C R BUTTS SMOKE

C R BUTTS SMOKE is a competition barbecue team with 31 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2019. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 8 at the 2nd Annual Halfway to St.Pats BBQ Contest (2018), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #1528 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#1,528

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1562

peak 1567 · rated over 31 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

May 31, 2013

latest Sep 6, 2019 · 6.3 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#341

Master 2018 · every season

Grand champs

1 reserve

Category wins

12 podiums

Overall top-10s

16% of 31 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 50%

overall standings

Best overall

679.3720 / 720

Master · SMSU Smokefest

Perfect 180s

Current form

658.19 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 657.54 (+0.64)

Walk rate

65%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176.5716

Chicken · SMSU Smokefest

Consistency

±12.37

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 167.24 · weakest Pork (162.21)

Road miles

3,429

across 31 mapped stops · furthest 229 mi

Schedule strength

46%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1560)

Purse competed for

$26K

listed at 4 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 4 state-championship entries

Master avg

657.54 / 720

31 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (12 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

A multi-meat day

1 contest with 2+ category wins

They've won two or more meats on the same day 1 time — the best of them 2 category wins at Rotary Rockn Ribs (Jun 23, 2017).

Pork Ribs 1st
Pork 1st

They almost always walk

65% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 20 of 31 contests

A top-10 category call in 65% of their 31 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

679.3720 career-best overall

94.4% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 679.3720 at SMSU Smokefest — 94.4% of a perfect 720.

Master
Aug 17, 2018

The one to beat

3× one call ahead of them

ACES HIGH BBQ has finished one call ahead of C R BUTTS SMOKE 3 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2018 their best year

2018 was the year it came together: 8 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 1 category win, at an average finish in the top 38%.

8 contests
3 overall top-10s
1 category win
average top 38%

A tough matchup

22–0 behind in the head-to-head

SHIGGIN & GRINNIN ahead in 100% of their meetings

SHIGGIN & GRINNIN has come out ahead in 22 of their 22 shared contests.

The weak link

−5.0 points behind their best meat

Pork is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 5.04 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 23% of the time against 35%.

Pork avg 162.21
Chicken avg 167.24
7 calls in 31 entries

Show 5 more storylines

A strong matchup

12–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of PIG APPROVED BBQ in 12 of their 12 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

18 of 22 shared chicken entries lost

SHIGGIN & GRINNIN ahead 82% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, SHIGGIN & GRINNIN has out-cooked them in 18 of 22 shared chicken entries.

An August team

Top 39% average finish in August

Something about August: average finish in the top 39% across 7 contests, versus top 50% the rest of the year.

7 August contests
top 50% the rest of the year

The long haul

3,429 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 3,429 miles across 31 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 229 miles to The Great Wisconsin Tune Up BBQ Contest.

31 mapped stops
furthest 229 mi

The metronome

±1.72% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.72% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 91.3% of a perfect score
31 contests

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Year	Series	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2019 ↗	Master	#695 (457 pts)	#614 (557 pts)	#776 (417 pts)	#774 (417 pts)	#541 (622 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#341 (986 pts)	#209 (1,336 pts)	#317 (1,026 pts)	#443 (821 pts)	#385 (911 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#692 (549 pts)	#722 (559 pts)	#527 (759 pts)	#711 (584 pts)	#585 (674 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1113 (280 pts)	#909 (405 pts)	#719 (560 pts)	#988 (375 pts)	#1374 (220 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#2158 (60 pts)	#2209 (60 pts)	#1511 (175 pts)	#2225 (60 pts)	#2214 (60 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1034 (300 pts)	#1119 (295 pts)	#1462 (195 pts)	#1243 (255 pts)	#829 (420 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#741 (418 pts)	#553 (588 pts)	#777 (428 pts)	#743 (448 pts)	#716 (458 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to C R BUTTS SMOKE, each with one reason worth a look.

63 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.

