They will not let it go
3 in a row
editions of this contest
MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ won here last time out too — 3 straight editions of this contest.
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
Montana Pitmaster Classic 2019
Aug 23–24, 2019 · Bozeman, MT · 📍 1243 Oak St · State championship
Reps: Troy Youngblood · Prize money: $13,000
MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ won Grand Champion at the Montana Pitmaster Classic on August 23, 2019 in Bozeman, MT at 1243 Oak St, scoring 691.9888 in a field of 29 teams. CAMP HOUSE BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 685.7140. Category winners: Chicken — CAMP HOUSE BBQ (174.2856); Pork Ribs — ROCKIN' N BBQ (174.9028); Pork — CAMP HOUSE BBQ (176.0000); Brisket — MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ (175.4056). This is the 3rd of 9 editions of this contest on record; the 2018 edition was won by MONTANA OUTLAW 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.
369.85
median 636.95
691.99 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 174.29
- Pork Ribs 174.90
- Pork 176
- Brisket 175.41
37.92
176
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2017 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
29
4 judged meats
Top score
691.9888
Winning margin
6.2748
GC over RC
Field average
620.45
369.85691.99
median 636.95 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Chicken
3.4400 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
646.2400
369.85691.99
10th place overall
Field spread
322.1376
winner to last place
Prize money
$13,000
on the line
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 64%
beats 36% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
50%
13 of 26 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.42 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,503
avg power rating going in · stronger than 3% of contests
Storylines (8 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
4×
wins at this contest
4 of 9 tracked editions
MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ has won this contest 4 times across its 9 tracked editions.
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2021
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 9 calls decided inside half a point
Pork places 4–5: BEER BELLY BBQ and GRATE EXPECTATIONS tied on 172.5484 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 3–4: MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ edged 202 BBQ Montana by 0.0116. Pork Ribs places 9–10: 12 BAR BLUES CUE edged BLUE LINE BBQ by 0.0116.
- Pork 4–5 · tie
- Chicken 3–4 · 0.0116
- Pork Ribs 9–10 · 0.0116
- Chicken 8–9 · 0.0228
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
CAMP HOUSE BBQ won Chicken, Pork — a double.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 6th.
- Chicken 3rd
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 6th
- Brisket 1st
A contest record in pork
176.0000
best pork ever cooked here
CAMP HOUSE BBQ turned in 176.0000 in pork — past the 175.4056 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
- old best 175.4056
- across 2 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ (won 2017, 2018).
- MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ · 2017, 2018
The biggest field yet
29
teams — a contest high
This contest usually draws about 23 teams
29 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 23.
This contest's own records (1 in the KCBS record book)
Records held by every edition of this contest put together, not just this one afternoon.
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 25, 2017 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak St | 20 | 681.6684 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | BEER BELLY BBQ |
| Aug 24, 2018 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak St | 26 | 698.2740 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | GRATE EXPECTATIONS |
| Aug 23, 2019 ← this one | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak St | 29 | 691.9888 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | CAMP HOUSE BBQ |
| Aug 27, 2021 | Bozeman, MT | Bozeman, MT 59717 | 31 | 711.4172 | Montana Outlaw BBQ | BEER BELLY BBQ |
| Aug 26, 2022 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 37 | 706.8688 | BEER BELLY BBQ | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ |
| Aug 25, 2023 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 44 | 705.2116 | Bushmaster BBQ | SMELLAQUE |
| Aug 23, 2024 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 39 | 713.1544 | Piggin' Whiskey | BURNT TREES BBQ |
| Aug 22, 2025 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 38 | 704.5600 | Brinkerhoff BBQ | Mountain Smoke BBQ |
| Aug 28, 2026 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 39 | 706.8460 | Cocamoke Smoke BBQ | SmellaQue |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 174.2856 | 170.8456 | 167.9656 |
| Pork Ribs | 174.9028 | 168.5600 | 163.9884 |
| Pork | 176 | 172.5484 | 159.9428 |
| Brisket | 175.4056 | 168.5372 | 163.9656 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
29 entries · top 691.9888 · median 636.9484
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 2 | CAMP HOUSE BBQ | |
