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.
- HOT COLE'S BBQ · Chicken
- RAZORRACKS · Pork
- VICTORY LANE BBQ · Pork Ribs
BBQ-Fest Cooking Contest 2017
Jul 28–29, 2017 · Dyersburg, TN · 📍 296 James H rice Rd
RAZORRACKS won Grand Champion at the BBQ-Fest Cooking Contest on July 28, 2017 in Dyersburg, TN at 296 James H rice Rd, scoring 705.1316 in a field of 26 teams. VICTORY LANE BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 702.2400. Category winners: Chicken — HOT COLE'S BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — VICTORY LANE BBQ (180.0000); Pork — RAZORRACKS (180.0000); Brisket — HEAVENLY MANNA BBQ (178.8572). This is the 3rd of 4 editions of this contest on record; the 2016 edition was won by UNCLE KENNY'S BBQ; 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.
606.19
median 674.24
705.13 🏆
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 180 🔥
- Pork 180 🔥
- Brisket 178.86
134.23
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2015 to 2018 — this edition picked out.
Entries
26
4 judged meats · 10 ancillary
Top score
705.1316
Winning margin
2.8916
GC over RC
Field average
666.94
606.19705.13
median 674.24 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Brisket
1.7144 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
681.6112
606.19705.13
10th place overall
Field spread
98.9368
winner to last place
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 13%
beats 87% of 4714 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
23%
11 of 47 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.69 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,585
avg power rating going in · stronger than 67% of contests
Storylines (5 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 dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 4 tracked editions
SMOKE ME SILLY has won this contest 2 times across its 4 tracked editions.
- 2015
- 2018
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 10 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 4–5: Uncle Kenny's Take-Away and Q-BONES BBQ tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 9–10: PIGS GONE WILD and PORK ILLUSTRATED tied on 171.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 2–3: HOT COLE'S BBQ and UNDER THE RADAR tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Pork Ribs 9–10 · tie
- Pork 2–3 · tie
- Brisket 3–4 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
RAZORRACKS took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 7th.
- Chicken 7th
- Pork Ribs 4th
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 3rd
A contest record in chicken
180.0000
best chicken ever cooked here
HOT COLE'S BBQ turned in 180.0000 in chicken — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
- old best 178.8572
- across 2 past editions
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 24, 2015 | Dyersburg, TN | Dyersburg, TN 38024 | 35 | 706.8460 | SMOKE ME SILLY | WARDEN'S Q |
| Jul 22, 2016 | Dyersburg, TN | 296 James H Rice Road | 47 | 702.2864 | UNCLE KENNY'S BBQ | Organizer Portal |
