May 26–27, 2017 · Westmont, IL · 📍 Blackhawk Dr (TY Warner Park)
BILLY RAY BBQ won Grand Champion at the RED, WHITE and BAR-B-Q ( DAY 1) on May 26, 2017 in Westmont, IL at Blackhawk Dr (TY Warner Park), scoring 676.5028 in a field of 40 teams. OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE took Reserve Grand Champion with 675.3716. Category winners: Chicken — OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE (179.4400); Pork Ribs — BILLY RAY BBQ (173.1200); Pork — GREY STREET BBQ (174.2856); Brisket — CANCERSUCKSCHICAGO.COM (180.0000). This is the 1st of 4 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2017.
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, 2017 to 2018 — 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 82% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1312 points — closer than 82% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 95 times in 100
BILLY RAY BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 5-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
This was BILLY RAY BBQ's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 12th tracked contest.
Stronger than 98% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1665 power rating going in — stronger than 98% of every contest tracked.
Pork places 1–2: GREY STREET BBQ edged THE BBQ BUS by 0.0228. Pork Ribs places 3–4: PORKY BUTTS BBQ edged STEAMBOAT BBQ-HOTDIGGITY HOG by 0.0232. Chicken places 5–6: BILLY RAY BBQ edged BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ by 0.0344.
BILLY RAY BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 38th.
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
What happened at this contest that stands in the all-time KCBS record book. A gold line is a record nobody has beaten.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 2017 ← this one | Westmont, IL | Blackhawk Dr (TY Warner Park) | 40 | 676.5028 | BILLY RAY BBQ | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE |
| May 27, 2017 | Westmont, IL | Blackhawk Dr (TY Warner Park) | 59 | 693.6684 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | DIRT ROAD BBQ |
| May 25, 2018 | Westmont, IL | Blackhawk Dr (TY Warner Park) | 49 | 686.8344 | BOOMERANG BBQ | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA |
| May 26, 2018 | Westmont, IL | Blackhawk Dr (TY Warner Park) | 60 | 702.8572 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | BOOMERANG BBQ |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 179.4400 | 173.1428 | 169.1428 |
| Pork Ribs | 173.1200 | 170.8344 | 165.1316 |
| Pork | 174.2856 | 170.8572 | 167.3712 |
| Brisket | 180 | 170.8684 | 167.3712 |
40 entries · top 676.5028 · median 654.1998
40 entries · top 179.4400 · median 165.1258
40 entries · top 173.1200 · median 161.4344
40 entries · top 174.2856 · median 162.7998
40 entries · top 180 · median 161.3828 · 🔥 perfect 180