A new contest record
711.4172
highest overall ever cooked here
711.4172 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 698.2740 MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ set in 2018.
- old record 698.2740
- set 2018 by MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ
Montana Pitmaster Classic 2021
Aug 27–28, 2021 · Bozeman, MT · State championship
Reps: Steven Flewallen · Prize money: $13,500
MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ won Grand Champion at the Montana Pitmaster Classic on August 27, 2021 in Bozeman, MT, scoring 711.4172 in a field of 31 teams. BEER BELLY BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 700.6292. Category winners: Chicken — MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ (177.1428); Pork — Blue Line BBQ MT (180.0000); Brisket — MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ (177.7144). This is the 4th of 9 editions of this contest on record; the 2019 edition was won by MONTANA OUTLAW 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.
301.65
median 643.97
711.42 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180 🔥
- Pork Ribs 177.14
- Pork 180 🔥
- Brisket 177.71
121.04
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2017 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
31
4 judged meats
Top score
711.4172
Winning margin
10.7880
GC over RC
Field average
634.41
301.65711.42
median 643.97 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
2.8456 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
674.7660
301.65711.42
10th place overall
Field spread
409.7716
winner to last place
Prize money
$13,500
on the line
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 2%
beats 98% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
34%
10 of 29 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.4 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,531
avg power rating going in · stronger than 22% of contests
Storylines (13 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.
An upset on the books
29-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 71 times in 100
MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 29-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1723
- top seed 1877
They will not let it go
4 in a row
editions of this contest
Montana Outlaw BBQ won here last time out too — 4 straight editions of this contest.
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2021
A statement win
10.7880
points clear of the field
Wider than 89% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The champion won by 10.7880 points — a wider margin than 89% of championships in the data.
A hat-trick of category wins
3
category wins in a day
MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ won Chicken, Pork Ribs, Brisket — a hat-trick, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Brisket 1st
A dynasty in the making
4×
wins at this contest
4 of 9 tracked editions
MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ has won this contest 4 times across its 9 tracked editions.
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2021
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 11 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 4–5: SMELLAQUE and HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 2–3: MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ and HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 7–8: Blue Line BBQ MT edged Mountain Smoke BBQ by 0.0116.
- Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Pork 2–3 · tie
- Brisket 7–8 · 0.0116
- Pork Ribs 2–3 · 0.0228
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 3 outright wins — their weakest board was pork at 2nd.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 2nd
- Brisket 1st
A contest record in pork
180.0000
best pork ever cooked here
Blue Line BBQ MT turned in 180.0000 in pork — past the 176.0000 that had stood across 3 earlier editions.
- old best 176.0000
- across 3 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ (won 2017, 2018, 2019).
- MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ · 2017, 2018, 2019
The biggest field yet
31
teams — a contest high
This contest usually draws about 25 teams
31 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 25.
The contest returns
2 yrs
since the last edition
This contest was away for 2 years — the previous tracked edition ran on 2019-08-23.
- previous edition 2019-08-23
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.
- MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ · Chicken
- Blue Line BBQ MT · 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 25, 2017 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak St | 20 | 681.6684 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | BEER BELLY BBQ |
| Aug 24, 2018 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak St | 26 | 698.2740 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | GRATE EXPECTATIONS |
| Aug 23, 2019 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak St | 29 | 691.9888 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | CAMP HOUSE BBQ |
| Aug 27, 2021 ← this one | Bozeman, MT | Bozeman, MT 59717 | 31 | 711.4172 | Montana Outlaw BBQ | BEER BELLY BBQ |
| Aug 26, 2022 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 37 | 706.8688 | BEER BELLY BBQ | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ |
| Aug 25, 2023 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 44 | 705.2116 | Bushmaster BBQ | SMELLAQUE |
| Aug 23, 2024 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 39 | 713.1544 | Piggin' Whiskey | BURNT TREES BBQ |
| Aug 22, 2025 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 38 | 704.5600 | Brinkerhoff BBQ | Mountain Smoke BBQ |
