Smoke on the Trails
2020-09-11 – 2020-09-12 · Gardner, KS · 📍 32501 W 159th St. · State championship
Reps: FORREST BRUCE, LARRY HADLEY, PEG ROGERS · Prize money: $10,000.00
Grand Champion: Slaps BBQ (704.5372) · 48 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 Happy Grillmore - KS
Entries
48
4 judged meats
Top score
704.5372
Winning margin
Tie
identical totals — KCBS tiebreaker
Field average
664.16
median 678.49
Perfect 180s
5 🔥
Happy Grillmore - KS (Brisket), AMERICAN FIRE BBQ (Brisket), ALL FORKED UP FOR Q (Brisket), TEXAS OIL DUST (Chicken), 4 LEGS UP BBQ (Chicken)
Tightest race
Brisket
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
691.9432
10th place overall
Field spread
137.8852
winner to last place
Prize money
$10,000.00
on the line
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 26%
beats 74% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
10%
of the 48 teams with a home region came from outside KS
Came back for more
42%
22 of 53 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.75 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1553
avg power rating going in · stronger than 58% of contests
Storylines
👑 A dynasty in the making
SLAPS BBQ has won this contest 3 times across its 5 tracked editions.
⚖️ Decided by a tiebreaker
The top two teams finished on identical totals — the Grand Championship came down to the KCBS tiebreaker rules.
🔥 A day of perfect scores
5 perfect 180s were scored at this contest.
🧹 A hat-trick of category wins
Happy Grillmore - KS won Pork Ribs, Pork, Brisket — a hat-trick.
📸 Photo finishes
Chicken places 1–2: TEXAS OIL DUST and 4 LEGS UP BBQ tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 3–4: SMOKE RINGERS and MAN MEAT BBQ tied on 176.5716 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE and BOOM CHICKA COW COW tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🛡️ Back to defend
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: SLAPS BBQ (won 2018), High I Que (won 2019).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-09-29 | Celebration Park 32501 W 159th St | 64 | 706.2856 | CLARK CREW BBQ | PELLET ENVY | |
| 2018-09-28 | Celebration Park 32501 W 159th St | 68 | 705.7028 | SLAPS BBQ | PELLET ENVY | |
| 2019-09-27 | Gardner, KS | Celebration Park 32501 W 159th St | 53 | 691.3484 | High I Que | MAN MEAT BBQ |
| 2020-09-11 ← this one | Gardner, KS | 32501 W 159th St. | 48 | 704.5372 | Slaps BBQ | Happy Grillmore - KS |
| 2021-09-10 | Gardner, KS | Gardner, KS 66030 | 53 | 711.4172 | Slaps BBQ | SMOKE RINGERS |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180.0000 | 176.5600 | 174.8572 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 175.4288 | 173.7144 |
| Pork | 179.4400 | 176.0228 | 173.1200 |
| Brisket | 180.0000 | 177.7028 | 174.8572 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
48 entries · top 704.5372 · median 678.4856
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 2 | Happy Grillmore - KS | |
| 3 | SMOKE RINGERS | |
| 4 | BOOM CHICKA COW COW | |
| 5 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 6 | TEXAS OIL DUST | |
| 7 | Scooters BBQ | |
| 8 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 9 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 10 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 11 | Big Al and the Boys | |
| 12 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 13 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 14 | BONES BRIGADE KC | |
| 15 | Free Range Friends BBQ | |
| 16 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 17 | SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE | |
| 18 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | |
| 19 | GEO SMOKERS | |
| 20 | Aggravation BBQ | |
| 21 | Sublime BBQ | |
| 22 | 3 PIGS SMOKIN | |
| 23 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 24 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 25 | FULL THROTTLE BBQ | |
| 26 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 27 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 28 | Shark Q | |
| 29 | FARM TO FIRE | |
| 30 | DRUM DADDY BBQ | |
| 31 | Wildhouse BBQ | |
| 32 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 33 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 34 | The 28th Amendment | |
| 35 | KC Butt Smokers | |
| 36 | Rhythm & Ribz | |
| 37 | Hogs & Hops BBQ | |
| 38 | Pork Butts and Tator Tots | |
| 39 | Kings of Smoke | |
| 40 | Feline Ferocious Barbecue Team | |
| 41 | Barking Hogs BBQ | |
| 42 | Pork 'n' Butts | |
| 43 | Flying W North BBQ | |
| 44 | Oh my my bbq | |
| 45 | Smokin Somethin | |
| 46 | Bad Boys BBQ | |
| 47 | Smokin' But Not Inhalin' BBQ | |
| 48 | The Lamb Chops |
Chicken
48 entries · top 180.0000 · median 169.4000 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TEXAS OIL DUST | |
| 2 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKE RINGERS | |
| 4 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 5 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 6 | KC Butt Smokers | |
| 7 | SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE | |
| 8 | BOOM CHICKA COW COW | |
| 9 | FARM TO FIRE | |
| 10 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 11 | Scooters BBQ | |
| 12 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 13 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 14 | GEO SMOKERS | |
| 15 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | |
| 16 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 17 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 18 | BONES BRIGADE KC | |
| 19 | Wildhouse BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 21 | Free Range Friends BBQ | |
| 22 | Aggravation BBQ | |
| 23 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 24 | Big Al and the Boys | |
| 25 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 26 | Feline Ferocious Barbecue Team | |
| 27 | Kings of Smoke | |
| 28 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 29 | Happy Grillmore - KS | |
| 30 | DRUM DADDY BBQ | |
| 31 | FULL THROTTLE BBQ | |
| 32 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 33 | 3 PIGS SMOKIN | |
