A new contest record
677.1540
highest overall ever cooked here
677.1540 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 669.7028 PISTOL PACKIN' PIGGIES set in 2017.
- old record 669.7028
- set 2017 by PISTOL PACKIN' PIGGIES
I Love Barbecue & Music Festival 2019
Jul 5–7, 2019 · Lake Placid, NY · 📍 32 School St · State championship
Reps: Don Lovely, Leslie Lovely · Prize money: $9,000
Hot Wachula's won Grand Champion at the I Love Barbecue & Music Festival on July 5, 2019 in Lake Placid, NY at 32 School St, scoring 677.1540 in a field of 32 teams. GOOD SMOKE BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 673.0856. Category winners: Chicken — PADDY MCQ'S (177.1544); Pork Ribs — Hot Wachula's (173.7028); Pork — HOCUS SMOKUS (171.9656); Brisket — THE PIG'S PAJAMAS (175.4628). This is the 7th of 11 editions of this contest on record; the 2018 edition was won by GOOD SMOKE BBQ; the next was held in 2021.
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.
585.63
median 647.27
677.15 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 177.15
- Pork Ribs 173.70
- Pork 171.97
- Brisket 175.46
134.23
177.15
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2023 — this edition picked out.
Entries
32
4 judged meats · 4 ancillary
Top score
677.1540
Winning margin
4.0684
GC over RC
Field average
641.47
585.63677.15
median 647.27 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
3.9656 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
653.6796
585.63677.15
10th place overall
Field spread
91.5200
winner to last place
Prize money
$9,000
on the line
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 92%
beats 8% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
59%
23 of 39 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.74 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,615
avg power rating going in · stronger than 85% 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 dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 11 tracked editions
MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 11 tracked editions.
- 2014
- 2016
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 7–8: FIRE DOWN BELOW and SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS tied on 168.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 5–6: FIRE DOWN BELOW and Hot Wachula's tied on 168.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 2–3: BIG RAZ BBQ edged SMOKIN ACES by 0.0228.
- Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Pork 5–6 · tie
- Pork 2–3 · 0.0228
- Pork 6–7 · 0.0228
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
Hot Wachula's took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was brisket at 8th.
- Chicken 3rd
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 6th
- Brisket 8th
A contest record in chicken
177.1544
best chicken ever cooked here
PADDY MCQ'S turned in 177.1544 in chicken — past the 176.0000 that had stood across 6 earlier editions.
- old best 176.0000
- across 6 past editions
Back to defend
3
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ (won 2014, 2016), SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA (won 2015), GOOD SMOKE BBQ (won 2018).
- MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ · 2014, 2016
- SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA · 2015
- GOOD SMOKE BBQ · 2018
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 4, 2013 | Lake Placid, NY | Lake Placid, NY | 28 | 646.8570 | Q HAVEN BBQ | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ |
| Jul 4, 2014 | Lake Placid, NY | Lake Placid, NY 12946 | 27 | 657.1200 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA |
| Jul 3, 2015 | Lake Placid, NY | Lake Placid, NY 12946 | 31 | 661.6800 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | QUAU |
| Jul 2, 2016 | Lake Placid, NY | Lake Placid, NY | 28 | 658.2856 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE |
| Jul 7, 2017 | Lake Placid, NY | 32 School St | 40 | 669.7028 | PISTOL PACKIN' PIGGIES | BLACK HART BBQ |
| Jul 6, 2018 | Lake Placid, NY | 32 School St | 39 | 661.0972 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA |
| Jul 5, 2019 ← this one | Lake Placid, NY | 32 School St | 32 | 677.1540 | Hot Wachula's | GOOD SMOKE BBQ |
| Sep 3, 2021 | Lake Placid, NY | Shipman Youth Center | 15 | 699.4628 | Top Gun barbecue | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS |
| Sep 2, 2022 | Lake Placid, NY | 5514 Cascade Road | 22 | 679.4060 | Chunky BBQ | BOGGS HOG BBQ |
| Sep 2, 2022 | Lake Placid, NY | 5514 Cascade Road | — | — | — | — |
| Sep 1, 2023 | Lake Placid, NY | 5514 Cascade Road | 18 | 690.8116 | Paddy McQ's | Dirt Bag Barbeque |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.1544 | 169.1656 | 167.3828 |
| Pork Ribs | 173.7028 | 166.2744 | 162.2972 |
| Pork | 171.9656 | 168 | 165.7028 |
| Brisket | 175.4628 | 167.4056 | 163.9428 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
32 entries · top 677.1540 · median 647.2740
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hot Wachula's | |
| 2 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 3 | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS | |
| 4 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 5 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKIN ACES | |
| 7 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 8 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 9 | FIRE DOWN BELOW | |
| 10 | BLACK HART BBQ | |
| 11 | THE GOOD CUE CREW | |
| 12 | SWEET HEAT BBQ | |
| 13 | JACK9 BBQ | |
| 14 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 15 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 16 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 17 | PIRATESBBQ | |
| 18 | Buckner Brothers Barbeque | |
| 19 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 20 | Sugar Daddy Bacon BBQ Team | |
| 21 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 22 | FAT TIGER BBQ | |
| 23 | NORTH POLE BBQ TEAM | |
| 24 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 25 | SKARA OLD SCHOOL BBQ | |
| 26 | WHAT THE PORK? | |
| 27 | SHOP BOYS BBQ | |
| 28 | Q+BREW | |
| 29 | HOCUS SMOKUS | |
| 30 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 31 | LET YOUR MEAT SHINE THROUGH BAR-B-QUE | |
| 32 | BOAR-N-Q |
Chicken
32 entries · top 177.1544 · median 164.2572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 2 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 3 | Hot Wachula's | |
| 4 | THE GOOD CUE CREW | |
| 5 | SWEET HEAT BBQ | |
| 6 | Sugar Daddy Bacon BBQ Team | |
| 7 | FIRE DOWN BELOW | |
