Jul 28–29, 2017 · Spring Grove, PA · 📍 205 E Railroad Street
CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ won Grand Champion at the Smoke in the Grove (JUDGES FULL) on July 28, 2017 in Spring Grove, PA at 205 E Railroad Street, scoring 675.8972 in a field of 51 teams. PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 674.2172. Category winners: Chicken — LO' -N- SLO' BBQ (176.5600); Pork Ribs — HOLDIN' MY BBQ (173.7488); Pork — Pits and Giggles (173.7256); Brisket — 2 RHODIES BBQ (176.0000). This is the 1st of 7 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2018.
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 2022 — 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 75% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.6800 points — closer than 75% of every championship in the data.
CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
First to fifth in the overall standings covered just 4.4688 points.
Pork Ribs places 7–8: QUEGASM and BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD tied on 168.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 6–7: BRISKET BURNERS and PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ tied on 170.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 8–9: BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD edged BRISKET BURNERS by 0.0112.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 2017 ← this one | Spring Grove, PA | 205 E Railroad Street | 51 | 675.8972 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ |
| Jul 27, 2018 | Spring Grove, PA | 205 E Railroad Street | 54 | 688.4912 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | APORKALYPSE NOW |
| Jul 26, 2019 | Spring Grove, PA | 205 E Railroad Street | 53 | 692.5488 | Team Meat Coma | SMOKIN' TEX BBQ |
| Jul 24, 2020 | Spring Grove, PA | 205 East Railroad St | 59 | 697.7372 | Dign N Pign | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT |
| Jul 30, 2021 | Spring Grove, PA | Spring Grove, PA 17362 | 54 | 692.5256 | Not So Famous Dave's BBQ | TOP GUN BARBECUE |
| Jul 29, 2022 | Spring Grove, PA | 205 East Railroad Street | 54 | 697.6688 | Piggin' Whiskey | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE |
| Jul 30, 2022 | Spring Grove, PA | 205 East Railroad Street | 42 | 703.9888 | Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ |
| Jul 28, 2023 | Spring Grove, PA | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jul 29, 2023 | Spring Grove, PA | — | — | — | — | — |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 176.5600 | 173.1544 | 169.7028 |
| Pork Ribs | 173.7488 | 169.7028 | 168.5372 |
| Pork | 173.7256 | 170.8456 | 168.5600 |
| Brisket | 176 | 171.4628 | 167.9772 |
51 entries · top 675.8972 · median 650.1256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 2 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 3 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 4 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN GNOME BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKETASTIC BBQ | |
| 7 | BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD | |
| 8 | LITTLE LUKE'S BBQ | |
| 9 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 10 | PIGHEADED BBQ | |
| 11 | PIG PEN BBQ | |
| 12 | HOLDIN' MY BBQ | |
| 13 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 14 | CHOKIN ON SMOKE | |
| 15 | PORKS & REC | |
| 16 | BUBBA JOE'S SMOKETOWN BBQ | |
| 17 | ASTRO PIGS BBQ | |
| 18 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 19 | SMOKIN FOOLZ | |
| 20 | 3N1 Q | |
| 21 | 2 RHODIES BBQ | |
| 22 | PEQUEA PULLERS | |
| 23 | WILBUR'S REVENGE | |
| 24 | NEW REVOLUTION Q | |
| 25 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 26 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 27 | SIR-PORK'S-ALOT BBQ | |
| 28 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 29 | BAD COMPANY BBQ | |
| 30 | SMOKEY STACKZ BBQ | |
| 31 | J & M BAR B Q | |
| 32 | REDNECK SMOKE CLUB | |
| 33 | QUEGASM | |
| 34 | HAWG NATION BBQ | |
| 35 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 36 | HOUSE OF HAWG | |
