Jun 29–30, 2018 · Willard, MO · 📍 222 W Jackson St
BYO GRILL won Grand Champion at the Freedom Fest BBQ Cook-Off on June 29, 2018 in Willard, MO at 222 W Jackson St, scoring 693.6456 in a field of 52 teams. 4 LEGS UP BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 693.0744. Category winners: Chicken — WOOD HOOK BBQ (179.4400); Pork Ribs — BOOMERANG BBQ (179.4400); Pork — BYO GRILL (180.0000); Brisket — THE BOAR OF DIRECTORS (176.0000). This is the 2nd of 2 editions of this contest on record; the 2017 edition was won by SHAKE 'N BAKE 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 91% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.5712 points — closer than 91% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 92 times in 100
BYO GRILL came in rated below the field's top team, SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 8-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
This was BYO GRILL's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 8th tracked contest.
First to fifth in the overall standings covered just 3.4280 points — 2 teams sat within a single point of the lead.
Stronger than 93% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1638 power rating going in — stronger than 93% of every contest tracked.
Chicken places 2–3: SMOKIN O BBQ and BOOMERANG BBQ tied on 177.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 5–6: WOOD HOOK BBQ and SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ tied on 175.4288 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 3–4: DIRT ROAD BBQ and SLAPS BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
BYO GRILL took the title on 2 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 25th.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ (won 2017).
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 23, 2017 | Willard, MO | 222 W Jackson St | 35 | 710.2972 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | BRICKHEAD BBQ |
| Jun 29, 2018 ← this one | Willard, MO | 222 W Jackson St | 52 | 693.6456 | BYO GRILL | 4 LEGS UP BBQ |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 179.4400 | 177.1428 | 174.2628 |
| Pork Ribs | 179.4400 | 175.4288 | 173.7144 |
| Pork | 180 | 175.4172 | 172.5484 |
| Brisket | 176 | 172 | 169.1084 |
52 entries · top 693.6456 · median 665.5884
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BYO GRILL | |
| 2 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 3 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 4 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 5 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 6 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 7 | BRICKHEAD BBQ | |
| 8 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 9 | THE BOAR OF DIRECTORS | |
| 10 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 11 | BOOM CHICKA COW COW | |
| 12 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 13 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 14 | SMOKIN O BBQ | |
| 15 | LA PASADITA | |
| 16 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 17 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 18 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 19 | Z-QUE | |
| 20 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 21 | S&S BBQ | |
| 22 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 23 | COUNTRYSIDE BBQ PRO SHOP | |
| 24 | UP SAUCE CREEK | |
| 25 | SMOKIN Q | |
| 26 | Smokin in the Ozarks | |
| 27 | YELLOW JACKET BBQ | |
| 28 | PARTS R SMOKIN | |
| 29 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 30 | ELI'S PIT CREW | |
| 31 | Grinders BBQ | |
| 32 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 33 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 34 | HOT AND FAST BBQ | |
| 35 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 36 | POPS' SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 37 | BLOWIN' SMOKE | |
| 38 | SMILIN' DRAGON BBQ | |
| 39 | CROSSFIRE BBQ | |
| 40 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 41 | FIRE FAMILY BBQ/NOT SO SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 42 | ROWDY RODDY'S BBQ | |
| 43 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 44 | Big Time BBQ & Catering | |
| 45 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 46 | HOGZILLA | |
| 47 | BULLS SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 48 | Hold My Beer Grill Team | |
| 49 | BIG COUNTRY BBQ | |
| 50 | I'M YOUR HUCKLEBERRY BBQ | |
| 51 | 502 Crew BBQ | |
| 52 | SMOOTH SMOKE |
52 entries · top 179.4400 · median 169.4000
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKIN O BBQ | |
| 3 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 4 | BRICKHEAD BBQ | |
| 5 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 6 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 7 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 8 | LA PASADITA | |
| 9 | COUNTRYSIDE BBQ PRO SHOP | |
| 10 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 11 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 12 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 13 | ROWDY RODDY'S BBQ | |
| 14 | SMILIN' DRAGON BBQ | |
| 15 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 16 | THE BOAR OF DIRECTORS | |
| 17 | Z-QUE | |
| 18 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 19 | S&S BBQ | |
| 20 | PARTS R SMOKIN | |
| 21 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 22 | UP SAUCE CREEK | |
| 23 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 24 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 25 | BYO GRILL | |
| 26 | ELI'S PIT CREW | |
| 27 | SMOKIN Q | |
| 28 | HOT AND FAST BBQ | |
| 29 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 30 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 31 | Big Time BBQ & Catering | |
| 32 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 33 | CROSSFIRE BBQ | |
| 34 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 35 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 36 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 37 | BOOM CHICKA COW COW | |
| 38 | Smokin in the Ozarks | |
| 39 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 40 | POPS' SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 41 | BLOWIN' SMOKE | |
| 42 | HOGZILLA | |
| 43 | YELLOW JACKET BBQ | |
| 44 | Grinders BBQ | |
| 45 | BIG COUNTRY BBQ | |
| 46 | FIRE FAMILY BBQ/NOT SO SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 47 | Hold My Beer Grill Team | |
| 48 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 49 | I'M YOUR HUCKLEBERRY BBQ | |
| 50 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 51 | BULLS SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 52 | 502 Crew BBQ |
51 entries · top 179.4400 · median 167.3944
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 2 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 3 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 4 | BYO GRILL | |
