A new contest record
705.7028
highest overall ever cooked here
705.7028 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 690.2172 7-8-9 BBQ set in 2018.
- old record 690.2172
- set 2018 by 7-8-9 BBQ
Turf & Surf BBQ Championship 2019
Aug 16–18, 2019 · Del Mar, CA · State championship
Reps: Kathleen McIntosh, Kelly McIntosh, Merrialyce Alvarez, Steve Alvarez · Prize money: $15,000
7-8-9 BBQ won Grand Champion at the Turf & Surf BBQ Championship on August 16, 2019 in Del Mar, CA, scoring 705.7028 in a field of 35 teams. BURNIN AND LOOTIN took Reserve Grand Champion with 690.2172. Category winners: Chicken — 7-8-9 BBQ (177.7028); Pork Ribs — 7-8-9 BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — BURNIN AND LOOTIN (177.7028). This is the 2nd of 2 editions of this contest on record; the 2018 edition was won by 7-8-9 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.
434.14
median 667.27
705.70 🏆
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 180 🔥
- Brisket 177.70
135.35
180
Entries
35
3 judged meats · 3 ancillary
Top score
705.7028
Winning margin
15.4856
GC over RC
Field average
652.34
434.14705.70
median 667.27 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
2.8572 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
675.3140
434.14705.70
10th place overall
Field spread
271.5652
winner to last place
Prize money
$15,000
on the line
Double threats
1
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 12%
beats 88% of 4714 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
37%
19 of 51 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.72 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,596
avg power rating going in · stronger than 75% of contests
Storylines (11 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.
An upset on the books
12-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 88 times in 100
7-8-9 BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, BIG POPPA SMOKERS, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 12-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1661
- top seed 2002
Back-to-back
2 in a row
editions of this contest
7-8-9 BBQ won here last time out too — 2 straight editions of this contest.
- 2018
- 2019
A statement win
15.4856
points clear of the field
Wider than 97% of the 4,713 championships in the data
The champion won by 15.4856 points — a wider margin than 97% of championships in the data.
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 2 tracked editions
7-8-9 BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 2 tracked editions.
- 2018
- 2019
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 3–4: SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ and NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 6–7: The BBQ Yard and THE BRISKET BROTHERS tied on 170.8228 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 7–8: THE BRISKET BROTHERS and PAPA LA RUE'S BBQ tied on 170.8228 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Pork Ribs 6–7 · tie
- Pork Ribs 7–8 · tie
- Brisket 9–10 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
7-8-9 BBQ won Chicken, Pork Ribs — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
How the title was won
3 of 3
meats called to the stage
7-8-9 BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 3 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was brisket at 2nd.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Brisket 2nd
A contest record in pork ribs
180.0000
best pork ribs ever cooked here
7-8-9 BBQ turned in 180.0000 in pork ribs — past the 178.2972 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 178.2972
- across 1 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: 7-8-9 BBQ (won 2018).
- 7-8-9 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.
- 7-8-9 BBQ · Pork Ribs
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 2018 | Del Mar, CA | 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd | 51 | 690.2172 | 7-8-9 BBQ | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ |
| Aug 16, 2019 ← this one | Del Mar, CA | Del Mar Thoroughbred Racing | 35 | 705.7028 | 7-8-9 BBQ | BURNIN AND LOOTIN |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7028 | 174.8456 | 169.7028 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 171.9656 | 169.6800 |
| Brisket | 177.7028 | 173.7028 | 170.8228 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
35 entries · top 705.7028 · median 667.2684
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7-8-9 BBQ | |
| 2 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 3 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 4 | PAPA LA RUE'S BBQ | |
| 5 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 6 | LADY OF Q | |
| 7 | Team Woodshed | |
| 8 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 9 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 10 | Rad Fondo BBQ | |
| 11 | THE BRISKET BROTHERS | |
| 12 | TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q | |
| 13 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 14 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 15 | Team Robin | |
| 16 | Porketeers | |
| 17 | Jack9 BBQ-CA | |
| 18 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 19 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 20 | CODE 7 SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 21 | 2LIVEQ | |
| 22 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 23 | Bearded Dude BBQ | |
| 24 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 25 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 26 | Clear Blue BBQ | |
| 27 | BIG RED BBQ | |
| 28 | COOL HAND LUC'S | |
| 29 | Son of a Brisket | |
| 30 | MOSSY ROCK BBQ | |
| 31 | ONE SMOKE OVER THE SWINE | |
| 32 | Encinitas BBQ Co | |
| 33 | Maynard's BBQ | |
| 34 | Screamin' Tickler and Sauce Goddess | |
| 35 | Mike's Meat Wagon |
Chicken
35 entries · top 177.7028 · median 166.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7-8-9 BBQ | |
| 2 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 3 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 4 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 5 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 6 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 7 | Team Robin | |
