In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in March 2016.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
The Smoke Ring
Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record
The Index
- Grand Champions A2
- The Month in Brief A3
- Perfect Scores A5
- Ratings Market A6
- New to the Circuit A8
- Box Scores B1
- Complete Results B4
- Back Issues C4
Score of the month
CAJUN BLAZE Turns In the Month’s Best Card
708.5372 out of 720 at Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2 — the highest Master overall scored in March 2016.
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
TUPELO, Miss. — CAJUN BLAZE put up 708.5372 at Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2 — the highest overall of the month.
Across March 2016, 16 sanctioned contests were scored, across 13 states and provinces, drawing 713 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 640 top-ten calls and handed out 23 perfect 180s. 109 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 16 in all.
- OKIEQ Firelake BBQ Cook Off
- SERIAL GRILLER Hamond BBQ
- PHIL THE GRILL Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- CAJUN BLAZE Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2
- IQ - NETHERLANDS Meat the East
- RUSTY'S BBQ Barn Burner BBQ
- CAJUN BLAZE Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1
- IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ Smokin In The Square
- BIG POPPA SMOKERS Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ Flames on the Flint (GBC Qualifier)
- ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN Smoke on the Shores
- DR. NORDY'S BBQ Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- CHECKERED PIG Sip & Swine BBQ Festival (GBC Qualifier)
- TOTALLY SAUCED Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship
- ALL IN QUE Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- HICKORY PRIME Boda Getta BBQ
Hottest hand
Two Grand Championships in Mar 2016 for CAJUN BLAZE
Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.
2× Grand Championships
CAJUN BLAZE took 2 Grand Championships in March 2016.
First one ever
ALL IN QUE Wins Its First, on the 50th Try
A first Grand Championship at Sam's Club National BBQ Tour, after 50 contests in the record.
50th contest — and their first GC
SHREVEPORT, La. — ALL IN QUE won their first Grand Championship at Sam's Club National BBQ Tour, in their 50th contest in the data.
Title defended
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ Defends Its Title at Smokin In The Square
Back-to-back Grand Championships at the same contest — 2015 and 2016.
2 in a row wins at this contest
PENSACOLA, Fla. — IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ won Smokin In The Square again — back-to-back Grand Championships at the same contest.
Also in Mar 2016
The Long Shot Comes In at Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Phil the Grill won Sam's Club National BBQ Tour over top-rated BIG B'S DOWN-N-DIRTY BBQ as the ratings underdog.
Judges Hand Out 23 Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 23 perfect 180s were handed out in March 2016.
Decided by 0.0576 of a Point
CHECKERED PIG edged SAUCED! BBQ TEAM by 0.0576 at Sip & Swine BBQ Festival (GBC Qualifier).
DR. NORDY'S BBQ Back on Top After Two Years
DR. NORDY'S BBQ won Sam's Club National BBQ Tour — their first Grand Championship since September 2013, after 22 contests without one.
BIG POPPA SMOKERS Sets the Record at Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
BIG POPPA SMOKERS put up 708.0112 at Sam's Club National BBQ Tour — the best overall in 4 editions of the contest on record, past the old mark of 699.3484.
BIG POPPA SMOKERS Takes Three of Four Meats at Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
BIG POPPA SMOKERS won 3 of 4 meats at Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (chicken, pork ribs and brisket), and the Grand Championship with them.
BOOTYQUE Climbs 41 Rating Points
BOOTYQUE gained 41 rating points across 5 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
First Time Out, UTAH BBQ COMPANY Takes 7th
UTAH BBQ COMPANY finished 7th at Sam's Club National BBQ Tour — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
DR. NORDY'S BBQ Runs Away With Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
DR. NORDY'S BBQ won Sam's Club National BBQ Tour by 17.1652 points over Texas-car-b-que — the widest winning margin of the month.
95 Teams Roll Into Tupelo
Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 drew 95 teams, and CAJUN BLAZE won it.
SMOKE ON THIS Cooks Its 100th Contest
SMOKE ON THIS cooked their 100th contest on record at Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2, with 6 Grand Championships along the way.
Nobody Hauled Further Than SWIGGIN PIG
SWIGGIN PIG cooked 5 contests in March 2016 — nobody hauled the rig further.
OKIEQ Wins Firelake BBQ Cook Off Without Winning a Meat
OKIEQ won Firelake BBQ Cook Off without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 2nd.
A New Contest Opens in Tupelo
Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 ran for the first time on record, drawing 95 teams, and CAJUN BLAZE won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
SAUCED! BBQ TEAM Takes Reserve Two Times
SAUCED! BBQ TEAM finished second overall 2 times in March 2016 without a Grand Championship — one place short every time.
