A new contest record
703.9660
highest overall ever cooked here
703.9660 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 692.0000 4 Legs Up BBQ set in 2021.
- old record 692.0000
- set 2021 by 4 Legs Up BBQ
Heritage Days BBQ Showdown (Day One) 2022
Jun 24–25, 2022 · Belvidere, IL · 📍 Boone County Fairgrounds · State championship
Reps: Charlie Brinza, Jeanne Titus · Prize money: $11,100
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ won Grand Champion at the Heritage Days BBQ Showdown (Day One) on June 24, 2022 in Belvidere, IL at Boone County Fairgrounds, scoring 703.9660 in a field of 36 teams. TRIPLE H BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 701.0972. Category winners: Chicken — TRIPLE H BBQ (178.8572); Pork Ribs — IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ (177.7144); Pork — JANKY LEG BBQ (175.4172); Brisket — The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company (178.8572). The Backyard Series standings were won by SMOKE, FIRE & BREW with 346.2400. This is the 2nd of 3 editions of this contest on record; the 2021 edition was won by 4 Legs Up BBQ; the next was held in 2022.
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.
617.06
median 673.59
703.97 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 178.86
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 177.71
- Master Series — Pork 175.42
- Master Series — Brisket 178.86
- Backyard Series — Chicken 173.12
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 176.56
133.10
178.86
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2021 to 2022 — this edition picked out.
Entries
36
6 judged meats
Top score
703.9660
Winning margin
2.8688
GC over RC
Field average
670.86
617.06703.97
median 673.59 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
1.1428 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
683.3144
617.06703.97
10th place overall
Field spread
86.9032
winner to last place
Prize money
$11,100
on the line
Double threats
8
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 18%
beats 82% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
44%
31 of 70 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.41 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,625
avg power rating going in · stronger than 89% of contests
Storylines (5 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.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 22 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 4–5: JANKY LEG BBQ and IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 6–7: 4 LEGS UP BBQ and DB BBQ tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 9–10: UP FROM THE PITS BBQ and Can Country Outlaw BBQ tied on 171.9656 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 1–2 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 5th.
- Chicken 5th
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 5th
- Brisket 3rd
A contest record in brisket
178.8572
best brisket ever cooked here
The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company turned in 178.8572 in brisket — past the 175.4172 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 175.4172
- across 1 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: 4 Legs Up BBQ (won 2021).
- 4 Legs Up BBQ · 2021
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2021 | Belvidere, IL | Boone County Fairgrounds | 49 | 692 | 4 Legs Up BBQ | THE BBQ BUS |
| Jun 24, 2022 ← this one | Belvidere, IL | Boone County Fairgrounds | 36 | 703.9660 | Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ | TRIPLE H BBQ |
| Jun 25, 2022 | Belvidere, IL | Boone County Fairgrounds | 32 | 706.2400 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | RUSTY PIG BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 178.8572 | 176.5600 | 171.9656 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 177.7144 | 175.4172 | 172.5600 |
| Master Series — Pork | 175.4172 | 174.2744 | 171.9656 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 178.8572 | 174.2628 | 171.9656 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 173.1200 | 168.5372 | 158.8576 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 176.5600 | 167.4632 | 161.6572 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
36 entries · top 703.9660 · median 673.5886
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 2 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 3 | iBQ'n | |
| 4 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 5 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 6 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 7 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 8 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 9 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 10 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 11 | Blowing Smoke BBQ | |
| 12 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 13 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 14 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 15 | Smokin Highwaymen | |
| 16 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 17 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 18 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 19 | DB BBQ | |
| 20 | Risky Brisket | |
| 21 | JACKS PIT SHACK | |
| 22 | QUE U | |
| 23 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 24 | Phoenix BBQ | |
| 25 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 26 | Black Crown Barbeque | |
| 27 | Chasin Chicken Barbeque | |
| 28 | Ghost Hill BBQ | |
| 29 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 30 | Three Stooges bbq | |
| 31 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 32 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 33 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 34 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 35 | Hump's Haven Backyard BBQ | |
| 36 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ |
Chicken
36 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.4000
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 2 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 3 | iBQ'n | |
| 4 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 5 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 6 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 7 | DB BBQ | |
| 8 | Blowing Smoke BBQ | |
| 9 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 10 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 11 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 12 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 13 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 14 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 15 | Black Crown Barbeque | |
| 16 | Phoenix BBQ | |
| 17 | Risky Brisket | |
| 18 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 19 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 20 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 21 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 22 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 23 | JACKS PIT SHACK | |
| 24 | Smokin Highwaymen | |
| 25 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 26 | QUE U | |
| 27 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 28 | Ghost Hill BBQ | |
