A statement win
10.9144
points clear of the field
Wider than 90% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The champion won by 10.9144 points — a wider margin than 90% of championships in the data.
Freedom Fest BBQ Cook-Off 2017
Jun 23–24, 2017 · Willard, MO · 📍 222 W Jackson St
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ won Grand Champion at the Freedom Fest BBQ Cook-Off on June 23, 2017 in Willard, MO at 222 W Jackson St, scoring 710.2972 in a field of 35 teams. BRICKHEAD BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 699.3828. Category winners: Chicken — SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ (179.4400); Pork Ribs — YELLOW JACKET BBQ (179.4400); Pork — SMOKE THIS BBQ MO (180.0000); Brisket — SMOOTH SMOKE (180.0000). This is the 1st of 2 editions of this contest on record; 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.
606.02
median 666.87
710.30 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 179.44
- Pork Ribs 179.44
- Pork 180 🔥
- Brisket 180 🔥
144.49
180
Entries
35
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
710.2972
Winning margin
10.9144
GC over RC
Field average
660.49
606.02710.30
median 666.87 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
4 🔥
Tightest race
Brisket
1.1428 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
682.7772
606.02710.30
10th place overall
Field spread
104.2744
winner to last place
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 3%
beats 97% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.76 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,600
avg power rating going in · stronger than 77% of contests
Storylines (4 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.
A day of perfect scores
4
perfect 180s
4 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- SMOOTH SMOKE · Brisket
- BRICKHEAD BBQ · Brisket
- SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ · Brisket
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 11 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 1–2: SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ and Three Brothers Different Mothers tied on 179.4400 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 3–4: THUMP & STRUM BBQ and SMOOTH SMOKE tied on 178.2972 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 9–10: COUNTRYSIDE BBQ PRO SHOP and WOOD HOOK BBQ tied on 172.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Pork Ribs 8–9 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 8th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 8th
- Brisket 3rd
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 23, 2017 ← this one | Willard, MO | 222 W Jackson St | 35 | 710.2972 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | BRICKHEAD BBQ |
| Jun 29, 2018 | Willard, MO | 222 W Jackson St | 52 | 693.6456 | BYO GRILL | 4 LEGS UP BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 179.4400 | 176.5600 | 172 |
| Pork Ribs | 179.4400 | 174.2628 | 169.6800 |
| Pork | 180 | 176.5600 | 171.4172 |
| Brisket | 180 | 178.8572 | 169.6684 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
35 entries · top 710.2972 · median 666.8684
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 2 | BRICKHEAD BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 4 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 5 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 6 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 7 | Three Brothers Different Mothers | |
| 8 | Z-QUE | |
| 9 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 10 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 11 | SMOKIN O BBQ | |
| 12 | TOAD HOLLAR BBQ CREW | |
| 13 | UP SAUCE CREEK | |
| 14 | Eli's Smokin' Pit Crew | |
| 15 | THUMP & STRUM BBQ | |
| 16 | COUNTRYSIDE BBQ PRO SHOP | |
| 17 | YELLOW JACKET BBQ | |
| 18 | BLOWIN' SMOKE NWA | |
| 19 | MOKAN MEATHEADS | |
| 20 | WRIGHT ON QUE-IL | |
| 21 | SMOKIN' Q BBQ | |
| 22 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 23 | LUCKY Q BBQ | |
| 24 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 26 | How Can You Have Any Pudding | |
| 27 | SMOKIN' BILL'S | |
| 28 | CROSSFIRE BBQ | |
| 29 | MO Smoke Mo Spirits | |
| 30 | I'M YOUR HUCKLEBERRY BBQ | |
| 31 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 32 | Bro-B Que | |
| 33 | 502 Que Crew | |
| 34 | Hogziila | |
| 35 | PORKOLOGY BBQ |
Chicken
35 entries · top 179.4400 · median 169.1428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 2 | Three Brothers Different Mothers | |
| 3 | THUMP & STRUM BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 5 | MOKAN MEATHEADS | |
| 6 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 7 | TOAD HOLLAR BBQ CREW | |
| 8 | BRICKHEAD BBQ | |
| 9 | COUNTRYSIDE BBQ PRO SHOP | |
| 10 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKIN' BILL'S | |
| 12 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 13 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 14 | SMOKIN' Q BBQ | |
| 15 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 16 | LUCKY Q BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 18 | Z-QUE | |
