Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show
2019-08-09 – 2019-08-10 · Franklin, NC · 📍 Macon County Fairgrounds · State championship
Prize money: $10,200.00
Grand Champion: WHO CARES BBQ (697.0744) · 29 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 MIDNIGHT BURN
Entries
29
7 judged meats
Top score
697.0744
Winning margin
1.1200
GC over RC
Field average
668.04
median 673.59
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Brisket
2.8572 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
676.9708
10th place overall
Field spread
105.4176
winner to last place
Prize money
$10,200.00
on the line
Double threats
11
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 64%
beats 36% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
45%
of the 40 teams with a home region came from outside NC
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.38 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1529
avg power rating going in · stronger than 35% of contests
Storylines
👑 A dynasty in the making
MIDNIGHT BURN has won this contest 2 times across its 7 tracked editions.
🪒 A razor-thin finish
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1200 points — closer than 82% of every championship in the data.
📸 Photo finishes
Master Series — Chicken places 1–2: ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE and WHO CARES BBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 5–6: HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY and THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 2–3: MIDNIGHT BURN and CONTAGIOUS Q tied on 177.1544 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🛡️ Back to defend
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: SWAMP BOYS (won 2013), JACK'S OLD SOUTH (won 2014), PICKIN' PORKERS (won 2015), MIDNIGHT BURN (won 2017, 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)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-08-09 | Franklin, NC | 49 | 698.2516 | SWAMP BOYS | SMOKE IN THE MOUNTAINS | |
| 2014-08-08 | Frankllin, NC 28734 | 39 | 695.9656 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | SMOKE THIS | |
| 2015-08-07 | Franklin, NC 28734 | 36 | 695.9544 | PICKIN' PORKERS | SWAMP BOYS | |
| 2016-08-12 | Macon County Fair Grounds | 34 | 699.9884 | HICKORY PRIME | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 2017-08-11 | 1436 Georgia Rd | 34 | 688.5140 | MIDNIGHT BURN | CREEKSIDE SMOKERS NC | |
| 2018-08-10 | 1436 Georgia Rd | 51 | 699.9544 | MIDNIGHT BURN | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 2019-08-09 ← this one | Franklin, NC | Macon County Fairgrounds | 29 | 697.0744 | WHO CARES BBQ | MIDNIGHT BURN |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 177.7028 | 174.2628 | 171.9772 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 174.2972 | 172.0116 |
| Master Series — Pork | 178.2972 | 173.7028 | 169.6800 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 177.7028 | 174.8456 | 169.1084 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 172.5828 | 163.4172 | 155.9084 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 177.7144 | 166.2628 | 155.9888 |
| Backyard Series — Pork | 174.2744 | 166.8228 | 159.9196 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
29 entries · top 697.0744 · median 673.5884
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WHO CARES BBQ | |
| 2 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 3 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 4 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 5 | TASTE OF GRACE | |
| 6 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 7 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 8 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 9 | ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE | |
| 10 | THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA | |
| 11 | SMOKE THIS | |
| 12 | SWAMP BOYS | |
| 13 | BROTHER IN LAW BBQ TEAM - NC | |
| 14 | HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 15 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 16 | BARREL FEVER BBQ | |
| 17 | HAMOUFLAGE | |
| 18 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 19 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 20 | QUENUT BBQ | |
| 21 | SUE E PIGG | |
| 22 | SMOKIN NC | |
| 23 | PICKIN' PORKERS | |
| 24 | Killer Barbeque | |
| 25 | SMOKING GOAT BBQ | |
| 26 | POP'S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ | |
| 27 | CK'Z LOW AND SLOW | |
| 28 | DEATH BY SWINE | |
| 29 | HOUSEBOAT ROW SMOKERS |
Chicken
29 entries · top 177.7028 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE | |
| 2 | WHO CARES BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKE THIS | |
| 4 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 5 | HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 6 | THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA | |
| 7 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 8 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 9 | SWAMP BOYS | |
| 10 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 11 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 12 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 13 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 14 | TASTE OF GRACE | |
| 15 | QUENUT BBQ | |
| 16 | SUE E PIGG | |
| 17 | BROTHER IN LAW BBQ TEAM - NC | |
| 18 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 19 | POP'S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ | |
| 20 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 21 | BARREL FEVER BBQ | |
| 22 | PICKIN' PORKERS | |
| 23 | SMOKING GOAT BBQ | |
| 24 | HAMOUFLAGE | |
| 25 | SMOKIN NC | |
| 26 | CK'Z LOW AND SLOW | |
| 27 | Killer Barbeque | |
| 28 | HOUSEBOAT ROW SMOKERS | |
| 29 | DEATH BY SWINE |
Pork Ribs
29 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.2744
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 2 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 3 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 4 | HAMOUFLAGE | |
| 5 | BROTHER IN LAW BBQ TEAM - NC | |
| 6 | TASTE OF GRACE | |
| 7 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 8 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 9 | WHO CARES BBQ | |
| 10 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 11 | SUE E PIGG | |
| 12 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 13 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKE THIS | |
| 15 | ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE | |
| 16 | BARREL FEVER BBQ | |
| 17 | SWAMP BOYS | |
| 18 | Killer Barbeque | |
| 19 | SMOKIN NC | |
| 20 | SMOKING GOAT BBQ | |
| 21 | PICKIN' PORKERS | |
| 22 | QUENUT BBQ | |
| 23 | THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA | |
| 24 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 25 | HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 26 | DEATH BY SWINE | |
| 27 | HOUSEBOAT ROW SMOKERS | |
| 28 | POP'S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ | |
| 29 | CK'Z LOW AND SLOW |
Pork
29 entries · top 178.2972 · median 167.3828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BARREL FEVER BBQ | |
| 2 | TASTE OF GRACE | |
| 3 | WHO CARES BBQ | |
| 4 | BROTHER IN LAW BBQ TEAM - NC | |
| 5 | SMOKE THIS | |
| 6 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 7 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 8 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 9 | SWAMP BOYS | |
| 10 | QUENUT BBQ | |
| 11 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 12 | Killer Barbeque | |
| 13 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 15 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 16 | HAMOUFLAGE | |
| 17 | THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA | |
| 18 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 19 | ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE | |
| 20 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 21 | SMOKIN NC | |
| 22 | POP'S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ | |
| 23 | PICKIN' PORKERS | |
| 24 | SUE E PIGG | |
| 25 | CK'Z LOW AND SLOW | |
| 26 | HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 27 | DEATH BY SWINE | |
| 28 | SMOKING GOAT BBQ | |
| 29 | HOUSEBOAT ROW SMOKERS |
Brisket
29 entries · top 177.7028 · median 166.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 2 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 3 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 4 | MIDNIGHT BURN | |
| 5 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 6 | SMOKIN NC | |
| 7 | WHO CARES BBQ | |
| 8 | CK'Z LOW AND SLOW | |
| 9 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 10 | THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA | |
| 11 | TASTE OF GRACE | |
| 12 | ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE | |
| 13 | HAMOUFLAGE | |
| 14 | Killer Barbeque | |
| 15 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 16 | SMOKING GOAT BBQ | |
| 17 | SUE E PIGG | |
| 18 | PICKIN' PORKERS | |
| 19 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 20 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 21 | QUENUT BBQ | |
| 22 | SWAMP BOYS | |
| 23 | POP'S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ | |
| 24 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | |
| 25 | BROTHER IN LAW BBQ TEAM - NC | |
| 26 | BARREL FEVER BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKE THIS | |
| 28 | DEATH BY SWINE | |
| 29 | HOUSEBOAT ROW SMOKERS |
Backyard Series
Overall
11 entries · top 517.6688 · median 495.3484
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 2 | BOWMAN'S BUTT & BBQ | |
| 3 | BONAFIDE BBQ | |
| 4 | HOOVIE Q | |
| 5 | BACKYARD PORKERS | |
| 6 | HWY 28N COOKERS | |
| 7 | GRUMPY'S BBQ | |
| 8 | SHE LIKES MY PORK | |
| 9 | DOUBLE 8 BBQ | |
| 10 | PIGGY GALORE | |
| 11 | BBB BBQ |
Chicken
11 entries · top 172.5828 · median 163.4056
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIGGY GALORE | |
| 2 | HOOVIE Q | |
| 3 | BOWMAN'S BUTT & BBQ | |
| 4 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 5 | BONAFIDE BBQ | |
| 6 | SHE LIKES MY PORK | |
| 7 | BBB BBQ | |
| 8 | BACKYARD PORKERS | |
| 9 | HWY 28N COOKERS | |
| 10 | GRUMPY'S BBQ | |
| 11 | DOUBLE 8 BBQ |
Pork Ribs
11 entries · top 177.7144 · median 165.7028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOWMAN'S BUTT & BBQ | |
| 2 | BONAFIDE BBQ | |
| 3 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 4 | BACKYARD PORKERS | |
| 5 | HOOVIE Q | |
| 6 | GRUMPY'S BBQ | |
| 7 | HWY 28N COOKERS | |
| 8 | BBB BBQ | |
| 9 | SHE LIKES MY PORK | |
| 10 | DOUBLE 8 BBQ | |
| 11 | PIGGY GALORE |
Pork
11 entries · top 174.2744 · median 165.0972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 2 | HWY 28N COOKERS | |
| 3 | BACKYARD PORKERS | |
| 4 | BONAFIDE BBQ | |
| 5 | DOUBLE 8 BBQ | |
| 6 | BOWMAN'S BUTT & BBQ | |
| 7 | HOOVIE Q | |
| 8 | PIGGY GALORE | |
| 9 | SHE LIKES MY PORK | |
| 10 | GRUMPY'S BBQ | |
| 11 | BBB BBQ |