Decided by a tiebreaker
Tie
identical totals at the top
The top two teams finished on identical totals — the Grand Championship came down to the KCBS tiebreaker rules.
12th Annual K of C BBQ Smoke Off 4-Life
2026-06-19 – 2026-06-20 · Kansas City, KS · 📍 Our Lady of Unity · State championship
Reps: FORREST BRUCE, LARRY HADLEY · Prize money: $5,000.00
Grand Champion: Brew 'N' Bar-B-Que (708.5256) · 33 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON
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.
607.85
median 690.77
708.53 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180.00 🔥
- Pork Ribs 180.00 🔥
- Pork 180.00 🔥
- Brisket 180.00 🔥
140.53
180.00
Entries
33
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
708.5256
Winning margin
Tie
identical totals — KCBS tiebreaker
Field average
680.62
607.85708.53
median 690.77 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
8 🔥
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
2.2856 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
696.5260
607.85708.53
10th place overall
Field spread
100.6740
winner to last place
Prize money
$5,000.00
on the line
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 6%
beats 94% of 4707 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.72 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1599
avg power rating going in · stronger than 77% of contests
Storylines (6 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.
An upset on the books
23-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 77 times in 100
BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE came in rated below the field's top team, SLAPS BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 23-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1730
- top seed 1942
A day of perfect scores
8
perfect 180s
8 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE · Brisket
- SLAPS BBQ · Brisket
- PARROTHEAD SMOKERS · Brisket
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 17 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 5–6: BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE and PARROTHEAD SMOKERS tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 6–7: PARROTHEAD SMOKERS and Go Pig or Go Home tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: Go Pig or Go Home and KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Chicken 9–10 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE won Pork Ribs, Brisket — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Brisket 1st
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was pork at 21st.
- Chicken 5th
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 21st
- Brisket 1st
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)
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180.0000 | 176.5600 | 175.4172 |
| Pork Ribs | 180.0000 | 177.7144 | 176.5600 |
| Pork | 180.0000 | 177.1544 | 174.2744 |
| Brisket | 180.0000 | 177.7028 | 173.1084 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
33 entries · top 708.5256 · median 690.7656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | |
| 2 | KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON | |
| 3 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 4 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 5 | Smokey Bey's Barbecue | |
| 6 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 7 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 8 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 9 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 10 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 11 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 12 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 13 | ROADKILL BBQ | |
| 14 | Stewey Magoos BBQ | |
| 15 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 16 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 17 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 18 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 19 | Go Pig or Go Home | |
| 20 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 21 | BALD BEAUTIES BBQ | |
| 22 | Bad Influence BBQ - MO | |
| 23 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 24 | Slaughter House BBQ | |
| 25 | Crooked Que BBQ | |
| 26 | Pit Crew BBQ | |
| 27 | Buds Boys BBQ | |
| 28 | Trailer Pork Boys | |
| 29 | Ming Street Meats | |
| 30 | KC FINE SWINES | |
| 31 | Simple Q | |
| 32 | BEEFIN MEATS BBQ CREW | |
| 33 | RUB THAT MEAT BBQ |
Chicken
33 entries · top 180.0000 · median 171.4172 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 2 | Smokey Bey's Barbecue | |
| 3 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 4 | Pit Crew BBQ | |
| 5 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | |
| 6 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 7 | Go Pig or Go Home | |
| 8 | KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON | |
| 9 | Stewey Magoos BBQ | |
| 10 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 11 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 12 | Slaughter House BBQ | |
| 13 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 14 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 15 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 16 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 17 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 18 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 19 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 20 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 21 | Crooked Que BBQ | |
| 22 | BALD BEAUTIES BBQ | |
| 23 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 24 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 25 | ROADKILL BBQ | |
