A new contest record
703.9776
highest overall ever cooked here
703.9776 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 702.8344 KILLER B'S BBQ set in 2013.
- old record 702.8344
- set 2013 by KILLER B'S BBQ
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship 2014
Sep 26–27, 2014 · Bentonville, AR
iBQ'n won Grand Champion at the Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship on September 26, 2014 in Bentonville, AR, scoring 703.9776 in a field of 50 teams. GETTIN' BASTED took Reserve Grand Champion with 701.0856. Category winners: Chicken — SPITFIRE (180.0000); Pork Ribs — INSANE SWINE BBQ (177.1544); Pork — CAVEMAN CUISINE (176.0000); Brisket — BRINGIN' THE HEAT (179.4400). This is the 2nd of 4 editions of this contest on record; the 2013 edition was won by KILLER B'S 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.
661.59
median 687.06
703.98 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180 🔥
- Pork Ribs 177.15
- Pork 176
- Brisket 179.44
146.18
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2016 — this edition picked out.
Entries
50
4 judged meats
Top score
703.9776
Winning margin
2.8920
GC over RC
Field average
685.44
661.59703.98
median 687.06 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork
0.5828 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
693.6344
661.59703.98
10th place overall
Field spread
42.3892
winner to last place
Double threats
1
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 17%
beats 83% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
24%
12 of 50 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.39 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,672
avg power rating going in · stronger than 98% 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
28-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 72 times in 100
iBQ'n came in rated below the field's top team, IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 28-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1700
- top seed 1868
Won without a category win
2 of 4
meats called to the stage
iBQ'n won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 2 calls from 4 boards, best of them 3rd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 10th
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 11th
- Brisket 13th
A stacked field
1672
average power rating going in
Stronger than 98% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1672 power rating going in — stronger than 98% of every contest tracked.
- top seed IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ (1868)
- 50 rated teams
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 20 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 1–2: SPITFIRE and SWIGGIN PIG tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 8–9: BIG BLOCK BBQ and SMOKIN' N THE DARK tied on 177.1428 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 2–3: CLARK CREW BBQ and iBQ'n tied on 176.5716 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Chicken 8–9 · tie
- Pork Ribs 2–3 · tie
- Pork Ribs 9–10 · tie
A contest record in brisket
179.4400
best brisket ever cooked here
BRINGIN' THE HEAT turned in 179.4400 in brisket — past the 178.2972 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 178.2972
- across 1 past editions
A perfect score on the table
2
perfect 180s
2 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- SPITFIRE · Chicken
- SWIGGIN PIG · Chicken
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 2013 | Bentonville, AR | Bentonville, AR | 50 | 702.8344 | KILLER B'S BBQ | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ |
| Sep 26, 2014 ← this one | Bentonville, AR | Bentonville, AR | 50 | 703.9776 | iBQ'n@TheBBQSuperStore.com | GETTIN' BASTED |
| Oct 9, 2015 | Bentonville, AR | Bentonville, AR | 50 | 702.8344 | OUTLAW HAWGS BBQ | R&R BBQ |
| Sep 30, 2016 | Bentonville, AR | Bentonville, AR | 50 | 711.9772 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | LUCKY'S Q |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 177.7144 | 176.5716 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.1544 | 176.0116 | 174.8572 |
| Pork | 176 | 175.4172 | 174.2856 |
| Brisket | 179.4400 | 177.7028 | 176.5600 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
50 entries · top 703.9776 · median 687.0572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | iBQ'n | |
| 2 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 3 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 4 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 5 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | |
| 6 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 7 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 8 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 9 | SMOKIN' N THE DARK | |
| 10 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 11 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 12 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 13 | PIG WHISPERERS | |
| 14 | LANG BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 15 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 16 | STUBBORN BULL BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ | |
| 18 | SECOND CITY SMOKE | |
| 19 | SPITFIRE | |
| 20 | BAD BONES BBQ | |
| 21 | BIG B'S DOWN-N-DIRTY BBQ | |
| 22 | BAYOU BOOGIE BBQ | |
| 23 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 24 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 25 | SWIGGIN PIG | |
| 26 | ABLE ACRES BBQ | |
| 27 | BARRY & ERICA | |
| 28 | THE BBQ GURU | |
| 29 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 30 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 31 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 32 | BIG BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 33 | THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE | |
| 34 | BIG BLOCK BBQ | |
| 35 | NATURAL BORN GRILLERS | |
| 36 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 37 | BRINGIN' THE HEAT | |
| 38 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 39 | Organizer Portal | |
| 40 | TEAM AMERICA | |
| 41 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 42 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 43 | SMOKEN DUDES BBQ | |
| 44 | SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ | |
| 45 | CAJUN BLAZE | |
| 46 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 47 | SMOKIN' IN THE D | |
| 48 | LAKE HOUSE BBQ | |
| 49 | SON OF SMOKE | |
| 50 | ALL RACKED UP BBQ |
Chicken
50 entries · top 180 · median 173.7028 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SPITFIRE | |
| 2 | SWIGGIN PIG | |
| 3 | THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE | |
| 4 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | |
| 5 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 6 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 7 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 8 | BIG BLOCK BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKIN' N THE DARK | |
| 10 | iBQ'n | |
| 11 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 12 | SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ | |
| 13 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 14 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 15 | ALL RACKED UP BBQ | |
| 16 | STUBBORN BULL BBQ | |
| 17 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 18 | BIG B'S DOWN-N-DIRTY BBQ | |
| 19 | BAYOU BOOGIE BBQ | |
| 20 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 21 | SECOND CITY SMOKE | |
| 22 | BAD BONES BBQ | |
| 23 | LANG BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 24 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 25 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 26 | NATURAL BORN GRILLERS | |
