Won without a category win
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
SLAPS BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 8th
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 2nd
- Brisket 7th
Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out 2017
Sep 15–16, 2017 · Kearney, MO · 📍 3001 N 33 Highway
SLAPS BBQ won Grand Champion at the Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out on September 15, 2017 in Kearney, MO at 3001 N 33 Highway, scoring 696.5028 in a field of 37 teams. SONS OF A BRISKET took Reserve Grand Champion with 694.7656. Category winners: Chicken — WALDO BBQ (178.8572); Pork Ribs — SONS OF A BRISKET (178.8572); Pork — VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY (178.8572); Brisket — JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 (178.8800). This is the 5th of 8 editions of this contest on record; the 2016 edition was won by SMOKE THIS BBQ-MO; the next was held in 2018.
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.
501.65
median 658.16
696.50 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 178.86
- Pork Ribs 178.86
- Pork 178.86
- Brisket 178.88
134.81
178.88
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2021 — this edition picked out.
Entries
37
4 judged meats · 3 ancillary
Top score
696.5028
Winning margin
1.7372
GC over RC
Field average
652.10
501.65696.50
median 658.16 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
3.4400 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
677.0284
501.65696.50
10th place overall
Field spread
194.8572
winner to last place
Double threats
3
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 48%
beats 52% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
43%
15 of 35 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.66 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,554
avg power rating going in · stronger than 41% 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.
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 8 tracked editions
SLAPS BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 8 tracked editions.
- 2015
- 2017
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 7 calls decided inside half a point
Pork Ribs places 4–5: WABASH BBQ and Grampa Smokey's tied on 173.1544 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 9–10: JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 and CHASE BROTHERS BBQ tied on 170.8228 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 6–7: JOUSTING PIGS BBQ and SLAPS BBQ tied on 170.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Pork Ribs 4–5 · tie
- Pork Ribs 9–10 · tie
- Brisket 6–7 · tie
- Chicken 2–3 · 0.0228
A contest record in brisket
178.8800
best brisket ever cooked here
JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 turned in 178.8800 in brisket — past the 177.7372 that had stood across 4 earlier editions.
- old best 177.7372
- across 4 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: SLAPS BBQ (won 2015), SMOKE THIS BBQ-MO (won 2016).
- SLAPS BBQ · 2015
- SMOKE THIS BBQ-MO · 2016
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 20, 2013 | Kearney, MO | Kearney, MO | 53 | 682.2056 | SWEET BEAVER BBQ | JAESTAR BBQ |
| Sep 19, 2014 | Kearney, MO | Kearney, MO 64060 | 49 | 702.2856 | FOUR MEN AND A PIG | GRILLAS |
| Sep 18, 2015 | Kearney, MO | Kearney, MO 64060 | 41 | 698.7884 | SLAPS BBQ | PORKARITAVILLE |
| Sep 16, 2016 | Kearney, MO | Kearney, MO | 35 | 703.3940 | SMOKE THIS BBQ-MO | SLAPS BBQ |
| Sep 15, 2017 ← this one | Kearney, MO | 3001 N 33 Highway | 37 | 696.5028 | SLAPS BBQ | SONS OF A BRISKET |
| Sep 14, 2018 | Kearney, MO | 3001 N 33 Highway | 35 | 700.5600 | PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS | JAESTAR BBQ |
| Sep 20, 2019 | Kearney, MO | 3001 N 33 Hwy | 31 | 704.5372 | The Boys in Que | Valley Oaks Steak Company |
| Sep 17, 2021 | Kearney, MO | 3001 N 33 Hwy | 16 | 705.1200 | The Art of Que | SMOKIN' TOAD'S |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8572 | 174.8456 | 170.2972 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 173.1544 | 170.8228 |
| Pork | 178.8572 | 175.4172 | 170.2972 |
| Brisket | 178.8800 | 171.9656 | 168.5372 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
