A new contest record
661.6800
highest overall ever cooked here
661.6800 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 657.1200 MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ set in 2014.
- old record 657.1200
- set 2014 by MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ
I Love Barbecue & Music Festival 2015
Jul 3–5, 2015 · Lake Placid, NY
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA won Grand Champion at the I Love Barbecue & Music Festival on July 3, 2015 in Lake Placid, NY, scoring 661.6800 in a field of 31 teams. QUAU took Reserve Grand Champion with 651.9200. Category winners: Chicken — SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS (173.7256); Pork Ribs — BIG GUNS BBQ (171.4516); Pork — BOAR-N-Q (167.4400); Brisket — SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA (170.8572). This is the 3rd of 11 editions of this contest on record; the 2014 edition was won by MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ; the next was held in 2016.
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.
564.50
median 623.36
661.68 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 173.73
- Pork Ribs 171.45
- Pork 167.44
- Brisket 170.86
129.12
173.73
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2023 — this edition picked out.
Entries
31
4 judged meats · 5 ancillary
Top score
661.6800
Winning margin
9.7600
GC over RC
Field average
620.70
564.50661.68
median 623.36 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
4.6056 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
636.5028
564.50661.68
10th place overall
Field spread
97.1772
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 99%
beats 1% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
74%
20 of 27 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.81 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,550
avg power rating going in · stronger than 38% 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.
A statement win
9.7600
points clear of the field
Wider than 87% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The champion won by 9.7600 points — a wider margin than 87% of championships in the data.
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 11 tracked editions
MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 11 tracked editions.
- 2014
- 2016
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Pork places 7–8: TEAM EATAPEDIA and Bastey Boys tied on 161.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 4–5: SMOKIN BULLDOGS edged Rogue Hog BBQ by 0.0116. Brisket places 8–9: DR. BUTTS BBQ edged SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS by 0.0116.
- Pork 7–8 · tie
- Brisket 4–5 · 0.0116
- Brisket 8–9 · 0.0116
- Chicken 6–7 · 0.0116
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 9th.
- Chicken 8th
- Pork Ribs 2nd
- Pork 9th
- Brisket 1st
A contest record in brisket
170.8572
best brisket ever cooked here
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA turned in 170.8572 in brisket — past the 169.7028 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
- old best 169.7028
- across 2 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Q HAVEN BBQ (won 2013), MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ (won 2014).
- Q HAVEN BBQ · 2013
- MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ · 2014
The biggest field yet
31
teams — a contest high
This contest usually draws about 28 teams
31 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 28.
They keep coming back
74%
of last edition’s field returned
20 of 27 teams from 2014-07-04 came back
20 of the 27 teams that cooked the previous edition came back for this one — a contest people put on the calendar.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 4, 2013 | Lake Placid, NY | Lake Placid, NY | 28 | 646.8570 | Q HAVEN BBQ | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ |
| Jul 4, 2014 | Lake Placid, NY | Lake Placid, NY 12946 | 27 | 657.1200 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA |
| Jul 3, 2015 ← this one | Lake Placid, NY | Lake Placid, NY 12946 | 31 | 661.6800 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | QUAU |
| Jul 2, 2016 | Lake Placid, NY | Lake Placid, NY | 28 | 658.2856 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE |
| Jul 7, 2017 | Lake Placid, NY | 32 School St | 40 | 669.7028 | PISTOL PACKIN' PIGGIES | BLACK HART BBQ |
| Jul 6, 2018 | Lake Placid, NY | 32 School St | 39 | 661.0972 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA |
| Jul 5, 2019 | Lake Placid, NY | 32 School St | 32 | 677.1540 | Hot Wachula's | GOOD SMOKE BBQ |
| Sep 3, 2021 | Lake Placid, NY | Shipman Youth Center | 15 | 699.4628 | Top Gun barbecue | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS |
| Sep 2, 2022 | Lake Placid, NY | 5514 Cascade Road | 22 | 679.4060 | Chunky BBQ | BOGGS HOG BBQ |
| Sep 2, 2022 | Lake Placid, NY | 5514 Cascade Road | — | — | — | — |
| Sep 1, 2023 | Lake Placid, NY | 5514 Cascade Road | 18 | 690.8116 | Paddy McQ's | Dirt Bag Barbeque |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 173.7256 | 165.7144 | 161.6800 |
| Pork Ribs | 171.4516 | 162.8572 | 157.7260 |
| Pork | 167.4400 | 162.8344 | 160.0228 |
| Brisket | 170.8572 | 163.4284 | 160 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
31 entries · top 661.6800 · median 623.3600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 2 | QUAU | |
| 3 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 4 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 5 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 6 | R2BQ | |
| 7 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 8 | HAWG DOCTORS | |
| 9 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 10 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 12 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 13 | TEAM EATAPEDIA | |
| 14 | SWEDISH PIG | |
| 15 | BIG GUNS BBQ | |
| 16 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 17 | Bastey Boys | |
| 18 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 19 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 20 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 21 | REBEL YELL BBQ | |
| 22 | V-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 23 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 24 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 25 | BLACKBRIAR CREEK | |
| 26 | Sibling Rivalry BBQ | |
| 27 | 2 BQ'D | |
| 28 | A-Salted BBQ from Brooklyn NY | |
| 29 | Cousin BBQ | |
| 30 | CHUCK & DAD'S BARBECUE | |
| 31 | NY PHAT DADDY'S |
Chicken
31 entries · top 173.7256 · median 154.8684
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 2 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 3 | TEAM EATAPEDIA | |
| 4 | QUAU | |
| 5 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 6 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 7 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 9 | REBEL YELL BBQ | |
| 10 | Bastey Boys | |
| 11 | SWEDISH PIG | |
| 12 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 13 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 14 | R2BQ | |
| 15 | 2 BQ'D | |
| 16 | A-Salted BBQ from Brooklyn NY | |
| 17 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 18 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 19 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 20 | HAWG DOCTORS | |
| 21 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 22 | BLACKBRIAR CREEK | |
| 23 | NY PHAT DADDY'S | |