| 29 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 30 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 31 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 32 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 33 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 34 | Chasin Chicken Barbeque | |
| 35 | Three Stooges bbq | |
| 36 | Hump's Haven Backyard BBQ |
Pork Ribs
36 entries · top 177.7144 · median 166.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 2 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 3 | iBQ'n | |
| 4 | Smokin Highwaymen | |
| 5 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 6 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 7 | Blowing Smoke BBQ | |
| 8 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 9 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 10 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 11 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 12 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 13 | Ghost Hill BBQ | |
| 14 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 15 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 16 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 17 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 18 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 19 | Risky Brisket | |
| 20 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 21 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 22 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 23 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 24 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 25 | JACKS PIT SHACK | |
| 26 | Phoenix BBQ | |
| 27 | QUE U | |
| 28 | DB BBQ | |
| 29 | Hump's Haven Backyard BBQ | |
| 30 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 31 | Black Crown Barbeque | |
| 32 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 33 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 34 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 35 | Three Stooges bbq | |
| 36 | Chasin Chicken Barbeque |
Pork
36 entries · top 175.4172 · median 168.8344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 2 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 3 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 4 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 5 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 6 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 7 | iBQ'n | |
| 8 | Three Stooges bbq | |
| 9 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 10 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 11 | Chasin Chicken Barbeque | |
| 12 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 13 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 14 | QUE U | |
| 15 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 16 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 17 | Risky Brisket | |
| 18 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 19 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 20 | JACKS PIT SHACK | |
| 21 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 22 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 23 | DB BBQ | |
| 24 | Blowing Smoke BBQ | |
| 25 | Smokin Highwaymen | |
| 26 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 27 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 28 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 29 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 30 | Phoenix BBQ | |
| 31 | Black Crown Barbeque | |
| 32 | Hump's Haven Backyard BBQ | |
| 33 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 34 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 35 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ | |
| 36 | Ghost Hill BBQ |
Brisket
36 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 2 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 3 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 4 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 5 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 6 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 7 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 8 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 9 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 10 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 11 | Chasin Chicken Barbeque | |
| 12 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 13 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 14 | Ghost Hill BBQ | |
| 15 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 16 | JACKS PIT SHACK | |
| 17 | DB BBQ | |
| 18 | QUE U | |
| 19 | iBQ'n | |
| 20 | Phoenix BBQ | |
| 21 | Smokin Highwaymen | |
| 22 | Blowing Smoke BBQ | |
| 23 | Black Crown Barbeque | |
| 24 | Three Stooges bbq | |
| 25 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 26 | Risky Brisket | |
| 27 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 28 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 29 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 30 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 31 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 32 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 33 | Hump's Haven Backyard BBQ | |
| 34 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 35 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 36 | ROLL THE BONES BBQ |
Backyard Series
Overall
15 entries · top 346.2400 · median 327.3372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKE, FIRE & BREW | |
| 2 | Furlongs Smoke & Seafood | |
| 3 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 4 | SMOKEY GQ | |
| 5 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 6 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 7 | Good Grefe! | |
| 8 | Corson Q | |
| 9 | Shmack Q | |
| 10 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 11 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 12 | Loose Cannon BBQ | |
| 13 | Ishy Links BBQ | |
| 14 | MC's BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKIN' YER BUTT GANG |
Chicken
15 entries · top 173.1200 · median 164.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Furlongs Smoke & Seafood | |
| 2 | SMOKEY GQ | |
| 3 | SMOKE, FIRE & BREW | |
| 4 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 5 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 6 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 7 | Good Grefe! | |
| 8 | Corson Q | |
| 9 | Shmack Q | |
| 10 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 11 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 12 | Ishy Links BBQ | |
| 13 | Loose Cannon BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN' YER BUTT GANG | |
| 15 | MC's BBQ |
Pork Ribs
15 entries · top 176.5600 · median 161.6688
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKE, FIRE & BREW | |
| 2 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 3 | Furlongs Smoke & Seafood | |
| 4 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 5 | Loose Cannon BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKEY GQ | |
| 7 | Corson Q | |
| 8 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 9 | Good Grefe! | |
| 10 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 11 | Shmack Q | |
| 12 | MC's BBQ | |
| 13 | Ishy Links BBQ | |
| 14 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKIN' YER BUTT GANG |