| Aug 28, 2026 | Bozeman, MT | 1243 Oak Street | 39 | 706.8460 | Cocamoke Smoke BBQ | SmellaQue |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 176.5600 | 170.8572 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.1428 | 174.2972 | 170.8572 |
| Pork | 180 | 172.6060 | 167.9540 |
| Brisket | 177.7144 | 174.2972 | 167.4172 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
31 entries · top 711.4172 · median 643.9660
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 2 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 3 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 4 | 202 BBQ | |
| 5 | Owens BBQ | |
| 6 | Mountain Smoke BBQ | |
| 7 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 8 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 9 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 10 | Blue Line BBQ MT | |
| 11 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 12 | Popping Smoke Barbecue | |
| 13 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 14 | BIG PIG BBQ | |
| 15 | Odd Squad BBQ | |
| 16 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 17 | Rolling Smoke BBQ | |
| 18 | Broken Barrel BBQ and Kitchen | |
| 19 | Specialty Forest Products BBQ | |
| 20 | Jay's BBQ and Catering | |
| 21 | Burning the Bone BBQ | |
| 22 | Mad Q BBq | |
| 23 | Double T Bbq | |
| 24 | Random Guys Smoking | |
| 25 | Willy Mo's | |
| 26 | Rosh BBQ | |
| 27 | Taste of Mitch | |
| 28 | Kick Back BBQ | |
| 29 | Upstates1bbq | |
| 30 | G Strong | |
| 31 | Big River BBQ |
Chicken
29 entries · top 180 · median 166.3200 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 2 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 3 | Taste of Mitch | |
| 4 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 5 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 6 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 7 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 8 | Mountain Smoke BBQ | |
| 9 | Blue Line BBQ MT | |
| 10 | Popping Smoke Barbecue | |
| 11 | Owens BBQ | |
| 12 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 13 | 202 BBQ | |
| 14 | Mad Q BBq | |
| 15 | Odd Squad BBQ | |
| 16 | Burning the Bone BBQ | |
| 17 | Random Guys Smoking | |
| 18 | Upstates1bbq | |
| 19 | Rolling Smoke BBQ | |
| 20 | Kick Back BBQ | |
| 21 | Jay's BBQ and Catering | |
| 22 | Double T Bbq | |
| 23 | Rosh BBQ | |
| 24 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 25 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 26 | Broken Barrel BBQ and Kitchen | |
| 27 | BIG PIG BBQ | |
| 28 | Specialty Forest Products BBQ | |
| 29 | Willy Mo's |
Pork Ribs
31 entries · top 177.1428 · median 162.2516
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 2 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 3 | 202 BBQ | |
| 4 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 5 | Specialty Forest Products BBQ | |
| 6 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 7 | Broken Barrel BBQ and Kitchen | |
| 8 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 9 | Owens BBQ | |
| 10 | G Strong | |
| 11 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 12 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 13 | Mountain Smoke BBQ | |
| 14 | Odd Squad BBQ | |
| 15 | Willy Mo's | |
| 16 | Rolling Smoke BBQ | |
| 17 | BIG PIG BBQ | |
| 18 | Double T Bbq | |
| 19 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 20 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 21 | Random Guys Smoking | |
| 22 | Mad Q BBq | |
| 23 | Rosh BBQ | |
| 24 | Upstates1bbq | |
| 25 | Jay's BBQ and Catering | |
| 26 | Popping Smoke Barbecue | |
| 27 | Blue Line BBQ MT | |
| 28 | Burning the Bone BBQ | |
| 29 | Kick Back BBQ | |
| 30 | Taste of Mitch | |
| 31 | Big River BBQ |
Pork
31 entries · top 180 · median 162.8228 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Line BBQ MT | |
| 2 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 3 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 4 | Mountain Smoke BBQ | |
| 5 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 6 | Owens BBQ | |
| 7 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 8 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 9 | 202 BBQ | |
| 10 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 11 | Popping Smoke Barbecue | |
| 12 | Broken Barrel BBQ and Kitchen | |
| 13 | Jay's BBQ and Catering | |
| 14 | BIG PIG BBQ | |
| 15 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 16 | Big River BBQ | |
| 17 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 18 | Rolling Smoke BBQ | |
| 19 | Rosh BBQ | |
| 20 | Burning the Bone BBQ | |
| 21 | Specialty Forest Products BBQ | |
| 22 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 23 | Double T Bbq | |
| 24 | Taste of Mitch | |
| 25 | Upstates1bbq | |
| 26 | G Strong | |
| 27 | Odd Squad BBQ | |
| 28 | Willy Mo's | |
| 29 | Kick Back BBQ | |
| 30 | Mad Q BBq | |
| 31 | Random Guys Smoking |
Brisket
30 entries · top 177.7144 · median 160.5658
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | |
| 2 | Owens BBQ | |
| 3 | BEER BELLY BBQ | |
| 4 | 202 BBQ | |
| 5 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 6 | UP IN SMOKE BBQ | |
| 7 | Blue Line BBQ MT | |
| 8 | Mountain Smoke BBQ | |
| 9 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 10 | Poor Richard's BBQ | |
| 11 | Willy Mo's | |
| 12 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 13 | Outta Left Field BBQ | |
| 14 | Odd Squad BBQ | |
| 15 | BIG PIG BBQ | |
| 16 | Popping Smoke Barbecue | |
| 17 | Burning the Bone BBQ | |
| 18 | Random Guys Smoking | |
| 19 | Rolling Smoke BBQ | |
| 20 | Mad Q BBq | |
| 21 | Specialty Forest Products BBQ | |
| 22 | Jay's BBQ and Catering | |
| 23 | G Strong | |
| 24 | BIG BOYZ BBQ | |
| 25 | Double T Bbq | |
| 26 | Broken Barrel BBQ and Kitchen | |
| 27 | Kick Back BBQ | |
| 28 | Rosh BBQ | |
| 29 | Taste of Mitch | |
| 30 | Upstates1bbq |