In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in June 2025.
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
Burnin and Lootin Turns In the Month’s Best Card
712.5716 out of 720 at Pitmaster's NorUt KCBS BBQ Championship — the highest Master overall scored in June 2025.
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
OGDEN, Utah — Burnin and Lootin put up 712.5716 at Pitmaster's NorUt KCBS BBQ Championship — the highest overall of the month.
Across June 2025, 57 sanctioned contests were scored, across 25 states and provinces, drawing 1,115 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 2,009 top-ten calls and handed out 77 perfect 180s. 218 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.
- Bigg Smoak BBQ Blue Bombers BBQ Pit Master Showdown
- B.R.A. BARBECUE TEAM KCBS Brasil Barbecue Contest
- It's spice that meats you Riverland Smokers BBQ Contest 2025 (Day 2)
- Schluchtengriller Mee (a)t and Fire BBQ Festival Innsbruck (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Dog Bite Barbecue York County BBQ Festival (Day 2)
- Smoky Cotte Mee (a)t and Fire BBQ Festival Innsbruck
- Slaps BBQ The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship
- Smellaque Smoke-N-Wings
- Blind Hog BBQ Old Town Smokeout
- Can Country Outlaw BBQ Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown
- Dog Bite Barbecue York County BBQ Festival (Day 1)
- BRAMBLE BBQ Art of the Que (Backyard 2)
- Fire Family BBQ PTY Pz al Carbon, Festival BBQ 2025
- LEE LA Q Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- BIG RACKS BBQ Art of the Que (Masters and Backyard 1)
- The Antwerp Smokers Riverland Smokers BBQ Contest 2025 (Day 1)
- HOT DADDY'S BBQ Art of the Que (One Meat Ribs)
- Thin Blue Smoke Old Town Smokeout (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Kreiser Barbecue Smokey Skies BBQ Competition
- 3 Eyz BBQ Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle
- Smokecraft - MD Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA Frog Alley Brew-B-Que Cookoff
- Smoked & Furious Last Frontier BBQ Throwdown
- YES, DEAR BBQ Poosa Q
- Rudes BBQ Rhythm & BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Alpine Smoke Works Big BBQ Bash
- HOT DADDY'S BBQ Rose Festival's 24th Annual KCBS BBQ Competition
- BBQ Pit Bros Camp High Hopes Rib Fest (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Burnin and Lootin Pitmaster's NorUt KCBS BBQ Championship
- Loco Smokers IBEW So Cal BBQ & Chili Cook-Off (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- Dry 2 da bone Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD)
- The BBQ Ranch The War of Barbeque (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- I cinghiali bbq team The War of Barbeque (ONE MEAT CHICKEN)
- Average Joe BBQ Team The War of Barbeque
- Ribs N Pigs BBQ Smokin Barrel Fest
- Big James Kitchen Robertson County Fair Assoc. Barbeque Throwdown (COMPETITOR SERIES)
Hottest hand
Two Grand Championships in Jun 2025 for Rudes BBQ
Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.
2× Grand Championships
Rudes BBQ took 2 Grand Championships in June 2025.
First one ever
HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY Wins Its First, on the 122nd Try
A first Grand Championship at WV Coalfields Cookoff WV KCBS State Championship, after 122 contests in the record.
122nd contest — and their first GC
WELCH, W.Va. — HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY won their first Grand Championship at WV Coalfields Cookoff WV KCBS State Championship, in their 122nd contest in the data.
Title defended
CHUNKY BBQ Defends Its Title at Almost Heaven BBQ Bash
Back-to-back Grand Championships at the same contest — 2024 and 2025.
2 in a row wins at this contest
BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — CHUNKY BBQ won Almost Heaven BBQ Bash again — back-to-back Grand Championships at the same contest.
Also in Jun 2025
The Long Shot Comes In at Big BBQ Bash
ALPINE SMOKE WORKS won Big BBQ Bash over top-rated ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN as the ratings underdog.
