A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 4 tracked editions
BUTCHER BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 4 tracked editions.
- 2016
- 2017
Cherokee Strip BBQ Cook-Off 2016
Sep 16–17, 2016 · Ponca City, OK · 📍 Ponca Lake
BUTCHER BBQ won Grand Champion at the Cherokee Strip BBQ Cook-Off on September 16, 2016 in Ponca City, OK at Ponca Lake, scoring 695.9312 in a field of 43 teams. DR. NORDY'S BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 690.2860. Category winners: Chicken — BUTCHER BBQ (178.8800); Pork Ribs — BUTCHER BBQ (177.7028); Pork — THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ (179.4400); Brisket — THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS (180.0000). This is the 1st of 4 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2017.
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.
451.92
median 661.09
695.93 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 178.88
- Pork Ribs 177.70
- Pork 179.44
- Brisket 180 🔥
132.61
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2016 to 2019 — this edition picked out.
Entries
43
4 judged meats · 3 ancillary
Top score
695.9312
Winning margin
5.6452
GC over RC
Field average
649.52
451.92695.93
median 661.09 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
4.0228 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
677.1088
451.92695.93
10th place overall
Field spread
244.0112
winner to last place
Double threats
3
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 51%
beats 49% of 4723 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.79 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,593
avg power rating going in · stronger than 73% 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 8 calls decided inside half a point
Pork places 7–8: BUTCHER BBQ and 4 LEGS UP BBQ tied on 171.9656 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 9–10: Twin Oaks Smokin Crew edged THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ by 0.0116. Pork places 9–10: SMOKEAHOLICS edged LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ by 0.0116.
- Pork 7–8 · tie
- Pork Ribs 9–10 · 0.0116
- Pork 9–10 · 0.0116
- Chicken 4–5 · 0.0228
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
BUTCHER BBQ won Chicken, Pork Ribs — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
BUTCHER BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was brisket at 14th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 7th
- Brisket 14th
A perfect score on the table
1
perfect 180s
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS · Brisket
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 2016 ← this one | Ponca City, OK | Ponca Lake | 43 | 695.9312 | BUTCHER BBQ | DR. NORDY'S BBQ |
| Sep 15, 2017 | Ponca City, OK | Lake Ponca | 38 | 706.2744 | BUTCHER BBQ | BUFFALO'S BBQ |
| Sep 21, 2018 | Ponca City, OK | Lake Ponca | 29 | 693.1544 | DIVINE SWINE | BUTCHER BBQ |
| Sep 20, 2019 | Ponca City, OK | Ponka Lake | 28 | 698.8000 | Boomerang BBQ | 4 LEGS UP BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8800 | 174.8572 | 171.9772 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.7028 | 173.1544 | 170.2628 |
| Pork | 179.4400 | 174.2628 | 171.4056 |
| Brisket | 180 | 172 | 168.5600 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
43 entries · top 695.9312 · median 661.0860
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 2 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 3 | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | |
| 4 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 5 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKEAHOLICS | |
| 7 | KOSMOSQ.COM | |
| 8 | Bonemaker Outdoors | |
| 9 | MOOCHEWSOOEY | |
| 10 | TEXAS-CAR-B-QUE | |
| 11 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 12 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 13 | LAKERAT BBQ | |
| 14 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 15 | LONGBONE BBQ | |
| 16 | OKIEQ | |
| 17 | COOKSHACK | |
