In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in October 2021 — 1 Oct to 31 Oct.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
October 2021 in BBQ
The recap: every contest scored, every story, every board
Inside
The Stories
Score of the month
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
SMOKIN SKULLIES put up 713.1200 at SC - BBQ Shoot Out Day 2 — the highest overall of the month.
Hottest hand
SOUTHERN DUTCH BBQ took 4 Grand Championships in October 2021.
First one ever
BAYOU POKER SMOKERS won their first Grand Championship at Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cook-off, in their 63rd contest in the data.
- 8 Oct
By invitation only
Gettin' Basted won 32nd Annual Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY), best of 70 invited teams; SLAPS BBQ took reserve. An invite-only field, so it leaves the power rating alone and goes straight into the record book.
- top score 703.4172
- 2 invitationals in Oct 2021
- not in the power rating
Upset of the month
The ratings gave them a 13% chance
ALL FORKED UP FOR Q won Border War Barbeque over top-rated GETTIN' BASTED as the ratings underdog.
Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 46 perfect 180s were handed out in October 2021.
- Chicken ×17
- Pork ×10
- Brisket ×10
- Pork Ribs ×9
Closest call
WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ edged Smoke, Fire & Brew by 0.0112 at Best of the Midwest BBQ.
- Backyard Series
Back on top
DRILLING & GRILLING won Keystone Classic BBQ State Championship — their first Grand Championship since October 2017, after 45 contests without one.
- last won October 2017
- 45 contests in between
Contest record
CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. put up 712.5716 at Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off — the best overall in 7 editions of the contest on record, past the old mark of 704.5372.
- old record 704.5372
- 6 earlier editions
Near sweep
SOUTHERN DUTCH BBQ won 3 of 4 meats at Gruenenwalds BBQ Battle (chicken, pork and brisket), and the Grand Championship with them.
- Chicken
- Pork
- Brisket
- and the GC
Biggest riser
ELITE BBQ SMOKERS gained 59 rating points across 8 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
- 8 contests
- now #438 overall
State champions crowned
28 state championships were decided in October 2021. The biggest, Best of the Midwest BBQ (44 teams), went to Big E BBQ.
- Wisconsin
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- Arkansas
- Kansas
Best debut
El Cortez Competition BBQ finished 1st at 17th Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest (COMPETITORS SERIES) — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
- 204 new teams in Oct 2021
- field of 19
Best in the backyard
Optimus Swine put up 354.8572 on the Backyard board at Zom-B-Q-Rufus Teague — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
- 16 Backyard boards in Oct 2021
- won it
Biggest blowout
SOUTHERN DUTCH BBQ won Gruenenwalds BBQ Battle by 25.8632 points over PARKSTAD SMOKERS — the widest winning margin of the month.
- field of 16
Biggest field
32nd Annual Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) drew 70 teams, and Gettin' Basted won it.
- Lynchburg, TN
Milestone
Organizer Portal cooked their 250th contest on record at Southaven Springfest, with 40 Grand Championships along the way.
- 40 GCs along the way
Road warriors
CHUNKY BBQ cooked 9 contests in October 2021 — nobody hauled the rig further.
- best finish 4th
Won without a meat
GETTIN' BASTED won 32nd Annual Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 3rd.
- field of 70
New on the calendar
32nd Annual Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) ran for the first time on record, drawing 70 teams, and Gettin' Basted won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
- 12 first editions in Oct 2021
- Lynchburg, TN
Always the reserve
SLAPS BBQ finished second overall 3 times in October 2021 without a Grand Championship — one place short every time.
- 6 contests
Busiest weekend
9 sanctioned contests were cooked on 15 Oct alone.
- 15 Oct
Rep of the month
Alan Rothrock repped 6 contests in October 2021 — somebody has to run the table.