| Jul 28, 2017 ← this one | Dyersburg, TN | 296 James H rice Rd | 26 | 705.1316 | RAZORRACKS | VICTORY LANE BBQ |
| Jul 20, 2018 | Dyersburg, TN | 296 James H rice Rd | 25 | 710.9144 | SMOKE ME SILLY | DAD'S GRILLIN CREW |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 174.2628 | 170.8344 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 174.2856 | 171.4056 |
| Pork | 180 | 174.2628 | 170.8456 |
| Brisket | 178.8572 | 177.1428 | 169.7144 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
26 entries · top 705.1316 · median 674.2400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 2 | VICTORY LANE BBQ | |
| 3 | DAD'S GRILLIN CREW | |
| 4 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 5 | Q-BONES BBQ | |
| 6 | HEAVENLY MANNA BBQ | |
| 7 | PIGS GONE WILD | |
| 8 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 9 | PICK'N OUR BUTTS | |
| 10 | Uncle Kenny's Take-Away | |
| 11 | All Q'ued" Up! | |
| 12 | PORK ILLUSTRATED | |
| 13 | QUE-N-BREW | |
| 14 | Bubba's BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKIN' WITH AN ATTITUDE | |
| 16 | 901Q | |
| 17 | HOGG LEGG SMOKERS | |
| 18 | PIG-O-LICIOUS | |
| 19 | MTD PRODUCTS | |
| 20 | BAD BOB'S BBQ | |
| 21 | GRILLIN' THE MOST | |
| 22 | TWISTED Q | |
| 23 | MAYBERRY'S LOVE at 1ST BITE | |
| 24 | Fat Cat Smokers | |
| 25 | D's SMOKIN' MEATS | |
| 26 | Four Alarm Smoker |
Chicken
26 entries · top 180 · median 167.9772 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 2 | VICTORY LANE BBQ | |
| 3 | PIGS GONE WILD | |
| 4 | Uncle Kenny's Take-Away | |
| 5 | Q-BONES BBQ | |
| 6 | Bubba's BBQ | |
| 7 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 8 | All Q'ued" Up! | |
| 9 | TWISTED Q | |
| 10 | PICK'N OUR BUTTS | |
| 11 | MTD PRODUCTS | |
| 12 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 13 | SMOKIN' WITH AN ATTITUDE | |
| 14 | QUE-N-BREW | |
| 15 | 901Q | |
| 16 | MAYBERRY'S LOVE at 1ST BITE | |
| 17 | PORK ILLUSTRATED | |
| 18 | DAD'S GRILLIN CREW | |
| 19 | GRILLIN' THE MOST | |
| 20 | PIG-O-LICIOUS | |
| 21 | HEAVENLY MANNA BBQ | |
| 22 | BAD BOB'S BBQ | |
| 23 | D's SMOKIN' MEATS | |
| 24 | Fat Cat Smokers | |
| 25 | Four Alarm Smoker | |
| 26 | HOGG LEGG SMOKERS |
Pork Ribs
26 entries · top 180 · median 168.8228 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | VICTORY LANE BBQ | |
| 2 | DAD'S GRILLIN CREW | |
| 3 | SMOKIN' WITH AN ATTITUDE | |
| 4 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 5 | Q-BONES BBQ | |
| 6 | HEAVENLY MANNA BBQ | |
| 7 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 8 | Bubba's BBQ | |
| 9 | PIGS GONE WILD | |
| 10 | PORK ILLUSTRATED | |
| 11 | 901Q | |
| 12 | QUE-N-BREW | |
| 13 | All Q'ued" Up! | |
| 14 | HOGG LEGG SMOKERS | |
| 15 | PICK'N OUR BUTTS | |
| 16 | PIG-O-LICIOUS | |
| 17 | BAD BOB'S BBQ | |
| 18 | Uncle Kenny's Take-Away | |
| 19 | TWISTED Q | |
| 20 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 21 | Fat Cat Smokers | |
| 22 | MTD PRODUCTS | |
| 23 | MAYBERRY'S LOVE at 1ST BITE | |
| 24 | GRILLIN' THE MOST | |
| 25 | D's SMOKIN' MEATS | |
| 26 | Four Alarm Smoker |
Pork
