A new contest record
703.3712
highest overall ever cooked here
703.3712 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 702.3204 SPITFIRE set in 2017.
- old record 702.3204
- set 2017 by SPITFIRE
Tri City BBQ Fest 2023
Sep 15–16, 2023 · Denison, IA · 📍 Broadway and Main · State championship
Reps: Dave Rogers, Peg Rogers · Prize money: $12,400
LAST CALL HEROES BBQ won Grand Champion at the Tri City BBQ Fest on September 15, 2023 in Denison, IA at Broadway and Main, scoring 703.3712 in a field of 32 teams. SHIGGIN & GRINNIN took Reserve Grand Champion with 699.9428. Category winners: Chicken — LAST CALL HEROES BBQ (178.8572); Pork Ribs — Good Grefe! (177.1428); Pork — Colorado Bulldawg BBQ (177.7028); Brisket — IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ (177.1772). The Backyard Series standings were won by Backroad BBQ with 344.0000. This is the 9th of 12 editions of this contest on record; the 2022 edition was won by Parrothead Smokers SD; the next was held in 2024.
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.
597.63
median 673.33
703.37 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 178.86
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 177.14
- Master Series — Pork 177.70
- Master Series — Brisket 177.18
- Backyard Series — Chicken 178.30
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 173.20
141.10
178.86
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2014 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
32
6 judged meats
Top score
703.3712
Winning margin
3.4284
GC over RC
Field average
669.10
597.63703.37
median 673.33 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
2.2628 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
679.3488
597.63703.37
10th place overall
Field spread
105.7368
winner to last place
Prize money
$12,400
on the line
Double threats
9
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 21%
beats 79% of 4714 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
56%
18 of 32 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.5 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,587
avg power rating going in · stronger than 68% of contests
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.
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 12 tracked editions
TIMBONE BARBECUE has won this contest 2 times across its 12 tracked editions.
- 2018
- 2019
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 16 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 2–3: SHIGGIN & GRINNIN and PARROTHEAD SMOKERS tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 4–5: Colorado Bulldawg BBQ and LUSCIOUS LOINS BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 7–8: SPITFIRE and TEAM CRAWFORD tied on 173.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 2–3 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 6–7 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
LAST CALL HEROES BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 6th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 5th
- Pork 6th
- Brisket 5th
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: SPITFIRE (won 2017), Hot Daddys BBQ (won 2021).
- SPITFIRE · 2017
- Hot Daddys BBQ · 2021
This contest's own records (1 in the KCBS record book)
Records held by every edition of this contest put together, not just this one afternoon.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2014 | Denison, IA | Denison, IA 51442 | 21 | 691.3940 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | PIGSKIN BBQ |
| Sep 18, 2015 | Denison, IA | Denison, IA 51442 | 18 | 690.7884 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | BIG T'Z Q CRU |
| Sep 16, 2016 | Denison, IA | Broodway & Main | 34 | 701.6800 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA |
| Sep 22, 2017 | Denison, IA | Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison) | 37 | 702.3204 | SPITFIRE | LUCKY'S Q |
| Sep 21, 2018 | Denison, IA | Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison) | 27 | 687.9888 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | DIRT ROAD BBQ |
| Sep 20, 2019 | Denison, IA | Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison) | 34 | 690.7540 | Timbone Barbecue | SPITFIRE |
| Sep 17, 2021 | Denison, IA | Broadway and Main | 20 | 697.6572 | Hot Daddys BBQ | SPITFIRE |
| Sep 16, 2022 | Denison, IA | Broadway and Main | 25 | 693.1316 | Parrothead Smokers SD | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ |
| Sep 15, 2023 ← this one | Denison, IA | Broadway and Main | 32 | 703.3712 | Last Call Heros BBQ | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Denison, IA | 109 N. Main | 30 | 700.4912 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ |
| Sep 19, 2025 | Denison, IA | 109 N. Main | 26 | 703.4060 | Shiggin & Grinnin | Good Grefe! |
| Sep 18, 2026 | Denison, IA | 109 N. Main | 26 | 702.2400 | Grillin' Grindes | Home Farm BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 178.8572 | 175.4172 | 173.1200 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 177.1428 | 174.2628 | 171.4172 |
| Master Series — Pork | 177.7028 | 175.4400 | 171.4172 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 177.1772 | 174.8456 | 170.8344 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 178.2972 | 169.7256 | — |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 173.2000 | 166.8572 | — |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
32 entries · top 703.3712 · median 673.3314
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LAST CALL HEROES BBQ | |
| 2 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 3 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 5 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 6 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 7 | LUSCIOUS LOINS BBQ | |
| 8 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 9 | SPITFIRE | |
| 10 | Good Grefe! | |
| 11 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 12 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 13 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 14 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 15 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 16 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 18 | Matty Macks | |
| 19 | LaTa-Que | |
| 20 | Squeling Pig BBQ | |
| 21 | Low Eye Que | |
| 22 | Team No Clue BBQ | |
| 23 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 24 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 25 | Smokeback Mountain | |
| 26 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 27 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 28 | Casual Smokers | |
| 29 | Sweet Smokin Jones | |
