Clayton BBQ Challenge
2023-09-15 – 2023-09-16 · Clayton, NC · 📍 340 McCullers St · State championship
Reps: ALAN ROTHROCK, DOUG REID · Prize money: $7,500.00
Grand Champion: Optimus Swine (705.0856) · 17 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 SMOKECRAFT - MD
Entries
Top score
Winning margin
Field average
Tightest race
Top-10 cutoff
Field spread
Prize money
Double threats
How hot was the win?
Traveled in
Form held
Field strength
Storylines
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
Optimus Swine took the Grand Championship home to VA.
📸 Photo finishes
Chicken places 2–3: North Meets South BBQ and SMOKECRAFT - MD tied on 177.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 4–5: SMOKE N BREW and OFF THE RACK BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 5–6: OFF THE RACK BBQ and One Eyed Pig BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🏟️ A stacked field
The field averaged a 1624 power rating going in — stronger than 97% of every contest tracked.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-09-15 ← this one | Clayton, NC | 340 McCullers St | 17 | 705.0856 | Optimus Swine | SMOKECRAFT - MD |
| 2024-09-13 | Clayton, NC | 340 McCullers St | 27 | 697.6456 | Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8572 | 176.5600 | 173.1084 |
| Pork Ribs | 180.0000 | 171.9772 | 168.5372 |
| Pork | 178.8572 | 176.5600 | 173.1200 |
| Brisket | 178.8572 | 175.4172 | 169.1428 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
17 entries · top 705.0856 · median 682.7540
Chicken
17 entries · top 178.8572 · median 175.4056
Pork Ribs
17 entries · top 180.0000 · median 169.6916 · 🔥 perfect 180
Pork
17 entries · top 178.8572 · median 174.2628
Brisket
17 entries · top 178.8572 · median 171.9656