Decided by a tiebreaker
Tie
identical totals at the top
The top two teams finished on identical totals — the Grand Championship came down to the KCBS tiebreaker rules.
Smokin in the Electric City (Day 1) 2023
Jul 14–15, 2023 · Butler, MO · 📍 615 W Nursery · State championship
Reps: Bunny Tuttle, Rich Tuttle · Prize money: $4,050
MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ won Grand Champion at the Smokin in the Electric City (Day 1) on July 14, 2023 in Butler, MO at 615 W Nursery, scoring 701.0972 in a field of 27 teams. GETTIN' BASTED took Reserve Grand Champion with 701.0972. Category winners: Chicken — MAN MEAT BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — Fergolicious BBQ (180.0000); Pork — MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ (179.4400); Brisket — MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ (177.7028). The Backyard Series standings were won by Smoke This Drink That BBQ with 357.1428. This is the 1st of 3 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2023.
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.
627.21
median 682.19
701.10 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 180 🔥
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 180 🔥
- Master Series — Pork 179.44
- Master Series — Brisket 177.70
- Backyard Series — Chicken 177.71
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 180 🔥
149.69
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2023 to 2023 — this edition picked out.
Entries
27
6 judged meats · 3 ancillary
Top score
701.0972
Winning margin
Tie
identical totals — KCBS tiebreaker
Field average
678.27
627.21701.10
median 682.19 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
5 🔥
Tightest race
Brisket
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
687.9084
627.21701.10
10th place overall
Field spread
73.8856
winner to last place
Prize money
$4,050
on the line
Double threats
8
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 29%
beats 71% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.31 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,641
avg power rating going in · stronger than 93% of contests
Storylines (7 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.
An upset on the books
21-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 79 times in 100
MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, GETTIN' BASTED, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 21-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1756
- top seed 1983
A day of perfect scores
5
perfect 180s
5 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- Piggy's Kin · Pork Ribs
- Smoke This Drink That BBQ · Pork Ribs
- MAN MEAT BBQ · Chicken
A stacked field
1641
average power rating going in
Stronger than 93% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1641 power rating going in — stronger than 93% of every contest tracked.
- top seed GETTIN' BASTED (1983)
- 37 rated teams
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 17 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 3–4: Colorado Bulldawg BBQ and HIGH i QUE tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 4–5: HIGH i QUE and GETTIN' BASTED tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 5–6: GETTIN' BASTED and Smoke 'n Magic tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 7–8 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ won Pork, Brisket — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 1st
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was chicken at 12th.
- Chicken 12th
- Pork Ribs 9th
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 1st
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14, 2023 ← this one | Butler, MO | 615 W Nursery | 27 | 701.0972 | MEAT RUSHMORE | GETTIN' BASTED |
| Jul 14, 2023 | Butler, MO | 615 W Nursery | 23 | 178.8572 | BAD INFLUENCE BBQ - MO | — |
| Jul 15, 2023 | Butler, MO | 615 W Nursery | 21 | 712.5600 | JANKY LEG BBQ | SLAPS BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180 | 176.5600 | 174.8572 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 180 | 173.7144 | 168.5372 |
| Master Series — Pork | 179.4400 | 176.5600 | 171.4056 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 177.7028 | 175.4056 | 174.2628 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 177.7144 | 167.3944 | 149.6916 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 180 | 174.2628 | 161.7260 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
27 entries · top 701.0972 · median 682.1944
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 2 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 3 | Smoke 'n Magic | |
| 4 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 5 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 6 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 7 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 8 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 9 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 10 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 11 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 12 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 13 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 14 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 15 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 16 | ShowMeMoSmoke | |
| 17 | Needs More Cowbell BBQ | |
| 18 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 19 | Boss Hog BBQ | |
| 20 | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | |
| 21 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 22 | Damn It's Good BBQ | |
| 23 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 24 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKIN ELVISES | |
| 26 | SMOKIN' ROYS | |
| 27 | TWO GUYS AND A SMOKER |
Chicken
27 entries · top 180 · median 173.7028 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 2 | Damn It's Good BBQ | |
| 3 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 4 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 5 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 6 | Smoke 'n Magic | |
| 7 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 8 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 9 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 10 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 11 | Boss Hog BBQ | |
