Best of the Midwest BBQ
2022-10-14 – 2022-10-15 · Union Grove, WI · 📍 19805 Durand Ave · State championship
Reps: BECKY DRUETZLER, DAVE DRUETZLER · Prize money: $7,500.00
Grand Champion: iBQ'n (697.6456) · 36 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 UP FROM THE PITS BBQ
Entries
36
6 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
697.6456
Winning margin
1.1428
GC over RC
Field average
658.25
median 659.89
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
1.7144 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
685.0284
10th place overall
Field spread
130.9832
winner to last place
Prize money
$7,500.00
on the line
Double threats
7
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 61%
beats 39% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
59%
of the 51 teams with a home region came from outside WI
Came back for more
44%
24 of 54 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.63 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1536
avg power rating going in · stronger than 41% of contests
Storylines
🪒 A razor-thin finish
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1428 points — closer than 80% of every championship in the data.
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
iBQ'n took the Grand Championship home to IN.
🧹 A double category winner
iBQ'n won Chicken, Brisket — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
📸 Photo finishes
Master Series — Chicken places 5–6: THE BBQ BUS and QUE U tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 8–9: Risky Brisket and BIG "E" BBQ tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 6–7: Risky Brisket and THE BBQ BUS tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🛡️ Back to defend
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Big E BBQ (won 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)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-10-16 | Union Grove, WI | 19805 Durand Ave | 50 | 692.5600 | Shiggin Ain't Easy BBQ | GETTIN' BASTED |
| 2021-10-22 | Union Grove, WI | 19805 Durand Ave | 44 | 690.2172 | Big E BBQ | RUSTY PIG BBQ |
| 2022-10-14 ← this one | Union Grove, WI | 19805 Durand Ave | 36 | 697.6456 | iBQ'n | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180.0000 | 174.2628 | 173.1084 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 176.5716 | 174.8572 | 170.8460 |
| Master Series — Pork | 177.1544 | 173.1428 | 171.4056 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 178.8572 | 175.4056 | 170.3200 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 171.9772 | 166.2284 | 151.9656 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 173.7144 | 159.4400 | 149.0856 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
36 entries · top 697.6456 · median 659.8916
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | iBQ'n | |
| 2 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 3 | DB BBQ | |
| 4 | Porkrastinators | |
| 5 | Q-JITSU | |
| 6 | QUE U | |
| 7 | FIREHOUSE SMOKE | |
| 8 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 9 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 10 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 11 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 12 | Risky Brisket | |
| 13 | Blue Island | |
| 14 | Slightly Sauced | |
| 15 | WICKED SMOKE BBQ | |
| 16 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 17 | BIG GUYS Q | |
| 18 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 19 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 20 | Red Rock Cafe | |
| 21 | Low Rent BBQ | |
| 22 | MAC ATTACK BBQ | |
| 23 | JACKS PIT SHACK | |
| 24 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 25 | Black Crown Barbeque | |
| 26 | Two Brews BBQ | |
| 27 | MC Barbeque | |
| 28 | Cotton BBQ | |
| 29 | SUPERLINS BBQ | |
| 30 | BS BBQ | |
| 31 | The Rub Doctors | |
| 32 | Hawgwash BBQ | |
| 33 | Caught Smoking Again | |
| 34 | Moose's Barbecue | |
| 35 | The BBQ Commission | |
| 36 | P's Barbecue /Hiawatha Bar and Grill |
Chicken