| 27 | THE BBQ GURU | |
| 28 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 29 | SMOKEN DUDES BBQ | |
| 30 | PIG WHISPERERS | |
| 31 | Organizer Portal | |
| 32 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 33 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 34 | BARRY & ERICA | |
| 35 | ABLE ACRES BBQ | |
| 36 | LAKE HOUSE BBQ | |
| 37 | SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ | |
| 38 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 39 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 40 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 41 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 42 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 43 | CAJUN BLAZE | |
| 44 | SMOKIN' IN THE D | |
| 45 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 46 | TEAM AMERICA | |
| 47 | SON OF SMOKE | |
| 48 | BIG BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 49 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 50 | BRINGIN' THE HEAT |
Pork Ribs
50 entries · top 177.1544 · median 171.7086
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 2 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 3 | iBQ'n | |
| 4 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 5 | BAYOU BOOGIE BBQ | |
| 6 | BARRY & ERICA | |
| 7 | SMOKIN' N THE DARK | |
| 8 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 9 | NATURAL BORN GRILLERS | |
| 10 | BAD BONES BBQ | |
| 11 | BIG BLOCK BBQ | |
| 12 | TEAM AMERICA | |
| 13 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 14 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 15 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 16 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 17 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 18 | PIG WHISPERERS | |
| 19 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | |
| 20 | SMOKEN DUDES BBQ | |
| 21 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 22 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 23 | Organizer Portal | |
| 24 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 25 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 26 | SPITFIRE | |
| 27 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 28 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 29 | ABLE ACRES BBQ | |
| 30 | BIG BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 31 | BRINGIN' THE HEAT | |
| 32 | LANG BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 33 | STUBBORN BULL BBQ | |
| 34 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 35 | SECOND CITY SMOKE | |
| 36 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 37 | BIG B'S DOWN-N-DIRTY BBQ | |
| 38 | THE BBQ GURU | |
| 39 | SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ | |
| 40 | SON OF SMOKE | |
| 41 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 42 | THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE | |
| 43 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 44 | LAKE HOUSE BBQ | |
| 45 | SMOKIN' IN THE D | |
| 46 | SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ | |
| 47 | CAJUN BLAZE | |
| 48 | SWIGGIN PIG | |
| 49 | ALL RACKED UP BBQ | |
| 50 | BURNT FINGER BBQ |
Pork
50 entries · top 176 · median 171.1314
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 2 | SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ | |
| 3 | ALL RACKED UP BBQ | |
| 4 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 5 | BARRY & ERICA | |
| 6 | LANG BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 7 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 8 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 9 | THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE | |
| 10 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 11 | iBQ'n | |
| 12 | SECOND CITY SMOKE | |
| 13 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 14 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 15 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 16 | PIG WHISPERERS | |
| 17 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 18 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 19 | BAD BONES BBQ | |
| 20 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 21 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 22 | BRINGIN' THE HEAT | |
| 23 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 24 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | |
| 25 | CAJUN BLAZE | |
| 26 | STUBBORN BULL BBQ | |
| 27 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 28 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 29 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 30 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 31 | SMOKIN' N THE DARK | |
| 32 | SPITFIRE | |
| 33 | SWIGGIN PIG | |
| 34 | SMOKEN DUDES BBQ | |
| 35 | SON OF SMOKE | |
| 36 | BIG B'S DOWN-N-DIRTY BBQ | |
| 37 | BIG BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 38 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 39 | NATURAL BORN GRILLERS | |
| 40 | SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ | |
| 41 | ABLE ACRES BBQ | |
| 42 | Organizer Portal | |
| 43 | THE BBQ GURU | |
| 44 | TEAM AMERICA | |
| 45 | BAYOU BOOGIE BBQ | |
| 46 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 47 | LAKE HOUSE BBQ | |
| 48 | SMOKIN' IN THE D | |
| 49 | BIG BLOCK BBQ | |
| 50 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ |
Brisket
50 entries · top 179.4400 · median 172.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BRINGIN' THE HEAT | |
| 2 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 3 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 4 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 5 | BIG BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 6 | ABLE ACRES BBQ | |
| 7 | THE BBQ GURU | |
| 8 | SMOKIN HOT BUTTS BBQ | |
| 9 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 10 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 11 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 12 | BIG B'S DOWN-N-DIRTY BBQ | |
| 13 | iBQ'n | |
| 14 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 15 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | |
| 16 | STUBBORN BULL BBQ | |
| 17 | BAYOU BOOGIE BBQ | |
| 18 | SWIGGIN PIG | |
| 19 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 20 | TEAM AMERICA | |
| 21 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 22 | SMOKIN' IN THE D | |
| 23 | PIG WHISPERERS | |
| 24 | SECOND CITY SMOKE | |
| 25 | LANG BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 26 | SMOKIN' N THE DARK | |
| 27 | BIG BLOCK BBQ | |
| 28 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 29 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 30 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 31 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 32 | LAKE HOUSE BBQ | |
| 33 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 34 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 35 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 36 | SPITFIRE | |
| 37 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 38 | Organizer Portal | |
| 39 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 40 | BAD BONES BBQ | |
| 41 | SON OF SMOKE | |
| 42 | CAJUN BLAZE | |
| 43 | NATURAL BORN GRILLERS | |
| 44 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 45 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 46 | BARRY & ERICA | |
| 47 | THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE | |
| 48 | SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ | |
| 49 | SMOKEN DUDES BBQ | |
| 50 | ALL RACKED UP BBQ |