A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 12 tracked editions
TIMBONE BARBECUE has won this contest 2 times across its 12 tracked editions.
- 2018
- 2019
Tri-City BBQ Fest 2014
Sep 19–20, 2014 · Denison, IA
BIG T'Z Q CRU won Grand Champion at the Tri-City BBQ Fest on September 19, 2014 in Denison, IA, scoring 691.3940 in a field of 21 teams. PIGSKIN BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 689.6916. Category winners: Chicken — PORKY BUTTS BBQ (176.5828); Pork Ribs — BIG T'Z Q CRU (174.2628); Pork — PIGSKIN BBQ (176.5716); Brisket — PIGSKIN BBQ (178.2972). This is the 1st of 12 editions of this contest on record; 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.
601.61
median 669.09
691.39 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 176.58
- Pork Ribs 174.26
- Pork 176.57
- Brisket 178.30
142.23
178.30
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2014 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
21
4 judged meats
Top score
691.3940
Winning margin
1.7024
GC over RC
Field average
658.89
601.61691.39
median 669.09 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
4.5484 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
671.3828
601.61691.39
10th place overall
Field spread
89.7824
winner to last place
Double threats
7
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 67%
beats 33% of 4723 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.81 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,568
avg power rating going in · stronger than 53% 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.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 11 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 8–9: Slim D's BBQ Team and SMOKERS PURGATORY tied on 167.4400 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 1–2: PIGSKIN BBQ and BIG T'Z Q CRU tied on 178.2972 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 7–8: WOODWARD BARBEQUE edged SMOKERS PURGATORY by 0.0112.
- Chicken 8–9 · tie
- Brisket 1–2 · tie
- Brisket 7–8 · 0.0112
- Pork 5–6 · 0.0116
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
PIGSKIN BBQ won Pork, Brisket — a double.
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
BIG T'Z Q CRU took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 10th.
- Chicken 10th
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 6th
- Brisket 2nd
This contest's own records (1 in the KCBS record book)
Records held by every edition of this contest put together, not just this one afternoon.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2014 ← this one | Denison, IA | Denison, IA 51442 | 21 | 691.3940 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | PIGSKIN BBQ |
| Sep 18, 2015 | Denison, IA | Denison, IA 51442 | 18 | 690.7884 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | BIG T'Z Q CRU |
| Sep 16, 2016 | Denison, IA | Broodway & Main | 34 | 701.6800 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA |
| Sep 22, 2017 | Denison, IA | Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison) | 37 | 702.3204 | SPITFIRE | LUCKY'S Q |
| Sep 21, 2018 | Denison, IA | Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison) | 27 | 687.9888 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | DIRT ROAD BBQ |
| Sep 20, 2019 | Denison, IA | Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison) | 34 | 690.7540 | Timbone Barbecue | SPITFIRE |
| Sep 17, 2021 | Denison, IA | Broadway and Main | 20 | 697.6572 | Hot Daddys BBQ | SPITFIRE |
| Sep 16, 2022 | Denison, IA | Broadway and Main | 25 | 693.1316 | Parrothead Smokers SD | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ |
| Sep 15, 2023 | Denison, IA | Broadway and Main | 32 | 703.3712 | Last Call Heros BBQ | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Denison, IA | 109 N. Main | 30 | 700.4912 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ |
| Sep 19, 2025 | Denison, IA | 109 N. Main | 26 | 703.4060 | Shiggin & Grinnin | Good Grefe! |
| Sep 18, 2026 | Denison, IA | 109 N. Main | 26 | 702.2400 | Grillin' Grindes | Home Farm BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 176.5828 | 172 | 166.8684 |
| Pork Ribs | 174.2628 | 169.7144 | 166.2972 |
| Pork | 176.5716 | 171.9772 | 167.4056 |
| Brisket | 178.2972 | 172.6172 | 170.2512 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
21 entries · top 691.3940 · median 669.0856
Chicken
21 entries · top 176.5828 · median 166.2628
Pork Ribs
21 entries · top 174.2628 · median 166.2512
Pork
21 entries · top 176.5716 · median 165.7144
Brisket
21 entries · top 178.2972 · median 169.7372