A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 3 tracked editions
Kick Ash BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 3 tracked editions.
- 2026
- 2026
Smokin Ribs for the Kids (ONE MEAT RIBS) 2026
Aug 28, 2026 · Cherry Valley, IL · 📍 218 South Walnut Street
Reps: Charlie Brinza, Jeanne Titus · Prize money: $500
Grand Champion: Wapatui Smokers (180) · 12 teams
Full results from the Smokin Ribs for the Kids (ONE MEAT RIBS) 2026, a KCBS-sanctioned barbecue contest held on August 28, 2026 in Cherry Valley, IL at 218 South Walnut Street. Category winners: Pork Ribs — Wapatui Smokers (180.0000). This is the 2nd of 3 editions of this contest on record; the 2026 edition was won by Kick Ash BBQ; the next was held in 2026.
The contest at a glance (read off the scored boards)
How the field scored
Pork Ribs totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
154.23
median 170.54
180 🏆
Entries
12
1 judged meat · 2 ancillary
Top score
180
Winning margin
1.1428
1st over 2nd in Pork Ribs
Field average
170.18
154.23180
Pork Ribs · median 170.54 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
8.0344 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
166.2856
154.23180
10th place in Pork Ribs
Field spread
25.7716
winner to last place
Prize money
$500
on the line
How hot was the win?
Top 12%
beats 88% of 5807 Pork Ribs wins in the data
Storylines (3 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
0.0116
closest of 2 calls decided inside half a point
Pork Ribs places 8–9: We Will Rock Que edged Shmack Q by 0.0116. Pork Ribs places 4–5: Bud Days BBQ edged Weez's Groovin' BBQ by 0.0688.
- Pork Ribs 8–9 · 0.0116
- Pork Ribs 4–5 · 0.0688
A perfect score on the table
1
perfect 180s
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- Wapatui Smokers · Pork Ribs
Score curves (score by finishing position — steep cliffs mean a spread field, flat lines a knife fight)
Score distribution
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 2026 | Cherry Valley, IL | 218 South Walnut Street | 24 | 357.7144 | Kick Ash BBQ |
| Aug 28, 2026 ← this one | 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 |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 171.9656 | 166.2856 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Masters Series Single Meat
Pork Ribs
12 entries · top 180 · median 170.5370 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 2 | Tankerbelle BBQ | |
| 3 | Sky High BBQ | |
| 4 | Bud Days BBQ | |
| 5 | Weez's Groovin' BBQ | |
| 6 | Southern Bandit BBQ | |
| 7 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 8 | We Will Rock Que | |
| 9 | Shmack Q | |
| 10 | Jessi James Smoking Guns BBQ | |
| 11 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 12 | Father & Son 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.