In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in October 2023.
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
- The Backyard A7
- New to the Circuit A8
- Box Scores B1
- Complete Results B4
- Back Issues C4
By invitation only
Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit Wins the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational
Best of 81 invited teams, with B'Mackin BBQ in reserve — a win for the record book that leaves the power rating alone.
LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit won Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY), best of 81 invited teams; B'Mackin BBQ took reserve. An invite-only field, so it leaves the power rating alone and goes straight into the record book.
Across October 2023, 46 sanctioned contests were scored, across 17 states and provinces, drawing 958 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 1,667 top-ten calls and handed out 69 perfect 180s. 167 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 46 in all. The 10 oldest are listed under Complete Results, B4.
- Squealin and Dealin BBQ Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD)
- BrewsCue Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT CHICKEN)
- Fluffy Butt BBQ Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Swine 'N' Roses BBQ Zom-B-Q (Day 2)
- Shake 'N Bake BBQ Smoke on the Water - Saracen Casino PB
- Janky Leg BBQ Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD)
- Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit Nightmare before Zom-B-Q (Day 1)
- Rooters-N-Tooters Zom-B-Q (ONE MEAT CHICKEN)
- Smoke Me Silly Railyard BBQ Brawl 2023
- Bushmaster BBQ Zom-B-Q (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Boggs Hog BBQ Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2)
- COOKLOUNGE BBQ Vienna BBQ Days 2023 (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Smokecraft Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- COOKLOUNGE BBQ Vienna BBQ Days 2023
- Dixie Pigs & Chicks BBQ Team Battle for the Bones (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Hickory Hangover The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ (BACKYARD ONLY)
- RAZORRACKS Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION)
- Boggs Hog BBQ Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 1)
- SoCal Outlaw BBQ 19th Annual Burnt Offering BBQ Contest (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- SmoKEN Meatz Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT CHICKEN)
- COLORADO BULLDAWG BBQ Roast N Boast
- T-Daddy's BBQ Bring'n Home the Bacon II (BACKYARD)
- Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY)
- Slaps BBQ Smoke on the Water
- Mad Rocket Barbecue Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE ONLY)
- Swine 'N' Roses BBQ Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down
- Lucky 19 Sauce Company Bring'n Home the Bacon II (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- UNDER THE RADAR Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cook Off
- Cool Smoke Maryland State BBQ Bash
- Ash Kickin' BBQ Bring'n Home the Bacon II (MASTER & BACKYARD)
- SmokinGhost BBQ BLACK BOX BBQ @ Wadsworth Municipal Airport
- Meat Me In St. Louis Dragon Smoke BBQ Competition
- HessHogs4 Rock Island BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Cooklounge Country Road & BBQ Contest (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- SUPER SWINE Harper County Bullseye BBQ - Day 2
- Cooklounge BBQ Country Road & BBQ Contest
Score of the month
LOCAL YOKELS BBQ Turns In the Month’s Best Card
711.9656 out of 720 at Smokin' for Garrett — the highest Master overall scored in October 2023.
711.9656 Master overall, out of 720
MT. CARMEL, Ill. — LOCAL YOKELS BBQ put up 711.9656 at Smokin' for Garrett — the highest overall of the month.
Hottest hand
Two Grand Championships in Oct 2023 for Mad Rocket Barbecue
Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.
2× Grand Championships
Mad Rocket Barbecue took 2 Grand Championships in October 2023.
First one ever
SUPER SWINE Wins Its First, on the 65th Try
A first Grand Championship at Harper County Bullseye BBQ - Day 2, after 65 contests in the record.
65th contest — and their first GC
HARPER, Kan. — SUPER SWINE won their first Grand Championship at Harper County Bullseye BBQ - Day 2, in their 65th contest in the data.
Invite-only fields. Their results go into every team’s record; they don’t move the power rating.
Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational
Reserve: B'Mackin BBQ
Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) — Oct. 13, Lynchburg, Tenn.