| 8 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 9 | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS | |
| 10 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 11 | JACK9 BBQ | |
| 12 | Buckner Brothers Barbeque | |
| 13 | FAT TIGER BBQ | |
| 14 | BLACK HART BBQ | |
| 15 | SKARA OLD SCHOOL BBQ | |
| 16 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKIN ACES | |
| 18 | SHOP BOYS BBQ | |
| 19 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 20 | PIRATESBBQ | |
| 21 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 22 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 23 | LET YOUR MEAT SHINE THROUGH BAR-B-QUE | |
| 24 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 25 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 26 | NORTH POLE BBQ TEAM | |
| 27 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 28 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 29 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 30 | HOCUS SMOKUS | |
| 31 | WHAT THE PORK? | |
| 32 | Q+BREW |
Pork Ribs
32 entries · top 173.7028 · median 159.4172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hot Wachula's | |
| 2 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN ACES | |
| 4 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 5 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 6 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 7 | WHAT THE PORK? | |
| 8 | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS | |
| 9 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 10 | JACK9 BBQ | |
| 11 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 12 | NORTH POLE BBQ TEAM | |
| 13 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 14 | FAT TIGER BBQ | |
| 15 | SWEET HEAT BBQ | |
| 16 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 17 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 18 | Q+BREW | |
| 19 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 20 | FIRE DOWN BELOW | |
| 21 | Sugar Daddy Bacon BBQ Team | |
| 22 | THE GOOD CUE CREW | |
| 23 | BLACK HART BBQ | |
| 24 | SHOP BOYS BBQ | |
| 25 | HOCUS SMOKUS | |
| 26 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 27 | PIRATESBBQ | |
| 28 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 29 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 30 | Buckner Brothers Barbeque | |
| 31 | SKARA OLD SCHOOL BBQ | |
| 32 | LET YOUR MEAT SHINE THROUGH BAR-B-QUE |
Pork
32 entries · top 171.9656 · median 161.7028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOCUS SMOKUS | |
| 2 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN ACES | |
| 4 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 5 | FIRE DOWN BELOW | |
| 6 | Hot Wachula's | |
| 7 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 8 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 9 | SWEET HEAT BBQ | |
| 10 | BLACK HART BBQ | |
| 11 | JACK9 BBQ | |
| 12 | THE GOOD CUE CREW | |
| 13 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 14 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 15 | Buckner Brothers Barbeque | |
| 16 | Q+BREW | |
| 17 | PIRATESBBQ | |
| 18 | FAT TIGER BBQ | |
| 19 | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS | |
| 20 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 21 | WHAT THE PORK? | |
| 22 | Sugar Daddy Bacon BBQ Team | |
| 23 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 24 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 25 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 26 | SHOP BOYS BBQ | |
| 27 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 28 | NORTH POLE BBQ TEAM | |
| 29 | SKARA OLD SCHOOL BBQ | |
| 30 | LET YOUR MEAT SHINE THROUGH BAR-B-QUE | |
| 31 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 32 | BOAR-N-Q |
Brisket
32 entries · top 175.4628 · median 159.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE PIG'S PAJAMAS | |
| 2 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 3 | GOOD SMOKE BBQ | |
| 4 | BLACK HART BBQ | |
| 5 | PIRATESBBQ | |
| 6 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 7 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 8 | Hot Wachula's | |
| 9 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 10 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 11 | Buckner Brothers Barbeque | |
| 12 | SKARA OLD SCHOOL BBQ | |
| 13 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | |
| 15 | THE GOOD CUE CREW | |
| 16 | FIRE DOWN BELOW | |
| 17 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 18 | NORTH POLE BBQ TEAM | |
| 19 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 21 | SWEET HEAT BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKIN ACES | |
| 23 | JACK9 BBQ | |
| 24 | Q+BREW | |
| 25 | Sugar Daddy Bacon BBQ Team | |
| 26 | WHAT THE PORK? | |
| 27 | SHOP BOYS BBQ | |
| 28 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 29 | FAT TIGER BBQ | |
| 30 | LET YOUR MEAT SHINE THROUGH BAR-B-QUE | |
| 31 | HOCUS SMOKUS | |
| 32 | BOAR-N-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 — Chick'N
8 entries · top 165.1312 · median 157.1374
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holy Guacamole | |
| 2 | Buckner Brothers Barbeque | |
| 3 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 4 | Patty's Pajamas | |
| 5 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 6 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 7 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 8 | HOKIE POKIE Q |
Ancillary — Ny Strip
8 entries · top 172 · median 161.6914
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 2 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 3 | Patty's Pajamas | |
| 4 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 5 | Holy Guacamole | |
| 6 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 7 | Buckner Brothers Barbeque | |
| 8 | BEHIND BBQ |
Ancillary — Pizza
8 entries · top 171.4400 · median 162.5886
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 2 | Holy Guacamole | |
| 3 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 4 | THREE DOGS BBQ | |
| 5 | Buckner Brothers Barbeque | |
| 6 | Patty's Pajamas | |
| 7 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 8 | BOAR-N-Q |
Ancillary — Sausage Fatty
8 entries · top 174.2972 · median 163.1314
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WALLY BBQ | |
| 2 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 3 | Buckner Brothers Barbeque | |
| 4 | Holy Guacamole | |
| 5 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 6 | BEHIND BBQ | |
| 7 | Patty's Pajamas | |
| 8 | THREE DOGS BBQ |