In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in April 2021.
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
- The Backyard A7
- New to the Circuit A8
- Box Scores B1
- Complete Results B4
- Back Issues C4
Score of the month
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN Turns In the Month’s Best Card
709.1200 out of 720 at Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Pine Ridge — the highest Master overall scored in April 2021.
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
ROEBUCK, S.C. — ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN put up 709.1200 at Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Pine Ridge — the highest overall of the month.
Across April 2021, 22 sanctioned contests were scored, across 12 states and provinces, drawing 720 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 866 top-ten calls and handed out 25 perfect 180s. 170 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 22 in all.
- Grandpa Val's BBQ New Jersey KnoQ-out: Day 2-CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES
- Chunky BBQ New Jersey KnoQ-out - One Meat Rib Contest
- T-Mac Smokin WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest
- Boom Chicka Cow Cow 16th Annual HANOR Smokin' Red Dirt BBQ
- Top Gun Barbecue New Jersey KnoQ-out: Day 1-CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES
- Double Barrel BBQ Ozarks BBQ Fest
- RIB LIFE Smoke on the Water Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Under the Radar Marietta River City BBQ
- JUSTICE BBQ Fuego y Humo 2021
- Wolf's Revenge New Jersey KnoQ-out - One Meat Rib Contest
- Top Gun Barbecue Interstate BBQ Festival - Day 2
- Big Poppa Smokers The Golden State Battle III - Day 2
- Pig Destroyer Fire at the Foothills (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Top Gun Barbecue Interstate BBQ Festival - Day 1
- Hickory and Spice BBQ The Golden State Battle III - Day 1
- Rooters-N-Tooters Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Pine Ridge
- Piggin Whiskey O.G. Smoke in the Spring
- Piggin' Whiskey Smokin' For Down Syndrome (Formally Bull Moose)
- The Pit Crew Boss of the Sauce BBQ Festival
- chicken fried bbq Smoke on the Falls
- Team GMG High Plains Wine, Brews & BBQ Cook Off
- Damn Fine Beef & Swine Rod Trowbridge Memorial Cook Airfield Flyin Cook Off (BACKYARD ONLY)
Hottest hand
Three Grand Championships in Apr 2021 for Top Gun Barbecue
Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.
3× Grand Championships
Top Gun Barbecue took 3 Grand Championships in April 2021.
First one ever
Pig Destroyer Wins Its First, on the 9th Try
A first Grand Championship at Fire at the Foothills (BACKYARD ONLY), after 9 contests in the record.
9th contest — and their first GC
CHELSEA, Ala. — Pig Destroyer won their first Grand Championship at Fire at the Foothills (BACKYARD ONLY), in their 9th contest in the data.
Upset of the month
The Long Shot Comes In at High Plains Wine, Brews & BBQ Cook Off
The ratings gave Team GMG a 8% chance, with BOOMERANG BBQ the team to beat.
8-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings
LUBBOCK, Texas — Team GMG won High Plains Wine, Brews & BBQ Cook Off over top-rated BOOMERANG BBQ as the ratings underdog.
Also in Apr 2021
Judges Hand Out 25 Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 25 perfect 180s were handed out in April 2021.
Decided by 0.5484 of a Point
Boom Chicka Cow Cow edged BnB BBQ by 0.5484 at 16th Annual HANOR Smokin' Red Dirt BBQ.
THE PIT CREW GA Back on Top After Three Years
THE PIT CREW GA won Boss of the Sauce BBQ Festival — their first Grand Championship since March 2018, after 28 contests without one.
SWEET & SAVORY BBQ Climbs 46 Rating Points
SWEET & SAVORY BBQ gained 46 rating points across 4 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
14 State Champions Crowned
14 state championships were decided in April 2021. The biggest, Smoke in the Spring (105 teams), went to Piggin Whiskey O.G..
First Time Out, Dogpatch Que Takes 1st
Dogpatch Que finished 1st at Boss of the Sauce BBQ Festival — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
RIBLIFE Tops the Backyard Board at Smoke on the Water Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
RIBLIFE put up 351.4056 on the Backyard board at Smoke on the Water Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
Justice BBQ Runs Away With Fuego y Humo
Justice BBQ won Fuego y Humo 2021 by 16.5712 points over PELON PARRILLERO TEAM — the widest winning margin of the month.
105 Teams Roll Into Osage City
Smoke in the Spring drew 105 teams, and Piggin Whiskey O.G. won it.
Nobody Hauled Further Than Rogue Hog BBQ
Rogue Hog BBQ cooked 6 contests in April 2021 — nobody hauled the rig further.
PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G Wins Smoke in the Spring Without Winning a Meat
PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G won Smoke in the Spring without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 2nd.
