Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle
2023-06-24 – 2023-06-25 · Washington, DC · 📍 Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW · State championship
Reps: ALEX JR BROWN, BILL JONES · Prize money: $14,400.00
Grand Champion: Mispillion Meat Works (702.2400) · 29 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT
Entries
29
4 judged meats · 3 ancillary
Top score
702.2400
Winning margin
1.6912
GC over RC
Field average
670.32
median 681.03
Perfect 180s
7 🔥
BLUE EYED BBQ (Brisket), UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT (Brisket), Mispillion Meat Works (Chicken), GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ (Chicken), CHUNKY BBQ (Chicken), OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE (Pork) + 1 more
Tightest race
Chicken
3.4400 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
689.0856
10th place overall
Field spread
293.3484
winner to last place
Prize money
$14,400.00
on the line
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 38%
beats 62% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
86%
of the 29 teams with a home region came from outside DC
Came back for more
53%
17 of 32 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.67 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1626
avg power rating going in · stronger than 97% of contests
Storylines
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
Mispillion Meat Works took the Grand Championship home to VA.
🔥 A day of perfect scores
7 perfect 180s were scored at this contest.
🧹 A double category winner
Mispillion Meat Works won Chicken, Pork Ribs — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
📸 Photo finishes
Chicken places 1–2: Mispillion Meat Works and GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 2–3: GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ and CHUNKY BBQ tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: Colorado Bulldawg BBQ and Optimus Swine tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🛡️ Back to defend
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: CHUNKY BBQ (won 2022).
🏟️ A stacked field
The field averaged a 1626 power rating going in — stronger than 97% of every contest tracked.
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)
Where the field came from (home regions on file)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-06-25 | Pennsylvania Ave | 35 | 690.2400 | APORKALYPSE NOW | BULL RUSH BBQ | |
| 2022-06-25 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 32 | 706.8228 | CHUNKY BBQ | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ |
| 2023-06-24 ← this one | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 29 | 702.2400 | Mispillion Meat Works | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT |
| 2023-06-24 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 26 | 177.1428 | OPTIMUS SWINE | — |
| 2023-06-24 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 27 | 177.7372 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | — |
| 2024-06-22 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 36 | 704.0116 | Good Googly Goo BBQ | The Fat is Where It's At |
| 2025-06-21 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 26 | 707.3944 | 3 Eyz BBQ | BLUE & GRAY BBQ |
| 2025-06-21 | Washington, DC | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025-06-21 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 24 | 180.0000 | Smokecraft - MD | — |
| 2026-06-26 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 31 | 703.3828 | Titans of BBQ | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ |
| 2026-06-27 | Washington, DC | Historic Pennsylvania Ave. NW | 28 | 178.8572 | Smoked & Furious | — |
| 2027-06-25 | Washington, DC | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2027-06-26 | Washington, DC | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180.0000 | 176.5600 | 173.7028 |
| Pork Ribs | 180.0000 | 176.0116 | 172.0000 |
| Pork | 180.0000 | 176.5600 | 173.1200 |
| Brisket | 180.0000 | 174.8456 | 173.1200 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
29 entries · top 702.2400 · median 681.0284
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mispillion Meat Works | |
| 2 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 3 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 4 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 5 | Optimus Swine | |
| 6 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 7 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 8 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 9 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 10 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 11 | Anonymous Q | |
| 12 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 13 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 14 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 15 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 16 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 17 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 18 | TNT Explosive BBQ | |
| 19 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 20 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 21 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 22 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 23 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 24 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 25 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 26 | LOST WHISKEY BBQ | |
| 27 | Cookin' With the Bassman | |
| 28 | Goudas BBQ | |
| 29 | Ribs by Andy |
Chicken
29 entries · top 180.0000 · median 171.9656 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mispillion Meat Works | |
| 2 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 3 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 4 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 5 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 6 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 7 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 8 | Optimus Swine | |
| 9 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 10 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 11 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 12 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 13 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 14 | Anonymous Q | |
| 15 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 16 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 17 | TNT Explosive BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 19 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 20 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 21 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 22 | Goudas BBQ | |
| 23 | Cookin' With the Bassman | |
| 24 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 25 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 26 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 27 | LOST WHISKEY BBQ | |
