In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in May 2024.
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
Local Yokels BBQ Wins the KCBS World Invitational
Best of 118 invited teams, with ZIPS BBQ in reserve — a win for the record book that leaves the power rating alone.
LEBANON, Tenn. — Local Yokels BBQ won 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN, best of 118 invited teams; ZIPS BBQ took reserve. An invite-only field, so it leaves the power rating alone and goes straight into the record book.
Across May 2024, 50 sanctioned contests were scored, across 23 states and provinces, drawing 1,137 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 1,934 top-ten calls and handed out 92 perfect 180s. 210 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 50 in all. The 14 oldest are listed under Complete Results, B4.
- Burnin and Lootin Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival
- Bocephus BBQ McLouth BBQ Blowout 33rd Annual
- T-Rex bbq Smokin in Steele
- Triple H BBQ Covington World's Oldest Barbeque Festival
- Bad Rooster BBQ Honeybee BBQ Competition
- SLAPS BBQ Big Blue BBQ Championship
- Cooklounge BBQ Belgisch Barbecue Weekend - Day 3
- Smokin J's BBQ Kenai River BBQ Competition
- Razorracks 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL
- Bushwood BBQ 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL
- Smokin Outlaws Embers and Ice Pitmaster Championship
- Crooked Pigs BBQ, Blues & Brews on the Bay
- Parrothead smokers Jack 9 Memorial
- Local Yokels BBQ 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN
- Porterhouse BBQ Best Dam Barbeque
- Off The Rack BBQ Big Knob BBQ & Brew Fest
- Cherry Anchor BBQ Roaring Camp BBQ Cook Off
- ELJEFE SMOKE Massachusetts in May (Day 2)
- The Fat is Where It's At Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 2)
- Schneider Birgit Muehlviertler BBQ Festival (ONE MEAT CHICKEN)
- Dutch BBQ Smokers Muehlviertler BBQ Festival
- Smoking Finns Twin Smoke
- Smokey Bees BBQ The High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Chunky BBQ Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 1)
- SHIGGIN & GRINNIN King of the Corn
- Blowing Smoke BBQ Rockin' BBQ Warsaw (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Tire Smoke BBQ Rockin' BBQ Warsaw
- Barking Dog BBQ Tom Brigham Memorial BBQ
- Rooters-N-Tooters Bloomin' BBQ Music & Food Festival
- Poor Boys BBQ Massachusetts in May (Day 1)
- Optimus Swine Kings of Q BBQ Cook-Off and Festival
- HEAVY SMOKE BBQ Give Local First - Charity BBQ Festival
- Swine-O-Licious BBQ RTrowbridge Memorial Cook Flyin (BACKYARD)
- Hot Daddy's BBQ Minnesota in May
- Weez's Groovin' BBQ Minnesota in May (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Stewbabys BBQ 18th Annual Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off
Score of the month
Cherry Anchor BBQ Turns In the Month’s Best Card
713.7028 out of 720 at Roaring Camp BBQ Cook Off — the highest Master overall scored in May 2024.
713.7028 Master overall, out of 720
FELTON, Calif. — Cherry Anchor BBQ put up 713.7028 at Roaring Camp BBQ Cook Off — the highest overall of the month.
Hottest hand
Two Grand Championships in May 2024 for TRIPLE H BBQ
Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.
2× Grand Championships
TRIPLE H BBQ took 2 Grand Championships in May 2024.
First one ever
Stewbabys BBQ Wins Its First, on the 63rd Try
A first Grand Championship at 18th Annual Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off, after 63 contests in the record.
63rd contest — and their first GC
WAYNESBORO, Ga. — Stewbabys BBQ won their first Grand Championship at 18th Annual Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off, in their 63rd contest in the data.
Invite-only fields. Their results go into every team’s record; they don’t move the power rating.
KCBS World Invitational
Reserve: ZIPS BBQ
6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN — May 24, Lebanon, Tenn.
KCBS World Invitational
Reserve: Glamping Grillers
6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL — May 25, Lebanon, Tenn.
KCBS World Invitational
Reserve: Smoke This Drink That BBQ
6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL — May 25, Lebanon, Tenn.
The invitational circuit → · every invitational on record, who keeps getting invited, and who wins them.
Also in May 2024
HOT DADDY'S BBQ Defends Its Title at Minnesota in May
HOT DADDY'S BBQ won Minnesota in May again — back-to-back Grand Championships at the same contest.
The Long Shot Comes In at O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1
Pork Life won O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1 over top-rated NORALA BBQ TEAM as the ratings underdog.
Judges Hand Out 92 Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 92 perfect 180s were handed out in May 2024.
Decided by 0.0116 of a Point
Stewbabys BBQ edged FRED VEGAS SMOKERS by 0.0116 at 18th Annual Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off.
Porterhouse BBQ Back on Top After Eight Years
Porterhouse BBQ won Best Dam Barbeque — their first Grand Championship since July 2015, after 65 contests without one.
T-Rex BBQ Sets the Record at Smokin in Steele
T-Rex BBQ put up 699.9656 at Smokin in Steele — the best overall in 9 editions of the contest on record, past the old mark of 699.4056.
