In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in July 2026.
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
GETTIN' BASTED Turns In the Month’s Best Card
714.8572 out of 720 at No Smoke, No Glory — the highest Master overall scored in July 2026.
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
ZAGREB, 10000 — GETTIN' BASTED put up 714.8572 at No Smoke, No Glory — the highest overall of the month.
Across July 2026, 45 sanctioned contests were scored, across 19 states and provinces, drawing 830 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 1,524 top-ten calls and handed out 70 perfect 180s. 179 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 45 in all. The 9 oldest are listed under Complete Results, B4.
- Bucked Up BBQ All American BBQ Throwdown
- Sailor Nicks BBQ All American BBQ Throwdown (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Smokey D's Wannabees Cruisin' and BBQin'
- 5 Skinz BBQ California State Fair BBQ Competition (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Boggs Hog BBQ Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2)
- BIGG SMOAK BBQ The Didsbury Double (Didsbury Lions BBQ) (Day 2)
- BBQ Hot Yard Waiting for W.E.S.T. (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- BBQ Hot Yard Waiting for W.E.S.T. (ONE MEAT CHICKEN)
- B's Que Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1)
- Smoking & Toasting BBQ Albany County Fair Smokin' BBQ Cook-Off
- JDQ BBQ Masters at the Midway: Johnson County Fair BBQ Championship
- DANG GOOD BBQ Fire on the Mountain BBQ
- EFFIN'EH GRAY'S The Didsbury Double (Didsbury Lions BBQ) (Day 1)
- Smoke 44 ECP BBQ Challenge
- Nectar of the Hogs 10th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest
- PACS BBQ Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles BBQ Comp (OPEN FORMAT)
- Cynical BBQ 2nd Annual Curley Que Classic
- Boggs Hog BBQ Connecticut Barbecue Challenge
- Bad Dog BBQ Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2)
- Rio Good BBQ Sutherlin Throwdown
- Kick Ash BBQ Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 2)
- Bunch of Swines Open Barbecue Championship
- Twisted Pair BBQ Chillin & Grillin in the Glades
- Rowdy Pig Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 1)
- TIRE SMOKE BBQ Buckeye BBQ Classic
- SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES Shenandoah ShenDig
- Must B Smokin' Somethin' BBQ Team Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 1)
- BRA BARBECUE TEAM KCBS Brasil Barbecue Contest 2026
- BBQ Pit Bros Shenandoah ShenDig (ONE MEAT CHICKEN)
- Smoking Butchers European Invitational Championship (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- LOCO SMOKERS IBEW So Cal BBQ & Chili Cook-Off (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- Justice BBQ BBQ Fest Market Plaza
- B's Que New Jersey State Barbecue Championship
- Fire & Shine BBQ K.S. Que (BACKYARD ONLY)
- BBQ HOT YARD No Smoke, No Glory (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Barbecoa BBQ Team No Smoke, No Glory (ONE MEAT BRISKET)
Hottest hand
Two Grand Championships in Jul 2026 for SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES
Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.
2× Grand Championships
SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES took 2 Grand Championships in July 2026.
First one ever
Bucked Up BBQ Wins Its First, on the 24th Try
A first Grand Championship at All American BBQ Throwdown, after 24 contests in the record.
24th contest — and their first GC
WESTLAND, Mich. — Bucked Up BBQ won their first Grand Championship at All American BBQ Throwdown, in their 24th contest in the data.
By invitation only
Smoking Butchers Wins the European Invitational Championship
Best of 17 invited teams, with COOKLOUNGE BBQ in reserve — a win for the record book that leaves the power rating alone.
17 invited teams, one Grand Champion
WILHERING, 4073 — Smoking Butchers won European Invitational Championship (COMPETITOR SERIES), best of 17 invited teams; COOKLOUNGE BBQ 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.
European Invitational Championship
Reserve: COOKLOUNGE BBQ
European Invitational Championship (COMPETITOR SERIES) — July 17, Wilhering, Austria
The invitational circuit → · every invitational on record, who keeps getting invited, and who wins them.
Also in Jul 2026
Brinkerhoff BBQ Defends Its Title at Dillon Days Blowin' Smoke BBQ Cook Off
Brinkerhoff BBQ won Dillon Days Blowin' Smoke BBQ Cook Off again — back-to-back Grand Championships at the same contest.
The Long Shot Comes In at Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 1)
Rowdy Pig won Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 1) over top-rated TRIPLE H BBQ as the ratings underdog.
Judges Hand Out 70 Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 70 perfect 180s were handed out in July 2026.
Decided by 0.0000 of a Point
Kick Ash BBQ edged WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ by 0.0000 at Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 2).
SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES Back on Top After Eleven Years
SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES won Shenandoah ShenDig — their first Grand Championship since September 2014, after 28 contests without one.
B'S QUE Sets the Record at New Jersey State Barbecue Championship
B'S QUE put up 704.5256 at New Jersey State Barbecue Championship — the best overall in 12 editions of the contest on record, past the old mark of 703.9772.
EFFIN'EH GRAY'S Takes Three of Four Meats at Alberta BBQ Festival
EFFIN'EH GRAY'S won 3 of 4 meats at Alberta BBQ Festival (chicken, pork and brisket), and the Grand Championship with them.
Smoke N Poke BBQ Climbs 51 Rating Points
Smoke N Poke BBQ gained 51 rating points across 5 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
22 State Champions Crowned
22 state championships were decided in July 2026. The biggest, South Carolina Festival of Discovery (75 teams), went to Cocamoke Smoke BBQ.
First Time Out, Shiggin & Grinnn Takes 1st
Shiggin & Grinnn finished 1st at KTD Smokn' Gobbler — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
PUDDLEDUCK BBQ Tops the Backyard Board at Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2)
PUDDLEDUCK BBQ put up 356.5600 on the Backyard board at Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2) — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
B.R.A. BARBECUE TEAM Runs Away With KCBS Brasil Barbecue Contest
B.R.A. BARBECUE TEAM won KCBS Brasil Barbecue Contest 2026 by 12.0572 points over FERRO FOGO BBQ TEAM — the widest winning margin of the month.
75 Teams Roll Into Greenwood
South Carolina Festival of Discovery drew 75 teams, and Cocamoke Smoke BBQ won it.
MAN MEAT BBQ Cooks Its 300th Contest
MAN MEAT BBQ cooked their 300th contest on record at Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles BBQ Comp (OPEN FORMAT), with 12 Grand Championships along the way.
Nobody Hauled Further Than BBQ Maestros
BBQ Maestros cooked 7 contests in July 2026 — nobody hauled the rig further.
Bucked Up BBQ Wins All American BBQ Throwdown Without Winning a Meat
Bucked Up BBQ won All American BBQ Throwdown without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 2nd.
A New Contest Opens in Osceola
Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 1) ran for the first time on record, drawing 32 teams, and Rowdy Pig won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
COOKLOUNGE BBQ Takes Reserve Three Times
COOKLOUNGE BBQ finished second overall 3 times in July 2026 without a Grand Championship — one place short every time.
Nine Contests on One Friday
9 sanctioned contests were cooked on 17 Jul alone.
Eugene Wickham Works Eight Contests
Eugene Wickham repped 8 contests in July 2026 — somebody has to run the table.
