Decided by a tiebreaker
Tie
identical totals at the top
The top two teams finished on identical totals — the Grand Championship came down to the KCBS tiebreaker rules.
Shepherd's Smokin Summer Kick Off
May 25–26, 2018 · Branson, MO · 📍 Shepherd of the Hills
DIRT ROAD BBQ won Grand Champion at the Shepherd's Smokin Summer Kick Off on May 25, 2018 in Branson, MO at Shepherd of the Hills, scoring 699.3828 in a field of 50 teams. CAVEMAN CUISINE took Reserve Grand Champion with 699.3828. Category winners: Chicken — CAVEMAN CUISINE (177.7144); Pork Ribs — DIRT ROAD BBQ (178.8572); Pork — GETTIN' BASTED (178.8800); Brisket — THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW (176.5600).
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.
565.54
median 670.47
699.38 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 177.71
- Pork Ribs 178.86
- Pork 178.88
- Brisket 176.56
133.09
178.88
Entries
50
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
699.3828
Winning margin
Tie
identical totals — KCBS tiebreaker
Field average
660.94
565.54699.38
median 670.47 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Chicken
1.1544 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
684.4684
565.54699.38
10th place overall
Field spread
133.8400
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 36%
beats 64% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.8 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,626
avg power rating going in · stronger than 90% of contests
Storylines (4 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.
A stacked field
1626
average power rating going in
Stronger than 90% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1626 power rating going in — stronger than 90% of every contest tracked.
- top seed SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ (2001)
- 50 rated teams
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 12 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 4–5: HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB and RIB CAGE BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 5–6: RIB CAGE BBQ and BYO GRILL tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 7–8: COCHON 225 and SLAPS BBQ tied on 174.2744 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Pork Ribs 7–8 · tie
- Pork 2–3 · tie
How the title was won
2 of 4
meats called to the stage
DIRT ROAD BBQ took the title on 2 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 11th.
- Chicken 8th
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 11th
- Brisket 11th
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)
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7144 | 176.5600 | 174.2972 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 174.8456 | 173.7028 |
| Pork | 178.8800 | 175.4172 | 173.1428 |
| Brisket | 176.5600 | 173.7144 | 172.5600 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
50 entries · top 699.3828 · median 670.4686
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 2 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 3 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 4 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 5 | BYO GRILL | |
| 6 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 7 | BRICKHEAD BBQ | |
| 8 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 9 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 10 | Q-BONES BBQ | |
| 11 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 12 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 13 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 14 | UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC | |
| 15 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 16 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 17 | COCHON 225 | |
| 18 | UP SAUCE CREEK | |
| 19 | 501 BBQ | |
| 20 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 21 | COUNTRYSIDE BBQ PRO SHOP | |
| 22 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 23 | YELLOW JACKET BBQ | |
| 24 | THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW | |
| 25 | Z-QUE | |
| 26 | SMILIN' DRAGON BBQ | |
| 27 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 28 | SMOKIN' Q BBQ | |
| 29 | RIB CAGE BBQ | |
| 30 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 31 | THE BOAR OF DIRECTORS | |
| 32 | SMOKIN YETI BBQ | |
| 33 | ELI'S PIT CREW | |
| 34 | MOKAN MEATHEADS | |
| 35 | Pits & Grills | |
| 36 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 37 | Team Rubys | |
| 38 | Smokin in the Ozarks | |
| 39 | BLOWN AWAY BBQ | |
| 40 | RIDGE OUTLAWS BBQ | |