Judges Hand Out 77 Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 77 perfect 180s were handed out in June 2025.
Decided by 0.0112 of a Point
SLAPS BBQ edged Squealin N Dealin BBQ by 0.0112 at The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship.
Sugar Hounds Back on Top After Six Years
Sugar Hounds won Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest — their first Grand Championship since June 2019, after 3 contests without one.
SLAPS BBQ Sets the Record at The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship
SLAPS BBQ put up 707.4400 at The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship — the best overall in 5 editions of the contest on record, past the old mark of 704.0344.
Loco Smokers Takes Three of Four Meats at Ibew So Cal BBQ & Chili Cook-Off
Loco Smokers won 3 of 4 meats at IBEW So Cal BBQ & Chili Cook-Off (COMPETITOR SERIES) (chicken, pork ribs and pork), and the Grand Championship with them.
Bramble BBQ Climbs 49 Rating Points
Bramble BBQ gained 49 rating points across 5 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
28 State Champions Crowned
28 state championships were decided in June 2025. The biggest, The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship (159 teams), went to Slaps BBQ.
First Time Out, Fire Family BBQ PTY Takes 1st
Fire Family BBQ PTY finished 1st at Pz al Carbon, Festival BBQ 2025 — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
Leaning Jowler BBQ Tops the Backyard Board at Catskills Barbeque - Backyard Competition (Day 2)
Leaning Jowler BBQ put up 360.0000 on the Backyard board at Catskills Barbeque - Backyard Competition (Day 2) — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
Damn Fine Beef & Swine Runs Away With Big Blue BBQ Championship
Damn Fine Beef & Swine won Big Blue BBQ Championship by 8.5944 points over THE SMOKING HILLS — the widest winning margin of the month.
159 Teams Roll Into Lenexa
The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship drew 159 teams, and Slaps BBQ won it.
WHEN PIGS DIE Cooks Its 200th Contest
WHEN PIGS DIE cooked their 200th contest on record at Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD), with 3 Grand Championships along the way.
Nobody Hauled Further Than WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ
WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ cooked 7 contests in June 2025 — nobody hauled the rig further.
SLAPS BBQ Wins The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship Without Winning a Meat
SLAPS BBQ won The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 3rd.
A New Contest Opens in Morris
Rhythm & BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) ran for the first time on record, drawing 36 teams, and Rudes BBQ won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ Takes Reserve Three Times
WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ finished second overall 3 times in June 2025 without a Grand Championship — one place short every time.
Twelve Contests on One Friday
12 sanctioned contests were cooked on 27 Jun alone.
Charlie Brinza Works Seven Contests
Charlie Brinza repped 7 contests in June 2025 — somebody has to run the table.
Perfect 180s
77 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Chicken BIGG SMOAK BBQ Blue Bombers BBQ Pit Master Showdown · June 30
- Brisket Brisket Butts Blue Bombers BBQ Pit Master Showdown · June 30
- Brisket B.R.A. BARBECUE TEAM KCBS Brasil Barbecue Contest · June 28
- Pork Ribs BBQ Hot Yard Mee (a)t and Fire BBQ Festival Innsbruck · June 28
- Pork Ribs BUNCH OF SWINES Riverland Smokers BBQ Contest 2025 (Day 2) · June 28
- Brisket Dog Bite Barbecue York County BBQ Festival (Day 2) · June 28
- Pork Koji Smoker BBQ KCBS Brasil Barbecue Contest · June 28
- Pork Ribs Labarba bbq KCBS Brasil Barbecue Contest · June 28
- Pork MG74 KCBS Brasil Barbecue Contest · June 28
- Pork Smoky Cotte Mee (a)t and Fire BBQ Festival Innsbruck · June 28
- Pork AMERICAN HEROES BBQ Smoke-N-Wings · June 27
- Pork BLIND HOG BBQ Old Town Smokeout · June 27
- Chicken Big Racks BBQ Art of the Que (Masters and Backyard 1) · June 27
- Pork Ribs DB BBQ Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown · June 27
- Brisket FIRE DANCER BBQ Old Town Smokeout · June 27
- Brisket GETTIN' BASTED The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship · June 27
- Chicken HOLLOW Q Old Town Smokeout · June 27
- Chicken Rusty Que The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship · June 27
- Brisket SUPER SWINE Old Town Smokeout · June 27
- Pork SUPER SWINE Old Town Smokeout · June 27
- Chicken Smokin Brothers Pro Team The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship · June 27
- Pork Squealin N Dealin BBQ The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship · June 27
- Pork Ribs Three Brothers Different Mothers The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship · June 27
- Pork WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship · June 27
…and 53 more.