| 30 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 31 | Smokin A BBQ | |
| 32 | Smoke Addicts |
Chicken
32 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.9828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LAST CALL HEROES BBQ | |
| 2 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 3 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 4 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 5 | LUSCIOUS LOINS BBQ | |
| 6 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 7 | SPITFIRE | |
| 8 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 9 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 10 | Squeling Pig BBQ | |
| 11 | Sweet Smokin Jones | |
| 12 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 13 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 14 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 15 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 16 | Smokeback Mountain | |
| 17 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 18 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 19 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 20 | LaTa-Que | |
| 21 | Matty Macks | |
| 22 | Good Grefe! | |
| 23 | Team No Clue BBQ | |
| 24 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 26 | Low Eye Que | |
| 27 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 28 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 29 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 30 | Smoke Addicts | |
| 31 | Casual Smokers | |
| 32 | Smokin A BBQ |
Pork Ribs
32 entries · top 177.1428 · median 170.5428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Good Grefe! | |
| 2 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 3 | LUSCIOUS LOINS BBQ | |
| 4 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 5 | LAST CALL HEROES BBQ | |
| 6 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 8 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 9 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 10 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 11 | Low Eye Que | |
| 12 | SPITFIRE | |
| 13 | Matty Macks | |
| 14 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 15 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 16 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 17 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 18 | LaTa-Que | |
| 19 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 20 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 21 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 22 | Team No Clue BBQ | |
| 23 | Squeling Pig BBQ | |
| 24 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 25 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 26 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 27 | Casual Smokers | |
| 28 | Smokin A BBQ | |
| 29 | Smokeback Mountain | |
| 30 | Sweet Smokin Jones | |
| 31 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 32 | Smoke Addicts |
Pork
32 entries · top 177.7028 · median 167.6742
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 2 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 3 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 4 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 5 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 6 | LAST CALL HEROES BBQ | |
| 7 | Matty Macks | |
| 8 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 9 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 10 | LUSCIOUS LOINS BBQ | |
| 11 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 12 | Team No Clue BBQ | |
| 13 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 14 | Good Grefe! | |
| 15 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 16 | Squeling Pig BBQ | |
| 17 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 18 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 19 | Low Eye Que | |
| 20 | Smokeback Mountain | |
| 21 | SPITFIRE | |
| 22 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 23 | Casual Smokers | |
| 24 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 25 | LaTa-Que | |
| 26 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 27 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 28 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 29 | Sweet Smokin Jones | |
| 30 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 31 | Smokin A BBQ | |
| 32 | Smoke Addicts |
Brisket
32 entries · top 177.1772 · median 166.2686
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 2 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 3 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 4 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 5 | LAST CALL HEROES BBQ | |
| 6 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 7 | LaTa-Que | |
| 8 | SPITFIRE | |
| 9 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 10 | SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | |
| 11 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 12 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 13 | Smokeback Mountain | |
| 14 | Good Grefe! | |
| 15 | LUSCIOUS LOINS BBQ | |
| 16 | Low Eye Que | |
| 17 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 18 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 19 | Team No Clue BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 21 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 22 | Squeling Pig BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 24 | Casual Smokers | |
| 25 | Matty Macks | |
| 26 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 27 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 28 | Sweet Smokin Jones | |
| 29 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 30 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 31 | Smoke Addicts | |
| 32 | Smokin A BBQ |
Backyard Series
Overall
7 entries · top 344 · median 342.9256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Backroad BBQ | |
| 2 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 3 | Smokin Fools | |
| 4 | Smokin B's | |
| 5 | Bar-Down BBQ | |
| 6 | Grill Em All | |
| 7 | Smokestack Barbeque |
Chicken
7 entries · top 178.2972 · median 170.8456
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smokin Fools | |
| 2 | Bar-Down BBQ | |
| 3 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 4 | Backroad BBQ | |
| 5 | Smokin B's | |
| 6 | Grill Em All | |
| 7 | Smokestack Barbeque |
Pork Ribs
7 entries · top 173.2000 · median 166.8800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smokin B's | |
| 2 | Backroad BBQ | |
| 3 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 4 | Bar-Down BBQ | |
| 5 | Grill Em All | |
| 6 | Smokin Fools | |
| 7 | Smokestack Barbeque |