The American Royal edition

Every team, every meat and every score from the 2017 American Royal Invitational.

Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests

The Smoke Ring

Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record

The Index

The Champions A2
American Royal 2017 in Brief A3
Meat by Meat A4
Perfect 180s A5
Final Standings B1
The Record Book B2
Back Issues C1

Vol. VI · No. V Thursday, August 31, 2017 Price: One Coffee

The 2017 American Royal Invitational

708.5600 winning score, out of 720 CLARK CREW BBQ

129 teams invited

2.3200 points, first to second

10 perfect 180s

5th American Royal on record

4 past champions in the field

66 teams at a first American Royal

The 2017 American Royal Invitational

CLARK CREW BBQ Wins the American Royal

Their 708.5600 beats HOGLINE by 2.3200 points, in a field of 129 invited teams.

By The Smoke Ring Staff

The highest winning score of 5 American Royals on record

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — CLARK CREW BBQ won the 2017 American Royal Invitational in Kansas City, Kan., with 708.5600 out of 720, 2.3200 points clear of HOGLINE, the reserve grand champion. 129 teams were invited.

It was their 5th American Royal, and the first time they had won it. The win was their 11th Grand Championship of 2017. On the way they finished 2nd in chicken, 23rd in pork ribs, 18th in pork and 16th in brisket.

The meats went to THE SMOKING HILLS in chicken (180), FAT BOYS BBQ - TEMPLE, TX in pork ribs (180), ONE2BBQ in pork (180) and KG Cookers BBQ in brisket (180).

The winning score is the highest of the 5 American Royals on record. The field included four past champions and 66 teams at their first American Royal. Judges handed out ten perfect 180s. The full standings run on B1.

129 teams
Reserve: HOGLINE
Kansas City, Kan.
Aug. 31

Section AAmerican Royal ChampionsA2

Every American Royal on record to 2017, newest first. Each year has an edition of its own.

CLARK CREW BBQ 2017 — this edition 708.5600 · 129 teams · Kansas City, Kan. · Reserve: HOGLINE
913 BBQ The 2016 edition 705.0740 · 180 teams · Kansas City, Kan. · Reserve: SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ
THE SMOKING HILLS The 2015 edition 707.9888 · 187 teams · Kansas City, Mo. · Reserve: PELLET ENVY
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA The 2014 edition 701.7028 · 165 teams · Kansas City, Mo. · Reserve: DIRT ROAD BBQ
COOL SMOKE The 2013 edition 700.5256 · 174 teams · Kansas City, Mo. · Reserve: T-MAC SMOKIN

Section AAmerican Royal 2017 in BriefA3

The defending champion

Defending Champion 913 BBQ Finishes 30th

The 2016 winner falls out of the top ten.

30th of 129, after winning in 2016

913 BBQ won the American Royal in 2016 and finished 30th this time, with 692.4912.

First time in

First-Timer KG Cookers BBQ Finishes 4th

66 teams cooked their first American Royal in 2017.

4th of 129, at a first American Royal

KG Cookers BBQ finished 4th with 705.1200 at their first American Royal, the best of 66 teams in the field for the first time.

Perfect scores

Ten Perfect 180s at the American Royal

Six judges, every card a nine.

10 perfect 180s

THE SMOKING HILLS in chicken, CLARK CREW BBQ in chicken, PRIORVILLE BBQ in chicken, FAT BOYS BBQ - TEMPLE, TX in pork ribs, REDNECK SCIENTIFIC in pork ribs, ONE2BBQ in pork, GETTIN' BASTED in pork, KG Cookers BBQ in brisket and 2 more scored a perfect 180.

The field

The Smallest American Royal Field on Record

129 teams were invited in 2017, against 180 in 2016.

129 teams invited

129 teams cooked the American Royal in 2017, the fewest of the 5 on record; the biggest was 187, in 2015.

Former winners

Four Past Champions Come Up Short

The best of them: COOL SMOKE, 16th.