| 8 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 9 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 10 | Rad Fondo BBQ | |
| 11 | Jack9 BBQ-CA | |
| 12 | PAPA LA RUE'S BBQ | |
| 13 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 14 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 15 | CODE 7 SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 16 | TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q | |
| 17 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 18 | THE BRISKET BROTHERS | |
| 19 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 20 | Porketeers | |
| 21 | LADY OF Q | |
| 22 | BIG RED BBQ | |
| 23 | Team Woodshed | |
| 24 | 2LIVEQ | |
| 25 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 26 | ONE SMOKE OVER THE SWINE | |
| 27 | Clear Blue BBQ | |
| 28 | Screamin' Tickler and Sauce Goddess | |
| 29 | Encinitas BBQ Co | |
| 30 | Bearded Dude BBQ | |
| 31 | Son of a Brisket | |
| 32 | COOL HAND LUC'S | |
| 33 | Mike's Meat Wagon | |
| 34 | Maynard's BBQ | |
| 35 | MOSSY ROCK BBQ |
Pork Ribs
34 entries · top 180 · median 166.5372 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7-8-9 BBQ | |
| 2 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 3 | Team Woodshed | |
| 4 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 5 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 6 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 7 | THE BRISKET BROTHERS | |
| 8 | PAPA LA RUE'S BBQ | |
| 9 | Rad Fondo BBQ | |
| 10 | TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q | |
| 11 | Bearded Dude BBQ | |
| 12 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 13 | LADY OF Q | |
| 14 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 15 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 16 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 17 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 19 | Clear Blue BBQ | |
| 20 | CODE 7 SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 21 | MOSSY ROCK BBQ | |
| 22 | Porketeers | |
| 23 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 24 | 2LIVEQ | |
| 25 | COOL HAND LUC'S | |
| 26 | Team Robin | |
| 27 | Jack9 BBQ-CA | |
| 28 | BIG RED BBQ | |
| 29 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 30 | Son of a Brisket | |
| 31 | ONE SMOKE OVER THE SWINE | |
| 32 | Maynard's BBQ | |
| 33 | Encinitas BBQ Co | |
| 34 | Mike's Meat Wagon |
Brisket
35 entries · top 177.7028 · median 167.3944
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 2 | 7-8-9 BBQ | |
| 3 | Jack9 BBQ-CA | |
| 4 | LADY OF Q | |
| 5 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 6 | Porketeers | |
| 7 | Rad Fondo BBQ | |
| 8 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 9 | 2LIVEQ | |
| 10 | PAPA LA RUE'S BBQ | |
| 11 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 12 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 13 | BIG RED BBQ | |
| 14 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 15 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 16 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 17 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 18 | Son of a Brisket | |
| 19 | Team Woodshed | |
| 20 | CODE 7 SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 21 | Team Robin | |
| 22 | Bearded Dude BBQ | |
| 23 | TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q | |
| 24 | THE BRISKET BROTHERS | |
| 25 | Screamin' Tickler and Sauce Goddess | |
| 26 | Encinitas BBQ Co | |
| 27 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 28 | COOL HAND LUC'S | |
| 29 | Clear Blue BBQ | |
| 30 | MOSSY ROCK BBQ | |
| 31 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 32 | Maynard's BBQ | |
| 33 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 34 | ONE SMOKE OVER THE SWINE | |
| 35 | Mike's Meat Wagon |
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.
Master Series — Pork Shoulder
34 entries · top 177.1544 · median 166.5428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 2 | Team Woodshed | |
| 3 | ONE SMOKE OVER THE SWINE | |
| 4 | THE BRISKET BROTHERS | |
| 5 | TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q | |
| 6 | LADY OF Q | |
| 7 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 8 | Team Robin | |
| 9 | PAPA LA RUE'S BBQ | |
| 10 | 7-8-9 BBQ | |
| 11 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 12 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 13 | Clear Blue BBQ | |
| 14 | COOL HAND LUC'S | |
| 15 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 16 | Screamin' Tickler and Sauce Goddess | |
| 17 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 18 | Porketeers | |
| 19 | Bearded Dude BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 21 | 2LIVEQ | |
| 22 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 23 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 24 | CODE 7 SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 25 | Rad Fondo BBQ | |
| 26 | Jack9 BBQ-CA | |
| 27 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 28 | Maynard's BBQ | |
| 29 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 30 | MOSSY ROCK BBQ | |
| 31 | BIG RED BBQ | |
| 32 | Son of a Brisket | |
| 33 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 34 | Encinitas BBQ Co |
Ancillary — Seafood
6 entries · top 180 · median 176.5600 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 2 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 3 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 4 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 5 | Encinitas BBQ Co | |
| 6 | Mike's Meat Wagon |
Ancillary — Tri-Tip
10 entries · top 175.4400 · median 165.1600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 2 | Mike's Meat Wagon | |
| 3 | Team Robin | |
| 4 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 5 | Encinitas BBQ Co | |
| 6 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 7 | Porketeers | |
| 8 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 9 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 10 | BIG RED BBQ |