| 5 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 6 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 7 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 8 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 9 | FIRE FAMILY BBQ/NOT SO SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 10 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 11 | UP SAUCE CREEK | |
| 12 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 13 | BOOM CHICKA COW COW | |
| 14 | BRICKHEAD BBQ | |
| 15 | S&S BBQ | |
| 16 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 17 | COUNTRYSIDE BBQ PRO SHOP | |
| 18 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 19 | SMOKIN O BBQ | |
| 20 | YELLOW JACKET BBQ | |
| 21 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 22 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 23 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 24 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKIN Q | |
| 26 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 27 | THE BOAR OF DIRECTORS | |
| 28 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 29 | Grinders BBQ | |
| 30 | BLOWIN' SMOKE | |
| 31 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 32 | Big Time BBQ & Catering | |
| 33 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 34 | Smokin in the Ozarks | |
| 35 | ROWDY RODDY'S BBQ | |
| 36 | PARTS R SMOKIN | |
| 37 | SMILIN' DRAGON BBQ | |
| 38 | LA PASADITA | |
| 39 | POPS' SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 40 | Z-QUE | |
| 41 | CROSSFIRE BBQ | |
| 42 | HOGZILLA | |
| 43 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 44 | HOT AND FAST BBQ | |
| 45 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 46 | 502 Crew BBQ | |
| 47 | ELI'S PIT CREW | |
| 48 | BIG COUNTRY BBQ | |
| 49 | Hold My Beer Grill Team | |
| 50 | BULLS SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 51 | I'M YOUR HUCKLEBERRY BBQ |
52 entries · top 180 · median 167.4230 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BYO GRILL | |
| 2 | Z-QUE | |
| 3 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 4 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 5 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 6 | Smokin in the Ozarks | |
| 7 | BOOM CHICKA COW COW | |
| 8 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 9 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 10 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 11 | BLOWIN' SMOKE | |
| 12 | COUNTRYSIDE BBQ PRO SHOP | |
| 13 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 14 | HOT AND FAST BBQ | |
| 15 | ELI'S PIT CREW | |
| 16 | THE BOAR OF DIRECTORS | |
| 17 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 18 | LA PASADITA | |
| 19 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 20 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 21 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 22 | Grinders BBQ | |
| 23 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 24 | SMOKIN Q | |
| 25 | POPS' SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 26 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 27 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 28 | S&S BBQ | |
| 29 | YELLOW JACKET BBQ | |
| 30 | I'M YOUR HUCKLEBERRY BBQ | |
| 31 | SMILIN' DRAGON BBQ | |
| 32 | BULLS SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 33 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 34 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 35 | Big Time BBQ & Catering | |
| 36 | BRICKHEAD BBQ | |
| 37 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 38 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 39 | SMOKIN O BBQ | |
| 40 | PARTS R SMOKIN | |
| 41 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 42 | CROSSFIRE BBQ | |
| 43 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 44 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 45 | Hold My Beer Grill Team | |
| 46 | UP SAUCE CREEK | |
| 47 | HOGZILLA | |
| 48 | FIRE FAMILY BBQ/NOT SO SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 49 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 50 | ROWDY RODDY'S BBQ | |
| 51 | 502 Crew BBQ | |
| 52 | BIG COUNTRY BBQ |
52 entries · top 176 · median 164.5486
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE BOAR OF DIRECTORS | |
| 2 | BRICKHEAD BBQ | |
| 3 | THE SMOKING HILLS | |
| 4 | BOOM CHICKA COW COW | |
| 5 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 6 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 7 | LA PASADITA | |
| 8 | SMOKIN O BBQ | |
| 9 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 10 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 11 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 12 | PARTS R SMOKIN | |
| 13 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 14 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 15 | YELLOW JACKET BBQ | |
| 16 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | |
| 17 | BYO GRILL | |
| 18 | CAVEMAN CUISINE | |
| 19 | ELI'S PIT CREW | |
| 20 | UP SAUCE CREEK | |
| 21 | POPS' SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 22 | Grinders BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 24 | S&S BBQ | |
| 25 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 26 | Z-QUE | |
| 27 | Smokin in the Ozarks | |
| 28 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 29 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 30 | CROSSFIRE BBQ | |
| 31 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 32 | BOXER Q BBQ | |
| 33 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 34 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 35 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 36 | SMOKIN Q | |
| 37 | HOT AND FAST BBQ | |
| 38 | BLOWIN' SMOKE | |
| 39 | SMOKEVILLE | |
| 40 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 41 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 42 | COUNTRYSIDE BBQ PRO SHOP | |
| 43 | SMILIN' DRAGON BBQ | |
| 44 | 502 Crew BBQ | |
| 45 | FIRE FAMILY BBQ/NOT SO SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 46 | ROWDY RODDY'S BBQ | |
| 47 | HOGZILLA | |
| 48 | I'M YOUR HUCKLEBERRY BBQ | |
| 49 | BULLS SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 50 | BIG COUNTRY BBQ | |
| 51 | Hold My Beer Grill Team | |
| 52 | Big Time BBQ & Catering |
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.
9 entries · top 180 · median 169.7028 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brett Backerman | |
| 2 | Tristen Hoisington | |
| 3 | Brandon Hiller | |
| 4 | Abigail Jones | |
| 5 | Olivia Kyle | |
| 6 | Maynard Hiller | |
| 7 | Noah Steele | |
| 8 | Joseph Eenest | |
| 9 | Jackson Jacobson |
13 entries · top 177.1544 · median 167.4628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ayva Mondragon | |
| 2 | Tatum Sheer | |
| 3 | Maycee Kyle | |
| 4 | Taylor Scheer | |
| 5 | Cole Backerman | |
| 6 | Maddie Hillen | |
| 7 | Tyler Hoisington | |
| 8 | Molly Leighninger | |
| 9 | Sloan Bohannon | |
| 10 | Abby Morris | |
| 11 | Greyson Sponseller | |
| 12 | Tyler Jones | |
| 13 | Kaiden Snyder |