The Boards
Highest overall scores (Master · /720)
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN SKULLIES SC - BBQ Shoot Out Day 2 |
713.1200 |
| 2 | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off |
712.5716 |
| 3 | Under the Radar SC - BBQ Shoot Out Day 2 |
711.9656 |
| 4 | Petie's Smokin Pits BBQ Harper County Bullseye BBQ |
708.5600 |
| 5 | Rogue Hog BBQ Shelby's BBQ Extravaganza Day 2 |
707.4176 |
| 6 | Brown Liquor BBQ SC - BBQ Shoot Out Day 2 |
707.3944 |
| 7 | GETTIN' BASTED Go Hog Wild BBQ Cook-Off |
706.2628 |
| 8 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q Border War Barbeque |
705.7028 |
| 9 | LC BBQ Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off |
705.6916 |
| 10 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN SC - BBQ Shoot Out Day 2 |
705.6568 |
| 11 | RAZORRACKS Southaven Springfest |
704.5716 |
| 12 | HOT COLE'S BBQ Southaven Springfest |
704.5256 |
| 13 | Shiggin aint easy Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off |
703.9544 |
| 14 | SmokinGhost BBQ Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off |
703.4400 |
| 15 | GETTIN' BASTED 32nd Annual Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) |
703.4172 |
Best of each meat (both series · /180)
| Category | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken ×17 💯 | RAZORRACKS Go Hog Wild BBQ Cook-Off |
180 |
| Pork Ribs ×9 💯 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down |
180 |
| Pork ×10 💯 | ROLLIN KOLBZ The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival |
180 |
| Brisket ×10 💯 | GETTIN' BASTED Go Hog Wild BBQ Cook-Off |
180 |
Straight nines (perfect 180s)
…and 22 more in October 2021.
On the move (power rating)
| Team | Rating | Oct 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| ELITE BBQ SMOKERS No. 438 in the power rankings |
1,690 | +59 |
| Optimus Swine No. 230 in the power rankings |
1,748 | +45 |
| Mispillion Meat Works No. 303 in the power rankings |
1,724 | +37 |
| SMOKIN SKULLIES No. 253 in the power rankings |
1,741 | +35 |
| Damn Fine Beef & Swine No. 58 in the power rankings |
1,838 | +35 |
| GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ No. 470 in the power rankings |
1,684 | +34 |
| Fine As* Swine BBQ No. 466 in the power rankings |
1,685 | +31 |
| CHUNKY BBQ No. 49 in the power rankings |
1,847 | +30 |
| MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ No. 982 in the power rankings |
1,607 | +29 |
| Sensuous BBQ No. 428 in the power rankings |
1,692 | +29 |
| Piggin' Whiskey No. 107 in the power rankings |
1,804 | -25 |
| Lucky Shoes BBQ No. 2,253 in the power rankings |
1,529 | -25 |
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ No. 57 in the power rankings |
1,840 | -26 |
| OLE SMOKEY BBQ | 1,472 | -28 |
| Sweet Swine O'Mine No. 1,040 in the power rankings |
1,601 | -28 |
Who showed up
| Team | Contests | GCs | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHUNKY BBQ | 9 | — | 4 |
| WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Texas Smoke Whisperer | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| REDMULE'S BBQ | 8 | — | 2 |
| HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | 8 | — | 3 |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| Rogue Hog BBQ | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| LC BBQ | 7 | — | 2 |
| SLAPS BBQ | 7 | — | 2 |
| JANKY LEG BBQ | 7 | — | 3 |
| Piggin' Whiskey | 7 | — | 3 |
| Damn Fine Beef & Swine | 6 | 2 | 1 |
Who ran the table
| Rep | Contests | States |
|---|---|---|
| Alan Rothrock | 6 | 2 |
| Dave Rogers | 6 | 2 |
| Doug Reid | 6 | 2 |
| Jeff Chambers | 6 | 3 |
| Peg Rogers | 6 | 2 |
| Louise Weidner | 5 | 2 |
| Julie Cook | 4 | 3 |
| Rusty Cook | 4 | 3 |
| Becky Druetzler | 3 | 3 |
| Bunny Tuttle | 3 | 2 |
| Dave Druetzler | 3 | 3 |
| Haymo Gutweniger | 3 | — |
| Kim Collier | 3 | 1 |
| Rich Tuttle | 3 | 2 |
| Bill Wright | 2 | 1 |
| Clara Williams | 2 | 2 |
| Del Anderson | 2 | 1 |
| Jonathan B Williams | 2 | 2 |
| Kent Schuetz | 2 | 2 |
| Kim Wright | 2 | 1 |
Where they cooked
| State/Prov. | Contests | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 5 | 94 |
| North Carolina | 4 | 74 |
