A new contest record
704.5488
highest overall ever cooked here
704.5488 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 699.9884 The Specialists set in 2015.
- old record 699.9884
- set 2015 by The Specialists
Smoke on the Falls 2017
Apr 7–8, 2017 · Gadsden, AL · 📍 1500 Noccalula Rd
SMOKIN BUTT CREW won Grand Champion at the Smoke on the Falls on April 7, 2017 in Gadsden, AL at 1500 Noccalula Rd, scoring 704.5488 in a field of 28 teams. Organizer Portal took Reserve Grand Champion with 702.2628. Category winners: Chicken — K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ (177.1428); Pork — FAT BEAR BBQ (177.1544); Brisket — BIG BLUE QUE (178.8572). This is the 3rd of 11 editions of this contest on record; the 2015 edition was won by The Specialists; 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.
471.85
median 676.18
704.55 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180 🔥
- Pork Ribs 177.14
- Pork 177.15
- Brisket 178.86
142.24
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
28
4 judged meats · 3 ancillary
Top score
704.5488
Winning margin
2.2860
GC over RC
Field average
664.40
471.85704.55
median 676.18 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork
1.7372 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
680.4456
471.85704.55
10th place overall
Field spread
232.6972
winner to last place
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 16%
beats 84% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
35%
12 of 34 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.59 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,620
avg power rating going in · stronger than 88% of contests
Storylines (9 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
16-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 84 times in 100
SMOKIN BUTT CREW came in rated below the field's top team, Organizer Portal, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 16-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1620
- top seed 1912
Won without a category win
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
SMOKIN BUTT CREW won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 3rd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 6th
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 5th
- Brisket 4th
A day of perfect scores
3
perfect 180s
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ · Chicken
- HOT COLE'S BBQ · Chicken
- BIG BLUE QUE · Chicken
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 11 tracked editions
The Specialists has won this contest 2 times across its 11 tracked editions.
- 2015
- 2018
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 12 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 1–2: K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ and HOT COLE'S BBQ tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 2–3: HOT COLE'S BBQ and BIG BLUE QUE tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 2–3: K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ and SOUTH PORK tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Chicken 2–3 · tie
- Pork 2–3 · tie
- Pork 4–5 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ won Chicken, Pork Ribs — a double.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
A contest record in chicken
180.0000
best chicken ever cooked here
K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ turned in 180.0000 in chicken — past the 179.4286 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
- old best 179.4286
- across 2 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: The Specialists (won 2015).
- The Specialists · 2015
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 2013 | Gadsden, AL | Gadsden, AL | 34 | 696.5718 | SWIGGIN PIG | BIG BLUE QUE |
| Apr 10, 2015 | Gadsden, AL | Gadsden, AL 35904 | 34 | 699.9884 | The Specialists | UNCULTURED SWINE |
| Apr 7, 2017 ← this one | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 28 | 704.5488 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | Organizer Portal |
| Apr 13, 2018 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 38 | 697.1084 | THE SPECIALISTS | Organizer Portal |
| Apr 12, 2019 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 30 | 699.9656 | Contagious Q | CHOOCHOO BBQ |
| Sep 18, 2020 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 28 | 699.3944 | Rooters-N-Tooters | UNDER THE RADAR |
| Apr 9, 2021 | Gadsden, AL | Gadsden, AL 35901 | 38 | 699.3600 | chicken fried bbq | LC BBQ |
| Apr 8, 2022 | Gadsden, AL | 1600 Noccalula Rd | 34 | 700.5028 | Smoke Me Silly | GETTIN' BASTED |
| Apr 7, 2023 | Gadsden, AL | 1600 Noccalula Rd | 39 | 690.8000 | We Will Rock 'Que | COOL HAND QUE |
| Apr 12, 2024 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 31 | 699.9428 | We Will Rock 'Que | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Gadsden, AL | 1600 Noccalula Rd | 36 | 714.2628 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | COOL HAND QUE |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 176.5944 | 171.9656 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.1428 | 172.5716 | 170.8344 |