| 28 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 29 | Ribs by Andy |
Pork Ribs
29 entries · top 180.0000 · median 169.1200 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mispillion Meat Works | |
| 2 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 3 | TNT Explosive BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 5 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 6 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 7 | Optimus Swine | |
| 8 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 9 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 10 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 11 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 12 | LOST WHISKEY BBQ | |
| 13 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 14 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 15 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 16 | Anonymous Q | |
| 17 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 18 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 19 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 20 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 21 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 22 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 23 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 24 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 25 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 26 | Cookin' With the Bassman | |
| 27 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 28 | Ribs by Andy | |
| 29 | Goudas BBQ |
Pork
28 entries · top 180.0000 · median 171.9656 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 2 | Optimus Swine | |
| 3 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 4 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 5 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 6 | Anonymous Q | |
| 7 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 8 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 9 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 10 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 11 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 12 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 13 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 14 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 15 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 16 | Mispillion Meat Works | |
| 17 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 18 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 19 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 20 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 21 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 22 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 23 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 24 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 25 | LOST WHISKEY BBQ | |
| 26 | Goudas BBQ | |
| 27 | TNT Explosive BBQ | |
| 28 | Cookin' With the Bassman |
Brisket
29 entries · top 180.0000 · median 169.1200 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 2 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 3 | TOP GUN BARBECUE | |
| 4 | BLUE & GRAY BBQ | |
| 5 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 7 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 8 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 9 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 10 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 11 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 12 | Anonymous Q | |
| 13 | Mispillion Meat Works | |
| 14 | Optimus Swine | |
| 15 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 16 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 17 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 18 | TNT Explosive BBQ | |
| 19 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 20 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 21 | LOST WHISKEY BBQ | |
| 22 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 23 | Menke Boys BBQ | |
| 24 | HOOS SMOKIN | |
| 25 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 26 | CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ | |
| 27 | Cookin' With the Bassman | |
| 28 | Goudas BBQ | |
| 29 | Ribs by Andy |
Ancillary categories
Run by the organizers alongside the sanctioned contest. These are judged on their own terms and do not count toward the overall score, so they're kept out of the meat stats above.
Ancillary — Beyond Meat
13 entries · top 173.7028 · median 165.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anonymous Q | |
| 2 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 3 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 4 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 5 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 6 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 7 | TNT Explosive BBQ | |
| 8 | Optimus Swine | |
| 9 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 10 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 11 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 12 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 13 | Mispillion Meat Works |
Ancillary — Steak
19 entries · top 178.8572 · median 166.8572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 2 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 3 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 4 | Optimus Swine | |
| 5 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 6 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 7 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 8 | Anonymous Q | |
| 9 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 10 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 11 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 12 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 13 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 14 | TNT Explosive BBQ | |
| 15 | Mispillion Meat Works | |
| 16 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 17 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 18 | Ribs by Andy | |
| 19 | 3 EYZ BBQ |
Turkey Smoke Series — Turkey Smoke
17 entries · top 172.0000 · median 162.8116
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TEAM MEAT COMA | |
| 2 | BLUE EYED BBQ | |
| 3 | ALL FIRED UP BBQ | |
| 4 | SWEET BELLY'S BBQ | |
| 5 | Optimus Swine | |
| 6 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 7 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 8 | 3 EYZ BBQ | |
| 9 | UNCLE PIG'S BARBEQUE PIT | |
| 10 | Mispillion Meat Works | |
| 11 | TNT Explosive BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKECRAFT - MD | |
| 13 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 14 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | |
| 15 | Ribs by Andy | |
| 16 | Anonymous Q | |
| 17 | CLARK CREW BBQ |