2018-07-20 – 2018-07-21 · Waterloo, IA · 📍 400 E Park Ave
Grand Champion: WHEN PIGS DIE (704.6288) · 42 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 SLAPS 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.
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2019 — this edition picked out.
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
704.6288 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 694.8572 LUCKY'S Q set in 2017.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 72 times in 100
WHEN PIGS DIE came in rated below the field's top team, LUCKY'S Q, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 28-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
This was WHEN PIGS DIE's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 92nd tracked contest.
Wider than 95% of the 4,742 championships in the data
The champion won by 14.3772 points — a wider margin than 95% of championships in the data.
3 of 7 tracked editions
LUCKY'S Q has won this contest 3 times across its 7 tracked editions.
Chicken places 7–8: WHEN PIGS DIE and GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA tied on 172.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 6–7: KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ and 225 MAFIA tied on 173.1428 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 6–7: TRUE SMOKE BBQ and GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
SLAPS BBQ won Chicken, Pork — a double.
WHEN PIGS DIE took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 7th.
SLAPS BBQ turned in 180.0000 in pork — past the 176.5716 that had stood across 5 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: LUCKY'S Q (won 2015, 2016, 2017).
This contest usually draws about 35 teams
42 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 35.
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
What happened at this contest that stands in the all-time KCBS record book. A gold line is a record nobody has beaten.
Records held by every edition of this contest put together, not just this one afternoon.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-07-19 | Waterloo, IA | Waterloo, IA | 35 | 690.2284 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW |
| 2014-07-18 | Waterloo, IA | Waterloo, IA 50703 | 37 | 690.2168 | PIGSKIN BBQ | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG |
| 2015-07-17 | Waterloo, IA | Waterloo, IA 50702 | 39 | 693.6572 | LUCKY'S Q | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ |
| 2016-07-15 | Waterloo, IA | 400 E Park Ave | 32 | 686.2056 | LUCKY'S Q | IOWA WILD HOGS BBQ |
| 2017-07-14 | Waterloo, IA | 400 E Park Ave | 33 | 694.8572 | LUCKY'S Q | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ |
| 2018-07-20 ← this one | Waterloo, IA | 400 E Park Ave | 42 | 704.6288 | WHEN PIGS DIE | SLAPS BBQ |
| 2019-07-19 | Waterloo, IA | 400 E Park | 33 | 696.5600 | Iowa Smokey D's BBQ | LUCKY'S Q |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 174.8572 | 172.5944 | 171.4172 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.2972 | 173.7372 | 171.9772 |
| Pork | 180.0000 | 176.0000 | 171.9656 |
| Brisket | 177.7600 | 175.4172 | 172.0000 |
42 entries · top 704.6288 · median 661.9258
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 2 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 3 | WHITEWATER BBQ COMPANY | |
| 4 | Que Magic | |
| 5 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 6 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 8 | SMOKIN BONZ BBQ COMPANY | |
| 9 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 10 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 11 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 12 | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | |
| 13 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 14 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 15 | TRUE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 16 | BAMBQ | |
| 17 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 18 | MYASSIS SMOKIN | |
| 19 | EAST LENEXA BBQ | |
| 20 | NEW AMERICAN BBQ CREW | |
| 21 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 22 | OLY SMOKES | |
| 23 | BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 25 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 26 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 27 | 225 MAFIA | |
| 28 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 29 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 30 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 31 | NOT BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 32 | CHICKHOOVENSWINE BBQ | |
| 33 | OD'S QUE | |
| 34 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 35 | MARK'S SMOKIN QUE | |
| 36 | SMOKIN BIG DAWGS | |
| 37 | Grease Monkey Grilling | |
| 38 | Rib Heaven BBQ | |
| 39 | 2 BALD GUYS BBQ | |
| 40 | LTS BBQ | |
| 41 | Jim's Smokin The Wheels On the Grill" BBQ | |
| 42 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE |
42 entries · top 174.8572 · median 166.8572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 2 | NEW AMERICAN BBQ CREW | |
| 3 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 4 | WHITEWATER BBQ COMPANY | |
| 5 | MYASSIS SMOKIN | |
| 6 | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | |
| 7 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 8 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 9 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 10 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 11 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 12 | OD'S QUE | |
| 13 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 14 | SMOKIN BONZ BBQ COMPANY | |
| 15 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 16 | Que Magic | |
| 17 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 18 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 19 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 20 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 21 | MARK'S SMOKIN QUE | |
| 22 | BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ | |
| 23 | TRUE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 24 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 25 | BAMBQ | |
| 26 | SMOKIN BIG DAWGS | |
| 27 | EAST LENEXA BBQ | |