26 entries · top 180 · median 169.4000 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 2 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 3 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 4 | PORK ILLUSTRATED | |
| 5 | Uncle Kenny's Take-Away | |
| 6 | Q-BONES BBQ | |
| 7 | DAD'S GRILLIN CREW | |
| 8 | SMOKIN' WITH AN ATTITUDE | |
| 9 | QUE-N-BREW | |
| 10 | PICK'N OUR BUTTS | |
| 11 | TWISTED Q | |
| 12 | PIGS GONE WILD | |
| 13 | HEAVENLY MANNA BBQ | |
| 14 | VICTORY LANE BBQ | |
| 15 | 901Q | |
| 16 | Bubba's BBQ | |
| 17 | All Q'ued" Up! | |
| 18 | Four Alarm Smoker | |
| 19 | Fat Cat Smokers | |
| 20 | MTD PRODUCTS | |
| 21 | HOGG LEGG SMOKERS | |
| 22 | D's SMOKIN' MEATS | |
| 23 | GRILLIN' THE MOST | |
| 24 | PIG-O-LICIOUS | |
| 25 | MAYBERRY'S LOVE at 1ST BITE | |
| 26 | BAD BOB'S BBQ |
Brisket
26 entries · top 178.8572 · median 167.1372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HEAVENLY MANNA BBQ | |
| 2 | VICTORY LANE BBQ | |
| 3 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 4 | DAD'S GRILLIN CREW | |
| 5 | HOGG LEGG SMOKERS | |
| 6 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 7 | PICK'N OUR BUTTS | |
| 8 | All Q'ued" Up! | |
| 9 | Q-BONES BBQ | |
| 10 | PIGS GONE WILD | |
| 11 | BAD BOB'S BBQ | |
| 12 | Uncle Kenny's Take-Away | |
| 13 | MAYBERRY'S LOVE at 1ST BITE | |
| 14 | QUE-N-BREW | |
| 15 | GRILLIN' THE MOST | |
| 16 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 17 | PORK ILLUSTRATED | |
| 18 | 901Q | |
| 19 | PIG-O-LICIOUS | |
| 20 | Bubba's BBQ | |
| 21 | D's SMOKIN' MEATS | |
| 22 | SMOKIN' WITH AN ATTITUDE | |
| 23 | MTD PRODUCTS | |
| 24 | Fat Cat Smokers | |
| 25 | Four Alarm Smoker | |
| 26 | TWISTED Q |
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
14 entries · top 173.7144 · median 166.5486
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BikerQue | |
| 2 | Heavy D Smokers | |
| 3 | Tapp'd | |
| 4 | SOUTHERN BOOTLEGGERS | |
| 5 | Waydes Front Porch Grill | |
| 6 | Chunky Butts BBQ | |
| 7 | KC 2 BC | |
| 8 | Phillip's BBQ | |
| 9 | Barbeque Republic | |
| 10 | ROCKIN' ROE'S BBQ | |
| 11 | MINNICK RIDGE COOKERS | |
| 12 | One Less Piggie | |
| 13 | ROLL'N PITS BBQ | |
| 14 | Bud Men |
Master Series — Backyard Overall
14 entries · top 335.3944 · median 323.9142
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phillip's BBQ | |
| 2 | Chunky Butts BBQ | |
| 3 | Waydes Front Porch Grill | |
| 4 | Heavy D Smokers | |
| 5 | Tapp'd | |
| 6 | SOUTHERN BOOTLEGGERS | |
| 7 | BikerQue | |
| 8 | Barbeque Republic | |
| 9 | KC 2 BC | |
| 10 | MINNICK RIDGE COOKERS | |
| 11 | ROCKIN' ROE'S BBQ | |
| 12 | Bud Men | |
| 13 | ROLL'N PITS BBQ | |
| 14 | One Less Piggie |
Master Series — Backyard Ribs
14 entries · top 169.7028 · median 153.6916
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phillip's BBQ | |
| 2 | Chunky Butts BBQ | |
| 3 | Waydes Front Porch Grill | |
| 4 | Barbeque Republic | |
| 5 | MINNICK RIDGE COOKERS | |
| 6 | KC 2 BC | |
| 7 | Heavy D Smokers | |
| 8 | Bud Men | |
| 9 | Tapp'd | |
| 10 | SOUTHERN BOOTLEGGERS | |
| 11 | BikerQue | |
