A new contest record
689.1312
highest overall ever cooked here
689.1312 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 680.4912 ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ set in 2016.
- old record 680.4912
- set 2016 by ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ
Keystone Classic BBQ State Championship 2019
Oct 4–5, 2019 · Harrisburg, PA · 📍 2300 North Cameron St · State championship
Reps: Jeff Chambers, Louise Weidner · Prize money: $7,250
APORKALYPSE NOW won Grand Champion at the Keystone Classic BBQ State Championship on October 4, 2019 in Harrisburg, PA at 2300 North Cameron St, scoring 689.1312 in a field of 36 teams. UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT took Reserve Grand Champion with 684.5140. Category winners: Chicken — Zombie Barbecue (177.7372); Pork Ribs — DRILLING & GRILLING (177.1428); Pork — APORKALYPSE NOW (177.7028); Brisket — SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS (176.5828). This is the 3rd of 8 editions of this contest on record; the 2018 edition was won by LO' -N- SLO' 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.
552.97
median 655.86
689.13 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 177.74
- Pork Ribs 177.14
- Pork 177.70
- Brisket 176.58
113.09
177.74
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2016 to 2025 — this edition picked out.
Entries
36
4 judged meats
Top score
689.1312
Winning margin
4.6172
GC over RC
Field average
648.31
552.97689.13
median 655.86 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
3.9772 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
663.9088
552.97689.13
10th place overall
Field spread
136.1592
winner to last place
Prize money
$7,250
on the line
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 73%
beats 27% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
48%
20 of 42 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.65 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,576
avg power rating going in · stronger than 60% of contests
Storylines (4 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 14 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 9–10: THE GRILLER B’S and BURN BARREL BBQ tied on 168.5256 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 4–5: NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ and DEAD ON Q tied on 171.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 7–8: HAWG Nation BBQ and Hot Rods BBQ tied on 169.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Pork Ribs 4–5 · tie
- Brisket 7–8 · tie
- Chicken 5–6 · 0.0112
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
APORKALYPSE NOW took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was brisket at 13th.
- Chicken 4th
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 13th
A contest record in pork ribs
177.1428
best pork ribs ever cooked here
DRILLING & GRILLING turned in 177.1428 in pork ribs — past the 173.1544 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
- old best 173.1544
- across 2 past editions
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 7, 2016 | Harrisburg, PA | 2300 N Cameron St. | 47 | 680.4912 | ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | WILBUR'S REVENGE |
| Oct 5, 2018 | Harrisburg, PA | 2300 North Cameron St | 42 | 677.0628 | LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | APORKALYPSE NOW |
| Oct 4, 2019 ← this one | Harrisburg, PA | 2300 North Cameron St | 36 | 689.1312 | Aporkalypse Now | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT |
| Oct 8, 2021 | Harrisburg, PA | 2300 North Cameron St | 27 | 682.7656 | Drilling and Grilling | BUBBA'S BARBECUE |
| Oct 7, 2022 | Harrisburg, PA | 2300 North Cameron St | 26 | 689.0168 | Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit | CHUNKY BBQ |
| Oct 6, 2023 | Harrisburg, PA | 2300 North Cameron St | 28 | 689.0972 | Chunky BBQ | PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ |
| Oct 4, 2024 | Harrisburg, PA | 2300 North Cameron Street | 25 | 699.9312 | Wolf's Revenge BBQ | SMOKECRAFT - MD |
| Oct 3, 2025 | Harrisburg, PA | 2300 North Cameron Street | 30 | 693.0856 | Susquehanna Smokers | HotMess BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7372 | 171.9884 | 168.5256 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.1428 | 171.4172 | 166.8456 |
| Pork | 177.7028 | 173.7256 | 169.7028 |
| Brisket | 176.5828 | 169.7028 | 168.5372 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
36 entries · top 689.1312 · median 655.8570
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 2 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 3 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 4 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 5 | Zombie Barbecue | |
| 6 | PULLIN' MY MONEY MUSCLE | |
| 7 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKIN FOOLZ | |
| 9 | REDNECK SMOKE CLUB | |
| 10 | Hot Rods BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 12 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 13 | BURN BARREL BBQ | |
| 14 | Old Man Jeff | |
| 15 | SIR-PORK'S-ALOT BBQ | |
| 16 | SMOKIN GNOME BBQ | |
| 17 | HAWG Nation BBQ | |
| 18 | NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ | |
| 19 | SMOKIN' ADDICTION | |
| 20 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 21 | ALL HOGGED UP | |
| 22 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 23 | THE GRILLER B’S | |
| 24 | Chain Smokin BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKESTACK REDEMPTION | |
| 26 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 27 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 28 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 29 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 30 | SASQUATCH BBQ - PA | |