| 28 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 29 | 225 MAFIA | |
| 30 | OLY SMOKES | |
| 31 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 32 | Rib Heaven BBQ | |
| 33 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 34 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 35 | CHICKHOOVENSWINE BBQ | |
| 36 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 37 | NOT BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 38 | Grease Monkey Grilling | |
| 39 | 2 BALD GUYS BBQ | |
| 40 | Jim's Smokin The Wheels On the Grill" BBQ | |
| 41 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 42 | LTS BBQ |
41 entries · top 178.2972 · median 165.7028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 2 | SMOKIN BONZ BBQ COMPANY | |
| 3 | WHITEWATER BBQ COMPANY | |
| 4 | MYASSIS SMOKIN | |
| 5 | Que Magic | |
| 6 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 7 | 225 MAFIA | |
| 8 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 9 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 10 | EAST LENEXA BBQ | |
| 11 | BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ | |
| 12 | CHICKHOOVENSWINE BBQ | |
| 13 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 14 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 15 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 16 | NEW AMERICAN BBQ CREW | |
| 17 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 18 | TRUE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 19 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 20 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 21 | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | |
| 22 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 23 | NOT BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 24 | OLY SMOKES | |
| 25 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 26 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 27 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 28 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 29 | MARK'S SMOKIN QUE | |
| 30 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 31 | BAMBQ | |
| 32 | LTS BBQ | |
| 33 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 34 | Jim's Smokin The Wheels On the Grill" BBQ | |
| 35 | OD'S QUE | |
| 36 | SMOKIN BIG DAWGS | |
| 37 | Rib Heaven BBQ | |
| 38 | Grease Monkey Grilling | |
| 39 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 40 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 41 | 2 BALD GUYS BBQ |
42 entries · top 180.0000 · median 165.3942 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 2 | Que Magic | |
| 3 | BAMBQ | |
| 4 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 5 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 6 | TRUE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 7 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 8 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 9 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 10 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 11 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 12 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 13 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 14 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 15 | EAST LENEXA BBQ | |
| 16 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 17 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 18 | SMOKIN BONZ BBQ COMPANY | |
| 19 | OLY SMOKES | |
| 20 | Rib Heaven BBQ | |
| 21 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 22 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 23 | 2 BALD GUYS BBQ | |
| 24 | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | |
| 25 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 26 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 27 | WHITEWATER BBQ COMPANY | |
| 28 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 29 | LTS BBQ | |
| 30 | NEW AMERICAN BBQ CREW | |
| 31 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 32 | 225 MAFIA | |
| 33 | NOT BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 34 | MYASSIS SMOKIN | |
| 35 | BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ | |
| 36 | CHICKHOOVENSWINE BBQ | |
| 37 | OD'S QUE | |
| 38 | SMOKIN BIG DAWGS | |
| 39 | MARK'S SMOKIN QUE | |
| 40 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 41 | Grease Monkey Grilling | |
| 42 | Jim's Smokin The Wheels On the Grill" BBQ |
42 entries · top 177.7600 · median 164.2456
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 2 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 3 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 4 | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | |
| 5 | WHITEWATER BBQ COMPANY | |
| 6 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 7 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 8 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 9 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 10 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 11 | BAMBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 13 | SMOKIN BONZ BBQ COMPANY | |
| 14 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 16 | KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | |
| 17 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 18 | OLY SMOKES | |
| 19 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 20 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 21 | Que Magic | |
| 22 | TRUE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 23 | BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ | |
| 24 | NOT BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 25 | OD'S QUE | |
| 26 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 27 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 28 | NEW AMERICAN BBQ CREW | |
| 29 | MYASSIS SMOKIN | |
| 30 | EAST LENEXA BBQ | |
| 31 | CHICKHOOVENSWINE BBQ | |
| 32 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 33 | MARK'S SMOKIN QUE | |
| 34 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 35 | Grease Monkey Grilling | |
| 36 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 37 | 225 MAFIA | |
| 38 | 2 BALD GUYS BBQ | |
| 39 | SMOKIN BIG DAWGS | |
| 40 | LTS BBQ | |
| 41 | Jim's Smokin The Wheels On the Grill" BBQ | |
| 42 | Rib Heaven BBQ |