PORKCHOP & BUBBAS

#1,523 of the rated field

1562 power rating

Contests: 29
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 21%
Peak: 1577

Careers of much the same size, 29 contests to 31, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 28 contests
last seen Mar 15, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

KOKOMO Q

#1,521 of the rated field

1562 power rating

Contests: 25
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 36%
Peak: 1577

25 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 36% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 25 contests
last seen May 1, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

OINK, MOO & COCK-A-DOODLE DOO

#1,530 of the rated field

1562 power rating

Contests: 40
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 5%
Peak: 1562

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 40 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 40 contests
last seen Jun 26, 2026

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THE DEVIL MADE ME Q IT

#1,533 of the rated field

1562 power rating

Contests: 24
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 63%
Peak: 1572

Level with C R BUTTS SMOKE on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 24 contests
last seen Sep 10, 2022

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NEW SOUTH BBQ

#1,525 of the rated field

1562 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 14%
Peak: 1570

Careers of much the same size, 22 contests to 31, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 22 contests
last seen Sep 13, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

BROWN CHICKEN BROWN COW

#1,522 of the rated field

1562 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 25%
Peak: 1572

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.

rated over 20 contests
last seen Oct 12, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN	22	0	22	0%	⚔ compare
Hogline	19	0	19	0%	⚔ compare
CROIX VALLEY SAUCES	17	9	8	53%	⚔ compare
ACES HIGH BBQ	16	3	13	19%	⚔ compare
SPITFIRE	16	3	13	19%	⚔ compare
CITY SLICKERS BBQ	16	1	15	6%	⚔ compare
CASE OF RIBS	15	5	10	33%	⚔ compare
LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY	15	3	12	20%	⚔ compare
LUCKY'S Q	14	1	13	7%	⚔ compare
DRY 2 DA BONE	13	2	11	15%	⚔ compare
PIG APPROVED BBQ	12	12	0	100%	⚔ compare
TRUE SMOKE BBQ	11	4	7	36%	⚔ compare
SONS OF BUTCHERS	11	1	10	9%	⚔ compare
Totally Sauced	11	1	10	9%	⚔ compare
FLYING ACES BBQ	10	9	1	90%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	31	11	2	5	176.5716	152.5716	167.24	top 44%
Pork Ribs	31	9	1	3	174.2744	154.2512	164.73	top 47%
Pork	31	7	1	2	173.1544	151.3484	162.21	top 60%
Brisket	31	8	0	2	174.8800	141.6572	163.36	top 47%

“Calls” = top-10 category finishes (getting called to the stage). Scores here are the final weighted totals KCBS publishes; per-criterion appearance/taste/tenderness marks aren’t in the public results feed.

By field size and state

By contest size

Field	Contests	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	3	top 39%
Medium (20–39)	13	top 57%
Large (40+)	15	top 47%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
MN	21	top 53%
WI	6	top 49%
SD	2	top 50%
IA	2	top 29%

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Smokin In Steele	5	17	top 46%	Jun 1, 2018
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	3	15	top 58%	Jul 22, 2016
Wisconsin Colorfest & BBQ Bash	2	11	top 54%	Oct 5, 2018
SMSU Smokefest	2	8	top 39%	Aug 17, 2018
KTD Smokin ' Gobbler Cook-Off	2	29	top 90%	Sep 16, 2016
Med City BBQ & Musicfest	2	12	top 39%	Aug 8, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2018 8 contests

Contests a season 4.4 across 7 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MN 21 of 31 contests · 4 states in all

Contests visited 21 6 of them more than once

Opponents faced 442 finished ahead 580 times, behind 604

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

20192 milestones

Apr 26 Peak power rating (1567) The Great Wisconsin Tune Up BBQ Contest
Sep 6 Most recent contest Ribs, Rod & Rock'n Roll

20185 milestones

Aug 17 Career-best overall score679.3720 SMSU Smokefest
Aug 17 Career-best single call (Chicken)176.5716 SMSU Smokefest
Aug 25 First overall podium 2nd Annual Halfway to St.Pats BBQ Contest
Aug 25 First Reserve Championship 2nd Annual Halfway to St.Pats BBQ Contest
Aug 25 25th tracked contest 2nd Annual Halfway to St.Pats BBQ Contest

20173 milestones

Jun 23 First category win (Pork Ribs) Rotary Rockn Ribs
Jun 23 First overall top-10 Rotary Rockn Ribs
Jun 23 First multi-meat day Rotary Rockn Ribs

