A new contest record
699.4288
highest overall ever cooked here
699.4288 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 693.7142 BIG T'Z Q CRU set in 2013.
- old record 693.7142
- set 2013 by BIG T'Z Q CRU
Iowa State BBQ Championship 2023
Mar 31 – Apr 1, 2023 · Altoona, IA · 📍 2600 Adventureland Drive · State championship
Reps: Clara Williams, Jonathan B Williams · Prize money: $12,000
GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS won Grand Champion at the Iowa State BBQ Championship on March 31, 2023 in Altoona, IA at 2600 Adventureland Drive, scoring 699.4288 in a field of 47 teams. Fergolicious BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 693.6456. Category winners: Chicken — GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS (180.0000); Pork Ribs — Fergolicious BBQ (179.4400); Pork — Cross Cut BBQ (177.7372); Brisket — PARROTHEAD SMOKERS (175.4400). The Backyard Series standings were won by Swine-O-Licious BBQ with 349.6800. This is the 5th of 8 editions of this contest on record; the 2022 edition came before it; the next was held in 2024.
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.
607.93
median 672.47
699.43 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 180 🔥
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 179.44
- Master Series — Pork 177.74
- Master Series — Brisket 175.44
- Backyard Series — Chicken 177.70
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 174.26
142.22
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
47
6 judged meats
Top score
699.4288
Winning margin
5.7832
GC over RC
Field average
670.23
607.93699.43
median 672.47 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Brisket
2.3084 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
686.2288
607.93699.43
10th place overall
Field spread
91.4972
winner to last place
Prize money
$12,000
on the line
Double threats
7
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 35%
beats 65% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
56%
10 of 18 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.45 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,572
avg power rating going in · stronger than 57% of contests
Storylines (6 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
17-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 83 times in 100
GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS came in rated below the field's top team, IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 17-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1634
- top seed 1913
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 20 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 8–9: QUE'S YER DADDY and PORKY BUTTS BBQ tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 7–8: CITY SLICKERS BBQ and UGLY BABY BBQ tied on 173.1316 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 9–10: Darty-Q and Son of a Boar BBQ tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 8–9 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 7–8 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 9–10 · tie
- Master Series — Pork 7–8 · tie
How the title was won
2 of 4
meats called to the stage
GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS took the title on 2 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was brisket at 16th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 15th
- Pork 2nd
- Brisket 16th
A contest record in chicken
180.0000
best chicken ever cooked here
GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS turned in 180.0000 in chicken — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 4 earlier editions.
- old best 178.8572
- across 4 past editions
A perfect score on the table
1
perfect 180s
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS · Chicken
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 21, 2013 | Marshalltown, IA | Marshalltown, IA | 28 | 693.7142 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ |
| Apr 1, 2022 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 48 | 689.6800 | Porkrastinators | Ash Kickin' BBQ |
| Apr 1, 2022 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 27 | 349.1200 | Damn Fine Beef and Swine | — |
| Apr 1, 2022 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | — | — | — | — |
| Mar 31, 2023 ← this one | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 47 | 699.4288 | Gothic Town Grillers | Fergolicious BBQ |
| Mar 29, 2024 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 42 | 701.1316 | Shiggin & Grinnin | Matty Macks |
| Apr 4, 2025 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 49 | 693.6460 | Rack Shack BBQ | Low Eye Que |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 42 | 709.7028 | Wag's Backwoods BBQ | Sugar Shack |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180 | 174.8456 | 173.1084 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 179.4400 | 173.7144 | 173.1200 |
| Master Series — Pork | 177.7372 | 174.2972 | 171.9772 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 175.4400 | 173.1316 | 172.5600 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 177.7028 | 172.5716 | 166.8456 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 174.2628 | 170.8572 | 169.6684 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
47 entries · top 699.4288 · median 672.4688
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 2 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 3 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 4 | Scorched Deck BBQ | |
| 5 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | |
| 6 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 7 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 8 | PIRATES OF BAR-B-QUE BAY | |
| 9 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 10 | Hogline BBQ | |
| 11 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 12 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 13 | QUE'S YER DADDY | |
| 14 | Matty Macks | |
| 15 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 16 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 17 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 18 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 19 | Darty-Q | |