37 entries · top 696.5028 · median 658.1600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 2 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 3 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 4 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ | |
| 5 | S&S BBQ | |
| 6 | WALDO BBQ | |
| 7 | VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY | |
| 8 | THE BOYS IN QUE | |
| 9 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 10 | LIFT, TILT, AND STAGGER BBQ | |
| 11 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 12 | Flower of the Flame | |
| 13 | CHASE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN ELVISES | |
| 15 | PARRAQ | |
| 16 | RACK ATTACK | |
| 17 | PORKARITAVILLE | |
| 18 | Uncle Rico's BBQ (Stuttering Rich) | |
| 19 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 20 | Flowing Fields BBQ Team | |
| 21 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 22 | GRILLAS | |
| 23 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 24 | Whisky Smokers | |
| 25 | One Slab at a Time | |
| 26 | Triple Fat Back BBQ | |
| 27 | Grampa Smokey's | |
| 28 | QIS - QUALITY IN SMOKE | |
| 29 | Hold My BBQ | |
| 30 | Gristle Grippers | |
| 31 | Smokin' Gringo's BBQ | |
| 32 | Little Bud's Butts and Racks | |
| 33 | 33 SMOKERS | |
| 34 | ALL IN SMOKERS | |
| 35 | PIT MAGIC | |
| 36 | IN LAWS BBQ | |
| 37 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ |
Chicken
37 entries · top 178.8572 · median 166.8456
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WALDO BBQ | |
| 2 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ | |
| 3 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 4 | SMOKIN ELVISES | |
| 5 | CHASE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 6 | LIFT, TILT, AND STAGGER BBQ | |
| 7 | Triple Fat Back BBQ | |
| 8 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 9 | Hold My BBQ | |
| 10 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 11 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 12 | PARRAQ | |
| 13 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 14 | S&S BBQ | |
| 15 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 16 | 33 SMOKERS | |
| 17 | Uncle Rico's BBQ (Stuttering Rich) | |
| 18 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 19 | Flower of the Flame | |
| 20 | Flowing Fields BBQ Team | |
| 21 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 22 | THE BOYS IN QUE | |
| 23 | PORKARITAVILLE | |
| 24 | VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY | |
| 25 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 26 | RACK ATTACK | |
| 27 | GRILLAS | |
| 28 | Whisky Smokers | |
| 29 | Smokin' Gringo's BBQ | |
| 30 | ALL IN SMOKERS | |
| 31 | PIT MAGIC | |
| 32 | IN LAWS BBQ | |
| 33 | Grampa Smokey's | |
| 34 | One Slab at a Time | |
| 35 | QIS - QUALITY IN SMOKE | |
| 36 | Gristle Grippers | |
| 37 | Little Bud's Butts and Racks |
Pork Ribs
37 entries · top 178.8572 · median 166.2744
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 2 | LIFT, TILT, AND STAGGER BBQ | |
| 3 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 4 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 5 | Grampa Smokey's | |
| 6 | THE BOYS IN QUE | |
| 7 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 8 | RACK ATTACK | |
| 9 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 10 | CHASE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 11 | S&S BBQ | |
| 12 | WALDO BBQ | |
| 13 | One Slab at a Time | |
| 14 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ | |
| 15 | Uncle Rico's BBQ (Stuttering Rich) | |
| 16 | PORKARITAVILLE | |
| 17 | Triple Fat Back BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKIN ELVISES | |
| 19 | Whisky Smokers | |
| 20 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 21 | Flower of the Flame | |
| 22 | Gristle Grippers | |
| 23 | Little Bud's Butts and Racks | |
| 24 | Smokin' Gringo's BBQ | |
| 25 | Flowing Fields BBQ Team | |
| 26 | PARRAQ | |
| 27 | VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY | |
| 28 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 29 | GRILLAS | |
| 30 | QIS - QUALITY IN SMOKE | |
| 31 | Hold My BBQ | |
| 32 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 33 | 33 SMOKERS | |
| 34 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 35 | ALL IN SMOKERS | |
