Kings of Q BBQ Cook-Off and Festival
2022-05-20 – 2022-05-21 · Ayden, NC · 📍 462 Second St · State championship
Prize money: $10,000.00
Grand Champion: Old Virginia Smoke (691.9084) · 32 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 Optimus Swine
Entries
32
4 judged meats
Top score
691.9084
Winning margin
1.1312
GC over RC
Field average
664.74
median 673.86
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
679.3028
10th place overall
Field spread
101.7140
winner to last place
Prize money
$10,000.00
on the line
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 82%
beats 18% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
28%
of the 32 teams with a home region came from outside NC
Came back for more
33%
12 of 36 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.59 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1545
avg power rating going in · stronger than 50% of contests
Storylines
👑 A dynasty in the making
REDNECK SCIENTIFIC has won this contest 2 times across its 7 tracked editions.
🪒 A razor-thin finish
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1312 points — closer than 81% of every championship in the data.
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE took the Grand Championship home to VA.
🧹 A double category winner
MUTTLEY CREW BBQ won Pork, Brisket — a double.
📸 Photo finishes
Chicken places 6–7: ELITE BBQ SMOKERS and SMOKIN SKULLIES tied on 174.2744 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 9–10: CHOCK FULL OF BARBEQUE and SOUTHERN Q COMPETITION COOK TEAM tied on 172.5484 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 5–6: SMOKIN SKULLIES and REDNECK SCIENTIFIC tied on 171.9772 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🛡️ Back to defend
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: REDNECK SCIENTIFIC (won 2016, 2017), MUTTLEY CREW BBQ (won 2018, 2019).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-05-20 | Downtown Ayden | 30 | 688.6060 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 2017-05-19 | 462 second st | 36 | 684.4796 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ | |
| 2018-05-18 | 462 second st | 38 | 691.9772 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | SOUTHERN Q COMPETITION COOK TEAM | |
| 2019-05-17 | Ayden, NC | 462 Second St | 36 | 691.3712 | Muttley Crew BBQ | 3N1 Q |
| 2022-05-20 ← this one | Ayden, NC | 462 Second St | 32 | 691.9084 | Old Virginia Smoke | Optimus Swine |
| 2023-05-19 | Ayden, NC | 462 Second St | 25 | 705.6684 | Smoke and Brew | OFF THE RACK BBQ |
| 2024-05-17 | Ayden, NC | Ayden, NC 28513 | 18 | 695.3716 | Optimus Swine | SMOKIN SKULLIES |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8572 | 175.4056 | 172.5484 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.2972 | 171.9772 | 170.2628 |
| Pork | 176.5600 | 174.2628 | 170.8228 |
| Brisket | 174.2628 | 171.9656 | 170.8228 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
32 entries · top 691.9084 · median 673.8626
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 2 | Optimus Swine | |
| 3 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 5 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 6 | SOUTHERN Q COMPETITION COOK TEAM | |
| 7 | Blue Ribbon BBQ NC | |
| 8 | TWISTED PAIR BBQ | |
| 9 | SmoKing Aces BBQ - NC | |
| 10 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 11 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 12 | HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC | |
| 13 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 14 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 15 | North Meets South BBQ | |
| 16 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 17 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 18 | SHAAZAAM-A-QUE | |
| 19 | MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ | |
| 20 | BUD WISER'S BBQ | |
| 21 | CHOCK FULL OF BARBEQUE | |
| 22 | DOCTOR CUE NC | |
| 23 | KIRBBQ | |
| 24 | COASTAL SMOKE | |
| 25 | Feelin' Swine BBQ | |
| 26 | FatHeads BBQ | |
| 27 | J-3 BBQ | |
| 28 | Grillin Thyme | |
| 29 | BICOASTAL BBQ | |
| 30 | FOWL HOGZ | |
| 31 | TOBACCO ROAD PITMASTERS | |
| 32 | Vine Swamp BBQ |
Chicken
32 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Optimus Swine | |
| 2 | North Meets South BBQ | |
| 3 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 4 | HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC | |
| 5 | SmoKing Aces BBQ - NC | |
| 6 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 7 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 8 | KIRBBQ | |
| 9 | CHOCK FULL OF BARBEQUE | |
| 10 | SOUTHERN Q COMPETITION COOK TEAM | |
