In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in January 2024.
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
Poppa Pig Turns In the Month’s Best Card
714.8572 out of 720 at 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show — the highest Master overall scored in January 2024.
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
ELKTON, Fla. — Poppa Pig put up 714.8572 at 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show — the highest overall of the month.
Across January 2024, 4 sanctioned contests were scored, across 3 states and provinces, drawing 316 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 240 top-ten calls and handed out 16 perfect 180s. 99 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 4 in all.
First one ever
Cherry Anchor BBQ Wins Its First, on the 11th Try
A first Grand Championship at 9th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge, after 11 contests in the record.
11th contest — and their first GC
BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. — Cherry Anchor BBQ won their first Grand Championship at 9th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge, in their 11th contest in the data.
Upset of the month
The Long Shot Comes In at 9th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge
The ratings gave Cherry Anchor BBQ a 11% chance, with BIG POPPA SMOKERS the team to beat.
11-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings
BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. — Cherry Anchor BBQ won 9th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge over top-rated BIG POPPA SMOKERS as the ratings underdog.
Perfect 180s
Judges Hand Out 16 Perfect 180s
Six cards, every one a nine — 16 times in January 2024.
16 perfect scores handed out
Six judges, every card a 9: 16 perfect 180s were handed out in January 2024.
Also in Jan 2024
Decided by 1.1428 Points
K-Dubs BBQ edged Joker Smoker BBQ by 1.1428 at Lakeland Pig Festival.
Poppa Pig Back on Top After Two Years
Poppa Pig won 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show — their first Grand Championship since June 2021, after 36 contests without one.
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN Sets the Record at Lakeland Pig Festival
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN put up 707.3828 at Lakeland Pig Festival — the best overall in 7 editions of the contest on record, past the old mark of 706.8228.
Ramblin Fork BBQ Co Climbs 27 Rating Points
Ramblin Fork BBQ Co gained 27 rating points across 2 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
Four State Champions Crowned
4 state championships were decided in January 2024. The biggest, Lakeland Pig Festival (61 teams), went to Rooters-N-Tooters.
First Time Out, Joker Smoker BBQ Takes 2nd
Joker Smoker BBQ finished 2nd at Lakeland Pig Festival — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
Dogpatch Q Tops the Backyard Board at 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show
Dogpatch Q put up 352.0000 on the Backyard board at 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
61 Teams Roll Into Lakeland
Lakeland Pig Festival drew 61 teams, and Rooters-N-Tooters won it.
Nobody Hauled Further Than Poppa Pig
Poppa Pig cooked 3 contests in January 2024 — nobody hauled the rig further.
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN Wins Lakeland Pig Festival Without Winning a Meat
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN won Lakeland Pig Festival without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 6th.
A New Contest Opens in Bullhead City
9th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge ran for the first time on record, drawing 58 teams, and CHERRY ANCHOR BBQ won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
Jeanne Titus Works Three Contests
Jeanne Titus repped 3 contests in January 2024 — somebody has to run the table.
Perfect 180s
16 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Chicken GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ Lakeland Pig Festival · Jan. 26
- Chicken Glamping Grillers Lakeland Pig Festival · Jan. 26
- Pork Going Yard BBQ Lakeland Pig Festival · Jan. 26
- Brisket MAN MEAT BBQ SJV Winter Rub · Jan. 26
- Pork Cherry Anchor BBQ 9th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge · Jan. 12
- Brisket SHENANIGANS BBQ 9th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge · Jan. 12
- Chicken ELITE BBQ SMOKERS 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show · Jan. 4
- Chicken FRED VEGAS SMOKERS 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show · Jan. 4
- Pork HESSHOGS 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show · Jan. 4
- Brisket Kings BBQ Team 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show · Jan. 4
- Chicken Mad Dog BBQ 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show · Jan. 4
- Brisket Poppa Pig 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show · Jan. 4
- Chicken Poppa Pig 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show · Jan. 4
- Pork Ramblin Fork BBQ Co 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show · Jan. 4
- Pork Smoke Central BBQ 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show · Jan. 4
- Pork Tillman's BBQ 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show · Jan. 4
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Jan 2024; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Ramblin Fork BBQ Co #1,456 | 1,568 | ▲ 27 |
| Joker Smoker BBQ | 1,504 | ▲ 17 |
| Ring Of Fire #3,532 | 1,492 | ▲ 17 |
| SCORE ONE SMOKIN' #752 | 1,633 | ▲ 17 |
| K-Dubs BBQ #1,883 | 1,544 | ▲ 17 |
| BNL BARBECUE | 1,521 | ▲ 17 |
| Cherry Anchor BBQ #324 | 1,719 | ▲ 17 |
| Nuts & Butts #1,385 | 1,573 | ▲ 16 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Smokin' Ain't EZ #1,034 | 1,602 | ▲ 16 |
| SMOKE N' ASH BBQ #1,465 | 1,567 | ▲ 16 |
| Cookin with Stump | 1,478 | ▼ 14 |
| RED EYED SMOKERS #641 | 1,652 | ▼ 16 |
| JOE'S COOKSHACK #2,070 | 1,536 | ▼ 16 |
| WHISKEY CHURCH BBQ #4,777 | 1,468 | ▼ 17 |
| Blessed Beyond BBQ #4,212 | 1,479 | ▼ 18 |
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 two contests in Jan 2024.