FIREHOUSE SMOKE Takes Three of Four Meats at Smoke in the Mitten BBQ Competition
FIREHOUSE SMOKE won 3 of 4 meats at Smoke in the Mitten BBQ Competition (chicken, pork ribs and pork).
Mad Hatter BBQ Climbs 44 Rating Points
Mad Hatter BBQ gained 44 rating points across 3 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
30 State Champions Crowned
30 state championships were decided in May 2024. The biggest, Minnesota in May (58 teams), went to Hot Daddy's BBQ.
First Time Out, Blue Falcon Takes 1st
Blue Falcon finished 1st at O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
Swine-O-licious BBQ Tops the Backyard Board at RTrowbridge Memorial Cook Flyin (BACKYARD)
Swine-O-licious BBQ put up 360.0000 on the Backyard board at RTrowbridge Memorial Cook Flyin (BACKYARD) — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
PARROTHEAD SMOKERS Runs Away With Jack 9 Memorial
PARROTHEAD SMOKERS won Jack 9 Memorial by 18.8916 points over Shiggin aint easy — the widest winning margin of the month.
118 Teams Roll Into Lebanon
6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN drew 118 teams, and Local Yokels BBQ won it.
RAZORRACKS Cooks Its 200th Contest
RAZORRACKS cooked their 200th contest on record at 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL, with 29 Grand Championships along the way.
Nobody Hauled Further Than ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN cooked 7 contests in May 2024 — nobody hauled the rig further.
LOCAL YOKELS BBQ Wins KCBS World Invitational - Open Without Winning a Meat
LOCAL YOKELS BBQ won 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 4th.
A New Contest Opens in Lebanon
6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN ran for the first time on record, drawing 118 teams, and Local Yokels BBQ won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
T & S BBQ Takes Reserve Two Times
T & S BBQ finished second overall 2 times in May 2024 without a Grand Championship — one place short every time.
Eleven Contests on One Friday
11 sanctioned contests were cooked on 17 May alone.
Jeanne Titus Works Six Contests
Jeanne Titus repped 6 contests in May 2024 — somebody has to run the table.
Perfect 180s
92 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Pork Ribs Bocephus BBQ McLouth BBQ Blowout 33rd Annual · May 31
- Brisket Heavy Smoke BBQ Covington World's Oldest Barbeque Festival · May 31
- Chicken ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN Covington World's Oldest Barbeque Festival · May 31
- Chicken SLAPS BBQ Big Blue BBQ Championship · May 31
- Pork SLAPS BBQ Big Blue BBQ Championship · May 31
- Chicken Smoken J's BBQ Kenai River BBQ Competition · May 31
- Pork Smoken J's BBQ Kenai River BBQ Competition · May 31
- Pork Brisket Butts Embers and Ice Pitmaster Championship · May 25
- Pork Ribs Bushwood BBQ 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL · May 25
- Brisket COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL · May 25
- Brisket CROOKED PIGS BBQ, Blues & Brews on the Bay · May 25
- Pork Glamping Grillers 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL · May 25
- Pork Ribs HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL · May 25
- Pork JANKY LEG BBQ 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL · May 25
- Pork MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL · May 25
- Pork Ribs MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL · May 25
- Pork Optimus Swine 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL · May 25
- Brisket Organizer Portal 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL · May 25
- Pork Piggin' Whiskey 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL · May 25
- Brisket Poppa Pig 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL · May 25
- Brisket REDNECK SCIENTIFIC 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL · May 25
- Chicken REDNECK SCIENTIFIC 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL · May 25
- Brisket RJs Smokehouse BBQ, Blues & Brews on the Bay · May 25
- Chicken Rack Shack bbq 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL · May 25
…and 68 more.
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over May 2024; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Mad Hatter BBQ #384 | 1,702 | ▲ 44 |
| Yardogs BBQ #444 | 1,689 | ▲ 44 |
| Meadow Creek BBQ #1,684 | 1,553 | ▲ 34 |
| MUNNY'S STOVE #209 | 1,753 | ▲ 30 |
| Unknown Smokers #3,068 | 1,504 | ▲ 29 |
| Sailor Nicks BBQ #278 | 1,729 | ▲ 29 |
| Mad Dog BBQ #933 | 1,612 | ▲ 29 |
| BAD ROOSTER BBQ #199 | 1,757 | ▲ 28 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| The BBQ Ranch #380 | 1,703 | ▲ 28 |
| LG bbq #773 | 1,631 | ▲ 27 |
| Smoke Right BBQ #5,051 | 1,462 | ▼ 23 |
| Cow-Hen-Pig #6,167 | 1,424 | ▼ 25 |
| LADY OF Q #527 | 1,672 | ▼ 26 |
| DRILLING & GRILLING #414 | 1,695 | ▼ 29 |
| Piggy & Swine BBQ #681 | 1,645 | ▼ 40 |
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 14 contests in May 2024.