| Pork | 177.1544 | 175.4172 | 173.1200 |
| Brisket | 178.8572 | 175.4400 | 169.1200 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
28 entries · top 704.5488 · median 676.1828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 2 | Organizer Portal | |
| 3 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 4 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 5 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 6 | BIG BLUE QUE | |
| 7 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 8 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 9 | RED EYED SMOKERS | |
| 10 | BAILEY'S SMOKERS | |
| 11 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 12 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 13 | J.HOLTS SMOKE HOUSE | |
| 14 | THE SPECIALISTS | |
| 15 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 16 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 17 | BUSH LEAGUE BBQ | |
| 18 | DADDY GRAY'S | |
| 19 | HI TECH REDNECK | |
| 20 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 21 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 22 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 23 | BANNYHEN'S SOUTHERN QUE | |
| 24 | RUB'D-N-SMOKE | |
| 25 | SMOKE OF THE SHOALS | |
| 26 | Blackstone BBQ | |
| 27 | NIT2WINIT BBQ | |
| 28 | Donald Rump BBQ |
Chicken
27 entries · top 180 · median 169.6800 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 2 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 3 | BIG BLUE QUE | |
| 4 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 5 | Organizer Portal | |
| 6 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 7 | THE SPECIALISTS | |
| 8 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 9 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 10 | RED EYED SMOKERS | |
| 11 | BAILEY'S SMOKERS | |
| 12 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 13 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 14 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 15 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 16 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 17 | HI TECH REDNECK | |
| 18 | BUSH LEAGUE BBQ | |
| 19 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 20 | J.HOLTS SMOKE HOUSE | |
| 21 | BANNYHEN'S SOUTHERN QUE | |
| 22 | SMOKE OF THE SHOALS | |
| 23 | DADDY GRAY'S | |
| 24 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 25 | Blackstone BBQ | |
| 26 | NIT2WINIT BBQ | |
| 27 | RUB'D-N-SMOKE |
Pork Ribs
28 entries · top 177.1428 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 3 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 4 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 5 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 6 | Organizer Portal | |
| 7 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 8 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 9 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 10 | J.HOLTS SMOKE HOUSE | |
| 11 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 12 | BAILEY'S SMOKERS | |
| 13 | BIG BLUE QUE | |
| 14 | RED EYED SMOKERS | |
| 15 | BUSH LEAGUE BBQ | |
| 16 | RUB'D-N-SMOKE | |
| 17 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 18 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 19 | NIT2WINIT BBQ | |
| 20 | HI TECH REDNECK | |
| 21 | BANNYHEN'S SOUTHERN QUE | |
| 22 | DADDY GRAY'S | |
| 23 | THE SPECIALISTS | |
| 24 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 25 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 26 | Donald Rump BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKE OF THE SHOALS | |
| 28 | Blackstone BBQ |
Pork
28 entries · top 177.1544 · median 168.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 2 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 3 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 4 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 5 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 6 | Organizer Portal | |
| 7 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 8 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 9 | THE SPECIALISTS | |
| 10 | RED EYED SMOKERS | |
| 11 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 12 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 13 | BAILEY'S SMOKERS | |
| 14 | DADDY GRAY'S | |
| 15 | BANNYHEN'S SOUTHERN QUE | |
| 16 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 17 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 18 | BUSH LEAGUE BBQ | |
| 19 | HI TECH REDNECK | |
| 20 | J.HOLTS SMOKE HOUSE | |
| 21 | RUB'D-N-SMOKE | |
| 22 | Blackstone BBQ | |
| 23 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 24 | BIG BLUE QUE | |
| 25 | Donald Rump BBQ | |
| 26 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 27 | SMOKE OF THE SHOALS | |
