A new contest record
696.5140
highest overall ever cooked here
696.5140 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 689.7140 TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW set in 2013.
- old record 689.7140
- set 2013 by TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW
Smokin On Big Creek 2018
Mar 23–24, 2018 · Pleasant Hill, MO · 📍 Cass County Fairground
THE SMOKING HILLS won Grand Champion at the Smokin On Big Creek on March 23, 2018 in Pleasant Hill, MO at Cass County Fairground, scoring 696.5140 in a field of 39 teams. SMOOTH SMOKE took Reserve Grand Champion with 691.3712. Category winners: Chicken — BUCKSHOT'S BREW N' QUE (178.2972); Pork Ribs — THE SMOKING HILLS (176.0000); Pork — GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS (177.1544); Brisket — CHASE BROTHERS BBQ (175.4172). This is the 2nd of 2 editions of this contest on record; the 2013 edition was won by TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW.
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.
448.42
median 662.73
696.51 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 178.30
- Pork Ribs 176
- Pork 177.15
- Brisket 175.42
137.59
178.30
Entries
39
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
696.5140
Winning margin
5.1428
GC over RC
Field average
651.59
448.42696.51
median 662.73 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Chicken
3.4516 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
678.2172
448.42696.51
10th place overall
Field spread
248.0912
winner to last place
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 48%
beats 52% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
12%
9 of 74 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.66 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,588
avg power rating going in · stronger than 69% 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.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 7 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 2–3: GETTIN' SAUCED and BURNT FINGER BBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 6–7: ABS OF SQUEAL and UNFAMOUS DAVE'S tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 7–8: SKUNK RIVER BBQ and THE BOYS IN QUE tied on 170.8228 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 2–3 · tie
- Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Brisket 7–8 · tie
- Brisket 6–7 · 0.0116
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
THE SMOKING HILLS took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 15th.
- Chicken 15th
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 3rd
- Brisket 2nd
A contest record in chicken
178.2972
best chicken ever cooked here
BUCKSHOT'S BREW N' QUE turned in 178.2972 in chicken — past the 177.1428 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 177.1428
- across 1 past editions
The contest returns
5 yrs
since the last edition
This contest was away for 5 years — the previous tracked edition ran on 2013-04-05.
- previous edition 2013-04-05
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 5, 2013 | Pleasant Hill, MO | Pleasant Hill, MO | 74 | 689.7140 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ |
| Mar 23, 2018 ← this one | Pleasant Hill, MO | Cass County Fairground | 39 | 696.5140 | THE SMOKING HILLS | SMOOTH SMOKE |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.2972 | 174.8456 | 172.5600 |
| Pork Ribs | 176 | 172 | 169.1428 |
| Pork | 177.1544 | 173.7028 | 170.2628 |
| Brisket | 175.4172 | 171.4056 | 168.5372 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
39 entries · top 696.5140 · median 662.7316
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 2 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 3 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 4 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 5 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 6 | HOT AND FAST BBQ | |
| 7 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 8 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 9 | CHASE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 10 | SKUNK RIVER BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 12 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 13 | ABS OF SQUEAL | |
| 14 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 15 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 16 | STUCK PIGS BBQ | |
| 17 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 18 | BUCKSHOT'S BREW N' QUE | |
| 19 | THE BOYS IN QUE | |
| 20 | LIVESPARKS | |
| 21 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 22 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 23 | KC Q | |
| 24 | Fistfull of Meat | |
| 25 | NICKLE BOYS BBQ | |
| 26 | ROADKILL BBQ | |
| 27 | IHC BBQ | |
| 28 | Papa's BBQ | |
| 29 | S&S BBQ | |
| 30 | PETE'S PIG PIT POSSE | |
| 31 | MONSTER PIGS | |
| 32 | Meatbeaters BBQ | |
| 33 | Cheech & Tongs Up in Smoke BBQ | |
| 34 | SHOW-ME YOUR RACK BBQ | |
| 35 | Sure Flow Barbecue | |
| 36 | Bushwacker Cooking Corp. | |
| 37 | LB TOWN KC BBQ | |
| 38 | HOLY SMOKED | |
| 39 | FIRE & SPICE |
Chicken
38 entries · top 178.2972 · median 166.8342
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUCKSHOT'S BREW N' QUE | |
| 2 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 3 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 4 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 5 | HOT AND FAST BBQ | |
| 6 | ABS OF SQUEAL | |
| 7 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 8 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 9 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 10 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 11 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 12 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 13 | LIVESPARKS | |
| 14 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 15 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 16 | CHASE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 17 | S&S BBQ | |
