Back issue
Every sanctioned contest scored in May 2025.
Kansas City Barbeque Society · 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
FOOD'VENTURE GRILL & BBQ Turns In the Month’s Best Card
714.2628 out of 720 at Transylvanian Grill & BBQ Camp — the highest Master overall scored in May 2025.
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
TARGU MURES, 540088 — FOOD'VENTURE GRILL & BBQ put up 714.2628 at Transylvanian Grill & BBQ Camp — the highest overall of the month.
Across May 2025, 58 sanctioned contests were scored, across 23 states and provinces, drawing 987 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 2,098 top-ten calls and handed out 92 perfect 180s. 192 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 57 in all. The 21 oldest are listed under Complete Results, B4.
- Smokin' Volts BBQ The Santiam Smoke Show (Day 2)
- Fire At the End of the Day Granite State BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2)
- Q Cartel Small Town Smoke Down
- Loot N' Booty BBQ Horse Town Brew n Que Festival (Day 2)
- Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA Granite State BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT CHICKEN)
- Meat Monarchy Granite State BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Bad Bears BBQ The Santiam Smoke Show (Day 1)
- Dry 2 Da Bone Smokin' in Steele
- Loot N' Booty BBQ Horse Town Brew n Que Festival (Day 1)
- Stewbabys BBQ Honeybee BBQ Competition
- Mudville BBQ Covington World's Oldest Barbeque Festival
- Fire At the End of the Day Granite State BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 1)
- Leaning Jowler BBQ The Loudoun Rotary BBQ Classic (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Scuffletown Smokers 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025)
- Meat Me In St. Louis 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025)
- SmellaQue Embers and Ice Pitmaster Championship
- Crooked Pigs BBQ, Blues & Brews on the Bay
- Cyclone BBQ Jack9 Memorial BBQ Competition
- Bunch of Swines Het Belgisch Barbecue Weekend 6the Edition
- Scuffletown Smokers 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational Ribs (Friday, May 23, 2025)
- Take It Easy BBQ 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational Chicken (Friday, May 23, 2025)
- Tuffy's BBQ Best Dam BBQ
- BBQ+ Het Belgisch Barbecue Weekend 5the Edition
- HotMess BBQ Big Knob BBQ Fest
- Fire At The End of the Day Massachusetts in May (Day 2)
- Chunky BBQ Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 2)
- Westside BBQ Team Muehlviertler BBQ Festival (ONE MEAT PORK)
- Schluchtengriller BBQ Team Muehlviertler BBQ Festival
- Barbecoa BBQ Team Muehlviertler BBQ Festival (ONE MEAT BRISKET)
- Smoking Finns Twin Smoke
- BooyaQ 11th Annual Rockin' BBQ
- Wag's Backwoods BBQ King of the Corn
- HalaQyah BBQ Bloomin' BBQ Music & Food Festival
- Dogpatch Q High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Risky Brisket 11th Annual Rockin' BBQ (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Pig Candy Barbeque Co. Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 1)
Hottest hand
Four Grand Championships in May 2025 for FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY
Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.
4× Grand Championships
FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY took 4 Grand Championships in May 2025.
First one ever
BooyaQ Wins Its First, on the 58th Try
A first Grand Championship at 11th Annual Rockin' BBQ, after 58 contests in the record.
58th contest — and their first GC
WARSAW, Ind. — BooyaQ won their first Grand Championship at 11th Annual Rockin' BBQ, in their 58th contest in the data.
Upset of the month
The Long Shot Comes In at The All American Comeback BBQ, Bourbon, & Bands
The ratings gave Cuatro D Barbeque a 5% chance, with GETTIN' BASTED the team to beat.
5-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings
RUIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. — Cuatro D Barbeque won The All American Comeback BBQ, Bourbon, & Bands over top-rated GETTIN' BASTED as the ratings underdog.
Also in May 2025
Judges Hand Out 92 Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 92 perfect 180s were handed out in May 2025.
Decided by 0.0000 of a Point
MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS edged SmokinGhost BBQ by 0.0000 at 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025).
FIRE & SHINE BBQ Climbs 48 Rating Points
FIRE & SHINE BBQ gained 48 rating points across 4 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
First Time Out, Cuatro D Barbeque Takes 1st
Cuatro D Barbeque finished 1st at The All American Comeback BBQ, Bourbon, & Bands — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
NORALA BBQ TEAM Tops the Backyard Board at O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2
NORALA BBQ TEAM put up 358.8572 on the Backyard board at O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
106 Teams Roll Into Lebanon
7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025) drew 106 teams, and Meat Me In St. Louis won it.
Nobody Hauled Further Than SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA cooked 13 contests in May 2025 — nobody hauled the rig further.
A New Contest Opens in Lebanon
7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025) ran for the first time on record, drawing 106 teams, and Meat Me In St. Louis won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
Ten Contests on One Friday
10 sanctioned contests were cooked on 16 May alone.
CHARLIE BRINZA Works Seven Contests
CHARLIE BRINZA repped 7 contests in May 2025 — somebody has to run the table.
