A new contest record
705.6684
highest overall ever cooked here
705.6684 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 691.9772 MUTTLEY CREW BBQ set in 2018.
- old record 691.9772
- set 2018 by MUTTLEY CREW BBQ
Kings of Q BBQ Cook-Off and Festival 2023
May 19–20, 2023 · Ayden, NC · 📍 462 Second St · State championship
Prize money: $10,000
SMOKE N BREW won Grand Champion at the Kings of Q BBQ Cook-Off and Festival on May 19, 2023 in Ayden, NC at 462 Second St, scoring 705.6684 in a field of 25 teams. OFF THE RACK BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 696.5144. Category winners: Chicken — OFF THE RACK BBQ (178.8572); Pork Ribs — SMOKE N BREW (180.0000); Pork — TWISTED PAIR BBQ (176.5828); Brisket — Burn Barrel BBQ (177.7144). This is the 6th of 7 editions of this contest on record; the 2022 edition was won by Old Virginia Smoke; 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.
617.01
median 668.99
705.67 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 178.86
- Pork Ribs 180 🔥
- Pork 176.58
- Brisket 177.71
148.51
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2016 to 2024 — this edition picked out.
Entries
25
4 judged meats
Top score
705.6684
Winning margin
9.1540
GC over RC
Field average
668.81
617.01705.67
median 668.99 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork
2.3200 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
680.4456
617.01705.67
10th place overall
Field spread
88.6620
winner to last place
Prize money
$10,000
on the line
Double threats
8
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 12%
beats 88% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
47%
15 of 32 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.7 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,623
avg power rating going in · stronger than 89% of contests
Storylines (9 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
22-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 78 times in 100
SMOKE N BREW came in rated below the field's top team, REDNECK SCIENTIFIC, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 22-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1647
- top seed 1870
A statement win
9.1540
points clear of the field
Wider than 85% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The champion won by 9.1540 points — a wider margin than 85% of championships in the data.
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 7 tracked editions
REDNECK SCIENTIFIC has won this contest 2 times across its 7 tracked editions.
- 2016
- 2017
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 11 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 2–3: Optimus Swine and REDNECK SCIENTIFIC tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 3–4: REDNECK SCIENTIFIC and CHUNKY BBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 4–5: FRED VEGAS SMOKERS and SMOKIN SKULLIES tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 2–3 · tie
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Pork 4–5 · tie
- Brisket 3–4 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
SMOKE N BREW took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 7th.
- Chicken 6th
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 7th
- Brisket 2nd
A contest record in pork ribs
180.0000
best pork ribs ever cooked here
SMOKE N BREW turned in 180.0000 in pork ribs — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 5 earlier editions.
- old best 178.8572
- across 5 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: REDNECK SCIENTIFIC (won 2016, 2017), MUTTLEY CREW BBQ (won 2018, 2019).
- REDNECK SCIENTIFIC · 2016, 2017
- MUTTLEY CREW BBQ · 2018, 2019
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.
- SMOKE N BREW · Pork Ribs
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2016 | Ayden, NC | Downtown Ayden | 30 | 688.6060 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE |
| May 19, 2017 | Ayden, NC | 462 second st | 36 | 684.4796 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ |
| May 18, 2018 | Ayden, NC | 462 second st | 38 | 691.9772 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | SOUTHERN Q COMPETITION COOK TEAM |
| May 17, 2019 | Ayden, NC | 462 Second St | 36 | 691.3712 | Muttley Crew BBQ | 3N1 Q |
| May 20, 2022 | Ayden, NC | 462 Second St | 32 | 691.9084 | Old Virginia Smoke | Optimus Swine |
| May 19, 2023 ← this one | Ayden, NC | 462 Second St | 25 | 705.6684 | Smoke and Brew | OFF THE RACK BBQ |
| May 17, 2024 | Ayden, NC | Ayden, NC 28513 | 18 | 695.3716 | Optimus Swine | SMOKIN SKULLIES |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8572 | 176 | 171.9772 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 173.1200 | 168.5256 |
| Pork | 176.5828 | 174.2628 | 170.8228 |
| Brisket | 177.7144 | 171.9772 | 167.3828 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
25 entries · top 705.6684 · median 668.9944
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKE N BREW | |
