A new contest record
702.3204
highest overall ever cooked here
702.3204 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 701.6800 BIG POPPA SMOKERS set in 2016.
- old record 701.6800
- set 2016 by BIG POPPA SMOKERS
Tri City BBQ Fest 2017
Sep 22–23, 2017 · Denison, IA · 📍 Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison)
SPITFIRE won Grand Champion at the Tri City BBQ Fest on September 22, 2017 in Denison, IA at Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison), scoring 702.3204 in a field of 37 teams. LUCKY'S Q took Reserve Grand Champion with 698.8344. Category winners: Chicken — SLAPS BBQ (179.4400); Pork Ribs — SQUEALING PIG BBQ (180.0000); Pork — GRINDERS BBQ KANSAS CITY (177.1544); Brisket — SPITFIRE (175.4288). This is the 4th of 12 editions of this contest on record; the 2016 edition was won by BIG POPPA SMOKERS; 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.
506.83
median 657.61
702.32 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 179.44
- Pork Ribs 180 🔥
- Pork 177.15
- Brisket 175.43
139.98
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2014 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
37
4 judged meats
Top score
702.3204
Winning margin
3.4860
GC over RC
Field average
654.82
506.83702.32
median 657.61 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Brisket
1.1660 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
680.5600
506.83702.32
10th place overall
Field spread
195.4860
winner to last place
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 23%
beats 77% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
56%
19 of 34 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.69 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,557
avg power rating going in · stronger than 44% of contests
Storylines (8 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.
An upset on the books
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 12 tracked editions
TIMBONE BARBECUE has won this contest 2 times across its 12 tracked editions.
- 2018
- 2019
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 12 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 7–8: BUCKSHOTBBQ and IOWA BONEHEAD BBQ tied on 173.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 2–3: LUCKY'S Q and GRINDERS BBQ KANSAS CITY tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 4–5: SMOKEHOUSE 72 and SMOKERS PURGATORY tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Brisket 2–3 · tie
- Brisket 4–5 · tie
- Brisket 5–6 · tie
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
SPITFIRE took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 11th.
- Chicken 11th
- Pork Ribs 2nd
- Pork 3rd
- Brisket 1st
A contest record in pork ribs
180.0000
best pork ribs ever cooked here
SQUEALING PIG BBQ turned in 180.0000 in pork ribs — past the 177.1544 that had stood across 3 earlier editions.
- old best 177.1544
- across 3 past editions
The biggest field yet
37
teams — a contest high
This contest usually draws about 24 teams
37 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 24.
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.
- SQUEALING PIG BBQ · Pork Ribs
This contest's own records (1 in the KCBS record book)
Records held by every edition of this contest put together, not just this one afternoon.
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 19, 2014 | Denison, IA | Denison, IA 51442 | 21 | 691.3940 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | PIGSKIN BBQ |
| Sep 18, 2015 | Denison, IA | Denison, IA 51442 | 18 | 690.7884 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | BIG T'Z Q CRU |
| Sep 16, 2016 | Denison, IA | Broodway & Main | 34 | 701.6800 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA |
| Sep 22, 2017 ← this one | Denison, IA | Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison) | 37 | 702.3204 | SPITFIRE | LUCKY'S Q |
| Sep 21, 2018 | Denison, IA | Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison) | 27 | 687.9888 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | DIRT ROAD BBQ |