| 34 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 35 | Sublime BBQ | |
| 36 | Shark Q | |
| 37 | Pork Butts and Tator Tots | |
| 38 | Smokin Somethin | |
| 39 | Barking Hogs BBQ | |
| 40 | Rhythm & Ribz | |
| 41 | Hogs & Hops BBQ | |
| 42 | Oh my my bbq | |
| 43 | The 28th Amendment | |
| 44 | Flying W North BBQ | |
| 45 | Bad Boys BBQ | |
| 46 | Pork 'n' Butts | |
| 47 | Smokin' But Not Inhalin' BBQ | |
| 48 | The Lamb Chops |
Pork Ribs
48 entries · top 178.8572 · median 168.2686
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Happy Grillmore - KS | |
| 2 | Aggravation BBQ | |
| 3 | BOOM CHICKA COW COW | |
| 4 | Big Al and the Boys | |
| 5 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 6 | 3 PIGS SMOKIN | |
| 7 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 8 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 9 | Free Range Friends BBQ | |
| 10 | Scooters BBQ | |
| 11 | BONES BRIGADE KC | |
| 12 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 13 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 14 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 15 | Wildhouse BBQ | |
| 16 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 17 | Shark Q | |
| 18 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 19 | TEXAS OIL DUST | |
| 20 | The 28th Amendment | |
| 21 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 22 | FARM TO FIRE | |
| 23 | DRUM DADDY BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 25 | SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE | |
| 26 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 27 | Sublime BBQ | |
| 28 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 29 | FULL THROTTLE BBQ | |
| 30 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 31 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | |
| 32 | SMOKE RINGERS | |
| 33 | GEO SMOKERS | |
| 34 | Pork 'n' Butts | |
| 35 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 36 | Bad Boys BBQ | |
| 37 | KC Butt Smokers | |
| 38 | Pork Butts and Tator Tots | |
| 39 | Barking Hogs BBQ | |
| 40 | Kings of Smoke | |
| 41 | Smokin Somethin | |
| 42 | Feline Ferocious Barbecue Team | |
| 43 | Flying W North BBQ | |
| 44 | Rhythm & Ribz | |
| 45 | Hogs & Hops BBQ | |
| 46 | Oh my my bbq | |
| 47 | Smokin' But Not Inhalin' BBQ | |
| 48 | The Lamb Chops |
Pork
48 entries · top 179.4400 · median 168.5430
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Happy Grillmore - KS | |
| 2 | Sublime BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKE RINGERS | |
| 4 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 5 | FULL THROTTLE BBQ | |
| 6 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 7 | TEXAS OIL DUST | |
| 8 | GEO SMOKERS | |
| 9 | BOOM CHICKA COW COW | |
| 10 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 11 | BONES BRIGADE KC | |
| 12 | Hogs & Hops BBQ | |
| 13 | Scooters BBQ | |
| 14 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 15 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 16 | The 28th Amendment | |
| 17 | SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE | |
| 18 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 19 | Free Range Friends BBQ | |
| 20 | Big Al and the Boys | |
| 21 | 3 PIGS SMOKIN | |
| 22 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 23 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | |
| 24 | Feline Ferocious Barbecue Team | |
| 25 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 26 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 27 | Flying W North BBQ | |
| 28 | FARM TO FIRE | |
| 29 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 30 | KC Butt Smokers | |
| 31 | Rhythm & Ribz | |
| 32 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 33 | Shark Q | |
| 34 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 35 | Aggravation BBQ | |
| 36 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 37 | DRUM DADDY BBQ | |
| 38 | Barking Hogs BBQ | |
| 39 | The Lamb Chops | |
| 40 | Pork Butts and Tator Tots | |
| 41 | Smokin Somethin | |
| 42 | Wildhouse BBQ | |
| 43 | Pork 'n' Butts | |
| 44 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 45 | Smokin' But Not Inhalin' BBQ | |
| 46 | Kings of Smoke | |
| 47 | Oh my my bbq | |
| 48 | Bad Boys BBQ |
Brisket
48 entries · top 180.0000 · median 169.3942 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Happy Grillmore - KS | |
| 2 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 3 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 4 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKE RINGERS | |
| 6 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 7 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 8 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 9 | Big Al and the Boys | |
| 10 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | |
| 11 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 12 | Scooters BBQ | |
| 13 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 14 | GEO SMOKERS | |
| 15 | Sublime BBQ | |
| 16 | BOOMERANG BBQ | |
| 17 | Shark Q | |
| 18 | SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE | |
| 19 | TEXAS OIL DUST | |
| 20 | Aggravation BBQ | |
| 21 | 3 PIGS SMOKIN | |
| 22 | BOOM CHICKA COW COW | |
| 23 | FULL THROTTLE BBQ | |
| 24 | Free Range Friends BBQ | |
| 25 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 26 | BONES BRIGADE KC | |
| 27 | DRUM DADDY BBQ | |
| 28 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 29 | Rhythm & Ribz | |
| 30 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 31 | Oh my my bbq | |
| 32 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 33 | Wildhouse BBQ | |
| 34 | The 28th Amendment | |
| 35 | Kings of Smoke | |
| 36 | Pork 'n' Butts | |
| 37 | FARM TO FIRE | |
| 38 | Pork Butts and Tator Tots | |
| 39 | Hogs & Hops BBQ | |
| 40 | Barking Hogs BBQ | |
| 41 | Flying W North BBQ | |
| 42 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 43 | KC Butt Smokers | |
| 44 | Smokin' But Not Inhalin' BBQ | |
| 45 | Smokin Somethin | |
| 46 | Feline Ferocious Barbecue Team | |
| 47 | Bad Boys BBQ | |
| 48 | The Lamb Chops |