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Best Dam BBQ 2017

May 26–27, 2017 · Boulder City, NV · 📍 Colorado St

🥇
BIG POPPA SMOKERS
699.4172 · Master Series — Overall
🥈
HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ
693.1200 · Master Series — Overall
🥉
SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ
692.5028 · Master Series — Overall

BIG POPPA SMOKERS won Grand Champion at the Best Dam BBQ on May 26, 2017 in Boulder City, NV at Colorado St, scoring 699.4172 in a field of 37 teams. HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 693.1200. Category winners: Chicken — BIG POPPA SMOKERS (178.2972); Pork Ribs — MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ (176.5828); Pork — HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ (179.4400); Brisket — ZZYZX BAR.B.Q (178.8572). This is the 1st of 3 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2025.

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.

How the meats cooked

Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.

  • Chicken 178.30
  • Pork Ribs 176.58
  • Pork 179.44
  • Brisket 178.86
129.66 179.44

Winning score by edition

What it has taken to win here, 2017 to 2026 — this edition picked out.

2017-05-26 — 699.4172 (BIG POPPA SMOKERS) 2025-05-23 — 703.9656 (Tuffy's BBQ) 2026-05-23 — 700.4912 (Big Johns BBQ Company) 699.42 2017 2026

Entries

37
4 judged meats

Top score

699.4172

Winning margin

6.2972
GC over RC

Field average

656.12
467.81699.42
median 669.61 · last place to winner

Perfect 180s

0

Tightest race

Pork Ribs
1.7028 pts across the top 5

Top-10 cutoff

685.6228
467.81699.42
10th place overall

Field spread

231.6116
winner to last place

Most consistent

BIG POPPA SMOKERS
avg finish 6.50 across 4 meats

Double threats

3
teams with 2+ top-5 calls

Widest winning margin

Chicken
won by 1.1428 pts — BIG POPPA SMOKERS

How hot was the win?

Top 35%
beats 65% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data

Form held

Strong
ρ = -0.79 between pre-contest rating and finish

Field strength

1,602
avg power rating going in · stronger than 79% of contests

Top-rated in the field

BIG POPPA SMOKERS
rated 1926 pre-contest

Storylines (2 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.

Photo finishes

Tie closest of 16 calls decided inside half a point

Chicken places 5–6: The BBQ Asylum and MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: INFINITE SMOKE BBQ and SQUAT AND GOBBLE BARBEQUE tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 2–3: 4 LEGS UP BBQ and ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.

  • Chicken 5–6 · tie
  • Chicken 7–8 · tie
  • Pork Ribs 2–3 · tie
  • Pork Ribs 3–4 · tie

How the title was won

3 of 4 meats called to the stage

BIG POPPA SMOKERS took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 17th.

  • Chicken 1st
  • Pork Ribs 6th
  • Pork 17th
  • Brisket 2nd

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)

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 →

DateWhereVenueTeamsHigh scoreGrand ChampionReserve Champion
May 26, 2017 ← this one Boulder City, NV Colorado St 37 699.4172 BIG POPPA SMOKERS HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ
May 23, 2025 Boulder City, NV Boulder City, NV 89005 29 703.9656 Tuffy's BBQ Meat Candy Q
May 23, 2026 Boulder City, NV Boulder City, NV 89005 33 700.4912 Big Johns BBQ Company Uncle Jesse's BBQ

What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)

Category1st5th10th
Chicken178.2972175.4172173.7144
Pork Ribs176.5828174.8800173.1200
Pork179.4400175.4056172.5600
Brisket178.8572174.2628169.7028

