A statement win
14.3428
points clear of the field
Wider than 96% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The champion won by 14.3428 points — a wider margin than 96% of championships in the data.
8th Annual Vista BBQ Classic
Jul 29–30, 2016 · Vista, CA · 📍 Main St
RHYTHM 'N QUE won Grand Champion at the 8th Annual Vista BBQ Classic on July 29, 2016 in Vista, CA at Main St, scoring 709.1200 in a field of 42 teams. HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 694.7772. Category winners: Chicken — Sharpe's Woodshed (177.7144); Pork Ribs — HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ (178.8572); Pork — RHYTHM 'N QUE (180.0000); Brisket — RHYTHM 'N QUE (180.0000).
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.
570.31
median 663.89
709.12 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 177.71
- Pork Ribs 178.86
- Pork 180 🔥
- Brisket 180 🔥
129.05
180
Entries
42
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
709.1200
Winning margin
14.3428
GC over RC
Field average
655.46
570.31709.12
median 663.89 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
4 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
678.8228
570.31709.12
10th place overall
Field spread
138.8116
winner to last place
Double threats
3
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 5%
beats 95% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.54 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,564
avg power rating going in · stronger than 49% 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 11 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 4–5: LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ and SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ tied on 173.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 5–6: SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ and LEFT COAST Q tied on 173.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 6–7: Sharpe's Woodshed and BLAZED N' GLAZED tied on 173.1428 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Pork 6–7 · tie
- Brisket 8–9 · 0.0112
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
RHYTHM 'N QUE 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
RHYTHM 'N QUE took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was chicken at 8th.
- Chicken 8th
- Pork Ribs 4th
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 1st
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.
- RHYTHM 'N QUE · Brisket
- RHYTHM 'N QUE · Pork
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)
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7144 | 173.7028 | 171.9656 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 174.8572 | 170.8228 |
| Pork | 180 | 174.2744 | 171.9884 |
| Brisket | 180 | 173.7028 | 171.4172 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
42 entries · top 709.1200 · median 663.8856
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | |
| 2 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 3 | DG FIREHOUSE BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 5 | LADY OF Q | |
| 6 | JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE | |
| 7 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 8 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 9 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 10 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 11 | WHAT WOOD JESUS QUE? | |
| 12 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 13 | BLAZED N' GLAZED | |
| 14 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 15 | BAD DOG BBQ - DE | |
| 16 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 17 | COOL GRILLING | |
| 18 | LEFT COAST Q | |
| 19 | JD'S LIPSMAKIN SMOKERS | |
| 20 | SMOKIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 21 | PORKETEERS | |
| 22 | ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q | |
| 23 | DAY OF THE PIG BBQ | |
| 24 | JW HAYES BBQ | |
| 25 | WESTCOAST 2LIVEQ | |
| 26 | COME AND TAKE IT BBQ | |
| 27 | FUNTIME BBQ | |
| 28 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 29 | SMOKIN' MONEY | |
| 30 | DAD'S CHILLIN' AND GRILLIN' BBQ | |
| 31 | QUED UP | |
| 32 | SMOKEY BONES BBQ - CA | |
| 33 | Black Jack Barbecue | |
| 34 | SIX PACK SLABS | |
| 35 | WHEN PIGS FLY | |
| 36 | RUBBED THE RIGHT WAY | |
| 37 | Butler's BBQ | |
| 38 | YARD PIRATES BBQ | |
| 39 | Butt Up BBQ | |
| 40 | OFY | |
| 41 | HOGGIN' GONE WILD BBQ | |
| 42 | Looney Bin 2 BBQ |
Chicken
42 entries · top 177.7144 · median 167.1142
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 2 | FUNTIME BBQ | |
| 3 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 4 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 5 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 6 | LEFT COAST Q | |
| 7 | WHAT WOOD JESUS QUE? | |
| 8 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | |
| 9 | JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE | |
| 10 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 11 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 12 | DG FIREHOUSE BBQ | |
| 13 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 14 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 15 | SIX PACK SLABS | |
| 16 | BAD DOG BBQ - DE | |
| 17 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 18 | QUED UP | |
| 19 | LADY OF Q | |
| 20 | COME AND TAKE IT BBQ | |
| 21 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 22 | COOL GRILLING | |
| 23 | PORKETEERS | |
| 24 | RUBBED THE RIGHT WAY | |
