In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in March 2023.
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
JANKY LEG BBQ Turns In the Month’s Best Card
709.1200 out of 720 at Smokin' for Down Syndrome — the highest Master overall scored in March 2023.
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
MARION, Ark. — JANKY LEG BBQ put up 709.1200 at Smokin' for Down Syndrome — the highest overall of the month.
Across March 2023, 24 sanctioned contests were scored, across 12 states and provinces, drawing 664 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 920 top-ten calls and handed out 41 perfect 180s. 106 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 23 in all.
- Gettin'Based Cedar Fest BBQ Cookoff
- Gothic Town Grillers Iowa State BBQ Championship
- Smoked and Furious Lake Views & BBQ (formerly Beats, Brew & BBQ)
- ATLANTA BBQ STORE Swampfest
- Janky Leg BBQ Smokin' for Down Syndrome
- Redneck Scientific BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard)
- There's No Place Like Smoke Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (Day 2)
- BBQ + Spring Break BBQ Contest 4
- Off the Rack BBQ BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) (Masters and Backyard)
- Big Racks BBQ American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest
- Good Googly Goo BBQ BBQ Gives Back (One Meat Chicken)
- Old Virginia Smoke BBQ Gives Back (One Meat Ribs)
- Razorracks BBQ Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (Day 1)
- Fergolicious BBQ Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (One Meat Ribs)
- BBQ Team Laurentius Belgisch Barbecue Weekend - Day 2
- TRIPLE H BBQ Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship
- Bull Creek BBQ 5th Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship
- KITH N' KIN Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (One Meat Ribs)
- Backcorner BBQ Belgisch Barbecue Weekend - Day 1
- Bushmaster BBQ BBQ & Brew Fest - Best in the Southwest
- Smokey Bees BBQ - MS Foley BBQ & Blues Cook-Off (BACKYARD ONLY)
- CHEWIN' THE BBQ FAT! Sip & Swine BBQ Festival
- Big Red BBQ The Golden State Battle V
First one ever
Big Racks BBQ Wins Its First, on the 11th Try
A first Grand Championship at American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest, after 11 contests in the record.
11th contest — and their first GC
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Big Racks BBQ won their first Grand Championship at American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest, in their 11th contest in the data.
Upset of the month
The Long Shot Comes In at Lake Views & BBQ (formerly Beats, Brew & BBQ)
The ratings gave Smoked & Furious a 7% chance, with CLARK CREW BBQ the team to beat.
7-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings
WAGONER, Okla. — Smoked & Furious won Lake Views & BBQ (formerly Beats, Brew & BBQ) over top-rated CLARK CREW BBQ as the ratings underdog.
Perfect 180s
Judges Hand Out 41 Perfect 180s
Six cards, every one a nine — 41 times in March 2023.
41 perfect scores handed out
Six judges, every card a 9: 41 perfect 180s were handed out in March 2023.
Also in Mar 2023
Decided by 0.5484 of a Point
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE edged GETTIN' BASTED by 0.5484 at Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (Day 2).
BBQ Team Laurentius Back on Top After Four Years
BBQ Team Laurentius won Belgisch Barbecue Weekend - Day 2 — their first Grand Championship since June 2018, after 27 contests without one.
REDNECK SCIENTIFIC Sets the Record at BBQ Gives Back
REDNECK SCIENTIFIC put up 706.2284 at BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard) — the best overall in 6 editions of the contest on record, past the old mark of 703.4288.
Bushmaster BBQ Takes Three of Four Meats at BBQ & Brew Fest - Best in the Southwest
Bushmaster BBQ won 3 of 4 meats at BBQ & Brew Fest - Best in the Southwest (chicken, pork ribs and brisket), and the Grand Championship with them.
Colorado Bulldawg BBQ Climbs 68 Rating Points
Colorado Bulldawg BBQ gained 68 rating points across 6 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
14 State Champions Crowned
14 state championships were decided in March 2023. The biggest, Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (80 teams), went to TRIPLE H BBQ.
First Time Out, CHEWIN' THE BBQ FAT! Takes 1st
CHEWIN' THE BBQ FAT! finished 1st at Sip & Swine BBQ Festival — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
Swine-O-licious BBQ Tops the Backyard Board at Iowa State BBQ Championship
Swine-O-licious BBQ put up 349.6800 on the Backyard board at Iowa State BBQ Championship — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
RAZORRACKS Runs Away With Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ
RAZORRACKS won Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (Day 1) by 10.9144 points over JANKY LEG BBQ — the widest winning margin of the month.
80 Teams Roll Into Lebanon
Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship drew 80 teams, and TRIPLE H BBQ won it.
