A new contest record
699.4288
highest overall ever cooked here
699.4288 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 698.8000 OLD PLANTATION BBQ set in 2015.
- old record 698.8000
- set 2015 by OLD PLANTATION BBQ
Roman Roast on the River 2018
May 11–12, 2018 · Rome, GA · 📍 2781 John Petree RD
DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS won Grand Champion at the Roman Roast on the River on May 11, 2018 in Rome, GA at 2781 John Petree RD, scoring 699.4288 in a field of 39 teams. QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N took Reserve Grand Champion with 697.0856. Category winners: Chicken — BUB-BA-Q (180.0000); Pork Ribs — DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS (177.1544); Pork — THE PIT CREW GA (178.8572); Brisket — ANGRY JACK BBQ (180.0000). This is the 4th of 4 editions of this contest on record; the 2017 edition was won by QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N.
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.
646.06
median 681.57
699.43 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180 🔥
- Pork Ribs 177.15
- Pork 178.86
- Brisket 180 🔥
149.03
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2015 to 2018 — this edition picked out.
Entries
39
4 judged meats · 9 ancillary
Top score
699.4288
Winning margin
2.3432
GC over RC
Field average
679.19
646.06699.43
median 681.57 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
1.7372 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
689.6112
646.06699.43
10th place overall
Field spread
53.3720
winner to last place
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 35%
beats 65% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
57%
21 of 37 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.7 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,608
avg power rating going in · stronger than 82% of contests
Storylines (7 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.
An upset on the books
16-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 84 times in 100
DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS came in rated below the field's top team, Organizer Portal, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 16-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1670
- top seed 1961
A day of perfect scores
3
perfect 180s
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- ANGRY JACK BBQ · Brisket
- BUB-BA-Q · Chicken
- ANGRY JACK BBQ · Chicken
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 17 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 1–2: BUB-BA-Q and ANGRY JACK BBQ tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 3–4: K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ and DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 6–7: WATER HAWGS BBQ and HICKORY PRIME tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Chicken 8–9 · tie
How the title was won
2 of 4
meats called to the stage
DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS took the title on 2 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 19th.
- Chicken 4th
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 19th
- Brisket 11th
A contest record in brisket
180.0000
best brisket ever cooked here
ANGRY JACK BBQ turned in 180.0000 in brisket — past the 177.7144 that had stood across 3 earlier editions.
- old best 177.7144
- across 3 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: HICKORY PRIME (won 2016), QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N (won 2017).
- HICKORY PRIME · 2016
- QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N · 2017
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 8, 2015 | Rome, GA | Rome, GA 30165 | 41 | 698.8000 | OLD PLANTATION BBQ | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR |
| May 13, 2016 | Rome, GA | Rome, GA 30165 | 36 | 693.0512 | HICKORY PRIME | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ |
| May 12, 2017 | Rome, GA | Rome, GA 30165 | 37 | 698.2516 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | SMOKE ON THIS |
| May 11, 2018 ← this one | Rome, GA | 2781 John Petree RD | 39 | 699.4288 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 177.7028 | 175.4056 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.1544 | 175.4172 | 173.1200 |
| Pork | 178.8572 | 175.4172 | 174.2628 |
| Brisket | 180 | 175.4056 | 173.1200 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
39 entries · top 699.4288 · median 681.5652
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 2 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 3 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 4 | FYC BARBEQUE | |
| 5 | J & B'S BBQ | |
| 6 | SWINE DINING GA | |
| 7 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 8 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 9 | Organizer Portal | |
| 10 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 11 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 12 | WATER HAWGS BBQ | |
| 13 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 14 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 15 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 16 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 17 | BUB-BA-Q | |
| 18 | SWEET WATER BAR-B-QUE | |
| 19 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 20 | RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES | |
| 21 | SMART ASH BBQ | |
| 22 | CRIMSON Q | |
| 23 | HAMMONDVILLE HAWG MAFIA | |
