A new contest record
709.6800
highest overall ever cooked here
709.6800 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 703.9428 Piggin Whiskey set in 2021.
- old record 703.9428
- set 2021 by Piggin Whiskey
Cherokee Strip BBQ & Chili Cook-Off 2022
Sep 16–17, 2022 · Ponca City, OK · 📍 Ponca Lake · State championship
Reps: Larry Voth, Lynda Voth · Prize money: $13,750
RAZORRACKS won Grand Champion at the Cherokee Strip BBQ & Chili Cook-Off on September 16, 2022 in Ponca City, OK at Ponca Lake, scoring 709.6800 in a field of 39 teams. 4 LEGS UP BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 703.3828. Category winners: Chicken — BUFFALO'S BBQ (177.1428); Pork Ribs — RAZORRACKS (178.8572); Pork — 4 LEGS UP BBQ (177.7028); Brisket — DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK (178.8800). This is the 2nd of 9 editions of this contest on record; the 2021 edition was won by Piggin Whiskey; 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.
170.23
median 671.36
709.68 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 177.14
- Pork Ribs 178.86
- Pork 177.70
- Brisket 178.88
20
178.88
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2021 to 2025 — this edition picked out.
Entries
39
4 judged meats · 4 ancillary
Top score
709.6800
Winning margin
6.2972
GC over RC
Field average
652.83
170.23709.68
median 671.36 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Chicken
1.7372 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
679.8744
170.23709.68
10th place overall
Field spread
539.4516
winner to last place
Prize money
$13,750
on the line
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 4%
beats 96% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
72%
18 of 25 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.73 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,621
avg power rating going in · stronger than 88% of contests
Storylines (8 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.
An upset on the books
33-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 67 times in 100
RAZORRACKS came in rated below the field's top team, CLARK CREW BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 33-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1896
- top seed 2019
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 9 tracked editions
Razorracks has won this contest 2 times across its 9 tracked editions.
- 2022
- 2023
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 15 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 3–4: TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER and RISE N SWINE tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 6–7: Sixkiller BBQ and Pork Posse tied on 174.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 4–5: SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ and MAN MEAT BBQ tied on 173.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Pork Ribs 4–5 · tie
- Pork Ribs 9–10 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
RAZORRACKS took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was brisket at 4th.
- Chicken 2nd
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 3rd
- Brisket 4th
A contest record in brisket
178.8800
best brisket ever cooked here
DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK turned in 178.8800 in brisket — past the 177.7028 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 177.7028
- across 1 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Piggin Whiskey (won 2021).
- Piggin Whiskey · 2021
They keep coming back
72%
of last edition’s field returned
18 of 25 teams from 2021-09-10 came back
18 of the 25 teams that cooked the previous edition came back for this one — a contest people put on the calendar.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 2021 | Ponca City, OK | Ponca Lake | 25 | 703.9428 | Piggin Whiskey | BUFFALO'S BBQ |
| Sep 16, 2022 ← this one | Ponca City, OK | Ponca Lake | 39 | 709.6800 | Razorracks | 4 LEGS UP BBQ |
| Sep 16, 2022 | Ponca City, OK | Ponca Lake | 13 | 176.5600 | SuperSwine BBQ | — |
| Sep 15, 2023 | Ponca City, OK | Lake Ponca | 26 | 701.0740 | RAZORRACKS | CLARK CREW BBQ |
| Sep 15, 2023 | Ponca City, OK | Lake Ponca | 11 | 176.5716 | SMOKED & FURIOUS | — |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Ponca City, OK | Lake Ponca | 26 | 698.8000 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | BURNIN' SANDS BBQ |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Ponca City, OK | Lake Ponca | 4 | 175.4056 | COOKSHACK | — |
| Sep 19, 2025 | Ponca City, OK | Lake Ponca | 25 | 712.5484 | BULL IN THE RING | Smoked & Furious |
| Sep 19, 2025 | Ponca City, OK | Lake Ponca | 7 | 178.8572 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.1428 | 175.4056 | 173.1316 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 173.7144 | 170.2744 |
| Pork | 177.7028 | 174.2628 | 173.1316 |
| Brisket | 178.8800 | 177.1428 | 174.2628 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
39 entries · top 709.6800 · median 671.3600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 2 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 3 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 4 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK | |
| 5 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 6 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 7 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 8 | RISE N SWINE | |
| 9 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 10 | HOT CHIHUAHUA BARBECUE | |
| 11 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 12 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 13 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 14 | CEO BBQ | |
| 15 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 16 | Fine As* Swine BBQ | |
| 17 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 18 | BURNIN' SANDS BBQ | |
| 19 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 20 | HOLLOW Q | |
| 21 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 22 | BBQ Bravado | |
| 23 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 24 | Stitt Show BBQ | |
| 25 | LA PASADITA | |
| 26 | Pork Posse | |
| 27 | Sixkiller BBQ | |
| 28 | BULL IN THE RING | |
| 29 | SUPER SWINE | |
| 30 | COOKSHACK | |
| 31 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 32 | Back from the Dead | |
| 33 | BrewsCue | |
| 34 | Smokin Blue BBQ | |
| 35 | TRIANGLE S BAR B Q | |
| 36 | Blue Collar BBQ | |
| 37 | Atomik Kitchen | |
| 38 | Zeller Fellers | |
| 39 | Howlin' Good |
Chicken
38 entries · top 177.1428 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 2 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 3 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 4 | RISE N SWINE | |
| 5 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 6 | Sixkiller BBQ | |
| 7 | Pork Posse | |
| 8 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 9 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 10 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 11 | LA PASADITA | |
| 12 | BURNIN' SANDS BBQ | |
