A new contest record
701.6456
highest overall ever cooked here
701.6456 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 695.3600 Sweet Belly's BBQ set in 2024.
- old record 695.3600
- set 2024 by Sweet Belly's BBQ
MD State BBQ Bash 2025
Oct 10–11, 2025 · Bel Air, MD · 📍 2 S. Bond St · State championship
Reps: Bill Jones, Robert McKee · Prize money: $12,500
ALL FIRED UP BBQ won Grand Champion at the MD State BBQ Bash on October 10, 2025 in Bel Air, MD at 2 S. Bond St, scoring 701.6456 in a field of 29 teams. HotMess BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 695.8968. Category winners: Chicken — Optimus Swine (180.0000); Pork Ribs — Oink 'n' Doink - MD (177.7028); Pork — DRILLING & GRILLING (176.0000); Brisket — ALL FIRED UP BBQ (180.0000). The Backyard Series standings were won by Leaning Jowler BBQ with 351.4400. This is the 2nd of 3 editions of this contest on record; the 2024 edition was won by Sweet Belly's BBQ; the next is scheduled for October 9, 2026.
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.
489.06
median 674.74
701.65 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 180 🔥
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 177.70
- Master Series — Pork 176
- Master Series — Brisket 180 🔥
- Backyard Series — Chicken 180 🔥
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 174.27
20
180
Entries
39
6 judged meats
Top score
701.6456
Winning margin
5.7488
GC over RC
Field average
663.99
489.06701.65
median 674.74 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
685.0400
489.06701.65
10th place overall
Field spread
212.5824
winner to last place
Prize money
$12,500
on the line
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 27%
beats 73% of 4714 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
57%
35 of 61 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.45 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,541
avg power rating going in · stronger than 30% 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
26-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 74 times in 100
ALL FIRED UP BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 26-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1628
- top seed 1805
A first Grand Championship
51
tracked contests to get there
This was All Fired Up BBQ's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 51st tracked contest.
A day of perfect scores
3
perfect 180s
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- Leaning Jowler BBQ · Chicken
- ALL FIRED UP BBQ · Brisket
- Optimus Swine · Chicken
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 16 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 5–6: ALL FIRED UP BBQ and Sasquatch BBQ tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 7–8: LAKEVIEW BBQ and Top Gun Barbecue tied on 174.2744 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 9–10: Bourbon & Blues BBQ and HotMess BBQ tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 3–4 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
ALL FIRED UP BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork ribs at 10th.
- Chicken 5th
- Pork Ribs 10th
- Pork 4th
- Brisket 1st
A contest record in brisket
180.0000
best brisket ever cooked here
ALL FIRED UP BBQ turned in 180.0000 in brisket — past the 177.1428 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 177.1428
- across 1 past editions
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 11, 2024 | Bel Air, MD | 2 S Bond St | 26 | 695.3600 | Sweet Belly's BBQ | B'S QUE |
| Oct 10, 2025 ← this one | Bel Air, MD | 2 S. Bond St | 29 | 701.6456 | All Fired Up BBQ | HotMess BBQ |
| Oct 9, 2026 | Bel Air, MD | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180 | 175.4056 | 174.2628 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 177.7028 | 175.4056 | 171.9772 |
| Master Series — Pork | 176 | 172.5600 | 169.6800 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 180 | 174.2628 | 169.6800 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 180 | 174.2628 | 168 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 174.2744 | 171.9772 | 169.1200 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
29 entries · top 701.6456 · median 674.7428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 2 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 3 | Optimus Swine | |
| 4 | Top Gun Barbecue | |
| 5 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 6 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 7 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 8 | B'S QUE | |
| 9 | Oink 'n' Doink - MD | |
| 10 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 11 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 12 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 13 | Sasquatch BBQ | |
| 14 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 15 | HARCO LOCO BBQ | |
| 16 | Team Meat Coma | |
| 17 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 18 | Hair of the Hog | |
| 19 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 20 | Castleton Q | |
| 21 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 22 | SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS | |
| 23 | Handsome Devil BBQ | |
| 24 | Hot and Slow BBQ | |
| 25 | Salty Qrew | |
| 26 | Just a Sliver Sweets | |
| 27 | THE GREAT HAMBINO | |
| 28 | Smoke Sum'n BBQ | |
| 29 | Valley Oak Smoke |
Chicken
29 entries · top 180 · median 171.9772 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Optimus Swine | |
| 2 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 3 | SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS | |
| 4 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 5 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 6 | Sasquatch BBQ | |
| 7 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 8 | Top Gun Barbecue | |
| 9 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 10 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 11 | Team Meat Coma | |
| 12 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 13 | Hot and Slow BBQ | |
| 14 | Castleton Q | |
| 15 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 16 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 17 | Oink 'n' Doink - MD | |
| 18 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 19 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 20 | THE GREAT HAMBINO | |
| 21 | B'S QUE | |
| 22 | Valley Oak Smoke | |
| 23 | HARCO LOCO BBQ | |
| 24 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 25 | Handsome Devil BBQ | |
| 26 | Just a Sliver Sweets | |
| 27 | Hair of the Hog | |
| 28 | Smoke Sum'n BBQ | |
| 29 | Salty Qrew |
Pork Ribs
29 entries · top 177.7028 · median 168.5256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oink 'n' Doink - MD | |
| 2 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 3 | HARCO LOCO BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 5 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 6 | B'S QUE | |
| 7 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 8 | Optimus Swine | |
| 9 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 10 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 11 | Top Gun Barbecue | |
| 12 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 13 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 14 | Team Meat Coma | |
| 15 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 16 | Hair of the Hog | |
| 17 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 18 | Castleton Q | |
| 19 | Sasquatch BBQ | |
| 20 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 21 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 22 | Salty Qrew | |
| 23 | SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS | |
| 24 | Hot and Slow BBQ | |
| 25 | Handsome Devil BBQ | |
| 26 | Just a Sliver Sweets | |
| 27 | Smoke Sum'n BBQ | |
| 28 | THE GREAT HAMBINO | |
| 29 | Valley Oak Smoke |
Pork
29 entries · top 176 · median 166.8112
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 2 | Top Gun Barbecue | |
| 3 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 4 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 5 | Optimus Swine | |
| 6 | Hair of the Hog | |
| 7 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 8 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 9 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 10 | B'S QUE | |
| 11 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 12 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 13 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 14 | HARCO LOCO BBQ | |
| 15 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 16 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 17 | Oink 'n' Doink - MD | |
| 18 | Team Meat Coma | |
| 19 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 20 | SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS | |
| 21 | Sasquatch BBQ | |
| 22 | Castleton Q | |
| 23 | Hot and Slow BBQ | |
| 24 | Handsome Devil BBQ | |
| 25 | Smoke Sum'n BBQ | |
| 26 | Salty Qrew | |
| 27 | THE GREAT HAMBINO | |
| 28 | Just a Sliver Sweets | |
| 29 | Valley Oak Smoke |
Brisket
29 entries · top 180 · median 167.9656 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 2 | B'S QUE | |
