A new contest record
691.9544
highest overall ever cooked here
691.9544 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 681.6456 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA set in 2018.
- old record 681.6456
- set 2018 by SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA
New Jersey KnoQ-out CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES 2019
Apr 27–28, 2019 · Blairstown, NJ · 📍 Triple Brook Camping Resort · State championship
Reps: Alex Jr Brown, Louise Weidner · Prize money: $8,225
FIRE DOWN BELOW won Grand Champion at the New Jersey KnoQ-out CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES on April 27, 2019 in Blairstown, NJ at Triple Brook Camping Resort, scoring 691.9544 in a field of 43 teams. UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT took Reserve Grand Champion with 681.6112. Category winners: Chicken — BIG RAZ BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — SMOKING KEISTER'S BBQ (174.8572); Pork — UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT (180.0000); Brisket — PIGGIN' WHISKEY (177.7028). This is the 2nd of 18 editions of this contest on record; the 2018 edition was won by SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA; the next was held in 2023.
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.
463.31
median 647.34
691.95 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180 🔥
- Pork Ribs 174.86
- Pork 180 🔥
- Brisket 177.70
138.22
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2018 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
43
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
691.9544
Winning margin
10.3432
GC over RC
Field average
642.14
463.31691.95
median 647.34 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
3.4400 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
673.6344
463.31691.95
10th place overall
Field spread
228.6404
winner to last place
Prize money
$8,225
on the line
Double threats
7
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 65%
beats 35% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
43%
17 of 40 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.71 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,571
avg power rating going in · stronger than 55% of contests
Storylines (9 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
32-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 68 times in 100
FIRE DOWN BELOW came in rated below the field's top team, 3 EYZ BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 32-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1776
- top seed 1911
Won without a category win
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
FIRE DOWN BELOW won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 7th
- Pork Ribs 2nd
- Pork 7th
- Brisket 2nd
A statement win
10.3432
points clear of the field
Wider than 89% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The champion won by 10.3432 points — a wider margin than 89% of championships in the data.
A dynasty in the making
4×
wins at this contest
4 of 18 tracked editions
Grandpa Val's BBQ has won this contest 4 times across its 18 tracked editions.
- 2025
- 2025
- 2026
- 2026
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 7 calls decided inside half a point
Pork places 8–9: LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY and MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ tied on 170.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 8–9: 3 EYZ BBQ and PACKANACK LAKE BBQ CLUB tied on 169.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: FIRE DOWN BELOW edged SMOKING KEISTER'S BBQ by 0.0116.
- Pork 8–9 · tie
- Brisket 8–9 · tie
- Chicken 7–8 · 0.0116
- Pork Ribs 4–5 · 0.0344
A contest record in chicken
180.0000
best chicken ever cooked here
BIG RAZ BBQ turned in 180.0000 in chicken — past the 172.5828 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 172.5828
- across 1 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA (won 2018).
- SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA · 2018
A perfect score on the table
2
perfect 180s
2 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- BIG RAZ BBQ · Chicken
- UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT · Pork
This contest's own records (2 in the KCBS record book)
Records held by every edition of this contest put together, not just this one afternoon.
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)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 2018 | Blairstown, NJ | 58 Honey Run Rd, Triple Brook Camping Resort | 40 | 681.6456 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | GOOD SMOKE BBQ |
| Apr 27, 2019 ← this one | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 43 | 691.9544 | Fire Down Below | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT |
| Apr 21, 2023 | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 36 | 701.1316 | Wolf's Revenge | FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY |
| Apr 21, 2023 | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 12 | 177.7144 | Good Googly Goo BBQ | — |
| Apr 22, 2023 | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 30 | 698.2172 | Top Gun Barbecue | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ |
| Apr 22, 2023 | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 9 | 178.8572 | Blue & Gray BBQ | — |
