A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 11 tracked editions
MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 11 tracked editions.
- 2014
- 2016
I Love Barbecue & Music Festival 2018
Jul 6–8, 2018 · Lake Placid, NY · 📍 32 School St
GOOD SMOKE BBQ won Grand Champion at the I Love Barbecue & Music Festival on July 6, 2018 in Lake Placid, NY at 32 School St, scoring 661.0972 in a field of 39 teams. SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA took Reserve Grand Champion with 658.8460. Category winners: Chicken — SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA (173.7144); Pork Ribs — GOOD SMOKE BBQ (171.4400); Pork — THREE DOGS BBQ (169.7600); Brisket — ACK-QUE (171.4400). This is the 6th of 11 editions of this contest on record; the 2017 edition was won by PISTOL PACKIN' PIGGIES; the next was held in 2019.
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.
560.25
median 624.50
661.10 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 173.71
- Pork Ribs 171.44
- Pork 169.76
- Brisket 171.44
123.29
173.71
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2023 — this edition picked out.
Entries
39
4 judged meats · 5 ancillary
Top score
661.0972
Winning margin
2.2512
GC over RC
Field average
622.81
560.25661.10
median 624.50 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
5.2000 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
639.3944
560.25661.10
10th place overall
Field spread
100.8456
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 99%
beats 1% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
60%
24 of 40 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.67 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,594
avg power rating going in · stronger than 74% 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.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 10 calls decided inside half a point
Pork places 9–10: PRIME BBQ- and GOOD SMOKE BBQ tied on 161.6800 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 6–7: WALLY BBQ edged SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA by 0.0116. Chicken places 8–9: BEHIND BBQ edged WALLY BBQ by 0.0116.
- Pork 9–10 · tie
- Brisket 6–7 · 0.0116
- Chicken 8–9 · 0.0116
- Chicken 3–4 · 0.0228
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
GOOD SMOKE BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 20th.
- Chicken 20th
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 10th
- Brisket 3rd
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ (won 2014, 2016), SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA (won 2015).
- MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ · 2014, 2016
- SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA · 2015
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 4, 2013 | Lake Placid, NY | Lake Placid, NY | 28 | 646.8570 | Q HAVEN BBQ | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ |
| Jul 4, 2014 | Lake Placid, NY | Lake Placid, NY 12946 | 27 | 657.1200 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA |
| Jul 3, 2015 | Lake Placid, NY | Lake Placid, NY 12946 | 31 | 661.6800 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | QUAU |
| Jul 2, 2016 | Lake Placid, NY | Lake Placid, NY | 28 | 658.2856 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE |
| Jul 7, 2017 | Lake Placid, NY | 32 School St | 40 | 669.7028 | PISTOL PACKIN' PIGGIES | BLACK HART BBQ |
| Jul 6, 2018 ← this one | Lake Placid, NY | 32 School St | 39 | 661.0972 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA |
| Jul 5, 2019 | Lake Placid, NY | 32 School St | 32 | 677.1540 | Hot Wachula's | GOOD SMOKE BBQ |
| Sep 3, 2021 | Lake Placid, NY | Shipman Youth Center | 15 | 699.4628 | Top Gun barbecue | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS |
| Sep 2, 2022 | Lake Placid, NY | 5514 Cascade Road | 22 | 679.4060 | Chunky BBQ | BOGGS HOG BBQ |
| Sep 2, 2022 | Lake Placid, NY | 5514 Cascade Road | — | — | — | — |
| Sep 1, 2023 | Lake Placid, NY | 5514 Cascade Road | 18 | 690.8116 | Paddy McQ's | Dirt Bag Barbeque |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 173.7144 | 167.4744 | 165.7028 |
| Pork Ribs | 171.4400 | 162.8800 | 160.5372 |
| Pork | 169.7600 | 164.5600 | 161.6800 |
| Brisket | 171.4400 | 165.7372 | 161.1200 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
39 entries · top 661.0972 · median 624.5028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 3 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 4 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 5 | BLACK HART BBQ | |
| 6 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN ACES | |
| 8 | Cousin's Catering and BBQ | |
| 9 | HUMPHREY'S BBQ | |
| 10 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 11 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 12 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 13 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 14 | SKARA OLD SCHOOL BBQ | |
| 15 | WHAT THE PORK? | |
| 16 | FAT TIGER BBQ | |
| 17 | NORTH POLE BBQ TEAM | |
| 18 | PRIME BBQ- | |
| 19 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 20 | TEAM EATAPEDIA | |
| 21 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 22 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 23 | ACK-QUE | |
| 24 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 25 | PIRATESBBQ | |
| 26 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 27 | SLAP SHOT BBQ | |
| 28 | Q+BREW | |
| 29 | SWEET HEAT BBQ | |
| 30 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 31 | V-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 32 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 33 | SHOP BOYS BBQ | |
| 34 | BOYMEETSGRILL | |
| 35 | TACTICAL CHEF BBQ | |
| 36 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 37 | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS | |
| 38 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 39 | Meatopia |
Chicken
39 entries · top 173.7144 · median 159.3944
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 2 | TEAM EATAPEDIA | |
| 3 | BLACK HART BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 5 | PIRATESBBQ | |
| 6 | SKARA OLD SCHOOL BBQ | |
| 7 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 8 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 9 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 10 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 11 | HUMPHREY'S BBQ | |
| 12 | NORTH POLE BBQ TEAM | |
| 13 | SMOKIN ACES | |
| 14 | Q+BREW | |
| 15 | Cousin's Catering and BBQ | |
| 16 | WHAT THE PORK? | |
| 17 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 18 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 19 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 20 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 21 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 22 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 23 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 24 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 25 | TACTICAL CHEF BBQ | |
| 26 | PRIME BBQ- | |
| 27 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 28 | SWEET HEAT BBQ | |
| 29 | BOYMEETSGRILL | |
| 30 | FAT TIGER BBQ | |
| 31 | Meatopia | |
| 32 | V-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 33 | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS | |
| 34 | SHOP BOYS BBQ | |
| 35 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 36 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 37 | SLAP SHOT BBQ | |
| 38 | ACK-QUE | |
| 39 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ |
Pork Ribs
39 entries · top 171.4400 · median 154.2512
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 3 | SMOKIN ACES | |
| 4 | WHAT THE PORK? | |
| 5 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 6 | FAT TIGER BBQ | |
| 7 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 8 | SHOP BOYS BBQ | |
| 9 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 10 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 11 | PIRATESBBQ | |
| 12 | TEAM EATAPEDIA | |
| 13 | BLACK HART BBQ | |
| 14 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 15 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 16 | Cousin's Catering and BBQ | |
| 17 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 18 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 19 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 20 | SKARA OLD SCHOOL BBQ | |
| 21 | Q+BREW | |
| 22 | HUMPHREY'S BBQ | |
| 23 | SLAP SHOT BBQ | |
| 24 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 25 | ACK-QUE | |
| 26 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 27 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 28 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 29 | BOYMEETSGRILL | |
| 30 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 31 | PRIME BBQ- | |
| 32 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 33 | TACTICAL CHEF BBQ | |
| 34 | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS | |
| 35 | NORTH POLE BBQ TEAM | |
| 36 | V-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 37 | SWEET HEAT BBQ | |
| 38 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 39 | Meatopia |
Pork
39 entries · top 169.7600 · median 156.5028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 2 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 3 | Cousin's Catering and BBQ | |
| 4 | FAT TIGER BBQ | |
| 5 | BLACK HART BBQ | |
| 6 | NORTH POLE BBQ TEAM | |
| 7 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 8 | SKARA OLD SCHOOL BBQ | |
| 9 | PRIME BBQ- | |
| 10 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 11 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 12 | TEAM EATAPEDIA | |
| 13 | SWEET HEAT BBQ | |
| 14 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 15 | V-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 16 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 17 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 18 | HUMPHREY'S BBQ | |
| 19 | SLAP SHOT BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKIN ACES | |
| 21 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 22 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 23 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 24 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 25 | ACK-QUE | |
| 26 | WHAT THE PORK? | |
| 27 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 28 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 29 | Q+BREW | |
| 30 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 31 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 32 | BOYMEETSGRILL | |
| 33 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 34 | Meatopia | |
| 35 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 36 | SHOP BOYS BBQ | |
| 37 | TACTICAL CHEF BBQ | |
| 38 | PIRATESBBQ | |
| 39 | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS |
Brisket
39 entries · top 171.4400 · median 154.8000
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ACK-QUE | |
| 2 | SERIAL GRILLER | |
| 3 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 4 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 6 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 8 | HUMPHREY'S BBQ | |
| 9 | PRIME BBQ- | |
| 10 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 11 | SLAP SHOT BBQ | |
| 12 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 13 | V-LICIOUS BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN ACES | |
| 15 | BLACK HART BBQ | |
| 16 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 17 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 18 | NORTH POLE BBQ TEAM | |
| 19 | Cousin's Catering and BBQ | |
| 20 | SWEET HEAT BBQ | |
| 21 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 22 | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS | |
| 23 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 24 | WHAT THE PORK? | |
| 25 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 26 | SKARA OLD SCHOOL BBQ | |
| 27 | FAT TIGER BBQ | |
| 28 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 29 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 30 | PIRATESBBQ | |
| 31 | SHOP BOYS BBQ | |
| 32 | TACTICAL CHEF BBQ | |
| 33 | Q+BREW | |
| 34 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 35 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 36 | BOYMEETSGRILL | |
| 37 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 38 | TEAM EATAPEDIA | |
| 39 | Meatopia |
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 — Chickn
10 entries · top 161.1200 · median 152.5658
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 2 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 3 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 4 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 5 | Steve's Prime BBQ | |
| 6 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 7 | Dilly, Dilly BBQ | |
| 8 | Pig Mc Q's | |
| 9 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 10 | BOAR-N-Q |
Master Series — Fatty
10 entries · top 162.8572 · median 155.7258
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 2 | Dilly, Dilly BBQ | |
| 3 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 4 | Steve's Prime BBQ | |
| 5 | Pig Mc Q's | |
| 6 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 7 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 8 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 9 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 10 | BOAR-N-Q |
Master Series — Nebs Grilling And Bbq
10 entries · top 633.1320 · median 624.5430
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 2 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 3 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 4 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 5 | Steve's Prime BBQ | |
| 6 | Dilly, Dilly BBQ | |
| 7 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 8 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 9 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 10 | Pig Mc Q's |
Master Series — Ny Steak
10 entries · top 168.0344 · median 157.6972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve's Prime BBQ | |
| 2 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 3 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 4 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 5 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 6 | Dilly, Dilly BBQ | |
| 7 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 8 | Pig Mc Q's | |
| 9 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 10 | HOKIE POKIE Q |
Master Series — Pizza
10 entries · top 162.8572 · median 155.4230
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 2 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 3 | Dilly, Dilly BBQ | |
| 4 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 5 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 6 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 7 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 8 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 9 | Steve's Prime BBQ | |
| 10 | Pig Mc Q's |