| 11 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 12 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 13 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 14 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 15 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 16 | MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ | |
| 17 | TWISTED PAIR BBQ | |
| 18 | COASTAL SMOKE | |
| 19 | FatHeads BBQ | |
| 20 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 21 | J-3 BBQ | |
| 22 | BUD WISER'S BBQ | |
| 23 | TOBACCO ROAD PITMASTERS | |
| 24 | SHAAZAAM-A-QUE | |
| 25 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 26 | Blue Ribbon BBQ NC | |
| 27 | FOWL HOGZ | |
| 28 | Grillin Thyme | |
| 29 | BICOASTAL BBQ | |
| 30 | DOCTOR CUE NC | |
| 31 | Feelin' Swine BBQ | |
| 32 | Vine Swamp BBQ |
Pork Ribs
32 entries · top 178.2972 · median 167.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 2 | Blue Ribbon BBQ NC | |
| 3 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 4 | SmoKing Aces BBQ - NC | |
| 5 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 6 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 7 | TWISTED PAIR BBQ | |
| 8 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 9 | North Meets South BBQ | |
| 10 | SOUTHERN Q COMPETITION COOK TEAM | |
| 11 | SHAAZAAM-A-QUE | |
| 12 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 13 | BUD WISER'S BBQ | |
| 14 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 15 | HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC | |
| 16 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 17 | Optimus Swine | |
| 18 | Feelin' Swine BBQ | |
| 19 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 20 | J-3 BBQ | |
| 21 | COASTAL SMOKE | |
| 22 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 23 | DOCTOR CUE NC | |
| 24 | BICOASTAL BBQ | |
| 25 | CHOCK FULL OF BARBEQUE | |
| 26 | MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ | |
| 27 | FOWL HOGZ | |
| 28 | Grillin Thyme | |
| 29 | FatHeads BBQ | |
| 30 | KIRBBQ | |
| 31 | TOBACCO ROAD PITMASTERS | |
| 32 | Vine Swamp BBQ |
Pork
32 entries · top 176.5600 · median 168.5314
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 2 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 3 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 4 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 5 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 6 | SHAAZAAM-A-QUE | |
| 7 | Optimus Swine | |
| 8 | CHOCK FULL OF BARBEQUE | |
| 9 | TWISTED PAIR BBQ | |
| 10 | Feelin' Swine BBQ | |
| 11 | North Meets South BBQ | |
| 12 | MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ | |
| 13 | Vine Swamp BBQ | |
| 14 | SOUTHERN Q COMPETITION COOK TEAM | |
| 15 | SmoKing Aces BBQ - NC | |
| 16 | Blue Ribbon BBQ NC | |
| 17 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 18 | HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC | |
| 19 | BUD WISER'S BBQ | |
| 20 | DOCTOR CUE NC | |
| 21 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 22 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 23 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 24 | COASTAL SMOKE | |
| 25 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 26 | Grillin Thyme | |
| 27 | J-3 BBQ | |
| 28 | FatHeads BBQ | |
| 29 | BICOASTAL BBQ | |
| 30 | KIRBBQ | |
| 31 | TOBACCO ROAD PITMASTERS | |
| 32 | FOWL HOGZ |
Brisket
32 entries · top 174.2628 · median 165.0914
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 2 | Blue Ribbon BBQ NC | |
| 3 | Optimus Swine | |
| 4 | SOUTHERN Q COMPETITION COOK TEAM | |
| 5 | MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ | |
| 6 | KIRBBQ | |
| 7 | DOCTOR CUE NC | |
| 8 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 9 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 10 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 11 | TWISTED PAIR BBQ | |
| 12 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 13 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 14 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 15 | HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC | |
| 16 | Grillin Thyme | |
| 17 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 18 | SmoKing Aces BBQ - NC | |
| 19 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 20 | SHAAZAAM-A-QUE | |
| 21 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 22 | FatHeads BBQ | |
| 23 | Feelin' Swine BBQ | |
| 24 | BUD WISER'S BBQ | |
| 25 | COASTAL SMOKE | |
| 26 | North Meets South BBQ | |
| 27 | BICOASTAL BBQ | |
| 28 | CHOCK FULL OF BARBEQUE | |
| 29 | TOBACCO ROAD PITMASTERS | |
| 30 | J-3 BBQ | |
| 31 | FOWL HOGZ | |
| 32 | Vine Swamp BBQ |