Aug 12–13, 2016 · Franklin, NC · 📍 Macon County Fair Grounds
HICKORY PRIME won Grand Champion at the Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show on August 12, 2016 in Franklin, NC at Macon County Fair Grounds, scoring 699.9884 in a field of 34 teams. MIDNIGHT BURN took Reserve Grand Champion with 699.9544. Category winners: Chicken — HICKORY PRIME (180.0000); Pork Ribs — ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE (177.7144); Pork — MIDNIGHT BURN (180.0000); Brisket — 270 SMOKERS (176.5600). This is the 4th of 7 editions of this contest on record; the 2015 edition was won by PICKIN' PORKERS; 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.
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2019 — this edition picked out.
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
Closer than 97% of the 4,713 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.0340 points — closer than 97% of every championship in the data.
699.9884 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 698.2516 SWAMP BOYS set in 2013.
4 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
2 of 7 tracked editions
MIDNIGHT BURN has won this contest 2 times across its 7 tracked editions.
Chicken places 1–2: HICKORY PRIME and TEMPLAR TEMPTATIONS tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 2–3: TEMPLAR TEMPTATIONS and SMOKE THIS tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 8–9: SMOKING BUTT HEADS and QUENUT BBQ tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
HICKORY PRIME took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork ribs at 11th.
HICKORY PRIME turned in 180.0000 in chicken — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 3 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: JACK'S OLD SOUTH (won 2014), PICKIN' PORKERS (won 2015).
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 9, 2013 | Franklin, NC | Franklin, NC | 49 | 698.2516 | SWAMP BOYS | SMOKE IN THE MOUNTAINS |
| Aug 8, 2014 | Frankllin, NC | Frankllin, NC 28734 | 39 | 695.9656 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | SMOKE THIS |
| Aug 7, 2015 | Franklin, NC | Franklin, NC 28734 | 36 | 695.9544 | PICKIN' PORKERS | SWAMP BOYS |
| Aug 12, 2016 ← this one | Franklin, NC | Macon County Fair Grounds | 34 | 699.9884 | HICKORY PRIME | MIDNIGHT BURN |
| Aug 11, 2017 | Franklin, NC | 1436 Georgia Rd | 34 | 688.5140 | MIDNIGHT BURN | CREEKSIDE SMOKERS NC |
| Aug 10, 2018 | Franklin, NC | 1436 Georgia Rd | 51 | 699.9544 | MIDNIGHT BURN | CONTAGIOUS Q |
| Aug 9, 2019 | Franklin, NC | Macon County Fairgrounds | 29 | 697.0744 | WHO CARES BBQ | MIDNIGHT BURN |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 175.4056 | 174.2628 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.7144 | 174.8572 | 173.1316 |
| Pork | 180 | 175.4628 | 170.2856 |
| Brisket | 176.5600 | 174.2628 | 169.7028 |
34 entries · top 699.9884 · median 671.0572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 2 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 3 | BIG SHOW BBQ COOKIN' TEAM | |
| 4 | ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE | |
| 5 | TEMPLAR TEMPTATIONS | |
| 6 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 7 | WAY 2 QUE | |
| 8 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKE THIS | |
| 10 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 11 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 12 | QUENUT BBQ | |
| 13 | CREEKSIDE SMOKERS NC | |
| 14 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 15 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 16 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 17 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 18 | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR | |
| 19 | SMOKIN NC | |
| 20 | WOOD N PIG SMOKERS | |
| 21 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 22 | PICKIN' PORKERS | |
| 23 | BAR-B-Q 101 | |
| 24 | EB'S BAR-B-QUE | |
| 25 | PARADISE QUE | |
| 26 | DOESN'T PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS | |
| 27 | BROTHER-IN-LAW BBQ TEAM | |
| 28 | BACKWOODS BBQ SHACK | |
| 29 | SUE E PIGG | |
| 30 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 31 | NARD'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 32 | MEATHEADS - GA | |
| 33 | PORK-N-BONES | |
| 34 | TEAM MEAT HOLE |
34 entries · top 180 · median 169.9772 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 2 | TEMPLAR TEMPTATIONS | |
| 3 | SMOKE THIS | |
| 4 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 5 | WAY 2 QUE | |
| 6 | PARADISE QUE | |
| 7 | ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE | |
| 8 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 9 | QUENUT BBQ | |
| 10 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 11 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 12 | CREEKSIDE SMOKERS NC | |
| 13 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN NC | |
| 15 | BIG SHOW BBQ COOKIN' TEAM | |
| 16 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 17 | EB'S BAR-B-QUE | |
| 18 | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR | |
| 19 | BAR-B-Q 101 | |
| 20 | WOOD N PIG SMOKERS | |
| 21 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 22 | BROTHER-IN-LAW BBQ TEAM | |
| 23 | SUE E PIGG | |
| 24 | BACKWOODS BBQ SHACK | |
| 25 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 26 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 27 | DOESN'T PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS | |
| 28 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 29 | PICKIN' PORKERS | |
| 30 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 31 | MEATHEADS - GA | |
| 32 | TEAM MEAT HOLE | |
| 33 | PORK-N-BONES | |
| 34 | NARD'S BACKYARD BBQ |
34 entries · top 177.7144 · median 169.1258
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE | |
| 2 | BIG SHOW BBQ COOKIN' TEAM | |
| 3 | QUENUT BBQ | |
| 4 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 5 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 6 | TEMPLAR TEMPTATIONS | |
| 7 | EB'S BAR-B-QUE | |
| 8 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 9 | WAY 2 QUE | |
| 10 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 11 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 12 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 13 | SMOKE THIS | |
| 14 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 15 | NARD'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 16 | TEAM MEAT HOLE | |
| 17 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 18 | WOOD N PIG SMOKERS | |
| 19 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 20 | MEATHEADS - GA | |
| 21 | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR | |
| 22 | SMOKIN NC | |
| 23 | DOESN'T PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS | |
| 24 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 25 | PICKIN' PORKERS | |
| 26 | PORK-N-BONES | |
| 27 | BROTHER-IN-LAW BBQ TEAM | |
| 28 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 29 | SUE E PIGG | |
| 30 | CREEKSIDE SMOKERS NC | |
| 31 | PARADISE QUE | |
| 32 | BAR-B-Q 101 | |
| 33 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 34 | BACKWOODS BBQ SHACK |
34 entries · top 180 · median 168.2514 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 2 | QUENUT BBQ | |
| 3 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 4 | BIG SHOW BBQ COOKIN' TEAM | |
| 5 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 6 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 7 | WAY 2 QUE | |
| 8 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 9 | PICKIN' PORKERS | |
| 10 | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR | |
| 11 | TEMPLAR TEMPTATIONS | |
| 12 | CREEKSIDE SMOKERS NC | |
| 13 | SMOKIN NC | |
| 14 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 15 | ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE | |
| 16 | BAR-B-Q 101 | |
| 17 | WOOD N PIG SMOKERS | |
| 18 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 19 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 20 | BACKWOODS BBQ SHACK | |
| 21 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 22 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 23 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 24 | BROTHER-IN-LAW BBQ TEAM | |
| 25 | SMOKE THIS | |
| 26 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 27 | PARADISE QUE | |
| 28 | DOESN'T PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS | |
| 29 | PORK-N-BONES | |
| 30 | NARD'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 31 | SUE E PIGG | |
| 32 | TEAM MEAT HOLE | |
| 33 | MEATHEADS - GA | |
| 34 | EB'S BAR-B-QUE |
34 entries · top 176.5600 · median 164.2284
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 2 | CREEKSIDE SMOKERS NC | |
| 3 | PICKIN' PORKERS | |
| 4 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 5 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 6 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 7 | ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE | |
| 8 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 9 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 10 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 11 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 12 | BIG SHOW BBQ COOKIN' TEAM | |
| 13 | SMOKE THIS | |
| 14 | WAY 2 QUE | |
| 15 | TEMPLAR TEMPTATIONS | |
| 16 | ATLANTA BBQ STORE | |
| 17 | WOOD N PIG SMOKERS | |
| 18 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 19 | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR | |
| 20 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 21 | BACKWOODS BBQ SHACK | |
| 22 | SMOKIN NC | |
| 23 | BAR-B-Q 101 | |
| 24 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 25 | DOESN'T PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS | |
| 26 | PORK-N-BONES | |
| 27 | MEATHEADS - GA | |
| 28 | SUE E PIGG | |
| 29 | NARD'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 30 | EB'S BAR-B-QUE | |
| 31 | QUENUT BBQ | |
| 32 | PARADISE QUE | |
| 33 | BROTHER-IN-LAW BBQ TEAM | |
| 34 | TEAM MEAT HOLE |
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.
