In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in May 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
RAZORRACKS Turns In the Month’s Best Card
706.8228 out of 720 at Bixby Rotary BBQ'N Blues Festival — the highest Master overall scored in May 2021.
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
BIXBY, Okla. — RAZORRACKS put up 706.8228 at Bixby Rotary BBQ'N Blues Festival — the highest overall of the month.
Across May 2021, 33 sanctioned contests were scored, across 16 states and provinces, drawing 757 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 1,198 top-ten calls and handed out 24 perfect 180s. 151 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 33 in all.
- GETTIN' BASTED Helping U BBQ Triple Bone - One Meat Rib Contest A
- DIRT ROAD BBQ Helping U BBQ Triple Bone - One Meat Rib Contest B
- SLAPS BBQ Helping U BBQ Triple Bone - One Meat Rib Contest C
- HIGH i QUE 9th Annual Valley Veterans BBQ Competition
- Mudville BBQ Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championships
- YSB BBQ The Best Dam Barbeque
- Redmule's Bad Ass BBQ GA - BBQ Shoot Out Day 2
- Big Poppa Smokers BBQ, Boots & Brew
- PuckDaddy's Killer Q Twin States Barbecue Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Rooters-N-Tooters GA - BBQ Shoot Out Day 1
- SMOKE-N-PEPPERS Rockin' BBQ - Day 2
- Texas Smoke Whisperer Mark Marley's Go Big or Go Home BBQ Bash (DAY 2)
- Chunky BBQ Smokin' on the Buffalo BBQ Brawl - Day 2
- Pig's Pajamas BBQ Twin Valley Fire and Smoke
- ELITE BBQ SMOKERS Boss Hog State Championship Cook-OFF
- THUNDER HOG BBQ Rockin' BBQ - Day 1
- LC BBQ Mark Marley's Go Big or Go Home BBQ Bash (DAY 1)
- BROTHERS OF OHIO BBQ Rockin' BBQ - Day 1 - One Meat Rib Contest
- Hot Cole's BBQ Obion County Barbeque Cook Off
- Red Mule Bad Ass BBQ Smokin' on the Buffalo BBQ Brawl - Day 1
- Hogline Minnesota in May
- Razorracks Bixby Rotary BBQ'N Blues Festival
- Gettin' Basted Wild West BBQ Cook-Off
- Ash Kickin' BBQ Minnesota in May - One Meat Contest - Ribs
- Hold Your Horses BBQ Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Franklin
- The BBQ Bus Route 66 Smoke Out
- Slaps Columbia Elks BBQ Cookoff
- Hanks BBQ Hog Wild BBQ Cook off, Kids Que and Family Festival
- Qbones 39th Annual Kennett Jaycees Show Me State BBQ Cook Off
- The BBQ Bus Smoke on the Water
- WHO CARES BBQ Almost Heaven Rib Fest - One Meat Rib Contest A
- ROCKY TOP BARBECUE Almost Heaven Rib Fest - One Meat Rib Contest B
- Clark Crew BBQ City Of Springs BBQ Championship
Hottest hand
Two Grand Championships in May 2021 for REDMULE'S BBQ
Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.
2× Grand Championships
REDMULE'S BBQ took 2 Grand Championships in May 2021.
First one ever
SMOKE-N-PEPPERS Wins Its First, on the 66th Try
A first Grand Championship at Rockin' BBQ - Day 2, after 66 contests in the record.
66th contest — and their first GC
WARSAW, Ind. — SMOKE-N-PEPPERS won their first Grand Championship at Rockin' BBQ - Day 2, in their 66th contest in the data.
Title defended
CLARK CREW BBQ Defends Its Title at City Of Springs BBQ Championship
Back-to-back Grand Championships at the same contest — 2019 and 2021.
2 in a row wins at this contest
SULPHUR, Okla. — CLARK CREW BBQ won City Of Springs BBQ Championship again — back-to-back Grand Championships at the same contest.
Also in May 2021
The Long Shot Comes In at Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championships
MUDVILLE BBQ won Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championships over top-rated BIG POPPA SMOKERS as the ratings underdog.
Judges Hand Out 24 Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 24 perfect 180s were handed out in May 2021.
Decided by 0.0228 of a Point
LC BBQ edged CHICKEN FRIED BBQ by 0.0228 at Mark Marley's Go Big or Go Home BBQ Bash (DAY 1).
ELITE BBQ SMOKERS Back on Top After Three Years
ELITE BBQ SMOKERS won Boss Hog State Championship Cook-OFF — their first Grand Championship since May 2017, after 82 contests without one.
ELITE BBQ SMOKERS Sets the Record at Boss Hog State Championship Cook-OFF
ELITE BBQ SMOKERS put up 694.2288 at Boss Hog State Championship Cook-OFF — the best overall in 7 editions of the contest on record, past the old mark of 692.4800.
LC BBQ Climbs 52 Rating Points
LC BBQ gained 52 rating points across 6 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
24 State Champions Crowned
24 state championships were decided in May 2021. The biggest, Minnesota in May (60 teams), went to Hogline.
First Time Out, Gladiolas BBQ Takes 1st
Gladiolas BBQ finished 1st at Mark Marley's Go Big or Go Home BBQ Bash (DAY 1) — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q Tops the Backyard Board at Twin States Barbecue Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY)
PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q put up 356.5828 on the Backyard board at Twin States Barbecue Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
THE BBQ BUS Runs Away With Route 66 Smoke Out
THE BBQ BUS won Route 66 Smoke Out by 18.2856 points over BIG "E" BBQ — the widest winning margin of the month.
60 Teams Roll Into Cambridge
Minnesota in May drew 60 teams, and Hogline won it.
WILD HOGS BBQ Cooks Its 100th Contest
WILD HOGS BBQ cooked their 100th contest on record at Mark Marley's Go Big or Go Home BBQ Bash (DAY 1), with 1 Grand Championship along the way.
Nobody Hauled Further Than MAN MEAT BBQ
MAN MEAT BBQ cooked 8 contests in May 2021 — nobody hauled the rig further.
RAZORRACKS Wins Bixby Rotary Bbq'n Blues Festival Without Winning a Meat
RAZORRACKS won Bixby Rotary BBQ'N Blues Festival without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 2nd.
A New Contest Opens in Bixby
Bixby Rotary BBQ'N Blues Festival ran for the first time on record, drawing 53 teams, and Razorracks won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
Eight Contests on One Saturday
8 sanctioned contests were cooked on 1 May alone.
Bunny Tuttle Works Eight Contests
Bunny Tuttle repped 8 contests in May 2021 — somebody has to run the table.
Perfect 180s
24 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Pork Ribs SLAPS BBQ Helping U BBQ Triple Bone - One Meat Rib Contest C · May 30
- Chicken 913 BBQ 9th Annual Valley Veterans BBQ Competition · May 28
- Pork LAST CALL HEROES BBQ 9th Annual Valley Veterans BBQ Competition · May 28
- Pork Meat Candy Q Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championships · May 28
- Pork Ribs ULTIMATE TAILGATERS BBQ GA - BBQ Shoot Out Day 2 · May 22
- Chicken Hickory Hangover Twin States Barbecue Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) · May 21
- Chicken SMOKE-N-PEPPERS Rockin' BBQ - Day 2 · May 15
- Pork SWEET & SAVORY BBQ Smokin' on the Buffalo BBQ Brawl - Day 2 · May 15
