SaucyRossyBBQ KCBS Helper

← The latest edition · The 2017 season page

The annual edition

Every sanctioned contest scored in 2017.

Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests

The Smoke Ring

Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record

The Index

Annual edition Sunday, December 31, 2017 Price: One Coffee

The 2017 Season in Review

479 contests scored
7,539 teams competing
713.7144 top score, out of 720 HOT COLE'S BBQ
17,614 team entries
243 different Grand Champions
91 first-time winners
139 won exactly once
399 perfect 180s
18,831 top-ten calls
2,106 new teams
52% of last year’s teams came back
407 biggest field
37 average field
692.65 average winning score
637.66 lowest winning score
4.66 average winning margin
2 settled by tiebreaker
54 states & provinces
16 countries
6 state championships
5 invitationals
0 reps at the table
2.3 contests per team
51 cancelled

Team of the Year

CLARK CREW BBQ Is 2017 Team of the Year

2,850 points to top the KCBS Master Series standings, ahead of SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ.

By The Smoke Ring Staff

2,850
Master Series Team of the Year points

CLARK CREW BBQ finished 2017 as KCBS Master Series Team of the Year on 2,850 points, with SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ second.

Across 2017, 479 sanctioned contests were scored, across 54 states and provinces, drawing 7,539 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 18,831 top-ten calls and handed out 399 perfect 180s. 2,106 teams appear in the record for the first time. The top tens run on B1.

  • Chicken: OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE
  • Pork Ribs: CLARK CREW BBQ
  • Pork: GETTIN' BASTED
  • Brisket: CLARK CREW BBQ
Section ATeam of the YearA2

The KCBS points race, exactly as the Society publishes it. The official standings →

Master Series

  1. 1 CLARK CREW BBQ 2,850
  2. 2 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ 2,849
  3. 3 GETTIN' BASTED 2,762
  4. 4 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ 2,743
  5. 5 BIG POPPA SMOKERS 2,705
  6. 6 DIRT ROAD BBQ 2,702
  7. 7 Smoke Me Silly 2,687
  8. 8 WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ 2,684
  9. 9 Fergolicious BBQ 2,681
  10. 10 SLAPS BBQ 2,670

Category Teams of the Year: Chicken — OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE; Pork Ribs — CLARK CREW BBQ; Pork — GETTIN' BASTED; Brisket — CLARK CREW BBQ.

Section AThe Year in BriefA3

By invitation only

CLARK CREW BBQ Wins the American Royal Invitational

Best of 129 invited teams, with HOGLINE in reserve — a win for the record book that leaves the power rating alone.

129 invited teams, one Grand Champion

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — CLARK CREW BBQ won 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL), best of 129 invited teams; HOGLINE took reserve. An invite-only field, so it leaves the power rating alone and goes straight into the record book.

  • top score 708.5600
  • 5 invitationals in 2017
  • not in the power rating

Score of the year

HOT COLE'S BBQ Turns In the Year’s Best Card

713.7144 out of 720 at Brew B Q — the highest Master overall scored in 2017.

713.7144 Master overall, out of 720

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — HOT COLE'S BBQ put up 713.7144 at Brew B Q — the highest overall of the year.

Hottest hand

14 Grand Championships in 2017 for CLARK CREW BBQ

Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.

14× Grand Championships

CLARK CREW BBQ took 14 Grand Championships in 2017.

They will not let it go

Four Straight at Grillin' in Grafton for TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI

Every edition of Grillin' in Grafton since 2014 has gone the same way.

4 in a row wins at this contest

GRAFFTON, Wis. — TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI won Grillin' in Grafton again — 4 straight editions of this contest.

  • 2014–2017
  • field of 27

First one ever

Extra Mile BBQ Wins Its First, on the 82nd Try

A first Grand Championship at 2017 Smokin' in the Forest, after 82 contests in the record.

82nd contest — and their first GC

MILLINGTON, Tenn. — Extra Mile BBQ won their first Grand Championship at 2017 Smokin' in the Forest, in their 82nd contest in the data.

  • 14 Apr

Upset of the year

The Long Shot Comes In at RED, WHITE and BAR-B-Q ( DAY 1)

The ratings gave BILLY RAY BBQ a 5% chance, with IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ the team to beat.

