A new contest record
704.5372
highest overall ever cooked here
704.5372 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 703.3940 SMOKE THIS BBQ-MO set in 2016.
- old record 703.3940
- set 2016 by SMOKE THIS BBQ-MO
Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out 2019
Sep 20–21, 2019 · Kearney, MO · 📍 3001 N 33 Hwy · State championship
Reps: Phil Morrow Phb, Rosemary Morrow · Prize money: $5,025
The Boys in Que won Grand Champion at the Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out on September 20, 2019 in Kearney, MO at 3001 N 33 Hwy, scoring 704.5372 in a field of 31 teams. Valley Oaks Steak Company took Reserve Grand Champion with 700.5488. Category winners: Chicken — The Boys in Que (178.8572); Pork Ribs — The Boys in Que (178.8572); Pork — SMOKE RINGERS (178.8800); Brisket — AMERICAN FIRE BBQ (179.4400). This is the 7th of 8 editions of this contest on record; the 2018 edition was won by PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS; 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.
586.14
median 666.19
704.54 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 178.86
- Pork Ribs 178.86
- Pork 178.88
- Brisket 179.44
131.34
179.44
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2021 — this edition picked out.
Entries
31
4 judged meats · 3 ancillary
Top score
704.5372
Winning margin
3.9884
GC over RC
Field average
658.68
586.14704.54
median 666.19 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Brisket
4.5828 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
674.7544
586.14704.54
10th place overall
Field spread
118.4000
winner to last place
Prize money
$5,025
on the line
Double threats
7
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 16%
beats 84% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
23%
8 of 35 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.73 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,577
avg power rating going in · stronger than 61% 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.
An upset on the books
17-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 83 times in 100
The Boys in Que came in rated below the field's top team, SLAPS BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 17-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1666
- top seed 1944
A first Grand Championship
29
tracked contests to get there
This was The Boys in Que's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 29th tracked contest.
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 8 tracked editions
SLAPS BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 8 tracked editions.
- 2015
- 2017
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 7–8: SMOKE RINGERS and NA-DA-BONE BBQ tied on 170.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 5–6: Valley Oaks Steak Company and SMOKE THIS BBQ MO tied on 173.1544 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 5–6: Valley Oaks Steak Company and A BBQ TEAM - MO tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Pork Ribs 5–6 · tie
- Pork 5–6 · tie
- Pork 7–8 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
The Boys in Que 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
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
The Boys in Que took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was brisket at 10th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 3rd
- Brisket 10th
Back to defend
3
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: SLAPS BBQ (won 2015, 2017), SMOKE THIS BBQ-MO (won 2016), PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS (won 2018).
- SLAPS BBQ · 2015, 2017
- SMOKE THIS BBQ-MO · 2016
- PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS · 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 20, 2013 | Kearney, MO | Kearney, MO | 53 | 682.2056 | SWEET BEAVER BBQ | JAESTAR BBQ |
| Sep 19, 2014 | Kearney, MO | Kearney, MO 64060 | 49 | 702.2856 | FOUR MEN AND A PIG | GRILLAS |
| Sep 18, 2015 | Kearney, MO | Kearney, MO 64060 | 41 | 698.7884 | SLAPS BBQ | PORKARITAVILLE |
| Sep 16, 2016 | Kearney, MO | Kearney, MO | 35 | 703.3940 | SMOKE THIS BBQ-MO | SLAPS BBQ |
| Sep 15, 2017 | Kearney, MO | 3001 N 33 Highway | 37 | 696.5028 | SLAPS BBQ | SONS OF A BRISKET |
| Sep 14, 2018 | Kearney, MO | 3001 N 33 Highway | 35 | 700.5600 | PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS | JAESTAR BBQ |
| Sep 20, 2019 ← this one | Kearney, MO | 3001 N 33 Hwy | 31 | 704.5372 | The Boys in Que | Valley Oaks Steak Company |
| Sep 17, 2021 | Kearney, MO | 3001 N 33 Hwy | 16 | 705.1200 | The Art of Que | SMOKIN' TOAD'S |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8572 | 170.8228 | 167.9772 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 173.1544 | 168.5716 |
| Pork | 178.8800 | 173.1200 | 171.4172 |
| Brisket | 179.4400 | 174.8572 | 170.8228 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
31 entries · top 704.5372 · median 666.1944
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Boys in Que | |
| 2 | Valley Oaks Steak Company | |
| 3 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 4 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 5 | The Art of Que | |
| 6 | SMOKE RINGERS | |
| 7 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 8 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 9 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 10 | A BBQ TEAM - MO | |
| 11 | Just Cuz BBQ | |
| 12 | NA-DA-BONE BBQ | |
| 13 | PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS | |
| 14 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 15 | Smoke Show | |
| 16 | GRILLAS | |
| 17 | Flower of the Flame | |
| 18 | Nerd Herd | |
| 19 | Coal Cats | |
| 20 | The Legend | |
| 21 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 22 | Good Times Baby BBQ | |
| 23 | Kearney Asada | |
| 24 | Uncle Rico's BBQ | |
| 25 | Ultimate - Metro Dumpsters BBQ | |