| 41 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 42 | Team Hogzilla | |
| 43 | GEMINI BBQ | |
| 44 | TEAM MEATING | |
| 45 | B & D'S SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 46 | Big Bad Wolfe BBQ | |
| 47 | ARKANSAW HOG SAUCE | |
| 48 | Big Woody | |
| 49 | Big County BBQ | |
| 50 | BRANSON'S CENTER STAGE GRILLE |
Chicken
50 entries · top 177.7144 · median 170.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 2 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 3 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 4 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 5 | RIB CAGE BBQ | |
| 6 | BYO GRILL | |
| 7 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 8 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 9 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 10 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKIN YETI BBQ | |
| 12 | ELI'S PIT CREW | |
| 13 | UP SAUCE CREEK | |
| 14 | YELLOW JACKET BBQ | |
| 15 | SMILIN' DRAGON BBQ | |
| 16 | SMOKIN' Q BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 18 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 19 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 20 | COUNTRYSIDE BBQ PRO SHOP | |
| 21 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 22 | Pits & Grills | |
| 23 | Q-BONES BBQ | |
| 24 | BRICKHEAD BBQ | |
| 25 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 26 | COCHON 225 | |
| 27 | UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC | |
| 28 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 29 | BLOWN AWAY BBQ | |
| 30 | Z-QUE | |
| 31 | Team Rubys | |
| 32 | RIDGE OUTLAWS BBQ | |
| 33 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 34 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 35 | 501 BBQ | |
| 36 | MOKAN MEATHEADS | |
| 37 | TEAM MEATING | |
| 38 | Team Hogzilla | |
| 39 | B & D'S SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 40 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 41 | Smokin in the Ozarks | |
| 42 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 43 | GEMINI BBQ | |
| 44 | THE BOAR OF DIRECTORS | |
| 45 | ARKANSAW HOG SAUCE | |
| 46 | THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW | |
| 47 | Big County BBQ | |
| 48 | Big Bad Wolfe BBQ | |
| 49 | Big Woody | |
| 50 | BRANSON'S CENTER STAGE GRILLE |
Pork Ribs
50 entries · top 178.8572 · median 168.0058
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 2 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 3 | Q-BONES BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 5 | THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW | |
| 6 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 7 | COCHON 225 | |
| 8 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 9 | BYO GRILL | |
| 10 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 11 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 12 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 13 | 501 BBQ | |
| 14 | Team Rubys | |
| 15 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 16 | UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC | |
| 17 | SMILIN' DRAGON BBQ | |
| 18 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 19 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 20 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 21 | Z-QUE | |
| 22 | BRICKHEAD BBQ | |
| 23 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 24 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 25 | Team Hogzilla | |
| 26 | Pits & Grills | |
| 27 | UP SAUCE CREEK | |
| 28 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 29 | MOKAN MEATHEADS | |
| 30 | SMOKIN YETI BBQ | |
| 31 | ELI'S PIT CREW | |
| 32 | BLOWN AWAY BBQ | |
| 33 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 34 | RIB CAGE BBQ | |
| 35 | COUNTRYSIDE BBQ PRO SHOP | |
| 36 | RIDGE OUTLAWS BBQ | |
| 37 | THE BOAR OF DIRECTORS | |
| 38 | Smokin in the Ozarks | |
| 39 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 40 | SMOKIN' Q BBQ | |
| 41 | YELLOW JACKET BBQ | |
| 42 | GEMINI BBQ | |
| 43 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 44 | Big Woody | |
| 45 | B & D'S SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 46 | Big Bad Wolfe BBQ | |
| 47 | ARKANSAW HOG SAUCE | |
| 48 | BRANSON'S CENTER STAGE GRILLE | |
| 49 | TEAM MEATING | |
| 50 | Big County BBQ |
Pork
50 entries · top 178.8800 · median 166.8170
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 2 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 3 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 4 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 5 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 6 | THE BOAR OF DIRECTORS | |