5-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings

WESTMONT, Ill. — BILLY RAY BBQ won RED, WHITE and BAR-B-Q ( DAY 1) over top-rated IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ as the ratings underdog.

Also in 2017

Judges Hand Out 399 Perfect 180s

Six judges, every card a 9: 399 perfect 180s were handed out in 2017.

Decided by 0.0000 of a Point

HIGH i QUE edged Fergolicious BBQ by 0.0000 at Butler Chambers Of Commerce BBQ & Hucksters Days.

LOCAL SMOKE BBQ Back on Top After Three Years

LOCAL SMOKE BBQ won New Jersey State Barbecue Championship — their first Grand Championship since July 2013, after 18 contests without one.

GETTIN' BASTED Sets the Record at BBQ in the Bluffs

GETTIN' BASTED put up 706.2972 at BBQ in the Bluffs — the best overall in 5 editions of the contest on record, past the old mark of 691.9772.

SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ Takes Three of Four Meats at Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2

SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ won 3 of 4 meats at Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2 (pork ribs, pork and brisket), and the Grand Championship with them.

JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 Climbs 219 Rating Points

JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 gained 219 rating points across 32 contests — the biggest climb of the year.

91 Teams Win Their First Grand Championship

91 teams won their first Grand Championship on record in 2017 — the biggest of them MUTTLEY CREW BBQ at SC Festival of Discovery (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES), against 89 teams.

SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ Collects 13 Perfect 180s

SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ turned in 13 perfect 180s in 2017, level for the most of any team.

Six State Champions Crowned

6 state championships were decided in 2017. The biggest, Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship (184 teams), went to 913 BBQ.

BROS HOG Leads the Class of 2017

BROS HOG cooked their first contest on record in 2017 and won 2 Grand Championships — the best season of 2,106 new teams.

Nobody Was Steadier Than IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ

IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ finished ahead of 92% of the field on average across 36 Master contests in 2017 — the steadiest season of anyone with 10 or more.

TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI Runs Away With Poor Que

TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI won 8th Annual Poor Que by 29.2340 points over TOO POOR TO SCORE — the widest winning margin of the year.

Brisket Was the Hardest Meat of 2017

Brisket was the hardest meat to score in 2017: it averaged 161.64, against 164.76 for chicken.

407 Teams Roll Into Kansas City

38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) drew 407 teams, and PORKY BUTTS BBQ won it.

IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ Cooks Its 150th Contest

IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ cooked their 150th contest on record at Minnesota in May, with 45 Grand Championships along the way.

Winning Scores Slip to 692.65

A Master Series win took an average of 692.65 in 2017, down 0.65 on 693.30 in 2016.

Nobody Hauled Further Than CLARK CREW BBQ

CLARK CREW BBQ cooked 47 contests in 2017 — nobody hauled the rig further.

IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ Wins Humble Rodeo & BBQ Without Winning a Meat

IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ won Humble Rodeo & BBQ ( WFC Qualifier) without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 2nd.

A New Contest Opens in Lenexa

Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship ran for the first time on record, drawing 184 teams, and 913 BBQ won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.

MISS PIGGY'S U.K. Takes Reserve Four Times

MISS PIGGY'S U.K. finished second overall 4 times in 2017 without a Grand Championship — one place short every time.

19 Contests on One Friday

19 sanctioned contests were cooked on 22 Sep alone.

June Was the Busiest Month, With 81 Contests

June 2017 was the busiest month of 2017: 81 contests scored and 2,252 teams cooking. Read the June 2017 edition.

Section ABy InvitationA4

Every invitational of 2017. Invite-only fields: their results go into every team’s record, and they don’t move the power rating.

The invitational circuit → · every invitational on record, who keeps getting invited, and who wins them.

