Smoke on the Bricks
2023-08-25 – 2023-08-26 · Baldwin City, KS · 📍 705 High Street · State championship
Reps: FORREST BRUCE, LARRY HADLEY, PEG ROGERS · Prize money: $13,000.00
Grand Champion: Meat Rushmore BBQ (704.5372) · 44 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 MAN MEAT BBQ
Entries
44
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
704.5372
Winning margin
5.1656
GC over RC
Field average
663.00
median 675.59
Tightest race
Pork
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
686.7772
10th place overall
Field spread
192.6172
winner to last place
Prize money
$13,000.00
on the line
Double threats
3
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 26%
beats 74% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
9%
of the 44 teams with a home region came from outside KS
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.72 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1552
avg power rating going in · stronger than 57% of contests
Storylines
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ took the Grand Championship home to MO.
🔥 A day of perfect scores
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest.
🧹 A double category winner
Squealin N Dealin BBQ won Pork, Brisket — a double.
📸 Photo finishes
Pork Ribs places 1–2: KC MEAT SWEATS and Fat&Dumb BBQ tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 4–5: LOVE 2 Q and MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 5–6: MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ and MAN MEAT BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🛡️ Back to defend
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Fat & Dumb BBQ (won 2019), Slaps BBQ (won 2022).
🃏 An upset on the books
MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, SLAPS BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 30-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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-05-31 | Baldwin City, KS | 1102 Main St | 49 | 692.5596 | Fat & Dumb BBQ | HIGH i QUE |
| 2020-08-21 | Baldwin City, KS | High St. | 43 | 700.5832 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | Happy Grillmore - KS |
| 2021-08-20 | Baldwin City, KS | High St. | 46 | 710.8228 | Dirt Road BBQ | PIRATES OF BAR-B-QUE BAY |
| 2022-08-26 | Baldwin City, KS | 705 High Street | 48 | 701.1200 | Slaps BBQ | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ |
| 2022-08-26 | Baldwin City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023-08-25 ← this one | Baldwin City, KS | 705 High Street | 44 | 704.5372 | Meat Rushmore BBQ | MAN MEAT BBQ |
| 2024-08-09 | Baldwin City, KS | 705 High Street | 46 | 707.9888 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE |
| 2025-08-08 | Baldwin City, KS | 710 High Street | 53 | 703.9888 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | Aww Shucks BBQ |
| 2026-08-07 | Baldwin City, KS | 712 Chapel St. | 52 | 707.9772 | Janky Leg | Parts R Smokin |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8572 | 175.4172 | 173.1200 |
| Pork Ribs | 180.0000 | 175.4172 | 173.7144 |
| Pork | 180.0000 | 177.7028 | 175.4172 |
| Brisket | 177.7028 | 174.8456 | 171.9772 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
44 entries · top 704.5372 · median 675.5940
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 2 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 3 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 4 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 5 | Fat&Dumb BBQ | |
| 6 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 7 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 8 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 9 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 10 | MAD MUTT'S BBQ | |
| 11 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 12 | Happy Grillmore | |
| 13 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 14 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | |
| 15 | PIRATES OF BAR-B-QUE BAY | |
| 16 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 17 | Ambition Que | |
| 18 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 19 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 20 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 21 | Lazy J Smoke Show | |
| 22 | THIS BUTT'S FOR YOU - OLATHE, KS | |
| 23 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 24 | Whimpys | |
| 25 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 26 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 27 | M Squared Smokin' Q | |
| 28 | WINGED SWINE | |
| 29 | Smokesdidier | |
| 30 | Smokin' Beaver BBQ | |
| 31 | Smoke Wurx BBQ | |
| 32 | Flying W North BBQ | |
| 33 | SMOKIN' TOAD'S | |
| 34 | Triple Ace's Bbq | |
| 35 | Smoke Dat Hog | |
| 36 | KC FINE SWINES | |
| 37 | Sitt 'n Smoke | |
| 38 | Family Tradition | |
| 39 | DUSTY ROADS BBQ | |
| 40 | Big D & The Briquettes | |
| 41 | SMOKIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 42 | Mom's Rub N Dad's Meat Crist Family BBQ | |
| 43 | Dirty Dawg BBQ | |
| 44 | Mercer BBQ |
Chicken
44 entries · top 178.8572 · median 168.8628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 2 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 3 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 4 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 5 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 6 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 7 | MAD MUTT'S BBQ | |
| 8 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 9 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 10 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 11 | Fat&Dumb BBQ | |
| 12 | Ambition Que | |
| 13 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 14 | PIRATES OF BAR-B-QUE BAY | |
| 15 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 16 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 17 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKIN' TOAD'S | |
| 19 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 20 | Smokin' Beaver BBQ | |
| 21 | Happy Grillmore | |
| 22 | KC FINE SWINES | |
| 23 | WINGED SWINE | |
| 24 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 25 | Lazy J Smoke Show | |
| 26 | THIS BUTT'S FOR YOU - OLATHE, KS | |
