A razor-thin finish
0.5716
points between champion and reserve
Closer than 90% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.5716 points — closer than 90% of every championship in the data.
- Pits N Grill
- BYO GRILL
Smokin on the Osage (Day 2) 2020
Jul 18–19, 2020 · Osceola, MO · State championship
Reps: Donna Young, Ed Young · Prize money: $5,000
Pits and Grills won Grand Champion at the Smokin on the Osage (Day 2) on July 18, 2020 in Osceola, MO, scoring 706.3088 in a field of 31 teams. BYO GRILL took Reserve Grand Champion with 705.7372. Category winners: Chicken — BOOMERANG BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — GRAY WOLF BBQ (180.0000); Pork — Cook Shack BBQ (179.4400); Brisket — DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK (179.4400). This is the 2nd of 5 editions of this contest on record; the 2020 edition was won by Double Barrel BBQ; the next was held in 2022.
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.
637.55
median 686.27
706.31 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180 🔥
- Pork Ribs 180 🔥
- Pork 179.44
- Brisket 179.44
154.24
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2020 to 2024 — this edition picked out.
Entries
31
4 judged meats
Top score
706.3088
Winning margin
0.5716
GC over RC
Field average
681.69
637.55706.31
median 686.27 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
2.2628 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
694.8116
637.55706.31
10th place overall
Field spread
68.7544
winner to last place
Prize money
$5,000
on the line
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 10%
beats 90% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
93%
27 of 29 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.64 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,629
avg power rating going in · stronger than 90% of contests
Storylines (10 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.
A new contest record
706.3088
highest overall ever cooked here
706.3088 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 692.5600 Double Barrel BBQ set in 2020.
- old record 692.5600
- set 2020 by Double Barrel BBQ
An upset on the books
8-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 92 times in 100
Pits and Grills came in rated below the field's top team, BOOMERANG BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 8-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1557
- top seed 1978
Won without a category win
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
Pits and Grills won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 2nd
- Pork Ribs 2nd
- Pork 8th
- Brisket 7th
A day of perfect scores
4
perfect 180s
4 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- BOOMERANG BBQ · Chicken
- Pits and Grills · Chicken
- LA PASADITA · Chicken
A stacked field
1629
average power rating going in
Stronger than 90% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1629 power rating going in — stronger than 90% of every contest tracked.
- top seed BOOMERANG BBQ (1978)
- 31 rated teams
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 12 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 1–2: BOOMERANG BBQ and Pits and Grills tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 2–3: Pits and Grills and LA PASADITA tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 9–10: RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ and SMOKE THIS BBQ MO tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Chicken 2–3 · tie
- Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Pork Ribs 5–6 · tie
A contest record in pork
179.4400
best pork ever cooked here
Cook Shack BBQ turned in 179.4400 in pork — past the 175.4400 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 175.4400
- across 1 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Double Barrel BBQ (won 2020).
- Double Barrel BBQ · 2020
They keep coming back
93%
of last edition’s field returned
27 of 29 teams from 2020-07-17 came back
27 of the 29 teams that cooked the previous edition came back for this one — a contest people put on the calendar.
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 17, 2020 | Osceola, MO | Osceola, MO 64776 | 29 | 692.5600 | Double Barrel BBQ | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ |
| Jul 18, 2020 ← this one | Osceola, MO | Osceola, MO 64776 | 31 | 706.3088 | Pits N Grill | BYO GRILL |
| Jul 23, 2022 | Osceola, MO | 140 Parkview Drive | 26 | 698.2284 | Slaps | 4 LEGS UP BBQ |
| Jul 22, 2023 | Osceola, MO | 140 Parkview Drive | 28 | 705.0972 | PORKY BUTTS | GETTIN' BASTED |
| Jul 20, 2024 | Osceola, MO | 140 Parkview Drive | 33 | 713.1316 | Janky Leg BBQ | TRIPLE H BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 177.7372 | 176.5600 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 176.5600 | 174.2972 |
| Pork | 179.4400 | 175.4288 | 173.1544 |
| Brisket | 179.4400 | 174.8456 | 171.4172 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
31 entries · top 706.3088 · median 686.2744
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pits and Grills | |
| 2 | BYO GRILL | |
| 3 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK | |
| 4 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 5 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 6 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | |
| 7 | Cook Shack BBQ | |
| 8 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 9 | LA PASADITA | |
| 10 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 11 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 12 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 13 | UNCLE FEOL'S TENNESSEE STYLE BBQ | |
