In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in September 2018.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
The Smoke Ring
Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record
The Index
- Grand Champions A2
- The Month in Brief A3
- By Invitation A4
- Perfect Scores A5
- Ratings Market A6
- New to the Circuit A8
- Box Scores B1
- Complete Results B4
- Back Issues C4
By invitation only
BUNCH OF SWINES Wins the American Royal Invitational
Best of 164 invited teams, with ONE2BBQ in reserve — a win for the record book that leaves the power rating alone.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — BUNCH OF SWINES won 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL), best of 164 invited teams; ONE2BBQ took reserve. An invite-only field, so it leaves the power rating alone and goes straight into the record book.
Across September 2018, 66 sanctioned contests were scored, across 33 states and provinces, drawing 2,144 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 2,558 top-ten calls and handed out 38 perfect 180s. 375 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 66 in all. The 30 oldest are listed under Complete Results, B4.
- BUNCH OF SWINES Meat, Smoke & Beer Festival & KCBS BBQ Competition 2018
- Oink Oink Baby BBQ New Albany BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 837 BARBEQUE Kincaid Fair Smoke Off (BACKYARD ONLY)
- SLAPS BBQ Smoke On the Trails
- GETTIN' BASTED Bikes, Blues and BBQ
- SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ Jonesboro Downtown BBQ Festival
- RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ Smithfield BBQ Classic
- RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ Mazatzal Grill Masters BBQ competition & Testicle Festival
- LO' -N- SLO' BBQ Smoke in the Park
- SHIGGIN & GRINNIN Up in Smoke BBQ Bash
- WHO CARES BBQ Rock The Grill
- SPITFIRE BBQ in the Badlands
- SONS OF A BRISKET Smoking in the Golden Valley
- BBQ WIESEL 5th Ruhrpott BBQ 2018
- MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ Oinktoberfest
- DANTE'S INFERNO Que by the Sea
- BOOMERANG BBQ Table Rock Boats and Bones
- SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA Great Maine BBQ Challenge
- Bad Axe BBQ Barbeque on the Hill (COMPETITOR'S SERIES)
- 913 BBQ Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship Barbeque
- IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff
- SMOKE MONSTER BBQ Butts and Beans BBQ Challenge
- GREY STREET BBQ Grilling & Chillin BBQ
- SWINE DINING GA Rock'n Ribville
- BRISKETS-BONES & BREWS BBQ Smokin in The Hills
- DIVINE SWINE Cherokee Strip BBQ Cook-Off
- BIG "E" BBQ The Rumble on the River presented by TheBBQSuperStore.com
- TIMBONE BARBECUE Tri City BBQ Fest
- FAT, DRUNK & STUPID Roast N Boast
- PWA BBQ First Tennessee Bank Bluegrass & BBQ (COMPETITOR'S SERIES) (JUDGES FULL)
- UNDER THE RADAR Smoke in the Valley
- IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)
- MISS PIGGY'S U.K. Het 5DE BBQKampioenschap Van Het Waasland
- DBQ The Chidlow BBQ Festival
- BUNCH OF SWINES 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL)
- BIG "E" BBQ Silver Lake Apple BBQ Festival
Score of the month
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ Turns In the Month’s Best Card
712.5600 out of 720 at Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff — the highest Master overall scored in September 2018.
712.5600 Master overall, out of 720
MURPHYSBORO, Ill. — IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ put up 712.5600 at Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff — the highest overall of the month.
Hottest hand
Two Grand Championships in Sep 2018 for BIG "E" BBQ
Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.
2× Grand Championships
BIG "E" BBQ took 2 Grand Championships in September 2018.
They will not let it go
Three Straight at Smoke in the Valley for Under the Radar
Every edition of Smoke in the Valley since 2016 has gone the same way.
3 in a row wins at this contest
PIKEVILLE, Tenn. — Under the Radar won Smoke in the Valley again — 3 straight editions of this contest.
Invite-only fields. Their results go into every team’s record; they don’t move the power rating.
American Royal Invitational
Reserve: ONE2BBQ
39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL) — Sept. 14, Kansas City, Kan.
The invitational circuit → · every invitational on record, who keeps getting invited, and who wins them.
Also in Sep 2018
ACES HIGH BBQ Wins Its First, on the 44th Try
ACES HIGH BBQ won their first Grand Championship at KTD Smokin ' Gobbler Cook-Off, in their 44th contest in the data.
The Long Shot Comes In at Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge
SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ won Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge over top-rated BIG POPPA SMOKERS as the ratings underdog.
Judges Hand Out 38 Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 38 perfect 180s were handed out in September 2018.