A New Contest Opens in Hagerstown
Interstate BBQ Festival - Day 1 ran for the first time on record, drawing 47 teams, and Top Gun Barbecue won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
Eight Contests on One Friday
8 sanctioned contests were cooked on 23 Apr alone.
Louise Weidner Works Six Contests
Louise Weidner repped 6 contests in April 2021 — somebody has to run the table.
Perfect 180s
25 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Brisket DANTE'S INFERNO New Jersey KnoQ-out: Day 2-CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES · April 24
- Pork LC BBQ 16th Annual HANOR Smokin' Red Dirt BBQ · April 23
- Pork Ribs PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G Ozarks BBQ Fest · April 23
- Chicken RIBLIFE Smoke on the Water Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · April 23
- Pork ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN Ozarks BBQ Fest · April 23
- Pork Ribs SLAPS BBQ Ozarks BBQ Fest · April 23
- Pork BAD AZZ MULE BBQ Interstate BBQ Festival - Day 2 · April 17
- Pork Ribs BIG POPPA SMOKERS The Golden State Battle III - Day 2 · April 17
- Chicken Cynical BBQ The Golden State Battle III - Day 2 · April 17
- Pork Ribs Meat Candy Q The Golden State Battle III - Day 2 · April 17
- Chicken Pops BBQ 22 The Golden State Battle III - Day 2 · April 17
- Brisket Top Gun Barbecue Interstate BBQ Festival - Day 2 · April 17
- Pork PALMETTO PITMASTERS Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Pine Ridge · April 16
- Chicken FINGER LEIKAM GOOD Smoke in the Spring · April 9
- Pork HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB Smoke in the Spring · April 9
- Pork Ribs Happy Grillmore Smoke in the Spring · April 9
- Chicken KC SMOKE DAWGS Smoke in the Spring · April 9
- Pork KC SMOKE DAWGS Smoke in the Spring · April 9
- Pork Ribs OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE Boss of the Sauce BBQ Festival · April 9
- Pork Ribs One2BBQ Smokin' For Down Syndrome (Formally Bull Moose) · April 9
- Pork Ribs PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G Smoke in the Spring · April 9
- Chicken Piggin' Whiskey Smokin' For Down Syndrome (Formally Bull Moose) · April 9
- Chicken Poppa Pig Smokin' For Down Syndrome (Formally Bull Moose) · April 9
- Pork SLAPS BBQ Smoke in the Spring · April 9
…and 1 more.
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Apr 2021; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| SWEET & SAVORY BBQ #582 | 1,662 | ▲ 46 |
| Ham Squad #125 | 1,789 | ▲ 45 |
| Kane's BBQ #424 | 1,692 | ▲ 42 |
| Weber's Backyard BBQ #319 | 1,719 | ▲ 31 |
| Top Gun Barbecue #198 | 1,758 | ▲ 29 |
| The Real Squeal BBQ #1,025 | 1,603 | ▲ 28 |
| Can Country Outlaw BBQ #196 | 1,758 | ▲ 27 |
| CHOOCHOO BBQ #817 | 1,626 | ▲ 25 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Meat Candy Q #55 | 1,843 | ▲ 25 |
| NORALA BBQ TEAM #83 | 1,816 | ▲ 25 |
| MAN MEAT BBQ #129 | 1,788 | ▼ 23 |
| Mountain Shine BBQ | 1,464 | ▼ 24 |
| M2BBQ Team | 1,454 | ▼ 25 |
| iBQ'n #165 | 1,773 | ▼ 26 |
| DRILLING & GRILLING #414 | 1,695 | ▼ 32 |
Full power rankings → · Ratings move only on rated contests; invitationals and non-points events are excluded.
The Backyard Two meats, out of 360 — never against the Master board
The Backyard division was cooked at nine contests in Apr 2021.
- 1 RIBLIFE Smoke on the Water Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Florence, Ala. 351.4056
- 2 The Real Squeal BBQ Smoke on the Falls · Gadsden, Ala. 349.1656
- 3 LEE LA Q Smoke on the Water Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Florence, Ala. 349.1544
- 4 Hickory Hangover Smoke on the Falls · Gadsden, Ala. 348.5600
- 5 NORALA BBQ TEAM Smoke on the Water Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Florence, Ala. 348.5600
- 6 BLOWIN' SMOKE - TONEY, AL Smoke on the Water Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Florence, Ala. 347.9772
- 7 Full Throttle BBQ Marietta River City BBQ · Marietta, Ohio 346.9032
- 8 SWEET & SAVORY BBQ Interstate BBQ Festival - Day 2 · Hagerstown, Md. 346.8344
- 9 PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q Smoke on the Water Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Florence, Ala. 346.2860
- 10 The Fat is Where It's At New Jersey KnoQ-out: Day 1-CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES · Blairstown, N.J. 346.2628
The Backyard series in full → · Its own record board, its own champions and its own Team of the Year.