| New Jersey | 4 | 58 |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 89 |
| Kansas | 3 | 78 |
| South Carolina | 3 | 29 |
| Georgia | 2 | 102 |
| Arkansas | 2 | 67 |
| Alabama | 2 | 51 |
| Virginia | 2 | 44 |
| California | 2 | 30 |
| Wyoming | 2 | 28 |
| Vermont | 2 | 16 |
| Tennessee | 1 | 70 |
| Maryland | 1 | 63 |
| Indiana | 1 | 45 |
| Mississippi | 1 | 36 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 27 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 27 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 20 |
Best in the backyard (Backyard · /360)
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Optimus Swine Zom-B-Q-Rufus Teague |
354.8572 |
| 2 | THE DOUBLE "S" SMOKEHOUSE Esperanza Bonanza |
354.2628 |
| 3 | Optimus Swine Almost Heaven's Spooktacular Backyard BBQ |
350.8344 |
| 4 | HELL ON SQUEALS Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE ONLY) |
349.1316 |
| 5 | Mispillion Meat Works Maryland State BBQ Bash |
349.1200 |
| 6 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine Anchor City Cook Off |
347.9656 |
| 7 | Hickory Hangover Railyard BBQ Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) |
347.4172 |
| 8 | Ham Squad Almost Heaven's Spooktacular Backyard BBQ |
347.4056 |
| 9 | PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q Railyard BBQ Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) |
346.2400 |
| 10 | The Real Squeal BBQ Railyard BBQ Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) |
346.2284 |
| 11 | Gold-N-Blue Barbecue Almost Heaven's Spooktacular Backyard BBQ |
346.2168 |
| 12 | 2 Swine Crew Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE ONLY) |
345.7144 |
By invitation (invite-only fields)
| Contest | Teams | Grand Champion |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Oct 8, 2021 · Lynchburg, TN |
70 | Gettin' Basted |
| Royal Oak Invitational Only Oct 15, 2021 · Roswell, GA |
34 | SMOKIN SKULLIES |
New to the circuit
First editions (new on the calendar)
| Contest | Teams | Won by |
|---|---|---|
| 32nd Annual Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) Lynchburg, TN |
70 | Gettin' Basted |
| Boo-B-Que - Day 1 Unity Village, MO |
41 | MAN MEAT BBQ |
| Bring'n Home the Bacon II Day 1 (BACKYARD) West Salem, WI |
40 | WRECKING CREW BBQ |
| Bring'n Home the Bacon II Day 2 (BACKYARD) West Salem, WI |
36 | FURLONGS SMOKE & SEAFOOD |
| Shelby's BBQ Extravaganza Day 1 Shelby, NC |
33 | Rooters-N-Tooters |
| Boo-B-Que - Day 2 Unity Village, MO |
33 | HEAVY SMOKE BBQ |
| Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE ONLY) Scottsboro, AL |
31 | Hell on Squeals |
| Red White & Que: Day 1 CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES Jackson, NJ |
31 | Wolf's Revenge |
| Red White & Que: Day 2 CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES Jackson, NJ |
31 | Wolf's Revenge |
| Go Hog Wild BBQ Cook-Off Sheridan, AR |
30 | Gettin' Basted |
| Railyard BBQ Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) Madison, AL |
30 | Hickory Hangover |
| KCBS International BBQ contest Vuur en Vlees Liesselseweg, Deurne, Netherlands |
30 | Southern Dutch BBQ |
Running a contest? The organizer tools →
Every contest scored (49 in October 2021)
The Archive
Every month with scored results, back to the start of the data. Subscribe to the monthly feed and each one lands as it closes.
2026 (338 contests) · the 2026 season in review
2025 (386 contests) · the 2025 season in review
2024 (343 contests) · the 2024 season in review
2023 (376 contests) · the 2023 season in review
2022 (376 contests) · the 2022 season in review
2021 (310 contests) · the 2021 season in review
2020 (134 contests) · the 2020 season in review
2019 (430 contests) · the 2019 season in review
2018 (480 contests) · the 2018 season in review
2017 (517 contests) · the 2017 season in review
2016 (505 contests) · the 2016 season in review
2015 (494 contests) · the 2015 season in review
2014 (469 contests) · the 2014 season in review
2013 (436 contests) · the 2013 season in review
2012 (1 contest) · the 2012 season in review
Every figure here is computed from the public results at kcbs.us, refreshed nightly. The Smoke Ring is not a publication of the Kansas City Barbeque Society.