| 20 | Cross Cut BBQ | |
| 21 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 22 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 23 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 24 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 25 | PO PO PORK | |
| 26 | Papa Linda's Barbecue | |
| 27 | C&M BBQ | |
| 28 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 29 | Chillin n Grillin n Iowa | |
| 30 | Luscious Loins | |
| 31 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 32 | S&S BBQ | |
| 33 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 34 | Smokey Boys | |
| 35 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 36 | SCORE ONE SMOKIN' | |
| 37 | Smokin Critters | |
| 38 | PORK COUNTY BARBECUE | |
| 39 | Lucky's Q | |
| 40 | BULL SLAP BBQ | |
| 41 | Q 12 Barbecue | |
| 42 | Dirt Crüe BBQ | |
| 43 | No Clue BBQ | |
| 44 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 45 | Arno's Hausstil | |
| 46 | The Smoking Silverback | |
| 47 | The Beef Bar |
Chicken
47 entries · top 180 · median 169.6684 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 2 | Scorched Deck BBQ | |
| 3 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 4 | PIRATES OF BAR-B-QUE BAY | |
| 5 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 6 | Cross Cut BBQ | |
| 7 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 8 | QUE'S YER DADDY | |
| 9 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | |
| 10 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 11 | Smokin Critters | |
| 12 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 13 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 14 | No Clue BBQ | |
| 15 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 16 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 17 | SCORE ONE SMOKIN' | |
| 18 | Chillin n Grillin n Iowa | |
| 19 | Smokey Boys | |
| 20 | Hogline BBQ | |
| 21 | PO PO PORK | |
| 22 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 23 | Matty Macks | |
| 24 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 25 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 26 | Darty-Q | |
| 27 | Q 12 Barbecue | |
| 28 | The Smoking Silverback | |
| 29 | BULL SLAP BBQ | |
| 30 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 31 | S&S BBQ | |
| 32 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 33 | Dirt Crüe BBQ | |
| 34 | Luscious Loins | |
| 35 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 36 | Lucky's Q | |
| 37 | C&M BBQ | |
| 38 | PORK COUNTY BARBECUE | |
| 39 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 40 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 41 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 42 | Papa Linda's Barbecue | |
| 43 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 44 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 45 | Arno's Hausstil | |
| 46 | The Beef Bar | |
| 47 | Bucknutz BBQ |
Pork Ribs
47 entries · top 179.4400 · median 168.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 2 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 3 | PIRATES OF BAR-B-QUE BAY | |
| 4 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 5 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | |
| 6 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 7 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 8 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 9 | Darty-Q | |
| 10 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 11 | Hogline BBQ | |
| 12 | S&S BBQ | |
| 13 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 14 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 15 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 16 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 17 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 18 | Matty Macks | |
| 19 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 20 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 21 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 22 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 23 | QUE'S YER DADDY | |
| 24 | Scorched Deck BBQ | |
| 25 | PO PO PORK | |
| 26 | Smokey Boys | |
| 27 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 28 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 29 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 30 | Cross Cut BBQ | |
| 31 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 32 | Papa Linda's Barbecue | |
| 33 | Lucky's Q | |
| 34 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 35 | C&M BBQ | |
| 36 | SCORE ONE SMOKIN' | |
| 37 | Chillin n Grillin n Iowa | |
| 38 | Luscious Loins | |
| 39 | Smokin Critters | |
| 40 | PORK COUNTY BARBECUE | |
| 41 | Q 12 Barbecue | |
| 42 | No Clue BBQ | |
| 43 | Dirt Crüe BBQ | |
| 44 | BULL SLAP BBQ | |
| 45 | The Beef Bar | |
| 46 | The Smoking Silverback | |
| 47 | Arno's Hausstil |
Pork
47 entries · top 177.7372 · median 167.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cross Cut BBQ | |
| 2 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 3 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 4 | Papa Linda's Barbecue | |
| 5 | C&M BBQ | |
| 6 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 7 | QUE'S YER DADDY | |
| 8 | Chillin n Grillin n Iowa | |
| 9 | Hogline BBQ | |
| 10 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 11 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 12 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 13 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 14 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 15 | Smokey Boys | |
| 16 | Luscious Loins | |
| 17 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 18 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | |
| 19 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 20 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 21 | Scorched Deck BBQ | |
| 22 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 23 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 24 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 25 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 26 | SCORE ONE SMOKIN' | |
| 27 | Q 12 Barbecue | |
| 28 | Darty-Q | |
| 29 | Dirt Crüe BBQ | |
| 30 | Matty Macks | |
| 31 | PIRATES OF BAR-B-QUE BAY | |
| 32 | BULL SLAP BBQ | |
| 33 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 34 | Lucky's Q | |
| 35 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 36 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 37 | The Smoking Silverback | |
| 38 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 39 | S&S BBQ | |
| 40 | Smokin Critters | |
| 41 | PORK COUNTY BARBECUE | |
| 42 | PO PO PORK | |
| 43 | Arno's Hausstil | |
| 44 | No Clue BBQ | |
| 45 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 46 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 47 | The Beef Bar |
Brisket
47 entries · top 175.4400 · median 167.9884
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 2 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 3 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 4 | Scorched Deck BBQ | |
| 5 | PORK COUNTY BARBECUE | |
| 6 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 7 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 8 | BULL SLAP BBQ | |
| 9 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 10 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 11 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 12 | Matty Macks | |
| 13 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 14 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 15 | PO PO PORK | |
| 16 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 17 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 18 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | |
| 19 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 20 | Papa Linda's Barbecue | |
| 21 | Luscious Loins | |
| 22 | Hogline BBQ | |
| 23 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 24 | Darty-Q | |
| 25 | C&M BBQ | |
| 26 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 27 | PIRATES OF BAR-B-QUE BAY | |
| 28 | Smokin Critters | |
| 29 | S&S BBQ | |
| 30 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 31 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 32 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 33 | Lucky's Q | |
| 34 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 35 | QUE'S YER DADDY | |
| 36 | Dirt Crüe BBQ | |
| 37 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 38 | Q 12 Barbecue | |
| 39 | SCORE ONE SMOKIN' | |
| 40 | Chillin n Grillin n Iowa | |
| 41 | Arno's Hausstil | |
| 42 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 43 | The Beef Bar | |
| 44 | No Clue BBQ | |
| 45 | Cross Cut BBQ | |
| 46 | Smokey Boys | |
| 47 | The Smoking Silverback |
Backyard Series
Overall
31 entries · top 349.6800 · median 330.1944
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swine-O-Licious BBQ | |
| 2 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 3 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 4 | HESSHOGS | |
| 5 | Heavy & Sweaty BBQ | |
| 6 | Fluffy Butt BBQ | |
| 7 | T.O.'s UnFamous BBQ | |
| 8 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 9 | SECOND HAND SMOKE - IA | |
| 10 | Shmack Q | |
| 11 | 225 Mafia | |
| 12 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 13 | Sugar Shack | |
| 14 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 15 | Breaking Slabs BBQ | |
| 16 | Furlongs Smoke & Seafood | |
| 17 | Trash Panda BBQ | |
| 18 | Cronies BBQ | |
| 19 | Limp Brizkit | |
| 20 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 21 | Backroad BBQ | |
| 22 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 23 | Jacked Q | |
| 24 | Why Not BBQ | |
| 25 | Shamrock BBQ | |
| 26 | Brotherhood of the Smoke | |
| 27 | Get Sauced | |
| 28 | Big Spoons BBQ | |
| 29 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 30 | BootsBBQ | |
| 31 | Trail By Fire |
Chicken
31 entries · top 177.7028 · median 164.0116
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swine-O-Licious BBQ | |
| 2 | Fluffy Butt BBQ | |
| 3 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 4 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 5 | 225 Mafia | |
| 6 | HESSHOGS | |
| 7 | Trash Panda BBQ | |
| 8 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 9 | Furlongs Smoke & Seafood | |
| 10 | Heavy & Sweaty BBQ | |
| 11 | SECOND HAND SMOKE - IA | |
| 12 | Breaking Slabs BBQ | |
| 13 | T.O.'s UnFamous BBQ | |
| 14 | Shmack Q | |
| 15 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 16 | Limp Brizkit | |
| 17 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 18 | Backroad BBQ | |
| 19 | Sugar Shack | |
| 20 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 21 | Jacked Q | |
| 22 | Get Sauced | |
| 23 | Cronies BBQ | |
| 24 | Shamrock BBQ | |
| 25 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 26 | Why Not BBQ | |
| 27 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 28 | Big Spoons BBQ | |
| 29 | Brotherhood of the Smoke | |
| 30 | BootsBBQ | |
| 31 | Trail By Fire |
Pork Ribs
31 entries · top 174.2628 · median 163.9428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | T.O.'s UnFamous BBQ | |
| 2 | Heavy & Sweaty BBQ | |
| 3 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 4 | Swine-O-Licious BBQ | |
| 5 | HESSHOGS | |
| 6 | SECOND HAND SMOKE - IA | |
| 7 | Shmack Q | |
| 8 | Sugar Shack | |
| 9 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 10 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 11 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 12 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 13 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 14 | Cronies BBQ | |
| 15 | Brotherhood of the Smoke | |
| 16 | Breaking Slabs BBQ | |
| 17 | Fluffy Butt BBQ | |
| 18 | Why Not BBQ | |
| 19 | Furlongs Smoke & Seafood | |
| 20 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 21 | 225 Mafia | |
| 22 | Jacked Q | |
| 23 | Shamrock BBQ | |
| 24 | Trash Panda BBQ | |
| 25 | Limp Brizkit | |
| 26 | Backroad BBQ | |
| 27 | Big Spoons BBQ | |
| 28 | Get Sauced | |
| 29 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 30 | BootsBBQ | |
| 31 | Trail By Fire |