In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in July 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
TRIPLE H BBQ Turns In the Month’s Best Card
711.9772 out of 720 at Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest and Car Show (Day 1) — the highest Master overall scored in July 2025.
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
OSCEOLA, Mo. — TRIPLE H BBQ put up 711.9772 at Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest and Car Show (Day 1) — the highest overall of the month.
Across July 2025, 35 sanctioned contests were scored, across 22 states and provinces, drawing 760 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 1,364 top-ten calls and handed out 61 perfect 180s. 103 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 35 in all.
- Smoke This BBQ MO Code 3 Spices - Smokin' on Main
- SmellaQue Didsbury Lions BBQ
- Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2)
- Finger Liekam Good Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles Double Header (Day 2)
- Kings BBQ Team Smoke on the Mountain
- Hot Daddy's BBQ 9th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest
- Piggy & Swine BBQ Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1)
- Parrothead Smokers Albany County Fair Smokin' BBQ Cook-Off
- Munny's Stove BBQ Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles Double Header (Day 1)
- Smokin' Volts BBQ Curley Que Classic
- BLUE CHIP BBQ Fire on the Mountain BBQ
- Bar-B-Cuda BBQ Sutherlin Throwdown
- Man Meat BBQ Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest and Car Show (Day 2)
- BBQ Mike Dowagiac BBQ Competition and Summer Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Good Googly Goo BBQ The Great Atlantic BBQ Competition
- BLUE CHIP BBQ Buckeye BBQ Classic
- Dog Bite Barbecue Chillin & Grillin in the Glades
- Triple H BBQ Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest and Car Show (Day 1)
- Low Eye Que Shenandoah ShenDig
- Smokin' Volts BBQ Blaze of 47
- When Pigs Die Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest and Car Show (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Pig Candy Barbeque Co. New Jersey State Barbecue Championship
- House of Que Connecticut Barbecue Challenge
- Bramble BBQ Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 2)
- Yardogs BBQ K.S. Que (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Coaches Pit BBQ California State Fair BBQ Contest (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Shiggin aint easy Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off
- HESSHOGS4 Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Home Farm BBQ KTD Smokn' Gobbler
- IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ Goose's 1st Annual Pitmaster Showdown
- Chesters Twisted Que Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 1)
- HORMONAL ESCAPE COMPETITION BBQ Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off (Backyard 2)
- Rum N Smoke BBQ KTD Smokn' Gobbler (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Smokin' Sweetmeats South Carolina Festival of Discovery
- Brinkerhoff BBQ Dillon Days Blowin' Smoke BBQ Cook Off
Hottest hand
Two Grand Championships in Jul 2025 for Too Sauced BBQ
Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.
2× Grand Championships
Too Sauced BBQ took 2 Grand Championships in July 2025.
First one ever
Piggy & Swine BBQ Wins Its First, on the 52nd Try
A first Grand Championship at Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1), after 52 contests in the record.
52nd contest — and their first GC
NEW FREEDOM, Pa. — Piggy & Swine BBQ won their first Grand Championship at Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1), in their 52nd contest in the data.
Title defended
House of Que Defends Its Title at Connecticut Barbecue Challenge
Back-to-back Grand Championships at the same contest — 2024 and 2025.
2 in a row wins at this contest
SOMERS, Conn. — House of Que won Connecticut Barbecue Challenge again — back-to-back Grand Championships at the same contest.
Also in Jul 2025
The Long Shot Comes In at Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1)
Piggy & Swine BBQ won Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) over top-rated GETTIN' BASTED as the ratings underdog.
Judges Hand Out 61 Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 61 perfect 180s were handed out in July 2025.
Decided by 0.0000 of a Point
BBQ MIKE edged SMOKEY GQ by 0.0000 at Dowagiac BBQ Competition and Summer Festival (BACKYARD ONLY).
SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS Back on Top After Two Years
SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS won South Carolina Festival of Discovery — their first Grand Championship since November 2022, after 34 contests without one.
SMELLAQUE Sets the Record at Didsbury Lions BBQ
SMELLAQUE put up 700.5600 at Didsbury Lions BBQ — the best overall in 5 editions of the contest on record, past the old mark of 693.6684.
GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ Takes Three of Four Meats at The Great Atlantic BBQ Competition
GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ won 3 of 4 meats at The Great Atlantic BBQ Competition (chicken, pork ribs and pork), and the Grand Championship with them.
Fire Pig Climbs 47 Rating Points
Fire Pig gained 47 rating points across 4 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
24 State Champions Crowned
24 state championships were decided in July 2025. The biggest, South Carolina Festival of Discovery (66 teams), went to Smokin' Sweetmeats.
First Time Out, Rowdy Pig Takes 2nd
Rowdy Pig finished 2nd at Code 3 Spices - Smokin' on Main — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
BBQ MIKE Tops the Backyard Board at Dowagiac BBQ Competition and Summer Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
BBQ MIKE put up 354.2972 on the Backyard board at Dowagiac BBQ Competition and Summer Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
PARROTHEAD SMOKERS Runs Away With Albany County Fair Smokin' BBQ Cook-Off
PARROTHEAD SMOKERS won Albany County Fair Smokin' BBQ Cook-Off by 9.7600 points over PAPA'S PIT CREW — the widest winning margin of the month.
