A new contest record
689.2000
highest overall ever cooked here
689.2000 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 682.8570 QUBED set in 2013.
- old record 682.8570
- set 2013 by QUBED
Safeway National Capital Barbecue Battle 2014
Jun 21–22, 2014 · Washington, DC
PORK BARREL BBQ won Grand Champion at the Safeway National Capital Barbecue Battle on June 21, 2014 in Washington, DC, scoring 689.2000 in a field of 41 teams. COOL SMOKE took Reserve Grand Champion with 686.8456. Category winners: Chicken — PORK BARREL BBQ (178.2972); Pork Ribs — JACK'S OLD SOUTH (176.0572); Pork — JACK'S OLD SOUTH (174.8456); Brisket — COOL SMOKE (180.0000). This is the 2nd of 2 editions of this contest on record; the 2013 edition was won by QUBED.
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.
535.09
median 647.34
689.20 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 178.30
- Pork Ribs 176.06
- Pork 174.85
- Brisket 180 🔥
109.45
180
Entries
41
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
689.2000
Winning margin
2.3544
GC over RC
Field average
632.56
535.09689.20
median 647.34 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
3.4744 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
660.9936
535.09689.20
10th place overall
Field spread
154.1144
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 73%
beats 27% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
40%
17 of 42 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.69 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,545
avg power rating going in · stronger than 34% of contests
Storylines (9 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
34-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 66 times in 100
PORK BARREL BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, BURNT FINGER BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 34-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1625
- top seed 1742
A first Grand Championship
20
tracked contests to get there
This was PORK BARREL BBQ's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 20th tracked contest.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 10 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 5–6: BURNT FINGER BBQ and SMOKIN TRIGGERS tied on 171.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 2–3: FREE RANGE BBQ and COOL SMOKE tied on 169.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 3–4: FAT MAXINE'S BBQ edged JACK'S OLD SOUTH by 0.0116.
- Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Pork 2–3 · tie
- Chicken 3–4 · 0.0116
- Chicken 7–8 · 0.0228
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
JACK'S OLD SOUTH won Pork Ribs, Pork — a double.
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
PORK BARREL BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 7th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 7th
- Brisket 7th
A contest record in chicken
178.2972
best chicken ever cooked here
PORK BARREL BBQ turned in 178.2972 in chicken — past the 170.8570 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 170.8570
- across 1 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: QUBED (won 2013).
- QUBED · 2013
A perfect score on the table
1
perfect 180s
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- COOL SMOKE · Brisket
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 | Washington, DC | Washington, DC | 42 | 682.8570 | QUBED | PORK BARREL BBQ |
| Jun 21, 2014 ← this one | 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 | 178.2972 | 171.4056 | 166.8344 |
| Pork Ribs | 176.0572 | 172.5828 | 168.5944 |
| Pork | 174.8456 | 167.9772 | 164.5488 |
| Brisket | 180 | 173.1084 | 169.7600 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
41 entries · top 689.2000 · median 647.3372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 2 | COOL SMOKE | |
| 3 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 4 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 5 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 6 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 7 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 8 | HOG-IT-UP BBQ | |
| 9 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 10 | WILBUR'S REVENGE | |
| 11 | FREE RANGE BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 13 | ALQUEMY - VA | |
| 14 | GIVE IT TO GOD | |
| 15 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 16 | 4:20 Q | |
| 17 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 18 | BOOTHEEL BBQ | |
| 19 | BABY GOT BUTT BBQ MD | |
| 20 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 21 | BBQ NUTS | |
| 22 | BIG BULLY BBQ | |
| 23 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 24 | MYERS MEATS | |
| 25 | LIVIN THE Q LIFE | |
| 26 | HEAVENLY HOGS BBQ COMPANY | |
| 27 | BIG MOOK'S BBQ | |
| 28 | QUBED | |
| 29 | HARVEY'S QUE | |
| 30 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 31 | Mama Mary | |
| 32 | THE CHEESEHEADS | |
| 33 | US Air Force | |
| 34 | Hog Bones | |
| 35 | DC Grill Team | |
| 36 | Zom-B-Que | |
| 37 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 38 | SMOKIN SECTION | |
| 39 | Smokey Mountain Barbequer's | |
| 40 | Bub City | |
| 41 | ROAD CREW |
Chicken
41 entries · top 178.2972 · median 159.4172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 2 | 4:20 Q | |
| 3 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 4 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 5 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 7 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 8 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 9 | HOG-IT-UP BBQ | |
| 10 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 11 | COOL SMOKE | |
| 12 | BOOTHEEL BBQ | |
| 13 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 14 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 15 | BABY GOT BUTT BBQ MD | |
| 16 | MYERS MEATS | |
