Kenai River BBQ Competition
2023-06-30 – 2023-07-01 · Soldotna, AK
Reps: JOHN MANN, MICHELLE MANN · Prize money: $2,300.00
Grand Champion: Smokey Haze BBQ (693.6800) · 9 teams
Entries
9
4 categories
Top score
693.6800
Winning margin
1.1312
GC over RC
Field average
632.22
median 668.54
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
4.5828 pts across the top 5
Field spread
342.8344
winner to last place
Prize money
$2,300.00
on the line
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 53%
beats 47% of 2715 overall wins in the data
Field strength
1515
avg power rating going in
Storylines
🪒 A razor-thin finish
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1312 points — closer than 84% of every championship in the data.
🃏 An upset on the books
SMOKEY HAZE came in rated below the field's top team, WHO DAT BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 31-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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-30 ← this one | Soldotna, AK | 9 | 693.6800 | Smokey Haze BBQ |
| 2024-05-31 | Soldotna, AK | 7 | 710.8228 | Smokin J's BBQ |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series — Brisket
8 entries · top 176.5716 · median 163.6972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halfracks Smoke Shack | |
| 2 | SMOKEY HAZE | |
| 3 | Buzzed Bee Que | |
| 4 | Up N Smoke | |
| 5 | J & J BBQ | |
| 6 | JC Holy Smokes | |
| 7 | Cowgirls Forever | |
| 8 | Who Dat BBQ |
Master Series — Chicken
9 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smoken J's BBQ | |
| 2 | JC Holy Smokes | |
| 3 | SMOKEY HAZE | |
| 4 | Halfracks Smoke Shack | |
| 5 | Up N Smoke | |
| 6 | Cowgirls Forever | |
| 7 | Buzzed Bee Que | |
| 8 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 9 | J & J BBQ |
Master Series — Overall
9 entries · top 693.6800 · median 668.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKEY HAZE | |
| 2 | Halfracks Smoke Shack | |
| 3 | JC Holy Smokes | |
| 4 | Up N Smoke | |
| 5 | Buzzed Bee Que | |
| 6 | Cowgirls Forever | |
| 7 | J & J BBQ | |
| 8 | Who Dat BBQ | |
| 9 | Smoken J's BBQ |
Master Series — Pork
8 entries · top 177.7144 · median 168.8514
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKEY HAZE | |
| 2 | Halfracks Smoke Shack | |
| 3 | Up N Smoke | |
| 4 | JC Holy Smokes | |
| 5 | Buzzed Bee Que | |
| 6 | Cowgirls Forever | |
| 7 | J & J BBQ | |
| 8 | Who Dat BBQ |
Master Series — Pork Ribs
9 entries · top 171.9884 · median 167.4056
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smoken J's BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKEY HAZE | |
| 3 | Halfracks Smoke Shack | |
| 4 | JC Holy Smokes | |
| 5 | Buzzed Bee Que | |
| 6 | J & J BBQ | |
| 7 | Up N Smoke | |
| 8 | Cowgirls Forever | |
| 9 | Who Dat BBQ |