Perfect 180s
92 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Chicken Bad Bears BBQ The Santiam Smoke Show (Day 2) · May 31
- Chicken ELJEFE SMOKE Granite State BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) · May 31
- Chicken GETTIN' BASTED The Santiam Smoke Show (Day 2) · May 31
- Pork HUMPHREY'S BBQ Granite State BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2) · May 31
- Chicken LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ Horse Town Brew n Que Festival (Day 2) · May 31
- Chicken RIO VALLEY MEAT The Santiam Smoke Show (Day 2) · May 31
- Brisket SLINGIN MEATS The Santiam Smoke Show (Day 2) · May 31
- Chicken SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA Granite State BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) · May 31
- Chicken Bad Bears BBQ The Santiam Smoke Show (Day 1) · May 30
- Pork Ribs BrewsCue Covington World's Oldest Barbeque Festival · May 30
- Chicken Electro-Que-ted Honeybee BBQ Competition · May 30
- Chicken Grillbilly Holland Honeybee BBQ Competition · May 30
- Chicken Kith n' Kin Covington World's Oldest Barbeque Festival · May 30
- Pork Ribs LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ Horse Town Brew n Que Festival (Day 1) · May 30
- Brisket MUDVILLE BBQ Covington World's Oldest Barbeque Festival · May 30
- Chicken MUDVILLE BBQ Covington World's Oldest Barbeque Festival · May 30
- Pork PADDY MCQ'S Granite State BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 1) · May 30
- Chicken SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA Granite State BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 1) · May 30
- Pork The Pitfather BBQ Horse Town Brew n Que Festival (Day 1) · May 30
- Chicken WHEN PIGS DIE Smokin' in Steele · May 30
- Chicken BLUE CHIP BBQ 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) · May 25
- Chicken Bears Backyard Q 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) · May 25
- Brisket FRED VEGAS SMOKERS 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) · May 25
- Pork Ribs LOCAL YOKELS BBQ 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) · May 25
…and 68 more.
The Ratings Market Power rating, and the move over May 2025
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| FIRE & SHINE BBQ #186 | 1,762 | ▲ 48 |
| SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS #1007 | 1,604 | ▲ 39 |
| House of Que #908 | 1,615 | ▲ 36 |
| Bad Bears BBQ #577 | 1,661 | ▲ 35 |
| HalaQyah BBQ #887 | 1,617 | ▲ 32 |
| All About the Wood #720 | 1,638 | ▲ 31 |
| RACK CITY BBQ #1331 | 1,575 | ▲ 30 |
| FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY #104 | 1,805 | ▲ 29 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Pinky Out BBQ #325 | 1,718 | ▲ 29 |
| Woodquarter Smokerheads #1042 | 1,600 | ▲ 28 |
| Red and Black BBQ Shack #5860 | 1,439 | ▼ 28 |
| Grate Expectations #1303 | 1,578 | ▼ 28 |
| Let It Smoke Barbecue #2662 | 1,514 | ▼ 29 |
| NECTAR OF THE HOGS #306 | 1,720 | ▼ 29 |
| Mullen It Over BBQ #6350 | 1,385 | ▼ 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 14 contests in May 2025.
- 1 NORALA BBQ TEAM O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 · Oneonta, Ala. 358.8572
- 2 Dogpatch Q High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Winchester, Tenn. 358.8572
- 3 Smokey Bees BBQ - MS O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 · Oneonta, Ala. 357.7144
- 4 Electro-Que-ted 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) · Lebanon, Tenn. 357.7144
- 5 Electro-Que-ted O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 · Oneonta, Ala. 357.7028
- 6 NORALA BBQ TEAM O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1 · Oneonta, Ala. 355.4288
- 7 Capt. Blue BBQ Big Knob BBQ Fest · Rochester, Pa. 354.8800
- 8 Hickory Hangover 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) · Lebanon, Tenn. 354.2744
- 9 PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) · Lebanon, Tenn. 353.1200
- 10 NORALA BBQ TEAM 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) · Lebanon, Tenn. 353.1200
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 Cuatro D Barbeque The All American Comeback BBQ, Bourbon, & Bands
- 2nd Ellie Heath Minnesota in May
- 2nd From Nil to Grill Twin Smoke
- 2nd Smoke and No Mirrors Embers and Ice Pitmaster Championship
- 3rd Hunny and Hooch Embers and Ice Pitmaster Championship
- 3rd Jack's Smokey BBQ Transylvanian Grill & BBQ Camp
- 4th The Rusty Grill Transylvanian Grill & BBQ Camp
- 5th Austin Calhoun Minnesota in May
- 5th Booze Brothers Q Big Knob BBQ Fest
- 5th Brewski's BBQ Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 2)
- 5th HellHounds BBQ Embers and Ice Pitmaster Championship
- 6th Clean Smoke The Loudoun Rotary BBQ Classic (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 6th Cougar BBQ Embers and Ice Pitmaster Championship
- 6th Elaina Bishop Minnesota in May
- 6th Milkhouse BBQ Big Knob BBQ Fest
- 6th Roni Q Transylvanian Grill & BBQ Camp
- 7th Baby Got Ribs Big Knob BBQ Fest
- 7th Jalape'o Joe's BBQ Big Knob BBQ Fest
What a first season usually looks like → · 12 contests also ran for the first time on record: 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025), 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational Ribs (Friday, May 23, 2025), 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational Chicken (Friday, May 23, 2025), 11th Annual Rockin' BBQ, King of the Corn, The All American Comeback BBQ, Bourbon, & Bands, The Santiam Smoke Show (Day 1), 11th Annual Rockin' BBQ (ONE MEAT RIBS), Hog Wild BBQ Cookoff and Family Fest, 43rd Annual Kennett Jaycees BBQ Cook Off, Smoke in the Mitten, Jack9 Memorial BBQ Competition.