Royal Oak Invitational
Reserve: KERRIS HUNTER
Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) — Oct. 20, Roswell, Ga.
The invitational circuit → · every invitational on record, who keeps getting invited, and who wins them.
Also in Oct 2023
JANKY LEG BBQ Defends Its Title at Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship
JANKY LEG BBQ won Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) again — back-to-back Grand Championships at the same contest.
The Long Shot Comes In at Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD)
Squealin N Dealin BBQ won Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) over top-rated GETTIN' BASTED as the ratings underdog.
Judges Hand Out 69 Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 69 perfect 180s were handed out in October 2023.
Decided by 0.0116 of a Point
Ash Kickin' BBQ edged Can Country Outlaw BBQ by 0.0116 at Bring'n Home the Bacon II (MASTER & BACKYARD).
Cool Smoke Back on Top After Six Years
Cool Smoke won Maryland State BBQ Bash — their first Grand Championship since October 2016, after 24 contests without one.
YES, DEAR BBQ Sets the Record at The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival
YES, DEAR BBQ put up 708.5488 at The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival — the best overall in 8 editions of the contest on record, past the old mark of 706.2516.
BOGGS HOG BBQ Takes Three of Four Meats at Red White & Que - Campground BBQ Series
BOGGS HOG BBQ won 3 of 4 meats at Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) (chicken, pork and brisket), and the Grand Championship with them.
Smoke This Drink That BBQ Climbs 37 Rating Points
Smoke This Drink That BBQ gained 37 rating points across 3 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
26 State Champions Crowned
26 state championships were decided in October 2023. The biggest, Poosa Q (73 teams), went to PIGGIN' WHISKEY.
First Time Out, SoCal Outlaw BBQ Takes 1st
SoCal Outlaw BBQ finished 1st at 19th Annual Burnt Offering BBQ Contest (COMPETITOR SERIES) — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
Furlongs Smoke & Seafood Tops the Backyard Board at Poosa Q
Furlongs Smoke & Seafood put up 355.4172 on the Backyard board at Poosa Q — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
BOGGS HOG BBQ Runs Away With Red White & Que - Campground BBQ Series
BOGGS HOG BBQ won Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) by 9.7488 points over SMOKECRAFT - MD — the widest winning margin of the month.
81 Teams Roll Into Lynchburg
Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) drew 81 teams, and Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit won it.
GETTIN' BASTED Cooks Its 400th Contest
GETTIN' BASTED cooked their 400th contest on record at Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD), with 68 Grand Championships along the way.
Nobody Hauled Further Than SMOKECRAFT - MD
SMOKECRAFT - MD cooked 9 contests in October 2023 — nobody hauled the rig further.
Piggin' Whiskey Wins Poosa Q Without Winning a Meat
Piggin' Whiskey won Poosa Q without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 4th.
A New Contest Opens in Huntsville
The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ (BACKYARD ONLY) ran for the first time on record, drawing 50 teams, and Hickory Hangover won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
Eleven Contests on One Friday
11 sanctioned contests were cooked on 13 Oct alone.
Alan Rothrock Works Six Contests
Alan Rothrock repped 6 contests in October 2023 — somebody has to run the table.
