The American Royal edition
Every team, every meat and every score from the 2015 American Royal Invitational.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
The Smoke Ring
Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record
The Index
- The Champions A2
- American Royal 2015 in Brief A3
- Meat by Meat A4
- Perfect 180s A5
- Final Standings B1
- The Record Book B2
- Back Issues C1
The 2015 American Royal Invitational
The 2015 American Royal Invitational
THE SMOKING HILLS Wins the American Royal
Their 707.9888 beats PELLET ENVY by 7.9888 points, in a field of 187 invited teams.
The highest winning score of 3 American Royals on record
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — THE SMOKING HILLS won the 2015 American Royal Invitational in Kansas City, Mo., with 707.9888 out of 720, 7.9888 points clear of PELLET ENVY, the reserve grand champion. 187 teams were invited.
It was their 3rd American Royal, and the first time they had won it. The win was their 2nd Grand Championship of 2015. On the way they finished 8th in chicken, 4th in pork ribs, 39th in pork and 3rd in brisket.
The meats went to R BUTTS R SMOKIN in chicken (179.4400), CONTAGIOUS Q in pork ribs (180), LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ in pork (180) and CHICKEN BUTT BBQ UTAH in brisket (180).
The winning score is the highest of the 3 American Royals on record. The field included two past champions and 106 teams at their first American Royal. Judges handed out five perfect 180s. The full standings run on B1.
Every American Royal on record to 2015, newest first. Each year has an edition of its own.
- THE SMOKING HILLS 2015 — this edition
- SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA The 2014 edition
- COOL SMOKE The 2013 edition
The defending champion
Defending Champion SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA Finishes 27th
The 2014 winner falls out of the top ten.
27th of 187, after winning in 2014
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA won the American Royal in 2014 and finished 27th this time, with 687.9428.
The finish
The Biggest Winning Margin in American Royal History
THE SMOKING HILLS wins by 7.9888 points.
7.9888 points between first and second
THE SMOKING HILLS finished 7.9888 points clear of PELLET ENVY, the widest margin of the 3 American Royals on record.
First time in
First-Timer BRINGIN' THE HEAT Finishes 8th
106 teams cooked their first American Royal in 2015.
8th of 187, at a first American Royal
BRINGIN' THE HEAT finished 8th with 695.9660 at their first American Royal, the best of 106 teams in the field for the first time.
Perfect scores
Five Perfect 180s at the American Royal
Six judges, every card a nine.
5 perfect 180s
CONTAGIOUS Q in pork ribs, LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ in pork, COOL SMOKE in pork, CHICKEN BUTT BBQ UTAH in brisket and SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA in brisket scored a perfect 180.
The field
The Biggest Field in American Royal History
187 teams were invited in 2015, against 165 in 2014.
187 teams invited
187 teams cooked the American Royal in 2015, the most of the 3 on record.
Former winners
Two Past Champions Come Up Short
The best of them: COOL SMOKE, 3rd.
2 past American Royal champions in the field
COOL SMOKE (won 2013) finished 3rd and SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA (won 2014) finished 27th.
Also at the 2015 American Royal
THE SMOKING HILLS Climbs From 125th to 1st
THE SMOKING HILLS finished 1st, up from 125th in 2014: the most places gained by any team that cooked both.
THE SMOKING HILLS Cooks Their 3rd American Royal
THE SMOKING HILLS has cooked 3 of the 3 American Royals on record, starting in 2013 with a best finish of 1st, and finished 1st this year.
