A dynasty in the making
3×
wins at this contest
3 of 13 tracked editions
BIG "E" BBQ has won this contest 3 times across its 13 tracked editions.
- 2015
- 2016
- 2019
Puckaway Pigfest 2019
Sep 6–7, 2019 · Montello, WI · 📍 W 781 Fox Ct · State championship
Prize money: $5,750
BIG "E" BBQ won Grand Champion at the Puckaway Pigfest on September 6, 2019 in Montello, WI at W 781 Fox Ct, scoring 681.0172 in a field of 39 teams. THE BBQ BUS took Reserve Grand Champion with 678.7084. Category winners: Chicken — SmokinGhost BBQ (172.5600); Pork Ribs — CRASH TEST SMOKERS (179.4400); Pork — BIG "E" BBQ (174.2744); Brisket — PORKRASTINATORS (173.1200). This is the 7th of 13 editions of this contest on record; the 2018 edition was won by SMOKIN HIGHWAYMEN; 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.
578.07
median 643.31
681.02 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 172.56
- Pork Ribs 179.44
- Pork 174.27
- Brisket 173.12
124.54
179.44
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
39
4 judged meats
Top score
681.0172
Winning margin
2.3088
GC over RC
Field average
637.69
578.07681.02
median 643.31 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Brisket
4 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
657.0060
578.07681.02
10th place overall
Field spread
102.9488
winner to last place
Prize money
$5,750
on the line
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 88%
beats 12% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
61%
19 of 31 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.77 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,536
avg power rating going in · stronger than 27% of contests
Storylines (5 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.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 10 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 1–2: SmokinGhost BBQ and Littles BBQ Co tied on 172.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 9–10: Ironside Smokers and BIG "E" BBQ tied on 166.2400 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 8–9: 4 Schmidt's and Giggles BBQ and Beer Belly Que site 100 tied on 165.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Pork 8–9 · tie
- Pork 9–10 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
BIG "E" BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 10th.
- Chicken 10th
- Pork Ribs 4th
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 2nd
A contest record in pork ribs
179.4400
best pork ribs ever cooked here
CRASH TEST SMOKERS turned in 179.4400 in pork ribs — past the 176.5600 that had stood across 6 earlier editions.
- old best 176.5600
- across 6 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: BIG "E" BBQ (won 2015, 2016), SMOKIN HIGHWAYMEN (won 2018).
- BIG "E" BBQ · 2015, 2016
- SMOKIN HIGHWAYMEN · 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)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6, 2013 | Montello, WI | Montello, WI | 31 | 680.5144 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | BRINGIN' THE HEAT |
| Sep 5, 2014 | Montello, WI | Montello, WI 53949 | 40 | 691.4628 | BRINGIN' THE HEAT | THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ |
| Sep 11, 2015 | Montello, WI | Montello, WI 53949 | 33 | 672.1600 | BIG "E" BBQ | A FINE SWINE |
| Sep 9, 2016 | Montello, WI | Montello , WI | 37 | 687.9428 | BIG "E" BBQ | TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI |
| Sep 8, 2017 | Montello, WI | W 781 Fox Ct | 31 | 680.5716 | TURNIN' UP THE HEAT | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW |
| Sep 7, 2018 | Montello, WI | W 781 Fox Ct | 31 | 684.5144 | SMOKIN HIGHWAYMEN | BIG "E" BBQ |
| Sep 6, 2019 ← this one | Montello, WI | W 781 Fox Ct | 39 | 681.0172 | Big E BBQ | THE BBQ BUS |
| Sep 10, 2021 | Montello, WI | W781 Fox Ct | 30 | 681.6228 | Que U | WICKED SMOKE BBQ |
