A new contest record
699.9660
highest overall ever cooked here
699.9660 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 696.0000 Spitfire set in 2019.
- old record 696.0000
- set 2019 by Spitfire
GOBS Que (DAY 1) 2021
Aug 13–14, 2021 · Arlington, NE · 📍 23656 Hwy 30 · State championship
Reps: Dena Milhous, Ron Milhous · Prize money: $3,200
PORKY BUTTS BBQ won Grand Champion at the GOBS Que (DAY 1) on August 13, 2021 in Arlington, NE at 23656 Hwy 30, scoring 699.9660 in a field of 26 teams. IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 698.2056. Category winners: Chicken — PORKY BUTTS BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — SLAPS BBQ (176.5716); Pork — Who Dat BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ (173.1200). The Backyard Series standings were won by ZIP Q with 309.7716. This is the 2nd of 3 editions of this contest on record; the 2019 edition was won by Spitfire; the next was held in 2021.
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.
485.05
median 671.58
699.97 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 180 🔥
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 176.57
- Master Series — Pork 180 🔥
- Master Series — Brisket 173.12
- Backyard Series — Chicken 156.03
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 153.74
126.32
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2019 to 2021 — this edition picked out.
Entries
26
6 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
699.9660
Winning margin
1.7604
GC over RC
Field average
657.77
485.05699.97
median 671.58 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Brisket
2.2856 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
676.4688
485.05699.97
10th place overall
Field spread
214.9148
winner to last place
Prize money
$3,200
on the line
Double threats
8
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 33%
beats 67% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
30%
10 of 33 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.49 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,614
avg power rating going in · stronger than 85% of contests
Storylines (8 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 12 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 7–8: HOG HAMMER BBQ and IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ tied on 171.9656 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork places 3–4: PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G and IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork places 8–9: SMOKEY AND HIS BANDITS and FAIRWAY SMOKERS tied on 170.8228 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Master Series — Pork 3–4 · tie
- Master Series — Pork 8–9 · tie
- Master Series — Brisket 7–8 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
ZIP Q won Chicken, Pork Ribs — a double.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
PORKY BUTTS BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 5th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 4th
- Pork 5th
- Brisket 2nd
A contest record in chicken
180.0000
best chicken ever cooked here
PORKY BUTTS BBQ turned in 180.0000 in chicken — past the 176.5828 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 176.5828
- across 1 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Spitfire (won 2019).
- Spitfire · 2019
The contest returns
2 yrs
since the last edition
This contest was away for 2 years — the previous tracked edition ran on 2019-08-09.
- previous edition 2019-08-09
A perfect score on the table
2
perfect 180s
2 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- PORKY BUTTS BBQ · Chicken
- Who Dat BBQ · Pork
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 9, 2019 | Arlington, NE | 23656 HWY 30 | 29 | 696 | Spitfire | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ |
| Aug 13, 2021 ← this one | Arlington, NE | 23656 Hwy 30 | 26 | 699.9660 | Porky Butts BBQ | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ |
| Aug 14, 2021 | Arlington, NE | 23656 Hwy 30 | 25 | 698.8228 | IOWA'S Smokey D's BBQ | SLAPS BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180 | 172.5484 | 170.8228 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 176.5716 | 170.2744 | 167.9772 |
| Master Series — Pork | 180 | 174.2744 | 170.2628 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 173.1200 | 170.8344 | 169.1200 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 156.0344 | 134.2972 | — |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 153.7372 | 133.6684 | — |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
26 entries · top 699.9660 · median 671.5828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | |
| 2 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 3 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 4 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 5 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 6 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 7 | SMOKEY AND HIS BANDITS | |
| 8 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | |
| 9 | HOG HAMMER BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 11 | Ambition Que | |
| 12 | SMOKIN K | |
| 13 | SPITFIRE | |
| 14 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | |
| 15 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 16 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 17 | MadChad's BBQ | |
| 18 | S.O.L. BBQ | |
| 19 | RICHIE Z's | |
| 20 | 2FishQ | |
| 21 | Dirt Crüe BBQ | |
| 22 | BORGY THE BBQ BUTCHER | |
| 23 | ELWOOD BBQ | |
| 24 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 25 | SMOKE ON ARRIVAL | |
| 26 | HELPING U BBQ |
Chicken
26 entries · top 180 · median 168.2572 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | |
| 2 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 3 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | |
| 4 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 5 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 6 | SPITFIRE | |
| 7 | HOG HAMMER BBQ | |
| 8 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKIN K | |
| 10 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 11 | SMOKEY AND HIS BANDITS | |
| 12 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 13 | MadChad's BBQ | |
| 14 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | |
| 15 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 16 | RICHIE Z's | |
| 17 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 18 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 19 | Dirt Crüe BBQ | |
| 20 | Ambition Que | |
| 21 | HELPING U BBQ | |
| 22 | BORGY THE BBQ BUTCHER | |
| 23 | ELWOOD BBQ | |
| 24 | S.O.L. BBQ | |
| 25 | 2FishQ | |
| 26 | SMOKE ON ARRIVAL |
Pork Ribs
25 entries · top 176.5716 · median 165.6916
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 2 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 3 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 4 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | |
| 5 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 6 | SMOKEY AND HIS BANDITS | |
| 7 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | |
| 8 | MadChad's BBQ | |
| 9 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 10 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 11 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | |
| 12 | HOG HAMMER BBQ | |
| 13 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 14 | S.O.L. BBQ | |
| 15 | 2FishQ | |
| 16 | ELWOOD BBQ | |
| 17 | BORGY THE BBQ BUTCHER | |
| 18 | Dirt Crüe BBQ | |
| 19 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 20 | SPITFIRE | |
| 21 | SMOKIN K | |
| 22 | Ambition Que | |
| 23 | RICHIE Z's | |
| 24 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 25 | SMOKE ON ARRIVAL |
Pork
26 entries · top 180 · median 168.5314 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 2 | Ambition Que | |
| 3 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | |
| 4 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 5 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKIN K | |
| 7 | MadChad's BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKEY AND HIS BANDITS | |
| 9 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 10 | S.O.L. BBQ | |
| 11 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 12 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 13 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 14 | HOG HAMMER BBQ | |
| 15 | SPITFIRE | |
| 16 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 17 | ELWOOD BBQ | |
| 18 | RICHIE Z's | |
| 19 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 20 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | |
| 21 | 2FishQ | |
| 22 | HELPING U BBQ | |
| 23 | Dirt Crüe BBQ | |
| 24 | BORGY THE BBQ BUTCHER | |
| 25 | SMOKE ON ARRIVAL | |
| 26 | GRILLIN' GRINDES |
Brisket
26 entries · top 173.1200 · median 167.6856
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 2 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | |
| 3 | 2FishQ | |
| 4 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 5 | SPITFIRE | |
| 6 | HOG HAMMER BBQ | |
| 7 | Ambition Que | |
| 8 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKEY AND HIS BANDITS | |
| 10 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 11 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 12 | SMOKIN K | |
| 13 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | |
| 14 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 15 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 16 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 17 | BORGY THE BBQ BUTCHER | |
| 18 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | |
| 19 | HELPING U BBQ | |
| 20 | Dirt Crüe BBQ | |
| 21 | RICHIE Z's | |
| 22 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 23 | S.O.L. BBQ | |
| 24 | MadChad's BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKE ON ARRIVAL | |
| 26 | ELWOOD BBQ |
Backyard Series
Overall
6 entries · top 309.7716 · median 275.1144
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZIP Q | |
| 2 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 3 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 4 | MAGNUM P.I.G. MN BBQ TEAM | |
| 5 | Good Grefe! | |
| 6 | SMOKIN FINE MAKIN SWINE |
Chicken
6 entries · top 156.0344 · median 140.2514
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZIP Q | |
| 2 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 3 | MAGNUM P.I.G. MN BBQ TEAM | |
| 4 | Good Grefe! | |
| 5 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 6 | SMOKIN FINE MAKIN SWINE |
Pork Ribs
6 entries · top 153.7372 · median 138.5714
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZIP Q | |
| 2 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 3 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 4 | SMOKIN FINE MAKIN SWINE | |
| 5 | Good Grefe! | |
| 6 | MAGNUM P.I.G. MN BBQ TEAM |
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
23 entries · top 180 · median 163.3944 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 2 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 3 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 4 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 6 | Bohica BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKEY AND HIS BANDITS | |
| 8 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | |
| 9 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 10 | 2FishQ | |
| 11 | SMOKIN K | |
| 12 | S.O.L. BBQ | |
| 13 | SMOKIN FINE MAKIN SWINE | |
| 14 | MAGNUM P.I.G. MN BBQ TEAM | |
| 15 | SPITFIRE | |
| 16 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 17 | ZIP Q | |
| 18 | BORGY THE BBQ BUTCHER | |
| 19 | ELWOOD BBQ | |
| 20 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 21 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 22 | SMOKE ON ARRIVAL | |
| 23 | Ambition Que |