Chicken
The top ten, out of 180
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | R BUTTS R SMOKIN | 179.4400 |
| 2 | SMOKIN ACES | 179.4400 |
| 3 | KISS MY RACK | 179.4400 |
| 4 | Rogue Hog BBQ | 178.8800 |
| 5 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 6 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | 178.8572 |
| 7 | BRINGIN' THE HEAT | 178.8572 |
| 8 | THE SMOKING HILLS | 178.8572 |
| 9 | BIG BROTHERS BBQ | 178.2972 |
| 10 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | 177.7028 |
Pork Ribs
The top ten, out of 180 · 1 perfect 180
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CONTAGIOUS Q | 180† |
| 2 | ROOFTOP BBQ | 178.8800 |
| 3 | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | 177.7144 |
| 4 | THE SMOKING HILLS | 177.7144 |
| 5 | EL REY SMOKERS COMPETITION TEAM | 177.7144 |
| 6 | PELLET ENVY | 177.7144 |
| 7 | 3 EYZ BBQ | 177.7144 |
| 8 | Findley's Barbecue | 177.7028 |
| 9 | OUTLAW HAWGS BBQ | 177.1772 |
| 10 | CLARK CREW BBQ | 177.1772 |
Pork
The top ten, out of 180 · 2 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | 180† |
| 2 | COOL SMOKE | 180† |
| 3 | SWINE AND SHINE BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 4 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | 178.2972 |
| 5 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | 177.7144 |
| 6 | A FINE SWINE | 177.7028 |
| 7 | TRUEBUD BBQ | 177.1544 |
| 8 | BUNCH OF SWINES | 177.1428 |
| 9 | SHOOTIN SMOKE | 176.5828 |
| 10 | QUAU | 176.5600 |
Brisket
The top ten, out of 180 · 2 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHICKEN BUTT BBQ UTAH | 180† |
| 2 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | 180† |
| 3 | THE SMOKING HILLS | 178.8572 |
| 4 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 178.2972 |
| 5 | CLARK CREW BBQ | 177.7028 |
| 6 | SMOOTH SMOKE | 177.7028 |
| 7 | BLACK EYE BBQ | 177.7028 |
| 8 | JIGGY PIGGY | 177.1428 |
| 9 | HOG TIDE BAR-B-QUE | 177.1428 |
| 10 | SMOKE N HOGS BBQ KS | 177.1428 |
5 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Pork Ribs CONTAGIOUS Q
- Pork LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ
- Pork COOL SMOKE
- Brisket CHICKEN BUTT BBQ UTAH
- Brisket SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA
Every team on the 2015 board, 187 in all: the overall out of 720 and each meat’s place. ★ a past American Royal champion; ◆ a first American Royal. Click a column head to sort.
Every board, with the score charts, on the contest’s own page →
Every American Royal on record to 2015, the invitational itself only.
Highest Scores
Any finish, out of 720
- 1 THE SMOKING HILLS2015 · 1st 707.9888
- 2 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014 · 1st 701.7028
- 3 DIRT ROAD BBQ2014 · 2nd 700.5716
- 4 COOL SMOKE2013 · 1st 700.5256
- 5 DR. NORDY'S BBQ2014 · 3rd 700
- 6 PELLET ENVY2015 · 2nd 700
- 7 Uncle Kenny's Take-Away2014 · 4th 699.3828
- 8 COOL SMOKE2015 · 3rd 699.3828
- 9 CLARK CREW BBQ2015 · 4th 698.8572
- 10 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ2015 · 5th 698.2856
Most Titles
Grand Championships
- 1 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014 1
- 2 COOL SMOKE2013 1
- 3 THE SMOKING HILLS2015 1
Most Appearances
American Royals cooked
- 1 COOL SMOKE2013–2015 · best 1st 3
- 2 THE SMOKING HILLS2013–2015 · best 1st 3
- 3 DIRT ROAD BBQ2013–2015 · best 2nd 3
- 4 QUAU2013–2015 · best 3rd 3
- 5 BUTCHER BBQ2013–2015 · best 4th 3
- 6 CLARK CREW BBQ2013–2015 · best 4th 3
- 7 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ2013–2015 · best 5th 3
- 8 ONE2BBQ2013–2015 · best 5th 3
- 9 BIG T'Z Q CRU2013–2015 · best 6th 3
- 10 BUNCH OF SWINES2013–2015 · best 7th 3
Closest Finishes
Points between first and second
Biggest Fields
Teams invited
Best First Appearances
Finish at a first invitation
- 1 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014 · of 165 1st
- 2 DR. NORDY'S BBQ2014 · of 165 3rd
- 3 Uncle Kenny's Take-Away2014 · of 165 4th
- 4 BIG BROTHERS BBQ2014 · of 165 6th
- 5 BRINGIN' THE HEAT2015 · of 187 8th
- 6 GETTIN' BASTED2014 · of 165 8th
- 7 SMOKIN ACES2015 · of 187 9th
- 8 CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ2014 · of 165 10th
- 9 BIG BUTTS NEED RUBBIN TOO2014 · of 165 14th
- 10 HAWG DOCTORS2015 · of 187 15th
Every American Royal on record has an edition of its own. ← 2014 2016 →
American Royal editions: 2026 · 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013
The other invitationals: Jack Daniel’s · World Invitational · every invitational on record
The season: 2015 in review · the latest edition