A new contest record
698.2628
highest overall ever cooked here
698.2628 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 696.5600 SAUCE THIS BBQ set in 2016.
- old record 696.5600
- set 2016 by SAUCE THIS BBQ
Beltway BBQ Showdown 2019
Jun 8–9, 2019 · Upper Marlboro, MD · 📍 Show Place Arena, Prince Georges Equestrian Center · State championship
Reps: Alex Jr Brown, Bill Jones · Prize money: $15,000
APORKALYPSE NOW won Grand Champion at the Beltway BBQ Showdown on June 8, 2019 in Upper Marlboro, MD at Show Place Arena, Prince Georges Equestrian Center, scoring 698.2628 in a field of 37 teams. FRED VEGAS SMOKERS took Reserve Grand Champion with 682.1940. Category winners: Chicken — FRED VEGAS SMOKERS (177.7028); Pork Ribs — HAMTOWN SMOKERS (177.7372); Pork — APORKALYPSE NOW (180.0000); Brisket — HOOS SMOKIN' (174.8572). This is the 7th of 7 editions of this contest on record; the 2018 edition was won by WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ.
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.
271.28
median 645.60
698.26 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 177.70
- Pork Ribs 177.74
- Pork 180 🔥
- Brisket 174.86
121.05
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2019 — this edition picked out.
Entries
37
4 judged meats
Top score
698.2628
Winning margin
16.0688
GC over RC
Field average
621.18
271.28698.26
median 645.60 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
3.4284 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
670.7540
271.28698.26
10th place overall
Field spread
426.9828
winner to last place
Prize money
$15,000
on the line
Double threats
2
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 40%
beats 60% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
50%
21 of 42 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.73 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,583
avg power rating going in · stronger than 66% 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.
A statement win
16.0688
points clear of the field
Wider than 97% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The champion won by 16.0688 points — a wider margin than 97% of championships in the data.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Pork Ribs places 5–6: APORKALYPSE NOW and FRED VEGAS SMOKERS tied on 172.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 9–10: ROLLIN' SMOKE and WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ tied on 170.2744 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 7–8: SMACK THAT BUTT BBQ and loudsmokebbq tied on 168.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Pork Ribs 5–6 · tie
- Pork Ribs 9–10 · tie
- Pork 7–8 · tie
- Brisket 6–7 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
APORKALYPSE NOW took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 5th.
- Chicken 5th
- Pork Ribs 5th
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 3rd
Back to defend
3
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: 3 EYZ BBQ (won 2013), OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE (won 2014), WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ (won 2018).
- 3 EYZ BBQ · 2013
- OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE · 2014
- WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ · 2018
A perfect score on the table
1
perfect 180s
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- APORKALYPSE NOW · Pork
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2013 | Ft. Washington, MD | Ft. Washington, MD | 25 | 681.7144 | 3 EYZ BBQ | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ |
| Jun 6, 2014 | Ft. Washington, MD | Ft. Washington, MD 20744 | 42 | 667.9656 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | 3 EYZ BBQ |
| May 29, 2015 | Ft. Washington, MD | Ft. Washington, MD 20744 | 39 | 674.7768 | PORK BARREL BBQ | APORKALYPSE NOW |
| Jun 3, 2016 | Fort Washington, MD | 1770 Tucker RD | 37 | 696.5600 | SAUCE THIS BBQ | APORKALYPSE NOW |
| Jun 9, 2017 | Upper Marlboro, MD | 14900 Pennsylvania Ave | 29 | 683.3140 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER |
| Jun 9, 2018 | Upper Marlboro, MD | 14900 Pennsylvania Ave | 42 | 681.0856 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC |
| Jun 8, 2019 ← this one | Upper Marlboro, MD | Show Place Arena, Prince Georges Equestrian Center | 37 | 698.2628 | APORKALYPSE NOW | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7028 | 174.2744 | 169.7144 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.7372 | 172 | 170.2744 |
| Pork | 180 | 170.2744 | 167.9656 |
| Brisket | 174.8572 | 170.2628 | 164.5600 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
37 entries · top 698.2628 · median 645.6004
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 2 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 3 | HAMTOWN SMOKERS | |
| 4 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 5 | BAD AZZ MULE BBQ | |
| 6 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN MO'S | |
| 8 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 10 | 3N1 Q | |
| 11 | SMACK THAT BUTT BBQ | |
| 12 | NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ | |
| 13 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 14 | HOOS SMOKIN' | |
| 15 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 16 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 17 | ROLLIN' SMOKE | |
| 18 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 19 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 20 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 21 | CERDOBELLUM | |
| 22 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 23 | DO IT GENTLY BBQ | |
| 24 | loudsmokebbq | |
| 25 | OLD TOWN SMOKERS | |
| 26 | CLARK 1609 | |
| 27 | HAY HOSS SMOKIN' CO. | |
| 28 | WHO ARE THESE FAT GUYS | |
