHOT BBQ | |
| 13 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 14 | Bastey Boys | |
| 15 | SWEDISH PIG | |
| 16 | TEAM EATAPEDIA | |
| 17 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 18 | BUZZARD'S BAY BARBEQUE | |
| 19 | DIVA Q | |
| 20 | Locked-N-Loaded | |
| 21 | BLACKSTRAP BBQ | |
| 22 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 23 | CHUCK & DAD'S BARBECUE | |
| 24 | 2 BQ'D | |
| 25 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 26 | BACK YARD PIGGY PUSHERS | |
| 27 | V-LICIOUS BBQ |
Chicken
27 entries · top 166.2972 · median 157.1428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 3 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 4 | HAWG DOCTORS | |
| 5 | CHUCK & DAD'S BARBECUE | |
| 6 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 7 | TEAM EATAPEDIA | |
| 8 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 9 | PISTOL PACKIN' PIGGIES | |
| 10 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 11 | BLACKSTRAP BBQ | |
| 12 | Locked-N-Loaded | |
| 13 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 14 | BIG GUNS BBQ | |
| 15 | Bastey Boys | |
| 16 | V-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 17 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 18 | DIVA Q | |
| 19 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 20 | BACK YARD PIGGY PUSHERS | |
| 21 | SWEDISH PIG | |
| 22 | SLAP SHOT BBQ | |
| 23 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 24 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 25 | BUZZARD'S BAY BARBEQUE | |
| 26 | 2 BQ'D | |
| 27 | BEHIND BBQ |
Pork Ribs
27 entries · top 171.4288 · median 151.4172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 2 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 3 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 4 | HAWG DOCTORS | |
| 5 | TEAM EATAPEDIA | |
| 6 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 7 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 8 | Locked-N-Loaded | |
| 9 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 10 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 11 | Bastey Boys | |
| 12 | PISTOL PACKIN' PIGGIES | |
| 13 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 14 | SLAP SHOT BBQ | |
| 15 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 16 | BIG GUNS BBQ | |
| 17 | SWEDISH PIG | |
| 18 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 19 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 20 | BLACKSTRAP BBQ | |
| 21 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 22 | 2 BQ'D | |
| 23 | BUZZARD'S BAY BARBEQUE | |
| 24 | DIVA Q | |
| 25 | CHUCK & DAD'S BARBECUE | |
| 26 | BACK YARD PIGGY PUSHERS | |
| 27 | V-LICIOUS BBQ |
Pork
27 entries · top 166.8112 · median 151.9428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 2 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 4 | DIVA Q | |
| 5 | BUZZARD'S BAY BARBEQUE | |
| 6 | PISTOL PACKIN' PIGGIES | |
| 7 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 8 | SLAP SHOT BBQ | |
| 9 | SWEDISH PIG | |
| 10 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 11 | BLACKSTRAP BBQ | |
| 12 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 13 | Locked-N-Loaded | |
| 14 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 15 | BIG GUNS BBQ | |
| 16 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 17 | HAWG DOCTORS | |
| 18 | Bastey Boys | |
| 19 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 20 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 21 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 22 | TEAM EATAPEDIA | |
| 23 | BACK YARD PIGGY PUSHERS | |
| 24 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 25 | CHUCK & DAD'S BARBECUE | |
| 26 | 2 BQ'D | |
| 27 | V-LICIOUS BBQ |
Brisket
27 entries · top 169.7028 · median 155.4056
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 2 | HAWG DOCTORS | |
| 3 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 4 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 5 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 6 | BUZZARD'S BAY BARBEQUE | |
| 7 | BIG GUNS BBQ | |
| 8 | PISTOL PACKIN' PIGGIES | |
| 9 | SWEDISH PIG | |
| 10 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 12 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 13 | 2 BQ'D | |
| 14 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 15 | SLAP SHOT BBQ | |
| 16 | Bastey Boys | |
| 17 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 18 | DIVA Q | |
| 19 | CHUCK & DAD'S BARBECUE | |
| 20 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 21 | TEAM EATAPEDIA | |
| 22 | V-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 23 | BLACKSTRAP BBQ | |
| 24 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 25 | BACK YARD PIGGY PUSHERS | |
| 26 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 27 | Locked-N-Loaded |
Ancillary categories
Run by the organizers alongside the sanctioned contest. These are judged on their own terms and do not count toward the overall score, so they're kept out of the meat stats above.
Master Series — A Grilling Bash
11 entries · top 663.3828 · median 610.8224
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 2 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 3 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 4 | DIVA Q | |
| 5 | Bastey Boys | |
| 6 | BUZZARD'S BAY BARBEQUE | |
| 7 | NY PHAT DADDY'S | |
| 8 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 9 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 10 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 11 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS |
Master Series — Chix
11 entries · top 171.4400 · median 156.5256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 2 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 3 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 4 | Bastey Boys | |
| 5 | DIVA Q | |
| 6 | NY PHAT DADDY'S | |
| 7 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 8 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 9 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 10 | BUZZARD'S BAY BARBEQUE | |
| 11 | BOAR-N-Q |
Master Series — Ny Strip Steak
11 entries · top 172.5828 · median 158.8916
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 2 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 3 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 4 | DIVA Q | |
| 5 | BUZZARD'S BAY BARBEQUE | |
| 6 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 7 | NY PHAT DADDY'S | |
| 8 | Bastey Boys | |
| 9 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 10 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 11 | DR. BUTTS BBQ |
Master Series — Pizza
11 entries · top 162.8460 · median 151.9656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 2 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 3 | DIVA Q | |
| 4 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 5 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 6 | NY PHAT DADDY'S | |
| 7 | Bastey Boys | |
| 8 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 9 | BUZZARD'S BAY BARBEQUE | |
| 10 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 11 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ |
Master Series — Sausage Fatty
11 entries · top 169.1200 · median 153.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 2 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 3 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 4 | Bastey Boys | |
| 5 | BUZZARD'S BAY BARBEQUE | |
| 6 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 7 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 8 | DIVA Q | |
| 9 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 10 | NY PHAT DADDY'S | |
| 11 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS |