A razor-thin finish
0.0460
points between champion and reserve
Closer than 96% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.0460 points — closer than 96% of every championship in the data.
- PIGSKIN BBQ
- 4:20 Q
Central Iowa Expo BBQ, Cruise & Brew 2014
Apr 25–26, 2014 · Boone, IA
PIGSKIN BBQ won Grand Champion at the Central Iowa Expo BBQ, Cruise & Brew on April 25, 2014 in Boone, IA, scoring 683.9660 in a field of 45 teams. 4:20 Q took Reserve Grand Champion with 683.9200. Category winners: Chicken — BIG BROTHERS BBQ (177.1544); Pork Ribs — SHIGGIN & GRINNIN (176.5716); Pork — SPITFIRE (178.3200); Brisket — THE WICKED PIG (177.1772). 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.
279.33
median 663.94
683.97 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 177.15
- Pork Ribs 176.57
- Pork 178.32
- Brisket 177.18
133.66
178.32
Entries
45
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
683.9660
Winning margin
0.0460
GC over RC
Field average
649.95
279.33683.97
median 663.94 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Chicken
1.7372 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
677.1200
279.33683.97
10th place overall
Field spread
404.6404
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 84%
beats 16% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.78 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,576
avg power rating going in · stronger than 60% 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.
Won without a category win
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
PIGSKIN BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 6th. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 21st
- Pork Ribs 7th
- Pork 9th
- Brisket 6th
A knife fight at the top
4.0460
points across the top five
First to fifth in the overall standings covered just 4.0460 points — 3 teams sat within a single point of the lead.
- 1st PIGSKIN BBQ
- 2nd 4:20 Q
- 3rd LUCKY'S Q
- 4th TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW
- 5th SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 9 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 3–4: BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG and DIG-IN COOKERS tied on 176.5944 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: 4:20 Q and LUCKY'S Q tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 5–6: LUCKY'S Q and PIGSKIN BBQ tied on 173.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Brisket 5–6 · tie
- Pork 9–10 · 0.0004
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 2014 ← this one | Boone, IA | Boone, IA 50010 | 45 | 683.9660 | PIGSKIN BBQ | 4:20 Q |
| Apr 26, 2014 | Boone, IA | Boone, IA 50010 | 39 | 700.0232 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | IOWA WILD HOGS BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.1544 | 175.4172 | 173.1200 |
| Pork Ribs | 176.5716 | 172.0572 | 167.9772 |
| Pork | 178.3200 | 173.1428 | 170.8684 |
| Brisket | 177.1772 | 173.7028 | 171.4172 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
45 entries · top 683.9660 · median 663.9432
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 2 | 4:20 Q | |
| 3 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 4 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 5 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 6 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 7 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 8 | MIDNIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 9 | SPITFIRE | |
| 10 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 11 | THE WICKED PIG | |
| 12 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 13 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 14 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 15 | BIG BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 16 | QUAU | |
| 17 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 18 | BUBBA-Q'S | |
| 19 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 20 | A BOY & HIS BBQ | |
| 21 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 22 | OVERSIZE LOAD BBQ | |
| 23 | WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY | |
| 24 | DIG-IN COOKERS | |
| 25 | T-MAC SMOKIN | |
| 26 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 27 | IOWA WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 28 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 29 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 30 | HOGLINE | |
| 31 | HOOLIGAN'S BBQ & SHOTGUN BBQ | |
| 32 | BEACH BUMS BBQ | |
| 33 | THE CHOCOLATE HOG BBQ AND CATERING CO. | |
| 34 | TEMPLETON RYE WOODFELLAS | |
| 35 | SMOKIN BONZ BBQ COMPANY | |
| 36 | BUCKAROO BBQ | |
| 37 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 38 | RED LINE BBQ | |
| 39 | ON THE SPOT BBQ | |
| 40 | BADASS BBQ TEAM | |
| 41 | YOU GONNA LIKE IT | |
| 42 | Fareway Smokers | |
| 43 | ANDY'S "JUST GOOD FOOD | |
| 44 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | |
| 45 | Jack's Beef Delight |
Chicken
44 entries · top 177.1544 · median 167.7028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 2 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 3 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 4 | DIG-IN COOKERS | |
| 5 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 6 | A BOY & HIS BBQ | |
| 7 | 4:20 Q | |
| 8 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 9 | HOGLINE | |
| 10 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 11 | WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY | |
| 12 | SPITFIRE | |
| 13 | BUBBA-Q'S | |
| 14 | OVERSIZE LOAD BBQ | |
| 15 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 16 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 17 | THE WICKED PIG | |
| 18 | TEMPLETON RYE WOODFELLAS | |
| 19 | BEACH BUMS BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 21 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 22 | MIDNIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 23 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 24 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 25 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 26 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 27 | IOWA WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 28 | BUCKAROO BBQ | |
| 29 | QUAU | |
| 30 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 31 | T-MAC SMOKIN | |
| 32 | ANDY'S "JUST GOOD FOOD | |
| 33 | BADASS BBQ TEAM | |
| 34 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 35 | SMOKIN BONZ BBQ COMPANY | |
| 36 | THE CHOCOLATE HOG BBQ AND CATERING CO. | |
| 37 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 38 | HOOLIGAN'S BBQ & SHOTGUN BBQ | |
| 39 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 40 | RED LINE BBQ | |
| 41 | ON THE SPOT BBQ | |
| 42 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | |
| 43 | YOU GONNA LIKE IT | |
| 44 | Fareway Smokers |
Pork Ribs
45 entries · top 176.5716 · median 162.8344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 2 | MIDNIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 3 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 4 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 5 | BUCKAROO BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 7 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 8 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 9 | THE WICKED PIG | |
| 10 | 4:20 Q | |
| 11 | A BOY & HIS BBQ | |
| 12 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 13 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 14 | T-MAC SMOKIN | |
| 15 | IOWA WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 16 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 17 | BIG BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 18 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 19 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 20 | OVERSIZE LOAD BBQ | |
| 21 | QUAU | |
| 22 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 23 | BEACH BUMS BBQ | |
| 24 | BUBBA-Q'S | |
| 25 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 26 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 27 | HOGLINE | |
| 28 | Fareway Smokers | |
| 29 | HOOLIGAN'S BBQ & SHOTGUN BBQ | |
| 30 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 31 | SPITFIRE | |
| 32 | ON THE SPOT BBQ | |
| 33 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 34 | DIG-IN COOKERS | |
| 35 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 36 | TEMPLETON RYE WOODFELLAS | |
| 37 | BADASS BBQ TEAM | |
| 38 | WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY | |
| 39 | SMOKIN BONZ BBQ COMPANY | |
| 40 | YOU GONNA LIKE IT | |
| 41 | THE CHOCOLATE HOG BBQ AND CATERING CO. | |
| 42 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | |
| 43 | RED LINE BBQ | |
| 44 | ANDY'S "JUST GOOD FOOD | |
| 45 | Jack's Beef Delight |
Pork
44 entries · top 178.3200 · median 166.5542
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SPITFIRE | |
| 2 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 3 | QUAU | |
| 4 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 5 | SMOKIN BONZ BBQ COMPANY | |
| 6 | HOOLIGAN'S BBQ & SHOTGUN BBQ | |
| 7 | 4:20 Q | |
| 8 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 9 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 10 | THE CHOCOLATE HOG BBQ AND CATERING CO. | |
| 11 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 12 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 13 | MIDNIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 14 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 15 | RED LINE BBQ | |
| 16 | BIG BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 17 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 18 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 19 | YOU GONNA LIKE IT | |
| 20 | TEMPLETON RYE WOODFELLAS | |
| 21 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 22 | WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY | |
| 23 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 24 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 25 | OVERSIZE LOAD BBQ | |
| 26 | DIG-IN COOKERS | |
| 27 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 28 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 29 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 30 | HOGLINE | |
| 31 | BUBBA-Q'S | |
| 32 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 33 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 34 | A BOY & HIS BBQ | |
| 35 | BUCKAROO BBQ | |
| 36 | THE WICKED PIG | |
| 37 | BEACH BUMS BBQ | |
| 38 | IOWA WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 39 | T-MAC SMOKIN | |
| 40 | BADASS BBQ TEAM | |
| 41 | ON THE SPOT BBQ | |
| 42 | Fareway Smokers | |
| 43 | ANDY'S "JUST GOOD FOOD | |
| 44 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ |
Brisket
45 entries · top 177.1772 · median 164.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE WICKED PIG | |
| 2 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 3 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 4 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 5 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 6 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 7 | T-MAC SMOKIN | |
| 8 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 9 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 10 | THE CHOCOLATE HOG BBQ AND CATERING CO. | |
| 11 | WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY | |
| 12 | IOWA WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 13 | BUBBA-Q'S | |
| 14 | 4:20 Q | |
| 15 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 16 | SPITFIRE | |
| 17 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 18 | RED LINE BBQ | |
| 19 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 20 | ON THE SPOT BBQ | |
| 21 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 22 | MIDNIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 23 | OVERSIZE LOAD BBQ | |
| 24 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 25 | DIG-IN COOKERS | |
| 26 | A BOY & HIS BBQ | |
| 27 | QUAU | |
| 28 | SMOKIN BONZ BBQ COMPANY | |
| 29 | BEACH BUMS BBQ | |
| 30 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 31 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 32 | BADASS BBQ TEAM | |
| 33 | HOOLIGAN'S BBQ & SHOTGUN BBQ | |
| 34 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 35 | TEMPLETON RYE WOODFELLAS | |
| 36 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 37 | BIG BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 38 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | |
| 39 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 40 | HOGLINE | |
| 41 | YOU GONNA LIKE IT | |
| 42 | Fareway Smokers | |
| 43 | BUCKAROO BBQ | |
| 44 | Jack's Beef Delight | |
| 45 | ANDY'S "JUST GOOD FOOD |
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 — Anything Butt
6 entries · top 170.2628 · median 164.8342
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | T-MAC SMOKIN | |
| 2 | ON THE SPOT BBQ | |
| 3 | DIG-IN COOKERS | |
| 4 | RED LINE BBQ | |
| 5 | THE CHOCOLATE HOG BBQ AND CATERING CO. | |
| 6 | YOU GONNA LIKE IT |