4 past American Royal champions in the field

COOL SMOKE (won 2013) finished 16th, THE SMOKING HILLS (won 2015) finished 21st, 913 BBQ (won 2016) finished 30th and SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA (won 2014) finished 80th.

On the up

COOL SMOKE Climbs From 132nd to 16th

The biggest jump on 2016.

+116 places gained on 2016

COOL SMOKE finished 16th, up from 132nd in 2016: the most places gained by any team that cooked both.

Also at the 2017 American Royal

CLARK CREW BBQ Cooks Their 5th American Royal

CLARK CREW BBQ has cooked 5 of the 5 American Royals on record, starting in 2013 with a best finish of 1st, and finished 1st this year.

Section AMeat by MeatA4

Chicken

The top ten, out of 180 · 3 perfect 180s

Pl.	Team	Score
1	THE SMOKING HILLS	180†
2	CLARK CREW BBQ	180†
3	PRIORVILLE BBQ	180†
4	IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ	179.4400
5	SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS	178.8572
6	HOGLINE	178.8572
7	MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ	178.2972
8	AWW HELL	178.2972
9	4 LEGS UP BBQ	178.2972
10	KG Cookers BBQ	177.7372

Pork Ribs

The top ten, out of 180 · 2 perfect 180s

Pl.	Team	Score
1	FAT BOYS BBQ - TEMPLE, TX	180†
2	REDNECK SCIENTIFIC	180†
3	TOTALLY SAUCED	179.4400
4	ONE2BBQ	179.4400
5	AWW HELL	178.8572
6	THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ	178.8572
7	SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ	178.8572
8	SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE	177.7144
9	FINN'S FINEST BBQ	177.7028
10	3N1 Q	177.7028

Pork

The top ten, out of 180 · 2 perfect 180s

Pl.	Team	Score
1	ONE2BBQ	180†
2	GETTIN' BASTED	180†
3	BUFFALO'S BBQ	179.4400
4	WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	178.8572
5	METRO APPLIANCES AND MORE	178.8572
6	GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA	178.8572
7	Pigs & Cows Gone Wild	178.2972
8	LUCKY'S Q	177.7372
9	QUETOPIA	177.7144
10	BIG POPPA SMOKERS	177.7144

Brisket

The top ten, out of 180 · 3 perfect 180s

Pl.	Team	Score
1	KG Cookers BBQ	180†
2	WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	180†
3	BARREL BOYS BBQ	180†
4	THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ	179.4400
5	SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ	178.8572
6	COOL SMOKE	178.2972
7	REDNECK SCIENTIFIC	177.7372
8	Uncle Kenny's Take-Away	177.7372
9	HOGLINE	177.7144
10	PIGGIN' WHISKEY	177.7028

Section APerfect 180sA5

10 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.

Section BFinal StandingsB1

Every team on the 2017 board, 129 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.

