Iowa State BBQ Championship
2022-04-01 – 2022-04-02 · Altoona, IA · 📍 2600 Adventureland Drive · State championship
Reps: CLARA WILLIAMS, JONATHAN B WILLIAMS · Prize money: $10,000.00
Grand Champion: Porkrastinators (689.6800) · 48 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 Ash Kickin' BBQ
Entries
48
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
689.6800
Winning margin
0.0456
GC over RC
Field average
666.69
median 675.34
Tightest race
Chicken
2.8572 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
686.2400
10th place overall
Field spread
111.0400
winner to last place
Prize money
$10,000.00
on the line
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 86%
beats 14% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
46%
of the 48 teams with a home region came from outside IA
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.5 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1552
avg power rating going in · stronger than 58% of contests
Storylines
🪒 A razor-thin finish
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.0456 points — closer than 95% of every championship in the data.
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
PORKRASTINATORS took the Grand Championship home to WI.
📸 Photo finishes
Chicken places 3–4: IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ and HOT DADDY'S BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: HOGLINE and WEEKEND BUM BBQ tied on 174.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 6–7: QUE'S YER DADDY and HOME FARM BBQ tied on 174.2744 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🃏 An upset on the books
PORKRASTINATORS came in rated below the field's top team, Heavy Smoke BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 24-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
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)
Where the field came from (home regions on file)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-06-21 | Marshalltown, IA | 28 | 693.7142 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 2022-04-01 ← this one | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 48 | 689.6800 | Porkrastinators | Ash Kickin' BBQ |
| 2022-04-01 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 27 | 349.1200 | Damn Fine Beef and Swine | — |
| 2022-04-01 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | — | — | — | — |
| 2023-03-31 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 47 | 699.4288 | Gothic Town Grillers | Fergolicious BBQ |
| 2024-03-29 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 42 | 701.1316 | Shiggin & Grinnin | Matty Macks |
| 2025-04-04 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 49 | 693.6460 | Rack Shack BBQ | Low Eye Que |
| 2026-04-03 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 42 | 709.7028 | Wag's Backwoods BBQ | Sugar Shack |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8572 | 176.0000 | 174.2972 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 174.8572 | 173.7144 |
| Pork | 180.0000 | 175.4172 | 173.7028 |
| Brisket | 180.0000 | 175.4400 | 173.1084 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
48 entries · top 689.6800 · median 675.3370
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 2 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 3 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 4 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 5 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 6 | HOGLINE | |
| 7 | SCORE ONE SMOKIN' | |
| 8 | LUSCIOUS LOINS BBQ | |
| 9 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 10 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 11 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 12 | BAMBQ | |
| 13 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 14 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 15 | SCORCHED DECK BBQ | |
| 16 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 17 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 18 | Matty Macks | |
| 19 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 20 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 21 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 22 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 23 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 24 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 25 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 26 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 27 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 28 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 29 | Darty-Q | |
| 30 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 31 | Grillbilly's BBQ | |
| 32 | Dirt Crüe BBQ | |
| 33 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 34 | WELL SAUCED BBQ | |
| 35 | QUE'S YER DADDY | |
| 36 | Q 12 Barbecue | |
| 37 | Slightly Sauced | |
| 38 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 39 | PO PO PORK | |
| 40 | BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ | |
| 41 | C&M BBQ | |
| 42 | Prince Stoecker BBQ Co. | |
| 43 | Smokey Boys | |
| 44 | 225 Mafia | |
| 45 | Strkr BBQ | |
| 46 | Goldfinch BBQ | |
| 47 | The Smoking Silverback | |
| 48 | Monster2dog BBQ |
Chicken
48 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.6972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 2 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 3 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 4 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 5 | PO PO PORK | |
| 6 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 7 | HOGLINE | |
| 8 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 9 | LUSCIOUS LOINS BBQ | |
| 10 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 11 | Darty-Q | |
| 12 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 13 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 14 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 15 | BAMBQ | |
| 16 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 17 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 18 | SCORE ONE SMOKIN' | |
| 19 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 20 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 21 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 22 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 23 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 24 | WELL SAUCED BBQ | |
| 25 | Grillbilly's BBQ | |
| 26 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 27 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 28 | Q 12 Barbecue | |
| 29 | Matty Macks | |
| 30 | Slightly Sauced | |
| 31 | SCORCHED DECK BBQ | |
| 32 | Prince Stoecker BBQ Co. | |
| 33 | QUE'S YER DADDY | |
| 34 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 35 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 36 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 37 | Smokey Boys | |
| 38 | C&M BBQ | |
| 39 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 40 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 41 | BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ | |
| 42 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 43 | Dirt Crüe BBQ | |
| 44 | The Smoking Silverback | |
| 45 | 225 Mafia | |
| 46 | Strkr BBQ | |
| 47 | Goldfinch BBQ | |
| 48 | Monster2dog BBQ |
Pork Ribs
48 entries · top 178.8572 · median 168.5370
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 2 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 3 | BAMBQ | |
| 4 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 5 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 6 | QUE'S YER DADDY | |
| 7 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 8 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 9 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 10 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 11 | C&M BBQ | |
| 12 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 13 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 14 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 15 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 16 | Grillbilly's BBQ | |
| 17 | Matty Macks | |
| 18 | LUSCIOUS LOINS BBQ | |
| 19 | SCORE ONE SMOKIN' | |
| 20 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 21 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 22 | Q 12 Barbecue | |
| 23 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 24 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 25 | Darty-Q | |
| 26 | Dirt Crüe BBQ | |
| 27 | Prince Stoecker BBQ Co. | |
| 28 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 29 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 30 | HOGLINE | |
| 31 | Slightly Sauced | |
| 32 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 33 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 34 | BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ | |
| 35 | SCORCHED DECK BBQ | |
| 36 | WELL SAUCED BBQ | |
| 37 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 38 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 39 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 40 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 41 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 42 | Smokey Boys | |
| 43 | Strkr BBQ | |
| 44 | 225 Mafia | |
| 45 | PO PO PORK | |
| 46 | Monster2dog BBQ | |
| 47 | Goldfinch BBQ | |
| 48 | The Smoking Silverback |
Pork
48 entries · top 180.0000 · median 168.8342 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 2 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 3 | SCORCHED DECK BBQ | |
| 4 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 5 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 6 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 7 | SCORE ONE SMOKIN' | |
| 8 | Dirt Crüe BBQ | |
| 9 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 10 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 11 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 12 | WELL SAUCED BBQ | |
| 13 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 14 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 15 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 16 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 17 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 18 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 19 | LUSCIOUS LOINS BBQ | |
| 20 | Matty Macks | |
| 21 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 22 | Grillbilly's BBQ | |
| 23 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 24 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 25 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 26 | HOGLINE | |
| 27 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 28 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 29 | Q 12 Barbecue | |
| 30 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 31 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 32 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 33 | Darty-Q | |
| 34 | 225 Mafia | |
| 35 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 36 | Slightly Sauced | |
| 37 | C&M BBQ | |
| 38 | BAMBQ | |
| 39 | Smokey Boys | |
| 40 | QUE'S YER DADDY | |
| 41 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 42 | PO PO PORK | |
| 43 | Prince Stoecker BBQ Co. | |
| 44 | BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ | |
| 45 | Goldfinch BBQ | |
| 46 | The Smoking Silverback | |
| 47 | Monster2dog BBQ | |
| 48 | Strkr BBQ |
Brisket
48 entries · top 180.0000 · median 167.1028 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 2 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 3 | HOGLINE | |
| 4 | SCORCHED DECK BBQ | |
| 5 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 6 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 7 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 8 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 9 | BAMBQ | |
| 10 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 11 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 12 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 13 | Matty Macks | |
| 14 | LUSCIOUS LOINS BBQ | |
| 15 | BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ | |
| 16 | SCORE ONE SMOKIN' | |
| 17 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 18 | PO PO PORK | |
| 19 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 20 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 21 | Dirt Crüe BBQ | |
| 22 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 23 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 24 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 25 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 26 | QUE'S YER DADDY | |
| 27 | Slightly Sauced | |
| 28 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 29 | Darty-Q | |
| 30 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 31 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 32 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 33 | 225 Mafia | |
| 34 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 35 | WELL SAUCED BBQ | |
| 36 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 37 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 38 | Grillbilly's BBQ | |
| 39 | Q 12 Barbecue | |
| 40 | Smokey Boys | |
| 41 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 42 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 43 | Prince Stoecker BBQ Co. | |
| 44 | Goldfinch BBQ | |
| 45 | C&M BBQ | |
| 46 | Monster2dog BBQ | |
| 47 | The Smoking Silverback | |
| 48 | Strkr 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.
Kids-Q — Kids-Q 11+
5 entries · top 170.2628 · median 165.1316
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sloan Bohanno | |
| 2 | Emma Hess | |
| 3 | Madison Burkhart | |
| 4 | Mason Fisher | |
| 5 | Aidan Wagner |
Kids-Q — Kids-Q 5-10
8 entries · top 179.4400 · median 165.7372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gavin McGlaun | |
| 2 | Hailey Burkhart | |
| 3 | Rye Palmer | |
| 4 | Addisyn Shipley | |
| 5 | John Witt | |
| 6 | Olivia Mengel | |
| 7 | Aubrey Shipley | |
| 8 | Abram Shipley |