Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2)
2026-07-25 – 2026-07-26 · New Freedom, PA · 📍 1 Playground Alley · State championship
Reps: BILL JONES, REGINA BODNAR, ROBERT MCKEE
Grand Champion: Boggs Hog BBQ (707.4172) · 39 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 ELJEFE SMOKE
Entries
39
6 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
707.4172
Winning margin
1.1544
GC over RC
Field average
681.48
median 685.10
Tightest race
Pork
1.7144 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
693.0628
10th place overall
Field spread
89.8628
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 13%
beats 87% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
48%
of the 69 teams with a home region came from outside PA
Came back for more
85%
66 of 78 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.6 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1590
avg power rating going in · stronger than 86% of contests
Storylines
🪒 A razor-thin finish
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1544 points — closer than 78% of every championship in the data.
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
BOGGS HOG BBQ took the Grand Championship home to NJ.
📸 Photo finishes
Master Series — Chicken places 4–5: Smokin Hoggz BBQ and B's Que tied on 177.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 5–6: B's Que and Old Virginia Smoke tied on 177.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 6–7: Old Virginia Smoke and Top Gun tied on 177.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🛡️ Back to defend
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA (won 2025), B's Que (won 2026).
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)
Where the field came from (home regions on file)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-26 | New Freedom, PA | 1 Playground Alley | 35 | 693.0512 | Rooters-N-Tooters TN | BLUE EYED BBQ |
| 2024-07-27 | New Freedom, PA | 1 Playground Alley | 32 | 703.9544 | The Fat is Where It's At | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ |
| 2025-07-25 | New Freedom, PA | 1 Playground Alley | 30 | 706.8112 | Piggy & Swine BBQ | HotMess BBQ |
| 2025-07-26 | New Freedom, PA | 1 Playground Alley | 27 | 704.5256 | Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE |
| 2026-07-24 | New Freedom, PA | 1 Playground Alley | 43 | 710.8688 | B's Que | BBQ Maestros |
| 2026-07-25 ← this one | New Freedom, PA | 1 Playground Alley | 39 | 707.4172 | Boggs Hog BBQ | ELJEFE SMOKE |
| 2027-07-23 | New Freedom, PA | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2027-07-24 | New Freedom, PA | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180.0000 | 177.7144 | 177.1428 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 176.5716 | 175.4172 |
| Master Series — Pork | 177.7144 | 176.0000 | 174.8572 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 178.2972 | 175.4056 | 173.1316 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 180.0000 | 175.4172 | 173.1200 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 177.7028 | 173.1428 | 170.8228 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
39 entries · top 707.4172 · median 685.0972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boggs Hog BBQ | |
| 2 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 3 | Janky Leg BBQ | |
| 4 | 3 Eyz BBQ | |
| 5 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 6 | B's Que | |
| 7 | The Fat Is Where Its at BBQ | |
| 8 | Top Gun | |
| 9 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 10 | Smokin Hoggz BBQ | |
| 11 | Muttley Crew BBQ | |
| 12 | Smokecraft | |
| 13 | Piggy and swine | |
| 14 | Susquehanna Smokers | |
| 15 | Old Virginia Smoke | |
| 16 | Beer Time BBQ | |
| 17 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 18 | SweetBelly's BBQ | |
| 19 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 20 | AIN'T THAT RICH | |
| 21 | All Hogged Up | |
| 22 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 23 | Grandpa Vals BBQ | |
| 24 | Bailout Barbecue | |
| 25 | 4 Boxers Q | |
| 26 | Hot and Slow | |
| 27 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 28 | Smokin Skullies | |
| 29 | GigaBite BBQ | |
| 30 | Wolf's Revenge BBQ | |
| 31 | Smokey Anderson BBQ | |
| 32 | Red Smoke Bar-B-Que | |
| 33 | Drilling And Grilling BBQ Team | |
| 34 | Fat Maxine's | |
| 35 | Mullen It Over BBQ | |
| 36 | PJ's Magic Smoke | |