Perfect 180s
70 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Pork MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS All American BBQ Throwdown · July 31
- Brisket TIRE SMOKE BBQ All American BBQ Throwdown · July 31
- Chicken SWEET BELLY'S BBQ Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) · July 25
- Chicken BQ Pit Bros 10th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest · July 24
- Chicken Big Racks BBQ 10th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest · July 24
- Pork Big Racks BBQ 10th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest · July 24
- Chicken Bocephus BBQ Masters at the Midway: Johnson County Fair BBQ Championship · July 24
- Chicken Club Carbon CR ECP BBQ Challenge · July 24
- Pork Electro-Que-ted Fire on the Mountain BBQ · July 24
- Pork FRED VEGAS SMOKERS Fire on the Mountain BBQ · July 24
- Pork HOLLOW Q Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles BBQ Comp (OPEN FORMAT) · July 24
- Brisket Matty Macks 10th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest · July 24
- Chicken Matty Macks 10th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest · July 24
- Pork Mission Imporkable Masters at the Midway: Johnson County Fair BBQ Championship · July 24
- Chicken NEVER EASY BBQ 10th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest · July 24
- Chicken PACS BBQ Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles BBQ Comp (OPEN FORMAT) · July 24
- Pork PACS BBQ Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles BBQ Comp (OPEN FORMAT) · July 24
- Chicken Roadhouse BBQ Fire on the Mountain BBQ · July 24
- Chicken SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) · July 24
- Brisket Smokey Bees BBQ - MS Fire on the Mountain BBQ · July 24
- Brisket B 3 BBQ Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2) · July 18
- Pork BBQ+ Open Barbecue Championship · July 18
- Brisket BULL MARKET BBQ Sutherlin Throwdown · July 18
- Pork BULL MARKET BBQ Sutherlin Throwdown · July 18
…and 46 more.
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Jul 2026; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke N Poke BBQ #1,046 | 1,600 | ▲ 51 |
| Poppin Smoke BBQ #803 | 1,628 | ▲ 44 |
| SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES #526 | 1,672 | ▲ 43 |
| EFFIN'EH GRAY'S #718 | 1,639 | ▲ 37 |
| Rowdy Pig #1,410 | 1,570 | ▲ 36 |
| Kick Ash BBQ #1,259 | 1,582 | ▲ 34 |
| Smoke Till Ya Broke | 1,529 | ▲ 29 |
| Smoked By The Brooks #791 | 1,629 | ▲ 28 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| HORMONAL ESCAPE COMPETITION BBQ #830 | 1,625 | ▲ 27 |
| Bramble Barbeque | 1,527 | ▲ 27 |
| Grilling with Short #4,790 | 1,467 | ▼ 25 |
| B-S BBQ OUTLAWS #94 | 1,812 | ▼ 29 |
| SMOKIN SKULLIES #253 | 1,741 | ▼ 31 |
| THUMP & STRUM BBQ #335 | 1,715 | ▼ 33 |
| RED SMOKE BAR-B-QUE #553 | 1,668 | ▼ 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 eleven contests in Jul 2026.
- 1 PUDDLEDUCK BBQ Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2) · Osceola, Mo. 356.5600
- 2 Must B Smokin' Somethin' BBQ Team Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 1) · Miles, Iowa 355.4172
- 3 Better Half Barbecue Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) · New Freedom, Pa. 354.8800
- 4 Kick Ash BBQ Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 2) · Miles, Iowa 353.7028
- 5 WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 2) · Miles, Iowa 353.7028
- 6 Poppin Smoke BBQ Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off (MASTERS and BACKYARD 1) · Cameron, Mo. 353.1200
- 7 Bramble Barbeque Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off (MASTERS and BACKYARD 1) · Cameron, Mo. 352.5716
- 8 Rudes BBQ Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 1) · Miles, Iowa 352.5600
- 9 Pinky Out BBQ Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) · New Freedom, Pa. 352.5600
- 10 WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 1) · Miles, Iowa 351.9888
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 Kinley "Lil Hormone" Winter Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 1)
- 1st Shiggin & Grinnn KTD Smokn' Gobbler
- 1st Smoking Butchers European Invitational Championship (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- 2nd Bayler Gillis Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 1)
- 2nd Bovine Brothers Albany County Fair Smokin' BBQ Cook-Off
- 2nd Bramble Barbeque Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off (MASTERS and BACKYARD 1)
- 2nd FERRO FOGO BBQ TEAM KCBS Brasil Barbecue Contest 2026
- 2nd Smoke Till Ya Broke Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 1)
- 3rd 357's Grillin and Chillin IBEW So Cal BBQ & Chili Cook-Off (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- 3rd Smokin Dawg Albany County Fair Smokin' BBQ Cook-Off
- 4th Barbaros gastronomia na Brasa KCBS Brasil Barbecue Contest 2026
- 4th Colorado Bulldawgs BBQ KTD Smokn' Gobbler
- 4th Connie's Creations Albany County Fair Smokin' BBQ Cook-Off
- 4th Mission Imporkable Masters at the Midway: Johnson County Fair BBQ Championship
- 4th Oh Nutz! Cruisin' and BBQin'
- 4th Rock & Soul BBQ3A The Meat to Beat IBEW So Cal BBQ & Chili Cook-Off (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- 5th Kojismokerbbq team KCBS Brasil Barbecue Contest 2026
- 5th SAR_B_Que Albany County Fair Smokin' BBQ Cook-Off
What a first season usually looks like → · 12 contests also ran for the first time on record: Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 1), Masters at the Midway: Johnson County Fair BBQ Championship, Fire on the Mountain BBQ, Open Barbecue Championship, The Didsbury Double (Didsbury Lions BBQ) (Day 1), European Invitational Championship (COMPETITOR SERIES), 10th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest, ECP BBQ Challenge, No Smoke, No Glory, BBQ Fest Market Plaza, Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles BBQ Comp (OPEN FORMAT), 2nd Annual Curley Que Classic.