11 entries · top 176 · median 158.8456
12 entries · top 509.1088 · median 470.5086
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SUNNYSIDE SMOKE | |
| 2 | THE SMOKIN HOT REPS | |
| 3 | TEAM SWAG BBQ | |
| 4 | FATSO'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 5 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 6 | BONAFIDE BBQ | |
| 7 | BACKYARD PORKERS | |
| 8 | IRON PIG BBQ | |
| 9 | TOO SAUCED TO PORK | |
| 10 | HIGHWAY 28 COOKERS | |
| 11 | BOOBIES BBQ | |
| 12 | BBB BBQ |
12 entries · top 171.4056 · median 158.5544
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SUNNYSIDE SMOKE | |
| 2 | BONAFIDE BBQ | |
| 3 | THE SMOKIN HOT REPS | |
| 4 | BACKYARD PORKERS | |
| 5 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 6 | IRON PIG BBQ | |
| 7 | HIGHWAY 28 COOKERS | |
| 8 | FATSO'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 9 | BOOBIES BBQ | |
| 10 | TEAM SWAG BBQ | |
| 11 | TOO SAUCED TO PORK | |
| 12 | BBB BBQ |
12 entries · top 163.9888 · median 155.7086
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SUNNYSIDE SMOKE | |
| 2 | TEAM SWAG BBQ | |
| 3 | FATSO'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 4 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 5 | BACKYARD PORKERS | |
| 6 | TOO SAUCED TO PORK | |
| 7 | BONAFIDE BBQ | |
| 8 | BBB BBQ | |
| 9 | IRON PIG BBQ | |
| 10 | THE SMOKIN HOT REPS | |
| 11 | BOOBIES BBQ | |
| 12 | HIGHWAY 28 COOKERS |
12 entries · top 176.5944 · median 153.0914
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE SMOKIN HOT REPS | |
| 2 | SUNNYSIDE SMOKE | |
| 3 | TEAM SWAG BBQ | |
| 4 | FATSO'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 5 | TOO SAUCED TO PORK | |
| 6 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 7 | IRON PIG BBQ | |
| 8 | HIGHWAY 28 COOKERS | |
| 9 | BONAFIDE BBQ | |
| 10 | BOOBIES BBQ | |
| 11 | BACKYARD PORKERS | |
| 12 | BBB BBQ |
9 entries · top 176.0572 · median 165.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE SMOKIN HOT REPS | |
| 2 | PARADISE QUE | |
| 3 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 4 | BOOBIES BBQ | |
| 5 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 6 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 7 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 8 | IRON PIG BBQ | |
| 9 | DOESN'T PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS |
18 entries · top 172.6172 · median 145.9714
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SUNNYSIDE SMOKE | |
| 2 | HOT WACHULA'S | |
| 3 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 4 | MIKE HALLMAN | |
| 5 | BAR-B-Q 101 | |
| 6 | THE SMOKIN HOT REPS | |
| 7 | BACKYARD PORKERS | |
| 8 | DOESN'T PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS | |
| 9 | BOOBIES BBQ | |
| 10 | IRON PIG BBQ | |
| 11 | PARADISE QUE | |
| 12 | PORK-N-BONES | |
| 13 | CREEKSIDE SMOKERS NC | |
| 14 | NARD'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 15 | TOO SAUCED TO PORK | |
| 16 | MEATHEADS - GA | |
| 17 | TEAM MEAT HOLE | |
| 18 | BONAFIDE BBQ |