| 24 | Sibling Rivalry BBQ | |
| 25 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 26 | Cousin BBQ | |
| 27 | BIG GUNS BBQ | |
| 28 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 29 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 30 | V-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 31 | CHUCK & DAD'S BARBECUE |
Pork Ribs
31 entries · top 171.4516 · median 156.5256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG GUNS BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 3 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 4 | HAWG DOCTORS | |
| 5 | QUAU | |
| 6 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 7 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 8 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 9 | Bastey Boys | |
| 10 | SWEDISH PIG | |
| 11 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 12 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 13 | 2 BQ'D | |
| 14 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 15 | V-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 16 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 17 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 18 | Sibling Rivalry BBQ | |
| 19 | CHUCK & DAD'S BARBECUE | |
| 20 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 21 | TEAM EATAPEDIA | |
| 22 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 23 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 24 | R2BQ | |
| 25 | Cousin BBQ | |
| 26 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 27 | REBEL YELL BBQ | |
| 28 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 29 | BLACKBRIAR CREEK | |
| 30 | A-Salted BBQ from Brooklyn NY | |
| 31 | NY PHAT DADDY'S |
Pork
31 entries · top 167.4400 · median 156.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 2 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 3 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 4 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 5 | R2BQ | |
| 6 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 7 | TEAM EATAPEDIA | |
| 8 | Bastey Boys | |
| 9 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 10 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 11 | V-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 12 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 13 | HAWG DOCTORS | |
| 14 | QUAU | |
| 15 | SWEDISH PIG | |
| 16 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 17 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 18 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 19 | BLACKBRIAR CREEK | |
| 20 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 21 | REBEL YELL BBQ | |
| 22 | 2 BQ'D | |
| 23 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 24 | BIG GUNS BBQ | |
| 25 | NY PHAT DADDY'S | |
| 26 | Sibling Rivalry BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 28 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 29 | Cousin BBQ | |
| 30 | A-Salted BBQ from Brooklyn NY | |
| 31 | CHUCK & DAD'S BARBECUE |
Brisket
31 entries · top 170.8572 · median 155.4284
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 2 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 3 | R2BQ | |
| 4 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 5 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 6 | QUAU | |
| 7 | HAWG DOCTORS | |
| 8 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 10 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 11 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 12 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 13 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 14 | BIG GUNS BBQ | |
| 15 | A-Salted BBQ from Brooklyn NY | |
| 16 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 17 | BLACKBRIAR CREEK | |
| 18 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 19 | REBEL YELL BBQ | |
| 20 | Cousin BBQ | |
| 21 | Sibling Rivalry BBQ | |
| 22 | V-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 23 | SWEDISH PIG | |
| 24 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 25 | CHUCK & DAD'S BARBECUE | |
| 26 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 27 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 28 | TEAM EATAPEDIA | |
| 29 | Bastey Boys | |
| 30 | NY PHAT DADDY'S | |
| 31 | 2 BQ'D |
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 — Chix
11 entries · top 172.0228 · median 156
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 2 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 3 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 4 | Stanley Smoke House | |
| 5 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 6 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 7 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 8 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 9 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 10 | Bastey Boys | |
| 11 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS |
Master Series — Fatty
12 entries · top 173.1772 · median 155.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 2 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 3 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 4 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 5 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 6 | Bastey Boys | |
| 7 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 8 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 9 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 11 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 12 | Stanley Smoke House |
Master Series — Nebs Grilling And Bbq Bash
12 entries · top 650.1824 · median 627.0854
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 2 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 3 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 4 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 5 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 6 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 7 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 8 | Bastey Boys | |
| 9 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 10 | Stanley Smoke House | |
| 11 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 12 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS |
Master Series — Ny Strip Steak
12 entries · top 169.1316 · median 156.5428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 2 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 3 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 4 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 5 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 6 | Bastey Boys | |
| 7 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 8 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 9 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 10 | Stanley Smoke House | |
| 11 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS |
Master Series — Pizza
12 entries · top 176 · median 159.4400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 2 | STRUGGLETOWN BBQ | |
| 3 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 4 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 5 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 6 | Bastey Boys | |
| 7 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 8 | DR. BUTTS BBQ | |
| 9 | Stanley Smoke House | |
| 10 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 11 | Q HAVEN BBQ | |
| 12 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS |