Iowa State BBQ Championship
2023-03-31 – 2023-04-01 · Altoona, IA · State championship
Reps: CLARA WILLIAMS, JONATHAN B WILLIAMS · Prize money: $12,000.00
Grand Champion: Gothic Town Grillers (699.4288) · 47 teams
Entries
47
6 categories
Top score
349.6800
Winning margin
1.6684
GC over RC
Field average
328.12
median 330.19
Perfect 180s
1 🔥
Tightest race
Brisket
2.3084 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
335.9312
what a walk cost here
Field spread
61.2000
winner to last place
Prize money
$12,000.00
on the line
Double threats
7
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 86%
beats 14% of 2713 overall wins in the data
Field strength
1549
avg power rating going in · stronger than 55% of contests
Storylines
🪒 A razor-thin finish
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.6684 points — closer than 77% of every championship in the data.
🃏 An upset on the books
GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS came in rated below the field's top team, Fergolicious BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 17-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
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
This contest over the years
| Date | Where | Teams | High score | Grand Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-06-21 | 28 | 693.7142 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 2022-04-01 | Altoona, IA | 48 | 689.6800 | Porkrastinators |
| 2022-04-01 | Altoona, IA | 27 | 349.1200 | Damn Fine Beef and Swine |
| 2022-04-01 | Altoona, IA | — | — | — |
| 2023-03-31 ← this one | Altoona, IA | 47 | 699.4288 | Gothic Town Grillers |
| 2024-03-29 | Altoona, IA | 42 | 701.1316 | Shiggin & Grinnin |
| 2025-04-04 | Altoona, IA | 49 | 693.6460 | Rack Shack BBQ |
| 2026-04-03 | Altoona, IA | 42 | 709.7028 | Wag's Backwoods BBQ |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Backyard Series — 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 |
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 |
Backyard Series — 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 |
Master Series — 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 |
Master Series — Chicken
47 entries · top 180.0000 · 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 |
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 |
Master Series — 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 |
Master Series — 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 |