In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in August 2026.
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 BBQ & Fly-In on the River — the highest Master overall scored in August 2026.
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. — TRIPLE H BBQ put up 711.9772 at BBQ & Fly-In on the River — the highest overall of the month.
Across August 2026, 42 sanctioned contests were scored, across 19 states and provinces, drawing 880 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 1,384 top-ten calls and handed out 65 perfect 180s. 198 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 42 in all. The 6 oldest are listed under Complete Results, B4.
- Edible WOW Capital Kosher BBQ Competition (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- BBQ Hot Yard Vuur en Vlees
- Cocamoke Smoke BBQ Montana Pitmaster Classic
- Wood Hook BBQ East Central State BBQ Cookoff - Paola Roots Festival
- Kick Ash BBQ Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 2)
- Kick Ash BBQ Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 1)
- RUB MY RACK MN Masters BBQ
- Team Cookie Saxonburg BBQ Smokeout
- Smokin E's BBQ Up in Smoke on the Square (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Wapatui Smokers Smokin Ribs for the Kids (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Colorado BullDawg BBQ 9th Annual DuPont BBQ Competition
- BBQ Hot Yard Smoke in the North (Day 2)
- Wapatui Smokers Smoke on the Midway (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Cook the books Smoke on the Bay BBQ Cookoff
- TINY E BBQ Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship
- Smokey Bey's Barbecue Made for KC BBQ Championship 2026 (COMPETITORS SERIES)
- WE WILL ROCK QUE City of Madison BBQ Party (formerly Madison Ribberfest)
- Barbecoa BBQ Team Smoke in the North (Day 1)
- Old Virginia Smoke Stoney Creek BBQ Cookoff
- Q-Jitsu Great Lakes Smoke Showdown BBQ Cook Off (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- THE BBQ BUS Kora Kares for Kids (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Old Virginia Smoke Kora Kares for Kids
- Janky Leg BBQ Smoke N for the Kids (Day 2)
- WICKEY-Q Vine St BBQ Competition & Fest (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Big Mike's Smokehouse Boomer Backyard BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Triple H BBQ BBQ & Fly-In on the River
- B-S BBQ Outlaws Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ Championships & Bluegrass Festival
- 1Bite Stand Smoke N for the Kids (Day 1)
- BBQ Symphony Cars & BBQ Festival 2026
- Smokin' Outlaws Big Smoke Bonnyville
- Smokin' Hoggz BBQ - MA Trillium BBQ Throwdown
- SOUTH BRIXIA Wild West Fest on Fire 2026
- Colorado Bulldawg BBQ Roaring Camp BBQ Cook Off (Day 2)
- Rudes BBQ Smokin Downtown (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Janky Leg Smoke on the Bricks
- Fred Vegas Smokers Battle of the Blue Ridge
Hottest hand
Two Grand Championships in Aug 2026 for SMOKIN' OUTLAWS
Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.
2× Grand Championships
SMOKIN' OUTLAWS took 2 Grand Championships in August 2026.
First one ever
SOUTH BRIXIA Wins Its First, on the 43rd Try
A first Grand Championship at Wild West Fest on Fire 2026, after 43 contests in the record.
43rd contest — and their first GC
MEDVODE, 1215 — SOUTH BRIXIA won their first Grand Championship at Wild West Fest on Fire 2026, in their 43rd contest in the data.
Upset of the month
The Long Shot Comes In at Smoke on the Bricks
The ratings gave Janky Leg a 13% chance, with Meat Candy Q the team to beat.
13-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings
BALDWIN CITY, Kan. — Janky Leg won Smoke on the Bricks over top-rated Meat Candy Q as the ratings underdog.
Also in Aug 2026
Judges Hand Out 65 Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 65 perfect 180s were handed out in August 2026.
Decided by 0.0232 of a Point
Snake Holler BBQ edged Smoked By The Brooks by 0.0232 at Smoke N for the Kids (Day 2).
B-S BBQ OUTLAWS Back on Top After Five Years
B-S BBQ OUTLAWS won Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ Championships & Bluegrass Festival — their first Grand Championship since September 2020, after 20 contests without one.
BBQ Hot Yard Climbs 52 Rating Points
BBQ Hot Yard gained 52 rating points across 5 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
18 State Champions Crowned
18 state championships were decided in August 2026. The biggest, BBQ & Fly-In on the River (83 teams), went to Triple H BBQ.
First Time Out, Janky Leg Takes 1st
Janky Leg finished 1st at Smoke on the Bricks — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
Kick Ash BBQ Tops the Backyard Board at Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 1)
Kick Ash BBQ put up 357.7144 on the Backyard board at Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 1) — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA Runs Away With Trillium BBQ Throwdown
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA won Trillium BBQ Throwdown by 9.7716 points over IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ — the widest winning margin of the month.
83 Teams Roll Into Excelsior Springs
BBQ & Fly-In on the River drew 83 teams, and Triple H BBQ won it.
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN Cooks Its 400th Contest
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN cooked their 400th contest on record at Smoke N for the Kids (Day 2), with 44 Grand Championships along the way.
Nobody Hauled Further Than BBQ Hot Yard
BBQ Hot Yard cooked 7 contests in August 2026 — nobody hauled the rig further.
TRIPLE H BBQ Wins BBQ & Fly-In on the River Without Winning a Meat
TRIPLE H BBQ won BBQ & Fly-In on the River without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 2nd.
A New Contest Opens in Swannanoa
Battle of the Blue Ridge ran for the first time on record, drawing 41 teams, and Fred Vegas Smokers won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS Takes Reserve Two Times
SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS finished second overall 2 times in August 2026 without a Grand Championship — one place short every time.
Eight Contests on One Friday
8 sanctioned contests were cooked on 28 Aug alone.
Charlie Brinza Works Six Contests
Charlie Brinza repped 6 contests in August 2026 — somebody has to run the table.
Perfect 180s
65 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Pork 1 Bite BBQ Montana Pitmaster Classic · Aug. 28
- Brisket At Ease Montana Pitmaster Classic · Aug. 28
- Pork Go Pig or Go Home East Central State BBQ Cookoff - Paola Roots Festival · Aug. 28
- Chicken Kick Ash BBQ Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 2) · Aug. 28
- Pork OWENS BBQ Montana Pitmaster Classic · Aug. 28
- Chicken SMOKIN E'S BBQ Up in Smoke on the Square (BACKYARD ONLY) · Aug. 28
- Chicken Tankerbelle BBQ Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 1) · Aug. 28
- Pork Ribs Wapatui Smokers Smokin Ribs for the Kids (ONE MEAT RIBS) · Aug. 28
- Pork Ribs 309 BBQ Smoke on the Midway (BACKYARD ONLY) · Aug. 22
- Chicken Sermerstout BBQ Smoke on the Midway (BACKYARD ONLY) · Aug. 22
- Chicken AMERICAN FIRE BBQ Made for KC BBQ Championship 2026 (COMPETITORS SERIES) · Aug. 21
- Pork Ribs BBQ Hot Yard Smoke in the North (Day 1) · Aug. 21
- Pork BUNCH OF SWINES Smoke in the North (Day 1) · Aug. 21
- Brisket Bucked Up BBQ City of Madison BBQ Party (formerly Madison Ribberfest) · Aug. 21
- Pork GOD'S COUNTRY BBQ Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship · Aug. 21
- Brisket HIGH DESERT HOLY SMOKE BBQ Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship · Aug. 21
- Pork MAN MEAT BBQ Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship · Aug. 21
- Pork Papa Bears KC Barbecue Made for KC BBQ Championship 2026 (COMPETITORS SERIES) · Aug. 21
- Chicken Petie's Smokin Pits BBQ Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship · Aug. 21
- Brisket TEXAS OIL DUST Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship · Aug. 21
- Pork Texas Revolutioin Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship · Aug. 21
- Brisket ELJEFE SMOKE Kora Kares for Kids · Aug. 15
- Pork OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE Kora Kares for Kids · Aug. 15
- Pork Ribs OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE Kora Kares for Kids · Aug. 15
…and 41 more.
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Aug 2026; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| BBQ Hot Yard #819 | 1,626 | ▲ 52 |
| Smoked By The Brooks #791 | 1,629 | ▲ 36 |
| All Smoked Up BBQ #507 | 1,675 | ▲ 35 |
| Kamado BONO #1,728 | 1,551 | ▲ 35 |
| Kick Ash BBQ #1,259 | 1,582 | ▲ 34 |
| smoKINGBATKO BBQ #3,156 | 1,502 | ▲ 31 |
| Hoosier BBQ #1,681 | 1,553 | ▲ 28 |
| Smoke Til Ya Broke #1,634 | 1,556 | ▲ 27 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bite BBQ #1,009 | 1,605 | ▲ 25 |
| Smokin A's #3,293 | 1,498 | ▲ 25 |
| Ole Mae I BBQ #5,669 | 1,447 | ▼ 20 |
| Rapped with Smoke BBQ | 1,479 | ▼ 21 |
| Whatcha Smokin' #6,023 | 1,433 | ▼ 21 |
| Risky Brisket #561 | 1,667 | ▼ 25 |
| DB BBQ #402 | 1,699 | ▼ 30 |
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 13 contests in Aug 2026.