Four Contests on One Friday
4 sanctioned contests were cooked on 4 Mar alone.
Perfect 180s
23 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Brisket BUFFALO'S BBQ Firelake BBQ Cook Off · March 25
- Brisket GETTIN' BASTED Hamond BBQ · March 25
- Chicken SLAPS BBQ Firelake BBQ Cook Off · March 25
- Brisket Serial Griller Hamond BBQ · March 25
- Pork Smoke-A-Holics Firelake BBQ Cook Off · March 25
- Pork OKLAHOMA JOE'S SERIOUS QUE Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2 · March 19
- Pork Ribs Organizer Portal Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2 · March 19
- Chicken QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2 · March 19
- Pork Rusty's BBQ Barn Burner BBQ · March 19
- Chicken SMOKE ON THIS Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2 · March 19
- Brisket BIG POPPA SMOKERS Sam's Club National BBQ Tour · March 18
- Chicken CAJUN BLAZE Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 · March 18
- Brisket IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ Smokin In The Square · March 18
- Brisket Its 5 Oclock Somewhere Smokin In The Square · March 18
- Pork KILLER HOGS Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 · March 18
- Chicken SAUCED! BBQ TEAM Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 · March 18
- Pork Ribs THE SMOKING HILLS Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 · March 18
- Pork ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN Smoke on the Shores · March 11
- Pork Ribs SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ Flames on the Flint (GBC Qualifier) · March 11
- Pork Goldie Locks & the Three Pigs Boda Getta BBQ · March 4
- Brisket LUCKY'S Q Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship · March 4
- Pork Porkaholics Barbeque Sip & Swine BBQ Festival (GBC Qualifier) · March 4
- Brisket SWIGGIN PIG Sip & Swine BBQ Festival (GBC Qualifier) · March 4
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Mar 2016; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| BOOTYQUE #46 | 1,851 | ▲ 41 |
| ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN #8 | 1,931 | ▲ 31 |
| CAJUN BLAZE #81 | 1,817 | ▲ 29 |
| E.T.'S BBQ #5,543 | 1,450 | ▲ 29 |
| RAZORRACKS #48 | 1,849 | ▲ 25 |
| OKIEQ #163 | 1,774 | ▲ 24 |
| K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ #1,324 | 1,578 | ▲ 24 |
| HICKORY PRIME #192 | 1,759 | ▲ 24 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| SWIGGIN PIG #110 | 1,801 | ▲ 23 |
| SMOKE ON THIS #175 | 1,767 | ▲ 23 |
| THE OUTLAWS #720 | 1,639 | ▼ 19 |
| SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ #798 | 1,628 | ▼ 20 |
| TRUE SMOKE BBQ #313 | 1,722 | ▼ 20 |
| BIG B'S DOWN-N-DIRTY BBQ #157 | 1,776 | ▼ 24 |
| CLARK CREW BBQ #2 | 1,967 | ▼ 28 |
Full power rankings → · Ratings move only on rated contests; invitationals and non-points events are excluded.
New to the Circuit First appearance anywhere in the record — the figure is their best finish
- 7th Pro BBQ shop Meat the East
- 7th UTAH BBQ COMPANY Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- 7th WHITEWATER BBQ COMPANY Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship
- 8th WARPIG BBQ & SAUSAGE CO. Barn Burner BBQ
- 8th WV LOC-N-LOADED BBQ Sip & Swine BBQ Festival (GBC Qualifier)
- 9th Bush Kitchen Barn Burner BBQ
- 11th The Serial Grillers Barn Burner BBQ
- 12th Buurman & Buurman Meat the East
- 13th KOSMOSQ.COM Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- 15th BBQ TEAM FIVE Q Meat the East
- 18th Goldie Locks & the Three Pigs Boda Getta BBQ
- 18th ROCK LEDGE BBQ Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- 19th Hog Island BBQ Barn Burner BBQ
- 20th Memphis Mike's BBQ Barn Burner BBQ
- 21st Smokin Plainsmen Boda Getta BBQ
- 23rd Bayou BBQ Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- 24th PAW'S BBQ Boda Getta BBQ
- 24th PETE'S MEAT BBQ Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
What a first season usually looks like → · 9 contests also ran for the first time on record: Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1, Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2, Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship, Sip & Swine BBQ Festival (GBC Qualifier), Hamond BBQ, Smoke on the Shores, Meat the East, Boda Getta BBQ, Barn Burner BBQ.
