Apr 13–14, 2018 · Gadsden, AL · 📍 1500 Noccalula Rd
THE SPECIALISTS won Grand Champion at the Smoke on the Falls on April 13, 2018 in Gadsden, AL at 1500 Noccalula Rd, scoring 697.1084 in a field of 38 teams. Organizer Portal took Reserve Grand Champion with 697.0628. Category winners: Chicken — COCHON 225 (177.7372); Pork Ribs — SMOKING BUTT HEADS (178.2972); Pork — UNCULTURED SWINE (177.1428); Brisket — THE SPECIALISTS (179.4400). This is the 4th of 11 editions of this contest on record; the 2017 edition was won by SMOKIN BUTT CREW; the next was held in 2019.
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, 2013 to 2026 — 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 96% of the 4,713 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.0456 points — closer than 96% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 74 times in 100
The Specialists came in rated below the field's top team, Organizer Portal, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 26-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
2 of 11 tracked editions
The Specialists has won this contest 2 times across its 11 tracked editions.
First to fifth in the overall standings covered just 3.4860 points — 2 teams sat within a single point of the lead.
Stronger than 97% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1662 power rating going in — stronger than 97% of every contest tracked.
Chicken places 2–3: THE PIT CREW GA and THE SPECIALISTS tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 5–6: BOOTYQUE and HICKORY PRIME tied on 175.4400 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 5–6: SWINE AND SHINE BBQ and Organizer Portal tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
THE SPECIALISTS took the title on 2 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork ribs at 17th.
THE SPECIALISTS turned in 179.4400 in brisket — past the 179.4286 that had stood across 3 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: The Specialists (won 2015), SMOKIN BUTT CREW (won 2017).
This contest usually draws about 32 teams
38 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 32.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 2013 | Gadsden, AL | Gadsden, AL | 34 | 696.5718 | SWIGGIN PIG | BIG BLUE QUE |
| Apr 10, 2015 | Gadsden, AL | Gadsden, AL 35904 | 34 | 699.9884 | The Specialists | UNCULTURED SWINE |
| Apr 7, 2017 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 28 | 704.5488 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | Organizer Portal |
| Apr 13, 2018 ← this one | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 38 | 697.1084 | THE SPECIALISTS | Organizer Portal |
| Apr 12, 2019 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 30 | 699.9656 | Contagious Q | CHOOCHOO BBQ |
| Sep 18, 2020 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 28 | 699.3944 | Rooters-N-Tooters | UNDER THE RADAR |
| Apr 9, 2021 | Gadsden, AL | Gadsden, AL 35901 | 38 | 699.3600 | chicken fried bbq | LC BBQ |
| Apr 8, 2022 | Gadsden, AL | 1600 Noccalula Rd | 34 | 700.5028 | Smoke Me Silly | GETTIN' BASTED |
| Apr 7, 2023 | Gadsden, AL | 1600 Noccalula Rd | 39 | 690.8000 | We Will Rock 'Que | COOL HAND QUE |
| Apr 12, 2024 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 31 | 699.9428 | We Will Rock 'Que | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Gadsden, AL | 1600 Noccalula Rd | 36 | 714.2628 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | COOL HAND QUE |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7372 | 175.4400 | 174.2628 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.2972 | 175.4172 | 172.5600 |
| Pork | 177.1428 | 173.1428 | 170.8112 |
| Brisket | 179.4400 | 175.4056 | 173.1084 |
38 entries · top 697.1084 · median 678.4454
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE SPECIALISTS | |
| 2 | Organizer Portal | |
| 3 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 4 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 5 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 6 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 7 | SAUCED! BBQ TEAM | |
| 8 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 9 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 10 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 11 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 12 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 13 | BUSH LEAGUE BBQ | |
| 14 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 15 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 16 | UNCULTURED SWINE | |
| 17 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 18 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 19 | THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW | |
| 20 | BAILEY'S SMOKERS | |
| 21 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 22 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 23 | NEW SOUTH BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 25 | COCHON 225 | |
| 26 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 27 | HAMMONDVILLE HAWG MAFIA | |
| 28 | FAT, DRUNK & STUPID | |
| 29 | CHOKIN 'N' THA SMOKE | |
| 30 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 31 | THE BARBECUE DEPOT | |
| 32 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 33 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 34 | ON THE LEVEL SMOKERS | |
| 35 | BINGE-N-ON BBQ | |
| 36 | RUB'D-N-SMOKE | |
| 37 | Blackstone BBQ | |
| 38 | Wild West |
38 entries · top 177.7372 · median 170.8286
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | COCHON 225 | |
| 2 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 3 | THE SPECIALISTS | |
| 4 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 5 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 6 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 7 | FAT, DRUNK & STUPID | |
| 8 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 9 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 10 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 11 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 12 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 13 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 14 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 15 | Blackstone BBQ | |
