The American Royal edition
Every team, every meat and every score from the 2016 American Royal Invitational.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
The Smoke Ring
Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record
The Index
- The Champions A2
- American Royal 2016 in Brief A3
- Meat by Meat A4
- Perfect 180s A5
- Final Standings B1
- The Record Book B2
- Back Issues C1
The 2016 American Royal Invitational
The 2016 American Royal Invitational
913 BBQ Wins the American Royal
Their 705.0740 beats SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ by 2.8340 points, in a field of 180 invited teams.
2nd-highest winning score of 4 American Royals on record
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — 913 BBQ won the 2016 American Royal Invitational in Kansas City, Kan., with 705.0740 out of 720, 2.8340 points clear of SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ, the reserve grand champion. 180 teams were invited.
It was their 2nd American Royal, and the first time they had won it. The win was their 5th Grand Championship of 2016. On the way they finished 55th in chicken, 26th in pork ribs, 17th in pork and 2nd in brisket.
The meats went to LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ in chicken (179.4400), BIG BROTHERS BBQ in pork ribs (180), QUETOPIA in pork (178.8572) and TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW in brisket (180).
The winning score is the 2nd-highest of the 4 American Royals on record. The field included three past champions and 92 teams at their first American Royal. Judges handed out five perfect 180s. The full standings run on B1.
Every American Royal on record to 2016, newest first. Each year has an edition of its own.
- 913 BBQ 2016 — this edition
- THE SMOKING HILLS The 2015 edition
- SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA The 2014 edition
- COOL SMOKE The 2013 edition
The defending champion
Defending Champion THE SMOKING HILLS Finishes 14th
The 2015 winner falls out of the top ten.
14th of 180, after winning in 2015
THE SMOKING HILLS won the American Royal in 2015 and finished 14th this time, with 695.3712.
First time in
First-Timer FIRE DANCER BBQ Finishes 4th
92 teams cooked their first American Royal in 2016.
4th of 180, at a first American Royal
FIRE DANCER BBQ finished 4th with 701.6684 at their first American Royal, the best of 92 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
BIG BROTHERS BBQ in pork ribs, SON OF SMOKE in pork ribs, TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW in brisket, 913 BBQ in brisket and SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA in brisket scored a perfect 180.
Also at the 2016 American Royal
Three Past Champions Come Up Short
THE SMOKING HILLS (won 2015) finished 14th, SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA (won 2014) finished 60th and COOL SMOKE (won 2013) finished 132nd.
REDNECK SCIENTIFIC Climbs From 93rd to 6th
REDNECK SCIENTIFIC finished 6th, up from 93rd in 2015: the most places gained by any team that cooked both.
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ Cooks Their 4th American Royal
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ has cooked 4 of the 4 American Royals on record, starting in 2013 with a best finish of 2nd, and finished 2nd this year.
Chicken
The top ten, out of 180
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | 179.4400 |
| 2 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | 179.4400 |
| 3 | JIGGY PIGGY | 179.4400 |
| 4 | BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | 179.4400 |
| 5 | SMOKE N BABES BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 6 | Brothers Chillin & Grillin | 178.3200 |
| 7 | TOTALLY SAUCED | 177.7372 |
| 8 | ONE2BBQ | 177.7144 |
| 9 | BURNT FINGER BBQ | 177.7144 |
| 10 | BUNCH OF SWINES | 177.7144 |
Pork Ribs
The top ten, out of 180 · 2 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG BROTHERS BBQ | 180† |
| 2 | SON OF SMOKE | 180† |
| 3 | GETTIN' BASTED | 179.4400 |
| 4 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | 179.4400 |
| 5 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 6 | SAUCED! BBQ TEAM | 177.7372 |
| 7 | QUAU | 177.7372 |
| 8 | SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE | 177.7144 |
| 9 | HOG TIDE BAR-B-QUE | 177.7144 |
| 10 | 3 LIL' MACS BBQ | 177.7028 |
Pork
The top ten, out of 180
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | QUETOPIA | 178.8572 |
| 2 | PHIL THE GRILL | 177.7028 |
| 3 | LOTTA BULL BBQ | 177.1428 |
| 4 | GETTIN' BASTED | 176.5600 |
| 5 | BUTCHER BBQ | 176.5600 |
| 6 | Fergolicious BBQ | 176.5600 |
| 7 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | 176.5600 |
| 8 | Idle Time BBQ | 176.0572 |
| 9 | HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | 176 |
| 10 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | 176 |
Brisket
The top ten, out of 180 · 3 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | 180† |
| 2 | 913 BBQ | 180† |
| 3 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | 180† |
| 4 | SLAPS BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 5 | SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE | 178.8572 |
| 6 | QUAU | 178.8572 |
| 7 | Bonemaker Outdoors | 178.3200 |
| 8 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | 178.2972 |
| 9 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | 178.2972 |
| 10 | HOG TIDE BAR-B-QUE | 177.7144 |
5 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Pork Ribs BIG BROTHERS BBQ
- Pork Ribs SON OF SMOKE
- Brisket TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW
- Brisket 913 BBQ
- Brisket SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA
Every team on the 2016 board, 180 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 2016, the invitational itself only.
Highest Scores
Any finish, out of 720
- 1 THE SMOKING HILLS2015 · 1st 707.9888
- 2 913 BBQ2016 · 1st 705.0740
- 3 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ2016 · 2nd 702.2400
- 4 QUAU2016 · 3rd 701.7600
- 5 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014 · 1st 701.7028
- 6 FIRE DANCER BBQ2016 · 4th 701.6684
- 7 DIRT ROAD BBQ2014 · 2nd 700.5716
- 8 HOG TIDE BAR-B-QUE2016 · 5th 700.5716
- 9 COOL SMOKE2013 · 1st 700.5256
- 10 DR. NORDY'S BBQ2014 · 3rd 700
Most Titles
Grand Championships
- 1 913 BBQ2016 1
- 2 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014 1
- 3 COOL SMOKE2013 1
- 4 THE SMOKING HILLS2015 1
Most Appearances
American Royals cooked
- 1 COOL SMOKE2013–2016 · best 1st 4
- 2 THE SMOKING HILLS2013–2016 · best 1st 4
- 3 DIRT ROAD BBQ2013–2016 · best 2nd 4
- 4 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ2013–2016 · best 2nd 4
- 5 QUAU2013–2016 · best 3rd 4
- 6 BUTCHER BBQ2013–2016 · best 4th 4
- 7 CLARK CREW BBQ2013–2016 · best 4th 4
- 8 HOG TIDE BAR-B-QUE2013–2016 · best 5th 4
- 9 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ2013–2016 · best 5th 4
- 10 ONE2BBQ2013–2016 · best 5th 4
Closest Finishes
Points between first and second
- 1 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014, over DIRT ROAD BBQ 1.1312
- 2 913 BBQ2016, over SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ 2.8340
- 3 COOL SMOKE2013, over T-MAC SMOKIN 6.2516
- 4 THE SMOKING HILLS2015, over PELLET ENVY 7.9888
Biggest Fields
Teams invited
- 1 2015won by THE SMOKING HILLS 187
- 2 2016won by 913 BBQ 180
- 3 2013won by COOL SMOKE 174
- 4 2014won by SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA 165
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 FIRE DANCER BBQ2016 · of 180 4th
- 4 Uncle Kenny's Take-Away2014 · of 165 4th
- 5 BIG BROTHERS BBQ2014 · of 165 6th
- 6 SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE2016 · of 180 8th
- 7 BRINGIN' THE HEAT2015 · of 187 8th
- 8 GETTIN' BASTED2014 · of 165 8th
- 9 SMOKIN ACES2015 · of 187 9th
- 10 CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ2014 · of 165 10th
Every American Royal on record has an edition of its own. ← 2015 2017 →
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: 2016 in review · the latest edition