The Ironman
2019-04-05 – 2019-04-06 · Greencastle, PA · 📍 1542 Buchanan Trail East
Grand Champion: WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ (686.2056) · 42 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 PIGGIN' WHISKEY
Entries
42
4 judged meats
Top score
686.2056
Winning margin
1.1084
GC over RC
Field average
642.18
median 651.02
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Brisket
2.8572 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
663.3148
10th place overall
Field spread
224.5596
winner to last place
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 91%
beats 9% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
38%
of the 42 teams with a home region came from outside PA
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.47 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1501
avg power rating going in · stronger than 3% of contests
Storylines
🪒 A razor-thin finish
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1084 points — closer than 83% of every championship in the data.
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ took the Grand Championship home to VA.
📸 Photo finishes
Chicken places 7–8: BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD and BEER TIME BBQ tied on 169.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 4–5: CHAIN SMOKIN and MUTTLEY CREW BBQ tied on 169.1772 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 7–8: BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD and PLUM CRAZY BBQ tied on 169.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🛡️ Back to defend
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: DRILLING & GRILLING (won 2017).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-04-03 | Shady Grove, PA 17256 | 48 | 689.0972 | 270 SMOKERS | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 2016-04-01 | 1542 Buchanan Trail East | 54 | 694.7884 | 3 EYZ BBQ | BROWN LIQUOR BBQ | |
| 2017-03-31 | 1546 Buchanan Trail East | 59 | 683.9544 | DRILLING & GRILLING | THE BBQ GURU | |
| 2018-04-06 | 1546 Buchanan Trail East | 60 | 700.0116 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 2019-04-05 ← this one | Greencastle, PA | 1542 Buchanan Trail East | 42 | 686.2056 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | PIGGIN' WHISKEY |
| 2021-04-09 | Greencastle, PA | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023-04-07 | Greencastle, PA | 1546 Buchanan Trail East | 30 | 702.8460 | Off The Rack BBQ | CHUNKY BBQ |
| 2024-04-05 | Seven Valleys, PA | 35 Main St. | 21 | 693.0856 | Chunky BBQ | OFF THE RACK BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7372 | 171.9656 | 167.4288 |
| Pork Ribs | 174.2972 | 169.1772 | 167.9772 |
| Pork | 176.5944 | 171.4056 | 169.6800 |
| Brisket | 174.8572 | 172.0000 | 166.2744 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
42 entries · top 686.2056 · median 651.0172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 2 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 3 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 4 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 5 | PLUM CRAZY BBQ | |
| 6 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 7 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 8 | BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD | |
| 9 | DEANS ROCKIN REDNECKS | |
| 10 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 11 | SHACK'S Q | |
| 12 | SMOKE N DUDES | |
| 13 | #thisgirlknowsmeat | |
| 14 | River Smokers WV | |
| 15 | BROWN LIQUOR BBQ | |
| 16 | SMOKIN GNOME BBQ | |
| 17 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 18 | BAD COMPANY BBQ | |
| 19 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 20 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 21 | 50 SHADES OF PORK | |
| 22 | COSMIC SMOKE-N-BBQ LLC | |
| 23 | War Pigs | |
| 24 | GRATEFUL 'QUE | |
| 25 | Q'IN BY THE FIRE | |
| 26 | IF YOU GOT IT - SMOKE IT | |
| 27 | CHAIN SMOKIN | |
| 28 | RED VALLEY BBQ | |
| 29 | THE INKED PIG | |
| 30 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 31 | LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY | |
| 32 | WILBUR'S REVENGE | |
| 33 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 34 | Papa O's BBQ | |
| 35 | HELLBENT BBQ | |
| 36 | 4 BOXERS Q | |
| 37 | A 2 Z | |
| 38 | BACK OF THE PACK BBQ | |
| 39 | PAPPY'S QUE | |
| 40 | BUDDHIST FROM MECCA | |
| 41 | HALF FAST BBQ | |
| 42 | MAVERICK |
Chicken
42 entries · top 177.7372 · median 163.9828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 2 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 3 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 4 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 5 | HELLBENT BBQ | |
| 6 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 7 | BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD | |
| 8 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 9 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 10 | DEANS ROCKIN REDNECKS | |
| 11 | Papa O's BBQ | |
| 12 | GRATEFUL 'QUE | |
| 13 | CHAIN SMOKIN | |
| 14 | PLUM CRAZY BBQ | |
| 15 | #thisgirlknowsmeat | |
| 16 | RED VALLEY BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKIN GNOME BBQ | |
| 18 | COSMIC SMOKE-N-BBQ LLC | |
| 19 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 20 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 21 | SHACK'S Q | |
| 22 | THE INKED PIG | |
