Aug 28–29, 2026 · Cherry Valley, IL · 📍 218 South Walnut Street
Reps: Charlie Brinza, Jeanne Titus · Prize money: $2,700
Kick Ash BBQ won Grand Champion at the Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 1) on August 28, 2026 in Cherry Valley, IL at 218 South Walnut Street, scoring 357.7144 in a field of 24 teams. Hoosier BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 351.9772. Category winners: Chicken — Tankerbelle BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — Kick Ash BBQ (178.8572). This is the 1st of 3 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2026.
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 87 times in 100
Kick Ash BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 13-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
2 of 3 tracked editions
Kick Ash BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 3 tracked editions.
Chicken places 2–3: Hoosier BBQ and Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 3–4: Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que and Kick Ash BBQ tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 5–6: Ribs for Your Pleasure and Weez's Groovin' BBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 2026 ← this one | Cherry Valley, IL | 218 South Walnut Street | 24 | 357.7144 | Kick Ash BBQ |
| Aug 28, 2026 | Cherry Valley, IL | 218 South Walnut Street | 12 | 180 | Wapatui Smokers |
| Aug 28, 2026 | Cherry Valley, IL | 218 South Walnut Street | 25 | 354.2744 | Kick Ash BBQ |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 177.7028 | 173.1084 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 175.4172 | 173.1200 |
24 entries · top 357.7144 · median 333.6514
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kick Ash BBQ | |
| 2 | Hoosier BBQ | |
| 3 | Tankerbelle BBQ | |
| 4 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 5 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 6 | Bramble BBQ | |
| 7 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 8 | Weez's Groovin' BBQ | |
| 9 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 10 | Shmack Q | |
| 11 | All Smoked Up BBQ | |
| 12 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 13 | Big Bear BBQ | |
| 14 | Sky High BBQ | |
| 15 | Bud Days BBQ | |
| 16 | Ribs for Your Pleasure | |
| 17 | Low N Slow BBQ Bros | |
| 18 | Jessi James Smoking Guns BBQ | |
| 19 | Grillers Anonymous | |
| 20 | DSO's BBQ Texas Style | |
| 21 | Ole Mae I BBQ | |
| 22 | Rapped with Smoke BBQ | |
| 23 | Drake Bro's BBQ | |
| 24 | Whatcha Smokin' |
24 entries · top 180 · median 168.8170 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tankerbelle BBQ | |
| 2 | Hoosier BBQ | |
| 3 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 4 | Kick Ash BBQ | |
| 5 | Ribs for Your Pleasure | |
| 6 | Weez's Groovin' BBQ | |
| 7 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 8 | Bud Days BBQ | |
| 9 | Low N Slow BBQ Bros | |
| 10 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 11 | Bramble BBQ | |
| 12 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 13 | All Smoked Up BBQ | |
| 14 | Shmack Q | |
| 15 | Drake Bro's BBQ | |
| 16 | Grillers Anonymous | |
| 17 | Ole Mae I BBQ | |
| 18 | Jessi James Smoking Guns BBQ | |
| 19 | Big Bear BBQ | |
| 20 | Sky High BBQ | |
| 21 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 22 | DSO's BBQ Texas Style | |
| 23 | Rapped with Smoke BBQ | |
| 24 | Whatcha Smokin' |
24 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kick Ash BBQ | |
| 2 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 3 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 4 | Shmack Q | |
| 5 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 6 | Bramble BBQ | |
| 7 | All Smoked Up BBQ | |
| 8 | Sky High BBQ | |
| 9 | Big Bear BBQ | |
| 10 | Hoosier BBQ | |
| 11 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 12 | Tankerbelle BBQ | |
| 13 | Weez's Groovin' BBQ | |
| 14 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 15 | DSO's BBQ Texas Style | |
| 16 | Rapped with Smoke BBQ | |
| 17 | Jessi James Smoking Guns BBQ | |
| 18 | Bud Days BBQ | |
| 19 | Whatcha Smokin' | |
| 20 | Grillers Anonymous | |
| 21 | Low N Slow BBQ Bros | |
| 22 | Ribs for Your Pleasure | |
| 23 | Ole Mae I BBQ | |
| 24 | Drake Bro's BBQ |