A statement win
9.7716
points clear of the field
Wider than 87% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The champion won by 9.7716 points — a wider margin than 87% of championships in the data.
Smokin in Steele 2023
Jun 2–3, 2023 · Owatonna, MN · 📍 1525 S Cedar Ave · State championship
Reps: Dave Rogers, John Scharffbillig, Peg Rogers · Prize money: $10,000
WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ won Grand Champion at the Smokin in Steele on June 2, 2023 in Owatonna, MN at 1525 S Cedar Ave, scoring 692.5600 in a field of 29 teams. HOT DADDY'S BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 682.7884. Category winners: Chicken — T-Rex BBQ (178.8572); Pork Ribs — DRY 2 DA BONE (174.2744); Pork — Blue Line BBQ (177.1428); Brisket — WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ (178.8572). The Backyard Series standings were won by Unknown Smokers with 347.4284. This is the 8th of 10 editions of this contest on record; the 2022 edition was won by Ash Kickin' BBQ; 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.
599.28
median 663.93
692.56 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 178.86
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 174.27
- Master Series — Pork 177.14
- Master Series — Brisket 178.86
- Backyard Series — Chicken 176.58
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 177.14
140.51
178.86
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2025 — this edition picked out.
Entries
29
6 judged meats
Top score
692.5600
Winning margin
9.7716
GC over RC
Field average
662.68
599.28692.56
median 663.93 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
671.3256
599.28692.56
10th place overall
Field spread
93.2800
winner to last place
Prize money
$10,000
on the line
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 62%
beats 38% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
49%
26 of 53 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.47 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,551
avg power rating going in · stronger than 39% of contests
Storylines (4 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.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 17 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 4–5: WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ and SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY tied on 174.8456 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 6–7: Good Grefe! and Ambition Que tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 8–9: SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY and Can Country Outlaw BBQ tied on 169.6800 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 8–9 · tie
- Master Series — Pork 4–5 · tie
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork ribs at 15th.
- Chicken 4th
- Pork Ribs 15th
- Pork 3rd
- Brisket 1st
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Ash Kickin' BBQ (won 2022).
- Ash Kickin' BBQ · 2022
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 31, 2013 | Owatonna, MN | Owatonna, MN | 51 | 697.7148 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | JAESTAR BBQ |
| May 30, 2014 | Owatonna, MN | Owatonna, MN 55060 | 67 | 699.4056 | LUCKY'S Q | PIGSKIN BBQ |
| Jun 3, 2016 | Owatonna, MN | Owatonna, MN 55060 | 53 | 689.6684 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | BIG T'Z Q CRU |
| Jun 2, 2017 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 South Cedar st, Steele County Fairgrounds | 46 | 691.3140 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW |
| Jun 1, 2018 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 South Cedar st, Steele County Fairgrounds | 45 | 697.6688 | HOGLINE | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA |
| May 31, 2019 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 South Cedar Ave | 43 | 697.6916 | Lucky 19 Sauce Co | HOGLINE |
| Jun 3, 2022 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 S Cedar Ave | 33 | 689.6684 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ |
| Jun 2, 2023 ← this one | Owatonna, MN | 1525 S Cedar Ave | 29 | 692.5600 | Wags Backwoods BBQ | HOT DADDY'S BBQ |
| May 31, 2024 | Owatonna, MN | 1525 S Cedar Ave | 32 | 699.9656 | T-Rex bbq | MACHETE BOYS BBQ |
| May 30, 2025 | Owatonna, MN | 18th St SE & Elm Ave | 28 | 697.0856 | Dry 2 Da Bone | HOT DADDY'S BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 178.8572 | 174.8456 | 171.9884 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 174.2744 | 171.9772 | 168.5372 |
| Master Series — Pork | 177.1428 | 171.4400 | 169.1200 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 178.8572 | 171.9656 | 169.1544 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 176.5828 | 172.0116 | 166.2744 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 177.1428 | 169.1428 | 165.1428 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
29 entries · top 692.5600 · median 663.9312
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 2 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY | |
| 4 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 5 | Nobody | |
| 6 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 7 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 8 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 9 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 10 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 11 | Que'd Up | |
| 12 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 13 | PO PO PORK | |
| 14 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 15 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 16 | Smokin Gs BBQ | |
| 17 | Ambition Que | |
| 18 | Hogline BBQ | |
| 19 | The Q Crew | |
| 20 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 21 | Pittie Q | |
| 22 | Total Consciousness BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKIN BIG | |
| 24 | Blue Line BBQ | |
| 25 | SWEET MEAT INJECTIONS | |
| 26 | Good Grefe! | |
| 27 | Steel Smoke BBQ | |
| 28 | 3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE | |
| 29 | Phat Racks |
Chicken
29 entries · top 178.8572 · median 167.3828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 2 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 3 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 4 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY | |
| 6 | Good Grefe! | |
| 7 | Ambition Que | |
| 8 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 9 | Nobody | |
| 10 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 11 | PO PO PORK | |
| 12 | 3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE | |
| 13 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 14 | Que'd Up | |
| 15 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 16 | Blue Line BBQ | |
| 17 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 18 | Pittie Q | |
| 19 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 20 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 21 | SMOKIN BIG | |
| 22 | Total Consciousness BBQ | |
| 23 | The Q Crew | |
| 24 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 25 | SWEET MEAT INJECTIONS | |
| 26 | Hogline BBQ | |
| 27 | Smokin Gs BBQ | |
| 28 | Steel Smoke BBQ | |
| 29 | Phat Racks |
Pork Ribs
29 entries · top 174.2744 · median 166.8572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 2 | Steel Smoke BBQ | |
| 3 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 4 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 5 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 6 | Good Grefe! | |
| 7 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY | |
| 9 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 10 | Pittie Q | |
| 11 | Total Consciousness BBQ | |
| 12 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 13 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 14 | PO PO PORK | |
| 15 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 16 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 17 | Que'd Up | |
| 18 | Nobody | |
| 19 | Hogline BBQ | |
| 20 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 21 | The Q Crew | |
| 22 | Smokin Gs BBQ | |
| 23 | Ambition Que | |
| 24 | SMOKIN BIG | |
| 25 | SWEET MEAT INJECTIONS | |
| 26 | Blue Line BBQ | |
| 27 | 3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE | |
| 28 | Phat Racks | |
| 29 | Son of a Boar BBQ |
Pork
29 entries · top 177.1428 · median 166.2400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Line BBQ | |
| 2 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 3 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 4 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY | |
| 6 | Smokin Gs BBQ | |
| 7 | PO PO PORK | |
| 8 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 9 | Que'd Up | |
| 10 | Nobody | |
| 11 | Hogline BBQ | |
| 12 | SWEET MEAT INJECTIONS | |
| 13 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 14 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 15 | The Q Crew | |
| 16 | Total Consciousness BBQ | |
| 17 | 3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE | |
| 18 | SMOKIN BIG | |
| 19 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 20 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 21 | Ambition Que | |
| 22 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 23 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 24 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 25 | Phat Racks | |
| 26 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 27 | Pittie Q | |
| 28 | Steel Smoke BBQ | |
| 29 | Good Grefe! |
Brisket
29 entries · top 178.8572 · median 163.4400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 2 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 3 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | |
| 4 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 5 | Smokin Gs BBQ | |
| 6 | Nobody | |
| 7 | The Q Crew | |
| 8 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 9 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKIN BIG | |
| 11 | Hogline BBQ | |
| 12 | Que'd Up | |
| 13 | Pittie Q | |
| 14 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 15 | Ambition Que | |
| 16 | SWEET MEAT INJECTIONS | |
| 17 | SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY | |
| 18 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 19 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 20 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 21 | Total Consciousness BBQ | |
| 22 | PO PO PORK | |
| 23 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 24 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 25 | Blue Line BBQ | |
| 26 | Steel Smoke BBQ | |
| 27 | Good Grefe! | |
| 28 | 3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE | |
| 29 | Phat Racks |
Backyard Series
Overall
18 entries · top 347.4284 · median 332.8570
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unknown Smokers | |
| 2 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 3 | DAD BOD BARBEQUE | |
| 4 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 5 | Marty Party BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKEY GQ | |
| 7 | DAWGS BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKIN GOPHER | |
| 9 | Sensuous BBQ | |
| 10 | Behemoth BBQ | |
| 11 | Sugar Shack | |
| 12 | Leaky Tiki | |
| 13 | G's Q | |
| 14 | McCarthy BBQ | |
| 15 | Millie's BBQ | |
| 16 | Meat Rubbers | |
| 17 | Purrfect Que BBQ Team | |
| 18 | 142.2 BBQ |
Chicken
18 entries · top 176.5828 · median 166.5542
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 2 | Marty Party BBQ | |
| 3 | DAD BOD BARBEQUE | |
| 4 | DAWGS BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN GOPHER | |
| 6 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 7 | Unknown Smokers | |
| 8 | SMOKEY GQ | |
| 9 | Sensuous BBQ | |
| 10 | Behemoth BBQ | |
| 11 | G's Q | |
| 12 | Sugar Shack | |
| 13 | Meat Rubbers | |
| 14 | Leaky Tiki | |
| 15 | Purrfect Que BBQ Team | |
| 16 | McCarthy BBQ | |
| 17 | Millie's BBQ | |
| 18 | 142.2 BBQ |
Pork Ribs
18 entries · top 177.1428 · median 165.4114
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unknown Smokers | |
| 2 | SMOKEY GQ | |
| 3 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 4 | DAD BOD BARBEQUE | |
| 5 | Marty Party BBQ | |
| 6 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 7 | Sensuous BBQ | |
| 8 | Leaky Tiki | |
| 9 | DAWGS BBQ | |
| 10 | Sugar Shack | |
| 11 | McCarthy BBQ | |
| 12 | Behemoth BBQ | |
| 13 | SMOKIN GOPHER | |
| 14 | G's Q | |
| 15 | Millie's BBQ | |
| 16 | Meat Rubbers | |
| 17 | 142.2 BBQ | |
| 18 | Purrfect Que BBQ Team |