Jul 15–17, 2016 · Del Mar, CA
RHYTHM 'N QUE won Grand Champion at the Del Mar BBQ Championship on July 15, 2016 in Del Mar, CA, scoring 707.9772 in a field of 47 teams. BIG POPPA SMOKERS took Reserve Grand Champion with 694.8340. Category winners: Chicken — LEFT COAST Q (177.1428); Pork Ribs — LEFT COAST Q (180.0000); Pork — RHYTHM 'N QUE (176.5600); Brisket — RHYTHM 'N QUE (178.8572). This is the 1st of 2 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2017.
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 72 times in 100
Rhythm n QUE came in rated below the field's top team, BIG POPPA SMOKERS, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 28-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
Wider than 94% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The champion won by 13.1432 points — a wider margin than 94% of championships in the data.
Chicken places 1–2: LEFT COAST Q and RHYTHM 'N QUE tied on 177.1428 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 7–8: FUNTIME BBQ and SMOKIN MO'S BBQ tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 8–9: SMOKIN MO'S BBQ and RAD FONDO BBQ tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
LEFT COAST Q won Chicken, Pork Ribs — a double.
RHYTHM 'N QUE took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was pork ribs at 7th.
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 15, 2016 ← this one | Del Mar, CA | Del Mar, CA | 47 | 707.9772 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | BIG POPPA SMOKERS |
| Aug 18, 2017 | Del Mar, CA | 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd | 52 | 698.8000 | ZZYZX BAR.B.Q | ROOFTOP BBQ |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.1428 | 175.4516 | 173.7028 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 176.5828 | 174.2628 |
| Pork | 176.5600 | 174.8456 | 173.1200 |
| Brisket | 178.8572 | 174.8456 | 173.1084 |
47 entries · top 707.9772 · median 673.0856
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | |
| 2 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 3 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 4 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 5 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 6 | DG FIREHOUSE BBQ | |
| 7 | RUB YOUR MEAT BBQ | |
| 8 | LEFT COAST Q | |
| 9 | SMOKIN' MONEY | |
| 10 | FUNTIME BBQ | |
| 11 | LADY OF Q | |
| 12 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 13 | MEATSWEATS BBQ | |
| 14 | Brisket Brothers | |
| 15 | ROOFTOP BBQ | |
| 16 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 17 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 18 | MONSOON BBQ | |
| 19 | THE PIT CREW BBQ OF AZ | |
| 20 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 21 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 22 | TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q | |
| 23 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 24 | DAD'S CHILLIN' AND GRILLIN' BBQ | |
| 25 | COOL GRILLING | |
| 26 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 27 | VICIOUS SMOKE | |
| 28 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 29 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 30 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 31 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 32 | COME AND TAKE IT BBQ | |
| 33 | BILL'S BLUE LINE BBQ | |
| 34 | QUED UP | |
| 35 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 36 | WESTCOAST 2LIVEQ | |
| 37 | MOSSY ROCK BBQ | |
| 38 | BIG DADDY'S Q'N CREW | |
| 39 | PORK BELLY'S BBQ OF CA | |
| 40 | SMOKEDOUT BBQ | |
| 41 | Rod's Hickory Hawgs | |
| 42 | HIBBS & CREW PIRATE BAR B Q | |
| 43 | LORDS OF THE SMOKE RING | |
| 44 | CAL-STAR BBQ | |
| 45 | Rhino Q | |
| 46 | RIBANATOR RUB BBQ TEAM | |
| 47 | American Legion |
47 entries · top 177.1428 · median 169.1084
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LEFT COAST Q | |
| 2 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | |
| 3 | Brisket Brothers | |
| 4 | DG FIREHOUSE BBQ | |
| 5 | RUB YOUR MEAT BBQ | |
| 6 | MEATSWEATS BBQ | |
| 7 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 8 | ROOFTOP BBQ | |
| 9 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKIN' MONEY | |
| 11 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 12 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 13 | COOL GRILLING | |
| 14 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 15 | TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q | |
| 16 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 17 | DAD'S CHILLIN' AND GRILLIN' BBQ | |
| 18 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 19 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 20 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 21 | FUNTIME BBQ | |
| 22 | BIG DADDY'S Q'N CREW | |
| 23 | COME AND TAKE IT BBQ | |
| 24 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 25 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 26 | VICIOUS SMOKE | |
| 27 | LADY OF Q | |
| 28 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 29 | Rod's Hickory Hawgs | |
| 30 | MONSOON BBQ | |
| 31 | Rhino Q | |
| 32 | WESTCOAST 2LIVEQ | |
| 33 | HIBBS & CREW PIRATE BAR B Q | |
| 34 | THE PIT CREW BBQ OF AZ | |
| 35 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 36 | BILL'S BLUE LINE BBQ | |
| 37 | QUED UP | |
| 38 | MOSSY ROCK BBQ | |
| 39 | SMOKEDOUT BBQ | |
| 40 | CAL-STAR BBQ | |
| 41 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 42 | PORK BELLY'S BBQ OF CA | |
| 43 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 44 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 45 | RIBANATOR RUB BBQ TEAM | |
| 46 | LORDS OF THE SMOKE RING | |
| 47 | American Legion |
47 entries · top 180 · median 169.1544 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LEFT COAST Q | |
| 2 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 3 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 4 | THE PIT CREW BBQ OF AZ | |
| 5 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 6 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 7 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | |
| 8 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 9 | LADY OF Q | |