36 entries · top 180.0000 · median 168.5600 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | iBQ'n | |
| 2 | DB BBQ | |
| 3 | Blue Island | |
| 4 | Porkrastinators | |
| 5 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 6 | QUE U | |
| 7 | MC Barbeque | |
| 8 | Risky Brisket | |
| 9 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 10 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 11 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 12 | Q-JITSU | |
| 13 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 14 | Low Rent BBQ | |
| 15 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 16 | Slightly Sauced | |
| 17 | BIG GUYS Q | |
| 18 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 19 | FIREHOUSE SMOKE | |
| 20 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 21 | The Rub Doctors | |
| 22 | Two Brews BBQ | |
| 23 | SUPERLINS BBQ | |
| 24 | JACKS PIT SHACK | |
| 25 | Red Rock Cafe | |
| 26 | Caught Smoking Again | |
| 27 | BS BBQ | |
| 28 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 29 | MAC ATTACK BBQ | |
| 30 | Cotton BBQ | |
| 31 | Black Crown Barbeque | |
| 32 | Hawgwash BBQ | |
| 33 | WICKED SMOKE BBQ | |
| 34 | The BBQ Commission | |
| 35 | Moose's Barbecue | |
| 36 | P's Barbecue /Hiawatha Bar and Grill |
Pork Ribs
36 entries · top 176.5716 · median 165.4058
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 2 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 3 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 4 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 5 | WICKED SMOKE BBQ | |
| 6 | Risky Brisket | |
| 7 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 8 | Q-JITSU | |
| 9 | Low Rent BBQ | |
| 10 | Porkrastinators | |
| 11 | QUE U | |
| 12 | FIREHOUSE SMOKE | |
| 13 | DB BBQ | |
| 14 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 15 | iBQ'n | |
| 16 | MAC ATTACK BBQ | |
| 17 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 18 | Cotton BBQ | |
| 19 | Two Brews BBQ | |
| 20 | BIG GUYS Q | |
| 21 | JACKS PIT SHACK | |
| 22 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 23 | Red Rock Cafe | |
| 24 | Blue Island | |
| 25 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 26 | Black Crown Barbeque | |
| 27 | Slightly Sauced | |
| 28 | Moose's Barbecue | |
| 29 | SUPERLINS BBQ | |
| 30 | Hawgwash BBQ | |
| 31 | Caught Smoking Again | |
| 32 | BS BBQ | |
| 33 | The Rub Doctors | |
| 34 | P's Barbecue /Hiawatha Bar and Grill | |
| 35 | MC Barbeque | |
| 36 | The BBQ Commission |
Pork
36 entries · top 177.1544 · median 166.8286
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | QUE U | |
| 2 | Cotton BBQ | |
| 3 | Slightly Sauced | |
| 4 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 5 | Two Brews BBQ | |
| 6 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 7 | FIREHOUSE SMOKE | |
| 8 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 9 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 10 | iBQ'n | |
| 11 | Q-JITSU | |
| 12 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 13 | Risky Brisket | |
| 14 | Porkrastinators | |
| 15 | MC Barbeque | |
| 16 | DB BBQ | |
| 17 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 18 | Red Rock Cafe | |
| 19 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 20 | The Rub Doctors | |
| 21 | Black Crown Barbeque | |
| 22 | Blue Island | |
| 23 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 24 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 25 | WICKED SMOKE BBQ | |
| 26 | BS BBQ | |
| 27 | JACKS PIT SHACK | |
| 28 | MAC ATTACK BBQ | |
| 29 | Low Rent BBQ | |
| 30 | BIG GUYS Q | |
| 31 | SUPERLINS BBQ | |
| 32 | Caught Smoking Again | |
| 33 | Moose's Barbecue | |
| 34 | Hawgwash BBQ | |
| 35 | P's Barbecue /Hiawatha Bar and Grill | |
| 36 | The BBQ Commission |
Brisket
36 entries · top 178.8572 · median 165.0856
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | iBQ'n | |
| 2 | DB BBQ | |
| 3 | Porkrastinators | |
| 4 | FIREHOUSE SMOKE | |
| 5 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 6 | Q-JITSU | |
