The American Royal edition
Every team, every meat and every score from the 2018 American Royal Invitational.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
The Smoke Ring
Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record
The Index
- The Champions A2
- American Royal 2018 in Brief A3
- Meat by Meat A4
- Perfect 180s A5
- Final Standings B1
- The Record Book B2
- Back Issues C1
The 2018 American Royal Invitational
The 2018 American Royal Invitational
BUNCH OF SWINES Wins the American Royal
Their 705.1200 beats ONE2BBQ by 1.0968 points, in a field of 164 invited teams.
3rd-highest winning score of 6 American Royals on record
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — BUNCH OF SWINES won the 2018 American Royal Invitational in Kansas City, Kan., with 705.1200 out of 720, 1.0968 points clear of ONE2BBQ, the reserve grand champion. 164 teams were invited.
It was their 5th American Royal, and the first time they had won it. The win was their 6th Grand Championship of 2018. On the way they finished 18th in chicken, 2nd in pork ribs, 62nd in pork and 24th in brisket.
The meats went to QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N in chicken (180), 4 LEGS UP BBQ in pork ribs (180), WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ in pork (180) and DIRT ROAD BBQ in brisket (180).
The winning score is the 3rd-highest of the 6 American Royals on record. The field included five past champions and 86 teams at their first American Royal. Judges handed out five perfect 180s. The full standings run on B1.
Every American Royal on record to 2018, newest first. Each year has an edition of its own.
The defending champion
Defending Champion CLARK CREW BBQ Finishes 75th
The 2017 winner falls out of the top ten.
75th of 164, after winning in 2017
CLARK CREW BBQ won the American Royal in 2017 and finished 75th this time, with 683.3140.
The finish
The Closest American Royal on Record
BUNCH OF SWINES over ONE2BBQ, by 1.0968.
1.0968 points between first and second
BUNCH OF SWINES beat ONE2BBQ by 1.0968 points, the narrowest margin of the 6 American Royals on record. The closest before it was 2014, when SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA won by 1.1312.
First time in
First-Timer DIVINE SWINE Finishes 4th
86 teams cooked their first American Royal in 2018.
4th of 164, at a first American Royal
DIVINE SWINE finished 4th with 702.8572 at their first American Royal, the best of 86 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
QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N in chicken, 4 LEGS UP BBQ in pork ribs, BUNCH OF SWINES in pork ribs, WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ in pork and DIRT ROAD BBQ in brisket scored a perfect 180.
Former winners
Five Past Champions Come Up Short
The best of them: 913 BBQ, 5th.
5 past American Royal champions in the field
913 BBQ (won 2016) finished 5th, COOL SMOKE (won 2013) finished 29th, THE SMOKING HILLS (won 2015) finished 38th, SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA (won 2014) finished 54th and CLARK CREW BBQ (won 2017) finished 75th.
On the up
HOT WACHULA'S Climbs From 105th to 25th
The biggest jump on 2017.
+80 places gained on 2017
HOT WACHULA'S finished 25th, up from 105th in 2017: the most places gained by any team that cooked both.