| Sep 9, 2022 | Montello, WI | W781 Fox Ct | 38 | 700.5256 | Que U | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ |
| Sep 8, 2023 | Montello, WI | W781 Fox Ct | 28 | 684.5256 | The BBQ Bus | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ |
| Sep 6, 2024 | Montello, WI | W781 Fox Ct | 37 | 694.8000 | Janky Leg BBQ | BURNT TREES BBQ |
| Sep 5, 2025 | Montello, WI | W781 Fox Ct | 35 | 701.6688 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | QUE U |
| Sep 11, 2026 | Montello, WI | W781 Fox Ct | 23 | 702.2284 | Hot Daddy's BBQ | Aces High BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 172.5600 | 168.5256 | 166.2400 |
| Pork Ribs | 179.4400 | 166.8228 | 164.5600 |
| Pork | 174.2744 | 168.5488 | 165.1200 |
| Brisket | 173.1200 | 169.1200 | 167.3828 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
39 entries · top 681.0172 · median 643.3148
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 2 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 3 | Littles BBQ Co | |
| 4 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 5 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 6 | SMOKIN HIGHWAYMEN | |
| 7 | CRASH TEST SMOKERS | |
| 8 | QUE U | |
| 9 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 10 | WICKED SMOKE BBQ | |
| 11 | SECOND HAND SMOKE SLV | |
| 12 | 4 Schmidt's and Giggles BBQ | |
| 13 | A BOY NAMED QUE | |
| 14 | CHEFS GONE GRILLIN | |
| 15 | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | |
| 16 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 17 | Two Brews bbq | |
| 18 | B.S. BARBEQUE | |
| 19 | BIG HORNED BBQ | |
| 20 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 21 | Open Season BBQ | |
| 22 | TOPPGATOR BBQ | |
| 23 | High Octane BBQ | |
| 24 | Ironside Smokers | |
| 25 | Low Rent BBQ | |
| 26 | Pit Snipe BBQ | |
| 27 | Moose's Barbecue | |
| 28 | RED LINE BBQ | |
| 29 | Beer Belly Que site 100 | |
| 30 | KEV-A-QUE | |
| 31 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 32 | Incipient Phase | |
| 33 | Smoke n Sanity | |
| 34 | Grease Monkey Grilling | |
| 35 | CANARDLY WAIT 4 QUE | |
| 36 | GOOD TIMES BBQ MKE | |
| 37 | Smokin A Fatty | |
| 38 | SURVEYOR OF THE BBQ | |
| 39 | GRILLHEADS |
Chicken
39 entries · top 172.5600 · median 160.5256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 2 | Littles BBQ Co | |
| 3 | SECOND HAND SMOKE SLV | |
| 4 | QUE U | |
| 5 | SMOKIN HIGHWAYMEN | |
| 6 | Beer Belly Que site 100 | |
| 7 | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | |
| 8 | CHEFS GONE GRILLIN | |
| 9 | Ironside Smokers | |
| 10 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 11 | Two Brews bbq | |
| 12 | 4 Schmidt's and Giggles BBQ | |
| 13 | High Octane BBQ | |
| 14 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 15 | Moose's Barbecue | |
| 16 | RED LINE BBQ | |
| 17 | A BOY NAMED QUE | |
| 18 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 19 | Open Season BBQ | |
| 20 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 21 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 22 | KEV-A-QUE | |
| 23 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 24 | Low Rent BBQ | |
| 25 | B.S. BARBEQUE | |
| 26 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 27 | Incipient Phase | |
| 28 | WICKED SMOKE BBQ | |
| 29 | Smoke n Sanity | |
| 30 | GOOD TIMES BBQ MKE | |
| 31 | Smokin A Fatty | |
| 32 | SURVEYOR OF THE BBQ | |
| 33 | Pit Snipe BBQ | |
| 34 | BIG HORNED BBQ | |
| 35 | CRASH TEST SMOKERS | |
| 36 | TOPPGATOR BBQ | |
| 37 | CANARDLY WAIT 4 QUE | |
| 38 | GRILLHEADS | |
| 39 | Grease Monkey Grilling |
Pork Ribs
39 entries · top 179.4400 · median 158.8116
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CRASH TEST SMOKERS | |
| 2 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 3 | Littles BBQ Co | |
| 4 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 5 | BIG HORNED BBQ | |
