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.
- SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS · Brisket
- BooyaQ · Chicken
- Shiggin aint easy · Pork
Rockin' BBQ Warsaw, Indiana 2026
May 15–16, 2026 · Warsaw, IN · 📍 1400 East Smith Street · State championship
Reps: Charlie Brinza, Jeanne Titus · Prize money: $5,000
SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS won Grand Champion at the Rockin' BBQ Warsaw, Indiana on May 15, 2026 in Warsaw, IN at 1400 East Smith Street, scoring 714.8572 in a field of 35 teams. WE WILL ROCK QUE took Reserve Grand Champion with 706.9028. Category winners: Chicken — BooyaQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — TIRE SMOKE BBQ (178.8572); Pork — Shiggin aint easy (180.0000); Brisket — SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS (180.0000). The Backyard Series standings were won by Sermerstout BBQ with 346.2628. This is the 1st of 3 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2026.
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.
486.75
median 680.51
714.86 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 180 🔥
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 178.86
- Master Series — Pork 180 🔥
- Master Series — Brisket 180 🔥
- Backyard Series — Chicken 177.70
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 176
145.69
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2026 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
35
6 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
714.8572
Winning margin
7.9544
GC over RC
Field average
674.93
486.75714.86
median 680.51 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
3.4400 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
690.1712
486.75714.86
10th place overall
Field spread
228.1032
winner to last place
Prize money
$5,000
on the line
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 0%
beats 100% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.32 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,597
avg power rating going in · stronger than 76% of contests
Storylines (3 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 18 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 7–8: WE WILL ROCK QUE and iBQ'n tied on 175.4400 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 8–9: DAT'S BBQ and Wink's BBQ tied on 173.1428 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork places 1–2: Shiggin aint easy and SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 8–9 · tie
- Master Series — Pork 1–2 · tie
- Master Series — Brisket 7–8 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork ribs at 4th.
- Chicken 2nd
- Pork Ribs 4th
- Pork 2nd
- Brisket 1st
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2026 ← this one | Warsaw, IN | 1400 East Smith Street | 35 | 714.8572 | Scuffletown Smokers | WE WILL ROCK QUE |
| May 15, 2026 | Warsaw, IN | 1400 East Smith Street | 34 | 178.2972 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | — |
| May 15, 2026 | Warsaw, IN | 1400 East Smith Street | 25 | 178.3200 | iBQ'n | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180 | 176.5600 | 174.8572 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 174.2972 | 173.1200 |
| Master Series — Pork | 180 | 176.0228 | 173.7028 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 180 | 175.4056 | 174.2972 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 177.7028 | 171.4056 | 162.8000 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 176 | 169.6800 | 162.8344 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
35 entries · top 714.8572 · median 680.5144
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | |
| 2 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 3 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 4 | Beer League Barbecue | |
| 5 | M R BBQ | |
| 6 | iBQ'n | |
| 7 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 8 | DAT'S BBQ | |
| 9 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 10 | BooyaQ | |
| 11 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 12 | THUNDER HOG BBQ | |
| 13 | DB BBQ | |
| 14 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 15 | QUE U | |
| 16 | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 17 | Wink's BBQ | |
| 18 | Bleacher Bums BBQ | |
| 19 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 20 | OUTLAW BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 21 | GO BIG OR GO BBQ | |
| 22 | A&R Barbeque | |
| 23 | Salted Anchor | |
| 24 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 25 | Blowing Smoke BBQ | |
| 26 | Q-JITSU | |
| 27 | Rigby Roo’s BBQ | |
| 28 | Hoosier BBQ | |
| 29 | Diddy's Delectable 3BQ | |
| 30 | Fat For A Reason BBQ | |
| 31 | VanHoozen BBQ | |
| 32 | On The Brink BBQ | |
| 33 | BIG GUYS Q | |
| 34 | FLAT BOTTOM BBQ | |
| 35 | Smoke of Genius |
Chicken
35 entries · top 180 · median 171.9884 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BooyaQ | |
| 2 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | |
| 3 | Bleacher Bums BBQ | |
| 4 | GO BIG OR GO BBQ | |
| 5 | Beer League Barbecue | |
| 6 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 7 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 8 | iBQ'n | |
| 9 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 10 | Q-JITSU | |
| 11 | M R BBQ | |
| 12 | QUE U | |
| 13 | DAT'S BBQ | |
| 14 | DB BBQ | |
| 15 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 16 | Fat For A Reason BBQ | |
| 17 | THUNDER HOG BBQ | |
| 18 | Hoosier BBQ | |
| 19 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 20 | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 21 | VanHoozen BBQ | |
| 22 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 23 | Rigby Roo’s BBQ | |
| 24 | BIG GUYS Q | |
| 25 | Wink's BBQ | |
| 26 | On The Brink BBQ | |
| 27 | Salted Anchor | |
| 28 | Blowing Smoke BBQ | |
| 29 | Diddy's Delectable 3BQ | |