| 14 | COMING IN HOT STL | |
| 15 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 16 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 18 | Hicks from the Sticks | |
| 19 | UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC | |
| 20 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 21 | Hogzilla | |
| 22 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 24 | CROSSFIRE BBQ | |
| 25 | Notch 9 | |
| 26 | PAPA SEAN'S BBQ | |
| 27 | BLIND HOG BBQ | |
| 28 | B and B BBQ | |
| 29 | Rockin' Rackley's | |
| 30 | Wobbly Hog BBQ | |
| 31 | BIG CREEK BBQ |
Chicken
31 entries · top 180 · median 173.7028 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 2 | Pits and Grills | |
| 3 | LA PASADITA | |
| 4 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 5 | BYO GRILL | |
| 6 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 7 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 8 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 9 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 11 | UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC | |
| 12 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 13 | Rockin' Rackley's | |
| 14 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 15 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 16 | Hogzilla | |
| 17 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 18 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK | |
| 19 | Cook Shack BBQ | |
| 20 | UNCLE FEOL'S TENNESSEE STYLE BBQ | |
| 21 | COMING IN HOT STL | |
| 22 | Hicks from the Sticks | |
| 23 | CROSSFIRE BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 25 | Notch 9 | |
| 26 | PAPA SEAN'S BBQ | |
| 27 | Wobbly Hog BBQ | |
| 28 | B and B BBQ | |
| 29 | BIG CREEK BBQ | |
| 30 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 31 | BLIND HOG BBQ |
Pork Ribs
31 entries · top 180 · median 171.4172 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 2 | Pits and Grills | |
| 3 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | |
| 4 | LA PASADITA | |
| 5 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 7 | UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC | |
| 8 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 9 | Cook Shack BBQ | |
| 10 | BYO GRILL | |
| 11 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 12 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 13 | Hogzilla | |
| 14 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK | |
| 15 | UNCLE FEOL'S TENNESSEE STYLE BBQ | |
| 16 | Notch 9 | |
| 17 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 18 | COMING IN HOT STL | |
| 19 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 20 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 21 | Hicks from the Sticks | |
| 22 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 23 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 24 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 25 | CROSSFIRE BBQ | |
| 26 | PAPA SEAN'S BBQ | |
| 27 | Rockin' Rackley's | |
| 28 | BLIND HOG BBQ | |
| 29 | B and B BBQ | |
| 30 | Wobbly Hog BBQ | |
| 31 | BIG CREEK BBQ |
Pork
31 entries · top 179.4400 · median 171.9656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cook Shack BBQ | |
| 2 | COMING IN HOT STL | |
| 3 | UNCLE FEOL'S TENNESSEE STYLE BBQ | |
| 4 | BYO GRILL | |
| 5 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK | |
| 6 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 7 | Hicks from the Sticks | |
| 8 | Pits and Grills | |
| 9 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 10 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 11 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 13 | B and B BBQ | |
| 14 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 15 | LA PASADITA | |
| 16 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 18 | Hogzilla | |
| 19 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 20 | BLIND HOG BBQ | |
| 21 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 22 | Notch 9 | |
| 23 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 24 | CROSSFIRE BBQ | |
| 25 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 26 | PAPA SEAN'S BBQ | |
| 27 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 28 | UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC | |
| 29 | Rockin' Rackley's | |
| 30 | Wobbly Hog BBQ | |
| 31 | BIG CREEK BBQ |
Brisket
31 entries · top 179.4400 · median 169.7144
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK | |
| 2 | BYO GRILL | |
| 3 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 4 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 5 | B & C SMOKERS | |
| 6 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 7 | Pits and Grills | |
| 8 | Hicks from the Sticks | |
| 9 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 11 | CROSSFIRE BBQ | |
| 12 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 13 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 14 | COMING IN HOT STL | |
| 15 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 16 | UNCLE FEOL'S TENNESSEE STYLE BBQ | |
| 17 | Cook Shack BBQ | |
| 18 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | |
| 19 | GRAY WOLF BBQ | |
| 20 | UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC | |
| 21 | PAPA SEAN'S BBQ | |
| 22 | LA PASADITA | |
| 23 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 24 | Wobbly Hog BBQ | |
| 25 | TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | |
| 26 | BLIND HOG BBQ | |
| 27 | Hogzilla | |
| 28 | Notch 9 | |
| 29 | BIG CREEK BBQ | |
| 30 | Rockin' Rackley's | |
| 31 | B and B BBQ |