A new contest record
706.2972
highest overall ever cooked here
706.2972 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 702.8116 SMOKERS WILD set in 2014.
- old record 702.8116
- set 2014 by SMOKERS WILD
Grand Lake BBQ Festival 2015
May 15–16, 2015 · Langley, OK
THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ won Grand Champion at the Grand Lake BBQ Festival on May 15, 2015 in Langley, OK, scoring 706.2972 in a field of 35 teams. LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 698.7884. Category winners: Chicken — Smoke Eatrs BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — CLARK CREW BBQ (178.8800); Pork — THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ (177.1428); Brisket — THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ (177.1428). This is the 3rd of 3 editions of this contest on record; the 2014 edition was won by SMOKERS WILD.
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.
591.28
median 671.95
706.30 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180 🔥
- Pork Ribs 178.88
- Pork 177.14
- Brisket 177.14
127.93
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2015 — this edition picked out.
Entries
35
4 judged meats
Top score
706.2972
Winning margin
7.5088
GC over RC
Field average
667.61
591.28706.30
median 671.95 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
2.2856 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
684.5260
591.28706.30
10th place overall
Field spread
115.0168
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 10%
beats 90% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
39%
13 of 33 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.65 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,604
avg power rating going in · stronger than 80% 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.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 17 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 1–2: Smoke Eatrs BBQ and TWIN OAK SMOKIN CREW tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 3–4: LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ and THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS tied on 179.4400 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 8–9: DR. NORDY'S BBQ and SMOKERS WILD tied on 174.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Chicken 8–9 · tie
- Pork Ribs 9–10 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ won Pork, Brisket — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was chicken at 6th.
- Chicken 6th
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 1st
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ (won 2013), SMOKERS WILD (won 2014).
- SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ · 2013
- SMOKERS WILD · 2014
The biggest field yet
35
teams — a contest high
This contest usually draws about 32 teams
35 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 32.
A perfect score on the table
2
perfect 180s
2 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- Smoke Eatrs BBQ · Chicken
- TWIN OAK SMOKIN CREW · Chicken
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2013 | Langley, OK | Langley, OK | 30 | 702.2860 | SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ | HOG TIDE BAR-B-QUE |
| May 16, 2014 | Langley, OK | Langley, OK 74340 | 33 | 702.8116 | SMOKERS WILD | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ |
| May 15, 2015 ← this one | Langley, OK | Langley, OK 74055 | 35 | 706.2972 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 177.7144 | 174.2972 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8800 | 174.8688 | 172.5600 |
| Pork | 177.1428 | 173.7028 | 173.1200 |
| Brisket | 177.1428 | 174.2628 | 172.5600 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
35 entries · top 706.2972 · median 671.9548
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 2 | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | |
| 3 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 4 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 5 | Smoke Eatrs BBQ | |
| 6 | HOG TIDE BAR-B-QUE | |
| 7 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 8 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 9 | OKIEQ | |
| 10 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 11 | SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ | |
| 12 | TNK BBQ | |
| 13 | HABITUAL SMOKERS | |
| 14 | PELLET ENVY | |
| 15 | TWIN OAK SMOKIN CREW | |
| 16 | KOSMO'S Q | |
| 17 | MAC'S BARBEQUE | |
| 18 | OKLAHOMA JAYHAWK BBQ | |
| 19 | RIB CRIB PIGMEN | |
| 20 | MOOCHEWSOOEY | |
| 21 | UNCLE BC'S | |
| 22 | BIG BUTTS NEED RUBBIN TOO | |
| 23 | SMOKERS WILD | |
| 24 | INDIAN TERRITORY SMOKE | |
| 25 | THE OUTLAWS | |
| 26 | Waste Management | |
| 27 | Fat Daddy BBQ | |
| 28 | THE GRISWOLDS | |
| 29 | Two-R-Que | |
| 30 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 31 | TIKI QUE | |
| 32 | PECULIAR SMOKE | |
| 33 | L & M BBQ | |
| 34 | BIG SEXY BBQ | |
| 35 | BACKWOODS BBQ |
Chicken