| 10 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 11 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 12 | MONSOON BBQ | |
| 13 | ROOFTOP BBQ | |
| 14 | Brisket Brothers | |
| 15 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 16 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 17 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 18 | FUNTIME BBQ | |
| 19 | RUB YOUR MEAT BBQ | |
| 20 | BILL'S BLUE LINE BBQ | |
| 21 | DAD'S CHILLIN' AND GRILLIN' BBQ | |
| 22 | MEATSWEATS BBQ | |
| 23 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 24 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 25 | TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q | |
| 26 | QUED UP | |
| 27 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 28 | DG FIREHOUSE BBQ | |
| 29 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 30 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 31 | HIBBS & CREW PIRATE BAR B Q | |
| 32 | BIG DADDY'S Q'N CREW | |
| 33 | LORDS OF THE SMOKE RING | |
| 34 | SMOKIN' MONEY | |
| 35 | PORK BELLY'S BBQ OF CA | |
| 36 | COOL GRILLING | |
| 37 | WESTCOAST 2LIVEQ | |
| 38 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 39 | VICIOUS SMOKE | |
| 40 | Rod's Hickory Hawgs | |
| 41 | MOSSY ROCK BBQ | |
| 42 | American Legion | |
| 43 | COME AND TAKE IT BBQ | |
| 44 | SMOKEDOUT BBQ | |
| 45 | CAL-STAR BBQ | |
| 46 | RIBANATOR RUB BBQ TEAM | |
| 47 | Rhino Q |
47 entries · top 176.5600 · median 169.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | |
| 2 | RUB YOUR MEAT BBQ | |
| 3 | COME AND TAKE IT BBQ | |
| 4 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' MONEY | |
| 6 | DG FIREHOUSE BBQ | |
| 7 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 8 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 9 | FUNTIME BBQ | |
| 10 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 11 | LADY OF Q | |
| 12 | ROOFTOP BBQ | |
| 13 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 15 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 16 | WESTCOAST 2LIVEQ | |
| 17 | MEATSWEATS BBQ | |
| 18 | COOL GRILLING | |
| 19 | QUED UP | |
| 20 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 21 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 22 | MOSSY ROCK BBQ | |
| 23 | TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q | |
| 24 | VICIOUS SMOKE | |
| 25 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 26 | LORDS OF THE SMOKE RING | |
| 27 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 28 | Brisket Brothers | |
| 29 | LEFT COAST Q | |
| 30 | MONSOON BBQ | |
| 31 | DAD'S CHILLIN' AND GRILLIN' BBQ | |
| 32 | CAL-STAR BBQ | |
| 33 | THE PIT CREW BBQ OF AZ | |
| 34 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 35 | SMOKEDOUT BBQ | |
| 36 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 37 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 38 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 39 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 40 | Rod's Hickory Hawgs | |
| 41 | BILL'S BLUE LINE BBQ | |
| 42 | HIBBS & CREW PIRATE BAR B Q | |
| 43 | Rhino Q | |
| 44 | PORK BELLY'S BBQ OF CA | |
| 45 | RIBANATOR RUB BBQ TEAM | |
| 46 | BIG DADDY'S Q'N CREW | |
| 47 | American Legion |
47 entries · top 178.8572 · median 166.8916
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | |
| 2 | MONSOON BBQ | |
| 3 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 4 | SMOKIN' MONEY | |
| 5 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 6 | THE PIT CREW BBQ OF AZ | |
| 7 | FUNTIME BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 9 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 10 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 11 | VICIOUS SMOKE | |
| 12 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 13 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 14 | LADY OF Q | |
| 15 | DG FIREHOUSE BBQ | |
| 16 | BILL'S BLUE LINE BBQ | |
| 17 | MEATSWEATS BBQ | |
| 18 | Brisket Brothers | |
| 19 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 20 | COME AND TAKE IT BBQ | |
| 21 | TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q | |
| 22 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 23 | RUB YOUR MEAT BBQ | |
| 24 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 25 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 26 | COOL GRILLING | |
| 27 | ROOFTOP BBQ | |
| 28 | DAD'S CHILLIN' AND GRILLIN' BBQ | |
| 29 | PORK BELLY'S BBQ OF CA | |
| 30 | SMOKEDOUT BBQ | |
| 31 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 32 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 33 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 34 | LEFT COAST Q | |
| 35 | Rhino Q | |
| 36 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 37 | MOSSY ROCK BBQ | |
| 38 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 39 | BIG DADDY'S Q'N CREW | |
| 40 | WESTCOAST 2LIVEQ | |
| 41 | CAL-STAR BBQ | |
| 42 | QUED UP | |
| 43 | RIBANATOR RUB BBQ TEAM | |
| 44 | Rod's Hickory Hawgs | |
| 45 | LORDS OF THE SMOKE RING | |
| 46 | HIBBS & CREW PIRATE BAR B Q | |
| 47 | American Legion |
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.
28 entries · top 177.7028 · median 170.5542
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RUB YOUR MEAT BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 3 | THE PIT CREW BBQ OF AZ | |
| 4 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 5 | BILL'S BLUE LINE BBQ | |
| 6 | Whose Behind | |
| 7 | DAD'S CHILLIN' AND GRILLIN' BBQ | |
| 8 | LORDS OF THE SMOKE RING | |
| 9 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 10 | WESTCOAST 2LIVEQ | |
| 11 | LEFT COAST Q | |
| 12 | Bad Boyz | |
| 13 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 14 | COOL GRILLING | |
| 15 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 16 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 17 | CAL-STAR BBQ | |
| 18 | HIBBS & CREW PIRATE BAR B Q | |
| 19 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | |
| 20 | Brisket Brothers | |
| 21 | Your Behind | |
| 22 | American Legion | |
| 23 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 24 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 25 | Rod's Hickory Hawgs | |
| 26 | SMOKEDOUT BBQ | |
| 27 | QUED UP | |
| 28 | SMOKIN' MONEY |