Jan 20–21, 2017 · Bullhead City, AZ · 📍 Rotary Park
SHIG NINJA BBQ won Grand Champion at the Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge on January 20, 2017 in Bullhead City, AZ at Rotary Park, scoring 697.0972 in a field of 40 teams. STEEL CITY BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 696.5028. Category winners: Chicken — SHIG NINJA BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — SMOKED PERFECTION (176.0000); Pork — SHIG NINJA BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — ZZYZX BAR.B.Q (180.0000). This is the 1st of 6 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2018.
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, 2017 to 2023 — 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 88% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.5944 points — closer than 88% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 75 times in 100
SHIG NINJA BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 25-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
Chicken places 7–8: SMOKIN' SHUTTERS and HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 6–7: SMOKIN MO'S BBQ and SWEET PETE'S BBQ tied on 171.9772 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 2–3: YOUR BEHIND BBQ and BAD BOYZ BBQ tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
SHIG NINJA BBQ won Chicken, Pork — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
SHIG NINJA BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was pork ribs at 15th.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 20, 2017 ← this one | Bullhead City, AZ | Rotary Park | 40 | 697.0972 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | STEEL CITY BBQ |
| Jan 19, 2018 | Bullhead City, AZ | Rotary Park | 70 | 700.5600 | ROOFTOP BBQ | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ |
| Jan 18, 2019 | Bullhead City, AZ | Rotary Park | 63 | 696.5256 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | UTAH BBQ COMPANY |
| Jan 17, 2020 | Bullhead City, AZ | Rotary Park | 59 | 695.9428 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | THE BBQ BUS |
| Jan 14, 2022 | Bullhead City, AZ | Rotary Park | 59 | 695.3944 | SHARPE GOURMET COOKING WOOD | BIG POPPA SMOKERS |
| Jan 13, 2023 | Bullhead City, AZ | Rotary Park | 45 | 691.3716 | STEVO'S BBQ | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 175.4172 | 171.9656 |
| Pork Ribs | 176 | 172.0344 | 170.2744 |
| Pork | 180 | 176.5716 | 173.1200 |
| Brisket | 180 | 171.9772 | 169.1200 |
40 entries · top 697.0972 · median 665.6114
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 2 | STEEL CITY BBQ | |
| 3 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 4 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 6 | VEGAS GRILLBILLIES | |
| 7 | YOUR BEHIND BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKEDOUT BBQ | |
| 9 | BAD BOYZ BBQ | |
| 10 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 11 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 12 | KNIFE PORK AND SPOON | |
| 13 | PHIL THE GRILL | |
| 14 | SWEET PETE'S BBQ | |
| 15 | ZZYZX BAR.B.Q | |
| 16 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKED PERFECTION | |
| 18 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 19 | JBS SMOKEWAGON | |
| 20 | MONSOON BBQ | |
| 21 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 22 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 23 | BROTHER OF SWEET SMOKE Q | |
| 24 | SMOKIN' SHUTTERS | |
| 25 | SQUAT AND GOBBLE BARBEQUE | |
| 26 | KARNIVOROUS | |
| 27 | SWIMMIN IN SMOKE | |
| 28 | DJS SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 29 | ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q | |
| 30 | BOBBY-Q | |
| 31 | AZ BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 32 | JERRY KING MIDLAND TX | |
| 33 | FAT FRANKIES BBQ LLC | |
| 34 | BADCAT'S BBQ TEAM | |
| 35 | BLAZING BUZZARD BBQ | |
| 36 | TRI-STAR BBQ | |
| 37 | BIGGS BBQ | |
| 38 | PEPPER PAPPY BBQ CO | |
| 39 | SMOKE'N GRIND | |
| 40 | STROHS BBQ |
40 entries · top 180 · median 166.8456 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 2 | STEEL CITY BBQ | |
| 3 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 4 | SMOKEDOUT BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 6 | PHIL THE GRILL | |
| 7 | SMOKIN' SHUTTERS | |
| 8 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 9 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 10 | YOUR BEHIND BBQ | |
| 11 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 12 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 13 | VEGAS GRILLBILLIES | |
| 14 | SWEET PETE'S BBQ | |
| 15 | BAD BOYZ BBQ | |
| 16 | MONSOON BBQ | |
| 17 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 18 | SQUAT AND GOBBLE BARBEQUE | |
| 19 | ZZYZX BAR.B.Q | |
| 20 | ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q | |
| 21 | BIGGS BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKED PERFECTION | |
| 23 | JBS SMOKEWAGON | |
| 24 | SMOKE'N GRIND | |
| 25 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 26 | SWIMMIN IN SMOKE | |
| 27 | KARNIVOROUS | |
| 28 | JERRY KING MIDLAND TX | |
| 29 | DJS SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 30 | AZ BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 31 | KNIFE PORK AND SPOON | |
| 32 | BOBBY-Q | |
| 33 | BROTHER OF SWEET SMOKE Q | |
