A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 14 tracked editions
SLIPPERY PETE'S BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 14 tracked editions.
- 2015
- 2019
Marietta River City BBQ 2021
Apr 23–24, 2021 · Marietta, OH · 📍 Washington County Fairgrounds · State championship
Reps: Scott Grinstead, Steve Grinstead · Prize money: $5,200
UNDER THE RADAR won Grand Champion at the Marietta River City BBQ on April 23, 2021 in Marietta, OH at Washington County Fairgrounds, scoring 695.9884 in a field of 29 teams. PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS took Reserve Grand Champion with 690.8916. Category winners: Chicken — BooyaQ (178.8800); Pork Ribs — UNDER THE RADAR (178.2972); Pork — Baby B’s BBQ (173.1544); Brisket — BO B Q BBQ (177.7028). The Backyard Series standings were won by Full Throttle BBQ with 346.9032. This is the 6th of 14 editions of this contest on record; the 2019 edition was won by Slippery Pete's 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.
590.66
median 666.25
695.99 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 178.88
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 178.30
- Master Series — Pork 173.15
- Master Series — Brisket 177.70
- Backyard Series — Chicken 175.47
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 171.43
140.50
178.88
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2015 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
29
6 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
695.9884
Winning margin
5.0968
GC over RC
Field average
660.58
590.66695.99
median 666.25 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
1.7260 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
678.2628
590.66695.99
10th place overall
Field spread
105.3256
winner to last place
Prize money
$5,200
on the line
Double threats
7
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 49%
beats 51% of 4714 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
42%
11 of 26 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.53 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,550
avg power rating going in · stronger than 38% of contests
Storylines (6 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 15 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Pork Ribs places 6–7: THE BBQ BUS and ELEGANTLY VIOLENT BBQ tied on 172.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 8–9: BO B Q BBQ and BEER TIME BBQ tied on 171.4400 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork places 2–3: TIRE SMOKE BBQ and UNDER THE RADAR tied on 171.9656 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 6–7 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 8–9 · tie
- Master Series — Pork 2–3 · tie
- Master Series — Pork 5–6 · 0.0112
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
Full Throttle BBQ won Chicken, Pork Ribs — a double.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
UNDER THE RADAR took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was brisket at 12th.
- Chicken 3rd
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 3rd
- Brisket 12th
A contest record in pork ribs
178.2972
best pork ribs ever cooked here
UNDER THE RADAR turned in 178.2972 in pork ribs — past the 177.7372 that had stood across 5 earlier editions.
- old best 177.7372
- across 5 past editions
The biggest field yet
29
teams — a contest high
This contest usually draws about 18 teams
29 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 18.
This contest's own records (1 in the KCBS record book)
Records held by every edition of this contest put together, not just this one afternoon.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2015 | Marietta, OH | Marietta, OH 43724 | 17 | 705.1432 | SLIPPERY PETE'S BBQ | 2 WORTHLESS NUTS, NATURAL BORN GRILLERS |
| Jun 10, 2016 | Marietta, OH | Marietta, OH | 20 | 695.3716 | SPITTIN' FEATHERS BBQ | FOOMANCHOO BBQ |
| Jun 9, 2017 | Marietta, OH | 922 Front St.( Washington County Fairgrounds) | 16 | 698.2400 | CONTAGIOUS Q | BROTHA K'S BOARBECUE |
| Jun 8, 2018 | Marietta, OH | 922 Front St.( Washington County Fairgrounds) | 11 | 695.9544 | CONTAGIOUS Q | 270 SMOKERS |
| Apr 26, 2019 | Marietta, OH | 922 Front St.( Washington County Fairgrounds) | 26 | 686.8228 | Slippery Pete's BBQ | SPITTIN' FEATHERS BBQ |
| Apr 23, 2021 ← this one | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 29 | 695.9884 | Under the Radar | PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS |
| Apr 29, 2022 | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 25 | 698.8000 | Peace, Love & Smokiness | SmokinGhost BBQ |
| Apr 28, 2023 | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 42 | 701.6800 | High on the Hog | UNDER THE RADAR |
| Apr 28, 2023 | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 18 | 178.8572 | The BBQ Bus | — |
| Apr 26, 2024 | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 13 | 705.6800 | Chunky BBQ | CONVICTED PIGS BBQ |
| Apr 26, 2024 | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 6 | 180 | Chunky BBQ | — |
| Apr 25, 2025 | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 10 | 702.8460 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | T & S BBQ |
| Apr 25, 2025 | Marietta, OH | — | — | — | — | — |
| Apr 24, 2026 | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 15 | 696.5716 | Beer Time BBQ | Freedom Meat Repeat |
| Apr 24, 2026 | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 11 | 176.5600 | Puddleduck BBQ | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 178.8800 | 173.7028 | 170.2744 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 178.2972 | 173.7488 | 170.8456 |
| Master Series — Pork | 173.1544 | 171.4284 | 168.5600 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 177.7028 | 174.2972 | 172.0228 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 175.4744 | 159.4056 | — |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 171.4288 | 151.3828 | — |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
29 entries · top 695.9884 · median 666.2512
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 2 | PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS | |
| 3 | BO B Q BBQ | |
| 4 | ELEGANTLY VIOLENT BBQ | |
| 5 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 6 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 7 | BooyaQ | |
| 8 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 9 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 10 | Smitty's Real Pit BBQ | |
| 11 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 12 | HIGH ON THE HOG OHIO | |
| 13 | CONVICTED PIGS BBQ | |
| 14 | Taken Care of BBQ | |
| 15 | GO BIG OR GO BBQ | |
| 16 | Baby B’s BBQ | |
| 17 | MORT'S MEAT MAFIA | |
| 18 | BROTHERS OF OHIO BBQ | |
| 19 | FOOMANCHOO BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKE RIDER | |
| 21 | CIRCLE L BBQ | |
| 22 | JOE'S SMOKIN' HOLE BBQ | |
| 23 | SUCKA BONE BBQ TEAM | |
| 24 | BG's Badass BBQ | |
| 25 | What Up Grill | |
| 26 | Mountain State Q | |
| 27 | Moonshine Mike's BBQ | |
| 28 | DU-LITTLE BBQ | |
| 29 | Smoked Wright Bbq |
Chicken
29 entries · top 178.8800 · median 165.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BooyaQ | |
| 2 | ELEGANTLY VIOLENT BBQ | |
| 3 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 4 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 5 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 6 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 7 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 8 | BO B Q BBQ | |
| 9 | Smitty's Real Pit BBQ | |
| 10 | PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS | |
| 11 | HIGH ON THE HOG OHIO | |
| 12 | SMOKE RIDER | |
| 13 | CONVICTED PIGS BBQ | |
| 14 | Taken Care of BBQ | |
| 15 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 16 | GO BIG OR GO BBQ | |
| 17 | FOOMANCHOO BBQ | |
| 18 | JOE'S SMOKIN' HOLE BBQ | |
| 19 | BROTHERS OF OHIO BBQ | |
| 20 | DU-LITTLE BBQ | |
| 21 | BG's Badass BBQ | |
| 22 | SUCKA BONE BBQ TEAM | |
| 23 | CIRCLE L BBQ | |
| 24 | Mountain State Q | |
| 25 | Baby B’s BBQ | |
| 26 | What Up Grill | |
| 27 | Moonshine Mike's BBQ | |
| 28 | MORT'S MEAT MAFIA | |
| 29 | Smoked Wright Bbq |
Pork Ribs
29 entries · top 178.2972 · median 166.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 2 | PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS | |
| 3 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 4 | MORT'S MEAT MAFIA | |
| 5 | Baby B’s BBQ | |
| 6 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 7 | ELEGANTLY VIOLENT BBQ | |
| 8 | BO B Q BBQ | |
| 9 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 10 | Smitty's Real Pit BBQ | |
| 11 | BooyaQ | |
| 12 | Taken Care of BBQ | |
| 13 | CONVICTED PIGS BBQ | |
| 14 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 15 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 16 | CIRCLE L BBQ | |
| 17 | BG's Badass BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKE RIDER | |
| 19 | SUCKA BONE BBQ TEAM | |
| 20 | GO BIG OR GO BBQ | |
| 21 | Mountain State Q | |
