A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 11 tracked editions
UNDER THE RADAR has won this contest 2 times across its 11 tracked editions.
- 2021
- 2022
Almost Heaven BBQ Bash
2015-06-19 – 2015-06-20 · Buckhannon, WV · 📍 Buckhannon, WV 26201
Grand Champion: 3 EYZ BBQ (703.4172) · 41 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 CHECKERED PIG
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.
535.22
median 672.41
703.42 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 179.44
- Pork Ribs 178.30
- Pork 178.30
- Brisket 180.00 🔥
114.17
180.00
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2015 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
41
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
703.4172
Winning margin
5.7832
GC over RC
Field average
662.89
535.22703.42
median 672.41 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork
2.8916 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
687.4172
535.22703.42
10th place overall
Field spread
168.1948
winner to last place
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 19%
beats 81% of 4707 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.65 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1596
avg power rating going in · stronger than 75% of contests
Storylines (5 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 14 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 6–7: APORKALYPSE NOW and LO' -N- SLO' BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 2–3: HOOS SMOKIN and CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 6–7: LO' -N- SLO' BBQ and OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE tied on 172.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Pork 2–3 · tie
- Pork 6–7 · tie
- Pork 7–8 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
3 EYZ BBQ won Chicken, Pork — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork 1st
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
3 EYZ BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was brisket at 18th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 18th
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.
- CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-06-19 ← this one | Buckhannon, WV | Buckhannon, WV 26201 | 41 | 703.4172 | 3 EYZ BBQ | CHECKERED PIG |
| 2016-06-17 | Buckhannon, WV | Buckhannon, WV 26201 | 42 | 699.9544 | CHECKERED PIG | SMOKIN FOOLZ |
| 2017-06-16 | Weston, WV | Downtown Buckhannon | 57 | 706.2972 | ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ |
| 2018-06-15 | Weston, WV | Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum | 59 | 690.8000 | SPITTIN' FEATHERS BBQ | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ |
| 2019-06-07 | Roanoke, WV | Stonewall Resort State Park | 31 | 691.3944 | ROCKY TOP BBQ | WHO CARES BBQ |
| 2021-06-18 | Roanoke, WV | Stonewall Resort | 28 | 705.1428 | UNDER THE RADAR | WHO CARES BBQ |
| 2022-06-17 | Roanoke, WV | Stonewall Resort | 20 | 704.5600 | UNDER THE RADAR | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ |
| 2023-06-16 | Buckhannon, WV | 17 Friendly Way | 28 | 702.2284 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | CHUNKY BBQ |
| 2024-06-14 | Buckhannon, WV | Jawbone Park | 30 | 698.8228 | CHUNKY BBQ | 3 EYZ BBQ |
| 2025-06-13 | Buckhannon, WV | Jawbone Park | 30 | 698.2516 | Chunky BBQ | BEER TIME BBQ |
| 2026-06-19 | Buckhannon, WV | Jawbone Park | 29 | 699.3484 | Poor Boys BBQ | Smoked & Furious |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 179.4400 | 176.0000 | 174.2744 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.2972 | 174.8456 | 172.5600 |
| Pork | 178.2972 | 175.4056 | 171.4172 |
| Brisket | 180.0000 | 174.8456 | 173.1200 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
41 entries · top 703.4172 · median 672.4112
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 2 | CHECKERED PIG | |
| 3 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 4 | BIG BLOCK BBQ | |
| 5 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 6 | PULLIN' MY MONEY MUSCLE | |
| 7 | DIZZY PIG BBQ | |
| 8 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 9 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 10 | HAMBONES BY THE FIRE | |
| 11 | SAUCED! BBQ TEAM | |
| 12 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 13 | 4:20 Q | |
| 14 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 15 | PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | |
| 16 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 17 | VICTORY SMOKERS | |
| 18 | BOHEMIAN BBQ | |
| 19 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 20 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 21 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 22 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 23 | RED VALLEY BBQ | |
| 24 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 25 | PIRATES OF PORKSCENTS | |
| 26 | BONE TO BARK BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKE-AHOLICS | |
| 28 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 29 | PIT"SBURGH SMOKERS | |
| 30 | GAME ON BBQ | |
| 31 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 32 | SULTANS OF SWINE | |
| 33 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 34 | NUTHIN' FANCY BBQ | |
| 35 | MAIN STREET SMOKERS | |
| 36 | RUB WON OUT | |
| 37 | BIG EAZY'S BBQ | |
| 38 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 39 | OFF THE BONE BBQ | |
| 40 | PLANCKS BBQ | |
| 41 | BEVERLY BISTRO |
Chicken
41 entries · top 179.4400 · median 169.7144
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 2 | SAUCED! BBQ TEAM | |
| 3 | BIG BLOCK BBQ | |
| 4 | 4:20 Q | |
| 5 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 6 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 7 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 8 | CHECKERED PIG | |
| 9 | BONE TO BARK BBQ | |
| 10 | PULLIN' MY MONEY MUSCLE | |
| 11 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 12 | HAMBONES BY THE FIRE | |
| 13 | PIT"SBURGH SMOKERS | |
| 14 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 15 | PIRATES OF PORKSCENTS | |
| 16 | DIZZY PIG BBQ | |
| 17 | NUTHIN' FANCY BBQ | |
| 18 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 19 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 20 | RED VALLEY BBQ | |
| 21 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 22 | GAME ON BBQ | |
