Sep 28–29, 2018 · Richmond, VA · 📍 600 E Laburnum AV
RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ won Grand Champion at the Smithfield BBQ Classic on September 28, 2018 in Richmond, VA at 600 E Laburnum AV, scoring 687.9316 in a field of 41 teams. BBQ & BEYOND took Reserve Grand Champion with 686.7884. Category winners: Chicken — RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ (178.8572); Pork Ribs — 3N1 Q (176.5600); Pork — BBQ & BEYOND (177.1428); Brisket — SWEET BELLY'S BBQ (176.5600). This is the 2nd of 2 editions of this contest on record; the 2017 edition was won by PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ.
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.
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
Closer than 81% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1432 points — closer than 81% of every championship in the data.
687.9316 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 684.5256 PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ set in 2017.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 87 times in 100
Rio Valley Meat BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 13-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
Stronger than 92% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1633 power rating going in — stronger than 92% of every contest tracked.
Chicken places 3–4: HAMTOWN SMOKERS and 270 SMOKERS tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 3–4: REDNECK SCIENTIFIC and LOVE-N-SMOKE tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 4–5: SERIAL GRILLER and 270 SMOKERS tied on 171.9772 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ took the title on 2 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was brisket at 18th.
RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ turned in 178.8572 in chicken — past the 174.2628 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ (won 2017).
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 4, 2017 | Smithfield, VA | 301 Jericho RD | 28 | 684.5256 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ |
| Sep 28, 2018 ← this one | Richmond, VA | 600 E Laburnum AV | 41 | 687.9316 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | BBQ & BEYOND |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8572 | 174.8800 | 171.9772 |
| Pork Ribs | 176.5600 | 173.1544 | 169.7028 |
| Pork | 177.1428 | 171.9772 | 167.9772 |
| Brisket | 176.5600 | 170.8228 | 168.5256 |
41 entries · top 687.9316 · median 654.7656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | |
| 2 | BBQ & BEYOND | |
| 3 | 3N1 Q | |
| 4 | HAMTOWN SMOKERS | |
| 5 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 6 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 7 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 8 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 9 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 10 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 11 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 12 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 13 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 14 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 15 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 16 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 17 | REX BBQ | |
| 18 | OLD TOWN SMOKERS | |
| 19 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 20 | LOVE-N-SMOKE | |
| 21 | SMOKE-AHOLICS | |
| 22 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 23 | BURN BARREL BBQ | |
| 24 | Many Moons BBQ | |
| 25 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 26 | GRILLIN'THYME | |
| 27 | BUD WISER'S BBQ | |
| 28 | WIGGLE STICK BARBECUE | |
| 29 | BAM BAM'S BBQ WINCHESTER VA | |
| 30 | LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER | |
| 31 | GRATEFUL 'QUE | |
| 32 | HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC | |
| 33 | FIRESIDE ALCHEMY | |
| 34 | KIRBBQ | |
| 35 | Smooth Boar BBQ | |
| 36 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 37 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 38 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 39 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 40 | Kravin Daves BBQ | |
| 41 | 88Q |
41 entries · top 178.8572 · median 165.6916
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | |
| 2 | 3N1 Q | |
| 3 | HAMTOWN SMOKERS | |
| 4 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 5 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 6 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 7 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 8 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 9 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 10 | BURN BARREL BBQ | |
| 11 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 12 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 13 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 14 | REX BBQ | |
| 15 | BBQ & BEYOND | |
| 16 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 17 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 18 | GRILLIN'THYME | |
| 19 | LOVE-N-SMOKE | |
| 20 | BUD WISER'S BBQ | |
| 21 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 22 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 23 | Many Moons BBQ | |
| 24 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 25 | BAM BAM'S BBQ WINCHESTER VA | |
| 26 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 27 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 28 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 29 | WIGGLE STICK BARBECUE | |
| 30 | SMOKE-AHOLICS | |
| 31 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 32 | LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER | |
| 33 | GRATEFUL 'QUE | |
| 34 | 88Q | |
| 35 | FIRESIDE ALCHEMY | |
| 36 | Smooth Boar BBQ | |
| 37 | OLD TOWN SMOKERS | |
| 38 | HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC | |
| 39 | KIRBBQ | |
| 40 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 41 | Kravin Daves BBQ |
41 entries · top 176.5600 · median 164.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3N1 Q | |