35 entries · top 180 · median 169.7028 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smoke Eatrs BBQ | |
| 2 | TWIN OAK SMOKIN CREW | |
| 3 | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | |
| 4 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 5 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 6 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 7 | OKLAHOMA JAYHAWK BBQ | |
| 8 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKERS WILD | |
| 10 | HABITUAL SMOKERS | |
| 11 | HOG TIDE BAR-B-QUE | |
| 12 | TIKI QUE | |
| 13 | PECULIAR SMOKE | |
| 14 | KOSMO'S Q | |
| 15 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 16 | OKIEQ | |
| 17 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 18 | SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ | |
| 19 | PELLET ENVY | |
| 20 | BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 21 | UNCLE BC'S | |
| 22 | THE GRISWOLDS | |
| 23 | BIG BUTTS NEED RUBBIN TOO | |
| 24 | INDIAN TERRITORY SMOKE | |
| 25 | MOOCHEWSOOEY | |
| 26 | TNK BBQ | |
| 27 | THE OUTLAWS | |
| 28 | RIB CRIB PIGMEN | |
| 29 | Two-R-Que | |
| 30 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 31 | L & M BBQ | |
| 32 | Fat Daddy BBQ | |
| 33 | Waste Management | |
| 34 | MAC'S BARBEQUE | |
| 35 | BIG SEXY BBQ |
Pork Ribs
35 entries · top 178.8800 · median 168.0116
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 2 | SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ | |
| 3 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 4 | MOOCHEWSOOEY | |
| 5 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 6 | TWIN OAK SMOKIN CREW | |
| 7 | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | |
| 8 | OKIEQ | |
| 9 | PELLET ENVY | |
| 10 | Waste Management | |
| 11 | TNK BBQ | |
| 12 | Smoke Eatrs BBQ | |
| 13 | MAC'S BARBEQUE | |
| 14 | RIB CRIB PIGMEN | |
| 15 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 16 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 17 | HOG TIDE BAR-B-QUE | |
| 18 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 19 | BIG BUTTS NEED RUBBIN TOO | |
| 20 | OKLAHOMA JAYHAWK BBQ | |
| 21 | KOSMO'S Q | |
| 22 | THE OUTLAWS | |
| 23 | L & M BBQ | |
| 24 | Two-R-Que | |
| 25 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 26 | Fat Daddy BBQ | |
| 27 | UNCLE BC'S | |
| 28 | HABITUAL SMOKERS | |
| 29 | INDIAN TERRITORY SMOKE | |
| 30 | PECULIAR SMOKE | |
| 31 | SMOKERS WILD | |
| 32 | THE GRISWOLDS | |
| 33 | BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 34 | TIKI QUE | |
| 35 | BIG SEXY BBQ |
Pork
35 entries · top 177.1428 · median 168.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 2 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 3 | OKIEQ | |
| 4 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 5 | KOSMO'S Q | |
| 6 | Smoke Eatrs BBQ | |
| 7 | OKLAHOMA JAYHAWK BBQ | |
| 8 | TNK BBQ | |
| 9 | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | |
| 10 | HOG TIDE BAR-B-QUE | |
| 11 | HABITUAL SMOKERS | |
| 12 | TWIN OAK SMOKIN CREW | |
| 13 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 14 | BIG SEXY BBQ | |
| 15 | MAC'S BARBEQUE | |
| 16 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 17 | INDIAN TERRITORY SMOKE | |
| 18 | Waste Management | |
| 19 | SMOKERS WILD | |
| 20 | SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ | |
| 21 | PELLET ENVY | |
| 22 | PECULIAR SMOKE | |
| 23 | UNCLE BC'S | |
| 24 | Two-R-Que | |
| 25 | Fat Daddy BBQ | |
| 26 | RIB CRIB PIGMEN | |
| 27 | THE GRISWOLDS | |
| 28 | MOOCHEWSOOEY | |
| 29 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 30 | THE OUTLAWS | |
| 31 | BIG BUTTS NEED RUBBIN TOO | |
| 32 | L & M BBQ | |
| 33 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 34 | TIKI QUE | |
| 35 | BACKWOODS BBQ |
Brisket
35 entries · top 177.1428 · median 169.1084
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 2 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 3 | UNCLE BC'S | |
| 4 | HABITUAL SMOKERS | |
| 5 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 6 | MAC'S BARBEQUE | |
| 7 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 8 | HOG TIDE BAR-B-QUE | |
| 9 | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | |
| 10 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 11 | BIG BUTTS NEED RUBBIN TOO | |
| 12 | TIKI QUE | |
| 13 | RIB CRIB PIGMEN | |
| 14 | SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ | |
| 15 | OKIEQ | |
| 16 | PELLET ENVY | |
| 17 | TNK BBQ | |
| 18 | KOSMO'S Q | |
| 19 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKERS WILD | |
| 21 | INDIAN TERRITORY SMOKE | |
| 22 | THE OUTLAWS | |
| 23 | Smoke Eatrs BBQ | |
| 24 | THE GRISWOLDS | |
| 25 | MOOCHEWSOOEY | |
| 26 | OKLAHOMA JAYHAWK BBQ | |
| 27 | Fat Daddy BBQ | |
| 28 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 29 | L & M BBQ | |
| 30 | Waste Management | |
| 31 | TWIN OAK SMOKIN CREW | |
| 32 | BIG SEXY BBQ | |
| 33 | Two-R-Que | |
| 34 | PECULIAR SMOKE | |
| 35 | BACKWOODS BBQ |