A new contest record
710.8688
highest overall ever cooked here
710.8688 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 706.8112 Piggy & Swine BBQ set in 2025.
- old record 706.8112
- set 2025 by Piggy & Swine BBQ
Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) 2026
Jul 24–25, 2026 · New Freedom, PA · 📍 1 Playground Alley · State championship
Reps: Bill Jones, Regina Bodnar, Robert McKee
B's Que won Grand Champion at the Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) on July 24, 2026 in New Freedom, PA at 1 Playground Alley, scoring 710.8688 in a field of 43 teams. BBQ Maestros took Reserve Grand Champion with 704.5372. Category winners: Chicken — Smokin Hoggz BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — B's Que (178.2972); Pork — Piggy and swine (179.4400); Brisket — B's Que (179.4400). The Backyard Series standings were won by Better Half Barbecue with 354.8800. This is the 5th of 8 editions of this contest on record; the 2025 edition was won by Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA; the next was held in 2026.
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.
591.13
median 679.30
710.87 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 180 🔥
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 178.30
- Master Series — Pork 179.44
- Master Series — Brisket 179.44
- Backyard Series — Chicken 179.44
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 178.88
142.22
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2024 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
43
6 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
710.8688
Winning margin
6.3316
GC over RC
Field average
674.82
591.13710.87
median 679.30 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
689.6456
591.13710.87
10th place overall
Field spread
119.7372
winner to last place
Double threats
3
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 2%
beats 98% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
60%
32 of 53 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.67 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,589
avg power rating going in · stronger than 71% 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
22-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 78 times in 100
B'S QUE came in rated below the field's top team, JANKY LEG BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 22-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1706
- top seed 1927
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 18 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 3–4: B's Que and ELJEFE SMOKE tied on 177.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 5–6: BBQ Maestros and Meat Monarchy tied on 176.5716 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 7–8: AIN'T THAT RICH and Janky Leg BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 4–5 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
B's Que won Pork Ribs, Brisket — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Brisket 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
B's Que took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was pork at 9th.
- Chicken 3rd
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 9th
- Brisket 1st
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA (won 2025).
- Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA · 2025
The biggest field yet
43
teams — a contest high
This contest usually draws about 31 teams
43 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 31.
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.
- Smokin Hoggz BBQ · Chicken
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 26, 2024 | New Freedom, PA | 1 Playground Alley | 35 | 693.0512 | Rooters-N-Tooters TN | BLUE EYED BBQ |
| Jul 27, 2024 | New Freedom, PA | 1 Playground Alley | 32 | 703.9544 | The Fat is Where It's At | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ |
| Jul 25, 2025 | New Freedom, PA | 1 Playground Alley | 30 | 706.8112 | Piggy & Swine BBQ | HotMess BBQ |
| Jul 26, 2025 | New Freedom, PA | 1 Playground Alley | 27 | 704.5256 | Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE |
| Jul 24, 2026 ← this one | New Freedom, PA | 1 Playground Alley | 43 | 710.8688 | B's Que | BBQ Maestros |
| Jul 25, 2026 | New Freedom, PA | 1 Playground Alley | 39 | 707.4172 | Boggs Hog BBQ | ELJEFE SMOKE |
| Jul 23, 2027 | New Freedom, PA | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jul 24, 2027 | New Freedom, PA | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180 | 176.5716 | 175.4172 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 178.2972 | 175.4172 | 173.1316 |
| Master Series — Pork | 179.4400 | 177.1428 | 174.2744 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 179.4400 | 175.4056 | 174.2628 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 179.4400 | 176.5600 | 172.5716 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 178.8800 | 174.2744 | 171.9656 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
43 entries · top 710.8688 · median 679.3028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B's Que | |
| 2 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 3 | Smokin Hoggz BBQ | |
| 4 | AIN'T THAT RICH | |
| 5 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 6 | Beer Time BBQ | |
| 7 | Janky Leg BBQ | |
| 8 | Old Virginia Smoke | |
| 9 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 10 | QUE U | |
| 11 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 12 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 13 | 3 Eyz BBQ | |
| 14 | Wolf's Revenge BBQ | |
| 15 | Piggy and swine | |
| 16 | All Hogged Up | |
| 17 | Boggs Hog BBQ | |
| 18 | FAFO | |
| 19 | Grandpa Vals BBQ | |
| 20 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 21 | Hot and Slow | |
| 22 | Smokin Skullies | |
| 23 | Top Gun | |
| 24 | Smokey Anderson BBQ | |
| 25 | Drilling And Grilling BBQ Team | |
| 26 | SweetBelly's BBQ | |
| 27 | The Fat Is Where Its at BBQ | |
| 28 | Muttley Crew BBQ | |
| 29 | Susquehanna Smokers | |
| 30 | Bailout Barbecue | |
| 31 | Red Smoke Bar-B-Que | |
| 32 | GigaBite BBQ | |
| 33 | PJ's Magic Smoke | |
| 34 | Palm tree smokehouse | |
| 35 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 36 | 4 Boxers Q | |
| 37 | Up in Smokers | |
| 38 | Mullen It Over BBQ | |
| 39 | 30Q | |
| 40 | Harco Loco BBQ | |
| 41 | BBQ Blokes | |
| 42 | Salty Qrew | |
| 43 | Pappy's Q |
Chicken
43 entries · top 180 · median 171.4056 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smokin Hoggz BBQ | |
| 2 | Hot and Slow | |
| 3 | B's Que | |
| 4 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 5 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 6 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 7 | AIN'T THAT RICH | |
| 8 | Janky Leg BBQ | |
| 9 | Smokey Anderson BBQ | |
| 10 | Grandpa Vals BBQ | |
| 11 | Muttley Crew BBQ | |
| 12 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 13 | SweetBelly's BBQ | |
| 14 | Beer Time BBQ | |
| 15 | The Fat Is Where Its at BBQ | |
| 16 | Wolf's Revenge BBQ | |
| 17 | Bailout Barbecue | |
| 18 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 19 | Susquehanna Smokers | |
| 20 | Up in Smokers | |
| 21 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 22 | Top Gun | |
| 23 | 3 Eyz BBQ | |
| 24 | Mullen It Over BBQ | |
| 25 | QUE U | |
| 26 | Old Virginia Smoke | |
| 27 | Palm tree smokehouse | |
| 28 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 29 | Drilling And Grilling BBQ Team | |
| 30 | GigaBite BBQ | |
| 31 | 4 Boxers Q | |
| 32 | Red Smoke Bar-B-Que | |
| 33 | All Hogged Up | |
| 34 | Smokin Skullies | |
| 35 | Boggs Hog BBQ | |
| 36 | Piggy and swine | |
| 37 | Harco Loco BBQ | |
| 38 | FAFO | |
| 39 | PJ's Magic Smoke | |
| 40 | 30Q | |
| 41 | Salty Qrew | |
| 42 | BBQ Blokes | |
| 43 | Pappy's Q |
Pork Ribs
43 entries · top 178.2972 · median 168.5256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B's Que | |
| 2 | AIN'T THAT RICH | |
| 3 | Old Virginia Smoke | |
| 4 | Smokin Skullies | |
| 5 | QUE U | |
| 6 | Smokin Hoggz BBQ | |
| 7 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 8 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 9 | Boggs Hog BBQ | |
| 10 | Drilling And Grilling BBQ Team | |
| 11 | Beer Time BBQ | |
| 12 | Wolf's Revenge BBQ | |
| 13 | Top Gun | |
| 14 | SweetBelly's BBQ | |
| 15 | 3 Eyz BBQ | |
| 16 | The Fat Is Where Its at BBQ | |
| 17 | Susquehanna Smokers | |
| 18 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 19 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 20 | Grandpa Vals BBQ | |
| 21 | 4 Boxers Q | |
| 22 | Janky Leg BBQ | |
| 23 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 24 | FAFO | |
| 25 | PJ's Magic Smoke | |
| 26 | Smokey Anderson BBQ | |
| 27 | Piggy and swine | |
| 28 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 29 | Red Smoke Bar-B-Que | |
| 30 | Bailout Barbecue | |
| 31 | Muttley Crew BBQ | |
| 32 | BBQ Blokes | |
| 33 | All Hogged Up | |
| 34 | GigaBite BBQ | |
| 35 | 30Q | |
| 36 | Up in Smokers | |
| 37 | Harco Loco BBQ | |
| 38 | Palm tree smokehouse | |
| 39 | Salty Qrew | |
| 40 | Hot and Slow | |
| 41 | Mullen It Over BBQ | |
| 42 | Pappy's Q | |
| 43 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque |
Pork
43 entries · top 179.4400 · median 168.5484
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piggy and swine | |
| 2 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 3 | All Hogged Up | |
| 4 | Red Smoke Bar-B-Que | |
| 5 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 6 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 7 | Bailout Barbecue | |
| 8 | FAFO | |
| 9 | B's Que | |
| 10 | Mullen It Over BBQ | |
| 11 | Old Virginia Smoke | |
| 12 | AIN'T THAT RICH | |
| 13 | Janky Leg BBQ | |
| 14 | Smokin Hoggz BBQ | |
| 15 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 16 | Boggs Hog BBQ | |
| 17 | 3 Eyz BBQ | |
| 18 | Beer Time BBQ | |
| 19 | Top Gun | |
| 20 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 21 | QUE U | |
| 22 | Hot and Slow | |
| 23 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 24 | Grandpa Vals BBQ | |
| 25 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 26 | Up in Smokers | |
| 27 | Drilling And Grilling BBQ Team | |
| 28 | Smokin Skullies | |
| 29 | Palm tree smokehouse | |
| 30 | PJ's Magic Smoke | |
| 31 | The Fat Is Where Its at BBQ | |
| 32 | 30Q | |
| 33 | Muttley Crew BBQ | |
| 34 | Susquehanna Smokers | |
| 35 | SweetBelly's BBQ | |
| 36 | Wolf's Revenge BBQ | |
| 37 | Smokey Anderson BBQ | |
| 38 | 4 Boxers Q | |
| 39 | GigaBite BBQ | |
| 40 | Salty Qrew | |
| 41 | Harco Loco BBQ | |
| 42 | BBQ Blokes | |
| 43 | Pappy's Q |
Brisket
43 entries · top 179.4400 · median 170.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B's Que | |
| 2 | GigaBite BBQ | |
| 3 | Smokin Hoggz BBQ | |
| 4 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 5 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 6 | All Hogged Up | |
| 7 | Hot and Slow | |
| 8 | Beer Time BBQ | |
| 9 | Wolf's Revenge BBQ | |
| 10 | QUE U | |
| 11 | FAFO | |
| 12 | Smokey Anderson BBQ | |
| 13 | Janky Leg BBQ | |
| 14 | Piggy and swine | |
| 15 | Old Virginia Smoke | |
| 16 | 3 Eyz BBQ | |
| 17 | Boggs Hog BBQ | |
| 18 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 19 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 20 | PJ's Magic Smoke | |
| 21 | Smokin Skullies | |
| 22 | AIN'T THAT RICH | |
| 23 | Muttley Crew BBQ | |
| 24 | BBQ Blokes | |
| 25 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 26 | Drilling And Grilling BBQ Team | |
| 27 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 28 | Palm tree smokehouse | |
| 29 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 30 | Grandpa Vals BBQ | |
| 31 | Top Gun | |
| 32 | Susquehanna Smokers | |
| 33 | SweetBelly's BBQ | |
| 34 | The Fat Is Where Its at BBQ | |
| 35 | 4 Boxers Q | |
| 36 | Red Smoke Bar-B-Que | |
| 37 | Bailout Barbecue | |
| 38 | Salty Qrew | |
| 39 | Harco Loco BBQ | |
| 40 | Up in Smokers | |
| 41 | 30Q | |
| 42 | Mullen It Over BBQ | |
| 43 | Pappy's Q |
Backyard Series
Overall
35 entries · top 354.8800 · median 335.3716
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Better Half Barbecue | |
| 2 | Pinky Out BBQ | |
| 3 | Oink N' Doink BBQ | |
| 4 | MRC_Barbecue | |
| 5 | Capt. Blue BBQ | |
| 6 | Leaning Jowler BBQ | |
| 7 | All About the Wood | |