| Sep 20, 2019 | Denison, IA | Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison) | 34 | 690.7540 | Timbone Barbecue | SPITFIRE |
| Sep 17, 2021 | Denison, IA | Broadway and Main | 20 | 697.6572 | Hot Daddys BBQ | SPITFIRE |
| Sep 16, 2022 | Denison, IA | Broadway and Main | 25 | 693.1316 | Parrothead Smokers SD | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ |
| Sep 15, 2023 | Denison, IA | Broadway and Main | 32 | 703.3712 | Last Call Heros BBQ | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Denison, IA | 109 N. Main | 30 | 700.4912 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ |
| Sep 19, 2025 | Denison, IA | 109 N. Main | 26 | 703.4060 | Shiggin & Grinnin | Good Grefe! |
| Sep 18, 2026 | Denison, IA | 109 N. Main | 26 | 702.2400 | Grillin' Grindes | Home Farm BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 179.4400 | 176.5828 | 173.1316 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 175.4172 | 170.8572 |
| Pork | 177.1544 | 174.8800 | 171.4056 |
| Brisket | 175.4288 | 174.2628 | 170.8800 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
37 entries · top 702.3204 · median 657.6112
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SPITFIRE | |
| 2 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 3 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 5 | GRINDERS BBQ KANSAS CITY | |
| 6 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 7 | CHARCOAL MONKEY | |
| 8 | SQUEALING PIG BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 10 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | |
| 11 | AGAINST THE GRAIN BBQ | |
| 12 | IOWA BONEHEAD BBQ | |
| 13 | MASTERTECH BBQ | |
| 14 | DIG-IN COOKERS | |
| 15 | BAMBQ | |
| 16 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 17 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 18 | Luscious Loins BBQ | |
| 19 | UNCLE CHUCKLES BBQ CREW | |
| 20 | BLAIR'S BIGFOOT BBQ | |
| 21 | LEVEL B' BBQ | |
| 22 | NEW AMERICAN BBQ CREW | |
| 23 | TNT Smokin' BBQ | |
| 24 | Sweet Smokin' Jones | |
| 25 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 26 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 27 | YOU GONNA LIKE IT | |
| 28 | Cousin Bobby - Q | |
| 29 | WEINREICH BBQ | |
| 30 | DIGGERS BBQ | |
| 31 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 32 | SMOKIN HOT ROD'S BBQ | |
| 33 | J&J'S WICK'D SMOKE BBQ | |
| 34 | Main Street BBQ | |
| 35 | S&M BBQ | |
| 36 | TASTE OF TEXAS IN IOWA | |
| 37 | TRUE SMOKE BBQ |
Chicken
37 entries · top 179.4400 · median 170.2744
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 2 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 3 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | |
| 4 | CHARCOAL MONKEY | |
| 5 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 6 | TRUE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 7 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 8 | IOWA BONEHEAD BBQ | |
| 9 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 10 | MASTERTECH BBQ | |
| 11 | SPITFIRE | |
| 12 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 13 | TNT Smokin' BBQ | |
| 14 | DIG-IN COOKERS | |
| 15 | GRINDERS BBQ KANSAS CITY | |
| 16 | Cousin Bobby - Q | |
| 17 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 18 | BAMBQ | |
| 19 | LEVEL B' BBQ | |
| 20 | SQUEALING PIG BBQ | |
| 21 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 22 | YOU GONNA LIKE IT | |
| 23 | NEW AMERICAN BBQ CREW | |
| 24 | BLAIR'S BIGFOOT BBQ | |
| 25 | Sweet Smokin' Jones | |
| 26 | Luscious Loins BBQ | |
| 27 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 28 | AGAINST THE GRAIN BBQ | |
| 29 | J&J'S WICK'D SMOKE BBQ | |
| 30 | UNCLE CHUCKLES BBQ CREW | |
| 31 | Main Street BBQ | |
| 32 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 33 | S&M BBQ | |
| 34 | DIGGERS BBQ | |
| 35 | SMOKIN HOT ROD'S BBQ | |
| 36 | WEINREICH BBQ | |
| 37 | TASTE OF TEXAS IN IOWA |
Pork Ribs
37 entries · top 180 · median 165.6800 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SQUEALING PIG BBQ | |
| 2 | SPITFIRE | |
| 3 | AGAINST THE GRAIN BBQ | |
| 4 | DIG-IN COOKERS | |