Place	Team	Chicken	Pork Ribs	Pork	Brisket	Overall
1	CLARK CREW BBQ	2	23	18	16	708.5600
2	HOGLINE	6	17	53	9	706.2400
3	REDNECK SCIENTIFIC	43	2	45	7	705.1544
4	KG Cookers BBQ ◆	10	34	52	1	705.1200
5	WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	69	33	4	2	704.5488
6	SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ	55	7	41	5	704.5484
7	IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ	4	27	55	15	704.5484
8	TOTALLY SAUCED	58	3	11	36	703.4172
9	SLAPS BBQ	23	44	24	17	701.6684
10	MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ	27	41	12	31	700.5828
11	BOOMERANG BBQ ◆	17	21	19	46	700.5716
12	RUB MY RACK ◆	51	36	43	12	698.7884
13	BIG POPPA SMOKERS	41	52	10	39	698.2628
14	THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ ◆	18	6	38	76	698.2172
15	GETTIN' BASTED	28	26	2	96	697.6456
16	COOL SMOKE ★	97	16	26	6	697.1428
17	AWW HELL ◆	8	5	59	81	697.0856
18	Uncle Kenny's Take-Away	50	22	76	8	696.5712
19	Pigs & Cows Gone Wild ◆	71	49	7	24	696.5600
20	LUCKY'S Q	54	19	8	69	696.5256
21	THE SMOKING HILLS ★	1	50	73	34	696.5256
22	ONE2BBQ	63	4	1	101	696.5256
23	FAT BOYS BBQ - TEMPLE, TX	30	1	101	41	696.5028
24	RISE N SWINE	12	65	34	43	695.9772
25	BUFFALO'S BBQ	83	24	3	49	695.9544
26	SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS ◆	5	25	37	88	695.9316
27	BULL RUSH BBQ	24	32	87	21	695.4856
28	THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ	59	100	16	4	694.2740
29	HELPING U BBQ ◆	46	57	36	30	693.6916
30	913 BBQ ★	40	40	27	78	692.4912
31	PORKY BUTTS BBQ	33	64	81	19	691.4056
32	BBQ WIESEL ◆	78	56	47	20	691.4056
33	GOOD SMOKE BBQ	84	46	20	32	691.3832
34	ALL IN QUE	79	84	15	23	691.3484
35	BUTCHER BBQ	26	95	72	13	691.3484
36	IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE	20	59	67	54	690.2172
37	PELLET ENVY	89	14	25	63	690.2056
38	SUBLIME BBQ	34	35	85	53	690.1824
39	High I Que	74	80	44	18	689.6456
40	JAESTAR BBQ	16	91	39	62	689.0856
41	FINN'S FINEST BBQ ◆	62	9	58	90	689.0400
42	R BUTTS R SMOKIN	32	55	113	14	689.0396
43	HONKY-TONK SMOKERS	14	73	65	60	688.5824
44	SHIGGIN & GRINNIN	56	107	23	28	687.9544
45	BACKYARD BRO'S ◆	25	51	99	48	687.9424
46	SMOKE324 ◆	70	93	33	37	687.9200
47	THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS	81	38	103	11	687.9084
48	SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE	126	8	30	25	687.4060
49	OKLAHOMA JOE'S SERIOUS QUE	15	76	49	83	687.3600
50	HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB	37	31	100	65	686.7772
51	INSANE SWINE BBQ	22	42	108	57	686.2400
52	HOG HAMMER BBQ ◆	76	67	29	71	685.5996
53	SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA	44	60	62	85	685.0744
54	LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ	57	54	28	104	684.4684
55	CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. ◆	87	11	56	99	683.9312
56	4 LEGS UP BBQ	9	47	114	73	683.3944
57	2 DRUNK 2 QUE ◆	38	96	54	72	683.3828
58	ZZYZX BAR.B.Q	75	99	21	61	683.3372
59	BURNT FINGER BBQ	96	58	75	26	683.3372
60	MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ	7	98	109	45	683.3368
61	DIG-IN COOKERS ◆	21	61	117	42	682.8344
62	THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE	80	116	40	22	682.7884
63	PIGGIN' WHISKEY ◆	122	15	102	10	682.7424
64	WICKED SMOKE BBQ ◆	86	13	86	87	682.2396
65	LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ	77	70	97	33	682.2284
