Almost Heaven BBQ Bash (OPEN FORMAT)
2026-06-19 – 2026-06-20 · Buckhannon, WV · 📍 Jawbone Park · State championship
Reps: ALEX JR BROWN, BILL JONES · Prize money: $10,000.00
Grand Champion: Poor Boys BBQ (699.3484) · 29 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 Smoked & Furious
Entries
Top score
Winning margin
Field average
Tightest race
Top-10 cutoff
Field spread
Prize money
Double threats
How hot was the win?
Traveled in
Came back for more
Form held
Field strength
Storylines
👑 A dynasty in the making
CHUNKY BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 6 tracked editions.
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
POOR BOYS BBQ took the Grand Championship home to VA.
📸 Photo finishes
Master Series — Chicken places 2–3: POOR BOYS BBQ and B'S QUE tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 4–5: Meat Monarchy and CONVICTED PIGS BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 6–7: Gold-N-Blue Barbecue and CHUNKY BBQ tied on 176.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🛡️ Back to defend
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: 3 EYZ BBQ (won 2015), WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ (won 2023), CHUNKY BBQ (won 2024, 2025).
🏟️ A stacked field
The field averaged a 1631 power rating going in — stronger than 98% of every contest tracked.
🃏 An upset on the books
POOR BOYS BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 29-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
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)
Where the field came from (home regions on file)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-06-19 | Buckhannon, WV 26201 | 41 | 703.4172 | 3 EYZ BBQ | CHECKERED PIG | |
| 2016-06-17 | Buckhannon, WV 26201 | 42 | 699.9544 | CHECKERED PIG | SMOKIN FOOLZ | |
| 2023-06-16 | Buckhannon, WV | 17 Friendly Way | 28 | 702.2284 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | CHUNKY BBQ |
| 2024-06-14 | Buckhannon, WV | Jawbone Park | 30 | 698.8228 | CHUNKY BBQ | 3 EYZ BBQ |
| 2025-06-13 | Buckhannon, WV | Jawbone Park | 30 | 698.2516 | Chunky BBQ | BEER TIME BBQ |
| 2026-06-19 ← this one | Buckhannon, WV | Jawbone Park | 29 | 699.3484 | Poor Boys BBQ | Smoked & Furious |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 177.7144 | 176.5600 | 173.1316 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 180.0000 | 175.4172 | 172.5600 |
| Master Series — Pork | 180.0000 | 175.4172 | 173.1200 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 177.7372 | 176.5600 | 172.0000 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 170.8228 | 145.6916 | — |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 166.2400 | 143.9656 | — |
| Backyard Series — Pork | 172.5600 | 149.0972 | — |
| Backyard Series — Brisket | 170.8228 | 141.0628 | — |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
29 entries · top 699.3484 · median 682.1484
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | POOR BOYS BBQ | |
| 2 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 3 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 4 | Team Cookie | |
| 5 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | |
| 6 | B'S QUE | |
| 7 | ALPINE SMOKE WORKS | |
| 8 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 9 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 10 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 11 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 12 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 13 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 14 | Dog Bite Barbecue | |
| 15 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 16 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 17 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 19 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 20 | Mad Hatter BBQ | |
| 21 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 22 | CONVICTED PIGS BBQ | |
| 23 | Gold-N-Blue Barbecue | |
| 24 | Feathered Fire | |
| 25 | smokey anderson bbq | |
| 26 | Big Eazy's BBQ | |
| 27 | CIRCLE L BBQ | |
| 28 | Vintage Smoke | |
| 29 | Smokin' Good Eats BBQ |
Chicken
29 entries · top 177.7144 · median 170.8344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 2 | POOR BOYS BBQ | |
| 3 | B'S QUE | |
| 4 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 5 | CONVICTED PIGS BBQ | |
| 6 | Gold-N-Blue Barbecue | |
| 7 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 8 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 9 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 10 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 11 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 12 | Team Cookie | |
| 13 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 14 | ALPINE SMOKE WORKS | |
| 15 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 17 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | |
| 18 | Dog Bite Barbecue | |
| 20 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 21 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 22 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 23 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 24 | Mad Hatter BBQ | |
| 25 | Big Eazy's BBQ | |
| 26 | Feathered Fire | |
| 27 | smokey anderson bbq | |
| 28 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 30 | Smokin' Good Eats BBQ | |