| 37 | Up in Smokers | |
| 38 | 30Q | |
| 39 | Pappy's Q |
Chicken
39 entries · top 180.0000 · median 173.1084 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SweetBelly's BBQ | |
| 2 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 3 | 3 Eyz BBQ | |
| 4 | Smokin Hoggz BBQ | |
| 5 | B's Que | |
| 6 | Old Virginia Smoke | |
| 7 | Top Gun | |
| 8 | Boggs Hog BBQ | |
| 9 | Beer Time BBQ | |
| 10 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 11 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 12 | The Fat Is Where Its at BBQ | |
| 13 | Grandpa Vals BBQ | |
| 14 | All Hogged Up | |
| 15 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 16 | AIN'T THAT RICH | |
| 17 | Mullen It Over BBQ | |
| 18 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 19 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 20 | Bailout Barbecue | |
| 21 | Smokey Anderson BBQ | |
| 22 | Wolf's Revenge BBQ | |
| 23 | Piggy and swine | |
| 24 | Muttley Crew BBQ | |
| 25 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 26 | 4 Boxers Q | |
| 27 | Janky Leg BBQ | |
| 28 | Smokin Skullies | |
| 29 | Susquehanna Smokers | |
| 30 | Hot and Slow | |
| 31 | Smokecraft | |
| 32 | GigaBite BBQ | |
| 33 | Up in Smokers | |
| 34 | Drilling And Grilling BBQ Team | |
| 35 | Red Smoke Bar-B-Que | |
| 36 | PJ's Magic Smoke | |
| 37 | Fat Maxine's | |
| 38 | 30Q | |
| 39 | Pappy's Q |
Pork Ribs
39 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.2744
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B's Que | |
| 2 | 3 Eyz BBQ | |
| 3 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 4 | Piggy and swine | |
| 5 | Muttley Crew BBQ | |
| 6 | Boggs Hog BBQ | |
| 7 | Janky Leg BBQ | |
| 8 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 9 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 10 | Bailout Barbecue | |
| 11 | 4 Boxers Q | |
| 12 | Smokecraft | |
| 13 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 14 | Susquehanna Smokers | |
| 15 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 16 | Smokin Skullies | |
| 17 | Smokey Anderson BBQ | |
| 18 | The Fat Is Where Its at BBQ | |
| 19 | Smokin Hoggz BBQ | |
| 20 | GigaBite BBQ | |
| 21 | Red Smoke Bar-B-Que | |
| 22 | AIN'T THAT RICH | |
| 23 | Old Virginia Smoke | |
| 24 | Pappy's Q | |
| 25 | Beer Time BBQ | |
| 26 | Top Gun | |
| 27 | Fat Maxine's | |
| 28 | All Hogged Up | |
| 29 | Mullen It Over BBQ | |
| 30 | Up in Smokers | |
| 31 | Drilling And Grilling BBQ Team | |
| 32 | Wolf's Revenge BBQ | |
| 33 | SweetBelly's BBQ | |
| 34 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 35 | PJ's Magic Smoke | |
| 36 | Grandpa Vals BBQ | |
| 37 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 38 | Hot and Slow | |
| 39 | 30Q |
Pork
39 entries · top 177.7144 · median 170.8344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Top Gun | |
| 2 | Janky Leg BBQ | |
| 3 | All Hogged Up | |
| 4 | AIN'T THAT RICH | |
| 5 | Red Smoke Bar-B-Que | |
| 6 | Hot and Slow | |
| 7 | Smokin Hoggz BBQ | |
| 8 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 9 | Susquehanna Smokers | |
| 10 | Boggs Hog BBQ | |
| 11 | Bailout Barbecue | |
| 12 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 13 | Beer Time BBQ | |
| 14 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 15 | Smokecraft | |
| 16 | Drilling And Grilling BBQ Team | |
| 17 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 18 | Old Virginia Smoke | |
| 19 | The Fat Is Where Its at BBQ | |
| 20 | 3 Eyz BBQ | |
| 21 | Piggy and swine | |
| 22 | Grandpa Vals BBQ | |
| 23 | SweetBelly's BBQ | |
| 24 | Muttley Crew BBQ | |
| 25 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 26 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 27 | Smokin Skullies | |
| 28 | Wolf's Revenge BBQ | |
| 29 | Fat Maxine's | |
| 30 | Mullen It Over BBQ | |
| 31 | PJ's Magic Smoke | |
| 32 | B's Que | |
| 33 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 34 | GigaBite BBQ | |
| 35 | 4 Boxers Q | |
| 36 | 30Q | |
| 37 | Up in Smokers | |
| 38 | Smokey Anderson BBQ | |
| 39 | Pappy's Q |
Brisket
39 entries · top 178.2972 · median 170.8456
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boggs Hog BBQ | |
| 2 | The Fat Is Where Its at BBQ | |
| 3 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 4 | Smokecraft | |
| 5 | Janky Leg BBQ | |
| 6 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | |
| 7 | B's Que | |
| 8 | Hot and Slow | |
