2021 Season

← 2020 2022 →

Every number below is read straight out of the 2021 results: 354 contests, 4,258 teams and 10,553 team entries.

📰 Read it as The Smoke Ring 📊 The season in charts 📋 The boards 🔢 More numbers 🗓 All 2021 contests

Contests

354

310 scored · 44 still out · 38 cancelled

Teams competing

4,258

1,482 new · 2,776 back from before

Team entries

10,553

2.5 contests per team

Different champions

206

284 contests won · 145 won just once

It took this to win

697.22

average winning Master overall · won by 4.64 on average

Top score

716.0116

SLAPS BBQ

Perfect 180s

312 🔥

8 per 1,000 meat entries

States & provinces

busiest MO (32)

Typical field

teams · biggest was 467

Came back

54.4%

1,193 of 2,195 teams from 2020

Purse on the line

$1,621,700

listed across 180 contests

State championships

225

contests carrying a state title

Team of the Year

👑 Master Series — GETTIN' BASTED (2804 pts) full board ↗
🥇 Chicken (Backyard) — Hickory Hangover (1328 pts)
🥇 Pork Ribs (Backyard) — VETERAN PORK PULLERS (1320 pts)
🥇 Brisket (Master) — GETTIN' BASTED (2644 pts)
🥇 Chicken (Master) — GETTIN' BASTED (2625 pts)
🥇 Pork (Master) — ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN (2620 pts)
🥇 Pork (Master) — Heavy Smoke BBQ (2620 pts)
🥇 Pork Ribs (Master) — SLAPS BBQ (2715 pts)

Storylines (12 found in the 2021 numbers)

Everything here is read out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.

Team of the Year

2,804 Master Series points

GETTIN' BASTED finished 2021 as KCBS Master Series Team of the Year on 2,804 points.

The season’s big winner

11× grand championships in 2021

11 of the 284 contests won this season

GETTIN' BASTED took 11 grand championships in 2021, more than anyone else — out of 284 won by 206 different teams.

Heavy Smoke BBQ ×9
Damn Fine Beef & Swine ×8
SOUTHERN DUTCH BBQ ×8

The score of the year

716.0116 highest Master overall of 2021

SLAPS BBQ put up 716.0116 at Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles BBQ Competition-Day 1 — 18.79 points clear of what a 2021 win averaged.

Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles BBQ Competition-Day 1
Jul 30, 2021

A clean sweep

1 four-meat sweep

Winning all four meats at one contest happened 1 time in 2021 — SMELLAQUE did it at Porkapalooza BBQ Festival and took the Grand Championship with it.

SMELLAQUE · Porkapalooza BBQ Festival

The closest finish

0.0112 points between first and second

Angry Jack BBQ beat Stewbabys BBQ by 0.0112 at Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival — the narrowest Master win of 2021.

Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival
Aug 20, 2021

Rookie champion

8× GC in their first season

Damn Fine Beef & Swine cooked their first tracked KCBS contest in 2021 and won 8 grand championships — one of 6 rookies to take a title.

19 contests cooked
class of 2021: 1,482 new teams

The biggest upset

6% their odds against the top seed

6% — what the rating gave them going in

Grillbilly's BBQ (rated 1500) won Real Squeal BBQ Smokeoff out of a field headed by IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ at 1977.

26 teams
Jul 16, 2021

The season’s biggest climb

+193.7 power rating gained in 2021

Texas Smoke Whisperer added 193.7 rating points across 36 rated contests in 2021 — they sit at #230 today.

36 rated contests
now #230 at 1747

Perfect boxes

312 perfect 180s in 2021

Judges handed out 312 perfect 180s in 2021 — 8 for every 1,000 meat entries. SLAPS BBQ collected 13 of them.

SLAPS BBQ ×13
GETTIN' BASTED ×12
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN ×9

Most miles cooked

47 contests entered in 2021

ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN entered 47 contests in 2021, winning 4 of them.

4 GCs
38 top-ten overalls
14 states/provinces

The biggest room

467 teams at one contest

The 2021 average field was 32 teams

American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST drew 467 teams, against a 2021 average of 32 — LAST CALL HEROES BBQ won it.

Sep 16, 2021
KS

The calendar grew

+100% contests against 2020

KCBS ran 354 contests in 2021, up 177 on the 177 of 2020.

354 in 2021
177 in 2020

The season in charts

When they cooked (contests per month)

Where they cooked (busiest states and provinces)

How the season scored (every Master overall, in 10-point bins)

How big the fields were (contests by number of teams)

How the meats scored (average of every entry, /180)

2021 in the run of seasons (2021 picked out in both)

Contests held, season by season

What it took to win (average winning Master overall, /720)

The boards

Master Series Team of the Year (top 10)

#	Team	Points
1	GETTIN' BASTED	2804
2	SLAPS BBQ	2753
3	Heavy Smoke BBQ	2721
4	WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	2684
5	ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN	2648
6	SOUTHERN DUTCH BBQ	2629
7	THE BBQ BUS	2616
8	Texas Smoke Whisperer	2606
9	Top Gun Barbecue	2588
10	CHICKEN FRIED BBQ	2542

Most Grand Championships

#	Team	GCs
1	GETTIN' BASTED	11
2	Heavy Smoke BBQ	9
3	Damn Fine Beef & Swine	8
4	SOUTHERN DUTCH BBQ	8
5	SLAPS BBQ	7
6	WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	7
7	Optimus Swine	6
8	Top Gun Barbecue	6
9	CHICKEN FRIED BBQ	5
10	MAD MUTT'S BBQ	5

Highest overall scores (Master · /720)

#	Team	Score
1	SLAPS BBQ Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles BBQ Competition-Day 1 · Jul 30, 2021	716.0116
2	Happy Grillmore Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest · Jul 9, 2021	713.1316
3	SMOKIN SKULLIES SC - BBQ Shoot Out Day 2 · Oct 23, 2021	713.1200
4	LC BBQ Central Plains Ribfest Day 2 · Jun 19, 2021	712.5716
5	CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off · Oct 15, 2021	712.5716
6	Under the Radar SC - BBQ Shoot Out Day 2 · Oct 23, 2021	711.9656
7	MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ Montana Pitmaster Classic · Aug 27, 2021	711.4172
8	SLAPS BBQ Smoke on the Trails · Sep 10, 2021	711.4172
9	CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. Grillin and Chillin BBQ · Sep 17, 2021	711.4172
10	DIRT ROAD BBQ Smoke on the Bricks · Aug 20, 2021	710.8228

Highest overall scores (Backyard · /360)

#	Team	Score
1	PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q Twin States Barbecue Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) · May 21, 2021	356.5828
2	HESSHOGS Barbecue With A View (BACKYARD ONLY) · Nov 12, 2021	355.4172
3	Furlongs Smoke & Seafood Boomer Backyard BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) · Aug 21, 2021	354.8572
4	Optimus Swine Zom-B-Q-Rufus Teague · Oct 16, 2021	354.8572
5	THE DOUBLE "S" SMOKEHOUSE Esperanza Bonanza · Oct 22, 2021	354.2628
6	BALLINGER BBQ Barbecue With A View (BACKYARD ONLY) · Nov 12, 2021	353.1316
7	SNEAKY_CREEK_BBQ Barbecue With A View (BACKYARD ONLY) · Nov 12, 2021	353.1200
8	RAMMER JAMMER BBQ Barbecue With A View (BACKYARD ONLY) · Nov 12, 2021	352.5828
9	LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY Barbecue With A View (BACKYARD ONLY) · Nov 12, 2021	352.5600
10	Eddie Wright BBQ Barbecue With A View (BACKYARD ONLY) · Nov 12, 2021	352.5600

Best cook of the season, meat by meat (/180)

Meat	Team	Score
Chicken	ROLLIN KOLBZ Sip & Swine BBQ Festival	180 🔥
Pork Ribs	Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me Sip & Swine BBQ Festival	180 🔥
Pork	Texan Dodge 4 James Humble BBQ Cook Off	180 🔥
Brisket	Smoking OCD Humble BBQ Cook Off	180 🔥

How hard each meat was (2021 only)

Meat	Entries	Avg	Avg win	180s per 1,000
Chicken	10,296	166.07	177.48	10.9
Pork Ribs	10,794	164.74	176.73	4.7
Pork	9,046	165.62	177.73	9.5
Brisket	8,711	163.83	177.46	7.2

Busiest teams (contests entered)

Team	Contests	GCs	Top 10
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN 14 states	47	4	38
GETTIN' BASTED 16 states	42	11	39
REDMULE'S BBQ 10 states	42	2	24
Heavy Smoke BBQ 11 states	41	9	29
HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ 11 states	41	2	21
LC BBQ 16 states	40	3	20
Texas Smoke Whisperer 11 states	39	5	24
MAN MEAT BBQ 9 states	39	1	27
SLAPS BBQ 8 states	38	7	25
ELITE BBQ SMOKERS 6 states	37	2	16

Biggest climbers (power rating gained in 2021)

Team	Gained	Contests
Texas Smoke Whisperer #230 today	+193.7	36
REDMULE'S BBQ #336 today	+191.6	40
Optimus Swine #227 today	+184.3	21
MAD MUTT'S BBQ #221 today	+173.5	17
Damn Fine Beef & Swine #60 today	+146.5	15
LC BBQ #122 today	+144.4	37
TRIPLE H BBQ #15 today	+135.8	32
JANKY LEG BBQ #3 today	+130.3	26
Ham Squad #124 today	+129.2	21
MACHETE BOYS BBQ #480 today	+124.7	21

Biggest contests

Contest	Teams	Grand Champion
American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST Kansas City, KS	467	LAST CALL HEROES BBQ
American Royal World Series of Barbecue-INVITATIONAL CONTEST Kansas City, KS	185	TRIPLE H BBQ
The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship Lenexa, KS	145	Slaps BBQ
Humble BBQ Cook Off Humble, TX	113	Chicken Fried BBQ
3rd Annual KCBS World Invitational - Open Shawnee, OK	111	Heavy Smoke BBQ
Smoke in the Spring Osage City, KS	105	Piggin Whiskey O.G.
3rd Annual KCBS World Invitational - Master Invitational Shawnee, OK	92	FERGOLICIOUS BBQ
Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship (TEAM & JUDGES ARE FULL-WAITLIST ONLY) Shawnee, KS	86	Mad Mutt's BBQ
Sip & Swine BBQ Festival Lawrenceville, GA	81	TRIPLE H BBQ
SC Festival of Discovery Greenwood, SC	81	SMOKE CENTRAL

Closest finishes (Master, first over second)

Margin	Contest
0.0112	Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival Angry Jack BBQ over Stewbabys BBQ
0.0112	BBQ & Fly in on the River - Day 1 GETTIN' BASTED over 913 BBQ
0.0116	Lassen Annual BBQ Cook-off 7 SINS BBQ over KICKEN ASH AND MAKEN FLAMES
0.0228	Mark Marley's Go Big or Go Home BBQ Bash (DAY 1) LC BBQ over CHICKEN FRIED BBQ
0.0228	Smoke in the Grove Not So Famous Dave's BBQ over Top Gun Barbecue
0.0228	Bands & BBQ at the Point HIGH ON THE HAWG over ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN
0.0232	Vienna Alps BBQ Days - Day 2 SCHLUCHTENGRILLER BBQ over SOUTHERN DUTCH BBQ
0.0232	BBQ & Fly in on the River - Day 2 GETTIN' BASTED over Texas Smoke Whisperer
0.0232	Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship (TEAM & JUDGES ARE FULL-WAITLIST ONLY) MAD MUTT'S BBQ over 913 BBQ
0.0340	Bordertown BBQ Brawl AWW HELL over THE REAL SMOKIN ACES

Widest winning margins (Master)

Margin	Contest
42.9944	Porkapalooza BBQ Festival SMELLAQUE over ROCKY MOUNTAIN SMOKERS
25.8632	Gruenenwalds BBQ Battle SOUTHERN DUTCH BBQ over PARKSTAD SMOKERS
18.2856	Route 66 Smoke Out THE BBQ BUS over BIG "E" BBQ
16.5712	Fuego y Humo 2021 Justice BBQ over PELON PARRILLERO TEAM
16.0460	Back the Blue GETTIN' BASTED over PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ

Biggest upsets (winner's odds against the top-rated team)

Odds	Contest
6%	Real Squeal BBQ Smokeoff Grillbilly's BBQ (1500) over a field led by IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ (1977)
6%	Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ THE HOG MAFIA (1498) over a field led by GETTIN' BASTED (1963)
8%	High Plains Wine, Brews & BBQ Cook Off Team GMG (1519) over a field led by BOOMERANG BBQ (1955)
8%	Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues Festival Bleacher Bums BBQ (1495) over a field led by One2BBQ (1929)
8%	Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que Day 1 Kings BBQ Team (1532) over a field led by SLAPS BBQ (1957)
9%	New Jersey KnoQ-out: Day 2-CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES Grandpa Val's BBQ (1496) over a field led by WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ (1905)
9%	Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition Darty-Q (1468) over a field led by Hogline (1876)
9%	Indio California State BBQ Championship & Festival GIRLS CAN GRILL (1579) over a field led by BIG POPPA SMOKERS (1987)
9%	Smoke on the Plains Derby BBQ & Music Fest MAD MUTT'S BBQ (1536) over a field led by SLAPS BBQ (1942)
9%	Swine At the Shrine Kings BBQ Team (1512) over a field led by WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ (1907)

Read off the nightly power-rating replay. Invitationals and non-points contests are not rated, so they never appear here.

Clean sweeps (all four meats at one contest)

Team	Contest
SMELLAQUE 🏆	Porkapalooza BBQ Festival Aug 14, 2021

Most perfect 180s (in 2021)

Team	180s	Contests
SLAPS BBQ	13	11
GETTIN' BASTED	12	11
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN	9	9
LC BBQ	7	6
Texas Smoke Whisperer	7	6
CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO.	6	5
DIRT ROAD BBQ	6	4
Under the Radar	6	4
913 BBQ	5	5
CLARK CREW BBQ	5	4

Class of 2021 (1,482 teams debuted · how the class did →)

Team	Contests	GCs
Damn Fine Beef & Swine	19	8
Optimus Swine	25	6
WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ	9	3
Off The Rack BBQ	19	2
The Yardpigs	10	2
ATLANTA BBQ STORE BOYS	2	2
Mispillion Meat Works	10	1
NORALA BBQ TEAM	8	1
Wrecking Crew BBQ	7	1
Red Rock Cafe	6	1
YSB BBQ	6	1
Grillbilly's BBQ	4	1

State by state

State/Prov.	Contests	Scored	Avg field
MO 25 titles	32	27	29
KS 23 titles	30	25	63
GA 13 titles	23	14	34
OK 5 titles	17	14	44
IL 12 titles	16	12	30
NC 12 titles	15	13	24
AL 3 titles	13	13	26
IN 9 titles	11	11	32
MS 6 titles	11	9	26
TN 8 titles	11	11	37
SC 10 titles	10	10	30
CA 8 titles	9	8	26
NE 6 titles	9	9	29
NJ 3 titles	9	9	29
VA 7 titles	9	9	25
WI 7 titles	9	9	36
WV 5 titles	9	9	17
MN 3 titles	8	8	28
CO 6 titles	7	4	38
TX 4 titles	7	7	47
IA 5 titles	6	6	28
MD 3 titles	6	6	28
MI 5 titles	6	5	27
PA 6 titles	6	6	41
AB	4	3	27
AR 3 titles	4	3	32
SD 3 titles	4	4	34
KY 3 titles	3	3	29
MT 3 titles	3	3	28
OH 3 titles	3	3	23
WY 2 titles	3	3	28
FL 2 titles	2	2	39
ME 2 titles	2	2	21
VT 1 title	2	2	12
AK	1	1	6
CT 1 title	1	0	—
DC 1 title	1	0	—
ID 1 title	1	0	—
LT	1	1	15
MA 1 title	1	1	26
NH 1 title	1	1	32
NV 1 title	1	1	26
NY 1 title	1	1	15
ON	1	1	16
UT 1 title	1	1	26
WA 1 title	1	1	27

State championships (225 in 2021)

Contest	Grand Champion
NC - BBQ Shoot Out Day 1 NC · Feb 19, 2021	Muttley Crew BBQ
Sip & Swine BBQ Festival GA · Mar 5, 2021	TRIPLE H BBQ
Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Pirateland SC · Mar 12, 2021	Smokin Skullies
Smoke on The Shores BBQ Championship TN · Mar 19, 2021	THE BBQ BUS
Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Dorchester Shrine Club SC · Mar 19, 2021	Old Virginia Smoke
3rd Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship KS · Mar 19, 2021	The Boys in Que
BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) VA · Mar 26, 2021	Wolf's Revenge BBQ
Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge MO · Mar 26, 2021	Gettin' Basted
BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) VA · Mar 27, 2021	Wolf's Revenge BBQ
Mother Road BBQ Competition MO · Mar 27, 2021	Gettin' Basted
Smoke in the Spring KS · Apr 9, 2021	Piggin Whiskey O.G.
Smokin' For Down Syndrome (Formally Bull Moose) TN · Apr 9, 2021	Piggin' Whiskey
Boss of the Sauce BBQ Festival FL · Apr 9, 2021	The Pit Crew
Smoke on the Falls AL · Apr 9, 2021	chicken fried bbq
Smoke in the Valley (POSTPONED) KS · Apr 16, 2021	—
Interstate BBQ Festival - Day 1 MD · Apr 16, 2021	Top Gun Barbecue
The Golden State Battle III - Day 1 CA · Apr 16, 2021	Hickory and Spice BBQ
Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Pine Ridge SC · Apr 16, 2021	Rooters-N-Tooters
Interstate BBQ Festival - Day 2 MD · Apr 17, 2021	Top Gun Barbecue
The Golden State Battle III - Day 2 CA · Apr 17, 2021	Big Poppa Smokers

Busiest reps (contests worked in 2021)

Rep	Contests
Alan Rothrock	27
Doug Reid	26
Bunny Tuttle	21
Louise Weidner	21
Rich Tuttle	21
Ralph Williams	20
Karen Jane Williams	19
Rusty Cook	18
Julie Cook	17
Dave Druetzler	15

More from 2021

Season ran Jan 18 → Dec 11 first and last contest on the 2021 calendar

Average winning margin 4.64 across 252 Master contests

Walks to the stage 12,212 top-ten calls handed out in the four meats

New teams 1,482 first tracked contest anywhere was in 2021

Contest series 341 distinct recurring contests on the calendar

Busiest weekend 17 contests all on Aug 20, 2021

Reps working 98 KCBS reps on the season’s contests

Toughest table Brisket lowest average of the four meats at 163.83

Outside the rating 13 invitationals and non-points contests that do not move a power rating

Cancelled 38 contests that came off the calendar

Results still out 44 of 354 contests on the 2021 calendar

Contest counts exclude cancelled events. Overall scores are split by series because they are on different scales — Master is out of 720, Backyard out of 360 — and only the four judged meats count toward perfect 180s. Browse every 2021 contest →