| 13 | SUPER SWINE | |
| 14 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 15 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 16 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK | |
| 17 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 18 | Stitt Show BBQ | |
| 19 | BULL IN THE RING | |
| 20 | HOT CHIHUAHUA BARBECUE | |
| 21 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 22 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 23 | BBQ Bravado | |
| 24 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 25 | Back from the Dead | |
| 26 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 27 | COOKSHACK | |
| 28 | Fine As* Swine BBQ | |
| 29 | CEO BBQ | |
| 30 | HOLLOW Q | |
| 31 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 32 | Smokin Blue BBQ | |
| 33 | TRIANGLE S BAR B Q | |
| 34 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 35 | Atomik Kitchen | |
| 36 | BrewsCue | |
| 37 | Blue Collar BBQ | |
| 38 | Zeller Fellers |
Pork Ribs
39 entries · top 178.8572 · median 165.0972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 2 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 3 | RISE N SWINE | |
| 4 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 5 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 6 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 7 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 8 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 9 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK | |
| 10 | CEO BBQ | |
| 11 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 12 | BURNIN' SANDS BBQ | |
| 13 | COOKSHACK | |
| 14 | Fine As* Swine BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 16 | HOLLOW Q | |
| 17 | BrewsCue | |
| 18 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 19 | Sixkiller BBQ | |
| 20 | HOT CHIHUAHUA BARBECUE | |
| 21 | LA PASADITA | |
| 22 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 23 | Stitt Show BBQ | |
| 24 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 25 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 26 | Smokin Blue BBQ | |
| 27 | BBQ Bravado | |
| 28 | Pork Posse | |
| 29 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 30 | SUPER SWINE | |
| 31 | Back from the Dead | |
| 32 | BULL IN THE RING | |
| 33 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 34 | Zeller Fellers | |
| 35 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 36 | Howlin' Good | |
| 37 | TRIANGLE S BAR B Q | |
| 38 | Atomik Kitchen | |
| 39 | Blue Collar BBQ |
Pork
39 entries · top 177.7028 · median 169.1084
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 2 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 3 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 4 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 5 | Fine As* Swine BBQ | |
| 6 | BBQ Bravado | |
| 7 | COOKSHACK | |
| 8 | CEO BBQ | |
| 9 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK | |
| 10 | Stitt Show BBQ | |
| 11 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 12 | HOT CHIHUAHUA BARBECUE | |
| 13 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 14 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 15 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 16 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 17 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 18 | BULL IN THE RING | |
| 19 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 20 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 21 | Back from the Dead | |
| 22 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 23 | LA PASADITA | |
| 24 | Smokin Blue BBQ | |
| 25 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 26 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 27 | Pork Posse | |
| 28 | SUPER SWINE | |
| 29 | RISE N SWINE | |
| 30 | HOLLOW Q | |
| 31 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 32 | Sixkiller BBQ | |
| 33 | BURNIN' SANDS BBQ | |
| 34 | Blue Collar BBQ | |
| 35 | BrewsCue | |
| 36 | TRIANGLE S BAR B Q | |
| 37 | Atomik Kitchen | |
| 38 | Zeller Fellers | |
| 39 | Howlin' Good |
Brisket
38 entries · top 178.8800 · median 168.2514
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DOUBLE BARREL BBQ - OK | |
| 2 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 3 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 4 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 5 | HOLLOW Q | |
| 6 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 7 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 8 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 9 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 10 | HOT CHIHUAHUA BARBECUE | |
| 11 | BURNIN' SANDS BBQ | |
| 12 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 13 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 15 | CEO BBQ | |
| 16 | BrewsCue | |
| 17 | RISE N SWINE | |
| 18 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 19 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 20 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 21 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 22 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 23 | Fine As* Swine BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 25 | BULL IN THE RING | |
| 26 | BBQ Bravado | |
| 27 | Sixkiller BBQ | |
| 28 | Pork Posse | |
| 29 | SUPER SWINE | |
| 30 | Stitt Show BBQ | |
| 31 | LA PASADITA | |
| 32 | Back from the Dead | |
| 33 | COOKSHACK | |
| 34 | Smokin Blue BBQ | |
| 35 | TRIANGLE S BAR B Q | |
| 36 | Blue Collar BBQ | |
| 37 | Zeller Fellers | |
| 38 | Atomik Kitchen |
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.
Ancillary — Anything Butt
5 entries · top 177.7144 · median 173.7144
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 2 | HOLLOW Q | |
| 3 | Pork Posse | |
| 4 | Gazaway BBQ | |
| 5 | Pork Posse 2 |
Ancillary — Beans
9 entries · top 173.7372 · median 160.5256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Back from the Dead | |
| 2 | Pork Posse | |
| 3 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 4 | CEO BBQ | |
| 5 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 6 | Howlin' Good | |
| 7 | Blue Collar BBQ | |
| 8 | Gazaway BBQ | |
| 9 | Ambucs |
Ancillary — Dessert
6 entries · top 180 · median 177.7086 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN DAN | |
| 2 | Pork Posse | |
| 3 | Stitt Show BBQ | |
| 4 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 5 | Fine As* Swine BBQ | |
| 6 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ |
Ancillary — Sauce
12 entries · top 180 · median 171.9772 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Back from the Dead | |
| 2 | SUPER SWINE | |
| 3 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 4 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 5 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 6 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 7 | Pork Posse | |
| 8 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 9 | Smokin Blue BBQ | |
| 10 | Clark Crew BBQ 2 | |
| 11 | Man Meat BBQ 2 | |
| 12 | Howlin' Good |