A stacked field
1654
average power rating going in
Stronger than 96% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1654 power rating going in — stronger than 96% of every contest tracked.
- top seed THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ (1904)
- 39 rated teams
Balloons Blues and Barbeque
Oct 14–15, 2016 · Parsons, KS · 📍 Forest Park 13th & Breadway Ave
BUFFALO'S BBQ won Grand Champion at the Balloons Blues and Barbeque on October 14, 2016 in Parsons, KS at Forest Park 13th & Breadway Ave, scoring 698.3088 in a field of 39 teams. GETTIN' BASTED took Reserve Grand Champion with 695.9772. Category winners: Chicken — THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — SLAPS BBQ (178.8572); Pork — GETTIN' BASTED (177.7028); Brisket — BUFFALO'S BBQ (179.4400).
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.
608.09
median 661.60
698.31 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180 🔥
- Pork Ribs 178.86
- Pork 177.70
- Brisket 179.44
144.54
180
Entries
39
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
698.3088
Winning margin
2.3316
GC over RC
Field average
660.49
608.09698.31
median 661.60 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
4 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
684.5600
608.09698.31
10th place overall
Field spread
90.2168
winner to last place
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 39%
beats 61% of 4714 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.85 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,654
avg power rating going in · stronger than 96% of contests
Storylines (4 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 10 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 3–4: BURNT AT BOTH ENDZ and HIGH i QUE tied on 175.4400 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 1–2: SLAPS BBQ and CAVEMAN CUISINE tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 4–5: GETTIN' BASTED and LUCKY'S Q tied on 174.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Pork Ribs 1–2 · tie
- Pork Ribs 4–5 · tie
- Pork 6–7 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
BUFFALO'S BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 10th.
- Chicken 6th
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 10th
- Brisket 1st
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.
- THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ · Chicken
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 | 180 | 174.3200 | 172 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 174.8572 | 171.4172 |
| Pork | 177.7028 | 173.7028 | 169.7144 |
| Brisket | 179.4400 | 173.7028 | 171.4400 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
39 entries · top 698.3088 · median 661.6000
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 2 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 3 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 4 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 5 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 6 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 7 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 8 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 9 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 10 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 11 | OLD STYLE BBQ | |
| 12 | DEAD PIGS TELL NO TALES | |
| 13 | BURNT AT BOTH ENDZ | |
| 14 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 15 | MADE WITH RUB | |
| 16 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 17 | MOKAN MEATHEADS | |
| 18 | LAKERAT BBQ | |
| 19 | BULL CREEK BBQ | |
| 20 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 21 | PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS | |
| 22 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 23 | NAUGHTY NURSES BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 25 | MOVIN' THE CHAINS | |
| 26 | PORKERSTARS | |
| 27 | Smokin in the Ozarks | |
| 28 | JUST FOR FUN | |
| 29 | SMOKERS WILD | |
| 30 | STP BBQ | |
| 31 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 32 | LIL' SUMPIN BBQ | |
| 33 | SMOKIN BILL'S BBQ | |
| 34 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 35 | 2 GUY'S SMOKIN | |
| 36 | Beer Belly Barbeque | |
| 37 | Beer Me Que | |
| 38 | PIG IN PLAID | |
| 39 | Moore's Smokin |
Chicken
39 entries · top 180 · median 167.4172 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 2 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 3 | BURNT AT BOTH ENDZ | |
| 4 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 5 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 6 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 7 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 8 | DEAD PIGS TELL NO TALES | |
| 9 | OLD STYLE BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKERS WILD | |
| 11 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 12 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 13 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 14 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 15 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 16 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 17 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 18 | Smokin in the Ozarks | |
| 19 | MADE WITH RUB | |
| 20 | BULL CREEK BBQ | |
| 21 | LAKERAT BBQ | |
| 22 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 23 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 24 | NAUGHTY NURSES BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 26 | PORKERSTARS | |
| 27 | MOKAN MEATHEADS | |
| 28 | 2 GUY'S SMOKIN | |
| 29 | STP BBQ | |
