In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in August 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
Score of the month
73-BBQ Turns In the Month’s Best Card
712.0000 out of 720 at Smoke in the Orchard, Powered by Sunpoke — the highest Master overall scored in August 2025.
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
KESWICK, N.B. — 73-BBQ put up 712.0000 at Smoke in the Orchard, Powered by Sunpoke — the highest overall of the month.
Across August 2025, 50 sanctioned contests were scored, across 25 states and provinces, drawing 987 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 1,768 top-ten calls and handed out 67 perfect 180s. 138 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.
- RUDES BBQ Smokin Ghost BBQ Rib Double Dip 2 (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- The BBQ Bus Smokin Ghost BBQ Rib Double Dip 1 (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- SmellaQue Barbeque on the Bow Festival
- BOCEPHUS BBQ Smoke on the River (Day 2)
- Hot Daddy's BBQ SD BBQ Shootout @ Huset's Speedway
- Smokin' Volts BBQ Meat & Tater BBQ Fest
- SQUEALIN N DEALIN BBQ Smoke on the River (Day 1)
- Barbecoa BBQ Team Vuur en Vlees
- Rub Sweat and Beers Rock N Hogs BBQ Battle
- Smokin' Bliss BBQ Auburn Rib Cookoff (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Brinkerhoff BBQ Montana Pitmaster Classic
- No Name Smoke in the North
- Electro-Que-ted Up in Smoke on the Square (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Gettin' Basted Brighton Barbeque Bash
- Go Pig or Go Home East Central State BBQ Cookoff
- Son of a Boar BBQ MN Masters BBQ
- Wag's Backwoods BBQ Cruisin' and BBQin'
- Muttley Crew BBQ Stoney Creek BBQ Cookoff
- Angry Cock Kora Kares for Kids
- Bone Patrol Kora Kares for Kids (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Take It Easy BBQ Smoke N for the Kids
- Rob's Smokin and Grillin BBQ 8th Annual DuPont BBQ Competition
- Weez's Groovin' BBQ Smoke on the Midway (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Big Ten Bones Boomer Backyard BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Smoke This Drink That BBQ BBQ & Fly-In on the River
- Smoked & Furious Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship
- Rooters-N-Tooters TN Madison Ribberfest
- ZIPS BBQ Pigs & Peaches
- Wyo Smoke Show Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ Championships and Bluegrass Festival
- Dreamfire BBQ Team BBQ Festival Vanamoisa, Estonia
- B's Que Triple Crown BBQ (Day 2)
- Smokin' Volts BBQ 3rd Annual Roaring Camp BBQ Cook Off (Day 2)
- Fire at The End of The Day Trillium BBQ Throwdown
- Food'Venture Grill & BBQ Wild West Fest on Fire
- Virunum Smokers Wild West Fest on Fire (ONE MEAT CHICKEN)
- BBQ Hot Yard Wild West Fest on Fire (ONE MEAT RIBS)
Hottest hand
Two Grand Championships in Aug 2025 for Squealin N Dealin BBQ
Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.
2× Grand Championships
Squealin N Dealin BBQ took 2 Grand Championships in August 2025.
First one ever
Big Ten Bones Wins Its First, on the 49th Try
A first Grand Championship at Boomer Backyard BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY), after 49 contests in the record.
49th contest — and their first GC
CANTON, Minn. — Big Ten Bones won their first Grand Championship at Boomer Backyard BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY), in their 49th contest in the data.
By invitation only
Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ Wins the Grand American Barbecue World Championship
Best of 34 invited teams, with PADDY MCQ'S in reserve — a win for the record book that leaves the power rating alone.
34 invited teams, one Grand Champion
PORT JERVIS, N.Y. — Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ won Grand American Barbecue World Championship (Invitational) (COMPETITOR SERIES), best of 34 invited teams; PADDY MCQ'S took reserve. An invite-only field, so it leaves the power rating alone and goes straight into the record book.
Invite-only fields. Their results go into every team’s record; they don’t move the power rating.
