Aug 9–10, 2019 · Franklin, NC · 📍 Macon County Fairgrounds · State championship
Prize money: $10,200
WHO CARES BBQ won Grand Champion at the Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show on August 9, 2019 in Franklin, NC at Macon County Fairgrounds, scoring 697.0744 in a field of 29 teams. MIDNIGHT BURN took Reserve Grand Champion with 695.9544. Category winners: Chicken — ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE (177.7028); Pork Ribs — SMOKE ON THIS (178.8572); Pork — BARREL FEVER BBQ (178.2972); Brisket — HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY (177.7028). The Backyard Series standings were won by COOL HAND QUE with 517.6688. This is the 7th of 7 editions of this contest on record; the 2018 edition was won by MIDNIGHT BURN.
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2019 — this edition picked out.
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
Closer than 83% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1200 points — closer than 83% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 76 times in 100
WHO CARES BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 24-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
WHO CARES BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
2 of 7 tracked editions
MIDNIGHT BURN has won this contest 2 times across its 7 tracked editions.
Stronger than 91% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1629 power rating going in — stronger than 91% of every contest tracked.
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.
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).
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 9, 2013 | Franklin, NC | Franklin, NC | 49 | 698.2516 | SWAMP BOYS | SMOKE IN THE MOUNTAINS |
| Aug 8, 2014 | Frankllin, NC | Frankllin, NC 28734 | 39 | 695.9656 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | SMOKE THIS |
| Aug 7, 2015 | Franklin, NC | Franklin, NC 28734 | 36 | 695.9544 | PICKIN' PORKERS | SWAMP BOYS |
| Aug 12, 2016 | Franklin, NC | Macon County Fair Grounds | 34 | 699.9884 | HICKORY PRIME | MIDNIGHT BURN |
| Aug 11, 2017 | Franklin, NC | 1436 Georgia Rd | 34 | 688.5140 | MIDNIGHT BURN | CREEKSIDE SMOKERS NC |
| Aug 10, 2018 | Franklin, NC | 1436 Georgia Rd | 51 | 699.9544 | MIDNIGHT BURN | CONTAGIOUS Q |
| Aug 9, 2019 ← this one | Franklin, NC | Macon County Fairgrounds | 29 | 697.0744 | WHO CARES BBQ | MIDNIGHT BURN |
| 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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
11 entries · top 517.6688 · median 495.3484 · out of 540, not the usual 360
| # | 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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |