Score of the month
714.2744
Master overall, out of 720
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
Poppa Pig put up 714.2744 at Lakeland Pig Festival — the highest overall of the month.
January 2025 in BBQ
Every sanctioned contest scored in January 2025 — 1 Jan to 31 Jan.
8contests scored
329teams competed
350top-ten calls
17perfect 180s
48biggest field
4states & provinces
96new teams
2Backyard boards
Now on the newsstand
The Smoke Ring
Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record
January 2025, set as a proper newspaper.
Every Grand Champion named, the month in figures across the top, the perfect 180s,
the box scores, and the calendar as classified notices.
Read the January 2025 edition →
The stories
Hottest hand
2×
Grand Championships
GETTIN' BASTED took 2 Grand Championships in January 2025.
First one ever
23rd
contest — and their first GC
Big Bear BBQ won their first Grand Championship at 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam, in their 23rd contest in the data.
- 9 Jan
Upset of the month
12-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings gave them a 12% chance
Cherry Anchor BBQ won The Golden State Battle VII (Day 1) over top-rated GETTIN' BASTED as the ratings underdog.
Perfect 180s
17
perfect scores handed out
Six judges, every card a 9: 17 perfect 180s were handed out in January 2025.
- Chicken ×6
- Pork ×5
- Pork Ribs ×3
- Brisket ×3
Closest call
0.5944
points between 1st and 2nd
Big Bear BBQ edged Dogpatch Q by 0.5944 at 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam.
- Backyard Series
Biggest riser
+33
power rating points
BONE RUBBIN BBQ gained 33 rating points across 3 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
- 3 contests
- now #649 overall
Best debut
5th
in their very first contest
Mike's Backyard BBQ finished 5th at 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
- 96 new teams in Jan 2025
- field of 38
Best in the backyard
353.7144
Backyard overall, out of 360
Big Bear BBQ put up 353.7144 on the Backyard board at 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
- 2 Backyard boards in Jan 2025
- won it
Biggest field
48
teams at one contest
10th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge drew 48 teams, and Gettin' Basted won it.
- Bullhead City
- AZ
Road warriors
3
contests cooked
GETTIN' BASTED cooked 3 contests in January 2025 — nobody hauled the rig further.
- best finish 1st
- 2 GCs
New on the calendar
48
teams at a brand-new contest
10th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge ran for the first time on record, drawing 48 teams, and Gettin' Basted won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
- 5 first editions in Jan 2025
- Bullhead City
- AZ
Busiest weekend
5
contests on one date
5 sanctioned contests were cooked on 24 Jan alone.
- 24 Jan
Rep of the month
3
contests worked
CHARLIE BRINZA repped 3 contests in January 2025 — somebody has to run the table.
The boards
Highest overall scores (Master · /720)
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poppa Pig Lakeland Pig Festival |
714.2744 |
| 2 | With a 180 Lakeland Pig Festival |
707.4060 |
| 3 | Sailor Nicks BBQ Lakeland Pig Festival |
706.2400 |
| 4 | Cherry Anchor BBQ The Golden State Battle VII (Day 1) |
705.1428 |
| 5 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS Lakeland Pig Festival |
705.1088 |
| 6 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS Lakeland Pig Festival |
703.9428 |
| 7 | GETTIN' BASTED The Golden State Battle VII (Day 2) |
703.4516 |
| 8 | Smokin' Ain't EZ Lakeland Pig Festival |
702.8460 |
| 9 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ The Golden State Battle VII (Day 2) |
702.2744 |
| 10 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA Lakeland Pig Festival |
702.2400 |
| 11 | Low Eye Que Lakeland Pig Festival |
702.2396 |
| 12 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam |
701.1316 |
| 13 | Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit Lakeland Pig Festival |
700.5256 |
| 14 | Kings BBQ Team 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam |
699.9772 |
| 15 | Sloppy Hogs Lakeland Pig Festival |
699.4172 |
Best of each meat (both series · /180)
| Category | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken ×6 💯 | Smoke Central BBQ 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam |
180.0000 |
| Pork Ribs ×3 💯 | Stewey Magoos BBQ 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam |
180.0000 |
| Pork ×5 💯 | POPPA PIG AND PORKCHOP 10th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge |
180.0000 |
| Brisket ×3 💯 | PeachCoast BBQ Lakeland Pig Festival |
180.0000 |
Straight nines (perfect 180s)
On the move (power rating)
| Team | Rating | Jan 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| BONE RUBBIN BBQ #649 | 1,648 | +33 |
| Big Johns BBQ Company #529 | 1,670 | +26 |
| SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ #479 | 1,682 | +21 |
| Big Boys BBQ #944 | 1,611 | +19 |
| ELITE BBQ SMOKERS #435 | 1,690 | +18 |
| Mad Dog BBQ #921 | 1,613 | +18 |
| Whachu Smokin | 1,514 | +16 |
| Dogpatch Q #269 | 1,731 | +16 |
| Sons of Hamarchy #3611 | 1,491 | +16 |
| K & E's Little Smokers #5425 | 1,452 | +16 |
| Beards BBQ #3361 | 1,496 | -20 |
| SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS #333 | 1,714 | -21 |
| Smoke Central BBQ #152 | 1,776 | -24 |
| AMERICAN FIRE BBQ #73 | 1,823 | -25 |
| LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ #100 | 1,807 | -28 |
Who showed up
| Team | Contests | GCs | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| GETTIN' BASTED | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 5TH GEAR BBQ | 3 | — | 3 |
| BONE RUBBIN BBQ | 3 | — | 3 |
| Mad Dog BBQ | 3 | — | 3 |
| Big Johns BBQ Company | 3 | — | 4 |
| Meat Candy Q | 3 | — | 4 |
| LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | 3 | — | 7 |
| Chompa Q | 3 | — | 8 |
| SoCal Outlaw BBQ | 3 | — | 17 |
| Pops BBQ 22 | 3 | — | 18 |
| Beards BBQ | 3 | — | 25 |
| Cherry Anchor BBQ | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Poppa Pig | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Bike & Grill | 2 | — | — |
Who ran the table
| Rep | Contests | States |
|---|---|---|
| CHARLIE BRINZA | 3 | 2 |
| JOHN MANN | 3 | 1 |
| KELLY MCINTOSH | 3 | 1 |
| MICHELLE MANN | 3 | 1 |
| KATHLEEN MCINTOSH | 2 | 1 |
| MIKE GARRETSON | 2 | 1 |
| BILL JONES | 1 | 1 |
| CAROLYN WELLS | 1 | 1 |
| DAVE ROGERS | 1 | 1 |
| DAVID BURSTEIN | 1 | 1 |
| DEL ANDERSON | 1 | 1 |
| JEANNE TITUS | 1 | 1 |
| JODI HARRISS | 1 | 1 |
| KENT HARRISS | 1 | 1 |
| PEG ROGERS | 1 | 1 |
| RANDY G BIGLER | 1 | 1 |
Where they cooked
| State/Prov. | Contests | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 2 | 194 |
| California | 2 | 33 |
| Arizona | 1 | 68 |
| Nebraska | 1 | 32 |
Best in the backyard (Backyard · /360)
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Bear BBQ 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam |
353.7144 |
| 2 | Dogpatch Q 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam |
353.1200 |
| 3 | Electro-Que-ted Lakeland Pig Festival |
353.1084 |
| 4 | Whachu Smokin 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam |
351.4288 |
| 5 | LEE LA Q Lakeland Pig Festival |
349.6800 |
| 6 | 2 Guys Grilling 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam |
348.5488 |
| 7 | Mike's Backyard BBQ 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam |
348.5372 |
| 8 | Salt Run BBQ 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam |
348.5256 |
| 9 | Podunk Porkers Lakeland Pig Festival |
347.4172 |
| 10 | PIPKIN CREEK BBQ CO. Lakeland Pig Festival |
346.2860 |
| 11 | Sons of Hamarchy Lakeland Pig Festival |
345.6800 |
| 12 | Dogpatch Q Lakeland Pig Festival |
345.1084 |
New to the circuit
First editions (new on the calendar)
| Contest | Teams | Won by |
|---|---|---|
| 10th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge Bullhead City, AZ |
48 | Gettin' Basted |
| 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam Elkton, FL |
38 | Elite BBQ Smokers |
| The Golden State Battle VII (Day 1) Hollister, CA |
31 | Cherry Anchor BBQ |
| Jaco Beach BBQ Challenge (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Play Jaco, 61101 |
12 | Heifers, Butts & Clucks |
| Jaco Beach BBQ Challenge (ONE MEAT RIBS) Play Jaco, 61101 |
12 | Justice BBQ |
Running a contest? The organizer tools →
Every contest scored (8 in January 2025)
| Contest | Teams | Grand Champion | High score |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Golden State Battle VII (Day 2) 2025-01-25 · Hollister, CA |
27 | Gettin' Basted RC: SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ |
703.4516 |
| Lakeland Pig Festival 2025-01-24 · Lakeland, FL |
40 | Poppa Pig? RC: With a 180 |
714.2744 |
| SJV Winter Rub 2025-01-24 · Omaha, NE |
32 | Shiggin aint easy RC: SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ |
697.1088 |
| The Golden State Battle VII (Day 1) 2025-01-24 · Hollister, CA |
31 | Cherry Anchor BBQ RC: SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ |
705.1428 |
| Jaco Beach BBQ Challenge (ONE MEAT RIBS) 2025-01-24 · Play Jaco, 61101 |
12 | Justice BBQ | 175.4400 |
| Jaco Beach BBQ Challenge (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) 2025-01-24 · Play Jaco, 61101 |
12 | Heifers, Butts & Clucks | 178.2972 |
| 10th Annual Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge 2025-01-17 · Bullhead City, AZ |
48 | Gettin' Basted RC: PORTERHOUSE BBQ |
699.3600 |
| 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam 2025-01-09 · Elkton, FL |
38 | Elite BBQ Smokers RC: Kings BBQ Team |
701.1316 |
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.