Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown
2019-07-19 – 2019-07-20 · Peoria, IL · State championship
Reps: DAVE ROGERS, PEG ROGERS
Grand Champion: Heavy Smoke STL (704.5372) · 40 teams
Entries
40
6 categories
Top score
339.4400
Winning margin
6.3200
GC over RC
Field average
294.45
median 307.39
Perfect 180s
1 🔥
Tightest race
Pork
2.8344 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
309.0056
what a walk cost here
Field spread
188.0800
winner to last place
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 95%
beats 5% of 2713 overall wins in the data
Field strength
1511
avg power rating going in · stronger than 16% of contests
Storylines
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
HEAVY SMOKE STL took the Grand Championship home to TN.
🃏 An upset on the books
Heavy Smoke BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, BOOMERANG BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 35-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
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
This contest over the years
| Date | Where | Teams | High score | Grand Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-07-21 | 48 | 691.9312 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 2018-07-20 | 43 | 700.5144 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 2019-07-19 ← this one | Peoria, IL | 40 | 704.5372 | Heavy Smoke STL |
| 2022-07-15 | Eureka, IL | 25 | 705.6916 | Que U |
| 2023-07-14 | Eureka, IL | 25 | 690.7540 | Triple H BBQ |
| 2025-06-27 | Eureka, IL | 26 | 706.8344 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Backyard Series — Chicken
20 entries · top 172.5828 · median 153.1028
Backyard Series — Overall
22 entries · top 339.4400 · median 307.3886
Backyard Series — Pork Ribs
22 entries · top 169.7028 · median 155.4116
Master Series — Brisket
40 entries · top 178.8572 · median 165.1030
Master Series — Chicken
39 entries · top 180.0000 · median 167.3944 · 🔥 perfect 180
Master Series — Overall
40 entries · top 704.5372 · median 665.8970
Master Series — Pork
40 entries · top 178.8572 · median 165.3942
Master Series — Pork Ribs
40 entries · top 175.4172 · median 163.9714