| 29 | LOST WHISKEY BBQ | |
| 30 | SMOKE AND DAGGER | |
| 31 | TERRAPIN BBQ | |
| 32 | M & E BBQ | |
| 33 | SMOKE DEEZ BBQ | |
| 34 | Danny D's BBQ | |
| 35 | DC QUE | |
| 36 | MARINE CORPS BBQ | |
| 37 | B&T'S Q |
Chicken
37 entries · top 177.7028 · median 162.2400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 2 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 3 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 4 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 5 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 6 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 7 | HAMTOWN SMOKERS | |
| 8 | BAD AZZ MULE BBQ | |
| 9 | HOOS SMOKIN' | |
| 10 | NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 12 | 3N1 Q | |
| 13 | SMACK THAT BUTT BBQ | |
| 14 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 15 | DO IT GENTLY BBQ | |
| 16 | CERDOBELLUM | |
| 17 | SMOKIN MO'S | |
| 18 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 19 | OLD TOWN SMOKERS | |
| 20 | CLARK 1609 | |
| 21 | WHO ARE THESE FAT GUYS | |
| 22 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 23 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 24 | M & E BBQ | |
| 25 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 26 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKE DEEZ BBQ | |
| 28 | HAY HOSS SMOKIN' CO. | |
| 29 | loudsmokebbq | |
| 30 | B&T'S Q | |
| 31 | ROLLIN' SMOKE | |
| 32 | Danny D's BBQ | |
| 33 | TERRAPIN BBQ | |
| 34 | LOST WHISKEY BBQ | |
| 35 | SMOKE AND DAGGER | |
| 36 | DC QUE | |
| 37 | MARINE CORPS BBQ |
Pork Ribs
36 entries · top 177.7372 · median 161.4172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HAMTOWN SMOKERS | |
| 2 | SMACK THAT BUTT BBQ | |
| 3 | BAD AZZ MULE BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKIN MO'S | |
| 5 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 6 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 7 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 8 | 3N1 Q | |
| 9 | ROLLIN' SMOKE | |
| 10 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 12 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 13 | NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ | |
| 14 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 15 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 16 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 17 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 18 | OLD TOWN SMOKERS | |
| 19 | HAY HOSS SMOKIN' CO. | |
| 20 | loudsmokebbq | |
| 21 | CLARK 1609 | |
| 22 | HOOS SMOKIN' | |
| 23 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 24 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 25 | LOST WHISKEY BBQ | |
| 26 | DO IT GENTLY BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKE AND DAGGER | |
| 28 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 29 | WHO ARE THESE FAT GUYS | |
| 30 | TERRAPIN BBQ | |
| 31 | CERDOBELLUM | |
| 32 | M & E BBQ | |
| 33 | Danny D's BBQ | |
| 34 | MARINE CORPS BBQ | |
| 35 | DC QUE | |
| 36 | SMOKE DEEZ BBQ |
Pork
35 entries · top 180 · median 162.8116 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 2 | NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ | |
| 3 | ROLLIN' SMOKE | |
| 4 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 5 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 6 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 7 | SMACK THAT BUTT BBQ | |
| 8 | loudsmokebbq | |
| 9 | BAD AZZ MULE BBQ | |
| 10 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 11 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 12 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 13 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN MO'S | |
| 15 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 16 | 3N1 Q | |
| 17 | CERDOBELLUM | |
| 18 | OLD TOWN SMOKERS | |
| 19 | LOST WHISKEY BBQ | |
| 20 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 21 | HAMTOWN SMOKERS | |
| 22 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 23 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 24 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 25 | WHO ARE THESE FAT GUYS | |
| 26 | HAY HOSS SMOKIN' CO. | |
| 27 | DC QUE | |
| 28 | SMOKE DEEZ BBQ | |
| 29 | HOOS SMOKIN' | |
| 30 | TERRAPIN BBQ | |
| 31 | Danny D's BBQ | |
| 32 | M & E BBQ | |
| 33 | DO IT GENTLY BBQ | |
| 34 | CLARK 1609 | |
| 35 | SMOKE AND DAGGER |
Brisket
36 entries · top 174.8572 · median 156.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOOS SMOKIN' | |
| 2 | LAKEVIEW BBQ | |
| 3 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 4 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 5 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKIN MO'S | |
| 7 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 8 | HAMTOWN SMOKERS | |
| 9 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 10 | 3N1 Q | |
| 11 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 12 | BAD AZZ MULE BBQ | |
| 13 | DO IT GENTLY BBQ | |
| 14 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 15 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 16 | NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ | |
| 17 | CERDOBELLUM | |
| 18 | ROLLIN' SMOKE | |
| 19 | SMACK THAT BUTT BBQ | |
| 20 | CLARK 1609 | |
| 21 | SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | |
| 22 | SMOKE AND DAGGER | |
| 23 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 24 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 25 | loudsmokebbq | |
| 26 | JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS | |
| 27 | LOST WHISKEY BBQ | |
| 28 | TERRAPIN BBQ | |
| 29 | WHO ARE THESE FAT GUYS | |
| 30 | HAY HOSS SMOKIN' CO. | |
| 31 | SMOKE DEEZ BBQ | |
| 32 | OLD TOWN SMOKERS | |
| 33 | Danny D's BBQ | |
| 34 | M & E BBQ | |
| 35 | B&T'S Q | |
| 36 | DC QUE |