| 16 | Organizer Portal | |
| 17 | THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW | |
| 18 | SAUCED! BBQ TEAM | |
| 19 | NEW SOUTH BBQ | |
| 20 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 21 | BUSH LEAGUE BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 23 | BAILEY'S SMOKERS | |
| 24 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 25 | BINGE-N-ON BBQ | |
| 26 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 27 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 28 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 29 | UNCULTURED SWINE | |
| 30 | ON THE LEVEL SMOKERS | |
| 31 | CHOKIN 'N' THA SMOKE | |
| 32 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 33 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 34 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 35 | HAMMONDVILLE HAWG MAFIA | |
| 36 | THE BARBECUE DEPOT | |
| 37 | RUB'D-N-SMOKE | |
| 38 | Wild West |
38 entries · top 178.2972 · median 169.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 2 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 3 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 4 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 5 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 6 | Organizer Portal | |
| 7 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 8 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 9 | SAUCED! BBQ TEAM | |
| 10 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 11 | HAMMONDVILLE HAWG MAFIA | |
| 12 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 13 | BUSH LEAGUE BBQ | |
| 14 | COCHON 225 | |
| 15 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 16 | UNCULTURED SWINE | |
| 17 | THE SPECIALISTS | |
| 18 | BAILEY'S SMOKERS | |
| 19 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 20 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 21 | NEW SOUTH BBQ | |
| 22 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 23 | THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW | |
| 24 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 25 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 26 | CHOKIN 'N' THA SMOKE | |
| 27 | THE BARBECUE DEPOT | |
| 28 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 29 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 30 | FAT, DRUNK & STUPID | |
| 31 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 32 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 33 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 34 | BINGE-N-ON BBQ | |
| 35 | RUB'D-N-SMOKE | |
| 36 | ON THE LEVEL SMOKERS | |
| 37 | Blackstone BBQ | |
| 38 | Wild West |
38 entries · top 177.1428 · median 167.3884
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UNCULTURED SWINE | |
| 2 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 3 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 4 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 5 | SAUCED! BBQ TEAM | |
| 6 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 7 | Organizer Portal | |
| 8 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 9 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 10 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 11 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 12 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 13 | THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW | |
| 14 | BUSH LEAGUE BBQ | |
| 15 | THE SPECIALISTS | |
| 16 | NEW SOUTH BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 18 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 19 | THE BARBECUE DEPOT | |
| 20 | HAMMONDVILLE HAWG MAFIA | |
| 21 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 22 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 23 | BAILEY'S SMOKERS | |
| 24 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 25 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 26 | FAT, DRUNK & STUPID | |
| 27 | CHOKIN 'N' THA SMOKE | |
| 28 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 29 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 30 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 31 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 32 | COCHON 225 | |
| 33 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 34 | RUB'D-N-SMOKE | |
| 35 | ON THE LEVEL SMOKERS | |
| 36 | BINGE-N-ON BBQ | |
| 37 | Wild West | |
| 38 | Blackstone BBQ |
38 entries · top 179.4400 · median 170.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE SPECIALISTS | |
| 2 | Organizer Portal | |
| 3 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 4 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 5 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | |
| 7 | BOOTYQUE | |
| 8 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 9 | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | |
| 10 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 11 | WINK'S BARBEQUE | |
| 12 | THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW | |
| 13 | BUSH LEAGUE BBQ | |
| 14 | SAUCED! BBQ TEAM | |
| 15 | JIGGY PIGGY | |
| 16 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 17 | CHOKIN 'N' THA SMOKE | |
| 18 | BAILEY'S SMOKERS | |
| 19 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 20 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 21 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 22 | SLAYTON'S BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 23 | SMOKING BUTT HEADS | |
| 24 | BUTTRUB.COM | |
| 25 | NEW SOUTH BBQ | |
| 26 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 27 | UNCULTURED SWINE | |
| 28 | HAMMONDVILLE HAWG MAFIA | |
| 29 | ON THE LEVEL SMOKERS | |
| 30 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 31 | FAT, DRUNK & STUPID | |
| 32 | THE BARBECUE DEPOT | |
| 33 | COCHON 225 | |
| 34 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 35 | BINGE-N-ON BBQ | |
| 36 | Blackstone BBQ | |
| 37 | RUB'D-N-SMOKE | |
| 38 | Wild West |
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.
