The American Royal edition
Every team, every meat and every score from the 2025 American Royal Invitational.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
The Smoke Ring
Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record
The Index
- The Champions A2
- American Royal 2025 in Brief A3
- Meat by Meat A4
- Perfect 180s A5
- Final Standings B1
- The Record Book B2
- Back Issues C1
The 2025 American Royal Invitational
The 2025 American Royal Invitational
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN Wins the American Royal
Their 710.8344 beats TRIPLE H BBQ by 1.7144 points, in a field of 158 invited teams.
2nd-highest winning score of 12 American Royals on record
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN won the 2025 American Royal Invitational in Kansas City, Kan., with 710.8344 out of 720, 1.7144 points clear of TRIPLE H BBQ, the reserve grand champion. 158 teams were invited.
It was their 2nd American Royal, and the first time they had won it. The win was their 4th Grand Championship of 2025. On the way they finished 28th in chicken, 11th in pork ribs, 2nd in pork and 19th in brisket.
The meats went to SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ in chicken (180), GETTIN' BASTED in pork ribs (180), Mulkey's BBQ in pork (180) and Can Country Outlaw BBQ in brisket (180).
The winning score is the 2nd-highest of the 12 American Royals on record. The field included six past champions and 50 teams at their first American Royal. Judges handed out 15 perfect 180s. The full standings run on B1.
Every American Royal on record to 2025, newest first. Each year has an edition of its own.
- ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN 2025 — this edition
- HOT DADDY'S BBQ The 2024 edition
- FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY The 2023 edition
- QUE U The 2022 edition
- TRIPLE H BBQ The 2021 edition
- MUDVILLE BBQ The 2019 edition
- BUNCH OF SWINES The 2018 edition
- CLARK CREW BBQ The 2017 edition
- 913 BBQ The 2016 edition
- THE SMOKING HILLS The 2015 edition
- SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA The 2014 edition
- COOL SMOKE The 2013 edition
The defending champion
Defending Champion HOT DADDY'S BBQ Finishes 32nd
The 2024 winner falls out of the top ten.
32nd of 158, after winning in 2024
HOT DADDY'S BBQ won the American Royal in 2024 and finished 32nd this time, with 694.7772.
First time in
First-Timer Triple B BBQ - AUS Finishes 8th
50 teams cooked their first American Royal in 2025.
8th of 158, at a first American Royal
Triple B BBQ - AUS finished 8th with 701.1088 at their first American Royal, the best of 50 teams in the field for the first time.
Perfect scores
15 Perfect 180s at the American Royal
Six judges, every card a nine.
15 perfect 180s
SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ in chicken, LC BBQ in chicken, Smoked & Furious in chicken, SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS in chicken, MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS in chicken, GETTIN' BASTED in pork ribs, Kermit's Ex in pork ribs, Kith n' Kin in pork ribs and 7 more scored a perfect 180.
Also at the 2025 American Royal
Six Past Champions Come Up Short
TRIPLE H BBQ (won 2021) finished 2nd, SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA (won 2014) finished 10th, HOT DADDY'S BBQ (won 2024) finished 32nd, MUDVILLE BBQ (won 2019) finished 38th, BUNCH OF SWINES (won 2018) finished 100th and FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY (won 2023) finished 125th.
Meat Candy Q Climbs From 148th to 5th
Meat Candy Q finished 5th, up from 148th in 2024: the most places gained by any team that cooked both.
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN Cooks Their 12th American Royal
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN has cooked 12 of the 12 American Royals on record, starting in 2013 with a best finish of 7th, and finished 7th this year.
Chicken
The top ten, out of 180 · 5 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ | 180† |
| 2 | LC BBQ | 180† |
| 3 | Smoked & Furious | 180† |
| 4 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | 180† |
| 5 | MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS | 180† |
| 6 | Triple B BBQ - AUS | 178.8572 |
| 7 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 8 | Baileys BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 9 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | 178.2972 |
| 10 | Sloppy Hogs | 177.7144 |
Pork Ribs
The top ten, out of 180 · 3 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GETTIN' BASTED | 180† |
| 2 | Kermit's Ex | 180† |
| 3 | Kith n' Kin | 180† |
| 4 | OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | 178.8572 |
| 5 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 6 | TRIPLE H BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 7 | Rio Valley Meat BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 8 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | 178.8572 |
| 9 | SLAPS BBQ | 177.7144 |
| 10 | TILLMAN'S BBQ | 177.7144 |
Pork
The top ten, out of 180 · 4 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mulkey's BBQ | 180† |
| 2 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | 180† |
| 3 | Rio Valley Meat BBQ | 180† |
| 4 | TILLMAN'S BBQ | 180† |
| 5 | TRIPLE H BBQ | 179.4400 |
| 6 | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 7 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | 178.8572 |
| 8 | BLIND HOG BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 9 | SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | 178.8572 |
| 10 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | 178.2972 |
Brisket
The top ten, out of 180 · 3 perfect 180s
| Pl. | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | 180† |
| 2 | Q Cartel | 180† |
| 3 | TRIPLE H BBQ | 180† |
| 4 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | 179.4400 |
| 5 | 4 C's BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 6 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 7 | ELJEFE SMOKE | 178.8572 |
| 8 | Mulkey's BBQ | 178.8572 |
| 9 | Crossed Rifles BBQ | 177.7144 |
| 10 | The Burnt Crow | 177.7144 |
15 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Chicken SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ
- Chicken LC BBQ
- Chicken Smoked & Furious
- Chicken SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS
- Chicken MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS
- Pork Ribs GETTIN' BASTED
- Pork Ribs Kermit's Ex
- Pork Ribs Kith n' Kin
- Pork Mulkey's BBQ
- Pork ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN
- Pork Rio Valley Meat BBQ
- Pork TILLMAN'S BBQ
- Brisket Can Country Outlaw BBQ
- Brisket Q Cartel
- Brisket TRIPLE H BBQ
Every team on the 2025 board, 158 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 2025, the invitational itself only.
Highest Scores
Any finish, out of 720
- 1 QUE U2022 · 1st 711.9656
- 2 ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN2025 · 1st 710.8344
- 3 HOT DADDY'S BBQ2024 · 1st 709.7028
- 4 TRIPLE H BBQ2025 · 2nd 709.1200
- 5 CLARK CREW BBQ2017 · 1st 708.5600
- 6 TRIPLE H BBQ2021 · 1st 708.5372
- 7 THE SMOKING HILLS2015 · 1st 707.9888
- 8 Smoke Central BBQ2024 · 2nd 707.3712
- 9 FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY2023 · 1st 706.8572
- 10 Damn Fine Beef & Swine2023 · 2nd 706.2744
Most Titles
Grand Championships
- 1 QUE U2022 1
- 2 ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN2025 1
- 3 FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY2023 1
- 4 HOT DADDY'S BBQ2024 1
- 5 MUDVILLE BBQ2019 1
- 6 TRIPLE H BBQ2021 1
- 7 COOL SMOKE2013 1
- 8 913 BBQ2016 1
- 9 THE SMOKING HILLS2015 1
- 10 BUNCH OF SWINES2018 1
Most Appearances
American Royals cooked
- 1 SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ2013–2025 · best 2nd 12
- 2 IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ2013–2025 · best 5th 12
- 3 SHIGGIN & GRINNIN2013–2025 · best 7th 12
- 4 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014–2025 · best 1st 11
- 5 GETTIN' BASTED2014–2025 · best 2nd 11
- 6 SMOKE THIS BBQ MO2014–2025 · best 4th 11
- 7 BUNCH OF SWINES2013–2025 · best 1st 10
- 8 CLARK CREW BBQ2013–2023 · best 1st 10
- 9 DIRT ROAD BBQ2013–2023 · best 2nd 10
- 10 SLAPS BBQ2015–2025 · best 9th 10
Closest Finishes
Points between first and second
- 1 FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY2023, over Damn Fine Beef & Swine 0.5828
- 2 BUNCH OF SWINES2018, over ONE2BBQ 1.0968
- 3 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014, over DIRT ROAD BBQ 1.1312
- 4 ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN2025, over TRIPLE H BBQ 1.7144
- 5 MUDVILLE BBQ2019, over GETTIN' BASTED 2.2744
- 6 CLARK CREW BBQ2017, over HOGLINE 2.3200
- 7 HOT DADDY'S BBQ2024, over Smoke Central BBQ 2.3316
- 8 913 BBQ2016, over SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ 2.8340
- 9 TRIPLE H BBQ2021, over SIN CIRCLE BBQ 4.5488
- 10 QUE U2022, over Bushmaster BBQ 5.7028
Biggest Fields
Teams invited
- 1 2022won by QUE U 249
- 2 2023won by FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY 211
- 3 2015won by THE SMOKING HILLS 187
- 4 2021won by TRIPLE H BBQ 185
- 5 2016won by 913 BBQ 180
- 6 2013won by COOL SMOKE 174
- 7 2024won by HOT DADDY'S BBQ 169
- 8 2014won by SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA 165
- 9 2018won by BUNCH OF SWINES 164
- 10 2025won by ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN 158
Best First Appearances
Finish at a first invitation
- 1 QUE U2022 · of 249 1st
- 2 FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY2023 · of 211 1st
- 3 MUDVILLE BBQ2019 · of 135 1st
- 4 SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA2014 · of 165 1st
- 5 Damn Fine Beef & Swine2023 · of 211 2nd
- 6 YSB BBQ2021 · of 185 3rd
- 7 T-N-T QUE CREW2019 · of 135 3rd
- 8 DR. NORDY'S BBQ2014 · of 165 3rd
- 9 KG Cookers BBQ2017 · of 129 4th
- 10 DIVINE SWINE2018 · of 164 4th
Every American Royal on record has an edition of its own. ← 2024 2026 →
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: 2025 in review · the latest edition