| 19 | UP SAUCE CREEK | |
| 20 | Eli's Smokin' Pit Crew | |
| 21 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 22 | YELLOW JACKET BBQ | |
| 23 | CROSSFIRE BBQ | |
| 24 | MO Smoke Mo Spirits | |
| 25 | I'M YOUR HUCKLEBERRY BBQ | |
| 26 | SMOKIN O BBQ | |
| 27 | WRIGHT ON QUE-IL | |
| 28 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 29 | BLOWIN' SMOKE NWA | |
| 30 | How Can You Have Any Pudding | |
| 31 | PORKOLOGY BBQ | |
| 32 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 33 | 502 Que Crew | |
| 34 | Bro-B Que | |
| 35 | Hogziila |
Pork Ribs
35 entries · top 179.4400 · median 163.9888
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | YELLOW JACKET BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 3 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 4 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 5 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 6 | TOAD HOLLAR BBQ CREW | |
| 7 | SMOKIN O BBQ | |
| 8 | Z-QUE | |
| 9 | BRICKHEAD BBQ | |
| 10 | Eli's Smokin' Pit Crew | |
| 11 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 12 | BLOWIN' SMOKE NWA | |
| 13 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 14 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 15 | UP SAUCE CREEK | |
| 16 | SMOKIN' Q BBQ | |
| 17 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 18 | MOKAN MEATHEADS | |
| 19 | COUNTRYSIDE BBQ PRO SHOP | |
| 20 | Three Brothers Different Mothers | |
| 21 | LUCKY Q BBQ | |
| 22 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 24 | WRIGHT ON QUE-IL | |
| 25 | Hogziila | |
| 26 | THUMP & STRUM BBQ | |
| 27 | CROSSFIRE BBQ | |
| 28 | How Can You Have Any Pudding | |
| 29 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 30 | MO Smoke Mo Spirits | |
| 31 | Bro-B Que | |
| 32 | I'M YOUR HUCKLEBERRY BBQ | |
| 33 | SMOKIN' BILL'S | |
| 34 | 502 Que Crew | |
| 35 | PORKOLOGY BBQ |
Pork
35 entries · top 180 · median 166.2400 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 2 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 3 | Z-QUE | |
| 4 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 5 | BRICKHEAD BBQ | |
| 6 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 7 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 8 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 9 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 10 | COUNTRYSIDE BBQ PRO SHOP | |
| 11 | UP SAUCE CREEK | |
| 12 | SMOKIN O BBQ | |
| 13 | YELLOW JACKET BBQ | |
| 14 | BLOWIN' SMOKE NWA | |
| 15 | Eli's Smokin' Pit Crew | |
| 16 | THUMP & STRUM BBQ | |
| 17 | Three Brothers Different Mothers | |
| 18 | TOAD HOLLAR BBQ CREW | |
| 19 | SMOKIN' BILL'S | |
| 20 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 21 | Bro-B Que | |
| 22 | LUCKY Q BBQ | |
| 23 | 502 Que Crew | |
| 24 | SMOKIN' Q BBQ | |
| 25 | WRIGHT ON QUE-IL | |
| 26 | MO Smoke Mo Spirits | |
| 27 | MOKAN MEATHEADS | |
| 28 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 29 | How Can You Have Any Pudding | |
| 30 | I'M YOUR HUCKLEBERRY BBQ | |
| 31 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 32 | CROSSFIRE BBQ | |
| 33 | PORKOLOGY BBQ | |
| 34 | Hogziila | |
| 35 | WOOD HOOK BBQ |
Brisket
35 entries · top 180 · median 165.6912 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 2 | BRICKHEAD BBQ | |
| 3 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 4 | Three Brothers Different Mothers | |
| 5 | WRIGHT ON QUE-IL | |
| 6 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 7 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 8 | UP SAUCE CREEK | |
| 9 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 10 | Z-QUE | |
| 11 | SMOKIN O BBQ | |
| 12 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 13 | THUMP & STRUM BBQ | |
| 14 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 16 | BLOWIN' SMOKE NWA | |
| 17 | JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 | |
| 18 | SMOKIN' Q BBQ | |
| 19 | Eli's Smokin' Pit Crew | |
| 20 | MOKAN MEATHEADS | |
| 21 | TOAD HOLLAR BBQ CREW | |
| 22 | How Can You Have Any Pudding | |
| 23 | COUNTRYSIDE BBQ PRO SHOP | |
| 24 | CROSSFIRE BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 26 | 502 Que Crew | |
| 27 | PORKOLOGY BBQ | |
| 28 | LUCKY Q BBQ | |
| 29 | Hogziila | |
| 30 | I'M YOUR HUCKLEBERRY BBQ | |
| 31 | YELLOW JACKET BBQ | |
| 32 | SMOKIN' BILL'S | |
| 33 | MO Smoke Mo Spirits | |
| 34 | Bro-B Que | |
| 35 | GRAY WOLF 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 — Kids-Q 11-15
4 entries · top 175.4628 · median 168.2800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon | |
| 2 | Olivia Kyle | |
| 3 | Madelyn Kyle | |
| 4 | Sarah Ritter |
Master Series — Kids-Q 5-10
12 entries · top 180 · median 172.2684 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tatum Sheer | |
| 2 | Taylor Sheer | |
| 3 | Molly Leishtener | |
| 4 | Hunter | |
| 5 | Kaiden | |
| 6 | ELI | |
| 7 | Maycee Kyle | |
| 8 | Maynard | |
| 9 | Maddelen | |
| 10 | Noah Steele | |
| 11 | Gamon Ellis | |
| 12 | Abby Jones |