| 36 | PIT MAGIC | |
| 37 | IN LAWS BBQ |
Pork
36 entries · top 178.8572 · median 165.1142
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY | |
| 2 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 3 | S&S BBQ | |
| 4 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 5 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 6 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ | |
| 7 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 8 | Uncle Rico's BBQ (Stuttering Rich) | |
| 9 | Flower of the Flame | |
| 10 | QIS - QUALITY IN SMOKE | |
| 11 | Grampa Smokey's | |
| 12 | RACK ATTACK | |
| 13 | Flowing Fields BBQ Team | |
| 14 | PORKARITAVILLE | |
| 15 | WALDO BBQ | |
| 16 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 17 | Whisky Smokers | |
| 18 | THE BOYS IN QUE | |
| 19 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 20 | CHASE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 21 | PARRAQ | |
| 22 | Gristle Grippers | |
| 23 | One Slab at a Time | |
| 24 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 25 | SMOKIN ELVISES | |
| 26 | GRILLAS | |
| 27 | Smokin' Gringo's BBQ | |
| 28 | LIFT, TILT, AND STAGGER BBQ | |
| 29 | Hold My BBQ | |
| 30 | IN LAWS BBQ | |
| 31 | PIT MAGIC | |
| 32 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 33 | ALL IN SMOKERS | |
| 34 | Triple Fat Back BBQ | |
| 35 | Little Bud's Butts and Racks | |
| 36 | 33 SMOKERS |
Brisket
37 entries · top 178.8800 · median 160.5256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 2 | THE BOYS IN QUE | |
| 3 | VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY | |
| 4 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 5 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 6 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ | |
| 7 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 8 | S&S BBQ | |
| 9 | Flower of the Flame | |
| 10 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 11 | WALDO BBQ | |
| 12 | GRILLAS | |
| 13 | PARRAQ | |
| 14 | LIFT, TILT, AND STAGGER BBQ | |
| 15 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 16 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 17 | One Slab at a Time | |
| 18 | PORKARITAVILLE | |
| 19 | SMOKIN ELVISES | |
| 20 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 21 | CHASE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 22 | Little Bud's Butts and Racks | |
| 23 | Whisky Smokers | |
| 24 | Flowing Fields BBQ Team | |
| 25 | RACK ATTACK | |
| 26 | QIS - QUALITY IN SMOKE | |
| 27 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 28 | Triple Fat Back BBQ | |
| 29 | Uncle Rico's BBQ (Stuttering Rich) | |
| 30 | Gristle Grippers | |
| 31 | ALL IN SMOKERS | |
| 32 | PIT MAGIC | |
| 33 | IN LAWS BBQ | |
| 34 | Hold My BBQ | |
| 35 | Grampa Smokey's | |
| 36 | Smokin' Gringo's BBQ | |
| 37 | 33 SMOKERS |
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 — Kids 5-10
5 entries · top 166.9028 · median 154.2972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke Parra | |
| 2 | Parker Mendel | |
| 3 | Letecia Howard | |
| 4 | Lsndry Parks | |
| 5 | Izzy Parra |
Master Series — Teens 11-15
4 entries · top 165.1888 · median 156.8572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gene'o Whitten | |
| 2 | Savannah Smith | |
| 3 | Isaia Howard | |
| 4 | Carson Evans |
Master Series — Turkey
23 entries · top 174.2856 · median 167.9656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RACK ATTACK | |
| 2 | 33 SMOKERS | |
| 3 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 4 | ALL IN SMOKERS | |
| 5 | Flowing Fields BBQ Team | |
| 6 | Whisky Smokers | |
| 7 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 8 | Uncle Rico's BBQ (Stuttering Rich) | |
| 9 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 10 | PARRAQ | |
| 11 | One Slab at a Time | |
| 12 | Grampa Smokey's | |
| 13 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 14 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 15 | Gristle Grippers | |
| 16 | VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY | |
| 17 | CHASE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKIN ELVISES | |
| 19 | IN LAWS BBQ | |
| 20 | Smokin' Gringo's BBQ | |
| 21 | Flower of the Flame | |
| 22 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 23 | GRILLAS |