| 2 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 3 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 4 | LOVE-N-SMOKE | |
| 5 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 6 | BUD WISER'S BBQ | |
| 7 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 8 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 9 | HAMTOWN SMOKERS | |
| 10 | BBQ & BEYOND | |
| 11 | LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER | |
| 12 | HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC | |
| 13 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 14 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 15 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | |
| 16 | REX BBQ | |
| 17 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 18 | OLD TOWN SMOKERS | |
| 19 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 20 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 21 | GRILLIN'THYME | |
| 22 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 23 | BAM BAM'S BBQ WINCHESTER VA | |
| 24 | SMOKE-AHOLICS | |
| 25 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 26 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 27 | KIRBBQ | |
| 28 | Many Moons BBQ | |
| 29 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 30 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 31 | GRATEFUL 'QUE | |
| 32 | WIGGLE STICK BARBECUE | |
| 33 | FIRESIDE ALCHEMY | |
| 34 | BURN BARREL BBQ | |
| 35 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 36 | Kravin Daves BBQ | |
| 37 | 88Q | |
| 38 | Smooth Boar BBQ | |
| 39 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 40 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 41 | LAKEVIEW BBQ |
41 entries · top 177.1428 · median 164
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BBQ & BEYOND | |
| 2 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 3 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | |
| 4 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 5 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 6 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 7 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 8 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 9 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 10 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 11 | LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER | |
| 12 | BURN BARREL BBQ | |
| 13 | OLD TOWN SMOKERS | |
| 14 | REX BBQ | |
| 15 | Kravin Daves BBQ | |
| 16 | HAMTOWN SMOKERS | |
| 17 | GRATEFUL 'QUE | |
| 18 | FIRESIDE ALCHEMY | |
| 19 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 20 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 21 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 22 | WIGGLE STICK BARBECUE | |
| 23 | SMOKE-AHOLICS | |
| 24 | 3N1 Q | |
| 25 | BUD WISER'S BBQ | |
| 26 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 27 | Many Moons BBQ | |
| 28 | LOVE-N-SMOKE | |
| 29 | BAM BAM'S BBQ WINCHESTER VA | |
| 30 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 31 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 32 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 33 | Smooth Boar BBQ | |
| 34 | HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC | |
| 35 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 36 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 37 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 38 | KIRBBQ | |
| 39 | GRILLIN'THYME | |
| 40 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 41 | 88Q |
41 entries · top 176.5600 · median 163.3828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 2 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 3 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 4 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 5 | SMOKE-AHOLICS | |
| 6 | BBQ & BEYOND | |
| 7 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 8 | OLD TOWN SMOKERS | |
| 9 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 10 | HAMTOWN SMOKERS | |
| 11 | WIGGLE STICK BARBECUE | |
| 12 | GRILLIN'THYME | |
| 13 | Many Moons BBQ | |
| 14 | Smooth Boar BBQ | |
| 15 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 16 | 3N1 Q | |
| 17 | KIRBBQ | |
| 18 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | |
| 19 | 270 SMOKERS | |
| 20 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 21 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 22 | BAM BAM'S BBQ WINCHESTER VA | |
| 23 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 24 | SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | |
| 25 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 26 | GRATEFUL 'QUE | |
| 27 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 28 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | |
| 29 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 30 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 31 | BURN BARREL BBQ | |
| 32 | Kravin Daves BBQ | |
| 33 | HICKORY PRIME | |
| 34 | REX BBQ | |
| 35 | LOVE-N-SMOKE | |
| 36 | HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC | |
| 37 | 88Q | |
| 38 | FIRESIDE ALCHEMY | |
| 39 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 40 | LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER | |
| 41 | BUD WISER'S BBQ |
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.
16 entries · top 180 · median 168.5600 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sauce This BBQ | |
| 2 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 3 | BBQ & BEYOND | |
| 4 | BURN BARREL BBQ | |
| 5 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 6 | PORK BARREL BBQ | |
| 7 | GRATEFUL 'QUE | |
| 8 | Many Moons BBQ | |
| 9 | FIRESIDE ALCHEMY | |
| 10 | REX BBQ | |
| 11 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 12 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 13 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 14 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 15 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 16 | PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ |