Clayton BBQ Challenge
2023-09-15 – 2023-09-16 · Clayton, NC · State championship
Reps: ALAN ROTHROCK, DOUG REID · Prize money: $7,500.00
Grand Champion: Optimus Swine (705.0856) · 17 teams
Entries
17
4 categories
Top score
705.0856
Winning margin
2.2624
GC over RC
Field average
683.26
median 682.75
Perfect 180s
1 🔥
Tightest race
Chicken
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
678.7540
what a walk cost here
Field spread
52.6516
winner to last place
Prize money
$7,500.00
on the line
Double threats
7
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 17%
beats 83% of 2713 overall wins in the data
Field strength
1624
avg power rating going in · stronger than 97% of contests
Storylines
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
Optimus Swine took the Grand Championship home to VA.
🏟️ 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
This contest over the years
| Date | Where | Teams | High score | Grand Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-09-15 ← this one | Clayton, NC | 17 | 705.0856 | Optimus Swine |
| 2024-09-13 | Clayton, NC | 27 | 697.6456 | Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series — Brisket
17 entries · top 178.8572 · median 171.9656
Master Series — Chicken
17 entries · top 178.8572 · median 175.4056
Master Series — Overall
17 entries · top 705.0856 · median 682.7540
Master Series — Pork
17 entries · top 178.8572 · median 174.2628
Master Series — Pork Ribs
17 entries · top 180.0000 · median 169.6916 · 🔥 perfect 180