BUFFALO'S BBQ Cooks Its 200th Contest
BUFFALO'S BBQ cooked their 200th contest on record at Lake Views & BBQ (formerly Beats, Brew & BBQ), with 9 Grand Championships along the way.
Nobody Hauled Further Than HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ
HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ cooked 8 contests in March 2023 — nobody hauled the rig further.
TRIPLE H BBQ Wins Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship Without Winning a Meat
TRIPLE H BBQ won Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 2nd.
A New Contest Opens in Olathe
5th Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship ran for the first time on record, drawing 68 teams, and Bull Creek BBQ won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
SMOKIN SKULLIES Takes Reserve Two Times
SMOKIN SKULLIES finished second overall 2 times in March 2023 without a Grand Championship — one place short every time.
Seven Contests on One Friday
7 sanctioned contests were cooked on 24 Mar alone.
Julie Cook Works Seven Contests
Julie Cook repped 7 contests in March 2023 — somebody has to run the table.
Perfect 180s
41 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Brisket ATLANTA BBQ STORE Swampfest · March 31
- Pork Barton BBQ Cedar Fest BBQ Cookoff · March 31
- Pork GETTIN' BASTED Cedar Fest BBQ Cookoff · March 31
- Chicken GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS Iowa State BBQ Championship · March 31
- Chicken JANKY LEG BBQ Smokin' for Down Syndrome · March 31
- Pork Ribs Petie's Smokin Pits BBQ Lake Views & BBQ (formerly Beats, Brew & BBQ) · March 31
- Pork Regi-Q BBQ Cedar Fest BBQ Cookoff · March 31
- Pork Ribs Smoke Show BBQ Cedar Fest BBQ Cookoff · March 31
- Chicken Smoked & Furious Lake Views & BBQ (formerly Beats, Brew & BBQ) · March 31
- Chicken KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (Day 2) · March 25
- Brisket Kermit's Ex Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (Day 2) · March 25
- Pork Optimus Swine BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard) · March 25
- Brisket REDNECK SCIENTIFIC BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard) · March 25
- Chicken REDNECK SCIENTIFIC BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard) · March 25
- Chicken SMOKIN SKULLIES BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard) · March 25
- Pork SWEET & SAVORY BBQ BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard) · March 25
- Pork THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (Day 2) · March 25
- Chicken Burn Barrel BBQ BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) (Masters and Backyard) · March 24
- Chicken GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ BBQ Gives Back (One Meat Chicken) · March 24
- Brisket JANKY LEG BBQ Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (Day 1) · March 24
- Chicken MRC_Barbecue BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) (Masters and Backyard) · March 24
- Brisket MUTTLEY CREW BBQ BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) (Masters and Backyard) · March 24
- Pork Ribs Mispillion Meat Works BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) (Masters and Backyard) · March 24
- Chicken OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) (Masters and Backyard) · March 24
…and 17 more.
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Mar 2023; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Bulldawg BBQ #73 | 1,823 | ▲ 68 |
| Dogpatch Q #259 | 1,737 | ▲ 43 |
| Bourbon & Blues BBQ #1,184 | 1,588 | ▲ 40 |
| HotMess BBQ #267 | 1,733 | ▲ 31 |
| Small Batch BBQ - TN #575 | 1,663 | ▲ 30 |
| Country Boys BBQ #1,048 | 1,600 | ▲ 30 |
| POOR BOYS BBQ #202 | 1,756 | ▲ 28 |
| Big Racks BBQ #510 | 1,675 | ▲ 27 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Swine-O-licious BBQ #149 | 1,778 | ▲ 27 |
| HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ #307 | 1,723 | ▲ 26 |
| JACK'S OLD SOUTH #2,512 | 1,520 | ▼ 30 |
| Top Gun Barbecue #198 | 1,758 | ▼ 31 |
| FRED VEGAS SMOKERS #205 | 1,754 | ▼ 32 |
| Rogue Hog BBQ #581 | 1,663 | ▼ 34 |
| WOOD HOOK BBQ #262 | 1,737 | ▼ 36 |
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 eight contests in Mar 2023.