| 18 | LAZY BUTT BBQ | |
| 19 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 20 | THE GRISWOLDS | |
| 21 | MOVIN' THE CHAINS | |
| 22 | Twin Oaks Smokin Crew | |
| 23 | 3G BBQ OK | |
| 24 | DIVINE SWINE | |
| 25 | Skinny's BBQ | |
| 26 | TIKI QUE | |
| 27 | RISE N SWINE | |
| 28 | SMOKIN ME CRAZY | |
| 29 | PURPLEVOODOO BBQ | |
| 30 | POPS' SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 31 | TRAVELIN' SMOKE BBQ | |
| 32 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 33 | BOOM CITY BBQ | |
| 34 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 35 | MEATLOVERSBBQ | |
| 36 | TRIANGLE S BAR B Q | |
| 37 | BIGFOOT BAR-BQ | |
| 38 | Osage Casino Smokin Aces | |
| 39 | Country Road BBQ | |
| 40 | Two D's BBQ | |
| 41 | Smoke Wars | |
| 42 | Smokin Aimgos | |
| 43 | BACK FROM THE DEAD |
Chicken
42 entries · top 178.8800 · median 167.6970
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 2 | TIKI QUE | |
| 3 | THE GRISWOLDS | |
| 4 | SMOKEAHOLICS | |
| 5 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 6 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 7 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 8 | OKIEQ | |
| 9 | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | |
| 10 | Bonemaker Outdoors | |
| 11 | KOSMOSQ.COM | |
| 12 | POPS' SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 13 | Skinny's BBQ | |
| 14 | TEXAS-CAR-B-QUE | |
| 15 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 16 | LONGBONE BBQ | |
| 17 | LAKERAT BBQ | |
| 18 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 19 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKIN ME CRAZY | |
| 21 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 22 | TRAVELIN' SMOKE BBQ | |
| 23 | RISE N SWINE | |
| 24 | DIVINE SWINE | |
| 25 | MOOCHEWSOOEY | |
| 26 | BOOM CITY BBQ | |
| 27 | MOVIN' THE CHAINS | |
| 28 | TRIANGLE S BAR B Q | |
| 29 | COOKSHACK | |
| 30 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 31 | LAZY BUTT BBQ | |
| 32 | Twin Oaks Smokin Crew | |
| 33 | PURPLEVOODOO BBQ | |
| 34 | BIGFOOT BAR-BQ | |
| 35 | MEATLOVERSBBQ | |
| 36 | 3G BBQ OK | |
| 37 | Smoke Wars | |
| 38 | Osage Casino Smokin Aces | |
| 39 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 40 | Country Road BBQ | |
| 41 | Two D's BBQ | |
| 42 | Smokin Aimgos |
Pork Ribs
43 entries · top 177.7028 · median 165.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 2 | MOVIN' THE CHAINS | |
| 3 | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | |
| 4 | 3G BBQ OK | |
| 5 | TEXAS-CAR-B-QUE | |
| 6 | PURPLEVOODOO BBQ | |
| 7 | OKIEQ | |
| 8 | MOOCHEWSOOEY | |
| 9 | Twin Oaks Smokin Crew | |
| 10 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 11 | Bonemaker Outdoors | |
| 12 | SMOKEAHOLICS | |
| 13 | SMOKIN ME CRAZY | |
| 14 | COOKSHACK | |
| 15 | LONGBONE BBQ | |
| 16 | KOSMOSQ.COM | |
| 17 | TRAVELIN' SMOKE BBQ | |
| 18 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 19 | MEATLOVERSBBQ | |
| 20 | TIKI QUE | |
| 21 | LAZY BUTT BBQ | |
| 22 | DIVINE SWINE | |
| 23 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 24 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 25 | POPS' SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 26 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 27 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 28 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 29 | RISE N SWINE | |
| 30 | THE GRISWOLDS | |
| 31 | Skinny's BBQ | |
| 32 | LAKERAT BBQ | |
| 33 | TRIANGLE S BAR B Q | |
| 34 | BOOM CITY BBQ | |
| 35 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 36 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 37 | Smoke Wars | |
| 38 | Smokin Aimgos | |
| 39 | Osage Casino Smokin Aces | |
| 40 | BIGFOOT BAR-BQ | |
| 41 | Two D's BBQ | |
| 42 | Country Road BBQ | |
| 43 | BACK FROM THE DEAD |
Pork
43 entries · top 179.4400 · median 164.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 2 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 3 | LAZY BUTT BBQ | |