Official results on kcbs.us ↗

Master Series

Overall

37 entries · top 699.4172 · median 669.6112

#TeamScore
1 BIG POPPA SMOKERS 699.4172
2 HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ 693.1200
3 SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ 692.5028
4 Fergolicious BBQ 691.9084
5 PORTERHOUSE BBQ 690.2056
6 MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ 689.0856
7 BAD BOYZ BBQ 688.4800
8 BURNIN AND LOOTIN 687.8968
9 Sharpe's Woodshed 687.3372
10 4 LEGS UP BBQ 685.6228
11 ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q 684.5144
12 LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ 683.3256
13 STEEL CITY BBQ 680.5028
14 RHYTHM 'N QUE 679.2680
15 ZZYZX BAR.B.Q 676.5372
16 YOUR BEHIND BBQ 674.8116
17 VEGAS GRILLBILLIES 673.6800
18 MONSOON BBQ 671.3372
19 SQUAT AND GOBBLE BARBEQUE 669.6112
20 The BBQ Asylum 666.7316
21 Stevo's BBQ 660.4572
22 The Smokin' B.A.R. 657.5884
23 STEVE'S PIG PIKINS BBQ 656.4916
24 INFINITE SMOKE BBQ 655.3488
25 TACO TUESDAY 655.2684
26 ROLLIN SMOKE BARBEQUE 651.8284
27 Yippee Cayenne Mother Rubbers 645.0288
28 GIRLS CAN GRILL 643.2340
29 Jessie Rae's 642.8572
30 Boneyard BBQ +Catering 632.5372
31 Fox Smokehouse BBQ 626.1140
32 HOGS WILD 618.7660
33 The Magic Flower Smokers 611.8280
34 Pigs' Smokin Pigs 610.0800
35 TRT BBQ 607.9316
36 Robust Catering Services 567.3940
37 LUNEY-Q BBQ 467.8056

Chicken

36 entries · top 178.2972 · median 169.9714

#TeamScore
1 BIG POPPA SMOKERS 178.2972
2 LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ 177.1544
3 STEVE'S PIG PIKINS BBQ 176.5716
4 SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ 176.5600
5 The BBQ Asylum 175.4172
6 MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ 175.4172
7 INFINITE SMOKE BBQ 175.4056
8 SQUAT AND GOBBLE BARBEQUE 175.4056
9 STEEL CITY BBQ 174.2744
10 YOUR BEHIND BBQ 173.7144
11 PORTERHOUSE BBQ 173.1200
12 ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q 172.5716
13 Fergolicious BBQ 172.5600
14 MONSOON BBQ 171.4172
15 HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ 171.4172
16 RHYTHM 'N QUE 171.4056
17 The Smokin' B.A.R. 170.8456
18 BAD BOYZ BBQ 170.2628
19 Stevo's BBQ 169.6800
20 BURNIN AND LOOTIN 169.1084
21 4 LEGS UP BBQ 168.5256
22 ZZYZX BAR.B.Q 167.4284
23 Sharpe's Woodshed 167.3828
24 VEGAS GRILLBILLIES 166.2628
25 Yippee Cayenne Mother Rubbers 164.5600
26 Boneyard BBQ +Catering 162.8800
27 TRT BBQ 161.1544
28 ROLLIN SMOKE BARBEQUE 158.8000
29 Jessie Rae's 158.2972
30 GIRLS CAN GRILL 158.2284
31 TACO TUESDAY 157.6456
32 HOGS WILD 156.5488
33 The Magic Flower Smokers 156.5368
34 Fox Smokehouse BBQ 151.9312
35 Pigs' Smokin Pigs 147.3484
36 Robust Catering Services 145.7600

Pork Ribs

37 entries · top 176.5828 · median 165.6916

#TeamScore
1 MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ 176.5828
2 4 LEGS UP BBQ 176.5600
3 ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q 176.5600
4 BURNIN AND LOOTIN 176.5600
5 Jessie Rae's 174.8800
6 BIG POPPA SMOKERS 174.8572
7 Sharpe's Woodshed 173.7144
8 SQUAT AND GOBBLE BARBEQUE 173.7144
9 BAD BOYZ BBQ 173.1316
10 STEEL CITY BBQ 173.1200
11 PORTERHOUSE BBQ 170.8228
12 Fergolicious BBQ 170.8228
13 SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ 170.2628
14 LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ 169.6800
15 The Smokin' B.A.R. 169.1544
16 YOUR BEHIND BBQ 169.1200
17 HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ 168
18 RHYTHM 'N QUE 167.3712
19 MONSOON BBQ 165.6916
20 VEGAS GRILLBILLIES 165.1772
21 Stevo's BBQ 165.0972
22 Fox Smokehouse BBQ 162.8344
23 STEVE'S PIG PIKINS BBQ 162.8000
24 TACO TUESDAY 162.2400
25 LUNEY-Q BBQ 162.2400
26 Boneyard BBQ +Catering 161.7144
27 The BBQ Asylum 161.6800
28 ROLLIN SMOKE BARBEQUE 160.5256
29 INFINITE SMOKE BBQ 159.4288
30 Yippee Cayenne Mother Rubbers 158.2400
31 ZZYZX BAR.B.Q 157.6916
32 Pigs' Smokin Pigs 152.5372
33 GIRLS CAN GRILL 152.4800
34 HOGS WILD 147.9656
35 TRT BBQ 145.1200
36 Robust Catering Services 142.8456
37 The Magic Flower Smokers 142.7772

