Oct 27–28, 2017 · Osawatomie, KS · 📍 John Brown Memorial Park
PORK PULLERS won Grand Champion at the Border War Barbeque on October 27, 2017 in Osawatomie, KS at John Brown Memorial Park, scoring 699.4284 in a field of 46 teams. DIRT ROAD BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 698.8456. Category winners: Chicken — SMOKEY AND THE BRISKET (178.8572); Pork Ribs — SKUNK RIVER BBQ (180.0000); Pork — DIRT ROAD BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — SOCIAL SMOKERS BBQ SQUAD (179.4400). This is the 2nd of 6 editions of this contest on record; the 2016 edition was won by 913 BBQ; 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, 2016 to 2022 — 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 89% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.5828 points — closer than 89% of every championship in the data.
699.4284 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 695.3944 913 BBQ set in 2016.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 90 times in 100
Pork Pullers came in rated below the field's top team, DIRT ROAD BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 10-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
PORK PULLERS won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
This was PORK PULLERS's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 25th tracked contest.
Chicken places 1–2: SMOKEY AND THE BRISKET and SUBLIME BBQ tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 6–7: JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 and AMERICAN FIRE BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 4–5: BOXER Q BBQ and KC SMOKE DAWGS tied on 173.1544 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
DIRT ROAD BBQ turned in 180.0000 in pork — past the 177.7028 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
2 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 21, 2016 | Osawatomie, KS | Osawatomie, KS | 38 | 695.3944 | 913 BBQ | BULL CREEK BBQ |
| Oct 27, 2017 ← this one | Osawatomie, KS | John Brown Memorial Park | 46 | 699.4284 | PORK PULLERS | DIRT ROAD BBQ |
| Oct 26, 2018 | Osawatomie, KS | John Brown Memorial Park | 56 | 697.1428 | BULL CREEK BBQ | PELLET ENVY |
| Oct 25, 2019 | Osawatomie, KS | John Brown Memorial Park | 44 | 698.8116 | Tebo Creek BBQ | DIRT ROAD BBQ |
| Oct 22, 2021 | Osawatomie, KS | John Brown Memorial Park | 30 | 705.7028 | All Forked Up For Q | SLAPS BBQ |
| Oct 21, 2022 | Osawatomie, KS | John Brown Memorial Park | 30 | 705.6800 | High i Que BBQ | Damn Fine Beef & Swine |
| Oct 18, 2024 | Osawatomie, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8572 | 176.5828 | 174.8688 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 173.1544 | 171.4172 |
| Pork | 180 | 174.8456 | 172.5600 |
| Brisket | 179.4400 | 177.1428 | 175.4056 |
46 entries · top 699.4284 · median 675.0686
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PORK PULLERS | |
| 2 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 3 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 4 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 5 | SMOKE FREAKS | |
| 6 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 7 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 8 | SUBLIME BBQ | |
| 9 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 10 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 11 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 12 | PITT SMOKERS | |
| 13 | KC SMOKE DAWGS | |
| 14 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 15 | BALDIN' SMOKIN' BANDITOS | |
| 16 | SOCIAL SMOKERS BBQ SQUAD | |
| 17 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 18 | PELLET ENVY | |
| 19 | LAZY BACON BBQ | |
| 20 | FARM TO FIRE | |
| 21 | Swipe Right BBQ | |
| 22 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 23 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 24 | BROWN STREET BBQ | |
| 25 | SKUNK RIVER BBQ | |
| 26 | QIS - QUALITY IN SMOKE | |
| 27 | Big Al and the Boys | |
| 28 | DRUM DADDY BBQ | |
| 29 | SMOKEY AND THE BRISKET | |
| 30 | PARTS R SMOKIN | |
| 31 | Makin Bacon | |
| 32 | Puttin' It In Your Mouth BBQ | |
| 33 | SHOW-ME YOUR RACK BBQ | |
| 34 | I.B.M. | |
| 35 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 36 | Beer Belly BBQ | |
| 37 | Royal Smoke | |
| 38 | ROLLING COALS BBQ - KS | |
| 39 | TWO GUYS AND A SMOKER | |
| 40 | Good Ole Boys & Gals | |
| 41 | Devil's Hog BBQ | |
| 42 | 5 Alarm Fire | |
| 43 | BACKWOODS HOG BREATH | |
| 44 | Kickin' Back BBQ | |
| 45 | GLAZED & CONFUSED | |
| 46 | SMOKEVILLE |
46 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKEY AND THE BRISKET | |
| 2 | SUBLIME BBQ | |
| 3 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 4 | BALDIN' SMOKIN' BANDITOS | |
| 5 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 6 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 7 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 8 | PITT SMOKERS | |
| 9 | SMOKE FREAKS | |
| 10 | Puttin' It In Your Mouth BBQ | |
| 11 | LAZY BACON BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 13 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 14 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 15 | FARM TO FIRE | |
| 16 | SHOW-ME YOUR RACK BBQ | |
| 17 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 18 | PORK PULLERS | |
| 19 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 20 | SOCIAL SMOKERS BBQ SQUAD | |
| 21 | QIS - QUALITY IN SMOKE | |
| 22 | PARTS R SMOKIN | |
| 23 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 24 | KC SMOKE DAWGS | |
| 25 | TWO GUYS AND A SMOKER | |
| 26 | Good Ole Boys & Gals | |
| 27 | Big Al and the Boys | |
| 28 | Makin Bacon | |
| 29 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 30 | Swipe Right BBQ | |
| 31 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 32 | Beer Belly BBQ | |
| 33 | PELLET ENVY | |
| 34 | DRUM DADDY BBQ | |
| 35 | BROWN STREET BBQ | |
| 36 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 37 | SKUNK RIVER BBQ | |
| 38 | Royal Smoke | |
| 39 | I.B.M. | |
| 40 | Devil's Hog BBQ | |
| 41 | BACKWOODS HOG BREATH | |
| 42 | ROLLING COALS BBQ - KS | |
| 43 | GLAZED & CONFUSED | |
| 44 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 45 | Kickin' Back BBQ | |
| 46 | 5 Alarm Fire |
45 entries · top 180 · median 168.0228 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SKUNK RIVER BBQ | |
| 2 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 3 | LAZY BACON BBQ | |
| 4 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 5 | KC SMOKE DAWGS | |
| 6 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 7 | SMOKE FREAKS | |
| 8 | PORK PULLERS | |
| 9 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 10 | FARM TO FIRE | |
| 11 | PITT SMOKERS | |
| 12 | SOCIAL SMOKERS BBQ SQUAD | |
| 13 | Swipe Right BBQ | |
| 14 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 15 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 16 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 17 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 18 | QIS - QUALITY IN SMOKE | |
| 19 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 20 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 21 | SUBLIME BBQ | |
| 22 | BROWN STREET BBQ | |
| 23 | Royal Smoke | |
| 24 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 25 | GLAZED & CONFUSED | |
| 26 | BALDIN' SMOKIN' BANDITOS | |
| 27 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 28 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 29 | PELLET ENVY | |
| 30 | SMOKEY AND THE BRISKET | |
| 31 | Big Al and the Boys | |
| 32 | DRUM DADDY BBQ | |
| 33 | Beer Belly BBQ | |
| 34 | PARTS R SMOKIN | |
| 35 | SHOW-ME YOUR RACK BBQ | |
| 36 | I.B.M. | |
| 37 | ROLLING COALS BBQ - KS | |
| 38 | Makin Bacon | |
| 39 | Good Ole Boys & Gals | |
| 40 | 5 Alarm Fire | |
| 41 | Devil's Hog BBQ | |
| 42 | Puttin' It In Your Mouth BBQ | |
| 43 | TWO GUYS AND A SMOKER | |
| 44 | BACKWOODS HOG BREATH | |
| 45 | Kickin' Back BBQ |
45 entries · top 180 · median 167.9772 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 2 | PORK PULLERS | |
| 3 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 4 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 5 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 6 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 7 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 8 | PELLET ENVY | |
| 9 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 10 | BALDIN' SMOKIN' BANDITOS | |
| 11 | BROWN STREET BBQ | |
| 12 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 13 | Swipe Right BBQ | |
| 14 | KC SMOKE DAWGS | |
| 15 | PITT SMOKERS | |
| 16 | Big Al and the Boys | |
| 17 | PARTS R SMOKIN | |
| 18 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 19 | SMOKE FREAKS | |
| 20 | SMOKEY AND THE BRISKET | |
| 21 | FARM TO FIRE | |
| 22 | DRUM DADDY BBQ | |
| 23 | GLAZED & CONFUSED | |
| 24 | I.B.M. | |
| 25 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 26 | SKUNK RIVER BBQ | |
| 27 | SUBLIME BBQ | |
| 28 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 29 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 30 | Puttin' It In Your Mouth BBQ | |
| 31 | Beer Belly BBQ | |
| 32 | Makin Bacon | |
| 33 | LAZY BACON BBQ | |
| 34 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 35 | QIS - QUALITY IN SMOKE | |
| 36 | SOCIAL SMOKERS BBQ SQUAD | |
| 37 | SHOW-ME YOUR RACK BBQ | |
| 38 | Good Ole Boys & Gals | |
| 39 | Devil's Hog BBQ | |
| 40 | 5 Alarm Fire | |
| 41 | ROLLING COALS BBQ - KS | |
| 42 | Royal Smoke | |
| 43 | TWO GUYS AND A SMOKER | |
| 44 | Kickin' Back BBQ | |
| 45 | BACKWOODS HOG BREATH |
44 entries · top 179.4400 · median 168.8400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SOCIAL SMOKERS BBQ SQUAD | |
| 2 | PELLET ENVY | |
| 3 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 4 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 5 | SUBLIME BBQ | |
| 6 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 7 | PORK PULLERS | |
| 8 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 9 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 10 | SMOKE FREAKS | |
| 11 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 12 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 13 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 14 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 15 | PITT SMOKERS | |
| 16 | KC SMOKE DAWGS | |
| 17 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 18 | QIS - QUALITY IN SMOKE | |
| 19 | BROWN STREET BBQ | |
| 20 | LAZY BACON BBQ | |
| 21 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 22 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 23 | Swipe Right BBQ | |
| 24 | BALDIN' SMOKIN' BANDITOS | |
| 25 | DRUM DADDY BBQ | |
| 26 | SKUNK RIVER BBQ | |
| 27 | FARM TO FIRE | |
| 28 | ROLLING COALS BBQ - KS | |
| 29 | Makin Bacon | |
| 30 | Big Al and the Boys | |
| 31 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 32 | I.B.M. | |
| 33 | PARTS R SMOKIN | |
| 34 | SHOW-ME YOUR RACK BBQ | |
| 35 | Puttin' It In Your Mouth BBQ | |
| 36 | Royal Smoke | |
| 37 | TWO GUYS AND A SMOKER | |
| 38 | Beer Belly BBQ | |
| 39 | SMOKEY AND THE BRISKET | |
| 40 | 5 Alarm Fire | |
| 41 | Kickin' Back BBQ | |
| 42 | Good Ole Boys & Gals | |
| 43 | BACKWOODS HOG BREATH | |
| 44 | Devil's Hog 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.
15 entries · top 180 · median 175.4056 · 🔥 perfect 180
19 entries · top 178.2972 · median 170.8228