| 30 | PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS | |
| 31 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 32 | MOVIN' THE CHAINS | |
| 33 | JUST FOR FUN | |
| 34 | SMOKIN BILL'S BBQ | |
| 35 | Beer Belly Barbeque | |
| 36 | PIG IN PLAID | |
| 37 | LIL' SUMPIN BBQ | |
| 38 | Moore's Smokin | |
| 39 | Beer Me Que |
Pork Ribs
39 entries · top 178.8572 · median 166.8344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 2 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 3 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 4 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 5 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 6 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 7 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 8 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 9 | MOVIN' THE CHAINS | |
| 10 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 11 | OLD STYLE BBQ | |
| 12 | BULL CREEK BBQ | |
| 13 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 14 | JUST FOR FUN | |
| 15 | MOKAN MEATHEADS | |
| 16 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 17 | DEAD PIGS TELL NO TALES | |
| 18 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 19 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 20 | PORKERSTARS | |
| 21 | PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS | |
| 22 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 24 | NAUGHTY NURSES BBQ | |
| 25 | MADE WITH RUB | |
| 26 | BURNT AT BOTH ENDZ | |
| 27 | LAKERAT BBQ | |
| 28 | Smokin in the Ozarks | |
| 29 | LIL' SUMPIN BBQ | |
| 30 | SMOKERS WILD | |
| 31 | Moore's Smokin | |
| 32 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 33 | STP BBQ | |
| 34 | 2 GUY'S SMOKIN | |
| 35 | Beer Me Que | |
| 36 | Beer Belly Barbeque | |
| 37 | SMOKIN BILL'S BBQ | |
| 38 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 39 | PIG IN PLAID |
Pork
39 entries · top 177.7028 · median 165.6684
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 2 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 3 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 4 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 5 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 6 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 7 | DEAD PIGS TELL NO TALES | |
| 8 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 9 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 10 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 11 | BURNT AT BOTH ENDZ | |
| 12 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 13 | MOKAN MEATHEADS | |
| 14 | NAUGHTY NURSES BBQ | |
| 15 | Beer Belly Barbeque | |
| 16 | MADE WITH RUB | |
| 17 | PORKERSTARS | |
| 18 | SMOKIN BILL'S BBQ | |
| 19 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 20 | OLD STYLE BBQ | |
| 21 | SMOKERS WILD | |
| 22 | MOVIN' THE CHAINS | |
| 23 | LAKERAT BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 25 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 26 | Smokin in the Ozarks | |
| 27 | LIL' SUMPIN BBQ | |
| 28 | STP BBQ | |
| 29 | PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS | |
| 30 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 31 | Beer Me Que | |
| 32 | JUST FOR FUN | |
| 33 | BULL CREEK BBQ | |
| 34 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 35 | PIG IN PLAID | |
| 36 | 2 GUY'S SMOKIN | |
| 37 | Moore's Smokin | |
| 38 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 39 | WOOD HOOK BBQ |
Brisket
39 entries · top 179.4400 · median 165.1772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 2 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 3 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 4 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 5 | MADE WITH RUB | |
| 6 | OLD STYLE BBQ | |
| 7 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 8 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 9 | LAKERAT BBQ | |
| 10 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 11 | PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS | |
| 12 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 13 | BURNT AT BOTH ENDZ | |
| 14 | STP BBQ | |
| 15 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 16 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 17 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 18 | DEAD PIGS TELL NO TALES | |
| 19 | MOKAN MEATHEADS | |
| 20 | JUST FOR FUN | |
| 21 | BULL CREEK BBQ | |
| 22 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 23 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 24 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 25 | NAUGHTY NURSES BBQ | |
| 26 | MOVIN' THE CHAINS | |
| 27 | Smokin in the Ozarks | |
| 28 | LIL' SUMPIN BBQ | |
| 29 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 30 | PORKERSTARS | |
| 31 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 32 | SMOKERS WILD | |
| 33 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 34 | SMOKIN BILL'S BBQ | |
| 35 | 2 GUY'S SMOKIN | |
| 36 | Beer Me Que | |
| 37 | PIG IN PLAID | |
| 38 | Beer Belly Barbeque | |
| 39 | Moore's Smokin |
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 — Anything But
12 entries · top 180 · median 177.4228 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 2 | PIG IN PLAID | |
| 3 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 4 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 5 | JUST FOR FUN | |
| 6 | NAUGHTY NURSES BBQ | |
| 7 | Beer Me Que | |
| 8 | Moore's Smokin | |
| 9 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 10 | DEAD PIGS TELL NO TALES | |
| 11 | Beer Belly Barbeque | |
| 12 | WOOD HOOK BBQ |