A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 6 tracked editions
Triple H BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 6 tracked editions.
- 2022
- 2023
Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (One Meat Ribs) 2023
Jul 14, 2023 · Eureka, IL · 📍 506 Reagan Dr
Reps: Charlie Brinza, Dave Rogers, Peg Rogers · Prize money: $1,000
Full results from the Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (One Meat Ribs) 2023, a KCBS-sanctioned barbecue contest held on July 14, 2023 in Eureka, IL at 506 Reagan Dr. Blowing Smoke BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion. Category winners: Pork Ribs — SmokinGhost BBQ (180.0000). This is the 4th of 6 editions of this contest on record; the 2023 edition was won by Triple H BBQ; the next was held in 2025.
The contest at a glance (read off the scored boards)
How the field scored
Pork Ribs totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
157.13
median 171.42
180 🏆
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2022 to 2025 — this edition picked out.
Entries
15
1 judged meat
Top score
180
Winning margin
5.7256
1st over 2nd in Pork Ribs
Field average
170.08
157.13180
Pork Ribs · median 171.42 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
8 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
169.6916
157.13180
10th place in Pork Ribs
Field spread
22.8684
winner to last place
Prize money
$1,000
on the line
How hot was the win?
Top 12%
beats 88% of 5786 Pork Ribs wins in the data
Storylines (5 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 3 calls decided inside half a point
Pork Ribs places 6–7: 309 BBQ and AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW tied on 171.9656 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 2–3: Blowing Smoke BBQ edged Stone Cold Grillers by 0.0116. Pork Ribs places 5–6: Sermerstout BBQ edged 309 BBQ by 0.0344.
- Pork Ribs 6–7 · tie
- Pork Ribs 2–3 · 0.0116
- Pork Ribs 5–6 · 0.0344
A contest record in pork ribs
180.0000
best pork ribs ever cooked here
SmokinGhost BBQ turned in 180.0000 in pork ribs — past the 177.7028 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
- old best 177.7028
- across 2 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Que U (won 2022), Triple H BBQ (won 2022).
- Que U · 2022
- Triple H BBQ · 2022
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.
- SmokinGhost BBQ · Pork Ribs
Score curves (score by finishing position — steep cliffs mean a spread field, flat lines a knife fight)
Score distribution
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 15, 2022 | Eureka, IL | 112 N Main St | 25 | 705.6916 | Que U | TRIPLE H BBQ |
| Jul 15, 2022 | Eureka, IL | 112 N Main St | 19 | 177.7028 | Triple H BBQ | — |
| Jul 14, 2023 | Eureka, IL | 506 Reagan Dr | 25 | 690.7540 | Triple H BBQ | Heavy Smoke BBQ |
| Jul 14, 2023 ← this one | Eureka, IL | 506 Reagan Dr | 15 | 180 | Smokinghostbbq | — |
| Jun 27, 2025 | Eureka, IL | 1448 County Rd 800 N | 26 | 706.8344 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | TRIPLE H BBQ |
| Jun 27, 2025 | Eureka, IL | 1448 County Rd 800 N | 15 | 178.2972 | LEE LA Q | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 172 | 169.6916 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Masters Series Single Meat
Pork Ribs
15 entries · top 180 · median 171.4172 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 2 | Blowing Smoke BBQ | |
| 3 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 4 | QUE U | |
| 5 | Sermerstout BBQ | |
| 6 | 309 BBQ | |
| 7 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 8 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 9 | Savi Q | |
| 10 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 11 | Monsters of the Ribway | |
| 12 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 13 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 14 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 15 | Rudes BBQ |