| 12 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 13 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 14 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 15 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 16 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 17 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 18 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 19 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 20 | ShowMeMoSmoke | |
| 21 | Needs More Cowbell BBQ | |
| 22 | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | |
| 23 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 24 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKIN ELVISES | |
| 26 | TWO GUYS AND A SMOKER | |
| 27 | SMOKIN' ROYS |
Pork Ribs
27 entries · top 180 · median 166.8460 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 2 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 3 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 4 | Smoke 'n Magic | |
| 5 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 6 | Boss Hog BBQ | |
| 7 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 8 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 9 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 10 | Needs More Cowbell BBQ | |
| 11 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 12 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 13 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN ELVISES | |
| 15 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 16 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 17 | ShowMeMoSmoke | |
| 18 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 19 | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | |
| 20 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 21 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 22 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 23 | Damn It's Good BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKIN' ROYS | |
| 25 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 26 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 27 | TWO GUYS AND A SMOKER |
Pork
27 entries · top 179.4400 · median 170.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 2 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 3 | Smoke 'n Magic | |
| 4 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 5 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 6 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 7 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 8 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 9 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 10 | ShowMeMoSmoke | |
| 11 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 12 | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | |
| 13 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 14 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 15 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 16 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 17 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 18 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 19 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 20 | Damn It's Good BBQ | |
| 21 | Needs More Cowbell BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKIN ELVISES | |
| 23 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 24 | SMOKIN' ROYS | |
| 25 | Boss Hog BBQ | |
| 26 | TWO GUYS AND A SMOKER | |
| 27 | Split Borders BBQ |
Brisket
27 entries · top 177.7028 · median 170.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 2 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 3 | Needs More Cowbell BBQ | |
| 4 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 5 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 6 | Boss Hog BBQ | |
| 7 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 8 | ShowMeMoSmoke | |
| 9 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 10 | GETTIN' SAUCED | |
| 11 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 12 | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | |
| 13 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | |
| 14 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 15 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 16 | Smoke 'n Magic | |
| 17 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 18 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 19 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 20 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 21 | TWO GUYS AND A SMOKER | |
| 22 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 23 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKIN' ROYS | |
| 25 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 26 | Damn It's Good BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKIN ELVISES |
Backyard Series
Overall
10 entries · top 357.1428 · median 336.2228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smoke This Drink That BBQ | |
| 2 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 3 | Piggy's Kin | |
| 4 | Bushwood BBQ | |
| 5 | Aww Shucks BBQ | |
| 6 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 7 | Bad Influence BBQ - MO | |
| 8 | Smokey Bey's Barbecue | |
| 9 | Slowburn BBQ - AR | |
| 10 | SMOKE SHOW |
Chicken
10 entries · top 177.7144 · median 165.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 2 | Smoke This Drink That BBQ | |
| 3 | Bushwood BBQ | |
| 4 | Piggy's Kin | |
| 5 | Smokey Bey's Barbecue | |
| 6 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 7 | Bad Influence BBQ - MO | |
| 8 | Aww Shucks BBQ | |
| 9 | Slowburn BBQ - AR | |
| 10 | SMOKE SHOW |
Pork Ribs
10 entries · top 180 · median 173.1200 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piggy's Kin | |
| 2 | Smoke This Drink That BBQ | |
| 3 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 4 | Aww Shucks BBQ | |
| 5 | Bushwood BBQ | |
| 6 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 7 | Bad Influence BBQ - MO | |
| 8 | SMOKE SHOW | |
| 9 | Smokey Bey's Barbecue | |
| 10 | Slowburn BBQ - AR |
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 — Dessert
11 entries · top 180 · median 170.2628 · 🔥 perfect 180
Kids-Q — Kids- Q 5-10
5 entries · top 171.4516 · median 154.8684
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SAWYER SCHWARTZ-LIEKEM GOOD | |
| 2 | HARPER POWELL | |
| 3 | ELI BAKER | |
| 4 | LOUIS ENDERS | |
| 5 | EMILY NEIDER |
Kids-Q — Kids-Q 11-15
7 entries · top 178.3200 · median 170.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AJ VIA- | |
| 2 | REESE VIA | |
| 3 | BRANDON NORMAN | |
| 4 | LANDON NEIDER | |
| 5 | KINLEY GILKEY | |
| 6 | DERICK MACLEOD | |
| 7 | JORDON PORTER-2 GUYS |