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Jun 2025; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Bramble BBQ #280 | 1,729 | ▲ 49 |
| Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que #807 | 1,627 | ▲ 41 |
| SMOKIN E'S BBQ #654 | 1,649 | ▲ 41 |
| FENDER BENDER BBQ #314 | 1,721 | ▲ 39 |
| Dog Bite Barbecue #546 | 1,669 | ▲ 39 |
| Rudes BBQ #136 | 1,785 | ▲ 38 |
| HOME FARM BBQ #596 | 1,660 | ▲ 38 |
| PAPA'S PIT CREW #939 | 1,612 | ▲ 35 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Split Borders BBQ #4,665 | 1,470 | ▲ 33 |
| SASSY SMOKE BBQ #883 | 1,618 | ▲ 31 |
| All About the Wood #943 | 1,611 | ▼ 28 |
| Yankee Twang BBQ Co. #5,828 | 1,441 | ▼ 29 |
| Unknown Smokers #3,068 | 1,504 | ▼ 29 |
| Clean Smoke BBQ Team #1,229 | 1,584 | ▼ 30 |
| BUCKSHOT BBQ - TX #2,408 | 1,523 | ▼ 32 |
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 17 contests in Jun 2025.
- 1 Leaning Jowler BBQ Catskills Barbeque - Backyard Competition (Day 2) · Grahamsville, N.Y. 360
- 2 Mind if I Smoke? Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) · Huntsville, Ala. 358.8572
- 3 Rough Cut Q Catskills Barbeque - Backyard Competition (Day 2) · Grahamsville, N.Y. 356.5716
- 4 Hickory Hangover Poosa Q · Montgomery, Ala. 356.5716
- 5 Mad Hatter BBQ WV Coalfields Cookoff WV KCBS State Championship · Welch, W.Va. 356.5600
- 6 Rudes BBQ Rhythm & BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Morris, Ill. 355.4172
- 7 BBQ Pit Bros Camp High Hopes Rib Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) · Sioux City, Iowa 354.9144
- 8 BBQ MIKE Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) · West Salem, Wis. 354.2972
- 9 Yardogs BBQ Catskills Barbeque - Backyard Competition (Day 2) · Grahamsville, N.Y. 354.2744
- 10 GSP Barbecue Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) · Huntsville, Ala. 353.7144
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 B.R.A. BARBECUE TEAM KCBS Brasil Barbecue Contest
- 1st Fire Family BBQ PTY Pz al Carbon, Festival BBQ 2025
- 1st GrillMatic Smokin Barrel Fest
- 2nd Blues Q's Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest
- 2nd DrumQ BBQ C.R. Pz al Carbon, Festival BBQ 2025
- 2nd Ferro Fogo Barbecue Team KCBS Brasil Barbecue Contest
- 2nd Hot Tooters Robertson County Fair Assoc. Barbeque Throwdown (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- 3rd Capt. Tobias Smokers Hoosier BBQ Classic
- 3rd Firehouse Jimat BBQ Pz al Carbon, Festival BBQ 2025
- 3rd Koji Smoker BBQ KCBS Brasil Barbecue Contest
- 3rd Smoke Brisket Not Meth IBEW So Cal BBQ & Chili Cook-Off (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- 4th Dino Joe BBQ Hoosier BBQ Classic
- 4th Pancho and Leftys Devils Backbone BBQ Championship (Day 1)
- 4th Porcos Diamantes KCBS Brasil Barbecue Contest
- 4th Salt and Sizzle BBQ WV Coalfields Cookoff WV KCBS State Championship
- 4th Smoke All Day IBEW So Cal BBQ & Chili Cook-Off (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- 5th G- Squad IBEW So Cal BBQ & Chili Cook-Off (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- 5th GRILLZLY BBQ The War of Barbeque