| 37 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 38 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 39 | DAY-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 40 | WILLY'S Q SHACK | |
| 41 | Pits and Giggles | |
| 42 | COOKS N HOOKS | |
| 43 | 50 SHADES OF PORK | |
| 44 | ENGINEERED SMOKE | |
| 45 | KILLER MEAT | |
| 46 | JUST GOT SMOKED | |
| 47 | HERE COME THE JUDGE BBQ TEAM | |
| 48 | Chris's Smoking BBQ | |
| 49 | PAPA'S SMOKIN' AGAIN | |
| 50 | TEAM HAM-HOCK | |
| 51 | QUADLQ |
51 entries · top 176.5600 · median 164.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 2 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN FOOLZ | |
| 4 | CHOKIN ON SMOKE | |
| 5 | SIR-PORK'S-ALOT BBQ | |
| 6 | LITTLE LUKE'S BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKETASTIC BBQ | |
| 8 | PIG PEN BBQ | |
| 9 | WILLY'S Q SHACK | |
| 10 | PORKS & REC | |
| 11 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 12 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 13 | REDNECK SMOKE CLUB | |
| 14 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 15 | Pits and Giggles | |
| 16 | SMOKEY STACKZ BBQ | |
| 17 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 18 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 19 | WILBUR'S REVENGE | |
| 20 | SMOKIN GNOME BBQ | |
| 21 | COOKS N HOOKS | |
| 22 | BAD COMPANY BBQ | |
| 23 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 24 | 3N1 Q | |
| 25 | BUBBA JOE'S SMOKETOWN BBQ | |
| 26 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 27 | PIGHEADED BBQ | |
| 28 | J & M BAR B Q | |
| 29 | HOLDIN' MY BBQ | |
| 30 | 2 RHODIES BBQ | |
| 31 | BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD | |
| 32 | DAY-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 33 | NEW REVOLUTION Q | |
| 34 | HOUSE OF HAWG | |
| 35 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 36 | PEQUEA PULLERS | |
| 37 | QUEGASM | |
| 38 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 39 | TEAM HAM-HOCK | |
| 40 | ASTRO PIGS BBQ | |
| 41 | ENGINEERED SMOKE | |
| 42 | JUST GOT SMOKED | |
| 43 | KILLER MEAT | |
| 44 | HAWG NATION BBQ | |
| 45 | PAPA'S SMOKIN' AGAIN | |
| 46 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 47 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 48 | Chris's Smoking BBQ | |
| 49 | HERE COME THE JUDGE BBQ TEAM | |
| 50 | 50 SHADES OF PORK | |
| 51 | QUADLQ |
51 entries · top 173.7488 · median 159.9544
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOLDIN' MY BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKETASTIC BBQ | |
| 3 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 4 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN GNOME BBQ | |
| 6 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 7 | QUEGASM | |
| 8 | BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD | |
| 9 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 10 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 11 | WILBUR'S REVENGE | |
| 12 | J & M BAR B Q | |
| 13 | SIR-PORK'S-ALOT BBQ | |
| 14 | CHOKIN ON SMOKE | |
| 15 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 16 | PIGHEADED BBQ | |
| 17 | ASTRO PIGS BBQ | |
| 18 | WILLY'S Q SHACK | |
| 19 | BAD COMPANY BBQ | |
| 20 | BUBBA JOE'S SMOKETOWN BBQ | |
| 21 | LITTLE LUKE'S BBQ | |
| 22 | NEW REVOLUTION Q | |
| 23 | 50 SHADES OF PORK | |
| 24 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 25 | PORKS & REC | |
| 26 | 2 RHODIES BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKIN FOOLZ | |
| 28 | SMOKEY STACKZ BBQ | |
| 29 | ENGINEERED SMOKE | |
| 30 | 3N1 Q | |
| 31 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 32 | PAPA'S SMOKIN' AGAIN | |
| 33 | PEQUEA PULLERS | |
| 34 | PIG PEN BBQ | |
| 35 | QUADLQ | |
| 36 | REDNECK SMOKE CLUB | |
| 37 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 38 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 39 | TEAM HAM-HOCK | |
| 40 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 41 | JUST GOT SMOKED | |
| 42 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 43 | HOUSE OF HAWG | |