Section AFirsts & RookiesA5

First Grand Championships 91 teams won one for the first time on record — the 24 biggest fields shown

  1. MUTTLEY CREW BBQ SC Festival of Discovery (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) Jul 6 · 89 teams
  2. FAT BOYS BBQ - TEMPLE, TX Firelake BBQ Cook Off (Day 1) Mar 24 · 87 teams
  3. THE TWISTED TAIL Independence Fire & Ice BBQ Oct 6 · 76 teams
  4. ELITE BBQ SMOKERS Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que & Music Festival (GBC Qualifier) May 26 · 67 teams
  5. GONNA GET MESSY 22nd Annual Platte City BBQ Cook Off at Basswood Resort May 19 · 59 teams
  6. UNCLE TONY'S COCKNEY Q Tony Stone Low & Slow BBQ Competition Jun 3 · 56 teams
  7. WHO CARES BBQ BBQ Jamboree-Day 1 (JUDGES FULL) May 12 · 54 teams
  8. OLD COLONY SMOKEHOUSE Peak City Pig Fest Jun 16 · 47 teams
  9. DE FILOUS 5th Annual BBQ Society Cook-Off Oct 7 · 47 teams
  10. Many Moons BBQ Historic New Castle Colonial BBQ Competition Jun 9 · 46 teams
  11. B-S BBQ OUTLAWS Arvada on Tap - A Craft Beer and BBQ Fest Jul 21 · 46 teams
  12. Pork Pullers Border War Barbeque Oct 27 · 46 teams
  13. Outdoor Chef Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship Aug 25 · 44 teams
  14. THE BEARDED ONE BBQ NYC BBQ Cookoff Apr 7 · 43 teams
  15. WEEKEND SMOKERS Que by the Sea Sep 22 · 43 teams
  16. BOOG-A-LOU SMOKE CREW Boss Hog State Championship Cook-OFF (GBC Qualifier) May 12 · 42 teams
  17. PORK ILLUSTRATED Desoto Shrine Club BBQ Cook off Jun 16 · 41 teams
  18. Backroads BBQ SMSU Smokefest Aug 18 · 41 teams
  19. CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. First Annual Operation Stand Down KY BBQ Smoke Off (TEAMS FULL) Apr 7 · 40 teams
  20. Sharpe's Woodshed West Coast BBQ Classic May 12 · 40 teams
  21. BILLY RAY BBQ RED, WHITE and BAR-B-Q ( DAY 1) May 26 · 40 teams
  22. Pistol Packin' Piggies I love Barbecue & Music Festival Jul 7 · 40 teams
  23. SCHLUCHTENGRILLER BBQ 2nd Black Forest Smoke & Wine Festival Jul 22 · 40 teams
  24. WeQ4U PigMania Lebanon State Championship BBQ & Music Festival ( TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL) Sep 1 · 40 teams

The Rookie Class Teams whose first contest on record came in 2017 — 2,106 of them

The whole class of 2017 →

Section BThe Top TensB1

22 standings from the 2017 season. Grand Championships count once per contest; overall scores are ranked only against their own board’s scale.

Highest Scores

Master overall, out of 720

  1. 1 HOT COLE'S BBQBrew B Q 713.7144
  2. 2 CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQCumberland Plateau BBQ Cook-off & Cruise In (Day 2) 713.7028
  3. 3 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQFreedom Fest BBQ Cook-Off 710.2972
  4. 4 HOT COLE'S BBQTony Stone-Cookeville Cook-off 710.2628
  5. 5 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQSam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) 709.7260
  6. 6 BUTCHER BBQSmokin-in-Sapulpa 4th Annual BBQ 709.6916
  7. 7 PORKY BUTTS BBQ38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) 709.6800
  8. 8 PORKY BUTTS BBQFirelake BBQ Cook Off (Day 2) 709.1660
  9. 9 PARROTHEAD SMOKERSNile Beer-B-Q 709.1200
  10. 10 ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TNHigh on the Hog Festival 709.1200

Most Grand Championships

Contests won, counted once per contest

  1. 1 CLARK CREW BBQ47 contests · 41 top tens 14
  2. 2 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ42 contests · 35 top tens 12
  3. 3 PARROTHEAD SMOKERS21 contests · 19 top tens 7
  4. 4 BIG POPPA SMOKERS25 contests · 21 top tens 7
  5. 5 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ36 contests · 32 top tens 7
  6. 6 GETTIN' BASTED43 contests · 31 top tens 7
  7. 7 VICTORY LANE BBQ21 contests · 16 top tens 6
  8. 8 Fergolicious BBQ34 contests · 26 top tens 6
  9. 9 SLAPS BBQ35 contests · 22 top tens 6
  10. 10 Organizer Portal37 contests · 25 top tens 6