| 8 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 9 | Backwooder BBQ | |
| 10 | GrillFellas | |
| 11 | The Swine Doctor's BBQ | |
| 12 | Bastian's Barbecue Co. | |
| 13 | Castleton 'Q | |
| 14 | Squeals Like the First Time | |
| 15 | Shaky Swine | |
| 16 | Coal Cracker BBQ | |
| 17 | Fire & Shine BBQ | |
| 18 | Yardogs BBQ | |
| 19 | Rough Cut Q | |
| 20 | The Heef Pit | |
| 21 | Hot Thang | |
| 22 | K-Town Pit Que | |
| 23 | Stroked Out Cooking Team | |
| 24 | Real Men Smoke BBQ | |
| 25 | Brewski's BBQ | |
| 26 | Broomstick BBQ | |
| 27 | Clean Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 28 | Sticky Bones BBQ | |
| 29 | At the Cross BBQ | |
| 30 | Estancia | |
| 31 | Tame the Flame BBQ | |
| 32 | Stewie's BBQ | |
| 33 | Purple Panda | |
| 34 | LUCKY Q BBQ | |
| 35 | Savor smoke pit |
Chicken
35 entries · top 179.4400 · median 167.9656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pinky Out BBQ | |
| 2 | MRC_Barbecue | |
| 3 | Oink N' Doink BBQ | |
| 4 | Capt. Blue BBQ | |
| 5 | Castleton 'Q | |
| 6 | Better Half Barbecue | |
| 7 | Shaky Swine | |
| 8 | Hot Thang | |
| 9 | Sticky Bones BBQ | |
| 10 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 11 | Rough Cut Q | |
| 12 | All About the Wood | |
| 13 | Fire & Shine BBQ | |
| 14 | Squeals Like the First Time | |
| 15 | Leaning Jowler BBQ | |
| 16 | The Swine Doctor's BBQ | |
| 17 | GrillFellas | |
| 18 | Backwooder BBQ | |
| 19 | Coal Cracker BBQ | |
| 20 | Yardogs BBQ | |
| 21 | K-Town Pit Que | |
| 22 | Clean Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 23 | Brewski's BBQ | |
| 24 | At the Cross BBQ | |
| 25 | Bastian's Barbecue Co. | |
| 26 | Real Men Smoke BBQ | |
| 27 | Stroked Out Cooking Team | |
| 28 | The Heef Pit | |
| 29 | Tame the Flame BBQ | |
| 30 | Broomstick BBQ | |
| 31 | Purple Panda | |
| 32 | Stewie's BBQ | |
| 33 | Estancia | |
| 34 | Savor smoke pit | |
| 35 | LUCKY Q BBQ |
Pork Ribs
35 entries · top 178.8800 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Better Half Barbecue | |
| 2 | Leaning Jowler BBQ | |
| 3 | Bastian's Barbecue Co. | |
| 4 | Backwooder BBQ | |
| 5 | All About the Wood | |
| 6 | Oink N' Doink BBQ | |
| 7 | GrillFellas | |
| 8 | MRC_Barbecue | |
| 9 | Pinky Out BBQ | |
| 10 | The Swine Doctor's BBQ | |
| 11 | The Heef Pit | |
| 12 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 13 | Capt. Blue BBQ | |
| 14 | Squeals Like the First Time | |
| 15 | Stroked Out Cooking Team | |
| 16 | Coal Cracker BBQ | |
| 17 | Broomstick BBQ | |
| 18 | Real Men Smoke BBQ | |
| 19 | Yardogs BBQ | |
| 20 | K-Town Pit Que | |
| 21 | Brewski's BBQ | |
| 22 | Fire & Shine BBQ | |
| 23 | Shaky Swine | |
| 24 | Rough Cut Q | |
| 25 | Castleton 'Q | |
| 26 | Estancia | |
| 27 | Clean Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 28 | LUCKY Q BBQ | |
| 29 | Hot Thang | |
| 30 | At the Cross BBQ | |
| 31 | Tame the Flame BBQ | |
| 32 | Stewie's BBQ | |
| 33 | Sticky Bones BBQ | |
| 34 | Purple Panda | |
| 35 | Savor smoke pit |
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.
Ancillary — Turkey Smoke
31 entries · top 177.7144 · median 167.4056
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GigaBite BBQ | |
| 2 | 3 Eyz BBQ | |
| 3 | Clean Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 4 | AIN'T THAT RICH | |
| 5 | Hot Thang | |
| 6 | Broomstick BBQ | |
| 7 | Grandpa Vals BBQ | |
| 8 | The Heef Pit | |
| 9 | Wolf's Revenge BBQ | |
| 10 | Stroked Out Cooking Team | |
| 11 | Harco Loco BBQ | |
| 12 | Holy Smokes | |
| 13 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 14 | Boggs Hog BBQ | |
| 15 | 30Q | |
| 16 | SweetBelly's BBQ | |
| 17 | Backwooder BBQ | |
| 18 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 19 | Leaning Jowler BBQ | |
| 20 | Piggy and swine | |
| 21 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 22 | Drilling And Grilling BBQ Team | |
| 23 | Bailout Barbecue | |
| 24 | Oink N' Doink BBQ | |
| 25 | Up in Smokers | |
| 26 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 27 | BBQ Blokes | |
| 28 | Sticky Bones BBQ | |
| 29 | Purple Panda | |
| 30 | Castleton 'Q | |
| 31 | The Swine Doctor's BBQ |