Back issue
Every sanctioned contest scored in April 2026.
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
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN Turns In the Month’s Best Card
714.2628 out of 720 at Smoke on the Falls — the highest Master overall scored in April 2026.
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
GADSDEN, Ala. — ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN put up 714.2628 at Smoke on the Falls — the highest overall of the month.
Across April 2026, 34 sanctioned contests were scored, across 18 states and provinces, drawing 792 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 1,243 top-ten calls and handed out 61 perfect 180s. 121 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 33 in all.
- Double Barrel Smokers Pitmasters in Paradise
- Bunch of Swines Spitsbroek on Fire IV
- The King and His Q Smokin in the Valley
- RAZORRACKS Southaven Springfest
- Smokin' Bliss BBQ Lodi BeerFest & State BBQ Championship
- SLAPS BBQ Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest
- BrewsCue Wild West BBQ Cook-Off
- Dawgs BBQ Smoke & Fire (BACKYARD ONLY)
- B's Que Revolutionary BBQ Brawl
- Beer Time BBQ Marietta River City BBQ (OPEN FORMAT)
- Puddleduck BBQ Marietta River City BBQ (ONE MEAT CHICKEN)
- The Antwerp Smokers Spitsbroek on Fire III
- ElJefe Smoke New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2)
- Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Que U GLBBQA Spring Fling
- Accutech BBQ The Downtown BBQ Showdown
- Meat Candy Q The Downtown Grand Master BBQ Showdown
- Squealin N Dealin BBQ Tom Brigham Memorial BBQ
- Grandpa Val's BBQ New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 1)
- STL-High on the Hog Knox Co. 4-H/FFA Ring of Smoke
- Hold Your Horses BBQ The Downtown BBQ Showdown (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Grandpa Val's BBQ New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT CHICKEN)
- I Cinghiali BBQ Expo Master's Challenge
- Gettin' Basted Southern New England Barbecue Throwdown - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2)
- Gettin' Basted Southern New England Barbecue Throwdown - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT CHICKEN)
- Paddy McQ's Southern New England Barbecue Throwdown - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Blind Fox BBQ Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT)
- PS I LOVE YOU BBQ Cedar Fest BBQ Cook Off
- Boggs Hog BBQ Southern New England Barbecue Throwdown - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 1)
- Wag's Backwoods BBQ Iowa State BBQ Championship
- ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN Smoke on the Falls
- Triple H BBQ Smokin in the Valley
- Chunky BBQ Rekindled Ironman
Hottest hand
Two Grand Championships in Apr 2026 for DAWGS BBQ
Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.
2× Grand Championships
DAWGS BBQ took 2 Grand Championships in April 2026.
First one ever
Double Barrel Smokers Wins Its First, on the 37th Try
A first Grand Championship at Pitmasters in Paradise, after 37 contests in the record.
37th contest — and their first GC
AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Double Barrel Smokers won their first Grand Championship at Pitmasters in Paradise, in their 37th contest in the data.
Upset of the month
The Long Shot Comes In at Knox Co. 4-H/FFA Ring of Smoke
The ratings gave STL-High on the Hog a 11% chance, with JANKY LEG BBQ the team to beat.
11-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings
EDINA, Mo. — STL-High on the Hog won Knox Co. 4-H/FFA Ring of Smoke over top-rated JANKY LEG BBQ as the ratings underdog.
Also in Apr 2026
Judges Hand Out 61 Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 61 perfect 180s were handed out in April 2026.
Decided by 0.0000 of a Point
BROCK'S BBQ edged Dogpatch Q by 0.0000 at Revolutionary BBQ Brawl.
BBQ Hot Yard Climbs 39 Rating Points
BBQ Hot Yard gained 39 rating points across 3 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
First Time Out, Brooklyn L. - ShowMeNoSmoke Takes 1st
Brooklyn L. - ShowMeNoSmoke finished 1st at Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT) — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
BBQ MIKE Tops the Backyard Board at Marietta River City BBQ (OPEN FORMAT)
BBQ MIKE put up 679.3600 on the Backyard board at Marietta River City BBQ (OPEN FORMAT) — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
101 Teams Roll Into Osage City
Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT) drew 101 teams, and Blind Fox BBQ won it.
Nobody Hauled Further Than Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ
Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ cooked 10 contests in April 2026 — nobody hauled the rig further.
A New Contest Opens in Coldwater
GLBBQA Spring Fling ran for the first time on record, drawing 48 teams, and Que U won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
Nine Contests on One Friday
9 sanctioned contests were cooked on 24 Apr alone.