| 31 | MAVERICK | |
| 32 | SLOWER LOWER BBQ | |
| 33 | A 2 Z | |
| 34 | OG CC | |
| 35 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 36 | Jake's-N-Crue BBQ |
Chicken
36 entries · top 177.7372 · median 161.3942
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zombie Barbecue | |
| 2 | REDNECK SMOKE CLUB | |
| 3 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 4 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' ADDICTION | |
| 6 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 7 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 8 | SMOKIN FOOLZ | |
| 9 | THE GRILLER B’S | |
| 10 | BURN BARREL BBQ | |
| 11 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 12 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 13 | HAWG Nation BBQ | |
| 14 | MAVERICK | |
| 15 | SASQUATCH BBQ - PA | |
| 16 | ALL HOGGED UP | |
| 17 | Old Man Jeff | |
| 18 | Chain Smokin BBQ | |
| 19 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 20 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 21 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKIN GNOME BBQ | |
| 23 | PULLIN' MY MONEY MUSCLE | |
| 24 | Hot Rods BBQ | |
| 25 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 26 | SIR-PORK'S-ALOT BBQ | |
| 27 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 28 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 29 | NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ | |
| 30 | A 2 Z | |
| 31 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 32 | SMOKESTACK REDEMPTION | |
| 33 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 34 | Jake's-N-Crue BBQ | |
| 35 | OG CC | |
| 36 | SLOWER LOWER BBQ |
Pork Ribs
36 entries · top 177.1428 · median 164.2514
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 2 | SMOKESTACK REDEMPTION | |
| 3 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 4 | NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ | |
| 5 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 6 | Hot Rods BBQ | |
| 7 | Old Man Jeff | |
| 8 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 9 | PULLIN' MY MONEY MUSCLE | |
| 10 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 11 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 12 | SLOWER LOWER BBQ | |
| 13 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 15 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 16 | HAWG Nation BBQ | |
| 17 | SIR-PORK'S-ALOT BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKIN FOOLZ | |
| 19 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 20 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 21 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 22 | Chain Smokin BBQ | |
| 23 | BURN BARREL BBQ | |
| 24 | REDNECK SMOKE CLUB | |
| 25 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 26 | ALL HOGGED UP | |
| 27 | SMOKIN GNOME BBQ | |
| 28 | THE GRILLER B’S | |
| 29 | OG CC | |
| 30 | SMOKIN' ADDICTION | |
| 31 | SASQUATCH BBQ - PA | |
| 32 | Zombie Barbecue | |
| 33 | MAVERICK | |
| 34 | Jake's-N-Crue BBQ | |
| 35 | A 2 Z | |
| 36 | BBQ PIT KING |
Pork
36 entries · top 177.7028 · median 162.5256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 2 | PULLIN' MY MONEY MUSCLE | |
| 3 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 4 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 5 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 6 | BURN BARREL BBQ | |
| 7 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKIN FOOLZ | |
| 9 | SMOKIN GNOME BBQ | |
| 10 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 11 | Chain Smokin BBQ | |
| 12 | Zombie Barbecue | |
| 13 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 14 | Hot Rods BBQ | |
| 15 | NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ | |
| 16 | SMOKESTACK REDEMPTION | |
| 17 | SIR-PORK'S-ALOT BBQ | |
| 18 | ALL HOGGED UP | |
| 19 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 20 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 21 | A 2 Z | |
| 22 | THE GRILLER B’S | |
| 23 | REDNECK SMOKE CLUB | |
| 24 | Old Man Jeff | |
| 25 | SLOWER LOWER BBQ | |
| 26 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 27 | SMOKIN' ADDICTION | |
| 28 | MAVERICK | |
| 29 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 30 | HAWG Nation BBQ | |
| 31 | SASQUATCH BBQ - PA | |
| 32 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 33 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 34 | Jake's-N-Crue BBQ | |
| 35 | OG CC | |
| 36 | BBQ PIT KING |
Brisket
36 entries · top 176.5828 · median 163.6628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 2 | DRILLING & GRILLING | |
| 3 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 4 | SIR-PORK'S-ALOT BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' ADDICTION | |
| 6 | DEAD ON Q | |
| 7 | HAWG Nation BBQ | |
| 8 | Hot Rods BBQ | |
| 9 | Old Man Jeff | |
| 10 | ALL HOGGED UP | |
| 11 | SMOKIN GNOME BBQ | |
| 12 | POPPA Q-BBQ | |
| 13 | APORKALYPSE NOW | |
| 14 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 15 | REDNECK SMOKE CLUB | |
| 16 | Zombie Barbecue | |
| 17 | THE GRILLER B’S | |
| 18 | PULLIN' MY MONEY MUSCLE | |
| 19 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 20 | SASQUATCH BBQ - PA | |
| 21 | NOT SO FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 23 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKIN FOOLZ | |
| 25 | Chain Smokin BBQ | |
| 26 | SMOKESTACK REDEMPTION | |
| 27 | BURN BARREL BBQ | |
| 28 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 29 | BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM | |
| 30 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 31 | OG CC | |
| 32 | SLOWER LOWER BBQ | |
| 33 | A 2 Z | |
| 34 | MAVERICK | |
| 35 | BBQ PIT KING | |
| 36 | Jake's-N-Crue BBQ |