Most Reserve Championships

Second overall

  1. 1 WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ4 GCs · 34 contests 9
  2. 2 Organizer Portal6 GCs · 37 contests 7
  3. 3 DIRT ROAD BBQ5 GCs · 41 contests 6
  4. 4 GETTIN' BASTED7 GCs · 43 contests 6
  5. 5 CLARK CREW BBQ14 GCs · 47 contests 6
  6. 6 HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB1 GC · 35 contests 5
  7. 7 MISS PIGGY'S U.K.0 GCs · 9 contests 4
  8. 8 SMELLAQUE1 GC · 13 contests 4
  9. 9 BUNCH OF SWINES3 GCs · 14 contests 4
  10. 10 GREY STREET BBQ3 GCs · 21 contests 4

Most Top-Ten Finishes

Top ten overall

  1. 1 CLARK CREW BBQof 47 contests 41
  2. 2 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQof 42 contests 35
  3. 3 DIRT ROAD BBQof 41 contests 33
  4. 4 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQof 36 contests 32
  5. 5 GETTIN' BASTEDof 43 contests 31
  6. 6 OLD VIRGINIA SMOKEof 37 contests 28
  7. 7 CONTAGIOUS Qof 37 contests 27
  8. 8 THE SMOKING HILLSof 37 contests 27
  9. 9 Fergolicious BBQof 34 contests 26
  10. 10 SMOKE THIS BBQ MOof 36 contests 25

Most Calls

Top-ten finishes in the four meats

  1. 1 CLARK CREW BBQ47 contests 112
  2. 2 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ42 contests 104
  3. 3 DIRT ROAD BBQ41 contests 95
  4. 4 GETTIN' BASTED43 contests 93
  5. 5 Organizer Portal37 contests 91
  6. 6 THE SMOKING HILLS37 contests 87
  7. 7 CONTAGIOUS Q37 contests 81
  8. 8 WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ34 contests 78
  9. 9 OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE37 contests 77
  10. 10 Fergolicious BBQ34 contests 76

Most Category Wins

First place in a meat

  1. 1 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ42 contests 26
  2. 2 GETTIN' BASTED43 contests 23
  3. 3 CLARK CREW BBQ47 contests 19
  4. 4 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ36 contests 15
  5. 5 DIRT ROAD BBQ41 contests 15
  6. 6 Fergolicious BBQ34 contests 14
  7. 7 PARROTHEAD SMOKERS21 contests 13
  8. 8 BIG POPPA SMOKERS25 contests 13
  9. 9 LUCKY'S Q26 contests 13
  10. 10 WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ34 contests 13

Most Perfect 180s

Six judges, every card a nine

  1. 1 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ42 contests 13
  2. 2 CLARK CREW BBQ47 contests 13
  3. 3 HOT COLE'S BBQ16 contests 8
  4. 4 BOOMERANG BBQ20 contests 6
  5. 5 FAT BOYS BBQ - TEMPLE, TX21 contests 6
  6. 6 VICTORY LANE BBQ21 contests 6
  7. 7 GETTIN' BASTED43 contests 6
  8. 8 LUCKY'S Q26 contests 5
  9. 9 PORKY BUTTS BBQ30 contests 5
  10. 10 THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ31 contests 5

Best Average Score

Master overall, 8+ contests

  1. 1 CLARK CREW BBQ47 contests 692.55
  2. 2 Organizer Portal37 contests 691.27
  3. 3 VICTORY LANE BBQ21 contests 691.22
  4. 4 HOT COLE'S BBQ16 contests 690.28
  5. 5 BIG BLUE QUE10 contests 690.04
  6. 6 Q-BONES BBQ17 contests 689.84
  7. 7 ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE20 contests 689.74
  8. 8 Burnin and Lootin19 contests 689.54
  9. 9 DIRT ROAD BBQ41 contests 689.47
  10. 10 GETTIN' BASTED43 contests 689.02