New to the Circuit First appearance anywhere in the record — the figure is their best finish
- 1st Dogpatch Que Boss of the Sauce BBQ Festival
- 2nd Jackson Davis Smoke in the Spring
- 2nd PELON PARRILLERO TEAM Fuego y Humo 2021
- 2nd Split Creek BBQ Boss of the Sauce BBQ Festival
- 3rd ACME Barricades Boss of the Sauce BBQ Festival
- 3rd Aidan Wagner Smoke in the Spring
- 3rd NORALA BBQ TEAM Smoke on the Water Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 4th BLOWIN' SMOKE - TONEY, AL Smoke on the Water Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 4th Fat Back BBQ Boss of the Sauce BBQ Festival
- 4th Ryan McCabe Smoke in the Spring
- 4th Smokin' Dees Smoke on the Falls
- 5th Asados y Paellas Fuego y Humo 2021
- 5th Not Your Mama’s Rack Boss of the Sauce BBQ Festival
- 6th Devil's Palate Marietta River City BBQ
- 6th JAX Assc. Firefighters Boss of the Sauce BBQ Festival
- 6th Lang BBQ Smoker Boss of the Sauce BBQ Festival
- 7th Judge Jury & exequeqionerx Rod Trowbridge Memorial Cook Airfield Flyin Cook Off (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 7th Michael's BBQ Marietta River City BBQ
What a first season usually looks like → · 12 contests also ran for the first time on record: Interstate BBQ Festival - Day 1, WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest, Smokin' For Down Syndrome (Formally Bull Moose), The Golden State Battle III - Day 1, 16th Annual HANOR Smokin' Red Dirt BBQ, Boss of the Sauce BBQ Festival, Smoke on the Falls, Interstate BBQ Festival - Day 2, Smoke on the Water Festival (BACKYARD ONLY), Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Pine Ridge, The Golden State Battle III - Day 2, Fuego y Humo 2021.
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†8 | KC SMOKE DAWGS Smoke in the Spring |
180 |
| Pork Ribs†8 | Happy Grillmore Smoke in the Spring |
180 |
| Pork†7 | SLAPS BBQ Smoke in the Spring |
180 |
| Brisket†2 | Top Gun Barbecue Interstate BBQ Festival - Day 2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rogue Hog BBQ | 6 | — | 2 |
| Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit | 6 | — | 2 |
| WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | 6 | — | 2 |
| BOGGS HOG BBQ | 6 | — | 5 |
| SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | 6 | — | 8 |
| CHUNKY BBQ | 6 | — | 11 |
| LEM'S MEAT VARNISH | 5 | — | 4 |
| OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | 5 | — | 4 |
| Top Gun Barbecue | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| SWEET & SAVORY BBQ | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Grandpa Val's BBQ | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Ham Squad | 4 | — | 2 |
| BAD AZZ MULE BBQ | 4 | — | 4 |
| GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | 4 | — | 7 |
| SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | 4 | — | 16 |
Who Ran the Table
Contests worked · states & provinces
| Rep | C | St. |
|---|---|---|
| Louise Weidner | 6 | 2 |
| Jeff Chambers | 4 | 1 |
| Robert McKee | 3 | 2 |
| Bill Jones | 2 | 1 |
| Bob McKinnon | 2 | 2 |
| Charlie Brinza | 2 | 1 |
| Dave Rogers | 2 | 1 |
| Janet Appleton | 2 | 1 |
| Jeanne Titus | 2 | 1 |
| Kathleen McIntosh | 2 | 1 |
| Kelly McIntosh | 2 | 1 |
| Peg Rogers | 2 | 1 |
| Sam Appleton | 2 | 1 |
| Terri McKinnon | 2 | 2 |
| Alan Rothrock | 1 | 1 |
| Alex Jr Brown | 1 | 1 |
| Alfred T Bowen | 1 | 1 |
| Carol Bigler | 1 | 1 |
| Carolyn Wells | 1 | 1 |
| Chere Amend | 1 | 1 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 4 | 64 |
| Alabama | 3 | 118 |
| Kansas | 2 | 144 |
| Missouri | 2 | 82 |
| Maryland | 2 | 81 |
| California | 2 | 50 |
| Florida | 1 | 62 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 46 |
| Tennessee | 1 | 44 |
| Ohio | 1 | 37 |
| South Carolina | 1 | 27 |
| Texas | 1 | 22 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 22 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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