They will not let it go
3 in a row
editions of this contest
Under the Radar won here last time out too — 3 straight editions of this contest.
- 2018
- 2019
- 2021
BBQ Boogie & Blues 2021
Sep 24–25, 2021 · Calhoun, GA · 📍 109 S King Street · State championship
Reps: Chere Amend, Dave Amend · Prize money: $8,000
UNDER THE RADAR won Grand Champion at the BBQ Boogie & Blues on September 24, 2021 in Calhoun, GA at 109 S King Street, scoring 698.8116 in a field of 27 teams. REDMULE'S BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 696.4912. Category winners: Chicken — HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ (178.8572); Pork Ribs — THE PIT CREW GA (178.8572); Pork — STEWBABYS BBQ (178.8800); Brisket — Willingham's (180.0000). The Backyard Series standings were won by TFS PIT VIPERS with 522.8112. This is the 8th of 11 editions of this contest on record; the 2019 edition was won by Under the Radar; 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.
635.77
median 678.77
698.81 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 178.86
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 178.86
- Master Series — Pork 178.88
- Master Series — Brisket 180 🔥
- Backyard Series — Chicken 177.71
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 179.44
- Backyard Series — Pork 175.42
- Ancillary — Brisket 161.67
20
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2024 — this edition picked out.
Entries
27
8 judged meats
Top score
698.8116
Winning margin
2.3204
GC over RC
Field average
674.30
635.77698.81
median 678.77 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
681.6116
635.77698.81
10th place overall
Field spread
63.0400
winner to last place
Prize money
$8,000
on the line
Double threats
10
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 38%
beats 62% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
30%
16 of 54 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.59 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,557
avg power rating going in · stronger than 44% 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.
Won without a category win
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
UNDER THE RADAR won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 2nd
- Pork Ribs 11th
- Pork 8th
- Brisket 4th
A dynasty in the making
3×
wins at this contest
3 of 11 tracked editions
UNDER THE RADAR has won this contest 3 times across its 11 tracked editions.
- 2018
- 2019
- 2021
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 17 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 6–7: Wiggle Butts BBQ and RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 9–10: CHOOCHOO BBQ and THE PIT CREW GA tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork places 7–8: HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ and UNDER THE RADAR tied on 171.9772 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Master Series — Pork 7–8 · tie
- Backyard Series — Chicken 4–5 · tie
A contest record in brisket
180.0000
best brisket ever cooked here
Willingham's turned in 180.0000 in brisket — past the 179.4400 that had stood across 7 earlier editions.
- old best 179.4400
- across 7 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: UNDER THE RADAR (won 2018, 2019).
- UNDER THE RADAR · 2018, 2019
The contest returns
2.4 yrs
since the last edition
This contest was away for 2.4 years — the previous tracked edition ran on 2019-04-26.
- previous edition 2019-04-26
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.
- Willingham's · Brisket
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 2013 | Calhoun, GA | Calhoun, GA | 25 | 703.4288 | BUB-BA-Q | GEORGIA BOYS BBQ TEAM |
| Apr 25, 2014 | Calhoun, GA | Calhoun, GA | 29 | 697.6340 | MOYERS COMPETITION BAR-B-Q TEAM | THE BLUE BLOODS |
| Apr 24, 2015 | Calhoun, GA | Calhoun, GA 30701 | 35 | 697.1088 | HOT WACHULA'S | BOOTYQUE |
| Apr 29, 2016 | Calhoun, GA | Calhoun, GA 30701 | 35 | 700.5372 | J & B'S BBQ | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N |
| Apr 28, 2017 | Calhoun, GA | 109 S King Street | 26 | 689.1088 | HIGH ON THE HAWG | THE PIT CREW GA |
| Apr 27, 2018 | Calhoun, GA | 109 S King Street | 28 | 693.6340 | UNDER THE RADAR | Organizer Portal |
| Apr 26, 2019 | Calhoun, GA | 109 S King Street | 33 | 697.6684 | Under the Radar | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS |
| Sep 24, 2021 ← this one | Calhoun, GA | 109 S King Street | 27 | 698.8116 | Under the Radar | REDMULE'S BBQ |
| Apr 29, 2022 | Calhoun, GA | 109 S King Street | 37 | 702.8344 | Sweet Dixie BBQ | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN |
| Apr 28, 2023 | Calhoun, GA | 109 S King Street | 32 | 702.8000 | Maya Jane BBQ | COOL HAND QUE |
| Apr 26, 2024 | Calhoun, GA | 109 S King Street | 34 | 699.9544 | Pappy & Roleys | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 178.8572 | 174.2744 | 173.1200 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 176.5600 | 173.1200 |
| Master Series — Pork | 178.8800 | 173.1200 | 170.8228 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 180 | 175.4056 | 169.6800 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 177.7144 | 170.8228 | 163.9428 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 179.4400 | 173.1200 | 165.0972 |
| Backyard Series — Pork | 175.4172 | 169.6684 | 162.8000 |
| Ancillary — Brisket | 161.6684 | 150.2172 | — |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
27 entries · top 698.8116 · median 678.7656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 2 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 3 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 4 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 5 | SWEET DIXIE BBQ | |