| 18 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 19 | STUCK PIGS BBQ | |
| 20 | MONSTER PIGS | |
| 21 | SKUNK RIVER BBQ | |
| 22 | IHC BBQ | |
| 23 | KC Q | |
| 24 | Fistfull of Meat | |
| 25 | THE BOYS IN QUE | |
| 26 | NICKLE BOYS BBQ | |
| 27 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 28 | Papa's BBQ | |
| 29 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 30 | Meatbeaters BBQ | |
| 31 | ROADKILL BBQ | |
| 32 | SHOW-ME YOUR RACK BBQ | |
| 33 | Cheech & Tongs Up in Smoke BBQ | |
| 34 | Bushwacker Cooking Corp. | |
| 35 | PETE'S PIG PIT POSSE | |
| 36 | Sure Flow Barbecue | |
| 37 | LB TOWN KC BBQ | |
| 38 | HOLY SMOKED |
Pork Ribs
39 entries · top 176 · median 167.4060
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 2 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 3 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 4 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 5 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 6 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 7 | BUCKSHOT'S BREW N' QUE | |
| 8 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 9 | SKUNK RIVER BBQ | |
| 10 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 11 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 12 | Fistfull of Meat | |
| 13 | PETE'S PIG PIT POSSE | |
| 14 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 15 | STUCK PIGS BBQ | |
| 16 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 17 | CHASE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 18 | LIVESPARKS | |
| 19 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 20 | KC Q | |
| 21 | THE BOYS IN QUE | |
| 22 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 23 | ROADKILL BBQ | |
| 24 | ABS OF SQUEAL | |
| 25 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 26 | NICKLE BOYS BBQ | |
| 27 | HOT AND FAST BBQ | |
| 28 | MONSTER PIGS | |
| 29 | IHC BBQ | |
| 30 | S&S BBQ | |
| 31 | Sure Flow Barbecue | |
| 32 | Papa's BBQ | |
| 33 | LB TOWN KC BBQ | |
| 34 | Bushwacker Cooking Corp. | |
| 35 | Cheech & Tongs Up in Smoke BBQ | |
| 36 | Meatbeaters BBQ | |
| 37 | FIRE & SPICE | |
| 38 | SHOW-ME YOUR RACK BBQ | |
| 39 | HOLY SMOKED |
Pork
39 entries · top 177.1544 · median 166.2400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 2 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 3 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 4 | HOT AND FAST BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 6 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 7 | NICKLE BOYS BBQ | |
| 8 | SKUNK RIVER BBQ | |
| 9 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 10 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 11 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 12 | ABS OF SQUEAL | |
| 13 | S&S BBQ | |
| 14 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 15 | Papa's BBQ | |
| 16 | STUCK PIGS BBQ | |
| 17 | IHC BBQ | |
| 18 | PETE'S PIG PIT POSSE | |
| 19 | KC Q | |
| 20 | CHASE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 21 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 22 | LIVESPARKS | |
| 23 | ROADKILL BBQ | |
| 24 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 25 | Fistfull of Meat | |
| 26 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 27 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 28 | THE BOYS IN QUE | |
| 29 | Cheech & Tongs Up in Smoke BBQ | |
| 30 | BUCKSHOT'S BREW N' QUE | |
| 31 | Meatbeaters BBQ | |
| 32 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 33 | MONSTER PIGS | |
| 34 | LB TOWN KC BBQ | |
| 35 | HOLY SMOKED | |
| 36 | FIRE & SPICE | |
| 37 | Sure Flow Barbecue | |
| 38 | SHOW-ME YOUR RACK BBQ | |
| 39 | Bushwacker Cooking Corp. |
Brisket
39 entries · top 175.4172 · median 163.9312
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHASE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 2 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 3 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 4 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 5 | HOT AND FAST BBQ | |
| 6 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 7 | SKUNK RIVER BBQ | |
| 8 | THE BOYS IN QUE | |
| 9 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 10 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 11 | ABS OF SQUEAL | |
| 12 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 13 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 14 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 15 | ROADKILL BBQ | |
| 16 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 17 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 18 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 19 | SHOW-ME YOUR RACK BBQ | |
| 20 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 21 | STUCK PIGS BBQ | |
| 22 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 23 | Fistfull of Meat | |
| 24 | Papa's BBQ | |
| 25 | PETE'S PIG PIT POSSE | |
| 26 | Cheech & Tongs Up in Smoke BBQ | |
| 27 | LIVESPARKS | |
| 28 | IHC BBQ | |
| 29 | KC Q | |
| 30 | BUCKSHOT'S BREW N' QUE | |
| 31 | Meatbeaters BBQ | |
| 32 | NICKLE BOYS BBQ | |
| 33 | MONSTER PIGS | |
| 34 | Bushwacker Cooking Corp. | |
| 35 | FIRE & SPICE | |
| 36 | S&S BBQ | |
| 37 | Sure Flow Barbecue | |
| 38 | HOLY SMOKED | |
| 39 | LB TOWN KC 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 — Dessert
11 entries · top 180 · median 173.1428 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | |
| 2 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 3 | ROADKILL BBQ | |
| 4 | NICKLE BOYS BBQ | |
| 5 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 6 | KC Q | |
| 7 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 8 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 9 | LIVESPARKS | |
| 10 | LB TOWN KC BBQ | |
| 11 | FIRE & SPICE |