Won without a category win
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
RAZORRACKS won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 5th
- Pork Ribs 2nd
- Pork 5th
- Brisket 6th
Cherokee Strip BBQ & Chili Cook-Off 2023
Sep 15–16, 2023 · Ponca City, OK · 📍 Lake Ponca · State championship
Reps: Larry Voth, Lynda Voth · Prize money: $13,750
RAZORRACKS won Grand Champion at the Cherokee Strip BBQ & Chili Cook-Off on September 15, 2023 in Ponca City, OK at Lake Ponca, scoring 701.0740 in a field of 26 teams. CLARK CREW BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 697.0512. Category winners: Chicken — CLARK CREW BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — PARTS 'R' SMOKIN (176.5600); Pork — Smoked & Furious (180.0000); Brisket — Fine As* Swine BBQ (177.7144). This is the 4th of 9 editions of this contest on record; the 2022 edition was won by SuperSwine BBQ; 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.
530.39
median 678.75
701.07 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180 🔥
- Pork Ribs 176.56
- Pork 180 🔥
- Brisket 177.71
106
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2021 to 2025 — this edition picked out.
Entries
26
4 judged meats · 4 ancillary
Top score
701.0740
Winning margin
4.0228
GC over RC
Field average
663.53
530.39701.07
median 678.75 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Brisket
3.4516 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
682.1832
530.39701.07
10th place overall
Field spread
170.6852
winner to last place
Prize money
$13,750
on the line
Double threats
7
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 29%
beats 71% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.7 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,614
avg power rating going in · stronger than 85% of contests
Storylines (6 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 day of perfect scores
3
perfect 180s
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- CLARK CREW BBQ · Chicken
- BURNIN' SANDS BBQ · Chicken
- Smoked & Furious · Pork
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 9 tracked editions
Razorracks has won this contest 2 times across its 9 tracked editions.
- 2022
- 2023
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 10 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 1–2: CLARK CREW BBQ and BURNIN' SANDS BBQ tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 1–2: PARTS 'R' SMOKIN and RAZORRACKS tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 3–4: Fine As* Swine BBQ and PIGGIN' WHISKEY tied on 174.2744 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Pork Ribs 1–2 · tie
- Pork Ribs 3–4 · tie
- Pork Ribs 7–8 · tie
A contest record in chicken
180.0000
best chicken ever cooked here
CLARK CREW BBQ turned in 180.0000 in chicken — past the 177.1428 that had stood across 3 earlier editions.
- old best 177.1428
- across 3 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Piggin Whiskey (won 2021), Razorracks (won 2022).
- Piggin Whiskey · 2021
- Razorracks · 2022
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 10, 2021 | Ponca City, OK | Ponca Lake | 25 | 703.9428 | Piggin Whiskey | BUFFALO'S BBQ |
| Sep 16, 2022 | Ponca City, OK | Ponca Lake | 39 | 709.6800 | Razorracks | 4 LEGS UP BBQ |
| Sep 16, 2022 | Ponca City, OK | Ponca Lake | 13 | 176.5600 | SuperSwine BBQ | — |
| Sep 15, 2023 ← this one | Ponca City, OK | Lake Ponca | 26 | 701.0740 | RAZORRACKS | CLARK CREW BBQ |
| Sep 15, 2023 | Ponca City, OK | Lake Ponca | 11 | 176.5716 | SMOKED & FURIOUS | — |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Ponca City, OK | Lake Ponca | 26 | 698.8000 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | BURNIN' SANDS BBQ |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Ponca City, OK | Lake Ponca | 4 | 175.4056 | COOKSHACK | — |
| Sep 19, 2025 | Ponca City, OK | Lake Ponca | 25 | 712.5484 | BULL IN THE RING | Smoked & Furious |
| Sep 19, 2025 | Ponca City, OK | Lake Ponca | 7 | 178.8572 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 175.4056 | 169.7028 |
| Pork Ribs | 176.5600 | 172.5600 | 170.2744 |
| Pork | 180 | 175.4056 | 170.8228 |
| Brisket | 177.7144 | 174.2628 | 170.2744 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
26 entries · top 701.0740 · median 678.7484
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 2 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 3 | BURNIN' SANDS BBQ | |
| 4 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 5 | Fine As* Swine BBQ | |
| 6 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 7 | BrewsCue | |
| 8 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 9 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 10 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 11 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 12 | HOLLOW Q | |
| 13 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 14 | HOT CHIHUAHUA BARBECUE | |
| 15 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 16 | CEO BBQ | |
| 17 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 18 | Scrappy's BBQ | |
| 19 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 20 | BUFFALO BBQ | |
| 21 | BEDLAM BROS BBQ | |
| 22 | TRIANGLE S BAR B Q | |
| 23 | Atomik Kitchen | |
| 24 | COOKSHACK | |
| 25 | BACK FROM THE DEAD | |
| 26 | Blue Collar BBQ |
Chicken
26 entries · top 180 · median 167.3886 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 2 | BURNIN' SANDS BBQ | |
| 3 | BrewsCue | |
| 4 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 5 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 6 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 7 | BEDLAM BROS BBQ | |
| 8 | HOLLOW Q | |
| 9 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 10 | Fine As* Swine BBQ | |
| 11 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 12 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 13 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 14 | Scrappy's BBQ | |
| 15 | CEO BBQ | |
| 16 | BACK FROM THE DEAD | |
| 17 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 18 | Atomik Kitchen | |
| 19 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 20 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 21 | COOKSHACK | |
| 22 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 23 | TRIANGLE S BAR B Q | |
| 24 | HOT CHIHUAHUA BARBECUE | |
| 25 | BUFFALO BBQ | |
| 26 | Blue Collar BBQ |
Pork Ribs
26 entries · top 176.5600 · median 168.2514
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 2 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 3 | Fine As* Swine BBQ | |
| 4 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 5 | HOT CHIHUAHUA BARBECUE | |
| 6 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 7 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 8 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 9 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 10 | BURNIN' SANDS BBQ | |
| 11 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 12 | BrewsCue | |
| 13 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 14 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 15 | BUFFALO BBQ | |
| 16 | Scrappy's BBQ | |
| 17 | HOLLOW Q | |
| 18 | CEO BBQ | |
| 19 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 20 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 21 | Atomik Kitchen | |
| 22 | TRIANGLE S BAR B Q | |
| 23 | BEDLAM BROS BBQ | |
| 24 | COOKSHACK | |
| 25 | Blue Collar BBQ | |
| 26 | BACK FROM THE DEAD |
Pork
26 entries · top 180 · median 169.4114 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 2 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 3 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 4 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 5 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 6 | BURNIN' SANDS BBQ | |
| 7 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 8 | HOLLOW Q | |
| 9 | CEO BBQ | |
| 10 | HOT CHIHUAHUA BARBECUE | |
| 11 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 12 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 13 | Fine As* Swine BBQ | |
| 14 | BrewsCue | |
| 15 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 16 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 17 | BUFFALO BBQ | |
| 18 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 19 | COOKSHACK | |
| 20 | Scrappy's BBQ | |
| 21 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 22 | BEDLAM BROS BBQ | |
| 23 | Atomik Kitchen | |
| 24 | TRIANGLE S BAR B Q | |
| 25 | BACK FROM THE DEAD | |
| 26 | Blue Collar BBQ |
Brisket
26 entries · top 177.7144 · median 169.1142
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fine As* Swine BBQ | |
| 2 | PETIE'S SMOKIN PITS BBQ | |
| 3 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | |
| 4 | Smoked & Furious | |
| 5 | BrewsCue | |
| 6 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 7 | HOT CHIHUAHUA BARBECUE | |
| 8 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 9 | HOLLOW Q | |
| 10 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 11 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 12 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 13 | BURNIN' SANDS BBQ | |
| 14 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 15 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 16 | STEELE FAMILY BBQ | |
| 17 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 18 | CEO BBQ | |
| 19 | Scrappy's BBQ | |
| 20 | BUFFALO BBQ | |
| 21 | BEDLAM BROS BBQ | |
| 22 | BACK FROM THE DEAD | |
| 23 | TRIANGLE S BAR B Q | |
| 24 | COOKSHACK | |
| 25 | Atomik Kitchen | |
| 26 | Blue Collar 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 — Anything Butt
3 entries · top 173.1544 · median 169.1428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Curly Bird BBQ | |
| 2 | ROLLING BBQ JOINT | |
| 3 | Blue Collar BBQ |
Ancillary — Anything Goes Dessert
4 entries · top 178.8572 · median 176.5658
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 2 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 3 | BrewsCue | |
| 4 | Curly Bird BBQ |
Ancillary — Beans
6 entries · top 177.1428 · median 170.2800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CEO BBQ | |
| 2 | BACK FROM THE DEAD | |
| 3 | Fine As* Swine BBQ | |
| 4 | Blue Collar BBQ | |
| 5 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 6 | Curly Bird BBQ |
Ancillary — Sauce
7 entries · top 178.8572 · median 167.3712
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Curly Bird BBQ | |
| 2 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 3 | BACK FROM THE DEAD | |
| 4 | Atomik Kitchen | |
| 5 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 6 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 7 | Smoked & Furious |