66 Teams Roll Into Greenwood
South Carolina Festival of Discovery drew 66 teams, and Smokin' Sweetmeats won it.
MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ Cooks Its 200th Contest
MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ cooked their 200th contest on record at Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off, with 9 Grand Championships along the way.
Nobody Hauled Further Than Bushwood BBQ
Bushwood BBQ cooked 7 contests in July 2025 — nobody hauled the rig further.
BLUE CHIP BBQ Wins Buckeye BBQ Classic Without Winning a Meat
BLUE CHIP BBQ won Buckeye BBQ Classic without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 2nd.
A New Contest Opens in Hillsboro
Buckeye BBQ Classic ran for the first time on record, drawing 40 teams, and BLUE CHIP BBQ won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE Takes Reserve Two Times
OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE finished second overall 2 times in July 2025 without a Grand Championship — one place short every time.
Seven Contests on One Friday
7 sanctioned contests were cooked on 11 Jul alone.
Eugene Wickham Works Four Contests
Eugene Wickham repped 4 contests in July 2025 — somebody has to run the table.
Perfect 180s
61 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Pork Ribs Blended Smoke BBQ Code 3 Spices - Smokin' on Main · July 26
- Chicken BrewsCue Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles Double Header (Day 2) · July 26
- Brisket Damn Fine Beef & Swine Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles Double Header (Day 2) · July 26
- Brisket EFFIN'EH GRAY'S Didsbury Lions BBQ · July 26
- Brisket FINGER LEIKAM GOOD Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles Double Header (Day 2) · July 26
- Pork GETTIN' BASTED Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) · July 26
- Chicken Must B Smokin' Somethin' BBQ Team Code 3 Spices - Smokin' on Main · July 26
- Pork Ribs SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) · July 26
- Chicken The Swine Doctor's BBQ Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) · July 26
- Brisket LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ Curley Que Classic · July 25
- Pork Ribs NORALA BBQ TEAM Smoke on the Mountain · July 25
- Pork PARROTHEAD SMOKERS Albany County Fair Smokin' BBQ Cook-Off · July 25
- Brisket Piggy & Swine BBQ Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) · July 25
- Chicken Royal Schmidt's BBQ competition team Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles Double Header (Day 1) · July 25
- Brisket The Fat is Where It's At Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) · July 25
- Chicken The Fat is Where It's At Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) · July 25
- Pork Ribs BAR-B-CUDA BBQ Sutherlin Throwdown · July 19
- Pork Ribs Bad Bears BBQ Sutherlin Throwdown · July 19
- Brisket IN DEEP SAUCE Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest and Car Show (Day 2) · July 19
- Pork MAN MEAT BBQ Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest and Car Show (Day 2) · July 19
- Pork Ribs Mulkey's BBQ Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest and Car Show (Day 2) · July 19
- Pork OM BBQ COMPANY Sutherlin Throwdown · July 19
- Chicken Pits and Grills Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest and Car Show (Day 2) · July 19
- Brisket RJs Smokehouse Sutherlin Throwdown · July 19
…and 37 more.
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Jul 2025; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Pig #640 | 1,652 | ▲ 47 |
| T-Dawg BBQ #574 | 1,664 | ▲ 34 |
| HORMONAL ESCAPE COMPETITION BBQ #830 | 1,625 | ▲ 34 |
| Must B Smokin' Somethin' BBQ Team #658 | 1,648 | ▲ 32 |
| SinBin BBQ #1,107 | 1,594 | ▲ 29 |
| MUNNY'S STOVE #209 | 1,753 | ▲ 28 |
| Palm tree smokehouse #4,721 | 1,469 | ▲ 26 |
| Pinky Out BBQ #326 | 1,718 | ▲ 24 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Too Sauced BBQ #288 | 1,727 | ▲ 24 |
| Brinkerhoff BBQ #207 | 1,754 | ▲ 23 |
| Kith n' Kin #254 | 1,740 | ▼ 23 |
| Petie's Smokin Pits BBQ #206 | 1,754 | ▼ 24 |
| Smokey Bros BBQ | 1,484 | ▼ 25 |
| MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ #516 | 1,674 | ▼ 28 |
| SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ #878 | 1,619 | ▼ 29 |
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 Jul 2025.
