Apr 22–23, 2022 · Sugar Creek, MO · 📍 11520 Putnam · State championship
Reps: Ed Young, Rosemary Morrow · Prize money: $10,580
MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ won Grand Champion at the Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest (JUDGE'S FULL) on April 22, 2022 in Sugar Creek, MO at 11520 Putnam, scoring 703.3828 in a field of 35 teams. AMERICAN FIRE BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 702.2628. Category winners: Chicken — The Boys in Que (177.7144); Pork Ribs — Broken Bottle BBQ (180.0000); Pork — Heavy Smoke BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — The Boys in Que (180.0000). This is the 3rd of 6 editions of this contest on record; the 2021 edition was won by HEAVY SMOKE BBQ; the next was held in 2024.
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, 2019 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 83% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1200 points — closer than 83% of every championship in the data.
703.3828 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 699.9544 HEAVY SMOKE BBQ set in 2021.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 79 times in 100
MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, SLAPS BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 21-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 4th. Consistency beat fireworks.
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
First to fifth in the overall standings covered just 4.0116 points.
Chicken places 1–2: The Boys in Que and GO HAM BBQ tied on 177.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 2–3: GO HAM BBQ and GETTIN' SAUCED tied on 177.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 5–6: MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ and Heavy Smoke BBQ tied on 176.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
The Boys in Que won Chicken, Brisket — a double.
The Boys in Que turned in 180.0000 in brisket — past the 176.5828 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: HEAVY SMOKE BBQ (won 2021).
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 2019 | Sugar Creek, MO | 11520 Putman | 42 | 696.5028 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | SLAPS BBQ |
| Oct 15, 2021 | Sugar Creek, MO | 11520 Putnam | 27 | 699.9544 | HEAVY SMOKE BBQ | SLAPS BBQ |
| Apr 22, 2022 ← this one | Sugar Creek, MO | 11520 Putnam | 35 | 703.3828 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ |
| Apr 22, 2022 | Sugar Creek, MO | — | — | — | — | — |
| Apr 26, 2024 | Sugar Creek, MO | 11520 Putnam | 44 | 703.9544 | Wabash BBQ | Mulkey's BBQ |
| Apr 25, 2025 | Sugar Creek, MO | 11520 Putnam | 40 | 703.3828 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS |
| Apr 24, 2026 | Sugar Creek, MO | 11520 Putnam | 28 | 699.9772 | SLAPS BBQ | Squealin N Dealin BBQ |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7144 | 176 | 175.4056 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 174.2628 | 172.5716 |
| Pork | 180 | 177.1428 | 173.1200 |
| Brisket | 180 | 177.7028 | 173.1200 |
35 entries · top 703.3828 · median 675.3488
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 2 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 3 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 4 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | |
| 5 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 6 | The Boys in Que | |
| 7 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 8 | TEDDY CAMP 2 | |
| 9 | Smoke 'n Magic | |
| 10 | GO HAM BBQ | |
| 11 | Bears Backyard Q | |
| 12 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 13 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 14 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 15 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 16 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 17 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 18 | Smoke Ringers | |
| 19 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 20 | Broken Bottle BBQ | |
| 21 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 22 | Run Pig Run | |
| 23 | Scratch that Itch BBQ | |
| 24 | POWER I BBQ | |
| 25 | The BBQ Mavens | |
| 26 | SOFA KING SWEET BBQ | |
| 27 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 28 | GRILLAS | |
| 29 | IHC BBQ | |
| 30 | Onlyfansbbq | |
| 31 | Summa Dat Que | |
| 32 | SHORTHORN BBQ | |
| 33 | BALD BEAUTIES BBQ | |
| 34 | HI-TECH SMOKERS | |
| 35 | PONCHO, CISCO, THE KID & COMPANY |
35 entries · top 177.7144 · median 169.1312
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Boys in Que | |
| 2 | GO HAM BBQ | |
| 3 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 4 | Smoke 'n Magic | |
| 5 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 6 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 7 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 8 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 9 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | |
| 10 | Run Pig Run | |