| 31 | Vintage Smoke | |
| 33 | CIRCLE L BBQ |
Pork Ribs
29 entries · top 180.0000 · median 169.6800 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 2 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | |
| 3 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 4 | ALPINE SMOKE WORKS | |
| 5 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 6 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 7 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 8 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 9 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 10 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 11 | B'S QUE | |
| 12 | Feathered Fire | |
| 13 | POOR BOYS BBQ | |
| 14 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 15 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 16 | CIRCLE L BBQ | |
| 17 | CONVICTED PIGS BBQ | |
| 18 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 19 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 20 | Dog Bite Barbecue | |
| 21 | Team Cookie | |
| 22 | Mad Hatter BBQ | |
| 23 | Gold-N-Blue Barbecue | |
| 24 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 25 | smokey anderson bbq | |
| 27 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 28 | Big Eazy's BBQ | |
| 30 | Vintage Smoke | |
| 33 | Smokin' Good Eats BBQ |
Pork
29 entries · top 180.0000 · median 170.8228 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 2 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 3 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 4 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 5 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 6 | ALPINE SMOKE WORKS | |
| 7 | POOR BOYS BBQ | |
| 8 | Team Cookie | |
| 9 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 10 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 11 | Dog Bite Barbecue | |
| 13 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | |
| 14 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 15 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 16 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 17 | B'S QUE | |
| 18 | Mad Hatter BBQ | |
| 19 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 20 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 21 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 23 | Gold-N-Blue Barbecue | |
| 24 | smokey anderson bbq | |
| 25 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 26 | Feathered Fire | |
| 28 | CIRCLE L BBQ | |
| 29 | CONVICTED PIGS BBQ | |
| 30 | Big Eazy's BBQ | |
| 31 | Vintage Smoke | |
| 34 | Smokin' Good Eats BBQ |
Brisket
29 entries · top 177.7372 · median 169.7028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team Cookie | |
| 2 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 3 | Mad Hatter BBQ | |
| 4 | POOR BOYS BBQ | |
| 5 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 6 | B'S QUE | |
| 7 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 8 | Dog Bite Barbecue | |
| 9 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | |
| 10 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 11 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 12 | Kings BBQ Team | |
| 14 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 15 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 16 | smokey anderson bbq | |
| 17 | CONVICTED PIGS BBQ | |
| 18 | Feathered Fire | |
| 19 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 20 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 21 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 22 | ALPINE SMOKE WORKS | |
| 24 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 25 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 27 | Vintage Smoke | |
| 28 | Gold-N-Blue Barbecue | |
| 29 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 30 | Big Eazy's BBQ | |
| 31 | CIRCLE L BBQ | |
| 33 | Smokin' Good Eats BBQ |
Backyard Series
Overall
5 entries · top 670.1484 · median 641.6344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marshall Mountain BBQ | |
| 2 | T & S BBQ | |
| 3 | Littledoodle BBQ | |
| 4 | ChessieQ | |
| 5 | 5 Alarm BBQ |
Chicken
5 entries · top 170.8228 · median 157.6572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Marshall Mountain BBQ | |
| 19 | T & S BBQ | |
| 29 | ChessieQ | |
| 32 | 5 Alarm BBQ | |
| 34 | Littledoodle BBQ |
Pork Ribs
5 entries · top 166.2400 · median 153.6572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Marshall Mountain BBQ | |
| 29 | Littledoodle BBQ | |
| 31 | ChessieQ | |
| 32 | T & S BBQ | |
| 34 | 5 Alarm BBQ |
Pork
5 entries · top 172.5600 · median 159.3828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Littledoodle BBQ | |
| 22 | Marshall Mountain BBQ | |
| 27 | T & S BBQ | |
| 32 | ChessieQ | |
| 33 | 5 Alarm BBQ |
Brisket
5 entries · top 170.8228 · median 166.2972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | T & S BBQ | |
| 23 | Marshall Mountain BBQ | |
| 26 | Littledoodle BBQ | |
| 32 | ChessieQ | |
| 34 | 5 Alarm BBQ |
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.
Ancillary — Mystery Box
9 entries · top 176.5600 · median 165.0972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Littledoodle BBQ | |
| 2 | B'S QUE | |
| 3 | Team Cookie | |
| 4 | Feathered Fire | |
| 5 | ALPINE SMOKE WORKS | |
| 6 | Marshall Mountain BBQ | |
| 7 | Mad Hatter BBQ | |
| 8 | ChessieQ | |
| 9 | 5 Alarm BBQ |