| Apr 19, 2024 | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 29 | 702.8228 | Boggs Hog BBQ | CHUNKY BBQ |
| Apr 19, 2024 | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 11 | 178.2972 | Piggin' Whiskey | — |
| Apr 20, 2024 | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 27 | 701.7144 | Boggs Hog BBQ | GLAZED AND INFUSED NEW JERSEY BBQ |
| Apr 20, 2024 | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 8 | 178.8800 | SmoKen Meats | — |
| May 2, 2025 | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 33 | 701.6684 | Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA | GLAZED AND INFUSED NEW JERSEY BBQ |
| May 2, 2025 | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 21 | 177.7144 | Grandpa Val's BBQ | — |
| May 3, 2025 | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 34 | 705.1084 | Boggs Hog BBQ | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ |
| May 3, 2025 | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 14 | 177.1544 | Grandpa Val's BBQ | — |
| Apr 17, 2026 | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 26 | 691.9776 | Grandpa Val's BBQ | House of Que |
| Apr 17, 2026 | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 10 | 178.8572 | Grandpa Val's BBQ | — |
| Apr 18, 2026 | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 26 | 707.3944 | ElJefe Smoke | GLAZED AND INFUSED NEW JERSEY BBQ |
| Apr 18, 2026 | Blairstown, NJ | Triple Brook Camping Resort | 8 | 177.7144 | Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 173.1544 | 169.7028 |
| Pork Ribs | 174.8572 | 171.4172 | 166.2628 |
| Pork | 180 | 172.5600 | 169.7028 |
| Brisket | 177.7028 | 170.8456 | 169.1544 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
43 entries · top 691.9544 · median 647.3372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FIRE DOWN BELOW | |
| 2 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 3 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 5 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 6 | BLACK HART BBQ | |
| 7 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 8 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 9 | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS | |
| 10 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 11 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKING KEISTER'S BBQ | |
| 13 | OUR BARK IS BETTER THAN YOUR BITE | |
| 14 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKE THIS L.I. | |
| 16 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 17 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 18 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 19 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 20 | Slippery Pinky BBQ | |
| 21 | SMOKIN' ADDICTION | |
| 22 | Hot Rods BBQ | |
| 23 | LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY | |
| 24 | 5-ALARM BBQ | |
| 25 | BICOASTAL BBQ | |
| 26 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 27 | TWINNING BBQ | |
| 28 | BRIDGE BUILDER BBQ | |
| 29 | COOKS N HOOKS | |
| 30 | SASQUATCH BBQ - PA | |
| 31 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 32 | PACKANACK LAKE BBQ CLUB | |
| 33 | BURNING COAL BBQ | |
| 34 | 3 MUSKABEERS | |
| 35 | Pig Data BBQ | |
| 36 | J 'N' C BBQ | |
| 37 | MMM PORK PORK PORK | |
| 38 | MITCH'S BBQ | |
| 39 | Fat Hog BBQ | |
| 40 | A-QUE | |
| 41 | MinutemanBBQ | |
| 42 | Monty's BBQ | |
| 43 | Bowmans Butt & BBQ |
Chicken
43 entries · top 180 · median 163.4400 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 2 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 3 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 4 | BLACK HART BBQ | |
| 5 | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS | |
| 6 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 7 | FIRE DOWN BELOW | |
| 8 | SMOKING KEISTER'S BBQ | |
| 9 | BURNING COAL BBQ | |
| 10 | BICOASTAL BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKIN' ADDICTION | |
| 12 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 13 | Pig Data BBQ | |
| 14 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 15 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 16 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 17 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 18 | COOKS N HOOKS | |
| 19 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 20 | J 'N' C BBQ | |
| 21 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 22 | A-QUE | |
| 23 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 24 | Hot Rods BBQ | |
| 25 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 26 | OUR BARK IS BETTER THAN YOUR BITE | |
| 27 | Slippery Pinky BBQ | |
| 28 | Bowmans Butt & BBQ | |
| 29 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 30 | MinutemanBBQ | |
| 31 | PACKANACK LAKE BBQ CLUB | |
| 32 | SMOKE THIS L.I. | |
| 33 | TWINNING BBQ | |
| 34 | LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY | |
| 35 | MITCH'S BBQ | |
| 36 | 5-ALARM BBQ | |
| 37 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 38 | Monty's BBQ | |
| 39 | BRIDGE BUILDER BBQ | |
| 40 | Fat Hog BBQ | |
| 41 | SASQUATCH BBQ - PA | |
| 42 | MMM PORK PORK PORK | |
| 43 | 3 MUSKABEERS |
Pork Ribs
43 entries · top 174.8572 · median 162.2284
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKING KEISTER'S BBQ | |
| 2 | FIRE DOWN BELOW | |
| 3 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 4 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 5 | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS | |
| 6 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 7 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 9 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 10 | BLACK HART BBQ | |
| 11 | LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY | |
| 12 | SMOKE THIS L.I. | |
| 13 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 14 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 15 | OUR BARK IS BETTER THAN YOUR BITE | |
| 16 | SMOKIN' ADDICTION | |
| 17 | BURNING COAL BBQ | |
| 18 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 19 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 20 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 21 | 3 MUSKABEERS | |
| 22 | SASQUATCH BBQ - PA | |
| 23 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 24 | BRIDGE BUILDER BBQ | |
| 25 | Slippery Pinky BBQ | |
| 26 | Hot Rods BBQ | |
| 27 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 28 | MinutemanBBQ | |
| 29 | A-QUE | |
| 30 | BICOASTAL BBQ | |
| 31 | COOKS N HOOKS | |
| 32 | TWINNING BBQ | |
| 33 | J 'N' C BBQ | |
| 34 | Pig Data BBQ | |
| 35 | 5-ALARM BBQ | |
| 36 | MMM PORK PORK PORK | |
| 37 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 38 | MITCH'S BBQ | |
| 39 | PACKANACK LAKE BBQ CLUB | |
| 40 | Fat Hog BBQ | |
| 41 | Bowmans Butt & BBQ | |
| 42 | Monty's BBQ | |
| 43 | DEAD ON Q |
Pork
43 entries · top 180 · median 160.5028 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 2 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 3 | BLACK HART BBQ | |
| 4 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 5 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 6 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 7 | FIRE DOWN BELOW | |
| 8 | LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY | |
| 9 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 10 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 11 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 12 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 13 | 5-ALARM BBQ | |
| 14 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKE THIS L.I. | |
| 16 | OUR BARK IS BETTER THAN YOUR BITE | |
| 17 | Slippery Pinky BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 19 | SMOKING KEISTER'S BBQ | |
| 20 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 21 | TWINNING BBQ | |
| 22 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 23 | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS | |
| 24 | Fat Hog BBQ | |
| 25 | BRIDGE BUILDER BBQ | |
| 26 | SASQUATCH BBQ - PA | |
| 27 | Bowmans Butt & BBQ | |
| 28 | BICOASTAL BBQ | |
| 29 | Hot Rods BBQ | |
| 30 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 31 | COOKS N HOOKS | |
| 32 | BURNING COAL BBQ | |
| 33 | SMOKIN' ADDICTION | |
| 34 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 35 | 3 MUSKABEERS | |
| 36 | MMM PORK PORK PORK | |
| 37 | PACKANACK LAKE BBQ CLUB | |
| 38 | Monty's BBQ | |
| 39 | MinutemanBBQ | |
| 40 | A-QUE | |
| 41 | J 'N' C BBQ | |
| 42 | Pig Data BBQ | |
| 43 | MITCH'S BBQ |
Brisket
42 entries · top 177.7028 · median 162.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 2 | FIRE DOWN BELOW | |
| 3 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 4 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 5 | OUR BARK IS BETTER THAN YOUR BITE | |
| 6 | Hot Rods BBQ | |
| 7 | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS | |
| 8 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 9 | PACKANACK LAKE BBQ CLUB | |
| 10 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 11 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 12 | SMOKE THIS L.I. | |
| 13 | BRISKET BURNERS | |
| 14 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 15 | Slippery Pinky BBQ | |
| 16 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 17 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 18 | 3 MUSKABEERS | |
| 19 | CHICKEN CHOKERS | |
| 20 | BLACK HART BBQ | |
| 21 | 5-ALARM BBQ | |
| 22 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 23 | TWINNING BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKIN' ADDICTION | |
| 25 | MITCH'S BBQ | |
| 26 | MMM PORK PORK PORK | |
| 27 | BRIDGE BUILDER BBQ | |
| 28 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 29 | SASQUATCH BBQ - PA | |
| 30 | SMOKING KEISTER'S BBQ | |
| 31 | BICOASTAL BBQ | |
| 32 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 33 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 34 | Pig Data BBQ | |
| 35 | J 'N' C BBQ | |
| 36 | COOKS N HOOKS | |
| 37 | LITTLE CREEK BAR B CUE COMPANY | |
| 38 | Monty's BBQ | |
| 39 | Fat Hog BBQ | |
| 40 | A-QUE | |
| 41 | MinutemanBBQ | |
| 42 | BURNING COAL 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 — Dessert
14 entries · top 178.8800 · median 173.7142
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A-QUE | |
| 2 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 3 | DRJ Catering | |
| 4 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 5 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 6 | COOKS N HOOKS | |
| 7 | PACKANACK LAKE BBQ CLUB | |
| 8 | SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES | |
| 9 | Hot Rods BBQ | |
| 10 | WEEKEND SMOKERS | |
| 11 | MinutemanBBQ | |
| 12 | Fat Hog BBQ | |
| 13 | BRIDGE BUILDER BBQ | |
| 14 | J 'N' C BBQ |