| 5 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 6 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 7 | BLAIR'S BIGFOOT BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 9 | GRINDERS BBQ KANSAS CITY | |
| 10 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 11 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | |
| 12 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 13 | MASTERTECH BBQ | |
| 14 | CHARCOAL MONKEY | |
| 15 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 16 | BAMBQ | |
| 17 | UNCLE CHUCKLES BBQ CREW | |
| 18 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 19 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 20 | WEINREICH BBQ | |
| 21 | Sweet Smokin' Jones | |
| 22 | TRUE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 23 | LEVEL B' BBQ | |
| 24 | TNT Smokin' BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 26 | NEW AMERICAN BBQ CREW | |
| 27 | Cousin Bobby - Q | |
| 28 | YOU GONNA LIKE IT | |
| 29 | IOWA BONEHEAD BBQ | |
| 30 | DIGGERS BBQ | |
| 31 | Luscious Loins BBQ | |
| 32 | J&J'S WICK'D SMOKE BBQ | |
| 33 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 34 | S&M BBQ | |
| 35 | SMOKIN HOT ROD'S BBQ | |
| 36 | Main Street BBQ | |
| 37 | TASTE OF TEXAS IN IOWA |
Pork
36 entries · top 177.1544 · median 165.6914
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GRINDERS BBQ KANSAS CITY | |
| 2 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 3 | SPITFIRE | |
| 4 | Luscious Loins BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 6 | SQUEALING PIG BBQ | |
| 7 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 8 | IOWA BONEHEAD BBQ | |
| 9 | AGAINST THE GRAIN BBQ | |
| 10 | CHARCOAL MONKEY | |
| 11 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 12 | MASTERTECH BBQ | |
| 13 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 14 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | |
| 15 | NEW AMERICAN BBQ CREW | |
| 16 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 17 | Sweet Smokin' Jones | |
| 18 | SMOKIN HOT ROD'S BBQ | |
| 19 | UNCLE CHUCKLES BBQ CREW | |
| 20 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 21 | LEVEL B' BBQ | |
| 22 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 23 | BLAIR'S BIGFOOT BBQ | |
| 24 | Cousin Bobby - Q | |
| 25 | BAMBQ | |
| 26 | WEINREICH BBQ | |
| 27 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 28 | DIGGERS BBQ | |
| 29 | YOU GONNA LIKE IT | |
| 30 | DIG-IN COOKERS | |
| 31 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 32 | TASTE OF TEXAS IN IOWA | |
| 33 | Main Street BBQ | |
| 34 | J&J'S WICK'D SMOKE BBQ | |
| 35 | TNT Smokin' BBQ | |
| 36 | S&M BBQ |
Brisket
37 entries · top 175.4288 · median 162.8456
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SPITFIRE | |
| 2 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 3 | GRINDERS BBQ KANSAS CITY | |
| 4 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 5 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 6 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 7 | CHARCOAL MONKEY | |
| 8 | IOWA BONEHEAD BBQ | |
| 9 | TNT Smokin' BBQ | |
| 10 | BAMBQ | |
| 11 | AGAINST THE GRAIN BBQ | |
| 12 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 13 | TRUE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 14 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 15 | DIG-IN COOKERS | |
| 16 | UNCLE CHUCKLES BBQ CREW | |
| 17 | MASTERTECH BBQ | |
| 18 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | |
| 19 | SQUEALING PIG BBQ | |
| 20 | DIGGERS BBQ | |
| 21 | Luscious Loins BBQ | |
| 22 | YOU GONNA LIKE IT | |
| 23 | WEINREICH BBQ | |
| 24 | Sweet Smokin' Jones | |
| 25 | NEW AMERICAN BBQ CREW | |
| 26 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 27 | LEVEL B' BBQ | |
| 28 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 29 | BLAIR'S BIGFOOT BBQ | |
| 30 | SMOKIN HOT ROD'S BBQ | |
| 31 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 32 | J&J'S WICK'D SMOKE BBQ | |
| 33 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 34 | Main Street BBQ | |
| 35 | Cousin Bobby - Q | |
| 36 | TASTE OF TEXAS IN IOWA | |
| 37 | S&M BBQ |