| 34 | FAT FRANKIES BBQ LLC | |
| 35 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 36 | BLAZING BUZZARD BBQ | |
| 37 | STROHS BBQ | |
| 38 | TRI-STAR BBQ | |
| 39 | PEPPER PAPPY BBQ CO | |
| 40 | BADCAT'S BBQ TEAM |
40 entries · top 176 · median 164.8572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKED PERFECTION | |
| 2 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 3 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 4 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 5 | YOUR BEHIND BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 7 | SWEET PETE'S BBQ | |
| 8 | KNIFE PORK AND SPOON | |
| 9 | BLAZING BUZZARD BBQ | |
| 10 | STEEL CITY BBQ | |
| 11 | VEGAS GRILLBILLIES | |
| 12 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 13 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 14 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 15 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 16 | SWIMMIN IN SMOKE | |
| 17 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 18 | DJS SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 19 | PHIL THE GRILL | |
| 20 | SQUAT AND GOBBLE BARBEQUE | |
| 21 | JBS SMOKEWAGON | |
| 22 | SMOKEDOUT BBQ | |
| 23 | BAD BOYZ BBQ | |
| 24 | MONSOON BBQ | |
| 25 | ZZYZX BAR.B.Q | |
| 26 | PEPPER PAPPY BBQ CO | |
| 27 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 28 | ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q | |
| 29 | BADCAT'S BBQ TEAM | |
| 30 | BROTHER OF SWEET SMOKE Q | |
| 31 | SMOKIN' SHUTTERS | |
| 32 | JERRY KING MIDLAND TX | |
| 33 | SMOKE'N GRIND | |
| 34 | AZ BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 35 | FAT FRANKIES BBQ LLC | |
| 36 | KARNIVOROUS | |
| 37 | TRI-STAR BBQ | |
| 38 | BOBBY-Q | |
| 39 | STROHS BBQ | |
| 40 | BIGGS BBQ |
40 entries · top 180 · median 167.9772 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 2 | YOUR BEHIND BBQ | |
| 3 | BAD BOYZ BBQ | |
| 4 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 5 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 6 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 7 | STEEL CITY BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKEDOUT BBQ | |
| 9 | BROTHER OF SWEET SMOKE Q | |
| 10 | JBS SMOKEWAGON | |
| 11 | KNIFE PORK AND SPOON | |
| 12 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 13 | MONSOON BBQ | |
| 14 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKED PERFECTION | |
| 16 | SWEET PETE'S BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKIN' SHUTTERS | |
| 18 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 19 | VEGAS GRILLBILLIES | |
| 20 | BADCAT'S BBQ TEAM | |
| 21 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 22 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 23 | BIGGS BBQ | |
| 24 | ZZYZX BAR.B.Q | |
| 25 | PHIL THE GRILL | |
| 26 | ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q | |
| 27 | KARNIVOROUS | |
| 28 | AZ BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 29 | BOBBY-Q | |
| 30 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 31 | SQUAT AND GOBBLE BARBEQUE | |
| 32 | TRI-STAR BBQ | |
| 33 | JERRY KING MIDLAND TX | |
| 34 | STROHS BBQ | |
| 35 | FAT FRANKIES BBQ LLC | |
| 36 | SWIMMIN IN SMOKE | |
| 37 | DJS SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 38 | BLAZING BUZZARD BBQ | |
| 39 | SMOKE'N GRIND | |
| 40 | PEPPER PAPPY BBQ CO |
40 entries · top 180 · median 164.2686 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZZYZX BAR.B.Q | |
| 2 | VEGAS GRILLBILLIES | |
| 3 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 4 | BAD BOYZ BBQ | |
| 5 | KNIFE PORK AND SPOON | |
| 6 | STEEL CITY BBQ | |
| 7 | PHIL THE GRILL | |
| 8 | SMOKEDOUT BBQ | |
| 9 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 10 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 11 | KARNIVOROUS | |
| 12 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 13 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 14 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 16 | SQUAT AND GOBBLE BARBEQUE | |
| 17 | BROTHER OF SWEET SMOKE Q | |
| 18 | SWEET PETE'S BBQ | |
| 19 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 20 | JBS SMOKEWAGON | |
| 21 | DJS SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 22 | SWIMMIN IN SMOKE | |
| 23 | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 25 | MONSOON BBQ | |
| 26 | YOUR BEHIND BBQ | |
| 27 | BOBBY-Q | |
| 28 | FAT FRANKIES BBQ LLC | |
| 29 | AZ BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 30 | SMOKIN' SHUTTERS | |
| 31 | SMOKED PERFECTION | |
| 32 | JERRY KING MIDLAND TX | |
| 33 | BIGGS BBQ | |
| 34 | BADCAT'S BBQ TEAM | |
| 35 | ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q | |
| 36 | TRI-STAR BBQ | |
| 37 | PEPPER PAPPY BBQ CO | |
| 38 | BLAZING BUZZARD BBQ | |
| 39 | SMOKE'N GRIND | |
| 40 | STROHS BBQ |
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.
4 entries · top 173.7028 · median 171.1314
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | YOUR BEHIND BBQ | |
| 2 | BROTHER OF SWEET SMOKE Q | |
| 3 | BOBBY-Q | |
| 4 | SMOKE'N GRIND |
6 entries · top 169.6800 · median 163.9886
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PEPPER PAPPY BBQ CO | |
| 2 | BOBBY-Q | |
| 3 | YOUR BEHIND BBQ | |
| 4 | JERRY KING MIDLAND TX | |
| 5 | KARNIVOROUS | |
| 6 | SMOKE'N GRIND |