REGINA BODNAR Works Five Contests
REGINA BODNAR repped 5 contests in April 2026 — somebody has to run the table.
Perfect 180s
61 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Pork Aussie TongMasters Smokin in the Valley · April 25
- Pork Ribs BubbaChuck's BBQ Pitmasters in Paradise · April 25
- Pork Bull and Boar BBQ Pitmasters in Paradise · April 25
- Chicken Double Barrel Smokers Pitmasters in Paradise · April 25
- Chicken KEEPIN IT SMOKIN BBQ Pitmasters in Paradise · April 25
- Brisket SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA Pitmasters in Paradise · April 25
- Chicken Coaches Pit BBQ Lodi BeerFest & State BBQ Championship · April 24
- Chicken Cynical BBQ Lodi BeerFest & State BBQ Championship · April 24
- Chicken DAWGS BBQ Smoke & Fire (BACKYARD ONLY) · April 24
- Chicken HotMess BBQ Revolutionary BBQ Brawl · April 24
- Pork Ribs Kermit's Ex Southaven Springfest · April 24
- Brisket RAZORRACKS Southaven Springfest · April 24
- Brisket ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN Southaven Springfest · April 24
- Pork Shiggin aint easy Southaven Springfest · April 24
- Chicken The Swine Doctor's BBQ Revolutionary BBQ Brawl · April 24
- Brisket UNCLE FEOL'S TENNESSEE STYLE BBQ Southaven Springfest · April 24
- Chicken ELJEFE SMOKE New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2) · April 18
- Pork Ribs PADDY MCQ'S New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2) · April 18
- Pork Ribs Accutech BBQ The Downtown BBQ Showdown · April 17
- Brisket Boost Your BBQ GLBBQA Spring Fling · April 17
- Brisket Can Country Outlaw BBQ Knox Co. 4-H/FFA Ring of Smoke · April 17
- Chicken Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ Knox Co. 4-H/FFA Ring of Smoke · April 17
- Pork Kings BBQ Team The Downtown BBQ Showdown · April 17
- Pork QUE U GLBBQA Spring Fling · April 17
…and 37 more.
The Ratings Market Power rating, and the move over Apr 2026
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| BBQ Hot Yard #926 | 1,612 | ▲ 39 |
| Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ #1622 | 1,556 | ▲ 33 |
| Big Bear BBQ #705 | 1,640 | ▲ 31 |
| Cold Beer BBQ #3195 | 1,500 | ▲ 29 |
| Blind Fox BBQ #545 | 1,667 | ▲ 27 |
| ELJEFE SMOKE #190 | 1,761 | ▲ 26 |
| Grandpa Val's BBQ #379 | 1,705 | ▲ 26 |
| VH BBQ #5197 | 1,457 | ▲ 24 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| The Antwerp Smokers #304 | 1,721 | ▲ 24 |
| DAWGS BBQ #257 | 1,737 | ▲ 23 |
| PJ's Magic Smoke #5962 | 1,434 | ▼ 21 |
| Nice Racks #954 | 1,609 | ▼ 22 |
| Grate Expectations #1303 | 1,578 | ▼ 22 |
| Connecticue #5682 | 1,445 | ▼ 22 |
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ #69 | 1,827 | ▼ 34 |
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 nine contests in Apr 2026.
- 1 BBQ MIKE Marietta River City BBQ (OPEN FORMAT) · Marietta, Ohio 679.3600
- 2 T & S BBQ Marietta River City BBQ (OPEN FORMAT) · Marietta, Ohio 674.2516
- 3 PUDDLEDUCK BBQ Marietta River City BBQ (OPEN FORMAT) · Marietta, Ohio 670.7544
- 4 Big Bear BBQ Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT) · Osage City, Kan. 669.6228
- 5 Rudes BBQ Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT) · Osage City, Kan. 669.6116
- 6 Bunki's Firehouse BBQ Marietta River City BBQ (OPEN FORMAT) · Marietta, Ohio 652.4688
- 7 GO Handyman Marietta River City BBQ (OPEN FORMAT) · Marietta, Ohio 608.5144
- 8 DAWGS BBQ Iowa State BBQ Championship · Altoona, Iowa 360.0000
- 9 BROCK'S BBQ Revolutionary BBQ Brawl · Williamsburg, Va. 354.2744
- 10 Dogpatch Q Revolutionary BBQ Brawl · Williamsburg, Va. 354.2744
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 Brooklyn L. - ShowMeNoSmoke Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT)
- 2nd Madiann M. - Mercer Que Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT)
- 2nd Shucky Bey BBQ Smokin in the Valley
- 2nd Si Quema BBQ Cedar Fest BBQ Cook Off
- 3rd Baptized by Smoke Smoke on the Falls
- 3rd Olive C. - Shark Q Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT)
- 4th Bunki's Firehouse BBQ Marietta River City BBQ (OPEN FORMAT)
- 4th Eloise M. - Mercer Que Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT)
- 5th Cooks of Hazard Cedar Fest BBQ Cook Off
- 5th GO Handyman Marietta River City BBQ (OPEN FORMAT)
- 5th Reagan S. - Mini Meat BBQ Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT)
- 6th Hunter D. - ShowMeNoSmoke Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT)
- 7th Cooper M - Mercer Que Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT)
- 7th My Pits R Burning Cedar Fest BBQ Cook Off
- 8th At the Cross BBQ Rekindled Ironman
- 8th Balch's Blazin BBQ Cedar Fest BBQ Cook Off
- 8th Colton H.- Triple H BBQ Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT)
- 9th Landon M. - Mercer Que Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT)
What a first season usually looks like → · 9 contests also ran for the first time on record: GLBBQA Spring Fling, BBQ Expo Master's Challenge, Pitmasters in Paradise, Smokin in the Valley, The Downtown Grand Master BBQ Showdown, Knox Co. 4-H/FFA Ring of Smoke, Spitsbroek on Fire IV, Spitsbroek on Fire III, World Championship Hot Wings Contest & Festival (COMPETITORS SERIES).
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†22 | WOOD HOOK BBQ Smokin in the Valley |
180.0000 |
| Pork Ribs†11 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ Iowa State BBQ Championship |
180.0000 |
| Pork†16 | Shucky Bey BBQ Smokin in the Valley |
180.0000 |
| Brisket†12 | SWIG-N-PIG Smoke on the Falls |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ | 10 | — | 3 |
| ELJEFE SMOKE | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| PADDY MCQ'S | 7 | — | 3 |
| Red & Black BBQ Shack | 7 | — | 8 |
| FIRE & SHINE BBQ | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Grandpa Val's BBQ | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| House of Que | 5 | — | 2 |
| BEER TIME BBQ | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| BrewsCue | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Rough Cut Q | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | 4 | — | 2 |
| The Swine Doctor's BBQ | 4 | — | 2 |
| WOOD HOOK BBQ | 4 | — | 2 |
| American Barbecue Company | 4 | — | 3 |
Who Ran the Table
Contests worked · states & provinces
| Rep | C | St. |
|---|---|---|
| REGINA BODNAR | 5 | 2 |
| BILL WRIGHT | 4 | 1 |
| DAVID DYCHE | 4 | 2 |
| JEFF CHAMBERS | 4 | 1 |
| KIM WRIGHT | 4 | 1 |
| BECKY DRUETZLER | 3 | 2 |
| CHARLIE BRINZA | 3 | 3 |
| DAVE DRUETZLER | 3 | 2 |
| JEANNE TITUS | 3 | 3 |
| JO DYCHE | 3 | 2 |
| LARRY VOTH | 3 | 3 |
| BILL JONES | 2 | 2 |
| DAVE ROGERS | 2 | 1 |
| LYNDA VOTH | 2 | 2 |
| MARIANNE VAN GALEN | 2 | — |
| MAYCO VAN GALEN | 2 | — |
| PEG ROGERS | 2 | 1 |
| RACHEL HARPER | 2 | 1 |
| WAYNE HARPER | 2 | 1 |
| ALAN ROTHROCK | 1 | 1 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 4 | 48 |
| Connecticut | 4 | 37 |
| Kansas | 3 | 150 |
| Florida | 3 | 83 |
| Missouri | 2 | 50 |
| Ohio | 2 | 20 |
| Iowa | 1 | 78 |
| Alabama | 1 | 67 |
| Michigan | 1 | 48 |
| Texas | 1 | 41 |
| Virginia | 1 | 40 |
| Mississippi | 1 | 33 |
| Tennessee | 1 | 33 |
| California | 1 | 29 |
| Nevada | 1 | 29 |
| Colorado | 1 | 27 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 24 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 24 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 34 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.
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. ← March 2026 May 2026 → Latest edition