Most Consistent

Share of the field beaten, 10+ contests

  1. 1 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ36 contests 92%
  2. 2 BIG POPPA SMOKERS25 contests 91%
  3. 3 BUNCH OF SWINES14 contests 91%
  4. 4 CLARK CREW BBQ47 contests 91%
  5. 5 ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE20 contests 90%
  6. 6 One2BBQ18 contests 89%
  7. 7 GOOD SMOKE BBQ19 contests 89%
  8. 8 APORKALYPSE NOW19 contests 89%
  9. 9 Burnin and Lootin19 contests 88%
  10. 10 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ42 contests 88%

Most Contests Cooked

Contests entered

  1. 1 CLARK CREW BBQ14 GCs · 16 states 47
  2. 2 GETTIN' BASTED7 GCs · 16 states 43
  3. 3 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ12 GCs · 16 states 42
  4. 4 DIRT ROAD BBQ5 GCs · 10 states 41
  5. 5 HIGH ON THE HAWG2 GCs · 9 states 38
  6. 6 Organizer Portal6 GCs · 11 states 37
  7. 7 SAUCED! BBQ TEAM5 GCs · 10 states 37
  8. 8 OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE4 GCs · 14 states 37
  9. 9 CONTAGIOUS Q2 GCs · 11 states 37
  10. 10 THE SMOKING HILLS2 GCs · 12 states 37

Most States Cooked In

States and provinces

  1. 1 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ36 contests 18
  2. 2 CLARK CREW BBQ47 contests 16
  3. 3 GETTIN' BASTED43 contests 16
  4. 4 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ42 contests 16
  5. 5 Fergolicious BBQ34 contests 16
  6. 6 B-S BBQ OUTLAWS34 contests 15
  7. 7 OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE37 contests 14
  8. 8 Rogue Hog BBQ26 contests 14
  9. 9 PARROTHEAD SMOKERS21 contests 13
  10. 10 THE SMOKING HILLS37 contests 12

Biggest Rating Climbs

Power rating gained over the season

  1. 1 JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.032 rated contests · now #173 +219
  2. 2 FAT BOYS BBQ - TEMPLE, TX19 rated contests · now #55 +170
  3. 3 3N1 Q28 rated contests · now #66 +164
  4. 4 BOOMERANG BBQ19 rated contests · now #10 +163
  5. 5 B-S BBQ OUTLAWS34 rated contests · now #73 +160
  6. 6 DIVINE SWINE20 rated contests · now #664 +144
  7. 7 SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS25 rated contests · now #127 +135
  8. 8 KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ13 rated contests · now #646 +134
  9. 9 OLD COLONY SMOKEHOUSE21 rated contests · now #48 +133
  10. 10 SMOKE FREAKS25 rated contests · now #107 +132

Best Rookie Seasons

First contest on record this season

  1. 1 BROS HOG11 contests · best 701.18 2 GCs
  2. 2 FYC BARBEQUE13 contests · best 695.92 1 GC
  3. 3 UNCLE TONY'S COCKNEY Q12 contests · best 684.02 1 GC
  4. 4 Cynical BBQ7 contests · best 690.81 1 GC
  5. 5 THE GRILL DOCTORS6 contests · best 691.92 1 GC
  6. 6 BALLS OUT BBQ5 contests · best 695.94 1 GC
  7. 7 Cool Grog N Smokin Hogs2 contests · best 687.91 1 GC
  8. 8 GRILLDROIDS2 contests · best 665.05 1 GC
  9. 9 KGB - KATKA GERGO BARBECUE1 contest · best 686.85 1 GC
  10. 10 Outdoor Chef1 contest · best 698.26 1 GC

Best Chicken

Out of 180

  1. 1 SHIG NINJA BBQSlab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge 180.0000
  2. 2 CLARK CREW BBQHumble Rodeo & BBQ ( WFC Qualifier) 180.0000
  3. 3 FAT BOYS BBQ - TEMPLE, TXShotgun Fred BBQ Showdown (JUDGES FULL) 180.0000
  4. 4 LUCKY'S QFire on Ice Barbecue World Championship 180.0000
  5. 5 RUNWAY SMOKESip & Swine BBQ Festival 180.0000
  6. 6 OLD VIRGINIA SMOKEThe Great Brunswick BBQ Throwdown 180.0000
  7. 7 HICKORY AND SPICE BBQSam's Club National BBQ Tour 180.0000
  8. 8 FIRE DANCER BBQTupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 180.0000
  9. 9 BOOTYQUEHammond BBQ 180.0000
  10. 10 THUMP & STRUM BBQFirelake BBQ Cook Off (Day 2) 180.0000