| 7 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 8 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 9 | BRICKHEAD BBQ | |
| 10 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 11 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 12 | Q-BONES BBQ | |
| 13 | BYO GRILL | |
| 14 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 15 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 16 | COUNTRYSIDE BBQ PRO SHOP | |
| 17 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 18 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 19 | YELLOW JACKET BBQ | |
| 20 | 501 BBQ | |
| 21 | COCHON 225 | |
| 22 | SMILIN' DRAGON BBQ | |
| 23 | UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC | |
| 24 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 25 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 26 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 27 | THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW | |
| 28 | BLOWN AWAY BBQ | |
| 29 | RIB CAGE BBQ | |
| 30 | UP SAUCE CREEK | |
| 31 | Team Hogzilla | |
| 32 | Z-QUE | |
| 33 | RIDGE OUTLAWS BBQ | |
| 34 | SMOKIN YETI BBQ | |
| 35 | ELI'S PIT CREW | |
| 36 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 37 | Pits & Grills | |
| 38 | SMOKIN' Q BBQ | |
| 39 | Big Bad Wolfe BBQ | |
| 40 | MOKAN MEATHEADS | |
| 41 | Smokin in the Ozarks | |
| 42 | GEMINI BBQ | |
| 43 | ARKANSAW HOG SAUCE | |
| 44 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 45 | Team Rubys | |
| 46 | TEAM MEATING | |
| 47 | B & D'S SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 48 | BRANSON'S CENTER STAGE GRILLE | |
| 49 | Big Woody | |
| 50 | Big County BBQ |
Brisket
50 entries · top 176.5600 · median 166.2342
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE ALGOOD BAR-B-Q PIT CREW | |
| 2 | BRICKHEAD BBQ | |
| 3 | UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC | |
| 4 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 5 | UP SAUCE CREEK | |
| 6 | YELLOW JACKET BBQ | |
| 7 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 8 | Smokin in the Ozarks | |
| 9 | SMOKIN' Q BBQ | |
| 10 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 11 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 12 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 13 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 14 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 15 | 501 BBQ | |
| 16 | COUNTRYSIDE BBQ PRO SHOP | |
| 17 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 18 | Z-QUE | |
| 19 | MOKAN MEATHEADS | |
| 20 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 21 | BYO GRILL | |
| 22 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 23 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 24 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 25 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 26 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 27 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 28 | THE BOAR OF DIRECTORS | |
| 29 | Q-BONES BBQ | |
| 30 | COCHON 225 | |
| 31 | ELI'S PIT CREW | |
| 32 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 33 | RIB CAGE BBQ | |
| 34 | TEAM MEATING | |
| 35 | SMILIN' DRAGON BBQ | |
| 36 | B & D'S SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 37 | Team Rubys | |
| 38 | SMOKIN YETI BBQ | |
| 39 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 40 | Pits & Grills | |
| 41 | Big Bad Wolfe BBQ | |
| 42 | GEMINI BBQ | |
| 43 | RIDGE OUTLAWS BBQ | |
| 44 | BLOWN AWAY BBQ | |
| 45 | Big County BBQ | |
| 46 | Big Woody | |
| 47 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 48 | Team Hogzilla | |
| 49 | ARKANSAW HOG SAUCE | |
| 50 | BRANSON'S CENTER STAGE GRILLE |
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 — Kids 10 And Under
14 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.6914
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cole Backerman | |
| 2 | Tyler Brannstter | |
| 3 | Molly Leighninger | |
| 4 | Tyler Hoisington | |
| 5 | Taylor Scheer | |
| 6 | Hunter Hoisington | |
| 7 | Ayva Mandragan | |
| 8 | Maycee Kyle | |
| 9 | Ellie Leghninger | |
| 10 | Cooper Preston | |
| 11 | Tatam Scheer | |
| 12 | Jaxon Perry | |
| 13 | Brenden Preston | |
| 14 | Maddox Perry |
Master Series — Teens 11-15
7 entries · top 169.7256 · median 167.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camden Preston | |
| 2 | Noah Steele | |
| 3 | Brett Backerman | |
| 4 | Tristan Hoisington | |
| 5 | Edwin Hernandez | |
| 6 | Joseph Ernst | |
| 7 | Olivia Kyle |