Mar 27–28, 2026 · St. Robert, MO · 📍 114 J.H. Williamson Drive · State championship
Reps: Charlie Brinza, Jeanne Titus · Prize money: $5,600
Kermit's Ex won Grand Champion at the Kickin' It Route 66 Barbecue Challenge on March 27, 2026 in St. Robert, MO at 114 J.H. Williamson Drive, scoring 707.3828 in a field of 26 teams. Crossed Rifles BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 706.2744. Category winners: Chicken — O.G. BANDITS (180.0000); Pork Ribs — Crossed Rifles BBQ (177.7144); Pork — 1Bite Stand (180.0000); Brisket — Rowdy Pig (180.0000). The Backyard Series standings were won by HORMONAL ESCAPE COMPETITION BBQ with 354.2744. This is the 4th of 7 editions of this contest on record; the 2025 edition was won by Shake 'n Bake BBQ; the next was held in 2026.
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, 2025 to 2026 — 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 84% of the 4,722 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1084 points — closer than 84% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 80 times in 100
Kermit's Ex came in rated below the field's top team, SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 20-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
Kermit's Ex won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
5 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
First to fifth in the overall standings covered just 3.4284 points.
Master Series — Chicken places 2–3: OnlyCans Competition BBQ and Cities Edge BBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 3–4: Cities Edge BBQ and JANKY LEG BBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 7–8: 1Bite Stand and Sidetrack BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Janky Leg BBQ (won 2025), Shake 'n Bake BBQ (won 2025).
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 2025 | St. Robert, MO | 114 J.H. Williamson Drive | 27 | 715.4288 | Glamping Grillers | JANKY LEG BBQ |
| Mar 29, 2025 | St. Robert, MO | 114 J.H. Williamson Drive | 25 | 702.8116 | Janky Leg BBQ | Can Country Outlaw BBQ |
| Mar 29, 2025 | St. Robert, MO | 114 J.H. Williamson Drive | 15 | 180 | Shake 'n Bake BBQ | — |
| Mar 27, 2026 ← this one | St. Robert, MO | 114 J.H. Williamson Drive | 26 | 707.3828 | Kermit's Ex | Crossed Rifles BBQ |
| Mar 28, 2026 | St. Robert, MO | 114 J.H. Williamson Drive | 12 | 178.8572 | 1Bite Stand | — |
| Mar 26, 2027 | St. Robert, MO | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mar 27, 2027 | St. Robert, MO | — | — | — | — | — |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180 | 177.1428 | 175.4056 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 177.7144 | 176 | 173.1200 |
| Master Series — Pork | 180 | 177.1544 | 175.4056 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 180 | 177.7144 | 176.5600 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 178.8572 | 176 | 173.1544 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 178.2972 | 175.4172 | 171.9772 |
26 entries · top 707.3828 · median 693.6342
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kermit's Ex | |
| 2 | Crossed Rifles BBQ | |
| 3 | OnlyCans Competition BBQ | |
| 4 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 5 | 1Bite Stand | |
| 6 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 7 | BIGG SMOAK BBQ | |
| 8 | Rowdy Pig | |
| 9 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 10 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 11 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 12 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 13 | O.G. BANDITS | |
| 14 | Three Stooges Barbeque | |
| 15 | Take It Easy BBQ | |
| 16 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 17 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 19 | Ambition Que | |
| 20 | Dr. Smoke | |
| 21 | Summa Dat Que | |
| 22 | MY 3 SONS BARBEQUE MO | |
| 23 | Sidetrack BBQ | |
| 24 | BULLS SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 25 | 573 Smokehouse | |
| 26 | T Dubbz Craft BBQ 2 |
26 entries · top 180 · median 173.1258 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | O.G. BANDITS | |
| 2 | OnlyCans Competition BBQ | |
| 3 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 4 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 5 | Crossed Rifles BBQ | |
| 6 | Take It Easy BBQ | |
| 7 | 1Bite Stand | |
| 8 | Sidetrack BBQ | |
| 9 | Dr. Smoke | |
| 10 | BIGG SMOAK BBQ | |
| 11 | Rowdy Pig | |
| 12 | Kermit's Ex | |
| 13 | Summa Dat Que | |
| 14 | Ambition Que | |
| 15 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 16 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 17 | Three Stooges Barbeque | |
| 18 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 19 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 20 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 21 | MY 3 SONS BARBEQUE MO | |
| 22 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 24 | 573 Smokehouse | |
| 25 | BULLS SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 26 | T Dubbz Craft BBQ 2 |
26 entries · top 177.7144 · median 171.9830