Also at the 2018 American Royal
ONE2BBQ Cooks Their 6th American Royal
ONE2BBQ has cooked 6 of the 6 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 · 1 perfect 180
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | 180† |
| 2 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 3 | BIG DADDY G'S BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 4 | FIRE DANCER BBQ | 178.2972 |
| 5 | Fergolicious BBQ | 177.7144 |
| 6 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | 177.7144 |
| 7 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | 177.7144 |
| 8 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 177.7028 |
| 9 | ANGRY JACK BBQ | 177.7028 |
| 10 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | 177.7028 |
Pork Ribs
The top ten, out of 180 · 2 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | 180† |
| 2 | BUNCH OF SWINES | 180† |
| 3 | OUTLAW HAWGS BBQ | 178.8800 |
| 4 | BUCKSHOT BBQ - TX | 178.8572 |
| 5 | Grade A BBQ | 178.2972 |
| 6 | Sauced! BBQ | 178.2972 |
| 7 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 177.7144 |
| 8 | ONE2BBQ | 177.7144 |
| 9 | Big Smoke BBQ | 177.7028 |
| 10 | SMOKING JOKERS AUSTRALIA | 177.7028 |
Pork
The top ten, out of 180 · 1 perfect 180
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | 180† |
| 2 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 3 | CLARK CREW BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 4 | Lucky Charms | 178.8572 |
| 5 | Sharpe's Woodshed | 178.8572 |
| 6 | Smokin' Hooks | 178.2972 |
| 7 | SMOKE RINGERS | 177.7372 |
| 8 | BUCKSHOT BBQ - TX | 177.7144 |
| 9 | RUB MY RACK | 177.7028 |
| 10 | High I Que | 177.7028 |
Brisket
The top ten, out of 180 · 1 perfect 180
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | 180† |
| 2 | WHO CARES BBQ | 178.3200 |
| 3 | DIVINE SWINE | 177.7372 |
| 4 | ONE2BBQ | 177.7372 |
| 5 | Barbecue Mafia Australia | 177.7144 |
| 6 | PITMASTERIQ BBQ | 177.7144 |
| 7 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | 177.7144 |
| 8 | BIG BUTTS NEED RUBBIN TOO | 177.7028 |
| 9 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | 177.7028 |
| 10 | WEQ4U | 177.7028 |
5 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Chicken QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N
- Pork Ribs 4 LEGS UP BBQ
- Pork Ribs BUNCH OF SWINES
- Pork WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ
- Brisket DIRT ROAD BBQ
Every team on the 2018 board, 164 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 2018, the invitational itself only.
Highest Scores
Any finish, out of 720
- 1 CLARK CREW BBQ2017 · 1st 708.5600
- 2 THE SMOKING HILLS2015 · 1st 707.9888
- 3 HOGLINE2017 · 2nd 706.2400
- 4 REDNECK SCIENTIFIC2017 · 3rd 705.1544
- 5 KG Cookers BBQ2017 · 4th 705.1200
- 6 BUNCH OF SWINES2018 · 1st 705.1200
- 7 913 BBQ2016 · 1st 705.0740
- 8 WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ2017 · 5th 704.5488
- 9 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ2017 · 6th 704.5484
- 10 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ2017 · 7th 704.5484
Most Titles
Grand Championships
- 1 913 BBQ2016 1
- 2 BUNCH OF SWINES2018 1
- 3 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014 1
- 4 CLARK CREW BBQ2017 1
- 5 COOL SMOKE2013 1
- 6 THE SMOKING HILLS2015 1
Most Appearances
American Royals cooked
- 1 CLARK CREW BBQ2013–2018 · best 1st 6
- 2 COOL SMOKE2013–2018 · best 1st 6
- 3 THE SMOKING HILLS2013–2018 · best 1st 6
- 4 DIRT ROAD BBQ2013–2018 · best 2nd 6
- 5 ONE2BBQ2013–2018 · best 2nd 6
- 6 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ2013–2018 · best 2nd 6
- 7 BUTCHER BBQ2013–2018 · best 4th 6
- 8 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ2013–2018 · best 5th 6
- 9 SHIGGIN & GRINNIN2013–2018 · best 9th 6
- 10 GOOD SMOKE BBQ2013–2018 · best 11th 6
Closest Finishes
Points between first and second
- 1 BUNCH OF SWINES2018, over ONE2BBQ 1.0968
- 2 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014, over DIRT ROAD BBQ 1.1312
- 3 CLARK CREW BBQ2017, over HOGLINE 2.3200
- 4 913 BBQ2016, over SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ 2.8340
- 5 COOL SMOKE2013, over T-MAC SMOKIN 6.2516
- 6 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
- 5 2018won by BUNCH OF SWINES 164
- 6 2017won by CLARK CREW BBQ 129
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 KG Cookers BBQ2017 · of 129 4th
- 4 DIVINE SWINE2018 · of 164 4th
- 5 FIRE DANCER BBQ2016 · of 180 4th
- 6 Uncle Kenny's Take-Away2014 · of 165 4th
- 7 BIG BROTHERS BBQ2014 · of 165 6th
- 8 ANGRY JACK BBQ2018 · of 164 7th
- 9 SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE2016 · of 180 8th
- 10 BRINGIN' THE HEAT2015 · of 187 8th
Every American Royal on record has an edition of its own. ← 2017 2019 →
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: 2018 in review · the latest edition