Grand American Barbecue World Championship
Reserve: PADDY MCQ'S
Grand American Barbecue World Championship (Invitational) (COMPETITOR SERIES) — Aug. 1, Port Jervis, N.Y.
The invitational circuit → · every invitational on record, who keeps getting invited, and who wins them.
Also in Aug 2025
Son of a Boar BBQ Defends Its Title at MN Masters BBQ
Son of a Boar BBQ won MN Masters BBQ again — back-to-back Grand Championships at the same contest.
The Long Shot Comes In at Kora Kares for Kids
Angry Cock BBQ won Kora Kares for Kids over top-rated GETTIN' BASTED as the ratings underdog.
Judges Hand Out 67 Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 67 perfect 180s were handed out in August 2025.
Decided by 0.0000 of a Point
ZIPS BBQ edged BAD ROOSTER BBQ by 0.0000 at Pigs & Peaches.
Go Pig or Go Home Back on Top After Three Years
Go Pig or Go Home won East Central State BBQ Cookoff — their first Grand Championship since June 2022, after 33 contests without one.
iBQ'n Sets the Record at All American BBQ Throwdown
iBQ'n put up 709.1428 at All American BBQ Throwdown — the best overall in 8 editions of the contest on record, past the old mark of 698.8460.
Aussie TongMasters Takes Three of Four Meats at Smokin in the Valley
Aussie TongMasters won 3 of 4 meats at Smokin in the Valley (pork ribs, pork and brisket), and the Grand Championship with them.
B'S QUE Climbs 41 Rating Points
B'S QUE gained 41 rating points across 3 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
26 State Champions Crowned
26 state championships were decided in August 2025. The biggest, BBQ & Fly-In on the River (62 teams), went to Smoke This Drink That BBQ.
First Time Out, VIRUNUM SMOKERS Takes 3rd
VIRUNUM SMOKERS finished 3rd at Wild West Fest on Fire — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
Electro-Que-ted Tops the Backyard Board at Up in Smoke on the Square (BACKYARD ONLY)
Electro-Que-ted put up 357.7144 on the Backyard board at Up in Smoke on the Square (BACKYARD ONLY) — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
GETTIN' BASTED Runs Away With Brighton Barbeque Bash
GETTIN' BASTED won Brighton Barbeque Bash by 14.8572 points over SHIGGIN & GRINNIN — the widest winning margin of the month.
62 Teams Roll Into Excelsior Springs
BBQ & Fly-In on the River drew 62 teams, and Smoke This Drink That BBQ won it.
GETTIN' BASTED Cooks Its 450th Contest
GETTIN' BASTED cooked their 450th contest on record at 3rd Annual Roaring Camp BBQ Cook Off (Day 1), with 82 Grand Championships along the way.
Nobody Hauled Further Than GETTIN' BASTED
GETTIN' BASTED cooked 8 contests in August 2025 — nobody hauled the rig further.
Squealin N Dealin BBQ Wins Smoke on the Bricks Without Winning a Meat
Squealin N Dealin BBQ won Smoke on the Bricks without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 2nd.
A New Contest Opens in Port Jervis
Grand American Barbecue New York State Championship (Open) ran for the first time on record, drawing 47 teams, and Gettin' Basted won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
Optimus Swine Takes Reserve Two Times
Optimus Swine finished second overall 2 times in August 2025 without a Grand Championship — one place short every time.
Eight Contests on One Friday
8 sanctioned contests were cooked on 22 Aug alone.
Bill Jones Works Six Contests
Bill Jones repped 6 contests in August 2025 — somebody has to run the table.