- 1 Kick Ash BBQ Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 1) · Cherry Valley, Ill. 357.7144
- 2 FENDER BENDER BBQ Chippewa Valley Ribfest (BACKYARD ONLY) · Montevideo, Minn. 355.4400
- 3 Kick Ash BBQ Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 2) · Cherry Valley, Ill. 354.2744
- 4 Bramble BBQ Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 2) · Cherry Valley, Ill. 353.7260
- 5 Big Mike's Smokehouse Boomer Backyard BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) · Canton, Minn. 353.1544
- 6 SASSY SMOKE BBQ Boomer Backyard BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) · Canton, Minn. 353.1200
- 7 All Smoked Up BBQ Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 2) · Cherry Valley, Ill. 353.1200
- 8 Pinky Out BBQ Stoney Creek BBQ Cookoff · Edinburg, Va. 352
- 9 WICKEY-Q Vine St BBQ Competition & Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) · Park Ridge, Ill. 351.9884
- 10 Hoosier BBQ Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 1) · Cherry Valley, Ill. 351.9772
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 Janky Leg Smoke on the Bricks
- 1st Raised In Smoke Camper's Corner BBQ Cookoff
- 1st WICKEY-Q Vine St BBQ Competition & Fest (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 2nd Capital 'Q Capital Kosher BBQ Competition (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- 2nd Gen4 Big Smoke Bonnyville
- 2nd Slab Daddy Smoke on the Midway (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 2nd Team Best Damn BBQ Sauce#1 9th Annual DuPont BBQ Competition
- 2nd The Hague BBQ Team Camper's Corner BBQ Cookoff
- 2nd The King & His Q Smokin in the Valley 2
- 3rd Ace High BBQ MN Masters BBQ
- 3rd Antwerp Smokers Vuur en Vlees
- 3rd Half Cut BBQ Camper's Corner BBQ Cookoff
- 3rd McAdoo Heights Battle of the Blue Ridge
- 3rd Tmak rebel grill Big Smoke Bonnyville
- 4th Back Forty smoke co Smoke on the Bay BBQ Cookoff
- 4th HMW BBQ Camper's Corner BBQ Cookoff
- 4th Obrien BBQ LLC Great Lakes Smoke Showdown BBQ Cook Off (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- 4th The Golden Bears Capital Kosher BBQ Competition (COMPETITOR SERIES)
What a first season usually looks like → · 12 contests also ran for the first time on record: Battle of the Blue Ridge, City of Madison BBQ Party (formerly Madison Ribberfest), East Central State BBQ Cookoff - Paola Roots Festival, Smoke in the North (Day 1), 9th Annual DuPont BBQ Competition, Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 2), Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 1), Cars & BBQ Festival 2026, Saxonburg BBQ Smokeout, Camper's Corner BBQ Cookoff, Chippewa Valley Ribfest (BACKYARD ONLY), Great Lakes Smoke Showdown BBQ Cook Off (COMPETITOR SERIES).
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†20 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ Smoke on the Bricks |
180 |
| Pork Ribs†16 | Meat Candy Q Smoke on the Bricks |
180 |
| Pork†21 | Rowdy Pig Smoke on the Bricks |
180 |
| Brisket†8 | Meat Candy Q Smoke on the Bricks |
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 Hot Yard | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| Rudes BBQ | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| All Smoked Up BBQ | 5 | — | 2 |
| Shmack Q | 5 | — | 2 |
| Big Ten Bones | 5 | — | 3 |
| Skinny Pig BBQ | 5 | — | 4 |
| OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| JANKY LEG BBQ | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| SMOKIN E'S BBQ | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| WE WILL ROCK QUE | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Wapatui Smokers | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Big Bear BBQ | 4 | — | 4 |
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 4 | — | 4 |
| Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | 4 | — | 6 |
Who Ran the Table
Contests worked · states & provinces
| Rep | C | St. |
|---|---|---|
| Charlie Brinza | 6 | 1 |
| Jeanne Titus | 5 | 2 |
| Craig Maidens | 4 | 3 |
| Forrest Bruce | 4 | 2 |
| Heather Maidens | 4 | 3 |
| Dave Rogers | 3 | 2 |
| David Burstein | 3 | 1 |
| Haymo Gutweniger | 3 | — |
| Ian Schmidt | 3 | 2 |
| Julie Poe | 3 | 2 |
| Laurie Tweten | 3 | 1 |
| Luca Famigli | 3 | — |
| Manuela Seliger | 3 | — |
| Stephan Seliger | 3 | — |
| Becky Druetzler | 2 | 2 |
| Bill Jones | 2 | 2 |
| Brian Moore | 2 | 2 |
| Dave Druetzler | 2 | 2 |
| Del Anderson | 2 | 2 |
| Eugene Wickham | 2 | 2 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 8 | 137 |
| Minnesota | 3 | 45 |
| Missouri | 2 | 110 |
| Maine | 2 | 89 |
| Kansas | 2 | 78 |
| Indiana | 2 | 52 |
| California | 2 | 26 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 26 |
| Texas | 1 | 55 |
| Virginia | 1 | 53 |
| North Carolina | 1 | 41 |
| Montana | 1 | 39 |
| Wyoming | 1 | 29 |
| Ontario | 1 | 28 |
| Washington | 1 | 27 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 25 |
| Michigan | 1 | 20 |
| Alberta | 1 | 17 |
| Nova Scotia | 1 | 10 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 42 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 2026 September 2026 → Latest edition
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