| 22 | FOOMANCHOO BBQ | |
| 23 | HIGH ON THE HOG OHIO | |
| 24 | JOE'S SMOKIN' HOLE BBQ | |
| 25 | What Up Grill | |
| 26 | BROTHERS OF OHIO BBQ | |
| 27 | DU-LITTLE BBQ | |
| 28 | Smoked Wright Bbq | |
| 29 | Moonshine Mike's BBQ |
Pork
29 entries · top 173.1544 · median 166.2512
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baby B’s BBQ | |
| 2 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 3 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 4 | PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS | |
| 5 | BROTHERS OF OHIO BBQ | |
| 6 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 7 | ELEGANTLY VIOLENT BBQ | |
| 8 | HIGH ON THE HOG OHIO | |
| 9 | GO BIG OR GO BBQ | |
| 10 | BO B Q BBQ | |
| 11 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 12 | Moonshine Mike's BBQ | |
| 13 | Taken Care of BBQ | |
| 14 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 15 | CIRCLE L BBQ | |
| 16 | FOOMANCHOO BBQ | |
| 17 | Smitty's Real Pit BBQ | |
| 18 | CONVICTED PIGS BBQ | |
| 19 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 20 | BG's Badass BBQ | |
| 21 | What Up Grill | |
| 22 | SUCKA BONE BBQ TEAM | |
| 23 | MORT'S MEAT MAFIA | |
| 24 | Mountain State Q | |
| 25 | DU-LITTLE BBQ | |
| 26 | BooyaQ | |
| 27 | JOE'S SMOKIN' HOLE BBQ | |
| 28 | Smoked Wright Bbq | |
| 29 | SMOKE RIDER |
Brisket
29 entries · top 177.7028 · median 168
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BO B Q BBQ | |
| 2 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 3 | BooyaQ | |
| 4 | HIGH ON THE HOG OHIO | |
| 5 | PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS | |
| 6 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 7 | SMOKE RIDER | |
| 8 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 9 | CONVICTED PIGS BBQ | |
| 10 | ELEGANTLY VIOLENT BBQ | |
| 11 | Smitty's Real Pit BBQ | |
| 12 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 13 | GO BIG OR GO BBQ | |
| 14 | MORT'S MEAT MAFIA | |
| 15 | Taken Care of BBQ | |
| 16 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 17 | JOE'S SMOKIN' HOLE BBQ | |
| 18 | FOOMANCHOO BBQ | |
| 19 | BROTHERS OF OHIO BBQ | |
| 20 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 21 | Baby B’s BBQ | |
| 22 | Moonshine Mike's BBQ | |
| 23 | CIRCLE L BBQ | |
| 24 | What Up Grill | |
| 25 | SUCKA BONE BBQ TEAM | |
| 26 | Smoked Wright Bbq | |
| 27 | Mountain State Q | |
| 28 | DU-LITTLE BBQ | |
| 29 | BG's Badass BBQ |
Backyard Series
Overall
8 entries · top 346.9032 · median 306.2686
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full Throttle BBQ | |
| 2 | D’Qued Barbeque | |
| 3 | Ham Squad | |
| 4 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 5 | T & S BBQ | |
| 6 | Devil's Palate | |
| 7 | Michael's BBQ | |
| 8 | 81 Q |
Chicken
8 entries · top 175.4744 · median 160.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full Throttle BBQ | |
| 2 | D’Qued Barbeque | |
| 3 | Michael's BBQ | |
| 4 | Devil's Palate | |
| 5 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 6 | Ham Squad | |
| 7 | T & S BBQ | |
| 8 | 81 Q |
Pork Ribs
8 entries · top 171.4288 · median 151.3886
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full Throttle BBQ | |
| 2 | D’Qued Barbeque | |
| 3 | Ham Squad | |
| 4 | T & S BBQ | |
| 5 | 81 Q | |
| 6 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 7 | Devil's Palate | |
| 8 | Michael's BBQ |
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.
Turkey Smoke Series — Turkey Smoke
31 entries · top 178.8572 · median 164
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CONVICTED PIGS BBQ | |
| 2 | Smoked Wright Bbq | |
| 3 | Smitty's Real Pit BBQ | |
| 4 | BROTHERS OF OHIO BBQ | |
| 5 | Full Throttle BBQ | |
| 6 | SUCKA BONE BBQ TEAM | |
| 7 | ELEGANTLY VIOLENT BBQ | |
| 8 | Shiggin aint easy | |
| 9 | GO BIG OR GO BBQ | |
| 10 | Mountain State Q | |
| 11 | Ham Squad | |
| 12 | T & S BBQ | |
| 13 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKE RIDER | |
| 15 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 16 | Baby B’s BBQ | |
| 17 | Michael's BBQ | |
| 18 | D’Qued Barbeque | |
| 19 | BG's Badass BBQ | |
| 20 | CIRCLE L BBQ | |
| 21 | JOE'S SMOKIN' HOLE BBQ | |
| 22 | FOOMANCHOO BBQ | |
| 23 | 81 Q | |
| 24 | What Up Grill | |
| 25 | PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS | |
| 26 | BooyaQ | |
| 27 | Moonshine Mike's BBQ | |
| 28 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 29 | HIGH ON THE HOG OHIO | |
| 30 | MORT'S MEAT MAFIA | |
| 31 | Taken Care of BBQ |