| 26 | KC FINE SWINES | |
| 27 | Trailer Pork Boys | |
| 28 | Buds Boys BBQ | |
| 29 | Bad Influence BBQ - MO | |
| 30 | Ming Street Meats | |
| 31 | Simple Q | |
| 32 | BEEFIN MEATS BBQ CREW | |
| 33 | RUB THAT MEAT BBQ |
Pork Ribs
33 entries · top 180.0000 · median 174.2744 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | |
| 2 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 3 | BALD BEAUTIES BBQ | |
| 4 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 5 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 6 | KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON | |
| 7 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 8 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 9 | Smokey Bey's Barbecue | |
| 10 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 11 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 12 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 13 | ROADKILL BBQ | |
| 14 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 15 | Stewey Magoos BBQ | |
| 16 | Ming Street Meats | |
| 17 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 18 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 19 | Go Pig or Go Home | |
| 20 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 21 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 22 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 23 | Trailer Pork Boys | |
| 24 | Bad Influence BBQ - MO | |
| 25 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 26 | Pit Crew BBQ | |
| 27 | Crooked Que BBQ | |
| 28 | Buds Boys BBQ | |
| 29 | KC FINE SWINES | |
| 30 | BEEFIN MEATS BBQ CREW | |
| 31 | Simple Q | |
| 32 | Slaughter House BBQ | |
| 33 | RUB THAT MEAT BBQ |
Pork
33 entries · top 180.0000 · median 173.1200 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 2 | Bad Influence BBQ - MO | |
| 3 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 4 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 5 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 6 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 7 | Stewey Magoos BBQ | |
| 8 | KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON | |
| 9 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 10 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 11 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 12 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 13 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 14 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 15 | ROADKILL BBQ | |
| 16 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 17 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 18 | Go Pig or Go Home | |
| 19 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 20 | Smokey Bey's Barbecue | |
| 21 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | |
| 22 | Buds Boys BBQ | |
| 23 | Trailer Pork Boys | |
| 24 | Crooked Que BBQ | |
| 25 | Slaughter House BBQ | |
| 26 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 27 | BALD BEAUTIES BBQ | |
| 28 | Pit Crew BBQ | |
| 29 | Simple Q | |
| 30 | Ming Street Meats | |
| 31 | KC FINE SWINES | |
| 32 | RUB THAT MEAT BBQ | |
| 33 | BEEFIN MEATS BBQ CREW |
Brisket
33 entries · top 180.0000 · median 168.5488 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | |
| 2 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 3 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 4 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 5 | KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON | |
| 6 | ROADKILL BBQ | |
| 7 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 8 | Smokey Bey's Barbecue | |
| 9 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 10 | Slaughter House BBQ | |
| 11 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 12 | BALD BEAUTIES BBQ | |
| 13 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 14 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 15 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 16 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 17 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 18 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 19 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 20 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 21 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 22 | Go Pig or Go Home | |
| 23 | Bad Influence BBQ - MO | |
| 24 | Stewey Magoos BBQ | |
| 25 | BEEFIN MEATS BBQ CREW | |
| 26 | KC FINE SWINES | |
| 27 | Crooked Que BBQ | |
| 28 | Buds Boys BBQ | |
| 29 | Ming Street Meats | |
| 30 | Trailer Pork Boys | |
| 31 | Pit Crew BBQ | |
| 32 | RUB THAT MEAT BBQ | |
| 33 | Simple Q |
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 — Dessert
10 entries · top 180.0000 · median 178.8572 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bad Influence BBQ - MO | |
| 2 | BALD BEAUTIES BBQ | |
| 3 | ROADKILL BBQ | |
| 4 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 5 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 6 | Crooked Que BBQ | |
| 7 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 8 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 9 | Pit Crew BBQ | |
| 10 | Who's Cookin' |
Ancillary — Sausage
12 entries · top 180.0000 · median 171.4056 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 2 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 3 | ROADKILL BBQ | |
| 4 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | |
| 5 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 6 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 7 | BEEFIN MEATS BBQ CREW | |
| 8 | KC FINE SWINES | |
| 9 | Crooked Que BBQ | |
| 10 | Bad Influence BBQ - MO | |
| 11 | RUB THAT MEAT BBQ | |
| 12 | BALD BEAUTIES BBQ |