66	PRIORVILLE BBQ ◆	3	53	80	117	681.6684
67	Rooftop Barbeque- Green Mountain Grills ◆	11	29	115	98	681.6572
68	JOUSTING PIGS BBQ 2.0 ◆	31	89	61	93	681.6228
69	SMOKING JOKERS AUSTRALIA ◆	72	94	32	84	681.0516
70	Butler's Backdrift BBQ ◆	85	102	13	75	681.0512
71	SWEET SMOKE BBQ ◆	67	86	78	52	681.0512
72	DIRT ROAD BBQ	53	28	112	80	680.5144
73	FYC BARBEQUE ◆	19	121	22	91	680.4572
74	QUETOPIA	88	77	9	106	679.8856
75	WICHITA SWINEMEN ◆	92	20	31	116	679.4400
76	SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS ◆	49	126	48	38	679.3256
77	DR. PEARL'S MEDICINAL SMOKE BBQ TEAM ◆	101	63	51	64	679.2912
78	MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ ◆	29	81	63	109	678.7772
79	Q-BONES BBQ	119	30	77	50	678.7428
80	SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA ★	52	103	69	74	678.7084
81	THE SMOKE HUNTERS	64	48	70	110	678.1712
82	UTAH BBQ COMPANY ◆	82	68	84	68	678.1712
83	Big Horn Cookers 2 ◆	47	69	92	100	678.1596
84	BARREL BOYS BBQ ◆	121	85	95	3	677.7140
85	GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA	110	66	6	103	677.6000
86	SMOKE THIS BBQ MO	36	39	122	89	677.0740
87	K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ ◆	45	123	74	51	676.4684
88	BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ	35	117	83	67	676.4684
89	BIG BUTTS NEED RUBBIN TOO	13	79	60	125	675.9428
90	BILLY RAY BBQ ◆	93	62	79	79	675.3828
91	OLD 99 MEAT CO. ◆	112	88	68	40	675.3372
92	SMOKIN OFF THE GRID ◆	94	43	50	112	675.3368
93	TEAM AMERICA	95	37	118	56	675.3140
94	PORK ILLUSTRATED ◆	61	12	89	126	674.7772
95	WHO CARES BBQ ◆	66	90	42	114	674.7312
96	RED BOAR BBQ ◆	108	18	105	86	674.1600
97	3N1 Q ◆	99	10	121	70	674.1484
98	FOUR SMOKING GUYS ◆	103	74	17	107	673.0856
99	Nice Racks BBQ ◆	91	72	93	94	671.8968
100	SMOKIN TIMBERS NORTHWEST ◆	111	78	96	55	671.8856
101	TOP GUN BARBECUE ◆	100	105	110	27	671.8624
102	NON-TYPICAL BBQ ◆	48	109	119	58	671.3260
103	SMOKIN' 4-PLAY BBQ ◆	105	83	90	66	671.3028
104	SMOKIN T'S	107	110	88	29	670.7660
105	HOT WACHULA'S	116	122	57	35	670.1600
106	LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKIN' BARRELS BBQ TEAM	42	118	94	97	669.6684
107	COOL BLUE Q ◆	60	115	71	105	669.6340
108	BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE	90	108	107	59	669.0856
109	QUAU	125	97	46	77	668.4796
110	SHOW US YOUR SPITS ◆	68	106	66	119	668.4688
111	UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC ◆	127	75	14	108	667.3484
112	CC's Country BBQ ◆	39	127	35	121	667.3256
113	NCOGNITO COOKERS ◆	106	82	104	102	664.4112
114	METRO APPLIANCES AND MORE ◆	115	119	5	120	663.8512
115	SWEET SWINE O'MINE ◆	104	112	82	95	663.2912
116	DRAGON BBQ ◆	117	45	91	124	662.7544
117	BOOG-A-LOU SMOKE CREW ◆	65	128	64	113	662.1600
118	HIGH ON THE HAWG ◆	113	87	124	44	662.1368
119	INHOGNITO ◆	114	101	123	47	661.6456
120	Thin- Beautiful- Blue Smoke/ Team Lion's ◆	73	113	111	127	654.7544
121	B & C SMOKERS ◆	102	120	98	123	653.1200
122	TRIPLE A COOKERS	98	111	106	129	647.9080
123	ROLLIN' SMOKE BBQ TEXAS ◆	128	92	126	92	645.0396
124	THERMAL CHAOS BBQ ◆	109	71	127	122	642.7316
125	Salty Dawg BBQ ◆	118	114	128	82	642.7200
126	John's Up In Smoke Cookers ◆	123	125	120	118	641.6912
127	FASTLANE BBQ CREW ◆	129	124	125	111	634.1028
128	RING OF FIRE BBQ ◆	120	104	129	115	632.4572
129	mustang country club cookers ◆	124	129	116	128	618.1256