Perfect 180s
67 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Pork Ribs Bocephus BBQ Smoke on the River (Day 2) · Aug. 30
- Chicken COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ Smoke on the River (Day 2) · Aug. 30
- Brisket JANKY LEG BBQ Smoke on the River (Day 2) · Aug. 30
- Brisket JDQ BBQ Smoke on the River (Day 2) · Aug. 30
- Chicken PARTS 'R' SMOKIN Smoke on the River (Day 2) · Aug. 30
- Pork Ribs Glamping Grillers Smoke on the River (Day 1) · Aug. 29
- Brisket SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ Meat & Tater BBQ Fest · Aug. 29
- Pork PARROTHEAD SMOKERS Rock N Hogs BBQ Battle · Aug. 23
- Chicken Rub Sweat and Beers Rock N Hogs BBQ Battle · Aug. 23
- Brisket Shiggin aint easy Rock N Hogs BBQ Battle · Aug. 23
- Brisket Brinkerhoff BBQ Montana Pitmaster Classic · Aug. 22
- Chicken GETTIN' BASTED Brighton Barbeque Bash · Aug. 22
- Chicken Go Pig or Go Home East Central State BBQ Cookoff · Aug. 22
- Brisket Outta Left Field BBQ Montana Pitmaster Classic · Aug. 22
- Pork Poppa Pig Cruisin' and BBQin' · Aug. 22
- Chicken QUE U Brighton Barbeque Bash · Aug. 22
- Pork Ribs Bleed Blue BBQ Smoke N for the Kids · Aug. 16
- Pork CANYON RIDERS BBQ Kora Kares for Kids · Aug. 16
- Pork JANKY LEG BBQ Smoke N for the Kids · Aug. 16
- Brisket RJs Smokehouse 8th Annual DuPont BBQ Competition · Aug. 16
- Pork Ribs Rolling Smoke BBQ 8th Annual DuPont BBQ Competition · Aug. 16
- Chicken SMOKIN TIMBERS NORTHWEST 8th Annual DuPont BBQ Competition · Aug. 16
- Brisket Take It Easy BBQ Smoke N for the Kids · Aug. 16
- Chicken Take It Easy BBQ Smoke N for the Kids · Aug. 16
…and 43 more.
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Aug 2025; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| B'S QUE #240 | 1,744 | ▲ 41 |
| Rub Sweat and Beers #2,204 | 1,531 | ▲ 32 |
| The Swine Doctor's BBQ #374 | 1,707 | ▲ 31 |
| 73-BBQ #1,612 | 1,557 | ▲ 29 |
| Bastian's Barbecue Co. #1,810 | 1,547 | ▲ 28 |
| O.G. BANDITS #469 | 1,684 | ▲ 25 |
| Big James Kitchen #600 | 1,659 | ▲ 25 |
| Leaning Jowler BBQ #103 | 1,806 | ▲ 24 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Chompa Q #1,083 | 1,596 | ▲ 24 |
| BBQ Maestros #448 | 1,688 | ▲ 24 |
| OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE #89 | 1,813 | ▼ 26 |
| TRIPLE H BBQ #14 | 1,896 | ▼ 27 |
| ELJEFE SMOKE #150 | 1,777 | ▼ 30 |
| RED SMOKE BAR-B-QUE #553 | 1,668 | ▼ 31 |
| Gold-N-Blue Barbecue #449 | 1,688 | ▼ 37 |
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 eleven contests in Aug 2025.
- 1 Electro-Que-ted Up in Smoke on the Square (BACKYARD ONLY) · Lincoln, Ill. 357.7144
- 2 BBQ MIKE Smokin Downtown (BACKYARD ONLY) · Warsaw, Ind. 357.1428
- 3 Capt. Blue BBQ Triple Crown BBQ (Day 1) · Doswell, Va. 353.1316
- 4 Electro-Que-ted Smoke on the Water BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Florence, Ala. 353.1200
- 5 Rudes BBQ Smokin Downtown (BACKYARD ONLY) · Warsaw, Ind. 352.0116
- 6 Big James Kitchen Smoke on the Water BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Florence, Ala. 351.9656
- 7 GSP Barbecue Smoke on the Water BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Florence, Ala. 351.4172
- 8 Bramble BBQ Up in Smoke on the Square (BACKYARD ONLY) · Lincoln, Ill. 350.2628
- 9 Leaning Jowler BBQ Stoney Creek BBQ Cookoff · Edinburg, Va. 349.6916
- 10 E SQUARED BBQ Up in Smoke on the Square (BACKYARD ONLY) · Lincoln, Ill. 349.6800
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
- 3rd Rafter C BBQ Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship
- 3rd VIRUNUM SMOKERS Wild West Fest on Fire
- 5th Hawt Hawgs BBQ Barbeque on the Bow Festival
- 5th Texas Moonswiners Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship
- 6th Mäxitralli BBQ Festival Vanamoisa, Estonia
- 7th Knox BBQ Wild West Fest on Fire
- 7th Sugar Daddy Bacon BBQ La Classique What the Pork?