Best Pork Ribs

Out of 180

  1. 1 Organizer PortalBodagetta BBQ 180.0000
  2. 2 BEES KNEES BBQ TEAMTupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2 180.0000
  3. 3 CLARK CREW BBQFirelake BBQ Cook Off (Day 1) 180.0000
  4. 4 ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TNHigh on the Hog Festival 180.0000
  5. 5 FAT, DRUNK & STUPIDHigh on the Hog Festival 180.0000
  6. 6 CLARK CREW BBQRoberts Ranch Smokin Red Dirt BBQ 180.0000
  7. 7 GILLY'S BBQSam's Club National BBQ Tour 180.0000
  8. 8 HOOTIE-QBoss Hog State Championship Cook-OFF (GBC Qualifier) 180.0000
  9. 9 CLAUDE'S QSam's Club National BBQ Tour 180.0000
  10. 10 CHECKERED PIGBloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass 180.0000

Best Pork

Out of 180

  1. 1 SHIG NINJA BBQSlab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge 180.0000
  2. 2 Smoke-A-HolicsOutwest Food Fest BBQ Competiton 180.0000
  3. 3 Burnt BeanHumble Rodeo & BBQ ( WFC Qualifier) 180.0000
  4. 4 Sweet Swine O'MineBud & BBQ (JUDGING IS FULL) 180.0000
  5. 5 WOLF'S REVENGE BBQThe Great Brunswick BBQ Throwdown 180.0000
  6. 6 SMOKING BUTT HEADSTupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 180.0000
  7. 7 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQHammond BBQ 180.0000
  8. 8 CLARK CREW BBQFirelake BBQ Cook Off (Day 1) 180.0000
  9. 9 PORKY BUTTS BBQFirelake BBQ Cook Off (Day 2) 180.0000
  10. 10 YAZOO'S DELTA QBlues Hog BBQ & Music Fest 180.0000

Best Brisket

Out of 180

  1. 1 ZZYZX BAR.B.QSlab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge 180.0000
  2. 2 SMOKIN' HART'SNewport Beach Winter Q 180.0000
  3. 3 Bald Hawg BBQBrasstown Valley Resort BBQ Throwdown (Teams & Judges Full) 180.0000
  4. 4 Tradesmen CookersHumble Rodeo & BBQ ( WFC Qualifier) 180.0000
  5. 5 RUB MY RACKFire on Ice Barbecue World Championship 180.0000
  6. 6 Organizer PortalBodagetta BBQ 180.0000
  7. 7 PALMETTO PITMASTERSSip & Swine BBQ Festival 180.0000
  8. 8 T-MAC SMOKINTupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 180.0000
  9. 9 DR. ALAN'S BBQFirelake BBQ Cook Off (Day 1) 180.0000
  10. 10 DIVINE SWINEFirelake BBQ Cook Off (Day 1) 180.0000

Biggest Fields

Teams at one contest

  1. 1 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)won by PORKY BUTTS BBQ 407
  2. 2 Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championshipwon by 913 BBQ 184
  3. 3 Humble Rodeo & BBQ ( WFC Qualifier)won by IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ 136
  4. 4 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL)won by CLARK CREW BBQ 129
  5. 5 Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship Barbequewon by 913 BBQ 112
  6. 6 Smoke in the Spring (WFC Quilfyer)won by CLARK CREW BBQ 100
  7. 7 Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY)won by ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE 95
  8. 8 World Barbecue Championshipwon by GETTIN' BASTED 93
  9. 9 SC Festival of Discovery (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES)won by MUTTLEY CREW BBQ 89
  10. 10 Firelake BBQ Cook Off (Day 1)won by FAT BOYS BBQ - TEMPLE, TX 87