| 3 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 4 | Sasquatch BBQ | |
| 5 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 6 | Top Gun Barbecue | |
| 7 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 8 | Oink 'n' Doink - MD | |
| 9 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 10 | Optimus Swine | |
| 11 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 12 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 13 | Salty Qrew | |
| 14 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 16 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 17 | HARCO LOCO BBQ | |
| 18 | Team Meat Coma | |
| 19 | Hair of the Hog | |
| 20 | Handsome Devil BBQ | |
| 21 | Castleton Q | |
| 22 | Valley Oak Smoke | |
| 23 | Just a Sliver Sweets | |
| 24 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 25 | THE GREAT HAMBINO | |
| 26 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 27 | Smoke Sum'n BBQ | |
| 28 | SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS | |
| 29 | Hot and Slow BBQ |
Backyard Series
Overall
39 entries · top 351.4400 · median 320.4912
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leaning Jowler BBQ | |
| 2 | Rough Cut Q | |
| 3 | Oink N' Doink BBQ | |
| 4 | Grillfellas | |
| 5 | Bulldog BBQ | |
| 6 | Capt. Blue BBQ | |
| 7 | Corner Smokers | |
| 8 | Clean Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 9 | Sticky Bones BBQ | |
| 10 | Estancia | |
| 11 | Blue Line BBQ | |
| 12 | Bush River BBQ | |
| 13 | Barrel Proof BBQ | |
| 14 | Country Roads Q | |
| 15 | Top Hat Smoking BBQ | |
| 16 | K-Town Pit Que | |
| 17 | Money Muscle BBQ | |
| 18 | Bark-N-Dawgz BBQ | |
| 19 | Smokin Dixie BBQ | |
| 20 | Upper 90 BBQ | |
| 21 | Meat and Heat BBQ Co. | |
| 22 | Best Buckin' BBQ | |
| 23 | Saucy Boyz | |
| 24 | Bone Suckin' Good BBQ | |
| 25 | Pool Crew BBQ | |
| 26 | Make BBQ Great Again | |
| 27 | Stew and Crew BBQ | |
| 28 | Pig Kahunas | |
| 29 | Disco BBQ | |
| 30 | Kampy's Q | |
| 31 | Stewie's | |
| 32 | Smoking Big Daddy | |
| 33 | Hazard County Smokers | |
| 34 | The Pirates of Ruthridge | |
| 35 | Hair of the Hog BBQ | |
| 36 | BBQ McLovin' | |
| 37 | You're Grillin me Smalls | |
| 38 | Smoke Rings Barbecue | |
| 39 | Back That Rack Up |
Chicken
39 entries · top 180 · median 159.9428 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leaning Jowler BBQ | |
| 2 | Oink N' Doink BBQ | |
| 3 | Bulldog BBQ | |
| 4 | Grillfellas | |
| 5 | Rough Cut Q | |
| 6 | Clean Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 7 | Bark-N-Dawgz BBQ | |
| 8 | Disco BBQ | |
| 9 | Bush River BBQ | |
| 10 | Money Muscle BBQ | |
| 11 | Capt. Blue BBQ | |
| 12 | Sticky Bones BBQ | |
| 13 | Top Hat Smoking BBQ | |
| 14 | Meat and Heat BBQ Co. | |
| 15 | Hazard County Smokers | |
| 16 | Barrel Proof BBQ | |
| 17 | Corner Smokers | |
| 18 | Pool Crew BBQ | |
| 19 | Best Buckin' BBQ | |
| 20 | Make BBQ Great Again | |
| 21 | Kampy's Q | |
| 22 | Pig Kahunas | |
| 23 | Country Roads Q | |
| 24 | Upper 90 BBQ | |
| 25 | Estancia | |
| 26 | Blue Line BBQ | |
| 27 | Stewie's | |
| 28 | Saucy Boyz | |
| 29 | Smoking Big Daddy | |
| 30 | Smokin Dixie BBQ | |
| 31 | Hair of the Hog BBQ | |
| 32 | K-Town Pit Que | |
| 33 | BBQ McLovin' | |
| 34 | Bone Suckin' Good BBQ | |
| 35 | Stew and Crew BBQ | |
| 36 | Smoke Rings Barbecue | |
| 37 | You're Grillin me Smalls | |
| 38 | The Pirates of Ruthridge | |
| 39 | Back That Rack Up |
Pork Ribs
39 entries · top 174.2744 · median 161.6456
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Estancia | |
| 2 | Rough Cut Q | |
| 3 | Corner Smokers | |
| 4 | Capt. Blue BBQ | |
| 5 | Blue Line BBQ | |
| 6 | Leaning Jowler BBQ | |
| 7 | Grillfellas | |
| 8 | K-Town Pit Que | |
| 9 | Stew and Crew BBQ | |
| 10 | Oink N' Doink BBQ | |
| 11 | Sticky Bones BBQ | |
| 12 | Bone Suckin' Good BBQ | |
| 13 | Country Roads Q | |
| 14 | Smokin Dixie BBQ | |
| 15 | Bulldog BBQ | |
| 16 | Barrel Proof BBQ | |
| 17 | The Pirates of Ruthridge | |
| 18 | Upper 90 BBQ | |
| 19 | Saucy Boyz | |
| 20 | Clean Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 21 | Bush River BBQ | |
| 22 | Best Buckin' BBQ | |
| 23 | Pig Kahunas | |
| 24 | Make BBQ Great Again | |
| 25 | Top Hat Smoking BBQ | |
| 26 | Pool Crew BBQ | |
| 27 | Meat and Heat BBQ Co. | |
| 28 | Stewie's | |
| 29 | Smoking Big Daddy | |
| 30 | Money Muscle BBQ | |
| 31 | Back That Rack Up | |
| 32 | Kampy's Q | |
| 33 | Bark-N-Dawgz BBQ | |
| 34 | Hair of the Hog BBQ | |
| 35 | You're Grillin me Smalls | |
| 36 | BBQ McLovin' | |
| 37 | Disco BBQ | |
| 38 | Hazard County Smokers | |
| 39 | Smoke Rings Barbecue |