| 44 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 45 | Pits and Giggles | |
| 46 | HERE COME THE JUDGE BBQ TEAM | |
| 47 | HAWG NATION BBQ | |
| 48 | DAY-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 49 | COOKS N HOOKS | |
| 50 | KILLER MEAT | |
| 51 | Chris's Smoking BBQ |
51 entries · top 173.7256 · median 161.6572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pits and Giggles | |
| 2 | SMOKIN GNOME BBQ | |
| 3 | HAWG NATION BBQ | |
| 4 | BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD | |
| 5 | 3N1 Q | |
| 6 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 7 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKETASTIC BBQ | |
| 9 | BUBBA JOE'S SMOKETOWN BBQ | |
| 10 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 11 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 12 | ASTRO PIGS BBQ | |
| 13 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 14 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 15 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 16 | HOLDIN' MY BBQ | |
| 17 | J & M BAR B Q | |
| 18 | LITTLE LUKE'S BBQ | |
| 19 | PIGHEADED BBQ | |
| 20 | CHOKIN ON SMOKE | |
| 21 | PEQUEA PULLERS | |
| 22 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 23 | NEW REVOLUTION Q | |
| 24 | Chris's Smoking BBQ | |
| 25 | PIG PEN BBQ | |
| 26 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 27 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 28 | REDNECK SMOKE CLUB | |
| 29 | WILBUR'S REVENGE | |
| 30 | DAY-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 31 | QUEGASM | |
| 32 | PORKS & REC | |
| 33 | SMOKEY STACKZ BBQ | |
| 34 | 2 RHODIES BBQ | |
| 35 | SMOKIN FOOLZ | |
| 36 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 37 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 38 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 39 | HOUSE OF HAWG | |
| 40 | KILLER MEAT | |
| 41 | SIR-PORK'S-ALOT BBQ | |
| 42 | BAD COMPANY BBQ | |
| 43 | ENGINEERED SMOKE | |
| 44 | HERE COME THE JUDGE BBQ TEAM | |
| 45 | WILLY'S Q SHACK | |
| 46 | COOKS N HOOKS | |
| 47 | 50 SHADES OF PORK | |
| 48 | JUST GOT SMOKED | |
| 49 | QUADLQ | |
| 50 | PAPA'S SMOKIN' AGAIN | |
| 51 | TEAM HAM-HOCK |
51 entries · top 176 · median 161.7028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 RHODIES BBQ | |
| 2 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 3 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 4 | PEQUEA PULLERS | |
| 5 | PIG PEN BBQ | |
| 6 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | |
| 7 | PORKS & REC | |
| 8 | ASTRO PIGS BBQ | |
| 9 | BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD | |
| 10 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 11 | BAD COMPANY BBQ | |
| 12 | HAWG NATION BBQ | |
| 13 | PIGHEADED BBQ | |
| 14 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 15 | 50 SHADES OF PORK | |
| 16 | NEW REVOLUTION Q | |
| 17 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 18 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 19 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 20 | LITTLE LUKE'S BBQ | |
| 21 | HOUSE OF HAWG | |
| 22 | QUADLQ | |
| 23 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKIN FOOLZ | |
| 25 | SMOKIN GNOME BBQ | |
| 26 | 3N1 Q | |
| 27 | BUBBA JOE'S SMOKETOWN BBQ | |
| 28 | KILLER MEAT | |
| 29 | SMOKEY STACKZ BBQ | |
| 30 | HOLDIN' MY BBQ | |
| 31 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 32 | WILBUR'S REVENGE | |
| 33 | COOKS N HOOKS | |
| 34 | SMOKETASTIC BBQ | |
| 35 | SIR-PORK'S-ALOT BBQ | |
| 36 | DAY-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 37 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 38 | REDNECK SMOKE CLUB | |
| 39 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 40 | CHOKIN ON SMOKE | |
| 41 | QUEGASM | |
| 42 | Chris's Smoking BBQ | |
| 43 | J & M BAR B Q | |
| 44 | JUST GOT SMOKED | |
| 45 | HERE COME THE JUDGE BBQ TEAM | |
| 46 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 47 | PAPA'S SMOKIN' AGAIN | |
| 48 | ENGINEERED SMOKE | |
| 49 | TEAM HAM-HOCK | |
| 50 | WILLY'S Q SHACK | |
| 51 | Pits and Giggles |