Perfect 180s
69 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Chicken BrewsCue Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) · Oct. 28
- Brisket CHUNKY BBQ Zom-B-Q (Day 2) · Oct. 28
- Chicken MACHETE BOYS BBQ Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) · Oct. 28
- Pork MAN MEAT BBQ Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) · Oct. 28
- Brisket O.G. BANDITS Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) · Oct. 28
- Chicken SLAPS BBQ Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) · Oct. 28
- Pork Ribs Smoke 'n Magic Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) · Oct. 28
- Chicken Squealin N Dealin BBQ Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) · Oct. 28
- Chicken WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ Zom-B-Q (Day 2) · Oct. 28
- Pork Barking Pig BBQ Railyard BBQ Brawl 2023 · Oct. 27
- Chicken Boss Hog BBQ Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) · Oct. 27
- Pork Ribs BrewsCue Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) · Oct. 27
- Brisket Fergolicious BBQ Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) · Oct. 27
- Pork Ribs Fergolicious BBQ Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) · Oct. 27
- Chicken Hickory Stick BBQ Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) · Oct. 27
- Pork Ribs JaBs BBQ Smoke on the Water - Saracen Casino PB · Oct. 27
- Pork Ribs MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) · Oct. 27
- Chicken Mad Rocket Barbecue Railyard BBQ Brawl 2023 · Oct. 27
- Chicken ONE EYED PIG BBQ Nightmare before Zom-B-Q (Day 1) · Oct. 27
- Pork Organizer Portal Railyard BBQ Brawl 2023 · Oct. 27
- Pork Ribs Rusty Pig BBQ Smoke on the Water - Saracen Casino PB · Oct. 27
- Chicken SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ Smoke on the Water - Saracen Casino PB · Oct. 27
- Chicken SLAPS BBQ Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) · Oct. 27
- Chicken Scorched Deck BBQ Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) · Oct. 27
…and 45 more.
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Oct 2023; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke This Drink That BBQ #268 | 1,733 | ▲ 37 |
| Gold-N-Blue Barbecue #449 | 1,688 | ▲ 35 |
| Mad Rocket Barbecue #560 | 1,667 | ▲ 35 |
| Shmack Q #515 | 1,674 | ▲ 33 |
| Wrecking Crew BBQ #270 | 1,732 | ▲ 32 |
| Bad Influence BBQ - MO #923 | 1,613 | ▲ 32 |
| Dog Bite Barbecue #546 | 1,669 | ▲ 31 |
| Curly Bird BBQ #443 | 1,689 | ▲ 31 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Glamping Grillers #258 | 1,737 | ▲ 30 |
| BLIND HOG BBQ #714 | 1,640 | ▲ 29 |
| Rogue Hog BBQ #581 | 1,663 | ▼ 30 |
| ALL FORKED UP FOR Q #506 | 1,675 | ▼ 31 |
| MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ #516 | 1,674 | ▼ 34 |
| GETTIN' BASTED #11 | 1,921 | ▼ 35 |
| ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN #8 | 1,931 | ▼ 38 |
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 18 contests in Oct 2023.
- 1 Furlongs Smoke & Seafood Poosa Q · Montgomery, Ala. 355.4172
- 2 Hickory Hangover The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ (BACKYARD ONLY) · Huntsville, Ala. 355.4172
- 3 Mad Rocket Barbecue Railyard BBQ Brawl 2023 · Madison, Ala. 355.4172
- 4 WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ Bring'n Home the Bacon II (MASTER & BACKYARD) · West Salem, Wis. 354.2972
- 5 Smoke This Drink That BBQ Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) · Oak Grove, Mo. 352.5600
- 6 PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q Poosa Q · Montgomery, Ala. 351.9772
- 7 Deviant Smoke The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ (BACKYARD ONLY) · Huntsville, Ala. 351.9656
- 8 Gold-N-Blue Barbecue Poosa Q · Montgomery, Ala. 351.4056
- 9 Gold-N-Blue Barbecue Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) · Jackson, N.J. 350.8572
- 10 Mad Rocket Barbecue Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE ONLY) · Scottsboro, Ala. 350.8456
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 PI KAPPA HOG The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival
- 1st SoCal Outlaw BBQ 19th Annual Burnt Offering BBQ Contest (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- 2nd Chasin' Barrels BBQ 19th Annual Burnt Offering BBQ Contest (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- 3rd BOGEY BBQ Harper County Bullseye BBQ - Day 1
- 3rd JOE BOONACKER-MARSH Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION)
- 3rd SmokinGhost BBQ LLC Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2)
- 4th RED STAG The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival
- 4th The Burnt Crow Dragon Smoke BBQ Competition
- 5th BREXTON JOHNSON Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION)
- 5th Lizard's Q Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cook Off
- 5th Mantua Barbecue Gang Country Road & BBQ Contest
- 6th RSA's Rollin' Smokehouse Team 19th Annual Burnt Offering BBQ Contest (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- 6th TAIJA DAVIS Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION)
- 7th BLOOD, SWEAT, & BEERS BBQ Roast N Boast
- 7th Blind Fox BBQ Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD)
- 7th MILES KING Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION)
- 7th Sidetrack BBQ Smokin' for Garrett
- 8th ELLA YORK Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION)
What a first season usually looks like → · 12 contests also ran for the first time on record: The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ (BACKYARD ONLY), Smoke on the Water - Saracen Casino PB, Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION), Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 1), BLACK BOX BBQ @ Wadsworth Municipal Airport, Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT CHICKEN), 19th Annual Burnt Offering BBQ Contest (COMPETITOR SERIES), Nightmare before Zom-B-Q (Day 1), Country Road & BBQ Contest (ONE MEAT RIBS), Dragon Smoke BBQ Competition, Swanner House Autumn Reata Round Up BBQ Contest, Rock Island BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY).
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†25 | TWISTED PAIR BBQ Poosa Q |
180 |
| Pork Ribs†18 | Ahh Townley BBQ Go Hog Wild BBQ |
180 |
| Pork†13 | BLIND HOG BBQ Go Hog Wild BBQ |
180 |
| Brisket†13 | YES, DEAR BBQ The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMOKECRAFT - MD | 9 | — | 2 |
| CHUNKY BBQ | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Gold-N-Blue Barbecue | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Optimus Swine | 8 | — | 3 |
| MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | 8 | — | 5 |
| Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | 7 | — | 2 |
| ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | 7 | — | 2 |
| Off The Rack BBQ | 7 | — | 3 |
| BrewsCue | 7 | — | 4 |
| Fergolicious BBQ | 7 | — | 4 |
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 7 | — | 4 |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 7 | — | 5 |
| DAWGS BBQ | 7 | — | 10 |
| Shmack Q | 6 | 2 | 1 |
Who Ran the Table
Contests worked · states & provinces
| Rep | C | St. |
|---|---|---|
| Alan Rothrock | 6 | 2 |
| Dave Rogers | 6 | 2 |
| Doug Reid | 6 | 2 |
| Peg Rogers | 6 | 2 |
| Bill Wright | 4 | 1 |
| Bunny Tuttle | 4 | 2 |
| Carol Bigler | 4 | 2 |
| Forrest Bruce | 4 | 1 |
| Kim Wright | 4 | 1 |
| Randy G Bigler | 4 | 2 |
| Rich Tuttle | 4 | 2 |
| Julie Cook | 3 | 2 |
| Rusty Cook | 3 | 2 |
| Andreas Schnoell | 2 | — |
| Becky Druetzler | 2 | 2 |
| Charlie Brinza | 2 | 2 |
| Dave Druetzler | 2 | 2 |
| Eva Schnoell | 2 | — |
| Haymo Gutweniger | 2 | — |
| Janet Appleton | 2 | 2 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 6 | 96 |
| Alabama | 5 | 234 |
| Kansas | 5 | 68 |
| New Jersey | 4 | 66 |
| Virginia | 4 | 35 |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 55 |
| Georgia | 2 | 88 |
| Arkansas | 2 | 66 |
| North Carolina | 2 | 52 |
| California | 2 | 36 |
| Tennessee | 1 | 81 |
| Maryland | 1 | 60 |
| Illinois | 1 | 37 |
| Mississippi | 1 | 29 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 28 |
| Wyoming | 1 | 28 |
| Ohio | 1 | 20 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 46 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.
Map what is in driving range → · subscribe to the calendar → · the judging notices → · the whole calendar →
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