Pork

37 entries · top 179.4400 · median 167.4284

#TeamScore
1 HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ 179.4400
2 Sharpe's Woodshed 178.8572
3 MONSOON BBQ 177.7028
4 HOGS WILD 175.4400
5 RHYTHM 'N QUE 175.4056
6 Fergolicious BBQ 175.4056
7 4 LEGS UP BBQ 174.2972
8 BURNIN AND LOOTIN 174.2628
9 BAD BOYZ BBQ 174.2628
10 ZZYZX BAR.B.Q 172.5600
11 TRT BBQ 172
12 Stevo's BBQ 171.4172
13 VEGAS GRILLBILLIES 170.8344
14 LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ 170.8228
15 ROLLIN SMOKE BARBEQUE 170.2628
16 PORTERHOUSE BBQ 170.2628
17 BIG POPPA SMOKERS 168.5484
18 SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ 167.9772
19 The Magic Flower Smokers 167.4284
20 MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ 167.3828
21 TACO TUESDAY 167.3828
22 YOUR BEHIND BBQ 165.7144
23 ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q 165.7028
24 Fox Smokehouse BBQ 165.0856
25 GIRLS CAN GRILL 163.3828
26 STEEL CITY BBQ 162.2628
27 SQUAT AND GOBBLE BARBEQUE 161.6684
28 STEVE'S PIG PIKINS BBQ 161.1544
29 Jessie Rae's 160.5828
30 The BBQ Asylum 160.5028
31 Yippee Cayenne Mother Rubbers 159.9888
32 The Smokin' B.A.R. 158.2172
33 Pigs' Smokin Pigs 156.5256
34 INFINITE SMOKE BBQ 155.9656
35 Boneyard BBQ +Catering 155.4056
36 LUNEY-Q BBQ 151.9312
37 Robust Catering Services 135.9656

Brisket

37 entries · top 178.8572 · median 165.6684

#TeamScore
1 ZZYZX BAR.B.Q 178.8572
2 BIG POPPA SMOKERS 177.7144
3 SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ 177.7028
4 PORTERHOUSE BBQ 176
5 HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ 174.2628
6 Fergolicious BBQ 173.1200
7 VEGAS GRILLBILLIES 171.4056
8 STEEL CITY BBQ 170.8456
9 BAD BOYZ BBQ 170.8228
10 MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ 169.7028
11 ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q 169.6800
12 GIRLS CAN GRILL 169.1428
13 The BBQ Asylum 169.1316
14 TACO TUESDAY 168
15 BURNIN AND LOOTIN 167.9656
16 Sharpe's Woodshed 167.3828
17 YOUR BEHIND BBQ 166.2628
18 4 LEGS UP BBQ 166.2400
19 LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ 165.6684
20 RHYTHM 'N QUE 165.0856
21 INFINITE SMOKE BBQ 164.5488
22 ROLLIN SMOKE BARBEQUE 162.2400
23 Yippee Cayenne Mother Rubbers 162.2400
24 The Smokin' B.A.R. 159.3712
25 SQUAT AND GOBBLE BARBEQUE 158.8228
26 MONSOON BBQ 156.5256
27 STEVE'S PIG PIKINS BBQ 155.9656
28 Stevo's BBQ 154.2628
29 Pigs' Smokin Pigs 153.6688
30 LUNEY-Q BBQ 153.6344
31 Boneyard BBQ +Catering 152.5372
32 Jessie Rae's 149.0972
33 Fox Smokehouse BBQ 146.2628
34 The Magic Flower Smokers 145.0856
35 Robust Catering Services 142.8228
36 HOGS WILD 138.8116
37 TRT BBQ 129.6572

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