| 12 | ROCKIN' ROE'S BBQ | |
| 13 | ROLL'N PITS BBQ | |
| 14 | One Less Piggie |
Master Series — Bacon
14 entries · top 167.4172 · median 159.1314
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waydes Front Porch Grill | |
| 2 | BAD BOB'S BBQ | |
| 3 | GRILLIN' THE MOST | |
| 4 | MTD PRODUCTS | |
| 5 | Chunky Butts BBQ | |
| 6 | SOUTHERN BOOTLEGGERS | |
| 7 | PIG-O-LICIOUS | |
| 8 | PIGS GONE WILD | |
| 9 | D's SMOKIN' MEATS | |
| 10 | Heavy D Smokers | |
| 11 | Tapp'd | |
| 12 | ROLL'N PITS BBQ | |
| 13 | Fat Cat Smokers | |
| 14 | QUE-N-BREW |
Master Series — Challenge
11 entries · top 166.2972 · median 154.2516
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIG-O-LICIOUS | |
| 2 | QUE-N-BREW | |
| 3 | Tapp'd | |
| 4 | Heavy D Smokers | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' WITH AN ATTITUDE | |
| 6 | Chunky Butts BBQ | |
| 7 | MTD PRODUCTS | |
| 8 | Waydes Front Porch Grill | |
| 9 | SOUTHERN BOOTLEGGERS | |
| 10 | ROLL'N PITS BBQ | |
| 11 | GRILLIN' THE MOST |
Master Series — Exotic
10 entries · top 168.5828 · median 157.1086
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waydes Front Porch Grill | |
| 2 | PIGS GONE WILD | |
| 3 | MTD PRODUCTS | |
| 4 | QUE-N-BREW | |
| 5 | BAD BOB'S BBQ | |
| 6 | GRILLIN' THE MOST | |
| 7 | PIG-O-LICIOUS | |
| 8 | Heavy D Smokers | |
| 9 | Fat Cat Smokers | |
| 10 | ROLL'N PITS BBQ |
Master Series — Margarita
7 entries · top 172.5600 · median 162.2400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROLL'N PITS BBQ | |
| 2 | Tapp'd | |
| 3 | SOUTHERN BOOTLEGGERS | |
| 4 | PIGS GONE WILD | |
| 5 | BAD BOB'S BBQ | |
| 6 | QUE-N-BREW | |
| 7 | PIG-O-LICIOUS |
Master Series — Sandwich
13 entries · top 171.4400 · median 155.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BAD BOB'S BBQ | |
| 2 | QUE-N-BREW | |
| 3 | D's SMOKIN' MEATS | |
| 4 | Tapp'd | |
| 5 | GRILLIN' THE MOST | |
| 6 | Waydes Front Porch Grill | |
| 7 | Fat Cat Smokers | |
| 8 | Heavy D Smokers | |
| 9 | SOUTHERN BOOTLEGGERS | |
| 10 | ROLL'N PITS BBQ | |
| 11 | MTD PRODUCTS | |
| 12 | PIGS GONE WILD | |
| 13 | PIG-O-LICIOUS |
Master Series — Signature Drink
10 entries · top 171.4400 · median 152.8056
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | One Less Piggie | |
| 2 | D's SMOKIN' MEATS | |
| 3 | Tapp'd | |
| 4 | PIGS GONE WILD | |
| 5 | ROLL'N PITS BBQ | |
| 6 | BAD BOB'S BBQ | |
| 7 | PIG-O-LICIOUS | |
| 8 | SOUTHERN BOOTLEGGERS | |
| 9 | QUE-N-BREW | |
| 10 | DAD'S GRILLIN CREW |
Master Series — Wings
17 entries · top 172.0228 · median 158.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | QUE-N-BREW | |
| 2 | Chunky Butts BBQ | |
| 3 | Heavy D Smokers | |
| 4 | GRILLIN' THE MOST | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' WITH AN ATTITUDE | |
| 6 | All Q'ued" Up! | |
| 7 | PICK'N OUR BUTTS | |
| 8 | Four Alarm Smoker | |
| 9 | BAD BOB'S BBQ | |
| 10 | SOUTHERN BOOTLEGGERS | |
| 11 | MTD PRODUCTS | |
| 12 | Fat Cat Smokers | |
| 13 | PIGS GONE WILD | |
| 14 | Waydes Front Porch Grill | |
| 15 | PIG-O-LICIOUS | |
| 16 | Tapp'd | |
| 17 | ROLL'N PITS BBQ |