| 3 | GRATE EXPECTATIONS | |
| 4 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 5 | ROCKIN' N BBQ | |
| 6 | 202 BBQ Montana | |
| 7 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 8 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 9 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 10 | Ball-n-Chain BBQ | |
| 11 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 12 | 12 BAR BLUES CUE | |
| 13 | BLUE LINE BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN JERKS | |
| 15 | CAMP CHEF | |
| 16 | G STRONG BBQ | |
| 17 | GRUMPS BBQ | |
| 18 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 19 | BROKEN BARREL BBQ & KITCHEN | |
| 20 | SPICE GRILLS | |
| 21 | TASTE OF MITCH | |
| 22 | KICK BACK BBQ | |
| 23 | ROSIE'S TOOL | |
| 24 | CHEF'S TABLE FOOD TRUCK | |
| 25 | ODD SQUAD BBQ | |
| 26 | RANDOM GUYS SMOKING | |
| 27 | RUSTY GRILLSWALD | |
| 28 | Q MCB'S BBQ | |
| 29 | BRYAN STUCKY |
Chicken
29 entries · top 174.2856 · median 159.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CAMP HOUSE BBQ | |
| 2 | GRATE EXPECTATIONS | |
| 3 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 4 | 202 BBQ Montana | |
| 5 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 6 | CAMP CHEF | |
| 7 | Ball-n-Chain BBQ | |
| 8 | GRUMPS BBQ | |
| 9 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 10 | BRYAN STUCKY | |
| 11 | ROCKIN' N BBQ | |
| 12 | BLUE LINE BBQ | |
| 13 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 14 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 15 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 16 | G STRONG BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKIN JERKS | |
| 18 | Q MCB'S BBQ | |
| 19 | ODD SQUAD BBQ | |
| 20 | CHEF'S TABLE FOOD TRUCK | |
| 21 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 22 | BROKEN BARREL BBQ & KITCHEN | |
| 23 | 12 BAR BLUES CUE | |
| 24 | SPICE GRILLS | |
| 25 | TASTE OF MITCH | |
| 26 | RANDOM GUYS SMOKING | |
| 27 | ROSIE'S TOOL | |
| 28 | RUSTY GRILLSWALD | |
| 29 | KICK BACK BBQ |
Pork Ribs
28 entries · top 174.9028 · median 161.1086
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROCKIN' N BBQ | |
| 2 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 3 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 4 | CAMP HOUSE BBQ | |
| 5 | GRATE EXPECTATIONS | |
| 6 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 7 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 8 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 9 | 12 BAR BLUES CUE | |
| 10 | BLUE LINE BBQ | |
| 11 | BRYAN STUCKY | |
| 12 | SPICE GRILLS | |
| 13 | Ball-n-Chain BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN JERKS | |
| 15 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 16 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 17 | BROKEN BARREL BBQ & KITCHEN | |
| 18 | KICK BACK BBQ | |
| 19 | CAMP CHEF | |
| 20 | ROSIE'S TOOL | |
| 21 | 202 BBQ Montana | |
| 22 | G STRONG BBQ | |
| 23 | RANDOM GUYS SMOKING | |
| 24 | TASTE OF MITCH | |
| 25 | GRUMPS BBQ | |
| 26 | ODD SQUAD BBQ | |
| 27 | RUSTY GRILLSWALD | |
| 28 | CHEF'S TABLE FOOD TRUCK |
Pork
29 entries · top 176 · median 152.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CAMP HOUSE BBQ | |
| 2 | 202 BBQ Montana | |
| 3 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 4 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 5 | GRATE EXPECTATIONS | |
| 6 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 7 | ROCKIN' N BBQ | |
| 8 | G STRONG BBQ | |
| 9 | Ball-n-Chain BBQ | |
| 10 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 11 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 12 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 13 | SMOKIN JERKS | |
| 14 | KICK BACK BBQ | |
| 15 | TASTE OF MITCH | |
| 16 | RANDOM GUYS SMOKING | |
| 17 | CHEF'S TABLE FOOD TRUCK | |
| 18 | 12 BAR BLUES CUE | |
| 19 | GRUMPS BBQ | |
| 20 | RUSTY GRILLSWALD | |
| 21 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 22 | Q MCB'S BBQ | |
| 23 | CAMP CHEF | |
| 24 | BROKEN BARREL BBQ & KITCHEN | |
| 25 | BLUE LINE BBQ | |
| 26 | ODD SQUAD BBQ | |
| 27 | SPICE GRILLS | |
| 28 | ROSIE'S TOOL | |
| 29 | BRYAN STUCKY |
Brisket
28 entries · top 175.4056 · median 162.5370
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 2 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 3 | 12 BAR BLUES CUE | |
| 4 | 202 BBQ Montana | |
| 5 | GRATE EXPECTATIONS | |
| 6 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 7 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 8 | BLUE LINE BBQ | |
| 9 | GRUMPS BBQ | |
| 10 | ROCKIN' N BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKIN JERKS | |
| 12 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 13 | BROKEN BARREL BBQ & KITCHEN | |
| 14 | CAMP CHEF | |
| 15 | CAMP HOUSE BBQ | |
| 16 | ROSIE'S TOOL | |
| 17 | G STRONG BBQ | |
| 18 | SPICE GRILLS | |
| 19 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 20 | ODD SQUAD BBQ | |
| 21 | Ball-n-Chain BBQ | |
| 22 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 23 | CHEF'S TABLE FOOD TRUCK | |
| 24 | RUSTY GRILLSWALD | |
| 25 | TASTE OF MITCH | |
| 26 | KICK BACK BBQ | |
| 27 | Q MCB'S BBQ | |
| 28 | RANDOM GUYS SMOKING |