- 7th Wingin It Rock N Hogs BBQ Battle
- 8th Double Dee BBQ Smokin Downtown (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 8th Port City BBQ Meat & Tater BBQ Fest
- 8th Saucy Rossy BBQ Smoke in the Orchard, Powered by Sunpoke
- 9th Grillfy BBQ Festival Vanamoisa, Estonia
- 9th Smokin' SRB 3rd Annual Roaring Camp BBQ Cook Off (Day 2)
- 10th FTS Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ Championships and Bluegrass Festival
- 11th BBQ LA MAISON La Classique What the Pork?
- 12th Going Hoggin Smoke on the Water BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 12th Witts End BBQ Smokin Downtown (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 13th All About BBQ Smoke in the North
What a first season usually looks like → · 12 contests also ran for the first time on record: Grand American Barbecue New York State Championship (Open), Madison Ribberfest, SD BBQ Shootout @ Huset's Speedway, Meat & Tater BBQ Fest, Grand American Barbecue World Championship (Invitational) (COMPETITOR SERIES), 8th Annual DuPont BBQ Competition, Brighton Barbeque Bash, Pigs & Peaches, East Central State BBQ Cookoff, 3rd Annual Roaring Camp BBQ Cook Off (Day 1), Triple Crown BBQ (Day 1), Smoke on the Water BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY).
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GETTIN' BASTED | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | 7 | — | 6 |
| Rudes BBQ | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| JANKY LEG BBQ | 6 | — | 3 |
| Bourbon & Blues BBQ | 6 | — | 5 |
| OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | 6 | — | 5 |
| Leaning Jowler BBQ | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Take It Easy BBQ | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| BrewsCue | 5 | — | 2 |
| Glamping Grillers | 5 | — | 2 |
| PADDY MCQ'S | 5 | — | 2 |
| SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | 5 | — | 2 |
Who Ran the Table
Contests worked · states & provinces
| Rep | C | St. |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Jones | 6 | 2 |
| Alex Jr Brown | 5 | 1 |
| Becky Druetzler | 5 | 3 |
| Dave Druetzler | 5 | 3 |
| Ian Schmidt | 5 | 3 |
| Julie Poe | 5 | 3 |
| Craig Maidens | 4 | 3 |
| Heather Maidens | 4 | 3 |
| Bill Wright | 3 | 2 |
| Brian Moore | 3 | 3 |
| Bunny Tuttle | 3 | 2 |
| Carol Bigler | 3 | 2 |
| Dave Rogers | 3 | 3 |
| Debra Gage | 3 | 1 |
| Forrest Bruce | 3 | 2 |
| Haymo Gutweniger | 3 | — |
| Jeanne Titus | 3 | 2 |
| Karina Rumens | 3 | — |
| Kim Wright | 3 | 2 |
| Larry Hadley | 3 | 2 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 5 | 88 |
| Virginia | 5 | 62 |
| Kansas | 4 | 87 |
| California | 3 | 39 |
| Maine | 2 | 66 |
| Indiana | 2 | 63 |
| Michigan | 2 | 47 |
| New York | 2 | 47 |
| Minnesota | 2 | 43 |
| Missouri | 1 | 61 |
| Texas | 1 | 55 |
| Alberta | 1 | 50 |
| South Dakota | 1 | 44 |
| Georgia | 1 | 42 |
| Idaho | 1 | 40 |
| Montana | 1 | 38 |
| Washington | 1 | 30 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 29 |
| Wyoming | 1 | 28 |
| Ontario | 1 | 27 |
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.
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. ← July 2025 September 2025 → Latest edition
Seasons in review: 2026 · 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013 · 2012