| 23 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 24 | Q'IN BY THE FIRE | |
| 25 | River Smokers WV | |
| 26 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 27 | WILBUR'S REVENGE | |
| 28 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 29 | BROWN LIQUOR BBQ | |
| 30 | BAD COMPANY BBQ | |
| 31 | IF YOU GOT IT - SMOKE IT | |
| 32 | SMOKE N DUDES | |
| 33 | 50 SHADES OF PORK | |
| 34 | LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY | |
| 35 | War Pigs | |
| 36 | 4 BOXERS Q | |
| 37 | BACK OF THE PACK BBQ | |
| 38 | BUDDHIST FROM MECCA | |
| 39 | A 2 Z | |
| 40 | HALF FAST BBQ | |
| 41 | PAPPY'S QUE | |
| 42 | MAVERICK |
Pork Ribs
41 entries · top 174.2972 · median 162.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 2 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 3 | DEANS ROCKIN REDNECKS | |
| 4 | CHAIN SMOKIN | |
| 5 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 6 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 7 | BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD | |
| 8 | PLUM CRAZY BBQ | |
| 9 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 10 | River Smokers WV | |
| 11 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 12 | #thisgirlknowsmeat | |
| 13 | SMOKIN GNOME BBQ | |
| 14 | COSMIC SMOKE-N-BBQ LLC | |
| 15 | IF YOU GOT IT - SMOKE IT | |
| 16 | LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY | |
| 17 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 18 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 19 | Q'IN BY THE FIRE | |
| 20 | GRATEFUL 'QUE | |
| 21 | 50 SHADES OF PORK | |
| 22 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 23 | BROWN LIQUOR BBQ | |
| 24 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 25 | SHACK'S Q | |
| 26 | BAD COMPANY BBQ | |
| 27 | RED VALLEY BBQ | |
| 28 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 29 | PAPPY'S QUE | |
| 30 | Papa O's BBQ | |
| 31 | THE INKED PIG | |
| 32 | War Pigs | |
| 33 | A 2 Z | |
| 34 | HELLBENT BBQ | |
| 35 | BACK OF THE PACK BBQ | |
| 36 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 37 | WILBUR'S REVENGE | |
| 38 | SMOKE N DUDES | |
| 39 | 4 BOXERS Q | |
| 40 | BUDDHIST FROM MECCA | |
| 41 | HALF FAST BBQ |
Pork
42 entries · top 176.5944 · median 164.2686
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKE N DUDES | |
| 2 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 3 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 4 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 5 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 6 | BROWN LIQUOR BBQ | |
| 7 | War Pigs | |
| 8 | PLUM CRAZY BBQ | |
| 9 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 10 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 11 | SHACK'S Q | |
| 12 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 13 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 14 | BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD | |
| 15 | River Smokers WV | |
| 16 | BAD COMPANY BBQ | |
| 17 | COSMIC SMOKE-N-BBQ LLC | |
| 18 | RED VALLEY BBQ | |
| 19 | MAVERICK | |
| 20 | DEANS ROCKIN REDNECKS | |
| 21 | BUDDHIST FROM MECCA | |
| 22 | #thisgirlknowsmeat | |
| 23 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 24 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKIN GNOME BBQ | |
| 26 | GRATEFUL 'QUE | |
| 27 | IF YOU GOT IT - SMOKE IT | |
| 28 | Q'IN BY THE FIRE | |
| 29 | LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY | |
| 30 | THE INKED PIG | |
| 31 | 50 SHADES OF PORK | |
| 32 | CHAIN SMOKIN | |
| 33 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 34 | 4 BOXERS Q | |
| 35 | PAPPY'S QUE | |
| 36 | BACK OF THE PACK BBQ | |
| 37 | A 2 Z | |
| 38 | WILBUR'S REVENGE | |
| 39 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 40 | Papa O's BBQ | |
| 41 | HELLBENT BBQ | |
| 42 | HALF FAST BBQ |
Brisket
42 entries · top 174.8572 · median 159.3714
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 2 | PLUM CRAZY BBQ | |
| 3 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKE N DUDES | |
| 5 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 6 | 50 SHADES OF PORK | |
| 7 | WILBUR'S REVENGE | |
| 8 | War Pigs | |
| 9 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 10 | BAD COMPANY BBQ | |
| 11 | SHACK'S Q | |
| 12 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 13 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 14 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 15 | DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM | |
| 16 | BROWN LIQUOR BBQ | |
| 17 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 18 | DEANS ROCKIN REDNECKS | |
| 19 | SMOKIN GNOME BBQ | |
| 20 | BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD | |
| 21 | Q'IN BY THE FIRE | |
| 22 | River Smokers WV | |
| 23 | #thisgirlknowsmeat | |
| 24 | GRATEFUL 'QUE | |
| 25 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 26 | HELLBENT BBQ | |
| 27 | IF YOU GOT IT - SMOKE IT | |
| 28 | 4 BOXERS Q | |
| 29 | Papa O's BBQ | |
| 30 | THE INKED PIG | |
| 31 | HALF FAST BBQ | |
| 32 | COSMIC SMOKE-N-BBQ LLC | |
| 33 | RED VALLEY BBQ | |
| 34 | MAVERICK | |
| 35 | CHAIN SMOKIN | |
| 36 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 37 | A 2 Z | |
| 38 | LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY | |
| 39 | BACK OF THE PACK BBQ | |
| 40 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 41 | PAPPY'S QUE | |
| 42 | BUDDHIST FROM MECCA |