| 27 | Smoke Wurx BBQ | |
| 28 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 29 | Smoke Dat Hog | |
| 30 | Triple Ace's Bbq | |
| 31 | Whimpys | |
| 32 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 33 | Flying W North BBQ | |
| 34 | M Squared Smokin' Q | |
| 35 | Mercer BBQ | |
| 36 | Smokesdidier | |
| 37 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | |
| 38 | Family Tradition | |
| 39 | Big D & The Briquettes | |
| 40 | DUSTY ROADS BBQ | |
| 41 | Sitt 'n Smoke | |
| 42 | Mom's Rub N Dad's Meat Crist Family BBQ | |
| 43 | SMOKIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 44 | Dirty Dawg BBQ |
Pork Ribs
44 entries · top 180.0000 · median 169.3942 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 2 | Fat&Dumb BBQ | |
| 3 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 4 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 5 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 6 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 7 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | |
| 8 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 9 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 10 | Ambition Que | |
| 11 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 12 | Smokesdidier | |
| 13 | PIRATES OF BAR-B-QUE BAY | |
| 14 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 15 | Happy Grillmore | |
| 16 | THIS BUTT'S FOR YOU - OLATHE, KS | |
| 17 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 18 | Lazy J Smoke Show | |
| 19 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 20 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 21 | Mercer BBQ | |
| 22 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 23 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 24 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 25 | MAD MUTT'S BBQ | |
| 26 | Whimpys | |
| 27 | Flying W North BBQ | |
| 28 | M Squared Smokin' Q | |
| 29 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 30 | Sitt 'n Smoke | |
| 31 | Smoke Wurx BBQ | |
| 32 | Smokin' Beaver BBQ | |
| 33 | WINGED SWINE | |
| 34 | Smoke Dat Hog | |
| 35 | KC FINE SWINES | |
| 36 | Family Tradition | |
| 37 | Triple Ace's Bbq | |
| 38 | SMOKIN' TOAD'S | |
| 39 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 40 | SMOKIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 41 | Big D & The Briquettes | |
| 42 | DUSTY ROADS BBQ | |
| 43 | Mom's Rub N Dad's Meat Crist Family BBQ | |
| 44 | Dirty Dawg BBQ |
Pork
44 entries · top 180.0000 · median 168.5198 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 2 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 3 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 4 | Mercer BBQ | |
| 5 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 6 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 7 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 8 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 9 | Fat&Dumb BBQ | |
| 10 | MAD MUTT'S BBQ | |
| 11 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 12 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 13 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 14 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 15 | DUSTY ROADS BBQ | |
| 16 | THIS BUTT'S FOR YOU - OLATHE, KS | |
| 17 | Happy Grillmore | |
| 18 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 19 | Whimpys | |
| 20 | M Squared Smokin' Q | |
| 21 | Sitt 'n Smoke | |
| 22 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 23 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 24 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | |
| 25 | PIRATES OF BAR-B-QUE BAY | |
| 26 | Smokin' Beaver BBQ | |
| 27 | Ambition Que | |
| 28 | Family Tradition | |
| 29 | Lazy J Smoke Show | |
| 30 | SMOKIN' TOAD'S | |
| 31 | WINGED SWINE | |
| 32 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 33 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 34 | Triple Ace's Bbq | |
| 35 | Flying W North BBQ | |
| 36 | Smoke Wurx BBQ | |
| 37 | Smokesdidier | |
| 38 | Smoke Dat Hog | |
| 39 | KC FINE SWINES | |
| 40 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 41 | SMOKIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 42 | Dirty Dawg BBQ | |
| 43 | Mom's Rub N Dad's Meat Crist Family BBQ | |
| 44 | Big D & The Briquettes |
Brisket
43 entries · top 177.7028 · median 166.2284
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 2 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | |
| 3 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 4 | Lazy J Smoke Show | |
| 5 | HIGH i QUE | |
| 6 | PIRATES OF BAR-B-QUE BAY | |
| 7 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 8 | Happy Grillmore | |
| 9 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 10 | Ambition Que | |
| 11 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 12 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 13 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 14 | Fat&Dumb BBQ | |
| 15 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 16 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 17 | MAD MUTT'S BBQ | |
| 18 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 19 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 20 | Whimpys | |
| 21 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 22 | THREE LEGS AND A PIG | |
| 23 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 24 | THIS BUTT'S FOR YOU - OLATHE, KS | |
| 25 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 26 | M Squared Smokin' Q | |
| 27 | WINGED SWINE | |
| 28 | Smoke Wurx BBQ | |
| 29 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 30 | Smokesdidier | |
| 31 | Flying W North BBQ | |
| 32 | Big D & The Briquettes | |
| 33 | Smokin' Beaver BBQ | |
| 34 | SMOKIN' TOAD'S | |
| 35 | Mom's Rub N Dad's Meat Crist Family BBQ | |
| 36 | Triple Ace's Bbq | |
| 37 | SMOKIN GOOD BBQ | |
| 38 | Sitt 'n Smoke | |
| 39 | Family Tradition | |
| 40 | Smoke Dat Hog | |
| 41 | KC FINE SWINES | |
| 42 | Dirty Dawg BBQ | |
| 43 | DUSTY ROADS BBQ |
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
14 entries · top 180.0000 · median 175.1600 · 🔥 perfect 180
Ancillary — Sausage
16 entries · top 180.0000 · median 171.1314 · 🔥 perfect 180