| 2 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 3 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 4 | Ham Squad | |
| 5 | TWISTED PAIR BBQ | |
| 6 | Optimus Swine | |
| 7 | Burn Barrel BBQ | |
| 8 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 9 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 10 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 11 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 12 | Swine 'N' Roses BBQ | |
| 13 | Blue Ribbon BBQ NC | |
| 14 | CHOCK FULL OF BARBEQUE | |
| 15 | TNT Explosive BBQ | |
| 16 | Coastal Smoke | |
| 17 | SOUTHERN Q COMPETITION COOK TEAM | |
| 18 | HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC | |
| 19 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 20 | Feelin' Swine BBQ | |
| 21 | J-3 BBQ | |
| 22 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 23 | Fat Heads BBQ | |
| 24 | Bomber Que | |
| 25 | Conviction BBQ Team |
Chicken
25 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 2 | Optimus Swine | |
| 3 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 4 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 5 | Ham Squad | |
| 6 | SMOKE N BREW | |
| 7 | TWISTED PAIR BBQ | |
| 8 | J-3 BBQ | |
| 9 | TNT Explosive BBQ | |
| 10 | Blue Ribbon BBQ NC | |
| 11 | Swine 'N' Roses BBQ | |
| 12 | CHOCK FULL OF BARBEQUE | |
| 13 | SOUTHERN Q COMPETITION COOK TEAM | |
| 14 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 15 | Burn Barrel BBQ | |
| 16 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 17 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 18 | HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC | |
| 19 | Feelin' Swine BBQ | |
| 20 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 21 | Bomber Que | |
| 22 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 23 | Coastal Smoke | |
| 24 | Conviction BBQ Team | |
| 25 | Fat Heads BBQ |
Pork Ribs
25 entries · top 180 · median 167.3828 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKE N BREW | |
| 2 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 3 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 4 | Burn Barrel BBQ | |
| 5 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 6 | Ham Squad | |
| 7 | Optimus Swine | |
| 8 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 9 | Swine 'N' Roses BBQ | |
| 10 | TWISTED PAIR BBQ | |
| 11 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 13 | Blue Ribbon BBQ NC | |
| 14 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 15 | CHOCK FULL OF BARBEQUE | |
| 16 | Coastal Smoke | |
| 17 | Fat Heads BBQ | |
| 18 | Conviction BBQ Team | |
| 19 | Feelin' Swine BBQ | |
| 20 | SOUTHERN Q COMPETITION COOK TEAM | |
| 21 | TNT Explosive BBQ | |
| 22 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 23 | HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC | |
| 24 | Bomber Que | |
| 25 | J-3 BBQ |
Pork
25 entries · top 176.5828 · median 167.4172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TWISTED PAIR BBQ | |
| 2 | Optimus Swine | |
| 3 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 4 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 5 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 6 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 7 | SMOKE N BREW | |
| 8 | Ham Squad | |
| 9 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 10 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 11 | Burn Barrel BBQ | |
| 12 | Swine 'N' Roses BBQ | |
| 13 | CHOCK FULL OF BARBEQUE | |
| 14 | Blue Ribbon BBQ NC | |
| 15 | HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC | |
| 16 | Feelin' Swine BBQ | |
| 17 | TNT Explosive BBQ | |
| 18 | Coastal Smoke | |
| 19 | Bomber Que | |
| 20 | J-3 BBQ | |
| 21 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 22 | SOUTHERN Q COMPETITION COOK TEAM | |
| 23 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 24 | Fat Heads BBQ | |
| 25 | Conviction BBQ Team |
Brisket
25 entries · top 177.7144 · median 165.0972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burn Barrel BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKE N BREW | |
| 3 | TWISTED PAIR BBQ | |
| 4 | Ham Squad | |
| 5 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 6 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 8 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 9 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 10 | Optimus Swine | |
| 11 | TNT Explosive BBQ | |
| 12 | Coastal Smoke | |
| 13 | SOUTHERN Q COMPETITION COOK TEAM | |
| 14 | HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC | |
| 15 | Swine 'N' Roses BBQ | |
| 16 | POKE N SMOKE | |
| 17 | Blue Ribbon BBQ NC | |
| 18 | Fat Heads BBQ | |
| 19 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 20 | CHOCK FULL OF BARBEQUE | |
| 21 | J-3 BBQ | |
| 22 | Feelin' Swine BBQ | |
| 23 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 24 | Bomber Que | |
| 25 | Conviction BBQ Team |