| 6 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 7 | Two Brews bbq | |
| 8 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 9 | WICKED SMOKE BBQ | |
| 10 | Open Season BBQ | |
| 11 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 12 | Moose's Barbecue | |
| 13 | SECOND HAND SMOKE SLV | |
| 14 | 4 Schmidt's and Giggles BBQ | |
| 15 | High Octane BBQ | |
| 16 | Incipient Phase | |
| 17 | KEV-A-QUE | |
| 18 | Smoke n Sanity | |
| 19 | B.S. BARBEQUE | |
| 20 | Low Rent BBQ | |
| 21 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 22 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 23 | RED LINE BBQ | |
| 24 | A BOY NAMED QUE | |
| 25 | TOPPGATOR BBQ | |
| 26 | SMOKIN HIGHWAYMEN | |
| 27 | CHEFS GONE GRILLIN | |
| 28 | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | |
| 29 | CANARDLY WAIT 4 QUE | |
| 30 | QUE U | |
| 31 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 32 | Pit Snipe BBQ | |
| 33 | Grease Monkey Grilling | |
| 34 | Smokin A Fatty | |
| 35 | GOOD TIMES BBQ MKE | |
| 36 | Ironside Smokers | |
| 37 | Beer Belly Que site 100 | |
| 38 | SURVEYOR OF THE BBQ | |
| 39 | GRILLHEADS |
Pork
39 entries · top 174.2744 · median 160.5256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 2 | Littles BBQ Co | |
| 3 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 4 | QUE U | |
| 5 | WICKED SMOKE BBQ | |
| 6 | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | |
| 7 | SMOKIN HIGHWAYMEN | |
| 8 | 4 Schmidt's and Giggles BBQ | |
| 9 | Beer Belly Que site 100 | |
| 10 | SECOND HAND SMOKE SLV | |
| 11 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 12 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 13 | B.S. BARBEQUE | |
| 14 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 15 | Ironside Smokers | |
| 16 | CHEFS GONE GRILLIN | |
| 17 | CRASH TEST SMOKERS | |
| 18 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 19 | Two Brews bbq | |
| 20 | A BOY NAMED QUE | |
| 21 | TOPPGATOR BBQ | |
| 22 | BIG HORNED BBQ | |
| 23 | Pit Snipe BBQ | |
| 24 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 25 | High Octane BBQ | |
| 26 | Low Rent BBQ | |
| 27 | Incipient Phase | |
| 28 | Open Season BBQ | |
| 29 | RED LINE BBQ | |
| 30 | SURVEYOR OF THE BBQ | |
| 31 | KEV-A-QUE | |
| 32 | Smokin A Fatty | |
| 33 | Smoke n Sanity | |
| 34 | GOOD TIMES BBQ MKE | |
| 35 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 36 | Moose's Barbecue | |
| 37 | CANARDLY WAIT 4 QUE | |
| 38 | Grease Monkey Grilling | |
| 39 | GRILLHEADS |
Brisket
39 entries · top 173.1200 · median 161.6684
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 2 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN HIGHWAYMEN | |
| 4 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 5 | A BOY NAMED QUE | |
| 6 | TOPPGATOR BBQ | |
| 7 | CRASH TEST SMOKERS | |
| 8 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 9 | QUE U | |
| 10 | CHANNABILLY BBQ | |
| 11 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 12 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 13 | WICKED SMOKE BBQ | |
| 14 | Pit Snipe BBQ | |
| 15 | BIG HORNED BBQ | |
| 16 | Grease Monkey Grilling | |
| 17 | Ironside Smokers | |
| 18 | Low Rent BBQ | |
| 19 | CHEFS GONE GRILLIN | |
| 20 | Littles BBQ Co | |
| 21 | B.S. BARBEQUE | |
| 22 | 4 Schmidt's and Giggles BBQ | |
| 23 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 24 | Open Season BBQ | |
| 25 | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | |
| 26 | GRILLHEADS | |
| 27 | Moose's Barbecue | |
| 28 | SECOND HAND SMOKE SLV | |
| 29 | CANARDLY WAIT 4 QUE | |
| 30 | Beer Belly Que site 100 | |
| 31 | High Octane BBQ | |
| 32 | Two Brews bbq | |
| 33 | RED LINE BBQ | |
| 34 | KEV-A-QUE | |
| 35 | GOOD TIMES BBQ MKE | |
| 36 | Smoke n Sanity | |
| 37 | Incipient Phase | |
| 38 | SURVEYOR OF THE BBQ | |
| 39 | Smokin A Fatty |