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†28 | Brinkerhoff BBQ Dillon Days Blowin' Smoke BBQ Cook Off |
180 |
| Pork Ribs†3 | Backwoods BBQ South Carolina Festival of Discovery |
180 |
| Pork†22 | Willingham's South Carolina Festival of Discovery |
180 |
| Brisket†17 | COCAMOKE SMOKE 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBQ Maestros | 7 | — | 2 |
| Too Sauced BBQ | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| HOT DADDY'S BBQ | 6 | — | 2 |
| SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Poppin Smoke BBQ | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 5 | — | 2 |
| Smoke N Poke BBQ | 5 | — | 2 |
| Bocephus BBQ | 5 | — | 4 |
| Sailor Nicks BBQ | 5 | — | 5 |
| WHEN PIGS DIE | 5 | — | 5 |
| All Smoked Up BBQ | 5 | — | 6 |
| Barbecoa BBQ Team | 5 | — | 6 |
| 10 In The Pit BBQ | 5 | — | 7 |
| Big Reds Backyard BBQ | 5 | — | 7 |
| Chester's Twisted Que | 5 | — | 8 |
Who Ran the Table
Contests worked · states & provinces
| Rep | C | St. |
|---|---|---|
| Eugene Wickham | 8 | 5 |
| Sarah Wickham | 8 | 5 |
| Angela Fishlock | 5 | 1 |
| Mark Fishlock | 5 | 1 |
| Haymo Gutweniger | 4 | — |
| Laurie Tweten | 4 | 2 |
| Patrick Diller | 4 | 2 |
| Roberto Sirok | 4 | — |
| Becky Druetzler | 3 | 2 |
| Bill Jones | 3 | 2 |
| Dave Druetzler | 3 | 2 |
| Dave Rogers | 3 | 2 |
| Ian Schmidt | 3 | 3 |
| Julie Poe | 3 | 3 |
| Regina Bodnar | 3 | 2 |
| Robert McKee | 3 | 1 |
| Cindy Juhl | 2 | 1 |
| Debra Gage | 2 | 1 |
| Ernesto Uribe | 2 | 1 |
| Natasha Loew | 2 | 1 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 6 | 87 |
| Missouri | 5 | 105 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 93 |
| Alberta | 3 | 21 |
| Kansas | 2 | 57 |
| Michigan | 2 | 52 |
| Minnesota | 2 | 34 |
| California | 2 | 24 |
| South Carolina | 1 | 81 |
| New Jersey | 1 | 62 |
| Wyoming | 1 | 50 |
| Connecticut | 1 | 36 |
| Virginia | 1 | 35 |
| Oregon | 1 | 33 |
| Ohio | 1 | 30 |
| Montana | 1 | 26 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 22 |
| Hawaii | 1 | 13 |
| PO | 1 | 13 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 45 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 →
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