- Chicken GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ Smokin' on the Buffalo BBQ Brawl - Day 1 · May 14
- Chicken MAYA JANE BBQ CO. Boss Hog State Championship Cook-OFF · May 14
- Chicken BURNIN' SANDS BBQ Bixby Rotary BBQ'N Blues Festival · May 7
- Pork ELITE BBQ SMOKERS Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Franklin · May 7
- Chicken HIGH i QUE Bixby Rotary BBQ'N Blues Festival · May 7
- Chicken Kiss My Smoke Q Bixby Rotary BBQ'N Blues Festival · May 7
- Pork LC BBQ Bixby Rotary BBQ'N Blues Festival · May 7
- Chicken Petie's Smokin Pits BBQ Bixby Rotary BBQ'N Blues Festival · May 7
- Chicken ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Franklin · May 7
- Pork ALL FORKED UP FOR Q Columbia Elks BBQ Cookoff · May 1
- Chicken CLARK CREW BBQ City Of Springs BBQ Championship · May 1
- Pork GENERAL LEE SMOKING Hog Wild BBQ Cook off, Kids Que and Family Festival · May 1
- Pork SHOT IN THE DARK COMPETITION BBQ TEAM 39th Annual Kennett Jaycees Show Me State BBQ Cook Off · May 1
- Brisket THE BBQ BUS Route 66 Smoke Out · May 1
- Pork THE BBQ BUS Smoke on the Water · May 1
- Pork UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC Columbia Elks BBQ Cookoff · May 1
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over May 2021; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| LC BBQ #141 | 1,782 | ▲ 52 |
| REDMULE'S BBQ #334 | 1,715 | ▲ 44 |
| Up From The Pits BBQ #631 | 1,655 | ▲ 40 |
| SMOKE-N-PEPPERS #214 | 1,752 | ▲ 33 |
| HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ #307 | 1,723 | ▲ 32 |
| FALLOUT BBQ #905 | 1,616 | ▲ 29 |
| Ztop BBQ #1,722 | 1,551 | ▲ 29 |
| THE BBQ BUS #195 | 1,758 | ▲ 28 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| CHICKEN FRIED BBQ #164 | 1,774 | ▲ 26 |
| MACHETE BOYS BBQ #481 | 1,681 | ▲ 25 |
| WE WILL ROCK QUE #405 | 1,698 | ▼ 24 |
| BAD HABIT BBQ #292 | 1,726 | ▼ 24 |
| Jim's Smokin Que BBQ Pittsburgh | 1,462 | ▼ 26 |
| Dogpatch Q #259 | 1,737 | ▼ 33 |
| LA PASADITA #542 | 1,670 | ▼ 33 |
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 six contests in May 2021.
- 1 PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q Twin States Barbecue Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) · Meridian, Miss. 356.5828
- 2 The Real Squeal BBQ Twin States Barbecue Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) · Meridian, Miss. 350.2744
- 3 Kane's BBQ Twin Valley Fire and Smoke · Morgantown, Pa. 348.5484
- 4 Hickory Hangover Twin States Barbecue Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) · Meridian, Miss. 348.5484
- 5 LEM'S MEAT VARNISH Twin States Barbecue Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) · Meridian, Miss. 346.2284
- 6 LEE LA Q Twin States Barbecue Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) · Meridian, Miss. 343.9544
- 7 VETERAN PORK PULLERS Twin States Barbecue Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) · Meridian, Miss. 343.9428
- 8 Dixie Pigs & Chick's BBQ Team Twin States Barbecue Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) · Meridian, Miss. 342.2628
- 9 DAD BOD BARBEQUE Minnesota in May · Cambridge, Minn. 342.2400
- 10 UGLY BABY BBQ Minnesota in May · Cambridge, Minn. 341.1544
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 Gladiolas BBQ Mark Marley's Go Big or Go Home BBQ Bash (DAY 1)
- 2nd RIP N BONES BBQ The Best Dam Barbeque
- 3rd 2 SMokin Jokes Mark Marley's Go Big or Go Home BBQ Bash (DAY 1)
- 3rd Small Town Girl Barbecue Minnesota in May
- 3rd Smokin and the Bandits Hog Wild BBQ Cook off, Kids Que and Family Festival