| 6 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 7 | THE HOG MAFIA | |
| 8 | Sheats Smoked Meats | |
| 9 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 10 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 11 | RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES | |
| 12 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 13 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 14 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 15 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 16 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 17 | CLAUDE'S Q | |
| 18 | Willingham's | |
| 19 | PERFECTLY BLENDED | |
| 20 | SWEET SMOKE BBQ | |
| 21 | ZIP'S B.B.Q. | |
| 22 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 23 | Wiggle Butts BBQ | |
| 24 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 25 | LEE LA Q | |
| 26 | Smokin Joes | |
| 27 | Peckerwood Country Club |
Chicken
27 entries · top 178.8572 · median 171.4056
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 2 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 3 | Sheats Smoked Meats | |
| 4 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 6 | Wiggle Butts BBQ | |
| 7 | RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES | |
| 8 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 9 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 10 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 11 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 12 | CLAUDE'S Q | |
| 13 | SWEET DIXIE BBQ | |
| 14 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 15 | Smokin Joes | |
| 16 | THE HOG MAFIA | |
| 17 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 18 | SWEET SMOKE BBQ | |
| 19 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 20 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 21 | Peckerwood Country Club | |
| 22 | Willingham's | |
| 23 | ZIP'S B.B.Q. | |
| 24 | PERFECTLY BLENDED | |
| 25 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 26 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 27 | LEE LA Q |
Pork Ribs
27 entries · top 178.8572 · median 172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 2 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 3 | Sheats Smoked Meats | |
| 4 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 5 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 6 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 7 | SWEET DIXIE BBQ | |
| 8 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 9 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 11 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 12 | PERFECTLY BLENDED | |
| 13 | CLAUDE'S Q | |
| 14 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 15 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 16 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 17 | THE HOG MAFIA | |
| 18 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 19 | ZIP'S B.B.Q. | |
| 20 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 21 | RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES | |
| 22 | Peckerwood Country Club | |
| 23 | Willingham's | |
| 24 | LEE LA Q | |
| 25 | SWEET SMOKE BBQ | |
| 26 | Wiggle Butts BBQ | |
| 27 | Smokin Joes |
Pork
27 entries · top 178.8800 · median 167.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 2 | THE HOG MAFIA | |
| 3 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 4 | SWEET SMOKE BBQ | |
| 5 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 6 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 7 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 8 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 9 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 10 | RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES | |
| 11 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 12 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 13 | LEE LA Q | |
| 14 | ZIP'S B.B.Q. | |
| 15 | SWEET DIXIE BBQ | |
| 16 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 17 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 18 | Willingham's | |
| 19 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 20 | CLAUDE'S Q | |
| 21 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 22 | PERFECTLY BLENDED | |
| 23 | Sheats Smoked Meats | |
| 24 | Smokin Joes | |
| 25 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 26 | Wiggle Butts BBQ | |
| 27 | Peckerwood Country Club |
Brisket
27 entries · top 180 · median 166.2628 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willingham's | |
| 2 | STEWBABYS BBQ | |
| 3 | SWEET DIXIE BBQ | |
| 4 | UNDER THE RADAR | |
| 5 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 6 | ROAST BEAST BBQ | |
| 7 | Sheats Smoked Meats | |
| 8 | PERFECTLY BLENDED | |
| 9 | THE HOG MAFIA | |
| 10 | ROLLIN KOLBZ | |
| 11 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 12 | RIVER ROAD GRILLBILLIES | |
| 13 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 14 | CLAUDE'S Q | |
| 15 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 16 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 17 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 18 | THE PIT CREW GA | |
| 19 | CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ | |
| 20 | ZIP'S B.B.Q. | |
| 21 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 22 | Wiggle Butts BBQ | |
| 23 | SWEET SMOKE BBQ | |
| 24 | Smokin Joes | |
| 25 | LEE LA Q | |
| 26 | Peckerwood Country Club | |
| 27 | THE FAT GUYZ |
Backyard Series
Overall
21 entries · top 522.8112 · median 480.3884 · out of 540, not the usual 360
Chicken
19 entries · top 177.7144 · median 163.9428
Pork Ribs
18 entries · top 179.4400 · median 165.0972
Pork
21 entries · top 175.4172 · median 162.2744
Ancillary
Brisket
8 entries · top 161.6684 · median 153.3714