| 30 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 31 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 32 | FLAT BOTTOM BBQ | |
| 33 | Smoke of Genius | |
| 34 | A&R Barbeque | |
| 35 | OUTLAW BBQ SMOKERS |
Pork Ribs
34 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.5486
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 2 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 3 | A&R Barbeque | |
| 4 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | |
| 5 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 6 | Hoosier BBQ | |
| 7 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 8 | DAT'S BBQ | |
| 9 | Wink's BBQ | |
| 10 | BooyaQ | |
| 11 | Rigby Roo’s BBQ | |
| 12 | GO BIG OR GO BBQ | |
| 13 | Beer League Barbecue | |
| 14 | M R BBQ | |
| 15 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 16 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 17 | VanHoozen BBQ | |
| 18 | Q-JITSU | |
| 19 | Bleacher Bums BBQ | |
| 20 | Diddy's Delectable 3BQ | |
| 21 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 22 | DB BBQ | |
| 23 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 24 | iBQ'n | |
| 25 | OUTLAW BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 26 | THUNDER HOG BBQ | |
| 27 | QUE U | |
| 28 | On The Brink BBQ | |
| 29 | Blowing Smoke BBQ | |
| 30 | Salted Anchor | |
| 31 | Fat For A Reason BBQ | |
| 32 | BIG GUYS Q | |
| 33 | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 34 | FLAT BOTTOM BBQ |
Pork
35 entries · top 180 · median 169.1084 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 2 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | |
| 3 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 4 | M R BBQ | |
| 5 | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 6 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 7 | iBQ'n | |
| 8 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 9 | THUNDER HOG BBQ | |
| 10 | DAT'S BBQ | |
| 11 | Beer League Barbecue | |
| 12 | DB BBQ | |
| 13 | OUTLAW BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 14 | Blowing Smoke BBQ | |
| 15 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 16 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 17 | Salted Anchor | |
| 18 | QUE U | |
| 19 | Wink's BBQ | |
| 20 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 21 | Q-JITSU | |
| 22 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 23 | A&R Barbeque | |
| 24 | BooyaQ | |
| 25 | Fat For A Reason BBQ | |
| 26 | Rigby Roo’s BBQ | |
| 27 | Diddy's Delectable 3BQ | |
| 28 | FLAT BOTTOM BBQ | |
| 29 | Smoke of Genius | |
| 30 | Hoosier BBQ | |
| 31 | On The Brink BBQ | |
| 32 | BIG GUYS Q | |
| 33 | Bleacher Bums BBQ | |
| 34 | GO BIG OR GO BBQ | |
| 35 | VanHoozen BBQ |
Brisket
35 entries · top 180 · median 170.8228 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | |
| 2 | Beer League Barbecue | |
| 3 | OUTLAW BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 4 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 5 | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 6 | Bleacher Bums BBQ | |
| 7 | THUNDER HOG BBQ | |
| 8 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 9 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 10 | QUE U | |
| 11 | M R BBQ | |
| 12 | iBQ'n | |
| 13 | DB BBQ | |
| 14 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 15 | Wink's BBQ | |
| 16 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 17 | Salted Anchor | |
| 18 | DAT'S BBQ | |
| 19 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 20 | BooyaQ | |
| 21 | VanHoozen BBQ | |
| 22 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 23 | GO BIG OR GO BBQ | |
| 24 | A&R Barbeque | |
| 25 | On The Brink BBQ | |
| 26 | Diddy's Delectable 3BQ | |
| 27 | Blowing Smoke BBQ | |
| 28 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 29 | BIG GUYS Q | |
| 30 | Fat For A Reason BBQ | |
| 31 | Smoke of Genius | |
| 32 | Rigby Roo’s BBQ | |
| 33 | Hoosier BBQ | |
| 34 | Q-JITSU | |
| 35 | FLAT BOTTOM BBQ |
Backyard Series
Overall
11 entries · top 346.2628 · median 338.2172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sermerstout BBQ | |
| 2 | Silver Creek Barbecue | |
| 3 | RedHog BBQ | |
| 4 | Porkasaurus Rex BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN E'S BBQ | |
| 6 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 7 | Boot Scootin' BBQ | |
| 8 | Jughead's BBQ | |
| 9 | Titan-Q | |
| 10 | Black Sheep BBQ | |
| 11 | Bad Larry's BBQ |
Chicken
11 entries · top 177.7028 · median 170.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Porkasaurus Rex BBQ | |
| 2 | Boot Scootin' BBQ | |
| 3 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 4 | RedHog BBQ | |
| 5 | Silver Creek Barbecue | |
| 6 | Sermerstout BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN E'S BBQ | |
| 8 | Black Sheep BBQ | |
| 9 | Titan-Q | |
| 10 | Jughead's BBQ | |
| 11 | Bad Larry's BBQ |
Pork Ribs
11 entries · top 176 · median 167.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sermerstout BBQ | |
| 2 | Jughead's BBQ | |
| 3 | Silver Creek Barbecue | |
| 4 | RedHog BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN E'S BBQ | |
| 6 | Titan-Q | |
| 7 | Black Sheep BBQ | |
| 8 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 9 | Porkasaurus Rex BBQ | |
| 10 | Boot Scootin' BBQ | |
| 11 | Bad Larry's 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.
Ancillary — Dessert
10 entries · top 180 · median 177.7086 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diddy's Delectable 3BQ | |
| 2 | DAT'S BBQ | |
| 3 | DB BBQ | |
| 4 | VanHoozen BBQ | |
| 5 | Boot Scootin' BBQ | |
| 6 | GO BIG OR GO BBQ | |
| 7 | Hoosier BBQ | |
| 8 | A&R Barbeque | |
| 9 | On The Brink BBQ | |
| 10 | Fat For A Reason BBQ |
Ancillary — Sausage
7 entries · top 176.5828 · median 166.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN E'S BBQ | |
| 2 | Sermerstout BBQ | |
| 3 | Titan-Q | |
| 4 | Black Sheep BBQ | |
| 5 | Boot Scootin' BBQ | |
| 6 | Bad Larry's BBQ | |
| 7 | Porkasaurus Rex BBQ |