What a first season usually looks like → · 12 contests also ran for the first time on record: Rhythm & BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY), Hayden West's Delta Smoke BBQ Contest, 11th Annual K of C BBQ Smoke Off 4-Life, McLouth BBQ Blowout 34th Annual, Smokey Skies BBQ Competition, Old Town Smokeout, KCBS Brasil Barbecue Contest, Rose Festival's 24th Annual KCBS BBQ Competition, Blue Bombers BBQ Pit Master Showdown, Pitmaster's NorUt KCBS BBQ Championship, Pz al Carbon, Festival BBQ 2025, Devils Backbone BBQ Championship (Day 1).
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†22 | COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ Hayden West's Delta Smoke BBQ Contest |
180 |
| Pork Ribs†20 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ WV Coalfields Cookoff WV KCBS State Championship |
180 |
| Pork†20 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ Hayden West's Delta Smoke BBQ Contest |
180 |
| Brisket†15 | Thin Blue Smoke MS Hayden West's Delta Smoke BBQ Contest |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | 7 | — | 2 |
| WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | 7 | — | 2 |
| Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit | 7 | — | 3 |
| Risky Brisket | 7 | — | 4 |
| WHEN PIGS DIE | 7 | — | 6 |
| Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | 7 | — | 8 |
| Rudes BBQ | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| Big Racks BBQ | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Bramble BBQ | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| DAWGS BBQ | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| FENDER BENDER BBQ | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| HOT DADDY'S BBQ | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| LEE LA Q | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| LC BBQ | 6 | — | 2 |
| SASSY SMOKE BBQ | 6 | — | 2 |
Who Ran the Table
Contests worked · states & provinces
| Rep | C | St. |
|---|---|---|
| Charlie Brinza | 7 | 3 |
| Jeanne Titus | 6 | 2 |
| Brenda Black | 5 | 2 |
| Ken Black | 5 | 2 |
| Alex Jr Brown | 4 | 2 |
| Bill Jones | 4 | 2 |
| Bunny Tuttle | 4 | 3 |
| Luca Famigli | 4 | — |
| Rich Tuttle | 4 | 3 |
| Roberto Sirok | 4 | — |
| Angela McKee | 3 | 2 |
| Becky Druetzler | 3 | 1 |
| Carol Bigler | 3 | 1 |
| Dave Druetzler | 3 | 1 |
| David Burstein | 3 | 1 |
| Eugene Wickham | 3 | 3 |
| Forrest Bruce | 3 | 2 |
| Haymo Gutweniger | 3 | — |
| Jeff Chambers | 3 | 1 |
| John Scharffbillig | 3 | 1 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 5 | 288 |
| Iowa | 5 | 67 |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 102 |
| Illinois | 3 | 76 |
| Arkansas | 3 | 44 |
| New York | 3 | 26 |
| Alabama | 2 | 101 |
| Tennessee | 2 | 60 |
| South Dakota | 2 | 52 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 50 |
| West Virginia | 2 | 45 |
| Indiana | 2 | 37 |
| District of Columbia | 2 | 26 |
| Virginia | 2 | 19 |
| Idaho | 1 | 51 |
| Montana | 1 | 33 |
| Saskatchewan | 1 | 27 |
| Manitoba | 1 | 24 |
| California | 1 | 17 |
| SJ | 1 | 16 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 57 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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