| 17 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 18 | HEAVENLY HOGS BBQ COMPANY | |
| 19 | BBQ NUTS | |
| 20 | FREE RANGE BBQ | |
| 21 | ALQUEMY - VA | |
| 22 | GIVE IT TO GOD | |
| 23 | Hog Bones | |
| 24 | Mama Mary | |
| 25 | WILBUR'S REVENGE | |
| 26 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 27 | Zom-B-Que | |
| 28 | LIVIN THE Q LIFE | |
| 29 | BIG BULLY BBQ | |
| 30 | BIG MOOK'S BBQ | |
| 31 | Bub City | |
| 32 | DC Grill Team | |
| 33 | THE CHEESEHEADS | |
| 34 | SMOKIN SECTION | |
| 35 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 36 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 37 | QUBED | |
| 38 | Smokey Mountain Barbequer's | |
| 39 | HARVEY'S QUE | |
| 40 | US Air Force | |
| 41 | ROAD CREW |
Pork Ribs
41 entries · top 176.0572 · median 161.1316
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 2 | HOG-IT-UP BBQ | |
| 3 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 4 | WILBUR'S REVENGE | |
| 5 | COOL SMOKE | |
| 6 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 7 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 8 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 9 | ALQUEMY - VA | |
| 10 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 12 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 13 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 14 | BIG BULLY BBQ | |
| 15 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 16 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 17 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 18 | BOOTHEEL BBQ | |
| 19 | BBQ NUTS | |
| 20 | HEAVENLY HOGS BBQ COMPANY | |
| 21 | BIG MOOK'S BBQ | |
| 22 | GIVE IT TO GOD | |
| 23 | THE CHEESEHEADS | |
| 24 | FREE RANGE BBQ | |
| 25 | 4:20 Q | |
| 26 | HARVEY'S QUE | |
| 27 | QUBED | |
| 28 | US Air Force | |
| 29 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 30 | BABY GOT BUTT BBQ MD | |
| 31 | MYERS MEATS | |
| 32 | LIVIN THE Q LIFE | |
| 33 | DC Grill Team | |
| 34 | SMOKIN SECTION | |
| 35 | Zom-B-Que | |
| 36 | Mama Mary | |
| 37 | Smokey Mountain Barbequer's | |
| 38 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 39 | Hog Bones | |
| 40 | Bub City | |
| 41 | ROAD CREW |
Pork
41 entries · top 174.8456 · median 158.2056
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 2 | FREE RANGE BBQ | |
| 3 | COOL SMOKE | |
| 4 | GIVE IT TO GOD | |
| 5 | BOOTHEEL BBQ | |
| 6 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 7 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 8 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 9 | WILBUR'S REVENGE | |
| 10 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 11 | BIG BULLY BBQ | |
| 12 | HOG-IT-UP BBQ | |
| 13 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 15 | HARVEY'S QUE | |
| 16 | LIVIN THE Q LIFE | |
| 17 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 18 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 19 | BABY GOT BUTT BBQ MD | |
| 20 | ROAD CREW | |
| 21 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 22 | ALQUEMY - VA | |
| 23 | 4:20 Q | |
| 24 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 25 | BIG MOOK'S BBQ | |
| 26 | BBQ NUTS | |
| 27 | QUBED | |
| 28 | HEAVENLY HOGS BBQ COMPANY | |
| 29 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 30 | MYERS MEATS | |
| 31 | Hog Bones | |
| 32 | Zom-B-Que | |
| 33 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 34 | US Air Force | |
| 35 | Bub City | |
| 36 | Smokey Mountain Barbequer's | |
| 37 | THE CHEESEHEADS | |
| 38 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 39 | SMOKIN SECTION | |
| 40 | DC Grill Team | |
| 41 | Mama Mary |
Brisket
41 entries · top 180 · median 158.2972 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | COOL SMOKE | |
| 2 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 3 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 4 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 5 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 6 | ALQUEMY - VA | |
| 7 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 8 | FREE RANGE BBQ | |
| 9 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 10 | BABY GOT BUTT BBQ MD | |
| 11 | BBQ NUTS | |
| 12 | GIVE IT TO GOD | |
| 13 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 14 | WILBUR'S REVENGE | |
| 15 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 16 | Mama Mary | |
| 17 | MYERS MEATS | |
| 18 | 4:20 Q | |
| 19 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 20 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 21 | BIG BULLY BBQ | |
| 22 | LIVIN THE Q LIFE | |
| 23 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 24 | BOOTHEEL BBQ | |
| 25 | HOG-IT-UP BBQ | |
| 26 | Bub City | |
| 27 | BIG MOOK'S BBQ | |
| 28 | DC Grill Team | |
| 29 | QUBED | |
| 30 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 31 | SMOKIN SECTION | |
| 32 | Hog Bones | |
| 33 | HEAVENLY HOGS BBQ COMPANY | |
| 34 | US Air Force | |
| 35 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 36 | THE CHEESEHEADS | |
| 37 | HARVEY'S QUE | |
| 38 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 39 | Smokey Mountain Barbequer's | |
| 40 | Zom-B-Que | |
| 41 | ROAD CREW |
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 — Mccormick Grill Mates
19 entries · top 170.3428 · median 153.1660
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 2 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 3 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 4 | WILBUR'S REVENGE | |
| 5 | RIBS BY ANDY | |
| 6 | BABY GOT BUTT BBQ MD | |
| 7 | ROAD CREW | |
| 8 | BOOTHEEL BBQ | |
| 9 | LIVIN THE Q LIFE | |
| 10 | BIG BULLY BBQ | |
| 11 | Mama Mary | |
| 12 | BBQ NUTS | |
| 13 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 14 | Zom-B-Que | |
| 15 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 16 | HOG-IT-UP BBQ | |
| 17 | MYERS MEATS | |
| 18 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 19 | Smokey Mountain Barbequer's |