| 25 | DAY OF THE PIG BBQ | |
| 26 | JW HAYES BBQ | |
| 27 | JD'S LIPSMAKIN SMOKERS | |
| 28 | SMOKIN' MONEY | |
| 29 | ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q | |
| 30 | SMOKIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 31 | DAD'S CHILLIN' AND GRILLIN' BBQ | |
| 32 | Butt Up BBQ | |
| 33 | WESTCOAST 2LIVEQ | |
| 34 | SMOKEY BONES BBQ - CA | |
| 35 | BLAZED N' GLAZED | |
| 36 | HOGGIN' GONE WILD BBQ | |
| 37 | Black Jack Barbecue | |
| 38 | Butler's BBQ | |
| 39 | WHEN PIGS FLY | |
| 40 | OFY | |
| 41 | YARD PIRATES BBQ | |
| 42 | Looney Bin 2 BBQ |
Pork Ribs
42 entries · top 178.8572 · median 164.2972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 2 | DG FIREHOUSE BBQ | |
| 3 | JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE | |
| 4 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | |
| 5 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 7 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 8 | LADY OF Q | |
| 9 | LEFT COAST Q | |
| 10 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 11 | FUNTIME BBQ | |
| 12 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 13 | ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q | |
| 14 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 15 | BAD DOG BBQ - DE | |
| 16 | WHEN PIGS FLY | |
| 17 | COOL GRILLING | |
| 18 | BLAZED N' GLAZED | |
| 19 | PORKETEERS | |
| 20 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 21 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 22 | COME AND TAKE IT BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 24 | DAD'S CHILLIN' AND GRILLIN' BBQ | |
| 25 | SIX PACK SLABS | |
| 26 | JD'S LIPSMAKIN SMOKERS | |
| 27 | SMOKEY BONES BBQ - CA | |
| 28 | WESTCOAST 2LIVEQ | |
| 29 | DAY OF THE PIG BBQ | |
| 30 | SMOKIN' MONEY | |
| 31 | OFY | |
| 32 | QUED UP | |
| 33 | WHAT WOOD JESUS QUE? | |
| 34 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 35 | RUBBED THE RIGHT WAY | |
| 36 | Butler's BBQ | |
| 37 | JW HAYES BBQ | |
| 38 | YARD PIRATES BBQ | |
| 39 | HOGGIN' GONE WILD BBQ | |
| 40 | Looney Bin 2 BBQ | |
| 41 | Black Jack Barbecue | |
| 42 | Butt Up BBQ |
Pork
42 entries · top 180 · median 166.2456 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | |
| 2 | BAD DOG BBQ - DE | |
| 3 | LADY OF Q | |
| 4 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 5 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 6 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 7 | BLAZED N' GLAZED | |
| 8 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 9 | WHAT WOOD JESUS QUE? | |
| 10 | DG FIREHOUSE BBQ | |
| 11 | JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE | |
| 12 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 13 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 14 | JD'S LIPSMAKIN SMOKERS | |
| 15 | SMOKIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 16 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 17 | DAY OF THE PIG BBQ | |
| 18 | Black Jack Barbecue | |
| 19 | COOL GRILLING | |
| 20 | JW HAYES BBQ | |
| 21 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 22 | COME AND TAKE IT BBQ | |
| 23 | DAD'S CHILLIN' AND GRILLIN' BBQ | |
| 24 | WHEN PIGS FLY | |
| 25 | SIX PACK SLABS | |
| 26 | SMOKIN' MONEY | |
| 27 | WESTCOAST 2LIVEQ | |
| 28 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 29 | PORKETEERS | |
| 30 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 31 | ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q | |
| 32 | LEFT COAST Q | |
| 33 | QUED UP | |
| 34 | SMOKEY BONES BBQ - CA | |
| 35 | RUBBED THE RIGHT WAY | |
| 36 | FUNTIME BBQ | |
| 37 | Looney Bin 2 BBQ | |
| 38 | YARD PIRATES BBQ | |
| 39 | Butt Up BBQ | |
| 40 | Butler's BBQ | |
| 41 | HOGGIN' GONE WILD BBQ | |
| 42 | OFY |
Brisket
42 entries · top 180 · median 163.9828 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RHYTHM 'N QUE | |
| 2 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 3 | JW HAYES BBQ | |
| 4 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 5 | WHAT WOOD JESUS QUE? | |
| 6 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 7 | DG FIREHOUSE BBQ | |
| 8 | BLAZED N' GLAZED | |
| 9 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 10 | Black Jack Barbecue | |
| 11 | WESTCOAST 2LIVEQ | |
| 12 | ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q | |
| 13 | JD'S LIPSMAKIN SMOKERS | |
| 14 | PORKETEERS | |
| 15 | SMOKIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 16 | DAY OF THE PIG BBQ | |
| 17 | LADY OF Q | |
| 18 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 19 | COOL GRILLING | |
| 20 | SMOKIN' MONEY | |
| 21 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKEY BONES BBQ - CA | |
| 23 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 24 | LEFT COAST Q | |
| 25 | QUED UP | |
| 26 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 27 | JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE | |
| 28 | DAD'S CHILLIN' AND GRILLIN' BBQ | |
| 29 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 30 | COME AND TAKE IT BBQ | |
| 31 | BAD DOG BBQ - DE | |
| 32 | FUNTIME BBQ | |
| 33 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 34 | YARD PIRATES BBQ | |
| 35 | Butler's BBQ | |
| 36 | WHEN PIGS FLY | |
| 37 | Butt Up BBQ | |
| 38 | RUBBED THE RIGHT WAY | |
| 39 | SIX PACK SLABS | |
| 40 | OFY | |
| 41 | Looney Bin 2 BBQ | |
| 42 | HOGGIN' GONE WILD BBQ |
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 — Dessert
12 entries · top 177.7028 · median 172.8514