| 9 | Muttley Crew BBQ | |
| 10 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 11 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 12 | Smokey Anderson BBQ | |
| 13 | Top Gun | |
| 14 | GigaBite BBQ | |
| 15 | 4 Boxers Q | |
| 16 | Susquehanna Smokers | |
| 17 | Grandpa Vals BBQ | |
| 18 | Piggy and swine | |
| 19 | Old Virginia Smoke | |
| 20 | Beer Time BBQ | |
| 21 | 3 Eyz BBQ | |
| 22 | HotMess BBQ | |
| 23 | Wolf's Revenge BBQ | |
| 24 | SweetBelly's BBQ | |
| 25 | Fat Maxine's | |
| 26 | Smokin Hoggz BBQ | |
| 27 | Smokin Skullies | |
| 28 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 29 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 30 | Drilling And Grilling BBQ Team | |
| 31 | All Hogged Up | |
| 32 | PJ's Magic Smoke | |
| 33 | AIN'T THAT RICH | |
| 34 | Red Smoke Bar-B-Que | |
| 35 | Up in Smokers | |
| 36 | Bailout Barbecue | |
| 37 | 30Q | |
| 38 | Mullen It Over BBQ | |
| 39 | Pappy's Q |
Backyard Series
Overall
30 entries · top 347.3828 · median 338.2172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rough Cut Q | |
| 2 | Leaning Jowler BBQ | |
| 3 | Tame the Flame BBQ | |
| 4 | Capt. Blue BBQ | |
| 5 | All About the Wood | |
| 6 | Fire & Shine BBQ | |
| 7 | The Swine Doctor's BBQ | |
| 8 | Oink N' Doink BBQ | |
| 9 | Hot Thang | |
| 10 | Clean Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 11 | Backwooder BBQ | |
| 12 | Yardogs BBQ | |
| 13 | Squeals Like the First Time | |
| 14 | Brewski's BBQ | |
| 15 | Better Half Barbecue | |
| 16 | Shaky Swine | |
| 17 | Broomstick BBQ | |
| 18 | Sticky Bones BBQ | |
| 19 | Pinky Out BBQ | |
| 20 | At the Cross | |
| 21 | Stroked Out Cooking Team | |
| 22 | Stewie's BBQ | |
| 23 | Bastian's Barbecue Co. | |
| 24 | Castleton 'Q | |
| 25 | Coal Cracker BBQ | |
| 26 | K-Town Pit Que | |
| 27 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 28 | Estancia | |
| 29 | Purple Panda | |
| 30 | The Heef Pit |
Chicken
30 entries · top 180.0000 · median 170.8228 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yardogs BBQ | |
| 2 | Brewski's BBQ | |
| 3 | The Swine Doctor's BBQ | |
| 4 | Squeals Like the First Time | |
| 5 | Oink N' Doink BBQ | |
| 6 | Capt. Blue BBQ | |
| 7 | Sticky Bones BBQ | |
| 8 | K-Town Pit Que | |
| 9 | Rough Cut Q | |
| 10 | All About the Wood | |
| 11 | Hot Thang | |
| 12 | Tame the Flame BBQ | |
| 13 | Pinky Out BBQ | |
| 14 | Clean Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 15 | Leaning Jowler BBQ | |
| 16 | Broomstick BBQ | |
| 17 | Fire & Shine BBQ | |
| 18 | Shaky Swine | |
| 19 | Castleton 'Q | |
| 20 | Stroked Out Cooking Team | |
| 21 | Better Half Barbecue | |
| 22 | Stewie's BBQ | |
| 23 | At the Cross | |
| 24 | Backwooder BBQ | |
| 25 | Bastian's Barbecue Co. | |
| 26 | Coal Cracker BBQ | |
| 27 | Purple Panda | |
| 28 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 29 | Estancia | |
| 30 | The Heef Pit |
Pork Ribs
30 entries · top 177.7028 · median 168.2572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Backwooder BBQ | |
| 2 | Fire & Shine BBQ | |
| 3 | Leaning Jowler BBQ | |
| 4 | Rough Cut Q | |
| 5 | Tame the Flame BBQ | |
| 6 | Better Half Barbecue | |
| 7 | Clean Smoke BBQ Team | |
| 8 | All About the Wood | |
| 9 | Bastian's Barbecue Co. | |
| 10 | Hot Thang | |
| 11 | Capt. Blue BBQ | |
| 12 | Coal Cracker BBQ | |
| 13 | At the Cross | |
| 14 | Shaky Swine | |
| 15 | Oink N' Doink BBQ | |
| 16 | Stewie's BBQ | |
| 17 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 18 | Stroked Out Cooking Team | |
| 19 | The Swine Doctor's BBQ | |
| 20 | Broomstick BBQ | |
| 21 | Squeals Like the First Time | |
| 22 | Brewski's BBQ | |
| 23 | Pinky Out BBQ | |
| 24 | Sticky Bones BBQ | |
| 25 | Yardogs BBQ | |
| 26 | Castleton 'Q | |
| 27 | Estancia | |
| 28 | Purple Panda | |
| 29 | K-Town Pit Que | |
| 30 | The Heef 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 — Dessert
17 entries · top 180.0000 · median 174.2744 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PJ's Magic Smoke | |
| 2 | Boggs Hog BBQ | |
| 3 | Purple Panda | |
| 4 | All About the Wood | |
| 5 | The Heef Pit-2 | |
| 6 | SweetBelly's BBQ | |
| 7 | Kiss my Ash | |
| 8 | Broomstick BBQ | |
| 9 | The Heef Pit | |
| 10 | Grandpa Vals BBQ | |
| 11 | Sticky Bones BBQ | |
| 12 | Pappy's Q | |
| 13 | Stroked Out Cooking Team | |
| 14 | Tame the Flame BBQ | |
| 15 | 30Q | |
| 16 | GigaBite BBQ | |
| 17 | The Fat Is Where Its at BBQ |