Decided by 0.0684 of a Point
White Squirrel BBQ edged BUNCH OF SWINES by 0.0684 at Smoke on the Quiet Waters.
GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS Back on Top After Five Years
GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS won Big Muddy Brew N Que — their first Grand Championship since August 2013, after 56 contests without one.
LO' -N- SLO' BBQ Sets the Record at Smoke in the Park
LO' -N- SLO' BBQ put up 686.8000 at Smoke in the Park — the best overall in 4 editions of the contest on record, past the old mark of 686.2744.
GETTIN' BASTED Takes Three of Four Meats at International Goat Days Championship BBQ Contest-Smokin IN THE Goat PEN
GETTIN' BASTED won 3 of 4 meats at International Goat Days Championship BBQ Contest-SMOKIN IN THE GOAT PEN (JUDGES FULL) (chicken, pork and brisket), and the Grand Championship with them.
Fat&Dumb BBQ Climbs 41 Rating Points
Fat&Dumb BBQ gained 41 rating points across 4 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
Three State Champions Crowned
3 state championships were decided in September 2018. The biggest, Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship Barbeque (107 teams), went to 913 BBQ.
First Time Out, HEATBEADS ALL STARS Takes 1st
HEATBEADS ALL STARS finished 1st at DE Bortoli Woodfired BBQ Championship — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
BIG "E" BBQ Runs Away With The Rumble on the River presented by TheBBQSuperStore.com
BIG "E" BBQ won The Rumble on the River presented by TheBBQSuperStore.com by 20.1260 points over BIG BROTHERS BBQ — the widest winning margin of the month.
467 Teams Roll Into Kansas City
39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) drew 467 teams, and IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ won it.
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ Cooks Its 200th Contest
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ cooked their 200th contest on record at 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL), with 32 Grand Championships along the way.
Nobody Hauled Further Than GETTIN' BASTED
GETTIN' BASTED cooked 6 contests in September 2018 — nobody hauled the rig further.
BUNCH OF SWINES Wins American Royal World Series of Barbecue Without Winning a Meat
BUNCH OF SWINES won 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL) without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 2nd.
A New Contest Opens in Kansas City
39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL) ran for the first time on record, drawing 164 teams, and BUNCH OF SWINES won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
BIG BROTHERS BBQ Takes Reserve Two Times
BIG BROTHERS BBQ finished second overall 2 times in September 2018 without a Grand Championship — one place short every time.
Twelve Contests on One Friday
12 sanctioned contests were cooked on 7 Sep alone.
Perfect 180s
38 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Chicken Fergolicious BBQ Smoke On the Trails · Sept. 28
- Chicken GETTIN' BASTED Bikes, Blues and BBQ · Sept. 28
- Pork RAZORRACKS Jonesboro Downtown BBQ Festival · Sept. 28
- Brisket SAUCED! BBQ TEAM Rock The Grill · Sept. 28
- Brisket WARDEN'S Q Jonesboro Downtown BBQ Festival · Sept. 28
- Brisket GETTIN' BASTED Table Rock Boats and Bones · Sept. 22
- Brisket BEER-B-QUE BOYS Roast N Boast · Sept. 21
- Brisket CLARK CREW BBQ Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff · Sept. 21
- Brisket IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff · Sept. 21
- Pork RUB'N WOOD Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship Barbeque · Sept. 21
- Chicken Rusty Pig BBQ Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff · Sept. 21
- Brisket SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS Grilling & Chillin BBQ · Sept. 21
- Pork Ribs SMOKE FREAKS Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff · Sept. 21
- Pork SMOKIN SKULLIES Butts and Beans BBQ Challenge · Sept. 21
- Brisket B-S BBQ OUTLAWS 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) · Sept. 15
- Brisket BUCKSHOT BBQ - TX 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) · Sept. 15
- Chicken BUTCHER BBQ 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) · Sept. 15
- Chicken GRINDERS BBQ KANSAS CITY 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) · Sept. 15
- Brisket HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) · Sept. 15
- Chicken IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) · Sept. 15
- Brisket LUCKY'S Q 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) · Sept. 15
- Chicken PELLET ENVY 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) · Sept. 15
- Chicken T-MAC SMOKIN 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) · Sept. 15
- Pork Ribs UTB BBQ 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) · Sept. 15
…and 14 more.