- 1 Swine-O-licious BBQ RTrowbridge Memorial Cook Flyin (BACKYARD) · Derby, Kan. 360
- 2 Bushwood BBQ 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL · Lebanon, Tenn. 357.7144
- 3 Smoke This Drink That BBQ 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL · Lebanon, Tenn. 356.5716
- 4 Flaps Up BBQ The Gulf Coast BBQ Championship (BACKYARD ONLY) · Mobile, Ala. 355.4400
- 5 Blue Falcon O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 · Oneonta, Ala. 355.4288
- 6 Porky Blinders The Gulf Coast BBQ Championship (BACKYARD ONLY) · Mobile, Ala. 355.4172
- 7 NORALA BBQ TEAM O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 · Oneonta, Ala. 355.4056
- 8 Yardogs BBQ Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 1) · Morgantown, Pa. 354.2744
- 9 Jury's Out Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1 · Kannapolis, N.C. 353.7144
- 10 Small Batch BBQ - TN 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL · Lebanon, Tenn. 353.1316
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 Blue Falcon O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2
- 1st Smith N' Sunshine BBQ Roaring Camp BBQ Cook Off
- 2nd Porky Blinders The Gulf Coast BBQ Championship (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 3rd Men of Sign The Gulf Coast BBQ Championship (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 4th 9-6 Deuce Embers and Ice Pitmaster Championship
- 4th Cumbia Smokin' in the Valley
- 4th RSA's Rollin in The Backyard BBQ Team Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival
- 5th COOK SHAK BBQ The Gulf Coast BBQ Championship (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 5th J & T BBQ Big Knob BBQ & Brew Fest
- 5th JMJ IBEW So Cal BBQ & Chili Cook-Off (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- 5th Ribs in Peace Muehlviertler BBQ Festival
- 5th Smokin' Voodoo Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival
- 5th Uncle Jakes BBQ Roaring Camp BBQ Cook Off
- 6th Baby Got Ribs BBQ Big Knob BBQ & Brew Fest
- 6th Down Range BBQ SanBernardino County Sheriff Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival
- 6th Smoke Meat Not Meth IBEW So Cal BBQ & Chili Cook-Off (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- 7th Bonnie's Best Q Big Knob BBQ & Brew Fest
- 7th CHASIN BARRELS Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival
What a first season usually looks like → · 12 contests also ran for the first time on record: 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN, 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL, 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL, 18th Annual Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off, Embers and Ice Pitmaster Championship, Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival, McLouth BBQ Blowout 33rd Annual, Rockin' BBQ Warsaw, Rockin' BBQ Warsaw (ONE MEAT RIBS), Massachusetts in May (Day 1), O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1, Hog Wild BBQ & Family Fest.
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†29 | CHUNKY BBQ Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1 |
180 |
| Pork Ribs†16 | smokey anderson bbq Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 2 |
180 |
| Pork†28 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO Hog Wild BBQ & Family Fest |
180 |
| Brisket†19 | Bowmans Butt & BBQ Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| Poppa Pig | 7 | — | 2 |
| HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | 7 | — | 3 |
| Heavy Smoke BBQ | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| THE BBQ BUS | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| BrewsCue | 6 | — | 12 |
| TRIPLE H BBQ | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| BAD ROOSTER BBQ | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| CHUNKY BBQ | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Optimus Swine | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | 5 | — | 2 |
| FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | 5 | — | 2 |
| Glamping Grillers | 5 | — | 2 |
| Kermit's Ex | 5 | — | 2 |
Who Ran the Table
Contests worked · states & provinces
| Rep | C | St. |
|---|---|---|
| Jeanne Titus | 6 | 3 |
| David Burstein | 5 | 2 |
| Charlie Brinza | 4 | 2 |
| Dave Rogers | 4 | 2 |
| Eugene Wickham | 4 | 2 |
| Peg Rogers | 4 | 2 |
| Sarah Wickham | 4 | 2 |
| Alan Rothrock | 3 | 2 |
| Carol Bigler | 3 | 2 |
| Carolyn Wells | 3 | 1 |
| Doug Reid | 3 | 2 |
| Kathleen McIntosh | 3 | 2 |
| Kelly McIntosh | 3 | 2 |
| Kent Schuetz | 3 | 3 |
| Rachel Schuetz | 3 | 3 |
| Randy G Bigler | 3 | 2 |
| Robert McKee | 3 | 1 |
| Andreas Schnoell | 2 | — |
| Eva Schnoell | 2 | — |
| Ian Schmidt | 2 | 1 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 6 | 199 |
| Kansas | 4 | 97 |
| Alabama | 4 | 54 |
| Minnesota | 3 | 132 |
| California | 3 | 108 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 87 |
| North Carolina | 3 | 79 |
| Georgia | 2 | 97 |
| Indiana | 2 | 49 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 42 |
| Missouri | 2 | 40 |
| Alberta | 1 | 44 |
| Iowa | 1 | 36 |
| Nevada | 1 | 33 |
| Colorado | 1 | 29 |
| Michigan | 1 | 27 |
| Oregon | 1 | 27 |
| Mississippi | 1 | 25 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 21 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 20 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 50 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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