| 26 | All In Smokers | |
| 27 | Good Times Barber-Que | |
| 28 | One Slab At A Time | |
| 29 | Salty Dawg BBQ | |
| 30 | 33 Smokers | |
| 31 | Double D's BBQ |
Chicken
31 entries · top 178.8572 · median 166.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Boys in Que | |
| 2 | Valley Oaks Steak Company | |
| 3 | The Art of Que | |
| 4 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 5 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 6 | Nerd Herd | |
| 7 | SMOKE RINGERS | |
| 8 | NA-DA-BONE BBQ | |
| 9 | Just Cuz BBQ | |
| 10 | Flower of the Flame | |
| 11 | Smoke Show | |
| 12 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 13 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 14 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 15 | Coal Cats | |
| 16 | GRILLAS | |
| 17 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 18 | A BBQ TEAM - MO | |
| 19 | PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS | |
| 20 | Double D's BBQ | |
| 21 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 22 | 33 Smokers | |
| 23 | Good Times Baby BBQ | |
| 24 | All In Smokers | |
| 25 | One Slab At A Time | |
| 26 | The Legend | |
| 27 | Ultimate - Metro Dumpsters BBQ | |
| 28 | Kearney Asada | |
| 29 | Uncle Rico's BBQ | |
| 30 | Good Times Barber-Que | |
| 31 | Salty Dawg BBQ |
Pork Ribs
31 entries · top 178.8572 · median 163.3944
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Boys in Que | |
| 2 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 3 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 4 | NA-DA-BONE BBQ | |
| 5 | Valley Oaks Steak Company | |
| 6 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 7 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 8 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 9 | The Art of Que | |
| 10 | A BBQ TEAM - MO | |
| 11 | SMOKE RINGERS | |
| 12 | Smoke Show | |
| 13 | Just Cuz BBQ | |
| 14 | Good Times Barber-Que | |
| 15 | PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS | |
| 16 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 17 | GRILLAS | |
| 18 | Nerd Herd | |
| 19 | Coal Cats | |
| 20 | Flower of the Flame | |
| 21 | The Legend | |
| 22 | Good Times Baby BBQ | |
| 23 | Salty Dawg BBQ | |
| 24 | One Slab At A Time | |
| 25 | Uncle Rico's BBQ | |
| 26 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 27 | Ultimate - Metro Dumpsters BBQ | |
| 28 | Kearney Asada | |
| 29 | All In Smokers | |
| 30 | Double D's BBQ | |
| 31 | 33 Smokers |
Pork
31 entries · top 178.8800 · median 166.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKE RINGERS | |
| 2 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 3 | The Boys in Que | |
| 4 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 5 | Valley Oaks Steak Company | |
| 6 | A BBQ TEAM - MO | |
| 7 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 9 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 10 | PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS | |
| 11 | NA-DA-BONE BBQ | |
| 12 | Flower of the Flame | |
| 13 | Just Cuz BBQ | |
| 14 | Smoke Show | |
| 15 | The Art of Que | |
| 16 | GRILLAS | |
| 17 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 18 | Nerd Herd | |
| 19 | Uncle Rico's BBQ | |
| 20 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 21 | The Legend | |
| 22 | All In Smokers | |
| 23 | Good Times Barber-Que | |
| 24 | Coal Cats | |
| 25 | Kearney Asada | |
| 26 | 33 Smokers | |
| 27 | Ultimate - Metro Dumpsters BBQ | |
| 28 | Salty Dawg BBQ | |
| 29 | Good Times Baby BBQ | |
| 30 | One Slab At A Time | |
| 31 | Double D's BBQ |
Brisket
31 entries · top 179.4400 · median 167.3828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 2 | Valley Oaks Steak Company | |
| 3 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 4 | The Art of Que | |
| 5 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 6 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 7 | Just Cuz BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKE RINGERS | |
| 9 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 10 | The Boys in Que | |
| 11 | GRILLAS | |
| 12 | PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS | |
| 13 | Kearney Asada | |
| 14 | Good Times Baby BBQ | |
| 15 | Flower of the Flame | |
| 16 | A BBQ TEAM - MO | |
| 17 | Smoke Show | |
| 18 | Nerd Herd | |
| 19 | Coal Cats | |
| 20 | The Legend | |
| 21 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 22 | Ultimate - Metro Dumpsters BBQ | |
| 23 | Salty Dawg BBQ | |
| 24 | NA-DA-BONE BBQ | |
| 25 | Uncle Rico's BBQ | |
| 26 | One Slab At A Time | |
| 27 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 28 | All In Smokers | |
| 29 | Good Times Barber-Que | |
| 30 | 33 Smokers | |
| 31 | Double D's BBQ |
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.
Kids-Q — Kids 5-10
2 entries · top 170.2856 · median 169.1428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Landon Elliott | |
| 2 | Addison Morris |
Kids-Q — Teens 11-15
2 entries · top 165.7372 · median 164.8686
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Layney Burkhart | |
| 2 | Savanna Smith |
Ancillary — Turkey
20 entries · top 180 · median 168.5314 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | One Slab At A Time | |
| 2 | Uncle Rico's BBQ | |
| 3 | All In Smokers | |
| 4 | Valley Oaks Steak Company | |
| 5 | Flower of the Flame | |
| 6 | The Art of Que | |
| 7 | Nerd Herd | |
| 8 | A BBQ TEAM - MO | |
| 9 | NA-DA-BONE BBQ | |
| 10 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 11 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 12 | Good Times Baby BBQ | |
| 13 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 14 | Ultimate - Metro Dumpsters BBQ | |
| 15 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 16 | GRILLAS | |
| 17 | Kearney Asada | |
| 18 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 19 | 33 Smokers | |
| 20 | The Legend |