Closest Finishes

Points between first and second

  1. 1 SMOKE FREAKSover One2BBQ · CIBR-BBQ Central Illinois Bragging Right BBQ 0.0108
  2. 2 501 BBQover Survivor-Que · Smokin on the White 0.0112
  3. 3 BARREL BOYS BBQover Pork Pullers · Derby BBQ Festival (JUDGES FULL) 0.0116
  4. 4 QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'Nover ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE · National Pro BBQ Tour Championship 0.0116
  5. 5 BBQR'S DELIGHTover 501 BBQ · Smokin on the Prairie BBQ Cook-off 0.0116
  6. 6 THUNDER HOG BBQover iBQ'n · Rockin BBQ 0.0116
  7. 7 HIGH i QUEover 913 BBQ · Wolf Creek Wildblue BBQ 0.0116
  8. 8 LUCKY'S Qover YOU QUE'D ME ALL NIGHT LONG · KTD Smokin ' Gobbler Cook-Off 0.0228
  9. 9 THE PIT CREW GAover SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA · Porktober Que 0.0228
  10. 10 SMOKETASTIC BBQover HOOS SMOKIN · Que & Cruz 0.0340

Biggest Winning Margins

Points clear of second

  1. 1 TIM'S FULL BELLI DELIover TOO POOR TO SCORE · 8th Annual Poor Que 29.23
  2. 2 LONGNECK SIPPERSover Pork N P's · Grillin'@Gator Grounds 25.61
  3. 3 Da Snapper Crewover Holi Smoke · Smoking Hot BBQ Nassau 21.23
  4. 4 THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQover OLD 99 MEAT CO. · Mocklahoma Ribs & Roll BBQ Championship-Day 1 20.61
  5. 5 BUNCH OF SWINESover ALL SMOKE NO KNICKERS · Q Fest 20.59

Biggest Upsets

The winner’s chance on pre-contest ratings

  1. 1 BILLY RAY BBQRED, WHITE and BAR-B-Q ( DAY 1) 5%
  2. 2 Backroads BBQSMSU Smokefest 5%
  3. 3 B&R SMOKEBig Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-off 5%
  4. 4 Thunder Pig BBQBBQ on the Bricks 7%
  5. 5 HOG HAMMER BBQCentral Iowa Expo BBQ & Cruise (DAY 2) 9%
  6. 6 BALLS OUT BBQSmoke on the Shrine Lake & Bluegrass Festival (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) 9%
  7. 7 BOOMERANG BBQThe Wind Rider Music & BBQ Festival (WFC QUALIFIER) 9%
  8. 8 Cool Grog N Smokin HogsSam's Club National BBQ Tour 10%
  9. 9 JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0Sam's Club National BBQ Tour 10%
  10. 10 Pork PullersBorder War Barbeque 10%

Busiest States

Contests held · average field

  1. 1 Kansasaverage field 61 44
  2. 2 Missouriaverage field 38 44
  3. 3 Californiaaverage field 39 38
  4. 4 Georgiaaverage field 41 34
  5. 5 Tennesseeaverage field 35 29
  6. 6 Alabamaaverage field 36 27
  7. 7 Illinoisaverage field 33 26
  8. 8 Oklahomaaverage field 38 26
  9. 9 Wisconsinaverage field 37 23
  10. 10 North Carolinaaverage field 43 20
Section BMeat by MeatB2

How each meat scored across the season, both series, out of 180.

MeatAverageAvg. winnerEntries180sper 1,000WinnersBest of the year
Chicken 164.76 177.42 17,640 134 7.6 325 SHIG NINJA BBQ 180
Pork Ribs 162.92 176.34 17,706 52 2.9 354 Organizer Portal 180
Pork 163.81 177.10 17,593 111 6.3 309 SHIG NINJA BBQ 180
Brisket 161.64 177.01 17,525 102 5.8 318 ZZYZX BAR.B.Q 180
Section BMonth by MonthB3

Every month of the season. Each has an edition of its own, with every Grand Champion named.