29 entries · top 180 · median 161.6572 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BEER PRESSURE | |
| 2 | LEE LA Q | |
| 3 | SMOKEY BOYS GRILLING | |
| 4 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 5 | T-N-T COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 6 | Carlee Que's BBQ | |
| 7 | PARTTY ALL KNIGHT | |
| 8 | NOAH'S BARK | |
| 9 | BAMA BOYS BBQ | |
| 10 | BILLY MAC BBQ | |
| 11 | Traeger Grill | |
| 12 | BAMA QUE'N & BREW'N | |
| 13 | Crazy Legs BBQ | |
| 14 | Circle W Meats | |
| 15 | THE FAT HOG | |
| 16 | Outhouse Smokers | |
| 17 | Shocker Que | |
| 18 | Cuz It Hurtts | |
| 19 | Twin Flames BBQ | |
| 20 | 4 Season's BBQ | |
| 21 | SMOKE-N-HAWGS BBQ | |
| 22 | TEAM ENTREKIN | |
| 23 | Big Butt Rubbers | |
| 24 | Cripple Creek BBQ | |
| 25 | RIBS FOR YOUR PLEASURE | |
| 26 | Porkbate BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKE LIFE | |
| 28 | BBQ BROTHERS | |
| 29 | Cunningham For Judge |
30 entries · top 348.5600 · median 316.5084
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LEE LA Q | |
| 2 | T-N-T COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 3 | BAMA BOYS BBQ | |
| 4 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 5 | PARTTY ALL KNIGHT | |
| 6 | Carlee Que's BBQ | |
| 7 | BEER PRESSURE | |
| 8 | NOAH'S BARK | |
| 9 | BAMA QUE'N & BREW'N | |
| 10 | SMOKEY BOYS GRILLING | |
| 11 | BILLY MAC BBQ | |
| 12 | RIBS FOR YOUR PLEASURE | |
| 13 | Twin Flames BBQ | |
| 14 | Outhouse Smokers | |
| 15 | Traeger Grill | |
| 16 | TEAM ENTREKIN | |
| 17 | Cuz It Hurtts | |
| 18 | Cripple Creek BBQ | |
| 19 | Shocker Que | |
| 20 | Crazy Legs BBQ | |
| 21 | SMOKE-N-HAWGS BBQ | |
| 22 | Circle W Meats | |
| 23 | 4 Season's BBQ | |
| 24 | Big Butt Rubbers | |
| 25 | SMOKE LIFE | |
| 26 | BBQ BROTHERS | |
| 27 | THE FAT HOG | |
| 28 | Cunningham For Judge | |
| 29 | Porkbate BBQ | |
| 30 | Swine-N-Brine |
30 entries · top 173.7144 · median 157.3888
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RIBS FOR YOUR PLEASURE | |
| 2 | BAMA BOYS BBQ | |
| 3 | T-N-T COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 4 | LEE LA Q | |
| 5 | BAMA QUE'N & BREW'N | |
| 6 | PARTTY ALL KNIGHT | |
| 7 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 8 | Twin Flames BBQ | |
| 9 | NOAH'S BARK | |
| 10 | Carlee Que's BBQ | |
| 11 | TEAM ENTREKIN | |
| 12 | Outhouse Smokers | |
| 13 | Cripple Creek BBQ | |
| 14 | BILLY MAC BBQ | |
| 15 | BEER PRESSURE | |
| 16 | Cuz It Hurtts | |
| 17 | SMOKE-N-HAWGS BBQ | |
| 18 | Shocker Que | |
| 19 | SMOKEY BOYS GRILLING | |
| 20 | Cunningham For Judge | |
| 21 | Traeger Grill | |
| 22 | SMOKE LIFE | |
| 23 | Big Butt Rubbers | |
| 24 | 4 Season's BBQ | |
| 25 | BBQ BROTHERS | |
| 26 | Crazy Legs BBQ | |
| 27 | Circle W Meats | |
| 28 | Swine-N-Brine | |
| 29 | THE FAT HOG | |
| 30 | Porkbate BBQ |