Jan 28–29, 2022 · Lakeland, FL · State championship
Reps: Carolyn Wells, Mike Lake, Scott Grinstead, Steve Grinstead, Theresa Lake · Prize money: $24,960
WHO CARES BBQ won Grand Champion at the Lakeland Pig Festival on January 28, 2022 in Lakeland, FL, scoring 701.6800 in a field of 60 teams. GETTIN' BASTED took Reserve Grand Champion with 701.6456. Category winners: Chicken — keepin it smokin (177.7028); Pork Ribs — TRIPLE H BBQ (180.0000); Pork — JANKY LEG BBQ (177.7028); Brisket — Checkered Pig (178.8572). The Backyard Series standings were won by Barely Sober BBQ with 676.5488. This is the 8th of 13 editions of this contest on record; the 2020 edition was won by Smoke Central BBQ; the next was held in 2023.
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.
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
Closer than 97% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.0344 points — closer than 97% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 71 times in 100
WHO CARES BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, GETTIN' BASTED, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 29-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
WHO CARES BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
First to fifth in the overall standings covered just 4.6288 points — 2 teams sat within a single point of the lead.
Master Series — Chicken places 1–2: keepin it smokin and BROWN LIQUOR BBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 2–3: BROWN LIQUOR BBQ and SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 3–4: SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA and ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
Barely Sober BBQ won Chicken, Brisket — a double.
TRIPLE H BBQ turned in 180.0000 in pork ribs — past the 178.8800 that had stood across 7 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Accutech BBQ (won 2019), Smoke Central BBQ (won 2020).
Bigger than 92% of the 5,462 contests in the data
60 teams — bigger than 92% of the 5,462 contests in the data.
This contest was away for 2 years — the previous tracked edition ran on 2020-01-24.
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 | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25, 2013 | Lakeland, FL | Lakeland, FL | 70 | 682.8568 | 3 EYZ BBQ | WICKED QUE |
| Jan 30, 2015 | Lakeland, FL | Lakeland, FL 33813 | 62 | 691.9884 | JACK'S OLD SOUTH | SERIAL GRILLER |
| Jan 29, 2016 | Lakeland, FL | Lakeland , FL 33813 | 58 | 687.4172 | SWEET RACKS & SMOKIN' BUTTS BBQ | CHARQUETERIE |
| Jan 27, 2017 | Lakeland, FL | Sun'N Fun 4175 Medulla Road | 60 | 694.2744 | SAUCED! BBQ TEAM | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ |
| Jan 26, 2018 | Lakeland, FL | 4175 Medulla Rd | 60 | 702.2284 | MIDNIGHT BURN | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ |
| Jan 25, 2019 | Lakeland, FL | 4175 Medulla Rd | 58 | 700.5028 | Accutech BBQ | SAUCED! BBQ TEAM |
| Jan 24, 2020 | Lakeland, FL | 4175 Medulla Rd | 53 | 700.5372 | Smoke Central BBQ | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE |
| Jan 28, 2022 ← this one | Lakeland, FL | Lakeland, FL 33811 | 60 | 701.6800 | Who Cares BBQ | GETTIN' BASTED |
| Jan 27, 2023 | Lakeland, FL | 4175 Medulla Road | 51 | 706.8228 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | Kings BBQ Team |
| Jan 26, 2024 | Lakeland, FL | 4175 Medulla Road | 61 | 707.3828 | Rooters-N-Tooters | Ham Squad |
| Jan 24, 2025 | Lakeland, FL | 4175 Medulla Road | 40 | 714.2744 | Poppa Pig? | With a 180 |
| Jan 22, 2026 | Lakeland, FL | 4175 Medulla Road | 63 | 708.5600 | Fred Vegas Smokers | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ |
| Jan 21, 2027 | Lakeland, FL | — | — | — | — | — |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 177.7028 | 176.5600 | 175.4056 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 180 | 176.5600 | 173.7028 |
| Master Series — Pork | 177.7028 | 176.0344 | 175.4056 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 178.8572 | 176.5600 | 174.2628 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 175.4172 | 169.6800 | 167.3944 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 176.5600 | 170.8800 | 167.4516 |
| Backyard Series — Pork | 174.2628 | 169.6684 | 165.1200 |
| Backyard Series — Brisket | 175.4172 | 170.2856 | 165.1772 |
60 entries · top 701.6800 · median 675.8684
59 entries · top 177.7028 · median 170.2628
60 entries · top 180 · median 167.9772 · 🔥 perfect 180
60 entries · top 177.7028 · median 167.9944
59 entries · top 178.8572 · median 168.5256
43 entries · top 676.5488 · median 636.8908 · out of 720, not the usual 360
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barely Sober BBQ | |
| 2 | LEE LA Q | |
| 3 | Team Smoke Showin' | |
| 4 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 5 | Big Red BBQ | |
| 6 | RIBLIFE | |
| 7 | GJQ | |
| 8 | Ring of Fire BBQ | |
| 9 | Drunkin Brothers Bbq | |
| 10 | Slapulator BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKIN' HOOLIGANS | |
| 12 | Grease Monkey BBQ | |
| 13 | One Bite BBQ | |
| 14 | The Rusty Pig | |
| 15 | Burnin' Buttz | |
| 16 | ETOWAH SMOKE | |
| 17 | Gourmet Rednecks | |
| 18 | K-Dub's BBQ | |
| 19 | Meat Monkey's | |
| 20 | PODUNK PORKERS BBQ | |
| 21 | Good As Any BBQ | |
| 22 | Gary's Last Place Chicken | |
| 23 | Evans Family Ranch | |
| 24 | Sons Of Hamarchy | |
| 25 | Nuts & Butts | |
| 26 | Hoses & Buttz BBQ Team | |
| 27 | Uncle Johns Pride | |
| 28 | Beachneck BBQ | |
| 29 | Bamboo Warriors | |
| 30 | Dissent Craft Brewing BBQ Krewe | |
| 31 | 92 BB Crew | |
| 32 | Southern-Oink-N-Doink | |
| 33 | Bleacher Bums BBQ | |
| 34 | Smokin Ds | |
| 35 | The Smoked Biscuit Company | |
| 36 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 37 | Bethune's BBQ | |
| 38 | Joe Bears BBQ | |
| 39 | Saunders Cook Team | |
| 40 | Moore butts bbq | |
| 41 | Uncle G's | |
| 42 | Mike's BBQ | |
| 43 | Smoke Me Tender |
42 entries · top 175.4172 · median 159.3656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barely Sober BBQ | |
| 2 | Burnin' Buttz | |
| 3 | RIBLIFE | |
| 4 | Big Red BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' HOOLIGANS | |
| 6 | Grease Monkey BBQ | |
| 7 | One Bite BBQ | |
| 8 | Ring of Fire BBQ | |
| 9 | The Rusty Pig | |
| 10 | Drunkin Brothers Bbq | |
| 11 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 12 | Hoses & Buttz BBQ Team | |
| 13 | Team Smoke Showin' | |
| 14 | ETOWAH SMOKE | |
| 15 | Bleacher Bums BBQ | |
| 16 | GJQ | |
| 17 | Gourmet Rednecks | |
| 18 | LEE LA Q | |
| 19 | Meat Monkey's | |
| 20 | Smokin Ds | |
| 21 | Evans Family Ranch | |
| 22 | Good As Any BBQ | |
| 23 | Uncle G's | |
| 24 | K-Dub's BBQ | |
| 25 | 92 BB Crew | |
| 26 | PODUNK PORKERS BBQ | |
| 27 | Sons Of Hamarchy | |
| 28 | Bethune's BBQ | |
| 29 | Gary's Last Place Chicken | |
| 30 | Mike's BBQ | |
| 31 | Uncle Johns Pride | |
| 32 | Slapulator BBQ | |
| 33 | Dissent Craft Brewing BBQ Krewe | |
| 34 | Bamboo Warriors | |
| 35 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 36 | Beachneck BBQ | |
| 37 | The Smoked Biscuit Company | |
| 38 | Nuts & Butts | |
| 39 | Moore butts bbq | |
| 40 | Joe Bears BBQ | |
| 41 | Saunders Cook Team | |
| 42 | Southern-Oink-N-Doink |
43 entries · top 176.5600 · median 161.6456
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ring of Fire BBQ | |
| 2 | GJQ | |
| 3 | LEE LA Q | |
| 4 | One Bite BBQ | |
| 5 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 6 | Gourmet Rednecks | |