| 23 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 24 | PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | |
| 25 | SULTANS OF SWINE | |
| 26 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 27 | VICTORY SMOKERS | |
| 28 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 29 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 30 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 31 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 32 | MAIN STREET SMOKERS | |
| 33 | BOHEMIAN BBQ | |
| 34 | PLANCKS BBQ | |
| 35 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 36 | SMOKE-AHOLICS | |
| 37 | BIG EAZY'S BBQ | |
| 38 | RUB WON OUT | |
| 39 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 40 | BEVERLY BISTRO | |
| 41 | OFF THE BONE BBQ |
Pork Ribs
41 entries · top 178.2972 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SAUCED! BBQ TEAM | |
| 2 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 3 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 4 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 5 | BIG BLOCK BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKE-AHOLICS | |
| 7 | RED VALLEY BBQ | |
| 8 | PULLIN' MY MONEY MUSCLE | |
| 9 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 10 | PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | |
| 11 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 12 | PIRATES OF PORKSCENTS | |
| 13 | CHECKERED PIG | |
| 14 | DIZZY PIG BBQ | |
| 15 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 16 | RUB WON OUT | |
| 17 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 18 | HAMBONES BY THE FIRE | |
| 19 | BOHEMIAN BBQ | |
| 20 | 4:20 Q | |
| 21 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 22 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 23 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 24 | SULTANS OF SWINE | |
| 25 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 26 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 27 | VICTORY SMOKERS | |
| 28 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 29 | MAIN STREET SMOKERS | |
| 30 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 31 | BIG EAZY'S BBQ | |
| 32 | GAME ON BBQ | |
| 33 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 34 | PIT"SBURGH SMOKERS | |
| 35 | NUTHIN' FANCY BBQ | |
| 36 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 37 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 38 | BONE TO BARK BBQ | |
| 39 | OFF THE BONE BBQ | |
| 40 | PLANCKS BBQ | |
| 41 | BEVERLY BISTRO |
Pork
41 entries · top 178.2972 · median 165.6684
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 2 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 3 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 4 | CHECKERED PIG | |
| 5 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 6 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 7 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 8 | BIG BLOCK BBQ | |
| 9 | HAMBONES BY THE FIRE | |
| 10 | BOHEMIAN BBQ | |
| 11 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 12 | PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | |
| 13 | VICTORY SMOKERS | |
| 14 | PULLIN' MY MONEY MUSCLE | |
| 15 | SULTANS OF SWINE | |
| 16 | GAME ON BBQ | |
| 17 | DIZZY PIG BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKE-AHOLICS | |
| 19 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 20 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 21 | 4:20 Q | |
| 22 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 23 | PIT"SBURGH SMOKERS | |
| 24 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 25 | SAUCED! BBQ TEAM | |
| 26 | NUTHIN' FANCY BBQ | |
| 27 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 28 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 29 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 30 | RUB WON OUT | |
| 31 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 32 | BIG EAZY'S BBQ | |
| 33 | BONE TO BARK BBQ | |
| 34 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 35 | OFF THE BONE BBQ | |
| 36 | RED VALLEY BBQ | |
| 37 | PLANCKS BBQ | |
| 38 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 39 | MAIN STREET SMOKERS | |
| 40 | PIRATES OF PORKSCENTS | |
| 41 | BEVERLY BISTRO |
Brisket
41 entries · top 180.0000 · median 166.8112 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 2 | DIZZY PIG BBQ | |
| 3 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 4 | CHECKERED PIG | |
| 5 | VICTORY SMOKERS | |
| 6 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 7 | PULLIN' MY MONEY MUSCLE | |
| 8 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 9 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 10 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 11 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 12 | HAMBONES BY THE FIRE | |
| 13 | BOHEMIAN BBQ | |
| 14 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 15 | 4:20 Q | |
| 16 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 17 | PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | |
| 18 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 19 | BONE TO BARK BBQ | |
| 20 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 21 | PIRATES OF PORKSCENTS | |
| 22 | BIG BLOCK BBQ | |
| 23 | RED VALLEY BBQ | |
| 24 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 25 | SAUCED! BBQ TEAM | |
| 26 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 27 | MAIN STREET SMOKERS | |
| 28 | SMOKE-AHOLICS | |
| 29 | BIG EAZY'S BBQ | |
| 30 | RUB WON OUT | |
| 31 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 32 | PIT"SBURGH SMOKERS | |
| 33 | GAME ON BBQ | |
| 34 | E.T.'S BBQ | |
| 35 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 36 | OFF THE BONE BBQ | |
| 37 | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ | |
| 38 | NUTHIN' FANCY BBQ | |
| 39 | SULTANS OF SWINE | |
| 40 | PLANCKS BBQ | |
| 41 | BEVERLY BISTRO |
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 — Backyard Chicken
4 entries · top 169.1656 · median 159.4000
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | J&K BBQ | |
| 2 | OLE SMOKEY BBQ CREW | |
| 3 | RUSTY KETTLE BARBECUE | |
| 4 | BIG BOY'S BAR-B-QUE |
Master Series — Backyard Ribs
4 entries · top 172.5944 · median 162.0288
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RUSTY KETTLE BARBECUE | |
| 2 | J&K BBQ | |
| 3 | OLE SMOKEY BBQ CREW | |
| 4 | BIG BOY'S BAR-B-QUE |