May 4–5, 2018 · Dwight, IL · 📍 419 W Waupansie
BILLY RAY BBQ won Grand Champion at the Route 66 Smoke Out on May 4, 2018 in Dwight, IL at 419 W Waupansie, scoring 694.2516 in a field of 38 teams. CARROL LOU'S SMOKEHOUSE took Reserve Grand Champion with 686.2516. Category winners: Chicken — KANAK ATTACK (177.1428); Pork Ribs — BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. (176.5828); Pork — CARROL LOU'S SMOKEHOUSE (177.7028); Brisket — SMOKY LINCS (174.3200). This is the 4th of 7 editions of this contest on record; the 2017 edition was won by ALL IN QUE; 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, 2015 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.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 86 times in 100
BILLY RAY BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, One2BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 14-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
BILLY RAY BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
2 of 7 tracked editions
THE CHILLY WATER SMOKERS has won this contest 2 times across its 7 tracked editions.
Chicken places 4–5: CHANNABILLY BBQ and BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 6–7: BILLY RAY BBQ and HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE tied on 174.8456 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 9–10: A FINE SWINE and AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW tied on 171.9772 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2015 | Dwight, IL | Dwight, IL 60420 | 40 | 702.8460 | THE CHILLY WATER SMOKERS | TRUCKY'S TRUE BLU BBQ'UE |
| May 6, 2016 | Dwight, IL | 419 W Waupansie | 40 | 691.3368 | THE CHILLY WATER SMOKERS | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE |
| May 5, 2017 | Dwight, IL | 419 W Waupansie | 29 | 691.9544 | ALL IN QUE | OKLAHOMA JOE'S SERIOUS QUE |
| May 4, 2018 ← this one | Dwight, IL | 419 W Waupansie | 38 | 694.2516 | BILLY RAY BBQ | CARROL LOU'S SMOKEHOUSE |
| May 3, 2019 | Dwight, IL | 419 W Waupansie | 33 | 693.6916 | Carrol Lou's Smokehouse | iBQ'n |
| May 1, 2021 | Dwight, IL | 132 E main St | 44 | 703.4172 | The BBQ Bus | BIG "E" BBQ |
| May 6, 2022 | Dwight, IL | 132 E main St | 33 | 702.8000 | Que U | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.1428 | 175.4056 | 171.9772 |
| Pork Ribs | 176.5828 | 172.6060 | 167.9888 |
| Pork | 177.7028 | 175.4056 | 170.8112 |
| Brisket | 174.3200 | 171.4056 | 169.1312 |
38 entries · top 694.2516 · median 657.5714
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BILLY RAY BBQ | |
| 2 | CARROL LOU'S SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 3 | KANAK ATTACK | |
| 4 | A FINE SWINE | |
| 5 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 6 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 7 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 8 | OUTSIDERS BBQ | |
| 9 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 10 | BLOWIN-SMOKE | |
| 11 | Rub Runners | |
| 12 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 13 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ | |
| 14 | HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE | |
| 15 | FIDDLIN' FATBACK | |
| 16 | SMOKEY'S Q | |
| 17 | CLUCK , OINK & MOO BARBECUE | |
| 18 | Birdman's BBQ | |
| 19 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 20 | CARNIVORE'S PARADISE | |
| 21 | VETERANS Q | |
| 22 | PAPA'S BARBQ | |
| 23 | BLACK FLAG BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKY LINCS | |
| 25 | MANTUCKY MAYHEM | |
| 26 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 27 | PLOWBOYZ BBQ | |
| 28 | SOON TO BE SAUCED | |
| 29 | THE 4 SMOKEMEN BBQ | |
| 30 | P.I.G. | |
| 31 | LIMP BRISKET | |
| 32 | DB BBQ | |
| 33 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 34 | Camp's BB-Crew | |
| 35 | Smokey J's BBQ | |
| 36 | CHERRY RED ROASTERS | |
| 37 | Smokin' Illini | |
| 38 | MASON'S FAT HAWG BBQ |
38 entries · top 177.1428 · median 165.4402
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | KANAK ATTACK | |
| 2 | CARROL LOU'S SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 3 | OUTSIDERS BBQ | |
| 4 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 5 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 6 | BILLY RAY BBQ | |
| 7 | HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE | |
| 8 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 9 | A FINE SWINE | |
| 10 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 11 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 12 | CLUCK , OINK & MOO BARBECUE | |
| 13 | PLOWBOYZ BBQ | |
| 14 | Camp's BB-Crew | |
| 15 | BLOWIN-SMOKE | |
| 16 | Rub Runners | |
| 17 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 18 | SMOKEY'S Q | |
| 19 | VETERANS Q | |
| 20 | FIDDLIN' FATBACK | |
| 21 | CARNIVORE'S PARADISE | |
| 22 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ | |
| 23 | DB BBQ | |
| 24 | P.I.G. | |
| 25 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 26 | BLACK FLAG BBQ | |
| 27 | MANTUCKY MAYHEM | |
| 28 | Birdman's BBQ | |
| 29 | SOON TO BE SAUCED | |
| 30 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 31 | Smokey J's BBQ | |
| 32 | SMOKY LINCS | |
| 33 | THE 4 SMOKEMEN BBQ | |