| 11 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 12 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 13 | Smoke Ringers | |
| 14 | TEDDY CAMP 2 | |
| 15 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 16 | Bears Backyard Q | |
| 17 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 18 | POWER I BBQ | |
| 19 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 20 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 21 | The BBQ Mavens | |
| 22 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 23 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 24 | BALD BEAUTIES BBQ | |
| 25 | Scratch that Itch BBQ | |
| 26 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 27 | Broken Bottle BBQ | |
| 28 | SOFA KING SWEET BBQ | |
| 29 | SHORTHORN BBQ | |
| 30 | Onlyfansbbq | |
| 31 | GRILLAS | |
| 32 | Summa Dat Que | |
| 33 | HI-TECH SMOKERS | |
| 34 | IHC BBQ | |
| 35 | PONCHO, CISCO, THE KID & COMPANY |
35 entries · top 180 · median 168.5256 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broken Bottle BBQ | |
| 2 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 3 | Bears Backyard Q | |
| 4 | The Boys in Que | |
| 5 | TEDDY CAMP 2 | |
| 6 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 7 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 8 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 9 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 10 | Smoke 'n Magic | |
| 11 | Smoke Ringers | |
| 12 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | |
| 13 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 14 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 15 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 16 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 17 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 18 | GO HAM BBQ | |
| 19 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 20 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 21 | IHC BBQ | |
| 22 | Scratch that Itch BBQ | |
| 23 | POWER I BBQ | |
| 24 | Summa Dat Que | |
| 25 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 26 | Onlyfansbbq | |
| 27 | Run Pig Run | |
| 28 | The BBQ Mavens | |
| 29 | SHORTHORN BBQ | |
| 30 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 31 | PONCHO, CISCO, THE KID & COMPANY | |
| 32 | GRILLAS | |
| 33 | HI-TECH SMOKERS | |
| 34 | BALD BEAUTIES BBQ | |
| 35 | SOFA KING SWEET BBQ |
34 entries · top 180 · median 167.4000 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 2 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 3 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 4 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 5 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 6 | GO HAM BBQ | |
| 7 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 9 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 10 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | |
| 11 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 12 | Bears Backyard Q | |
| 13 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 14 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 15 | TEDDY CAMP 2 | |
| 16 | SOFA KING SWEET BBQ | |
| 17 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 18 | IHC BBQ | |
| 19 | The Boys in Que | |
| 20 | Smoke 'n Magic | |
| 21 | GRILLAS | |
| 22 | Smoke Ringers | |
| 23 | Onlyfansbbq | |
| 24 | POWER I BBQ | |
| 25 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 26 | Broken Bottle BBQ | |
| 27 | Scratch that Itch BBQ | |
| 28 | Summa Dat Que | |
| 29 | The BBQ Mavens | |
| 30 | Run Pig Run | |
| 31 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 32 | SHORTHORN BBQ | |
| 33 | BALD BEAUTIES BBQ | |
| 34 | HI-TECH SMOKERS |
34 entries · top 180 · median 169.1142 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Boys in Que | |
| 2 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | |
| 3 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 4 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 5 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 6 | SOFA KING SWEET BBQ | |
| 7 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 8 | TEDDY CAMP 2 | |
| 9 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 10 | Smoke 'n Magic | |
| 11 | Bears Backyard Q | |
| 12 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 13 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 14 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | |
| 15 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 16 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 17 | Scratch that Itch BBQ | |
| 18 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 19 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 20 | GO HAM BBQ | |
| 21 | The BBQ Mavens | |
| 22 | Run Pig Run | |
| 23 | Broken Bottle BBQ | |
| 24 | Smoke Ringers | |
| 25 | GRILLAS | |
| 26 | SMOOTH SMOKE | |
| 27 | POWER I BBQ | |
| 28 | Onlyfansbbq | |
| 29 | IHC BBQ | |
| 30 | SHORTHORN BBQ | |
| 31 | BALD BEAUTIES BBQ | |
| 32 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 33 | HI-TECH SMOKERS | |
| 34 | Summa Dat Que |