- 4th Blackmon Boys Que Mark Marley's Go Big or Go Home BBQ Bash (DAY 1)
- 4th Royal Schmidt's BBQ competition team Mark Marley's Go Big or Go Home BBQ Bash (DAY 1)
- 4th Wrecking Crew BBQ Minnesota in May
- 6th Kiss My Smoke Q Bixby Rotary BBQ'N Blues Festival
- 6th Kungfu BBQ Mark Marley's Go Big or Go Home BBQ Bash (DAY 1)
- 6th The Yardpigs Minnesota in May
- 7th Mispillion Meat Works Twin Valley Fire and Smoke
- 8th Grillin & Chillin Jr Mark Marley's Go Big or Go Home BBQ Bash (DAY 1)
- 9th S.l.a.b. bbq Mark Marley's Go Big or Go Home BBQ Bash (DAY 1)
- 9th Wood N Coals BBQ The Best Dam Barbeque
- 10th Sugar Shack Minnesota in May
- 10th Zia Smoke BBQ Team Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championships
- 12th Big Johns BBQ Company The Best Dam Barbeque
What a first season usually looks like → · 12 contests also ran for the first time on record: Bixby Rotary BBQ'N Blues Festival, 9th Annual Valley Veterans BBQ Competition, Rockin' BBQ - Day 1, Columbia Elks BBQ Cookoff, Rockin' BBQ - Day 2, 39th Annual Kennett Jaycees Show Me State BBQ Cook Off, Rockin' BBQ - Day 1 - One Meat Rib Contest, Obion County Barbeque Cook Off, Minnesota in May - One Meat Contest - Ribs, Big Bear Grill & Chill BBQ Championships, BBQ, Boots & Brew, Twin States Barbecue Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY).
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†11 | CLARK CREW BBQ City Of Springs BBQ Championship |
180 |
| Pork Ribs†2 | ULTIMATE TAILGATERS BBQ GA - BBQ Shoot Out Day 2 |
180 |
| Pork†10 | THE BBQ BUS Smoke on the Water |
180 |
| Brisket† | THE BBQ BUS Route 66 Smoke Out |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 8 | — | 2 |
| REDMULE'S BBQ | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G | 7 | — | 10 |
| LC BBQ | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| SLAPS BBQ | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | 6 | — | 5 |
| THE BBQ BUS | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| LEM'S MEAT VARNISH | 5 | — | 2 |
| WHEN PIGS DIE | 5 | — | 5 |
| Heavy Smoke BBQ | 5 | — | 7 |
| MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | 5 | — | 15 |
| CHUNKY BBQ | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Who Ran the Table
Contests worked · states & provinces
| Rep | C | St. |
|---|---|---|
| Bunny Tuttle | 8 | 3 |
| Rich Tuttle | 8 | 3 |
| Doug Reid | 4 | 2 |
| Alan Rothrock | 3 | 2 |
| Karen Jane Williams | 3 | 2 |
| Ralph Williams | 3 | 2 |
| Alex Jr Brown | 2 | 1 |
| Becky Druetzler | 2 | 1 |
| Bill Jones | 2 | 1 |
| Carol Bigler | 2 | 2 |
| Cindy Juhl | 2 | 1 |
| Dave Druetzler | 2 | 1 |
| Debby Harwell | 2 | 1 |
| Don Harwell | 2 | 1 |
| Donna Young | 2 | 2 |
| Ed Young | 2 | 2 |
| Kim Collier | 2 | 1 |
| Mark Collier | 2 | 1 |
| Michael Santiago | 2 | 1 |
| Randy G Bigler | 2 | 2 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 4 | 75 |
| Nebraska | 4 | 55 |
| West Virginia | 4 | 43 |
| Georgia | 3 | 53 |
| Minnesota | 2 | 118 |
| Missouri | 2 | 71 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | 61 |
| Mississippi | 2 | 60 |
| Texas | 2 | 51 |
| California | 2 | 43 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 61 |
| Illinois | 1 | 44 |
| Colorado | 1 | 35 |
| Tennessee | 1 | 31 |
| Nevada | 1 | 26 |
| North Carolina | 1 | 17 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 33 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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