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†5 | CAJUN BLAZE Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 |
180 |
| Pork Ribs†3 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ Flames on the Flint (GBC Qualifier) |
180 |
| Pork†7 | Porkaholics Barbeque Sip & Swine BBQ Festival (GBC Qualifier) |
180 |
| Brisket†8 | LUCKY'S Q Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship |
180 |
† a perfect 180 was scored in this category during the edition.
Who Showed Up
Contests · Grand Championships · best overall finish
| Team | C | GC | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWIGGIN PIG | 5 | — | 4 |
| CLARK CREW BBQ | 5 | — | 5 |
| BOOTYQUE | 5 | — | 6 |
| GIVE IT TO GOD | 5 | — | 15 |
| HICKORY PRIME | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| SAUCED! BBQ TEAM | 4 | — | 2 |
| SMOKE THIS | 4 | — | 2 |
| Smoke-A-Holics | 4 | — | 2 |
| SMOKE ON THIS | 4 | — | 3 |
| Organizer Portal | 4 | — | 5 |
| BUTCHER BBQ | 4 | — | 6 |
| SMOKIN' SOBER...SOMETIMES | 4 | — | 16 |
| SMOKIN TRIGGERS | 4 | — | 19 |
| Hawg Feathers | 4 | — | 21 |
| BIG MO FROM AHO | 4 | — | 36 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 2 | 162 |
| Louisiana | 2 | 128 |
| Mississippi | 2 | 100 |
| Florida | 1 | 70 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 66 |
| Minnesota | 1 | 59 |
| Tennessee | 1 | 49 |
| Alabama | 1 | 39 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 1 | 35 |
| Arizona | 1 | 30 |
| Nevada | 1 | 29 |
| Texas | 1 | 29 |
| California | 1 | 22 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 17 in all, newest first. Click a column head to sort; click a row for the contest.
| Contest | Grand Champion | High score |
|---|---|---|
| Firelake BBQ Cook Off March 25 · Shawnee, Okla. · 66 teams |
OKIEQ | 702.8688 |
| Hamond BBQ March 25 · Hammond, La. · 58 teams |
SERIAL GRILLER | 697.0972 |
| Sam's Club National BBQ Tour March 25 · Reno, Nev. · 29 teams |
PHIL THE GRILL | 691.9656 |
| Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2 March 19 · Tupelo, Miss. · 61 teams |
CAJUN BLAZE | 708.5372 |
| Meat the East March 19 · Enschede, N.L. · 33 teams |
IQ - NETHERLANDS | 680.0344 |
| Barn Burner BBQ March 19 · Chilliwack, British of Columbi, Calif. · 22 teams |
RUSTY'S BBQ | 689.0744 |
| Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 March 18 · Tupelo, Miss. · 95 teams |
CAJUN BLAZE | 700.5260 |
| Smokin In The Square March 18 · Pensacola, Fla. · 43 teams |
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 694.7656 |
| Sam's Club National BBQ Tour March 18 · Tucson, Ariz. · 30 teams |
BIG POPPA SMOKERS | 708.0112 |
| BBQ & Brew (BACKYARD) March 12 · Fairhope, Ala. |
— | — |
| Flames on the Flint (GBC Qualifier) March 11 · Bainbridge, Ga. · 89 teams |
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 691.9428 |
| Smoke on the Shores March 11 · Nashville, Tenn. · 49 teams |
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | 703.4172 |
| Sam's Club National BBQ Tour March 11 · Fort Worth, Texas · 29 teams |
DR. NORDY'S BBQ | 689.6912 |
| Sip & Swine BBQ Festival (GBC Qualifier) March 4 · Lawrenceville, Ga. · 59 teams |
CHECKERED PIG | 692.5372 |
| Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship March 4 · Isle, Minn. · 59 teams |
TOTALLY SAUCED | 693.6800 |
| Sam's Club National BBQ Tour March 4 · Shreveport, La. · 30 teams |
ALL IN QUE | 687.3940 |
| Boda Getta BBQ March 4 · Auburn, Ala. · 25 teams |
HICKORY PRIME | 691.3716 |
Contests Advertised
- Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 1) — Friday, Oct. 23. West Creek, N.J. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) — Friday, Oct. 23. West Creek, N.J. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition — Friday, Oct. 23. Vidalia, La. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Rock Lane Presents Grills Gone Wild — Friday, Oct. 23. Branson, Mo. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- The Butcher's Smoke & Flames Barbeque Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) — Friday, Oct. 23. Cullman, Ala. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Foothills Smoke-Off Challenge — Friday, Oct. 23. Lenoir, N.C. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) — Saturday, Oct. 24. West Creek, N.J. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT RIBS) — Saturday, Oct. 24. West Creek, N.J. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
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