Mar 8–9, 2019 · Nashville, TN · 📍 4001 Bell RD · State championship
BILLY RAY BBQ won Grand Champion at the Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship on March 8, 2019 in Nashville, TN at 4001 Bell RD, scoring 706.8344 in a field of 67 teams. ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN took Reserve Grand Champion with 699.9428. Category winners: Chicken — Hawg Feathers (180.0000); Pork Ribs — OWENSBORO PORK PULLERS (178.8572); Pork — BOOMERANG BBQ (176.5600); Brisket — HIGH ON THE HAWG (179.4400). This is the 1st of 7 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2021.
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, 2019 to 2026 — 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.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 87 times in 100
BILLY RAY BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, BOOMERANG BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 13-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
BILLY RAY BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
2 of 6 tracked editions
TRIPLE H BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 6 tracked editions.
Chicken places 3–4: UNDER THE RADAR and HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS tied on 177.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 8–9: SHEATS SMOKED MEATS and THE OPRY BACKSTAGE GRILLERS tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 5–6: SWIGGIN PIG and RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
Bigger than 94% of the 5,469 contests in the data
67 teams — bigger than 94% of the 5,469 contests in the data.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 8, 2019 ← this one | Nashville, TN | 4001 Bell RD | 67 | 706.8344 | BILLY RAY BBQ | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN |
| Mar 19, 2021 | Lebanon, TN | 954 E Baddour Pky | 57 | 701.6456 | THE BBQ BUS | BLUE CHIP BBQ |
| Mar 17, 2023 | Lebanon, TN | 954 E Baddour Pky | 80 | 705.6800 | TRIPLE H BBQ | LOCAL YOKELS BBQ |
| Mar 15, 2024 | Lebanon, TN | 945 E Baddour Pky | 93 | 701.6572 | Continental Barbecue Co. | TRIPLE H BBQ |
| Mar 14, 2025 | Lebanon, TN | 945 E Baddour Pky | 100 | 704.5372 | Triple H BBQ | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN |
| Mar 20, 2026 | Lebanon, TN | 945 E. Baddour Pkwy | 125 | 713.1200 | Razorracks | Kith n' Kin |
| Mar 19, 2027 | Lebanon, TN | — | — | — | — | — |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 176.5600 | 174.8456 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 176.5600 | 174.2744 |
| Pork | 176.5600 | 175.4172 | 174.2628 |
| Brisket | 179.4400 | 176 | 174.8456 |
67 entries · top 706.8344 · median 673.0172
67 entries · top 180 · median 169.1200 · 🔥 perfect 180
67 entries · top 178.8572 · median 167.9656
67 entries · top 176.5600 · median 167.9772
67 entries · top 179.4400 · median 168.5372