MonthContestsTeamsTop scoreBiggest field180s
January 6 321 702.8688 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ 60 Lakeland Pig Festival 5
February 9 419 705.6568 CLARK CREW BBQ 136 Humble Rodeo & BBQ ( WFC Qualifier) 6
March 29 1,126 709.1660 PORKY BUTTS BBQ 87 Firelake BBQ Cook Off (Day 1) 27
April 47 1,469 709.1200 ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN 100 Smoke in the Spring (WFC Quilfyer) 35
May 57 1,776 706.2972 GETTIN' BASTED 75 Jiggy With the Piggy 36
June 81 2,252 710.2972 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ 184 Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship 62
July 53 1,601 713.7028 CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ 89 SC Festival of Discovery (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) 32
August 60 1,800 709.1200 DIRT ROAD BBQ 129 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL) 47
September 79 2,333 710.2628 HOT COLE'S BBQ 407 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) 75
October 45 1,383 709.1200 PARROTHEAD SMOKERS 95 Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) 44
November 9 352 713.7144 HOT COLE'S BBQ 93 World Barbecue Championship 24
December 4 122 701.1428 PORKY BUTTS BBQ 30 Smokin up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) 6
Section BThe Year Against the LastB4

2017 set against 2016.

Measure20172016Change
Contests scored 479 475 ▲ 4 (1%)
Teams competing 7,539 7,747 ▼ 208 (-3%)
Team entries 17,614 17,965 ▼ 351 (-2%)
Different Grand Champions 243 243  0
Average field 37.2 38.2 ▼ 1.0 (-3%)
Biggest field 407 557 ▼ 150 (-27%)
Average winning score 692.65 693.30 ▼ 0.65
Top score 713.7144 712.5944 ▲ 1.1200
Perfect 180s 399 353 ▲ 46 (13%)

Notes on the Season from the 2017 season page

  • Jan 6 → Dec 15 Season ran first and last contest on the 2017 calendar
  • 4.66 Average winning margin across 468 Master contests · 2 settled by tiebreaker
  • 18,831 Walks to the stage top-ten calls handed out in the four meats
  • 2,106 New teams first tracked contest anywhere was in 2017
  • 629 Contest series distinct recurring contests on the calendar
  • 21 contests Busiest weekend all on Sep 22, 2017
  • Brisket Toughest table lowest average of the four meats at 161.64
  • 5 Outside the rating invitationals and non-points contests that do not move a power rating
  • 51 Cancelled contests that came off the calendar
  • 140 Results still out of 657 contests on the 2017 calendar
Section CBack IssuesC1

Every season in review, and every month with scored results, back to the start of the record. ← 2016 in review 2018 in review → Latest edition

Seasons in review: 2026 · 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013 · 2012

2026 316 contests

2025 386 contests

2024 343 contests

2023 376 contests

2022 376 contests

2021 310 contests

2020 134 contests

2019 430 contests

2018 480 contests

2017 517 contests

2016 505 contests

2015 494 contests

2014 469 contests

2013 436 contests

2012 1 contest

The Smoke Ring

Published by the Saucy Rossy KCBS Helper App, a free community tool from Saucy Rossy BBQ. Set by machine from the public contest listings at kcbs.us.

Pass it on: to Instagram or Facebook, as a set of slides.

Corrections

Every figure on this page is computed from published results — no editorial judgement, and no hand entry. The Team of the Year standings are KCBS’s own. Where a name is wrong or a contest is missing, it is wrong at the source or in the match: see About, or Scoring explained.

Not affiliated

The Smoke Ring is not a publication of the Kansas City Barbeque Society, and has no connection to it beyond reading what KCBS publishes. Every contest here links back to its official page.

Heading out? 🔥

Are you sure you want to leave the KCBS Helper Tool and go to SaucyRossyBBQ.com?

Yes, take me there

Hey, I’m Ross

Most folks know me as SaucyRossyBBQ. I built this Helper App myself and put it out for free, because I wanted the tool to exist for our sport — no paywall, no account needed.

If you’ve got it in you to chip in, it means a whole lot. And if you’ve already bought me a coffee — thank you so much. Your support pays the server and hosting bills that keep a system like this running.

Buy me a coffee

You won’t see this again for a month. Now get back to it — good luck at your next cook. 🔥