| 7 | BIG "E" BBQ | |
| 8 | MAC ATTACK BBQ | |
| 9 | Blue Island | |
| 10 | BIG GUYS Q | |
| 11 | Slightly Sauced | |
| 12 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 13 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 14 | WICKED SMOKE BBQ | |
| 15 | Black Crown Barbeque | |
| 16 | QUE U | |
| 17 | Risky Brisket | |
| 18 | JACKS PIT SHACK | |
| 19 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 20 | MC Barbeque | |
| 21 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 22 | Red Rock Cafe | |
| 23 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 24 | Low Rent BBQ | |
| 25 | BS BBQ | |
| 26 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 27 | SUPERLINS BBQ | |
| 28 | Hawgwash BBQ | |
| 29 | The BBQ Commission | |
| 30 | The Rub Doctors | |
| 31 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 32 | Two Brews BBQ | |
| 33 | Cotton BBQ | |
| 34 | Caught Smoking Again | |
| 35 | Moose's Barbecue | |
| 36 | P's Barbecue /Hiawatha Bar and Grill |
Backyard Series
Overall
15 entries · top 345.6916 · median 305.0744
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKE, FIRE & BREW | |
| 2 | Loose Cannon BBQ | |
| 3 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 4 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 5 | Shmack Q | |
| 6 | Ryu Kyu BBQ | |
| 7 | Smoque Staff | |
| 8 | SMOKIN' YER BUTT GANG | |
| 9 | KP2 BBQ | |
| 10 | Behemoth BBQ | |
| 11 | Poultrygeist BBQ | |
| 12 | Terps BBQ | |
| 13 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 14 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 15 | BSW Barbeque Smoke & Whiskey |
Chicken
15 entries · top 171.9772 · median 154.8000
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKE, FIRE & BREW | |
| 2 | Shmack Q | |
| 3 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 4 | Ryu Kyu BBQ | |
| 5 | Loose Cannon BBQ | |
| 6 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 7 | KP2 BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKIN' YER BUTT GANG | |
| 9 | BSW Barbeque Smoke & Whiskey | |
| 10 | Smoque Staff | |
| 11 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 12 | Terps BBQ | |
| 13 | Poultrygeist BBQ | |
| 14 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 15 | Behemoth BBQ |
Pork Ribs
15 entries · top 173.7144 · median 154.8000
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKE, FIRE & BREW | |
| 2 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 3 | Loose Cannon BBQ | |
| 4 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 5 | Smoque Staff | |
| 6 | Ryu Kyu BBQ | |
| 7 | Shmack Q | |
| 8 | Behemoth BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKIN' YER BUTT GANG | |
| 10 | Poultrygeist BBQ | |
| 11 | KP2 BBQ | |
| 12 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 13 | Terps BBQ | |
| 14 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 15 | BSW Barbeque Smoke & Whiskey |
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
32 entries · top 180.0000 · median 163.1028 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WICKED SMOKE BBQ | |
| 2 | MAC ATTACK BBQ | |
| 3 | SI2 BBQ | |
| 4 | The BBQ Commission | |
| 5 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 6 | GOT SMOKED - IL | |
| 7 | Red Rock Cafe | |
| 8 | Cotton BBQ | |
| 9 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 10 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 11 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 12 | Two Brews BBQ | |
| 13 | Shmack Q | |
| 14 | Blue Island | |
| 15 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 16 | Loose Cannon BBQ | |
| 17 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 18 | Porkrastinators | |
| 19 | Behemoth BBQ | |
| 20 | Poultrygeist BBQ | |
| 21 | Caught Smoking Again | |
| 22 | BSW Barbeque Smoke & Whiskey | |
| 23 | KP2 BBQ | |
| 24 | BIG GUYS Q | |
| 25 | Smoque Staff | |
| 26 | Moose's Barbecue | |
| 27 | SMOKIN' YER BUTT GANG | |
| 28 | Low Rent BBQ | |
| 29 | Corson Q | |
| 30 | The Rub Doctors | |
| 31 | BS BBQ | |
| 32 | SmoQued On Main St |