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Sep 2018; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Fat&Dumb BBQ #906 | 1,616 | ▲ 41 |
| UNFAMOUS DAVE'S #1,424 | 1,570 | ▲ 38 |
| WHO DAT BBQ #523 | 1,672 | ▲ 34 |
| Backcorner BBQ #131 | 1,786 | ▲ 33 |
| SMOKE MONSTER BBQ #97 | 1,811 | ▲ 30 |
| RICHIE Z's #732 | 1,636 | ▲ 30 |
| TENATIOUS TIMS OUTLAW BBQ #1,906 | 1,543 | ▲ 29 |
| HEATH RILES BBQ #670 | 1,646 | ▲ 28 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| MORT'S MEAT MAFIA #2,849 | 1,510 | ▲ 28 |
| GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS #846 | 1,623 | ▲ 27 |
| BBQ Brothers #5,149 | 1,460 | ▼ 22 |
| SAUCED! BBQ TEAM #20 | 1,874 | ▼ 22 |
| ELITE BBQ SMOKERS #438 | 1,690 | ▼ 24 |
| TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI #85 | 1,815 | ▼ 24 |
| E.T.'S BBQ #5,543 | 1,450 | ▼ 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
- 1st HEATBEADS ALL STARS DE Bortoli Woodfired BBQ Championship
- 2nd FORREST LUMP BBQ DE Bortoli Woodfired BBQ Championship
- 3rd TENATIOUS TIMS OUTLAW BBQ Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out
- 4th Black Pork Down DE Bortoli Woodfired BBQ Championship
- 4th Grilla Warfare 2.0 The Chidlow BBQ Festival
- 4th RFS BBQ Team Farm Meat De Vaartse Hoeve BBQ Contest
- 5th BOOGIE CHILLIN' BARBECUE DE Bortoli Woodfired BBQ Championship
- 6th BLUE SMOKE BARBECUE DE Bortoli Woodfired BBQ Championship
- 6th Molly s Bbq Smoke House The Chidlow BBQ Festival
- 7th Meat.Fire.Beer The Chidlow BBQ Festival
- 7th Siverback Grilers Smoke on the Quiet Waters
- 7th Snoring Hogs Smoke in the Valley
- 7th What's Your Beef DE Bortoli Woodfired BBQ Championship
- 8th Kayak Attack BBQ Harvest On Fire at The Winery (JUDGES FULL)
- 8th Second String Barbeque Team Big Muddy Brew N Que
- 9th FAT CUTS BBQ DE Bortoli Woodfired BBQ Championship
- 9th Ironside Smokers Puckaway Pigfest
- 9th THE SHORT BUS COOKERS Roast N Boast
What a first season usually looks like → · 12 contests also ran for the first time on record: 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL), 5th Ruhrpott BBQ 2018, Jonesboro Downtown BBQ Festival, 2nd International Suydersee BBQ Contest, 4th Annual Hot Q's & Cold Brews BBQ Championship, Smithfield BBQ Classic, Farm Meat De Vaartse Hoeve BBQ Contest, America's Finest BBQ State Championship, Mazatzal Grill Masters BBQ competition & Testicle Festival, Green Mountain BBQ Championship- CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES, Riverfest BBQ and Music Festival, Perimeter Community BBQ & Festival.
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†12 | LOCAL YOKELS BBQ Smoke On The Ohio (JUDGES FULL) |
180 |
| Pork Ribs†6 | PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out |
180 |
| Pork†5 | THE SMOKING HILLS Hog Wild West BBQ Contest |
180 |
| Brisket†15 | HEATBEADS ALL STARS DE Bortoli Woodfired BBQ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GETTIN' BASTED | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| BOOMERANG BBQ | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| SLAPS BBQ | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| THE SMOKING HILLS | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| TIMBONE BARBECUE | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| DIRT ROAD BBQ | 6 | — | 2 |
| B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | 6 | — | 3 |
| BUNCH OF SWINES | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 913 BBQ | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| FIRE DANCER BBQ | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| HOT WACHULA'S | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | 5 | — | 3 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 6 | 627 |
| Missouri | 4 | 116 |
| Arkansas | 3 | 106 |
| Illinois | 3 | 88 |
| Tennessee | 3 | 68 |
| California | 2 | 83 |
| New York | 2 | 78 |
| Georgia | 2 | 71 |
| Kentucky | 2 | 65 |
| Michigan | 2 | 61 |
| North Carolina | 2 | 61 |
| Virginia | 2 | 58 |
| Iowa | 2 | 53 |
| Minnesota | 2 | 42 |
| Indiana | 2 | 36 |
| Alabama | 1 | 63 |
| New Jersey | 1 | 43 |
| Arizona | 1 | 40 |
| Nebraska | 1 | 40 |
| Mississippi | 1 | 36 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 69 in all, newest first. Click a column head to sort; click a row for the contest.
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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