| 4 | LAKERAT BBQ | |
| 5 | Bonemaker Outdoors | |
| 6 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 7 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 8 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKEAHOLICS | |
| 10 | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | |
| 11 | COOKSHACK | |
| 12 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 13 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 14 | KOSMOSQ.COM | |
| 15 | MOOCHEWSOOEY | |
| 16 | 3G BBQ OK | |
| 17 | LONGBONE BBQ | |
| 18 | PURPLEVOODOO BBQ | |
| 19 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 20 | MOVIN' THE CHAINS | |
| 21 | Twin Oaks Smokin Crew | |
| 22 | OKIEQ | |
| 23 | BOOM CITY BBQ | |
| 24 | MEATLOVERSBBQ | |
| 25 | POPS' SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 26 | SMOKIN ME CRAZY | |
| 27 | TRIANGLE S BAR B Q | |
| 28 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 29 | TEXAS-CAR-B-QUE | |
| 30 | THE GRISWOLDS | |
| 31 | Skinny's BBQ | |
| 32 | TIKI QUE | |
| 33 | DIVINE SWINE | |
| 34 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 35 | Osage Casino Smokin Aces | |
| 36 | RISE N SWINE | |
| 37 | Two D's BBQ | |
| 38 | TRAVELIN' SMOKE BBQ | |
| 39 | BACK FROM THE DEAD | |
| 40 | Country Road BBQ | |
| 41 | Smokin Aimgos | |
| 42 | BIGFOOT BAR-BQ | |
| 43 | Smoke Wars |
Brisket
43 entries · top 180 · median 163.9428 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 2 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 3 | TEXAS-CAR-B-QUE | |
| 4 | KOSMOSQ.COM | |
| 5 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 6 | MOOCHEWSOOEY | |
| 7 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 8 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKEAHOLICS | |
| 10 | LAKERAT BBQ | |
| 11 | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | |
| 12 | RISE N SWINE | |
| 13 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 14 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 15 | LONGBONE BBQ | |
| 16 | DIVINE SWINE | |
| 17 | BIGFOOT BAR-BQ | |
| 18 | Twin Oaks Smokin Crew | |
| 19 | Bonemaker Outdoors | |
| 20 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 21 | 3G BBQ OK | |
| 22 | THE GRISWOLDS | |
| 23 | LAZY BUTT BBQ | |
| 24 | Skinny's BBQ | |
| 25 | COOKSHACK | |
| 26 | OKIEQ | |
| 27 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 28 | TRAVELIN' SMOKE BBQ | |
| 29 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 30 | BACK FROM THE DEAD | |
| 31 | MOVIN' THE CHAINS | |
| 32 | Osage Casino Smokin Aces | |
| 33 | TIKI QUE | |
| 34 | SMOKIN ME CRAZY | |
| 35 | POPS' SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 36 | PURPLEVOODOO BBQ | |
| 37 | Country Road BBQ | |
| 38 | BOOM CITY BBQ | |
| 39 | MEATLOVERSBBQ | |
| 40 | Two D's BBQ | |
| 41 | TRIANGLE S BAR B Q | |
| 42 | Smoke Wars | |
| 43 | Smokin Aimgos |
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 — Beans
10 entries · top 177.7372 · median 166.8800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Osage Casino Smokin Aces | |
| 2 | Smoke Wars | |
| 3 | BIGFOOT BAR-BQ | |
| 4 | BACK FROM THE DEAD | |
| 5 | 3G BBQ OK | |
| 6 | HOLY SMOKERS | |
| 7 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 8 | Under Age Smokers | |
| 9 | MEATLOVERSBBQ | |
| 10 | TRAVELIN' SMOKE BBQ |
Master Series — Dessert
7 entries · top 180 · median 174.2972 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MOOCHEWSOOEY | |
| 2 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 3 | BIGFOOT BAR-BQ | |
| 4 | DIVINE SWINE | |
| 5 | Two D's BBQ | |
| 6 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 7 | Storytime BBQ |
Master Series — Sauce
10 entries · top 170.8572 · median 163.9484
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lazy Butt BBQ Crew 2 | |
| 2 | DIVINE SWINE | |
| 3 | Divine Swine 2 | |
| 4 | PURPLEVOODOO BBQ | |
| 5 | LAZY BUTT BBQ | |
| 6 | THE GRISWOLDS | |
| 7 | Smoke Wars | |
| 8 | MEATLOVERSBBQ | |
| 9 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 10 | BIGFOOT BAR-BQ |