The American Royal edition
Every team, every meat and every score from the 2021 American Royal Invitational.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
The Smoke Ring
Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record
The Index
- The Champions A2
- American Royal 2021 in Brief A3
- Meat by Meat A4
- Perfect 180s A5
- Final Standings B1
- The Record Book B2
- Back Issues C1
The 2021 American Royal Invitational
The 2021 American Royal Invitational
TRIPLE H BBQ Wins the American Royal
Their 708.5372 beats SIN CIRCLE BBQ by 4.5488 points, in a field of 185 invited teams.
2nd-highest winning score of 8 American Royals on record
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — TRIPLE H BBQ won the 2021 American Royal Invitational in Kansas City, Kan., with 708.5372 out of 720, 4.5488 points clear of SIN CIRCLE BBQ, the reserve grand champion. 185 teams were invited.
It was their 2nd American Royal, and the first time they had won it. The win was their 3rd Grand Championship of 2021. On the way they finished 82nd in chicken, 3rd in pork ribs, 5th in pork and 11th in brisket.
The meats went to Smoking OCD in chicken (180), SMOKE THIS BBQ MO in pork ribs (180), GETTIN' SAUCED in pork (179.4400) and FAT BOYS BBQ - TEMPLE, TX in brisket (180).
The winning score is the 2nd-highest of the 8 American Royals on record. The field included six past champions and 77 teams at their first American Royal. Judges handed out nine perfect 180s. The full standings run on B1.
Every American Royal on record to 2021, newest first. Each year has an edition of its own.
The defending champion
Defending Champion MUDVILLE BBQ Finishes 71st
The 2019 winner falls out of the top ten.
71st of 185, after winning in 2019
MUDVILLE BBQ won the American Royal in 2019 and finished 71st this time, with 683.9200.
First time in
First-Timer YSB BBQ Finishes 3rd
77 teams cooked their first American Royal in 2021.
3rd of 185, at a first American Royal
YSB BBQ finished 3rd with 703.3828 at their first American Royal, the best of 77 teams in the field for the first time.
Perfect scores
Nine Perfect 180s at the American Royal
Six judges, every card a nine.
9 perfect 180s
Smoking OCD in chicken, CHICKEN FRIED BBQ in chicken, QUENUT BBQ in chicken, SMOKE THIS BBQ MO in pork ribs, RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ in pork ribs, TRIPLE H BBQ in pork ribs, LC BBQ in pork ribs, FAT BOYS BBQ - TEMPLE, TX in brisket and 1 more scored a perfect 180.
Also at the 2021 American Royal
Six Past Champions Come Up Short
913 BBQ (won 2016) finished 29th, SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA (won 2014) finished 35th, CLARK CREW BBQ (won 2017) finished 38th, MUDVILLE BBQ (won 2019) finished 71st, COOL SMOKE (won 2013) finished 122nd and THE SMOKING HILLS (won 2015) finished 146th.
TRIPLE H BBQ Climbs From 118th to 1st
TRIPLE H BBQ finished 1st, up from 118th in 2019: the most places gained by any team that cooked both.
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ Cooks Their 8th American Royal
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ has cooked 8 of the 8 American Royals on record, starting in 2013 with a best finish of 2nd, and finished 11th this year.
Chicken
The top ten, out of 180 · 3 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smoking OCD | 180† |
| 2 | CHICKEN FRIED BBQ | 180† |
| 3 | QUENUT BBQ | 180† |
| 4 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 179.4400 |
| 5 | CARROL LOU'S SMOKEHOUSE | 178.8800 |
| 6 | Rogue Hog BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 7 | MAN MEAT BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 8 | Pits and Grills | 178.8572 |
| 9 | CHUNKY BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 10 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | 178.8572 |
Pork Ribs
The top ten, out of 180 · 4 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | 180† |
| 2 | RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ | 180† |
| 3 | TRIPLE H BBQ | 180† |
| 4 | LC BBQ | 180† |
| 5 | Smoke Central BBQ | 179.4400 |
| 6 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 7 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | 178.8572 |
| 8 | DROP THE MIKE | 178.2972 |
| 9 | SIN CIRCLE BBQ | 178.2972 |
| 10 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | 178.2972 |
Pork
The top ten, out of 180
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GETTIN' SAUCED | 179.4400 |
| 2 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | 179.4400 |
| 3 | YSB BBQ | 179.4400 |
| 4 | Scooter's BBQ | 179.4400 |
| 5 | TRIPLE H BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 6 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 7 | LOBO'S DEN BBQ CO. | 178.2972 |
| 8 | CROSSED RIFLES BBQ | 177.7144 |
| 9 | JANKY LEG BBQ | 177.7144 |
| 10 | CODE 3 SPICES | 177.7144 |
Brisket
The top ten, out of 180 · 2 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FAT BOYS BBQ - TEMPLE, TX | 180† |
| 2 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | 180† |
| 3 | WHO CARES BBQ | 179.4400 |
| 4 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | 179.4400 |
| 5 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | 179.4400 |
| 6 | RAZORRACKS | 178.8572 |
| 7 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 8 | CARROL LOU'S SMOKEHOUSE | 178.8572 |
| 9 | HOT WACHULA'S | 178.8572 |
| 10 | Smoking OCD | 177.7372 |
9 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Chicken Smoking OCD
- Chicken CHICKEN FRIED BBQ
- Chicken QUENUT BBQ
- Pork Ribs SMOKE THIS BBQ MO
- Pork Ribs RIO VALLEY MEAT BBQ
- Pork Ribs TRIPLE H BBQ
- Pork Ribs LC BBQ
- Brisket FAT BOYS BBQ - TEMPLE, TX
- Brisket TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER
Every team on the 2021 board, 185 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 2021, the invitational itself only.