| 24 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 25 | WEQ4U | |
| 26 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 27 | BUNCH OF BUTTS | |
| 28 | BIRD DAWG BBQ | |
| 29 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 30 | BIG BAD WOLF BBQ | |
| 31 | DEEP SOUTH BBQ | |
| 32 | BINGE-N-ON BBQ | |
| 33 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 34 | RUNWAY SMOKE | |
| 35 | OWLS NEST BBQ | |
| 36 | The Fat Redneck BBQ Co. | |
| 37 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 38 | BALDY'S BUTTS | |
| 39 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON |
Chicken
39 entries · top 180 · median 170.8228 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUB-BA-Q | |
| 2 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 3 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 4 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 5 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 6 | WATER HAWGS BBQ | |
| 7 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 8 | RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES | |
| 9 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 10 | HAMMONDVILLE HAWG MAFIA | |
| 11 | FYC BARBEQUE | |
| 12 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 13 | WEQ4U | |
| 14 | Organizer Portal | |
| 15 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 16 | RUNWAY SMOKE | |
| 17 | SMART ASH BBQ | |
| 18 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 19 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 20 | DEEP SOUTH BBQ | |
| 21 | BINGE-N-ON BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 23 | BALDY'S BUTTS | |
| 24 | SWINE DINING GA | |
| 25 | BUNCH OF BUTTS | |
| 26 | BIRD DAWG BBQ | |
| 27 | SWEET WATER BAR-B-QUE | |
| 28 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 29 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 30 | J & B'S BBQ | |
| 31 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 32 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 33 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 34 | OWLS NEST BBQ | |
| 35 | CRIMSON Q | |
| 36 | The Fat Redneck BBQ Co. | |
| 37 | BIG BAD WOLF BBQ | |
| 38 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 39 | STEWBABYS BBQ |
Pork Ribs
39 entries · top 177.1544 · median 170.8112
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 2 | BUB-BA-Q | |
| 3 | J & B'S BBQ | |
| 4 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 5 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 6 | Organizer Portal | |
| 7 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 8 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 9 | BIRD DAWG BBQ | |
| 10 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 11 | FYC BARBEQUE | |
| 12 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 13 | SWEET WATER BAR-B-QUE | |
| 14 | SWINE DINING GA | |
| 15 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 16 | The Fat Redneck BBQ Co. | |
| 17 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 18 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 19 | WEQ4U | |
| 20 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 21 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 22 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 23 | OWLS NEST BBQ | |
| 24 | CRIMSON Q | |
| 25 | RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES | |
| 26 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 27 | DEEP SOUTH BBQ | |
| 28 | BIG BAD WOLF BBQ | |
| 29 | BUNCH OF BUTTS | |
| 30 | HAMMONDVILLE HAWG MAFIA | |
| 31 | SMART ASH BBQ | |
| 32 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 33 | BINGE-N-ON BBQ | |
| 34 | WATER HAWGS BBQ | |
| 35 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 36 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 37 | RUNWAY SMOKE | |
| 38 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 39 | BALDY'S BUTTS |
Pork
39 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.8456
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 2 | CRIMSON Q | |
| 3 | SWEET WATER BAR-B-QUE | |
| 4 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 5 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 6 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 7 | BIG BAD WOLF BBQ | |
| 8 | SWINE DINING GA | |
| 9 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 10 | WATER HAWGS BBQ | |
| 11 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 12 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 13 | FYC BARBEQUE | |
| 14 | SMART ASH BBQ | |
| 15 | J & B'S BBQ | |
| 16 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 17 | BINGE-N-ON BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 19 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 20 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 21 | Organizer Portal | |
| 22 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 23 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 24 | DEEP SOUTH BBQ | |
| 25 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 26 | The Fat Redneck BBQ Co. | |
| 27 | HAMMONDVILLE HAWG MAFIA | |
| 28 | BIRD DAWG BBQ | |
| 29 | OWLS NEST BBQ | |
| 30 | BUNCH OF BUTTS | |
| 31 | BUB-BA-Q | |
| 32 | RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES | |
| 33 | WEQ4U | |
| 34 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 35 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 36 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 37 | RUNWAY SMOKE | |