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crossed Rifles BBQ | |
| 2 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 3 | OnlyCans Competition BBQ | |
| 4 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 5 | Three Stooges Barbeque | |
| 6 | Kermit's Ex | |
| 7 | 1Bite Stand | |
| 8 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 9 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 10 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 11 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 12 | BIGG SMOAK BBQ | |
| 13 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 14 | Ambition Que | |
| 15 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 16 | O.G. BANDITS | |
| 17 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 18 | Rowdy Pig | |
| 19 | Summa Dat Que | |
| 20 | Take It Easy BBQ | |
| 21 | MY 3 SONS BARBEQUE MO | |
| 22 | Sidetrack BBQ | |
| 23 | 573 Smokehouse | |
| 24 | BULLS SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 25 | Dr. Smoke | |
| 26 | T Dubbz Craft BBQ 2 |
26 entries · top 180 · median 173.9886 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Bite Stand | |
| 2 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 3 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 4 | Kermit's Ex | |
| 5 | Crossed Rifles BBQ | |
| 6 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 7 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 8 | O.G. BANDITS | |
| 9 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 10 | Three Stooges Barbeque | |
| 11 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 12 | OnlyCans Competition BBQ | |
| 13 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 14 | BIGG SMOAK BBQ | |
| 15 | Rowdy Pig | |
| 16 | MY 3 SONS BARBEQUE MO | |
| 17 | Take It Easy BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 19 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 20 | Ambition Que | |
| 21 | T Dubbz Craft BBQ 2 | |
| 22 | Summa Dat Que | |
| 23 | Dr. Smoke | |
| 24 | BULLS SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 25 | Sidetrack BBQ | |
| 26 | 573 Smokehouse |
26 entries · top 180 · median 174.2628 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rowdy Pig | |
| 2 | Kermit's Ex | |
| 3 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 4 | OnlyCans Competition BBQ | |
| 5 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 6 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 7 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 8 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 10 | Take It Easy BBQ | |
| 11 | BIGG SMOAK BBQ | |
| 12 | 1Bite Stand | |
| 13 | Crossed Rifles BBQ | |
| 14 | Dr. Smoke | |
| 15 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 16 | Three Stooges Barbeque | |
| 17 | Ambition Que | |
| 18 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 19 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 20 | O.G. BANDITS | |
| 21 | MY 3 SONS BARBEQUE MO | |
| 22 | Summa Dat Que | |
| 23 | BULLS SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 24 | Sidetrack BBQ | |
| 25 | 573 Smokehouse | |
| 26 | T Dubbz Craft BBQ 2 |
17 entries · top 354.2744 · median 346.2400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HORMONAL ESCAPE COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 2 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 3 | RobbieQ | |
| 4 | Pork-N-Go | |
| 5 | Two Pigs And A Smoker | |
| 6 | Poppin Smoke BBQ | |
| 7 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 8 | Alaska BBQ Mann | |
| 9 | Flame Forged BBQ | |
| 10 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 11 | Smoke Til Ya Broke | |
| 12 | E SQUARED BBQ | |
| 13 | Smoked By The Brooks | |
| 14 | SadieQ | |
| 15 | Too Sauced BBQ | |
| 16 | Hillbilly Bar-B-Q | |
| 17 | T Dubbz Craft BBQ |
17 entries · top 178.8572 · median 173.7028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HORMONAL ESCAPE COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 2 | Two Pigs And A Smoker | |
| 3 | Smoke Til Ya Broke | |
| 4 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 5 | Pork-N-Go | |
| 6 | Poppin Smoke BBQ | |
| 7 | RobbieQ | |
| 8 | Smoked By The Brooks | |
| 9 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 10 | Alaska BBQ Mann | |
| 11 | Flame Forged BBQ | |
| 12 | E SQUARED BBQ | |
| 13 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 14 | Too Sauced BBQ | |
| 15 | SadieQ | |
| 16 | Hillbilly Bar-B-Q | |
| 17 | T Dubbz Craft BBQ |
17 entries · top 178.2972 · median 173.1084
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 2 | SadieQ | |
| 3 | RobbieQ | |
| 4 | Pork-N-Go | |
| 5 | HORMONAL ESCAPE COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 6 | Flame Forged BBQ | |
| 7 | Poppin Smoke BBQ | |
| 8 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 9 | Alaska BBQ Mann | |
| 10 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 11 | Two Pigs And A Smoker | |
| 12 | E SQUARED BBQ | |
| 13 | Smoked By The Brooks | |
| 14 | Too Sauced BBQ | |
| 15 | Smoke Til Ya Broke | |
| 16 | Hillbilly Bar-B-Q | |
| 17 | T Dubbz Craft BBQ |