In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in May 2025.
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
Meat Me In St. Louis Wins the KCBS World Invitational
Best of 106 invited teams, with SmokinGhost BBQ in reserve — a win for the record book that leaves the power rating alone.
LEBANON, Tenn. — Meat Me In St. Louis won 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025), best of 106 invited teams; SmokinGhost BBQ took reserve. An invite-only field, so it leaves the power rating alone and goes straight into the record book.
Across May 2025, 58 sanctioned contests were scored, across 23 states and provinces, drawing 987 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 2,084 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)
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.
714.2628 Master overall, out of 720
TARGU MURES, 540088 — FOOD'VENTURE GRILL & BBQ put up 714.2628 at Transylvanian Grill & BBQ Camp — the highest overall of the month.
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.
Invite-only fields. Their results go into every team’s record; they don’t move the power rating.
KCBS World Invitational
Reserve: SmokinGhost BBQ
7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025) — May 24, Lebanon, Tenn.
KCBS World Invitational
Reserve: ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN
7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) — May 25, Lebanon, Tenn.
KCBS World Invitational
7th Annual KCBS World Invitational Ribs (Friday, May 23, 2025) — May 23, Lebanon, Tenn.
KCBS World Invitational
7th Annual KCBS World Invitational Chicken (Friday, May 23, 2025) — May 23, Lebanon, Tenn.
KCBS World Invitational
Results pending
7th Annual KCBS World Invitational Anything Molasses (Friday, May 23, 2025) — May 23, Lebanon, Tenn.
The invitational circuit → · every invitational on record, who keeps getting invited, and who wins them.
Also in May 2025
FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY Defends Its Title at Massachusetts in May
FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY won Massachusetts in May (Day 2) again — back-to-back Grand Championships at the same contest.
The Long Shot Comes In at The All American Comeback BBQ, Bourbon, & Bands
Cuatro D Barbeque won The All American Comeback BBQ, Bourbon, & Bands over top-rated GETTIN' BASTED as the ratings underdog.
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
JANKY LEG BBQ edged Rusty Pig BBQ by 0.0000 at 43rd Annual Kennett Jaycees BBQ Cook Off.
SCHLUCHTENGRILLER BBQ Back on Top After Three Years
SCHLUCHTENGRILLER BBQ won Muehlviertler BBQ Festival — their first Grand Championship since September 2021, after 31 contests without one.
CROOKED PIGS Sets the Record at BBQ, Blues & Brews on the Bay
CROOKED PIGS put up 703.3828 at BBQ, Blues & Brews on the Bay — the best overall in 11 editions of the contest on record, past the old mark of 698.3200.
FOOD'VENTURE GRILL & BBQ Takes Three of Four Meats at Transylvanian Grill & BBQ Camp
FOOD'VENTURE GRILL & BBQ won 3 of 4 meats at Transylvanian Grill & BBQ Camp (pork ribs, pork and brisket), and the Grand Championship with them.
FIRE & SHINE BBQ Climbs 48 Rating Points
FIRE & SHINE BBQ gained 48 rating points across 4 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
30 State Champions Crowned
30 state championships were decided in May 2025. The biggest, Minnesota in May (58 teams), went to Ash Kickin' BBQ.
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.
LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ Runs Away With Horse Town Brew n Que Festival
LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ won Horse Town Brew n Que Festival (Day 1) by 16.0456 points over Meat Candy Q — the widest winning margin of the month.
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.
MAN MEAT BBQ Cooks Its 250th Contest
MAN MEAT BBQ cooked their 250th contest on record at Hog Wild BBQ Cookoff and Family Fest, with 11 Grand Championships along the way.
Nobody Hauled Further Than SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA cooked 13 contests in May 2025 — nobody hauled the rig further.
MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS Wins KCBS World Invitational Without Winning a Meat
MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS won 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025) without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 3rd.
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.
Meat Candy Q Takes Reserve Four Times
Meat Candy Q finished second overall 4 times in May 2025 without a Grand Championship — one place short every time.
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; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| FIRE & SHINE BBQ #211 | 1,753 | ▲ 48 |
| SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS #762 | 1,632 | ▲ 39 |
| House of Que #913 | 1,615 | ▲ 36 |
| Bad Bears BBQ #726 | 1,637 | ▲ 35 |
| HalaQyah BBQ #995 | 1,606 | ▲ 33 |
| All About the Wood #943 | 1,611 | ▲ 31 |
| RACK CITY BBQ #1,353 | 1,575 | ▲ 30 |
| FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY #96 | 1,811 | ▲ 29 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Pinky Out BBQ #326 | 1,718 | ▲ 29 |
| Woodquarter Smokerheads #1,154 | 1,590 | ▲ 28 |
| Red and Black BBQ Shack #5,924 | 1,438 | ▼ 29 |
| Grate Expectations #1,321 | 1,578 | ▼ 29 |
| Let It Smoke Barbecue #2,666 | 1,514 | ▼ 29 |
| NECTAR OF THE HOGS #337 | 1,714 | ▼ 29 |
| Mullen It Over BBQ #6,427 | 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 |
| Pork Ribs†10 | NORALA BBQ TEAM O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 |
180 |
| Pork†23 | Deviant Smoke O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1 |
180 |
| Brisket†15 | SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ The All American Comeback BBQ, Bourbon, & Bands |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- 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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