May 26–27, 2023 · Big Bear Lake, CA · 📍 630 Bartlett Rd · State championship
Reps: Michael Santiago, Rhonda Santiago · Prize money: $10,000
5TH GEAR BBQ won Grand Champion at the Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championship on May 26, 2023 in Big Bear Lake, CA at 630 Bartlett Rd, scoring 698.8116 in a field of 19 teams. 2LiveQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 695.9428. Category winners: Chicken — 5TH GEAR BBQ (174.8572); Pork Ribs — Big Boys BBQ (177.7144); Pork — BLAZIN BARRELS BBQ (179.4400); Brisket — B' MACKIN BBQ (180.0000).
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 73 times in 100
5TH GEAR BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, B' Mackin BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 27-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
Chicken places 3–4: Dos Toros BBQ Team and SMOKE HOUND BBQ tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 8–9: B Lee's BBQ and GREEN CARD Q tied on 170.8228 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 5–6: BLAZIN BARRELS BBQ and 5TH GEAR BBQ tied on 170.8228 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
5TH GEAR BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was brisket at 6th.
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 174.8572 | 171.4172 | 169.1772 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.7144 | 173.1316 | 168.5372 |
| Pork | 179.4400 | 174.2744 | 168.5372 |
| Brisket | 180 | 170.8228 | 166.2400 |
19 entries · top 698.8116 · median 667.3372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5TH GEAR BBQ | |
| 2 | 2LiveQ | |
| 3 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 5 | BLAZIN BARRELS BBQ | |
| 6 | Dos Toros BBQ Team | |
| 7 | Twiki G BBQ | |
| 8 | Big Boys BBQ | |
| 9 | Smokin Mokers | |
| 10 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 11 | GREEN CARD Q | |
| 12 | Bob's Morning Wood Barbeque | |
| 13 | B Lee's BBQ | |
| 14 | Smoke-em-Good BBQ | |
| 15 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 16 | WICKED FIRE BBQ | |
| 17 | Chopped Craft BBQ Team | |
| 18 | JOLLEY'S BAD TO THE BONE BARBEQUE | |
| 19 | Cookshak |
19 entries · top 174.8572 · median 169.1772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5TH GEAR BBQ | |
| 2 | 2LiveQ | |
| 3 | Dos Toros BBQ Team | |
| 4 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 5 | Twiki G BBQ | |
| 6 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 7 | Smoke-em-Good BBQ | |
| 8 | B Lee's BBQ | |
| 9 | GREEN CARD Q | |
| 10 | Big Boys BBQ | |
| 11 | Bob's Morning Wood Barbeque | |
| 12 | BLAZIN BARRELS BBQ | |
| 13 | Cookshak | |
| 14 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 15 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 16 | JOLLEY'S BAD TO THE BONE BARBEQUE | |
| 17 | WICKED FIRE BBQ | |
| 18 | Chopped Craft BBQ Team | |
| 19 | Smokin Mokers |
19 entries · top 177.7144 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Boys BBQ | |
| 2 | 5TH GEAR BBQ | |
| 3 | Dos Toros BBQ Team | |
| 4 | WICKED FIRE BBQ | |
| 5 | BLAZIN BARRELS BBQ | |
| 6 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 7 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 8 | 2LiveQ | |
| 9 | Twiki G BBQ | |
| 10 | Smokin Mokers | |
| 11 | Chopped Craft BBQ Team | |
| 12 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 13 | Bob's Morning Wood Barbeque | |
| 14 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 15 | GREEN CARD Q | |
| 16 | B Lee's BBQ | |
| 17 | Smoke-em-Good BBQ | |
| 18 | JOLLEY'S BAD TO THE BONE BARBEQUE | |
| 19 | Cookshak |
19 entries · top 179.4400 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLAZIN BARRELS BBQ | |
| 2 | 5TH GEAR BBQ | |
| 3 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 4 | Dos Toros BBQ Team | |
| 5 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 6 | Twiki G BBQ | |
| 7 | 2LiveQ | |
| 8 | Big Boys BBQ | |
| 9 | Smoke-em-Good BBQ | |
| 10 | Bob's Morning Wood Barbeque | |
| 11 | Smokin Mokers | |
| 12 | B Lee's BBQ | |
| 13 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 14 | GREEN CARD Q | |
| 15 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 16 | JOLLEY'S BAD TO THE BONE BARBEQUE | |
| 17 | Chopped Craft BBQ Team | |
| 18 | WICKED FIRE BBQ | |
| 19 | Cookshak |
19 entries · top 180 · median 166.2400 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 2 | 2LiveQ | |
| 3 | Smokin Mokers | |
| 4 | SMOKE HOUND BBQ | |
| 5 | BLAZIN BARRELS BBQ | |
| 6 | 5TH GEAR BBQ | |
| 7 | Twiki G BBQ | |
| 8 | GREEN CARD Q | |
| 9 | ONE PIT WONDER | |
| 10 | Big Boys BBQ | |
| 11 | The BBQ Yard | |
| 12 | Dos Toros BBQ Team | |
| 13 | B Lee's BBQ | |
| 14 | Chopped Craft BBQ Team | |
| 15 | Smoke-em-Good BBQ | |
| 16 | JOLLEY'S BAD TO THE BONE BARBEQUE | |
| 17 | Bob's Morning Wood Barbeque | |
| 18 | WICKED FIRE BBQ | |
| 19 | Cookshak |