| 38 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 39 | BALDY'S BUTTS |
Brisket
39 entries · top 180 · median 168.5372 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | |
| 2 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | |
| 3 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 4 | J & B'S BBQ | |
| 5 | SWINE DINING GA | |
| 6 | BUNCH OF BUTTS | |
| 7 | FYC BARBEQUE | |
| 8 | WATER HAWGS BBQ | |
| 9 | RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES | |
| 10 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 11 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 12 | Organizer Portal | |
| 13 | SMART ASH BBQ | |
| 14 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | |
| 15 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 16 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 17 | HAMMONDVILLE HAWG MAFIA | |
| 18 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 19 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 20 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 21 | K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 22 | WEQ4U | |
| 23 | DEEP SOUTH BBQ | |
| 24 | BALDY'S BUTTS | |
| 25 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 26 | BIG BAD WOLF BBQ | |
| 27 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 28 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 29 | BIRD DAWG BBQ | |
| 30 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 31 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 32 | CRIMSON Q | |
| 33 | RUNWAY SMOKE | |
| 34 | BINGE-N-ON BBQ | |
| 35 | BUB-BA-Q | |
| 36 | SWEET WATER BAR-B-QUE | |
| 37 | OWLS NEST BBQ | |
| 38 | The Fat Redneck BBQ Co. | |
| 39 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON |
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 — Backyard Chicken
12 entries · top 175.4056 · median 165.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | I.B.O.K. HOLY SMOKERS | |
| 2 | FOLKS BBQ | |
| 3 | VOL B Q | |
| 4 | STANK BUTT BBQ | |
| 5 | NOAH'S BARK | |
| 6 | THE LOW AND SLOW SMOKERS | |
| 7 | The Mudd Pit | |
| 8 | Smoke Signal BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKIN' HOT BUTTS & RACKS | |
| 10 | Kudzu Kid | |
| 11 | Team Ash-hats | |
| 12 | BAMA QUE'N & BREW'N |
Master Series — Backyard Overall (3 Meats)
12 entries · top 515.9200 · median 489.9088
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | I.B.O.K. HOLY SMOKERS | |
| 2 | NOAH'S BARK | |
| 3 | THE LOW AND SLOW SMOKERS | |
| 4 | STANK BUTT BBQ | |
| 5 | FOLKS BBQ | |
| 6 | Kudzu Kid | |
| 7 | Smoke Signal BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKIN' HOT BUTTS & RACKS | |
| 9 | VOL B Q | |
| 10 | The Mudd Pit | |
| 11 | BAMA QUE'N & BREW'N | |
| 12 | Team Ash-hats |
Master Series — Backyard Pork
12 entries · top 168.5372 · median 159.6686
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NOAH'S BARK | |
| 2 | I.B.O.K. HOLY SMOKERS | |
| 3 | Kudzu Kid | |
| 4 | SMOKIN' HOT BUTTS & RACKS | |
| 5 | THE LOW AND SLOW SMOKERS | |
| 6 | STANK BUTT BBQ | |
| 7 | FOLKS BBQ | |
| 8 | Smoke Signal BBQ | |
| 9 | Team Ash-hats | |
| 10 | VOL B Q | |
| 11 | BAMA QUE'N & BREW'N | |
| 12 | The Mudd Pit |
Master Series — Backyard Ribs
12 entries · top 173.1200 · median 165.6858
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE LOW AND SLOW SMOKERS | |
| 2 | I.B.O.K. HOLY SMOKERS | |
| 3 | Smoke Signal BBQ | |
| 4 | STANK BUTT BBQ | |
| 5 | Kudzu Kid | |
| 6 | NOAH'S BARK | |
| 7 | BAMA QUE'N & BREW'N | |
| 8 | The Mudd Pit | |
| 9 | FOLKS BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKIN' HOT BUTTS & RACKS | |
| 11 | VOL B Q | |
| 12 | Team Ash-hats |
Master Series — Dessert
12 entries · top 180 · median 175.1314 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CRIMSON Q | |
| 2 | RUNWAY SMOKE | |
| 3 | FOLKS BBQ | |
| 4 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 5 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE | |
| 6 | The Fat Redneck BBQ Co. | |
| 7 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 8 | DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS | |
| 9 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 10 | VOL B Q | |
| 11 | WATER HAWGS BBQ | |
| 12 | WEQ4U |
Master Series — Junior Pitmaster (Age 11-15)
5 entries · top 171.9656 · median 165.1316
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cash Bowman | |
| 2 | Matthew Hampson | |
| 3 | Bladen Bradford | |
| 4 | Austin Trygestad | |
| 5 | Sydney Groves |
Master Series — Kcbs Backyard Overall (2 Meats)
12 entries · top 348.5256 · median 330.5374
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | I.B.O.K. HOLY SMOKERS | |
| 2 | THE LOW AND SLOW SMOKERS | |
| 3 | STANK BUTT BBQ | |
| 4 | FOLKS BBQ | |
| 5 | NOAH'S BARK | |
| 6 | Smoke Signal BBQ | |
| 7 | VOL B Q | |
| 8 | The Mudd Pit | |
| 9 | Kudzu Kid | |
| 10 | BAMA QUE'N & BREW'N | |
| 11 | SMOKIN' HOT BUTTS & RACKS | |
| 12 | Team Ash-hats |
Master Series — Mini Pitmaster (Age 6-10)
6 entries · top 177.1428 · median 165.7372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caleb Thompson | |
| 2 | Eli Edwards | |
| 3 | Kieran Cowling | |
| 4 | Alivia Akins | |
| 5 | Dylan Bice | |
| 6 | Caleb Bice |
Master Series — Sauce
7 entries · top 173.1428 · median 168.5828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RUNWAY SMOKE | |
| 2 | FOLKS BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON | |
| 4 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 5 | The Mudd Pit | |
| 6 | Team Ash-hats | |
| 7 | SPRAT BOY BARBEQUE |