| 34 | CHERRY RED ROASTERS | |
| 35 | Smokin' Illini | |
| 36 | LIMP BRISKET | |
| 37 | PAPA'S BARBQ | |
| 38 | MASON'S FAT HAWG BBQ |
38 entries · top 176.5828 · median 165.1086
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 2 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 3 | BLOWIN-SMOKE | |
| 4 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ | |
| 6 | BILLY RAY BBQ | |
| 7 | KANAK ATTACK | |
| 8 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 9 | THE 4 SMOKEMEN BBQ | |
| 10 | SOON TO BE SAUCED | |
| 11 | A FINE SWINE | |
| 12 | Birdman's BBQ | |
| 13 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 14 | CARROL LOU'S SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 15 | HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE | |
| 16 | FIDDLIN' FATBACK | |
| 17 | PLOWBOYZ BBQ | |
| 18 | CARNIVORE'S PARADISE | |
| 19 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKEY'S Q | |
| 21 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 22 | Rub Runners | |
| 23 | LIMP BRISKET | |
| 24 | MANTUCKY MAYHEM | |
| 25 | CLUCK , OINK & MOO BARBECUE | |
| 26 | VETERANS Q | |
| 27 | OUTSIDERS BBQ | |
| 28 | SMOKY LINCS | |
| 29 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 30 | PAPA'S BARBQ | |
| 31 | Smokey J's BBQ | |
| 32 | Smokin' Illini | |
| 33 | BLACK FLAG BBQ | |
| 34 | MASON'S FAT HAWG BBQ | |
| 35 | P.I.G. | |
| 36 | Camp's BB-Crew | |
| 37 | CHERRY RED ROASTERS | |
| 38 | DB BBQ |
38 entries · top 177.7028 · median 165.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CARROL LOU'S SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 2 | A FINE SWINE | |
| 3 | Rub Runners | |
| 4 | KANAK ATTACK | |
| 5 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 6 | BILLY RAY BBQ | |
| 7 | MANTUCKY MAYHEM | |
| 8 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 9 | SMOKEY'S Q | |
| 10 | OUTSIDERS BBQ | |
| 11 | Camp's BB-Crew | |
| 12 | PAPA'S BARBQ | |
| 13 | CARNIVORE'S PARADISE | |
| 14 | FIDDLIN' FATBACK | |
| 15 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 16 | Birdman's BBQ | |
| 17 | CHERRY RED ROASTERS | |
| 18 | P.I.G. | |
| 19 | BLACK FLAG BBQ | |
| 20 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 21 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 22 | HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE | |
| 23 | CLUCK , OINK & MOO BARBECUE | |
| 24 | VETERANS Q | |
| 25 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 26 | BLOWIN-SMOKE | |
| 27 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ | |
| 28 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 29 | SMOKY LINCS | |
| 30 | SOON TO BE SAUCED | |
| 31 | PLOWBOYZ BBQ | |
| 32 | THE 4 SMOKEMEN BBQ | |
| 33 | LIMP BRISKET | |
| 34 | Smokey J's BBQ | |
| 35 | DB BBQ | |
| 36 | Smokin' Illini | |
| 37 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 38 | MASON'S FAT HAWG BBQ |
38 entries · top 174.3200 · median 165.6798
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKY LINCS | |
| 2 | BILLY RAY BBQ | |
| 3 | PAPA'S BARBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ | |
| 5 | BLOWIN-SMOKE | |
| 6 | A FINE SWINE | |
| 7 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 8 | OUTSIDERS BBQ | |
| 9 | BLACK FLAG BBQ | |
| 10 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 11 | FIDDLIN' FATBACK | |
| 12 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 13 | Rub Runners | |
| 14 | DB BBQ | |
| 15 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 16 | VETERANS Q | |
| 17 | CLUCK , OINK & MOO BARBECUE | |
| 18 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 19 | CARROL LOU'S SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 20 | SMOKEY'S Q | |
| 21 | KANAK ATTACK | |
| 22 | LIMP BRISKET | |
| 23 | HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE | |
| 24 | Birdman's BBQ | |
| 25 | THE 4 SMOKEMEN BBQ | |
| 26 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 27 | SOON TO BE SAUCED | |
| 28 | P.I.G. | |
| 29 | MASON'S FAT HAWG BBQ | |
| 30 | Smokin' Illini | |
| 31 | CARNIVORE'S PARADISE | |
| 32 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 33 | MANTUCKY MAYHEM | |
| 34 | PLOWBOYZ BBQ | |
| 35 | CHERRY RED ROASTERS | |
| 36 | Smokey J's BBQ | |
| 37 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 38 | Camp's BB-Crew |
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.
8 entries · top 168.6516 · median 149.9598
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camp's BB-Crew | |
| 2 | BILLY RAY BBQ | |
| 3 | Rub Runners | |
| 4 | DB BBQ | |
| 5 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 6 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 7 | MANTUCKY MAYHEM | |
| 8 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ |
11 entries · top 170.2972 · median 157.7828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rub Runners | |
| 2 | Birdman's BBQ | |
| 3 | BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO. | |
| 4 | DB BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' WET BBQ | |
| 6 | BILLY RAY BBQ | |
| 7 | Camp's BB-Crew | |
| 8 | HATFIELD AND MCCOY BARBECUE | |
| 9 | VETERANS Q | |
| 10 | CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE | |
| 11 | MANTUCKY MAYHEM |