- 1 Dogpatch Q 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show · Elkton, Fla. 352
- 2 Ramblin Fork BBQ Co 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show · Elkton, Fla. 346.2400
- 3 TRICKY PIG 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show · Elkton, Fla. 345.0856
- 4 K-Dubs BBQ Lakeland Pig Festival · Lakeland, Fla. 344.5372
- 5 HESSHOGS 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show · Elkton, Fla. 343.9428
- 6 Split Creek BBQ 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show · Elkton, Fla. 343.4288
- 7 Joker Smoker BBQ Lakeland Pig Festival · Lakeland, Fla. 343.3944
- 8 Nuts & Butts Lakeland Pig Festival · Lakeland, Fla. 342.8232
- 9 Ring Of Fire Lakeland Pig Festival · Lakeland, Fla. 342.8000
- 10 VETERAN PORK PULLERS Lakeland Pig Festival · Lakeland, Fla. 342.7884
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
- 2nd Joker Smoker BBQ Lakeland Pig Festival
- 6th Crosswinds Barbecue 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show
- 8th The Grub Brothers 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show
- 10th George Jenkins High School Lakeland Pig Festival
- 10th Rub N Butts Barbeque 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show
- 11th Just Porkin Around 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show
- 12th Powered by Smoke 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show
- 14th So So Barbeque 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show
- 15th 2 Guys BBQ 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show
- 15th JW's BBQ Crew 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show
- 17th Berndt Cole BBQ Team 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show
- 18th Bearded Monkey Twisted Q Lakeland Pig Festival
- 20th Bearded Monkeys 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show
- 21st Bull and Boar BBQ 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show
- 22nd T-Town BBQ 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show
- 22nd With a 180 Lakeland Pig Festival
- 23rd BBQ Daze 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show
- 23rd Ugly Drum Smokers 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show
What a first season usually looks like → · 2 contests also ran for the first time on record: 9th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge, 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show.
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†6 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show |
180 |
| Pork Ribs | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show |
178.8572 |
| Pork†6 | Smoke Central BBQ 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show |
180 |
| Brisket†4 | Poppa Pig 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poppa Pig | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Dogpatch Q | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Ramblin Fork BBQ Co | 2 | — | 2 |
| Tillman's BBQ | 2 | — | 3 |
| Heavy Smoke BBQ | 2 | — | 4 |
| Smoke Central BBQ | 2 | — | 4 |
| FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | 2 | — | 5 |
| Pappy & Roleys | 2 | — | 6 |
| Kings BBQ Team | 2 | — | 7 |
| Smokin' Ain't EZ | 2 | — | 7 |
| Mad Dog BBQ | 2 | — | 8 |
| LOVE 2 Q | 2 | — | 9 |
| Cold Beer BBQ | 2 | — | 12 |
| Powered by Smoke | 2 | — | 12 |
| GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | 2 | — | 13 |
Who Ran the Table
Contests worked · states & provinces
| Rep | C | St. |
|---|---|---|
| Jeanne Titus | 3 | 1 |
| Bunny Tuttle | 2 | 1 |
| Charlie Brinza | 2 | 1 |
| Mike Garretson | 2 | 1 |
| Rich Tuttle | 2 | 1 |
| Carolyn Wells | 1 | 1 |
| Dave Rogers | 1 | 1 |
| David Burstein | 1 | 1 |
| Kelly McIntosh | 1 | 1 |
| Michelle Mann | 1 | 1 |
| Peg Rogers | 1 | 1 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 2 | 219 |
| Arizona | 1 | 73 |
| Nebraska | 1 | 26 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 4 in all, newest first. Click a column head to sort; click a row for the contest.
| Contest | Grand Champion | High score |
|---|---|---|
| Lakeland Pig Festival Jan. 26 · Lakeland, Fla. · 61 teams |
Rooters-N-Tooters | 707.3828 |
| SJV Winter Rub Jan. 26 · Omaha, Neb. · 26 teams |
Man Meat BBQ | 699.3596 |
| 9th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge Jan. 12 · Bullhead City, Ariz. · 58 teams |
CHERRY ANCHOR BBQ | 699.9428 |
| 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show Jan. 4 · Elkton, Fla. · 43 teams |
Poppa Pig? | 714.8572 |
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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