Highest Scores
Any finish, out of 720
- 1 CLARK CREW BBQ2017 · 1st 708.5600
- 2 TRIPLE H BBQ2021 · 1st 708.5372
- 3 THE SMOKING HILLS2015 · 1st 707.9888
- 4 MUDVILLE BBQ2019 · 1st 706.2516
- 5 HOGLINE2017 · 2nd 706.2400
- 6 REDNECK SCIENTIFIC2017 · 3rd 705.1544
- 7 KG Cookers BBQ2017 · 4th 705.1200
- 8 BUNCH OF SWINES2018 · 1st 705.1200
- 9 913 BBQ2016 · 1st 705.0740
- 10 WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ2017 · 5th 704.5488
Most Titles
Grand Championships
- 1 MUDVILLE BBQ2019 1
- 2 TRIPLE H BBQ2021 1
- 3 913 BBQ2016 1
- 4 BUNCH OF SWINES2018 1
- 5 COOL SMOKE2013 1
- 6 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014 1
- 7 CLARK CREW BBQ2017 1
- 8 THE SMOKING HILLS2015 1
Most Appearances
American Royals cooked
- 1 CLARK CREW BBQ2013–2021 · best 1st 8
- 2 THE SMOKING HILLS2013–2021 · best 1st 8
- 3 DIRT ROAD BBQ2013–2021 · best 2nd 8
- 4 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ2013–2021 · best 2nd 8
- 5 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ2013–2021 · best 5th 8
- 6 SHIGGIN & GRINNIN2013–2021 · best 9th 8
- 7 GOOD SMOKE BBQ2013–2021 · best 11th 8
- 8 BIG POPPA SMOKERS2013–2021 · best 13th 8
- 9 COOL SMOKE2013–2021 · best 1st 7
- 10 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014–2021 · best 1st 7
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 MUDVILLE BBQ2019, over GETTIN' BASTED 2.2744
- 4 CLARK CREW BBQ2017, over HOGLINE 2.3200
- 5 913 BBQ2016, over SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ 2.8340
- 6 TRIPLE H BBQ2021, over SIN CIRCLE BBQ 4.5488
- 7 COOL SMOKE2013, over T-MAC SMOKIN 6.2516
- 8 THE SMOKING HILLS2015, over PELLET ENVY 7.9888
Biggest Fields
Teams invited
- 1 2015won by THE SMOKING HILLS 187
- 2 2021won by TRIPLE H BBQ 185
- 3 2016won by 913 BBQ 180
- 4 2013won by COOL SMOKE 174
- 5 2014won by SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA 165
- 6 2018won by BUNCH OF SWINES 164
- 7 2019won by MUDVILLE BBQ 135
- 8 2017won by CLARK CREW BBQ 129
Best First Appearances
Finish at a first invitation
- 1 MUDVILLE BBQ2019 · of 135 1st
- 2 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014 · of 165 1st
- 3 YSB BBQ2021 · of 185 3rd
- 4 T-N-T QUE CREW2019 · of 135 3rd
- 5 DR. NORDY'S BBQ2014 · of 165 3rd
- 6 KG Cookers BBQ2017 · of 129 4th
- 7 DIVINE SWINE2018 · of 164 4th
- 8 BOOM CHICKA COW COW2021 · of 185 4th
- 9 FIRE DANCER BBQ2016 · of 180 4th
- 10 Uncle Kenny's Take-Away2014 · of 165 4th
Every American Royal on record has an edition of its own. ← 2019 2022 →
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: 2021 in review · the latest edition