Apr 29–30, 2022 · Marietta, OH · 📍 Washington County Fairgrounds · State championship
Reps: Scott Grinstead, Steve Grinstead · Prize money: $3,000
PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS won Grand Champion at the Marietta River City BBQ on April 29, 2022 in Marietta, OH at Washington County Fairgrounds, scoring 698.8000 in a field of 25 teams. SmokinGhost BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 695.9888. Category winners: Chicken — SmokinGhost BBQ (179.4400); Pork Ribs — TIRE SMOKE BBQ (177.1544); Pork — BO B Q BBQ (179.4400); Brisket — CONVICTED PIGS BBQ (177.1428). This is the 7th of 14 editions of this contest on record; the 2021 edition was won by Under the Radar; 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, 2015 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.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 71 times in 100
PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS came in rated below the field's top team, MUTTLEY CREW BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 29-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 3rd. Consistency beat fireworks.
2 of 14 tracked editions
SLIPPERY PETE'S BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 14 tracked editions.
Chicken places 2–3: BooyaQ and PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 5–6: HIGH ON THE HOG OHIO edged SmokinGhost BBQ by 0.0004. Pork places 6–7: SmokinGhost BBQ edged TIRE SMOKE BBQ by 0.0112.
BO B Q BBQ turned in 179.4400 in pork — past the 177.7144 that had stood across 6 earlier editions.
Records held by every edition of this contest put together, not just this one afternoon.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2015 | Marietta, OH | Marietta, OH 43724 | 17 | 705.1432 | SLIPPERY PETE'S BBQ | 2 WORTHLESS NUTS, NATURAL BORN GRILLERS |
| Jun 10, 2016 | Marietta, OH | Marietta, OH | 20 | 695.3716 | SPITTIN' FEATHERS BBQ | FOOMANCHOO BBQ |
| Jun 9, 2017 | Marietta, OH | 922 Front St.( Washington County Fairgrounds) | 16 | 698.2400 | CONTAGIOUS Q | BROTHA K'S BOARBECUE |
| Jun 8, 2018 | Marietta, OH | 922 Front St.( Washington County Fairgrounds) | 11 | 695.9544 | CONTAGIOUS Q | 270 SMOKERS |
| Apr 26, 2019 | Marietta, OH | 922 Front St.( Washington County Fairgrounds) | 26 | 686.8228 | Slippery Pete's BBQ | SPITTIN' FEATHERS BBQ |
| Apr 23, 2021 | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 29 | 695.9884 | Under the Radar | PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS |
| Apr 29, 2022 ← this one | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 25 | 698.8000 | Peace, Love & Smokiness | SmokinGhost BBQ |
| Apr 28, 2023 | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 42 | 701.6800 | High on the Hog | UNDER THE RADAR |
| Apr 28, 2023 | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 18 | 178.8572 | The BBQ Bus | — |
| Apr 26, 2024 | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 13 | 705.6800 | Chunky BBQ | CONVICTED PIGS BBQ |
| Apr 26, 2024 | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 6 | 180 | Chunky BBQ | — |
| Apr 25, 2025 | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 10 | 702.8460 | Sailor Nicks BBQ | T & S BBQ |
| Apr 25, 2025 | Marietta, OH | — | — | — | — | — |
| Apr 24, 2026 | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 15 | 696.5716 | Beer Time BBQ | Freedom Meat Repeat |
| Apr 24, 2026 | Marietta, OH | Washington County Fairgrounds | 11 | 176.5600 | Puddleduck BBQ | — |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 179.4400 | 176.5716 | 169.6916 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.1544 | 173.1200 | 169.7028 |
| Pork | 179.4400 | 172.0004 | 168 |
| Brisket | 177.1428 | 173.1084 | 169.1544 |
25 entries · top 698.8000 · median 669.6460
25 entries · top 179.4400 · median 165.1316
22 entries · top 177.1544 · median 167.4230
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TIRE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 2 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 3 | HIGH ON THE HOG OHIO | |
| 4 | DETROIT SIBLING RIVALRY | |
| 5 | GO BIG OR GO BBQ | |
| 6 | BooyaQ | |
| 7 | PEACE LOVE & SMOKINESS | |
| 8 | BO B Q BBQ | |
| 9 | Smitty's Real Pit BBQ | |
| 10 | BEER TIME BBQ | |
| 11 | Smokin Blue Barbeque | |
| 12 | CONVICTED PIGS BBQ | |
| 13 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 14 | Laughing Scotsman BBQ | |
| 15 | T & S BBQ | |
| 16 | Playin with Fire | |
| 17 | ELEGANTLY VIOLENT BBQ | |
| 18 | Taken Care of BBQ | |
| 19 | CIRCLE L BBQ | |
| 20 | STILLS-N-SQUEALS BBQ | |
| 21 | Drinkin & Smokin | |
| 22 | AFQ |
25 entries · top 179.4400 · median 165.0856
25 entries · top 177.1428 · median 166.2284