| 7 | Nuts & Butts | |
| 8 | Grease Monkey BBQ | |
| 9 | Big Red BBQ | |
| 10 | Barely Sober BBQ | |
| 11 | Uncle Johns Pride | |
| 12 | SMOKIN' HOOLIGANS | |
| 13 | RIBLIFE | |
| 14 | Good As Any BBQ | |
| 15 | Slapulator BBQ | |
| 16 | Meat Monkey's | |
| 17 | Burnin' Buttz | |
| 18 | Drunkin Brothers Bbq | |
| 19 | Dissent Craft Brewing BBQ Krewe | |
| 20 | Hoses & Buttz BBQ Team | |
| 21 | Southern-Oink-N-Doink | |
| 22 | Team Smoke Showin' | |
| 23 | Evans Family Ranch | |
| 24 | Bamboo Warriors | |
| 25 | ETOWAH SMOKE | |
| 26 | PODUNK PORKERS BBQ | |
| 27 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 28 | Smoke Me Tender | |
| 29 | Uncle G's | |
| 30 | Gary's Last Place Chicken | |
| 31 | The Rusty Pig | |
| 32 | K-Dub's BBQ | |
| 33 | Mike's BBQ | |
| 34 | The Smoked Biscuit Company | |
| 35 | Saunders Cook Team | |
| 36 | Sons Of Hamarchy | |
| 37 | Beachneck BBQ | |
| 38 | Bleacher Bums BBQ | |
| 39 | Smokin Ds | |
| 40 | 92 BB Crew | |
| 41 | Joe Bears BBQ | |
| 42 | Bethune's BBQ | |
| 43 | Moore butts bbq |
43 entries · top 174.2628 · median 159.9544
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Rusty Pig | |
| 2 | Sons Of Hamarchy | |
| 3 | Slapulator BBQ | |
| 4 | Team Smoke Showin' | |
| 5 | RIBLIFE | |
| 6 | Gary's Last Place Chicken | |
| 7 | LEE LA Q | |
| 8 | Grease Monkey BBQ | |
| 9 | The Smoked Biscuit Company | |
| 10 | Beachneck BBQ | |
| 11 | Drunkin Brothers Bbq | |
| 12 | Bamboo Warriors | |
| 13 | GJQ | |
| 14 | Good As Any BBQ | |
| 15 | Nuts & Butts | |
| 16 | Ring of Fire BBQ | |
| 17 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 18 | Big Red BBQ | |
| 19 | 92 BB Crew | |
| 20 | Burnin' Buttz | |
| 21 | PODUNK PORKERS BBQ | |
| 22 | ETOWAH SMOKE | |
| 23 | K-Dub's BBQ | |
| 24 | Smokin Ds | |
| 25 | Evans Family Ranch | |
| 26 | Barely Sober BBQ | |
| 27 | Southern-Oink-N-Doink | |
| 28 | Meat Monkey's | |
| 29 | Bethune's BBQ | |
| 30 | SMOKIN' HOOLIGANS | |
| 31 | Uncle Johns Pride | |
| 32 | Hoses & Buttz BBQ Team | |
| 33 | Gourmet Rednecks | |
| 34 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 35 | Joe Bears BBQ | |
| 36 | Saunders Cook Team | |
| 37 | Bleacher Bums BBQ | |
| 38 | Smoke Me Tender | |
| 39 | One Bite BBQ | |
| 40 | Dissent Craft Brewing BBQ Krewe | |
| 41 | Uncle G's | |
| 42 | Mike's BBQ | |
| 43 | Moore butts bbq |
41 entries · top 175.4172 · median 154.2632
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barely Sober BBQ | |
| 2 | Team Smoke Showin' | |
| 3 | Slapulator BBQ | |
| 4 | Big Red BBQ | |
| 5 | K-Dub's BBQ | |
| 6 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 7 | Drunkin Brothers Bbq | |
| 8 | LEE LA Q | |
| 9 | One Bite BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKIN' HOOLIGANS | |
| 11 | GJQ | |
| 12 | ETOWAH SMOKE | |
| 13 | RIBLIFE | |
| 14 | Beachneck BBQ | |
| 15 | PODUNK PORKERS BBQ | |
| 16 | Gary's Last Place Chicken | |
| 17 | Ring of Fire BBQ | |
| 18 | The Rusty Pig | |
| 19 | Moore butts bbq | |
| 20 | Gourmet Rednecks | |
| 21 | Grease Monkey BBQ | |
| 22 | 92 BB Crew | |
| 23 | Meat Monkey's | |
| 24 | Bleacher Bums BBQ | |
| 25 | Evans Family Ranch | |
| 26 | Dissent Craft Brewing BBQ Krewe | |
| 27 | Sons Of Hamarchy | |
| 28 | Burnin' Buttz | |
| 29 | Uncle Johns Pride | |
| 30 | Nuts & Butts | |
| 31 | Joe Bears BBQ | |
| 32 | Southern-Oink-N-Doink | |
| 33 | Smokin Ds | |
| 34 | Good As Any BBQ | |
| 35 | Saunders Cook Team | |
| 36 | Hoses & Buttz BBQ Team | |
| 37 | Bamboo Warriors | |
| 38 | Bethune's BBQ | |
| 39 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 40 | The Smoked Biscuit Company | |
| 41 | Smoke Me Tender |
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.