- 1 Swine-O-licious BBQ Iowa State BBQ Championship · Altoona, Iowa 349.6800
- 2 VETERAN PORK PULLERS Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship · Lebanon, Tenn. 349.1084
- 3 PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship · Lebanon, Tenn. 348.5372
- 4 Big Racks BBQ American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest · Kansas City, Mo. 348.5372
- 5 Smokin Suckers Iowa State BBQ Championship · Altoona, Iowa 348.0116
- 6 Compete BBQ Team Lake Views & BBQ (formerly Beats, Brew & BBQ) · Wagoner, Okla. 347.9656
- 7 Small Batch BBQ - TN Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship · Lebanon, Tenn. 347.3828
- 8 LEE LA Q Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship · Lebanon, Tenn. 346.8456
- 9 HESSHOGS Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship · Lebanon, Tenn. 346.2516
- 10 LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship · Lebanon, Tenn. 345.1432
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 CHEWIN' THE BBQ FAT! Sip & Swine BBQ Festival
- 2nd Pork Posse BBQ-BY Lake Views & BBQ (formerly Beats, Brew & BBQ)
- 3rd Guy in a truck BB Lake Views & BBQ (formerly Beats, Brew & BBQ)
- 6th Trail's End BBQ Lake Views & BBQ (formerly Beats, Brew & BBQ)
- 7th Flaps 20 Foley BBQ & Blues Cook-Off (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 7th Money$hot BBQ Lake Views & BBQ (formerly Beats, Brew & BBQ)
- 7th W2 BBQ American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest
- 8th Fat Boyz Cedar Fest BBQ Cookoff
- 8th SMOKE RING & BARK Foley BBQ & Blues Cook-Off (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 9th DOUBLE BARRELL SMOKERS Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship
- 9th Kilt-N-It BBQ Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (Day 2)
- 12th Pink Ring BBQ BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) (Masters and Backyard)
- 13th Banc First (Wagoner) Lake Views & BBQ (formerly Beats, Brew & BBQ)
- 13th Charles Barbecue Belgisch Barbecue Weekend - Day 1
- 13th Coming In Hot Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (Day 1)
- 14th HEB Cedar Park Cedar Fest BBQ Cookoff
- 14th Smokin Buddies BBQ Foley BBQ & Blues Cook-Off (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 14th Sofa King Awesome BBQ American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest
What a first season usually looks like → · 12 contests also ran for the first time on record: 5th Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship, Cedar Fest BBQ Cookoff, BBQ & Brew Fest - Best in the Southwest, Lake Views & BBQ (formerly Beats, Brew & BBQ), The Golden State Battle V, Swampfest, Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (Day 1), Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (One Meat Ribs), Spring Break BBQ Contest 4, Smokin' for Down Syndrome, Belgisch Barbecue Weekend - Day 1, Belgisch Barbecue Weekend - Day 2.
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†15 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ Sip & Swine BBQ Festival |
180 |
| Pork Ribs†6 | Bushmaster BBQ BBQ & Brew Fest - Best in the Southwest |
180 |
| Pork†11 | CHEWIN' THE BBQ FAT! Sip & Swine BBQ Festival |
180 |
| Brisket†9 | Bushmaster BBQ BBQ & Brew Fest - Best in the Southwest |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | 8 | — | 3 |
| Bourbon & Blues BBQ | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | 7 | — | 2 |
| ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | 7 | — | 2 |
| Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit | 6 | — | 4 |
| Dogpatch Q | 6 | — | 5 |
| RAZORRACKS | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Fergolicious BBQ | 5 | — | 2 |
| Gold-N-Blue Barbecue | 5 | — | 2 |
| HESSHOGS | 5 | — | 4 |
| Optimus Swine | 5 | — | 6 |
| Heavy Smoke BBQ | 5 | — | 8 |
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 5 | — | 8 |
| Can Country Outlaw BBQ | 5 | — | 9 |
| GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | 5 | — | 9 |
Who Ran the Table
Contests worked · states & provinces
| Rep | C | St. |
|---|---|---|
| Julie Cook | 7 | 3 |
| Rusty Cook | 7 | 3 |
| Alex Jr Brown | 4 | 1 |
| Louise Weidner | 4 | 1 |
| Bunny Tuttle | 3 | 3 |
| Dave Rogers | 3 | 2 |
| Donna Young | 3 | 1 |
| Ed Young | 3 | 1 |
| Peg Rogers | 3 | 2 |
| Rachel Harper | 3 | 2 |
| Wayne Harper | 3 | 2 |
| Doug Reid | 2 | 2 |
| Jeff Chambers | 2 | 1 |
| Marianne Van Galen | 2 | — |
| Mayco Van Galen | 2 | — |
| Regina Bodnar | 2 | 1 |
| Angela Fishlock | 1 | — |
| Bob McKinnon | 1 | 1 |
| Carol Bigler | 1 | 1 |
| Charlie Brinza | 1 | 1 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 5 | 70 |
| Virginia | 4 | 81 |
| Georgia | 2 | 136 |
| Tennessee | 2 | 123 |
| Iowa | 1 | 78 |
| Kansas | 1 | 68 |
| Texas | 1 | 57 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 44 |
| Arizona | 1 | 32 |
| Alabama | 1 | 31 |
| California | 1 | 28 |
| Arkansas | 1 | 15 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 24 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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