A statement win
12.0344
points clear of the field
Wider than 92% of the 4,722 championships in the data
The champion won by 12.0344 points — a wider margin than 92% of championships in the data.
BBQ, Boots & Brew 2022
Apr 8–9, 2022 · Perris, CA · 📍 2201 S A Street · State championship
Reps: Michael Santiago, Rhonda Santiago · Prize money: $5,000
Meat Candy Q won Grand Champion at the BBQ, Boots & Brew on April 8, 2022 in Perris, CA at 2201 S A Street, scoring 702.2512 in a field of 29 teams. PROUD SOULS BARBECUE took Reserve Grand Champion with 690.2168. Category winners: Chicken — 5TH GEAR BBQ (177.7144); Pork Ribs — Meat Candy Q (180.0000); Pork — KNIFE PORK AND SPOON (175.4172); Brisket — PROUD SOULS BARBECUE (180.0000). This is the 2nd of 5 editions of this contest on record; the 2021 edition was won by Big Poppa Smokers; the next was held in 2023.
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.
475.33
median 674.17
702.25 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 177.71
- Pork Ribs 180 🔥
- Pork 175.42
- Brisket 180 🔥
134.25
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2021 to 2025 — this edition picked out.
Entries
29
4 judged meats
Top score
702.2512
Winning margin
12.0344
GC over RC
Field average
663.51
475.33702.25
median 674.17 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork
1.1544 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
681.0284
475.33702.25
10th place overall
Field spread
226.9252
winner to last place
Prize money
$5,000
on the line
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 24%
beats 76% of 4723 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
48%
12 of 25 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.63 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,579
avg power rating going in · stronger than 62% of contests
Storylines (6 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.
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 5 tracked editions
Meat Candy Q has won this contest 2 times across its 5 tracked editions.
- 2022
- 2023
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 11 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 3–4: Meat Candy Q and SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 8–9: Bushmaster BBQ and MUDVILLE BBQ tied on 171.9772 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 2–3: 5TH GEAR BBQ and LADY OF Q tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Chicken 8–9 · tie
- Pork 2–3 · tie
- Pork 4–5 · tie
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
Meat Candy Q took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was brisket at 11th.
- Chicken 3rd
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 4th
- Brisket 11th
A contest record in pork ribs
180.0000
best pork ribs ever cooked here
Meat Candy Q turned in 180.0000 in pork ribs — past the 177.1428 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 177.1428
- across 1 past editions
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.
- PROUD SOULS BARBECUE · Brisket
- Meat Candy Q · Pork Ribs
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2021 | Perris, CA | 2201 S A Street | 25 | 706.2284 | Big Poppa Smokers | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ |
| Apr 8, 2022 ← this one | Perris, CA | 2201 S A Street | 29 | 702.2512 | Meat Candy Q | PROUD SOULS BARBECUE |
| Apr 28, 2023 | Perris, CA | 2201 South | 33 | 713.7144 | Meat Candy Q | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ |
| Apr 12, 2024 | Perris, CA | 2201 South | 39 | 705.6800 | Rhythm 'N Que | Meat Candy Q |
| Apr 11, 2025 | Perris, CA | 2201 South A Street | 26 | 695.9544 | Porterhouse BBQ | B' MACKIN BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7144 | 175.4056 | 171.4056 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 172.5600 | 169.6684 |
| Pork | 175.4172 | 174.2628 | 170.8344 |
| Brisket | 180 | 174.2628 | 171.9772 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
29 entries · top 702.2512 · median 674.1716
Chicken
28 entries · top 177.7144 · median 170
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5TH GEAR BBQ | |
| 2 | STEVO'S BBQ TEAM | |
| 3 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 4 | SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ | |
| 5 | CHULENGO Smoker Team | |
| 6 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 7 | PROUD SOULS BARBECUE | |
| 8 | Bushmaster BBQ | |
| 9 | MUDVILLE BBQ | |
| 10 | SD Smoke BBQ | |
| 11 | BIG RED BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 13 | YOUR BEHIND BBQ | |
| 14 | KNIFE PORK AND SPOON | |
| 15 | ANT'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 16 | LADY OF Q | |
| 17 | Weekend Warrior BBQ | |
| 18 | MYA&DJ'S BBQ | |
| 19 | JOLLEY'S BAD TO THE BONE BARBEQUE | |
| 20 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 21 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 22 | West Coast BBQ Shop | |
| 23 | 7 SINS BBQ | |
| 24 | THE BRISKET BROTHERS | |
| 25 | One Thumb Barbeque | |
| 26 | Howzit BBQ | |
| 27 | New Life BBQ | |
| 28 | Whiskey Tango 'Que |
Pork Ribs
29 entries · top 180 · median 167.4056 · 🔥 perfect 180
Pork
29 entries · top 175.4172 · median 169.1428
Brisket
29 entries · top 180 · median 167.3828 · 🔥 perfect 180