24 entries · top 180 · median 173.1200 · 🔥 perfect 180
26 entries · top 180 · median 173.9828 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BALD HAWG BBQ | |
| 2 | Sons Of Hamarchy | |
| 3 | RIBLIFE | |
| 4 | Burning Bush BBQ | |
| 5 | Evans Family Ranch | |
| 6 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 7 | The Hog Mafia | |
| 8 | Wood Chicks BBQ | |
| 9 | Bearded Monkeys Twisted Q | |
| 10 | Southern-Oink-N-Doink | |
| 11 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 12 | One Bite BBQ | |
| 13 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 14 | SMOKIN' HOOLIGANS | |
| 15 | Whiskey Bent BBQ - 2 | |
| 16 | WEQ4U | |
| 17 | Cooters N Smoke | |
| 18 | SMOKIN ACES BBQ - FL | |
| 19 | LEE LA Q | |
| 20 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 21 | ETOWAH SMOKE | |
| 22 | TRAEGER X WHISKEY BENT BBQ | |
| 23 | Hot Ashes | |
| 24 | Sons Of Hamarchy - 2 | |
| 25 | Porkganic BBQ | |
| 26 | 92 BB Crew |
9 entries · top 177.7028 · median 166.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whiskey Bent BBQ Princess | |
| 2 | Captain Que | |
| 3 | Best Buddies BBQ - Julia | |
| 4 | JT's Smokehouse | |
| 5 | Young Gun | |
| 6 | Smoke Zone | |
| 7 | BBQ Wizard - Levi | |
| 8 | Beachneck BBQ - Violet | |
| 9 | Chef Amberly Clark |
15 entries · top 174.8800 · median 163.4400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chef Rodriguez | |
| 2 | Chef Amaria | |
| 3 | Chef Worlds | |
| 4 | Bawitdaba BBQ - John | |
| 5 | Batter Up BBQ - Gage | |
| 6 | Chef Welch | |
| 7 | Podunk Porkers | |
| 8 | Tank Thyme | |
| 9 | Ballerina BBQ - Madeline | |
| 10 | Chicka BBQ | |
| 11 | Bawitdaba BBQ - Miller | |
| 12 | Johnny Q | |
| 13 | Chef Arthur | |
| 14 | Chef Lewis | |
| 15 | Chef Jones |
4 entries · top 171.4400 · median 166.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ballerina BBQ - Madeline | |
| 2 | Bawitdaba BBQ - John | |
| 3 | Batter Up BBQ - Gage | |
| 4 | Bawitdaba BBQ - Miller |
5 entries · top 178.2972 · median 171.4284
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whiskey Bent BBQ Princess | |
| 2 | Beachneck BBQ - Violet | |
| 3 | Young Gun | |
| 4 | BBQ Wizard - Levi | |
| 5 | Chef Amberly Clark |
15 entries · top 173.7028 · median 161.1316
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicka BBQ | |
| 2 | Johnny Q | |
| 3 | Batter Up BBQ - Gage | |
| 4 | Ballerina BBQ - Madeline | |
| 5 | Podunk Porkers | |
| 6 | Chef Welch | |
| 7 | Tank Thyme | |
| 8 | Chef Rodriguez | |
| 9 | Bawitdaba BBQ - John | |
| 10 | Chef Worlds | |
| 11 | Bawitdaba BBQ - Miller | |
| 12 | Chef Arthur | |
| 13 | Chef Lewis | |
| 14 | Chef Amaria | |
| 15 | Chef Jones |
9 entries · top 172.5600 · median 165.7028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BBQ Wizard - Levi | |
| 2 | Whiskey Bent BBQ Princess | |
| 3 | Captain Que | |
| 4 | JT's Smokehouse | |
| 5 | Beachneck BBQ - Violet | |
| 6 | Best Buddies BBQ - Julia | |
| 7 | Smoke Zone | |
| 8 | Young Gun | |
| 9 | Chef Amberly Clark |
43 entries · top 178.2972 · median 167.3828