Nov 3–4, 2017 · Indio, CA · 📍 83040 Ave 42
BIG POPPA SMOKERS won Grand Champion at the Indio California State BBQ Championship & Festival ( JUDGES FULL) on November 3, 2017 in Indio, CA at 83040 Ave 42, scoring 698.2516 in a field of 35 teams. DG FIREHOUSE BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 695.4172. Category winners: Chicken — SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — ZZYZX BAR.B.Q (178.8572); Pork — SMOKIN IT UP BBQ (178.8572); Brisket — SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ (180.0000). This is the 2nd of 5 editions of this contest on record; the 2016 edition was won by IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ; the next was held in 2019.
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.
BIG POPPA SMOKERS won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
First to fifth in the overall standings covered just 4.5828 points.
Stronger than 94% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1642 power rating going in — stronger than 94% of every contest tracked.
Chicken places 1–2: SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ and HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 9–10: BAD BOYZ BBQ and ROOFTOP BBQ tied on 173.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 8–9: BAR-B-Q'S-2GO and SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE tied on 172.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ won Chicken, Brisket — a double.
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ turned in 180.0000 in brisket — past the 177.7028 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 11, 2016 | Indio, CA | Indio, CA 92276 | 38 | 712.5828 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | BIG POPPA SMOKERS |
| Nov 3, 2017 ← this one | Indio, CA | 83040 Ave 42 | 35 | 698.2516 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | DG FIREHOUSE BBQ |
| Nov 1, 2019 | Indio, CA | 83040 Ave 42 | 37 | 694.2400 | DG Firehouse BBQ Inc | BIG POPPA SMOKERS |
| Nov 5, 2021 | Indio, CA | 83040 Ave 42 | 33 | 697.1544 | Girls Can Grill | PORTERHOUSE BBQ |
| Nov 4, 2022 | Indio, CA | The Lights Golf Course | 35 | 694.2516 | 7 Sins BBQ | West Coast BBQ Shop |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 177.1428 | 173.7028 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 174.2744 | 171.9656 |
| Pork | 178.8572 | 175.4172 | 173.1200 |
| Brisket | 180 | 175.4172 | 172 |
35 entries · top 698.2516 · median 674.2172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 2 | DG FIREHOUSE BBQ | |
| 3 | ROOFTOP BBQ | |
| 4 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 5 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 6 | ZZYZX BAR.B.Q | |
| 7 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 8 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 9 | SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE | |
| 10 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 11 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 12 | BAD BOYZ BBQ | |
| 13 | DAY OF THE PIG BBQ | |
| 14 | DAD'S CHILLIN' AND GRILLIN' BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 16 | GORILLA ISLANDS | |
| 17 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 18 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 19 | TWISTED BRISKET BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 21 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 22 | EMBER BBQ | |
| 23 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 25 | REVIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 26 | FUNTIME BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKIN' HART'S | |
| 28 | SMOKING TOKING BBQ | |
| 29 | PAPA LA RUE'S BBQ | |
| 30 | JOLLEY'S BAD TO THE BONE BARBEQUE | |
| 31 | BIG BOAR BBQ | |
| 32 | What Would Jesus Que? | |
| 33 | SHAKEY BONES BBQ | |
| 34 | Big Red BBQ | |
| 35 | Legion of Que |
35 entries · top 180 · median 168.5372 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 2 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 4 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 5 | DG FIREHOUSE BBQ | |
| 6 | TWISTED BRISKET BBQ | |
| 7 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 8 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 9 | BAD BOYZ BBQ | |
| 10 | ROOFTOP BBQ | |
| 11 | SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE | |
| 12 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 13 | EMBER BBQ | |
| 14 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 16 | ZZYZX BAR.B.Q | |
| 17 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 18 | DAD'S CHILLIN' AND GRILLIN' BBQ | |
| 19 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 20 | GORILLA ISLANDS | |
| 21 | FUNTIME BBQ | |
| 22 | DAY OF THE PIG BBQ | |
| 23 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 24 | Legion of Que | |
| 25 | SMOKIN' HART'S | |
| 26 | PAPA LA RUE'S BBQ | |
| 27 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 28 | REVIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 29 | SMOKING TOKING BBQ | |
| 30 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 31 | Big Red BBQ | |
| 32 | JOLLEY'S BAD TO THE BONE BARBEQUE | |
| 33 | BIG BOAR BBQ | |
| 34 | What Would Jesus Que? | |
| 35 | SHAKEY BONES BBQ |
35 entries · top 178.8572 · median 167.4172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZZYZX BAR.B.Q | |
| 2 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 3 | TWISTED BRISKET BBQ | |
| 4 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 5 | DG FIREHOUSE BBQ | |
| 6 | DAD'S CHILLIN' AND GRILLIN' BBQ | |
| 7 | Big Red BBQ | |
| 8 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 9 | SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE | |
| 10 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 11 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 12 | FUNTIME BBQ | |
| 13 | SMOKIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 14 | ROOFTOP BBQ | |
| 15 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 16 | GORILLA ISLANDS | |
| 17 | SMOKIN' HART'S | |
| 18 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 19 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 20 | BAD BOYZ BBQ | |
| 21 | PAPA LA RUE'S BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 23 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 24 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 25 | EMBER BBQ | |
| 26 | REVIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKING TOKING BBQ | |
| 28 | DAY OF THE PIG BBQ | |
| 29 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 30 | BIG BOAR BBQ | |
| 31 | Legion of Que | |
| 32 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 33 | What Would Jesus Que? | |
| 34 | JOLLEY'S BAD TO THE BONE BARBEQUE | |
| 35 | SHAKEY BONES BBQ |
35 entries · top 178.8572 · median 168.5256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 2 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 3 | DAY OF THE PIG BBQ | |
| 4 | ZZYZX BAR.B.Q | |
| 5 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 6 | Big Red BBQ | |
| 7 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 8 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 9 | BAD BOYZ BBQ | |
| 10 | DAD'S CHILLIN' AND GRILLIN' BBQ | |
| 11 | ROOFTOP BBQ | |
| 12 | GORILLA ISLANDS | |
| 13 | What Would Jesus Que? | |
| 14 | DG FIREHOUSE BBQ | |
| 15 | SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE | |
| 16 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 17 | JOLLEY'S BAD TO THE BONE BARBEQUE | |
| 18 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 19 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 21 | REVIN IT UP BBQ | |
| 22 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 23 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKIN' HART'S | |
| 25 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 26 | SMOKING TOKING BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 28 | BIG BOAR BBQ | |
| 29 | EMBER BBQ | |
| 30 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 31 | FUNTIME BBQ | |
| 32 | Legion of Que | |
| 33 | PAPA LA RUE'S BBQ | |
| 34 | TWISTED BRISKET BBQ | |
| 35 | SHAKEY BONES BBQ |
33 entries · top 180 · median 167.3828 · 🔥 perfect 180
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.
6 entries · top 180 · median 179.7200 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PAPA LA RUE'S BBQ | |
| 2 | JOLLEY'S BAD TO THE BONE BARBEQUE | |
| 3 | SMOKIN' HART'S | |
| 4 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 5 | DAD'S CHILLIN' AND GRILLIN' BBQ | |
| 6 | GORILLA ISLANDS |