| 28 | NIT2WINIT BBQ |
Brisket
28 entries · top 178.8572 · median 167.9714
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG BLUE QUE | |
| 2 | Organizer Portal | |
| 3 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 4 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 5 | J.HOLTS SMOKE HOUSE | |
| 6 | DADDY GRAY'S | |
| 7 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 8 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 9 | HI TECH REDNECK | |
| 10 | BAILEY'S SMOKERS | |
| 11 | SMOKE OF THE SHOALS | |
| 12 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 13 | RED EYED SMOKERS | |
| 14 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 15 | BUSH LEAGUE BBQ | |
| 16 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 18 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 19 | THE SPECIALISTS | |
| 20 | RUB'D-N-SMOKE | |
| 21 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 22 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 23 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 24 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 25 | Donald Rump BBQ | |
| 26 | BANNYHEN'S SOUTHERN QUE | |
| 27 | Blackstone BBQ | |
| 28 | NIT2WINIT BBQ |
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 — Backyard Chicken
37 entries · top 178.8800 · median 164.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SOUTH RYLAND | |
| 2 | HELL ON SQUEALS | |
| 3 | ROCKET CITY MOONSWINERS | |
| 4 | Slingin Pig Meat | |
| 5 | Bubba Q | |
| 6 | SMOKIN A FATTY | |
| 7 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 8 | Circle W Meats | |
| 9 | GOTTA BE QUE | |
| 10 | THIN BLUE SWINE BBQ | |
| 11 | Vegan Destroyers | |
| 12 | The 4th Little Pig | |
| 13 | The Real Squeal BBQ | |
| 14 | Shocker Que | |
| 15 | ALL SMOKED UP | |
| 16 | PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q | |
| 17 | NOAH'S BARK | |
| 18 | G-duds BBQ | |
| 19 | SMOKIN' HOT ASHES | |
| 20 | Jack of all Que | |
| 21 | SAUCY SWINE BBQ | |
| 22 | Slow and Low | |
| 23 | Goal Club BBQ | |
| 24 | Possibly Possum | |
| 25 | OUTHOUSE SMOKERS RAINSVILLE, AL | |
| 26 | LEE LA Q | |
| 27 | Swine & Brine BBQ | |
| 28 | BACKYARD PORKERS | |
| 29 | Smoke Me Tender | |
| 30 | BILLY MAC BBQ | |
| 31 | Cuz It Hurtts | |
| 32 | 4 Season's BBQ | |
| 33 | BAMA BOYS BBQ | |
| 34 | View to a Grill | |
| 35 | COOSA BANDITS | |
| 36 | CARNIVOROUS HABITS | |
| 37 | DDQ Daddy Daughter Que |
Master Series — Backyard Overall
38 entries · top 350.8688 · median 328.2114
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slingin Pig Meat | |
| 2 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 3 | SOUTH RYLAND | |
| 4 | THIN BLUE SWINE BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN A FATTY | |
| 6 | ROCKET CITY MOONSWINERS | |
| 7 | NOAH'S BARK | |
| 8 | LEE LA Q | |
| 9 | SMOKIN' HOT ASHES | |
| 10 | PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q | |
| 11 | ALL SMOKED UP | |
| 12 | GOTTA BE QUE | |
| 13 | The 4th Little Pig | |
| 14 | Bubba Q | |
| 15 | Jack of all Que | |
| 16 | G-duds BBQ | |
| 17 | HELL ON SQUEALS | |
| 18 | Circle W Meats | |
| 19 | Shocker Que | |
| 20 | The Real Squeal BBQ | |
| 21 | Vegan Destroyers | |
| 22 | OUTHOUSE SMOKERS RAINSVILLE, AL | |
| 23 | Smoke Me Tender | |
| 24 | 4 Season's BBQ | |
| 25 | SAUCY SWINE BBQ | |
| 26 | Swine & Brine BBQ | |
| 27 | Slow and Low | |
| 28 | View to a Grill | |
| 29 | BAMA BOYS BBQ | |
| 30 | Goal Club BBQ | |
| 31 | Cuz It Hurtts | |
| 32 | BACKYARD PORKERS | |
| 33 | BILLY MAC BBQ | |
| 34 | Possibly Possum | |
| 35 | CARNIVOROUS HABITS | |
| 36 | COOSA BANDITS | |
| 37 | DDQ Daddy Daughter Que | |
| 38 | BBQ BROTHERS |
Master Series — Backyard Ribs
38 entries · top 178.8800 · median 164.5428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LEE LA Q | |
| 2 | THIN BLUE SWINE BBQ | |
| 3 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 4 | Slingin Pig Meat | |
| 5 | NOAH'S BARK | |
| 6 | SMOKIN A FATTY | |
| 7 | 4 Season's BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKIN' HOT ASHES | |
| 9 | SOUTH RYLAND | |
| 10 | PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q | |
| 11 | Smoke Me Tender | |
| 12 | Jack of all Que | |
| 13 | ALL SMOKED UP | |
| 14 | View to a Grill | |
| 15 | G-duds BBQ | |
| 16 | BAMA BOYS BBQ | |
| 17 | ROCKET CITY MOONSWINERS | |
| 18 | OUTHOUSE SMOKERS RAINSVILLE, AL | |
| 19 | GOTTA BE QUE | |
| 20 | The 4th Little Pig | |
| 21 | Cuz It Hurtts | |
| 22 | Swine & Brine BBQ | |
| 23 | Circle W Meats | |
| 24 | Shocker Que | |
| 25 | The Real Squeal BBQ | |
| 26 | BILLY MAC BBQ | |
| 27 | Vegan Destroyers | |
| 28 | Bubba Q | |
| 29 | Slow and Low | |
| 30 | CARNIVOROUS HABITS | |
| 31 | BACKYARD PORKERS | |
| 32 | Goal Club BBQ | |
| 33 | SAUCY SWINE BBQ | |
| 34 | HELL ON SQUEALS | |
| 35 | COOSA BANDITS | |
| 36 | Possibly Possum | |
| 37 | BBQ BROTHERS | |
| 38 | DDQ Daddy Daughter Que |