- 1 BBQ MIKE Dowagiac BBQ Competition and Summer Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Dowagiac, Mich. 354.2972
- 2 SMOKEY GQ Dowagiac BBQ Competition and Summer Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Dowagiac, Mich. 354.2972
- 3 NORALA BBQ TEAM Smoke on the Mountain · Galax, Va. 354.2628
- 4 Too Sauced BBQ Goose's 1st Annual Pitmaster Showdown · Papillion, Neb. 353.1316
- 5 Bramble BBQ Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 2) · Miles, Iowa 353.1316
- 6 Fire Pig Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest and Car Show (Day 2) · Osceola, Mo. 352.5832
- 7 Char-Cole Grillers Smoke on the Mountain · Galax, Va. 352.5716
- 8 E SQUARED BBQ Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest and Car Show (Day 1) · Osceola, Mo. 351.9888
- 9 East Bow Que Goose's 1st Annual Pitmaster Showdown · Papillion, Neb. 351.4172
- 10 E SQUARED BBQ Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest and Car Show (Day 2) · Osceola, Mo. 351.4172
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 Rowdy Pig Code 3 Spices - Smokin' on Main
- 3rd Charcoal Gladiators Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles Double Header (Day 1)
- 4th Diesel Boys BBQ Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles Double Header (Day 1)
- 5th Just 2 Guys Smokin The Great Atlantic BBQ Competition
- 5th Smokin' Sirens Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles Double Header (Day 1)
- 6th Back 40 Smoke Co The Great Atlantic BBQ Competition
- 6th CUT 'EM UP BBQ Goose's 1st Annual Pitmaster Showdown
- 7th SPOT ON BBQ Goose's 1st Annual Pitmaster Showdown
- 8th ROMAN SIMON BBQ Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles Double Header (Day 1)
- 8th Rehab BBQ Smoke on the Mountain
- 8th Royal Nova BBQ The Great Atlantic BBQ Competition
- 9th Jughead's BBQ Dowagiac BBQ Competition and Summer Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 9th Pit Hoss The Great Atlantic BBQ Competition
- 9th Six Packs Slabs Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest and Car Show (Day 1)
- 9th Smokin Pythons K.S. Que (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 10th Da Garage Grillers Curley Que Classic
- 10th Sun Poke The Great Atlantic BBQ Competition
- 10th Triple Haul Dillon Days Blowin' Smoke BBQ Cook Off
What a first season usually looks like → · 12 contests also ran for the first time on record: Buckeye BBQ Classic, Sutherlin Throwdown, Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest and Car Show (Day 1), 9th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest, KTD Smokn' Gobbler, Blaze of 47, Albany County Fair Smokin' BBQ Cook-Off, Goose's 1st Annual Pitmaster Showdown, Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles Double Header (Day 1), Dillon Days Blowin' Smoke BBQ Cook Off, Curley Que Classic, The Great Atlantic BBQ Competition.
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†18 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA South Carolina Festival of Discovery |
180 |
| Pork Ribs†16 | Blue Smoke Q South Carolina Festival of Discovery |
180 |
| Pork†15 | WOOD HOOK BBQ Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off |
180 |
| Brisket†12 | SMOKE N' ASH BBQ South Carolina Festival of Discovery |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bushwood BBQ | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | 6 | — | 8 |
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 5 | — | 2 |
| T-Dawg BBQ | 5 | — | 2 |
| Big Reds Backyard BBQ | 5 | — | 4 |
| WHEN PIGS DIE | 5 | — | 5 |
| Too Sauced BBQ | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| E SQUARED BBQ | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Fire Pig | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| HOT DADDY'S BBQ | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| MUNNY'S STOVE | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| HESSHOGS | 4 | — | 2 |
| Meat Candy Q | 4 | — | 2 |
| WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | 4 | — | 3 |
Who Ran the Table
Contests worked · states & provinces
| Rep | C | St. |
|---|---|---|
| Eugene Wickham | 4 | 2 |
| Sarah Wickham | 4 | 2 |
| Bill Jones | 3 | 2 |
| Dave Rogers | 3 | 1 |
| Ian Schmidt | 3 | 3 |
| Julie Poe | 3 | 3 |
| Louise Weidner | 3 | 2 |
| Peg Rogers | 3 | 1 |
| Robert McKee | 3 | 1 |
| Alan Rothrock | 2 | 2 |
| Alex Jr Brown | 2 | 2 |
| Brian Moore | 2 | 2 |
| Craig Maidens | 2 | 1 |
| Doug Reid | 2 | 2 |
| Heather Maidens | 2 | 1 |
| Jeanne Titus | 2 | 2 |
| John Scharffbillig | 2 | 1 |
| Larry Voth | 2 | 1 |
| Laurie Tweten | 2 | 1 |
| Lynda Voth | 2 | 1 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 6 | 102 |
| Iowa | 4 | 71 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 75 |
| Virginia | 2 | 75 |
| Kansas | 2 | 37 |
| Minnesota | 2 | 27 |
| South Carolina | 1 | 72 |
| New Jersey | 1 | 63 |
| Illinois | 1 | 58 |
| Ohio | 1 | 40 |
| Connecticut | 1 | 36 |
| Oregon | 1 | 36 |
| Alberta | 1 | 34 |
| Nebraska | 1 | 31 |
| Utah | 1 | 26 |
| Wyoming | 1 | 26 |
| Michigan | 1 | 17 |
| Hawaii | 1 | 13 |
| Montana | 1 | 13 |
| Nova Scotia | 1 | 11 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 35 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.
Map what is in driving range → · subscribe to the calendar → · the judging notices → · the whole calendar →
Every month with scored results, back to the start of the record. ← June 2025 August 2025 → Latest edition
Seasons in review: 2026 · 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013 · 2012