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†44 | BrewsCue The All American Comeback BBQ, Bourbon, & Bands |
180.0000 |
| Pork Ribs†10 | NORALA BBQ TEAM O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 |
180.0000 |
| Pork†23 | Deviant Smoke O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1 |
180.0000 |
| Brisket†15 | SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ The All American Comeback BBQ, Bourbon, & Bands |
180.0000 |
† a perfect 180 was scored in this category during the edition.
Who Showed Up
Contests · Grand Championships · best overall finish
| Team | C | GC | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| Professor Smoke | 12 | — | 21 |
| House of Que | 11 | — | 2 |
| Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit | 11 | — | 2 |
| HUMPHREY'S BBQ | 10 | — | 6 |
| GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | 9 | — | 2 |
| BrewsCue | 9 | — | 3 |
| Leaning Jowler BBQ | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Deviant Smoke | 8 | — | 2 |
| Kith n' Kin | 8 | — | 2 |
| LEE LA Q | 8 | — | 2 |
| PADDY MCQ'S | 8 | — | 2 |
| BAD ROOSTER BBQ | 8 | — | 3 |
| THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE | 8 | — | 3 |
| Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | 8 | — | 5 |
Who Ran the Table
Contests worked · states & provinces
| Rep | C | St. |
|---|---|---|
| CHARLIE BRINZA | 7 | 3 |
| BILL WRIGHT | 6 | 2 |
| DAVE ROGERS | 6 | 2 |
| JEANNE TITUS | 6 | 3 |
| KIM WRIGHT | 6 | 2 |
| PEG ROGERS | 6 | 2 |
| HAYMO GUTWENIGER | 5 | — |
| IAN SCHMIDT | 4 | 2 |
| JEFF CHAMBERS | 4 | 1 |
| JULIE POE | 4 | 2 |
| KATHLEEN MCINTOSH | 4 | 2 |
| KELLY MCINTOSH | 4 | 2 |
| REGINA BODNAR | 4 | 1 |
| ROBERT MCKEE | 4 | 2 |
| ALAN ROTHROCK | 3 | 2 |
| CAROL BIGLER | 3 | 2 |
| CAROLYN WELLS | 3 | 1 |
| DAVID BURSTEIN | 3 | 1 |
| DOUG REID | 3 | 2 |
| EUGENE WICKHAM | 3 | 1 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 8 | 210 |
| California | 4 | 75 |
| New Jersey | 4 | 52 |
| New Hampshire | 4 | 29 |
| Minnesota | 3 | 130 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 67 |
| Oregon | 3 | 49 |
| Georgia | 2 | 108 |
| Alberta | 2 | 68 |
| Indiana | 2 | 43 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 40 |
| Michigan | 2 | 31 |
| Alabama | 2 | 30 |
| NO | 2 | 16 |
| Iowa | 1 | 33 |
| New Mexico | 1 | 31 |
| Nevada | 1 | 29 |
| Kansas | 1 | 27 |
| Missouri | 1 | 27 |
| Mississippi | 1 | 27 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 58 in all, newest first. Click a column head to sort; click a row for the contest.
Contests Advertised
- SD BBQ Shootout @ Huset's Speedway — Friday, Sept. 4. Brandon, S.D. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Smoke on the River (Day 1) — Friday, Sept. 4. Burlington, Kan. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Barbeque on the Bow Festival — Friday, Sept. 4. Calgary, Alta. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Meat & Tater BBQ Fest — Friday, Sept. 4. Meridian, Idaho. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Meat & Tater BBQ Fest (ONE MEAT RIBS) — Friday, Sept. 4. Meridian, Idaho. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Certified Barbeque Judging Class & Table Captain Class - Mexico (Nuevo Laredo) — Friday, Sept. 4. Nuevo Laredo, TM. A certified judge class; enrolment through the Society.
- Smoke on the River (Day 2) — Saturday, Sept. 5. Burlington, Kan. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Certified Barbeque Judging Class & Table Captain Class - Mexico (Tampico) — Saturday, Sept. 5. Tampico, TM. A certified judge class; enrolment through the Society.
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