A new contest record
705.6916
highest overall ever cooked here
705.6916 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 704.5372 Heavy Smoke STL set in 2019.
- old record 704.5372
- set 2019 by Heavy Smoke STL
Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown 2022
Jul 15–16, 2022 · Eureka, IL · 📍 112 N Main St · State championship
Reps: Dave Rogers, Peg Rogers · Prize money: $5,025
QUE U won Grand Champion at the Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown on July 15, 2022 in Eureka, IL at 112 N Main St, scoring 705.6916 in a field of 25 teams. TRIPLE H BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 697.6804. Category winners: Chicken — TRIPLE H BBQ (177.1544); Pork Ribs — Risky Brisket (177.1428); Pork — QUE U (178.8572); Brisket — QUE U (178.8572). The Backyard Series standings were won by Ham Squad with 342.2516. This is the 2nd of 7 editions of this contest on record; the 2019 edition was won by Heavy Smoke STL; 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.
619.25
median 672.41
705.69 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 177.15
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 177.14
- Master Series — Pork 178.86
- Master Series — Brisket 178.86
- Backyard Series — Chicken 174.86
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 169.70
137.12
178.86
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2019 to 2025 — this edition picked out.
Entries
25
6 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
705.6916
Winning margin
8.0112
GC over RC
Field average
671.05
619.25705.69
median 672.41 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Chicken
1.1544 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
679.3028
619.25705.69
10th place overall
Field spread
86.4460
winner to last place
Prize money
$5,025
on the line
Double threats
8
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 12%
beats 88% of 4714 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
24%
15 of 62 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.6 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,575
avg power rating going in · stronger than 59% of contests
Storylines (7 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 7 tracked editions
Triple H BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 7 tracked editions.
- 2022
- 2023
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 18 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 1–2: TRIPLE H BBQ and JaBs BBQ tied on 177.1544 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 4–5: QUE U and AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW tied on 176.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 6–7: WE WILL ROCK QUE and THE BBQ BUS tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 2–3 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
QUE U won Pork, Brisket — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
QUE U took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was pork ribs at 6th.
- Chicken 4th
- Pork Ribs 6th
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 1st
A contest record in pork ribs
177.1428
best pork ribs ever cooked here
Risky Brisket turned in 177.1428 in pork ribs — past the 175.4172 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 175.4172
- across 1 past editions
The contest returns
3 yrs
since the last edition
This contest was away for 3 years — the previous tracked edition ran on 2019-07-19.
- previous edition 2019-07-19
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 19, 2019 | Peoria, IL | 200 NE Water St | 40 | 704.5372 | Heavy Smoke STL | SMOKE FREAKS |
| Jul 15, 2022 ← this one | Eureka, IL | 112 N Main St | 25 | 705.6916 | Que U | TRIPLE H BBQ |
| Jul 15, 2022 | Eureka, IL | 112 N Main St | 19 | 177.7028 | Triple H BBQ | — |
| Jul 14, 2023 | Eureka, IL | 506 Reagan Dr | 25 | 690.7540 | Triple H BBQ | Heavy Smoke BBQ |
| Jul 14, 2023 | Eureka, IL | 506 Reagan Dr | 15 | 180 | Smokinghostbbq | — |
| Jun 27, 2025 | Eureka, IL | 1448 County Rd 800 N | 26 | 706.8344 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | TRIPLE H BBQ |
| Jun 27, 2025 | Eureka, IL | 1448 County Rd 800 N | 15 | 178.2972 | LEE LA Q | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 177.1544 | 176 | 172 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 177.1428 | 171.9772 | 169.6916 |
| Master Series — Pork | 178.8572 | 172.5600 | 170.8228 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 178.8572 | 172.5600 | 170.2628 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 174.8572 | 163.3828 | 155.4288 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 169.7028 | 166.2400 | 155.3600 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
25 entries · top 705.6916 · median 672.4112
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | QUE U | |
| 2 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 3 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 4 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 5 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 6 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 7 | Risky Brisket | |
| 8 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 9 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 10 | MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS | |
| 11 | DB BBQ | |
| 12 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 13 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 14 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 15 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 16 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 17 | Chasin Chicken Barbeque | |
| 18 | FIRST CLASS BBQ | |
| 19 | OINK-A-DOODLE-MOO 1559 | |
| 20 | Mediocre BBQ | |
| 21 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 22 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 23 | SAUCED N SMOKED | |
| 24 | Smokin at Noonish | |
| 25 | Del Rio BBQ |
Chicken
25 entries · top 177.1544 · median 170.8112
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 2 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 3 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 4 | QUE U | |
| 5 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 6 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 7 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 8 | MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS | |
| 9 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 10 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 11 | OINK-A-DOODLE-MOO 1559 | |
| 12 | DB BBQ | |
| 13 | Risky Brisket | |
| 14 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 15 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 16 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 17 | Mediocre BBQ | |
| 18 | SAUCED N SMOKED | |
| 19 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 20 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 21 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 22 | Chasin Chicken Barbeque | |
| 23 | FIRST CLASS BBQ | |
| 24 | Del Rio BBQ | |
| 25 | Smokin at Noonish |
Pork Ribs
25 entries · top 177.1428 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Risky Brisket | |
| 2 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 3 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 4 | Chasin Chicken Barbeque | |
| 5 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 6 | QUE U | |
| 7 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 8 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 9 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 10 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 11 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 12 | OINK-A-DOODLE-MOO 1559 | |
| 13 | Mediocre BBQ | |
| 14 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 15 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 16 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 17 | DB BBQ | |
| 18 | MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS | |
| 19 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 20 | SAUCED N SMOKED | |
| 21 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 22 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 23 | FIRST CLASS BBQ | |
| 24 | Del Rio BBQ | |
| 25 | Smokin at Noonish |
Pork
25 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.1544
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | QUE U | |
| 2 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 3 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 4 | FIRST CLASS BBQ | |
| 5 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 6 | MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS | |
| 7 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 8 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 9 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 10 | DB BBQ | |
| 11 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 12 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 13 | Smokin at Noonish | |
| 14 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 15 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 16 | Risky Brisket | |
| 17 | Mediocre BBQ | |
| 18 | Chasin Chicken Barbeque | |
| 19 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 20 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 21 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 22 | OINK-A-DOODLE-MOO 1559 | |
| 23 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 24 | SAUCED N SMOKED | |
| 25 | Del Rio BBQ |
Brisket
25 entries · top 178.8572 · median 167.9656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | QUE U | |
| 2 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 3 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 4 | FIRST CLASS BBQ | |
| 5 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 6 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 7 | DB BBQ | |
| 8 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 9 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 10 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 11 | Risky Brisket | |
| 12 | Chasin Chicken Barbeque | |
| 13 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 14 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 15 | MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS | |
| 16 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 17 | Del Rio BBQ | |
| 18 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 19 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 20 | OINK-A-DOODLE-MOO 1559 | |
| 21 | Smokin at Noonish | |
| 22 | Mediocre BBQ | |
| 23 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 24 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 25 | SAUCED N SMOKED |
Backyard Series
Overall
14 entries · top 342.2516 · median 322.5028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ham Squad | |
| 2 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 3 | Swine N’ Dine BBQ | |
| 4 | 309 BBQ | |
| 5 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 6 | Ishy Links BBQ | |
| 7 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 8 | Sermerstout BBQ | |
| 9 | Shmack Q | |
| 10 | Loose Cannon BBQ | |
| 11 | Sugar Creek BBQ | |
| 12 | Porky Joe's BBQ | |
| 13 | Truck'n Sauced | |
| 14 | Top Row Que |
Chicken
14 entries · top 174.8572 · median 160.5486
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ham Squad | |
| 2 | Swine N’ Dine BBQ | |
| 3 | 309 BBQ | |
| 4 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 5 | Shmack Q | |
| 6 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 7 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 8 | Ishy Links BBQ | |
| 9 | Loose Cannon BBQ | |
| 10 | Sugar Creek BBQ | |
| 11 | Sermerstout BBQ | |
| 12 | Truck'n Sauced | |
| 13 | Top Row Que | |
| 14 | Porky Joe's BBQ |
Pork Ribs
14 entries · top 169.7028 · median 161.3944
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ishy Links BBQ | |
| 2 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 3 | Ham Squad | |
| 4 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 5 | Sermerstout BBQ | |
| 6 | 309 BBQ | |
| 7 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 8 | Swine N’ Dine BBQ | |
| 9 | Loose Cannon BBQ | |
| 10 | Shmack Q | |
| 11 | Porky Joe's BBQ | |
| 12 | Sugar Creek BBQ | |
| 13 | Top Row Que | |
| 14 | Truck'n Sauced |
Ancillary categories
Run by the organizers alongside the sanctioned contest. These are judged on their own terms and do not count toward the overall score, so they're kept out of the meat stats above.
Turkey Smoke Series — Turkey Smoke
23 entries · top 174.8456 · median 165.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 2 | Swine N’ Dine BBQ | |
| 3 | Shmack Q | |
| 4 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 5 | Mediocre BBQ | |
| 6 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 7 | SAUCED N SMOKED | |
| 8 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 9 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 10 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 11 | Ham Squad | |
| 12 | MONSTERS OF THE RIBWAY | |
| 13 | BBQ Maestros | |
| 14 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 15 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 16 | FIRST CLASS BBQ | |
| 17 | Del Rio BBQ | |
| 18 | OINK-A-DOODLE-MOO 1559 | |
| 19 | Chasin Chicken Barbeque | |
| 20 | GOT SMOKED - IL | |
| 21 | Sermerstout BBQ | |
| 22 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 23 | DB BBQ |