20151 milestone

Aug 7 10th tracked contest Med City BBQ & Musicfest

20133 milestones

May 31 First tracked contest Smokin' in Steele
May 31 First overall past 90% of a perfect score651.9998 Smokin' in Steele
Jul 12 First call Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+13.6	Rotary Rockn Ribs	Jun 23, 2017
+12.5	SMSU Smokefest	Aug 17, 2018
+12.1	2nd Annual Halfway to St.Pats BBQ Contest	Aug 25, 2018
+8.3	Med City BBQ & Musicfest	Aug 8, 2014
+6.8	3rd Annual Halfway to St.Pat's BBQ Contest	Aug 24, 2019

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-13.3	KTD Smokin ' Gobbler Cook-Off	Sep 16, 2016
-10.8	Bring'n Home the Bacon	Jun 21, 2019
-8.1	KTD Smokin' Gobbler Cook-off	Sep 13, 2013
-3.5	Smoke on the Waterfall	Jun 24, 2016
-2.9	Smokin' in Steel	May 29, 2015

Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Season	Contests	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2019	4	1	1	75%	top 52%	94%	91.1%
2018	8	3	1	75%	top 38%	94.4%	92.8%
2017	5	1	2	80%	top 44%	93.5%	92.6%
2016	4	0	0	50%	top 71%	91.6%	89.9%
2015	2	0	0	50%	top 62%	89.5%	89.3%
2014	3	0	0	33%	top 49%	91.4%	90.6%
2013	5	0	0	60%	top 56%	91.5%	90.3%

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Sep 6, 2019	Ribs, Rod & Rock'n Roll 🏅 Vermillion, SD	18 / 29 (667.2912)	9 (170.8112)	12 (170.2744)	24 (158.2400)	16 (167.9656)
Aug 24, 2019	3rd Annual Halfway to St.Pat's BBQ Contest 🏅 Emmetsburg, IA	4 / 12 (677.0740)	1 (172.5484)	6 (166.8228)	9 (162.8228)	2 (174.8800)
Jun 21, 2019	Bring'n Home the Bacon 🏅 West Salem, WI	26 / 37 (638.1484)	24 (161.6456)	22 (158.2400)	31 (153.1772)	13 (165.0856)
Apr 26, 2019	The Great Wisconsin Tune Up BBQ Contest 🏅 Manawa, WI	11 / 26 (640.5256)	17 (158.2744)	21 (154.2512)	5 (165.1772)	6 (162.8228)
Oct 5, 2018	Wisconsin Colorfest & BBQ Bash Turtle Lake, WI	13 / 26 (667.8972)	1 (176.5600)	19 (157.0972)	18 (163.4172)	7 (170.8228)
Sep 1, 2018	Big Muddy Brew N Que Winona, MN	7 / 22 (673.0516)	5 (175.4172)	11 (167.9772)	3 (173.1544)	14 (156.5028)
Aug 25, 2018	2nd Annual Halfway to St.Pats BBQ Contest Emmetsburg, IA	2 / 8 (667.3600)	3 (166.8344)	2 (170.8572)	5 (163.9656)	4 (165.7028)
Aug 17, 2018	SMSU Smokefest Marshall, MN	8 / 40 (679.3720)	4 (176.5716)	4 (174.2744)	30 (162.2516)	18 (166.2744)
Jul 20, 2018	Cookin On Kampeska Watertown, SD	17 / 45 (667.8628)	17 (170.8228)	29 (161.6572)	14 (167.9772)	15 (167.4056)
Jun 22, 2018	Rotary Rockn Ribs LaCrosse, WI	22 / 41 (659.3028)	3 (173.7028)	19 (165.0972)	27 (161.6800)	30 (158.8228)
Jun 1, 2018	Smokin In Steele Owatonna, MN	17 / 45 (668.4228)	22 (166.8112)	6 (174.2628)	28 (162.2516)	21 (165.0972)
May 11, 2018	Minnesota in May Falcon Heights, MN	33 / 70 (662.1600)	51 (162.2400)	29 (166.2628)	36 (165.0972)	12 (168.5600)
Oct 6, 2017	Wisconsin Colorfest & BBQ Bash Turtle Lake, WI	11 / 19 (666.1716)	13 (160.5716)	4 (170.8228)	13 (163.9428)	5 (170.8344)
Aug 18, 2017	SMSU Smokefest Marshall, MN	24 / 41 (661.0516)	25 (164.5372)	16 (166.8228)	27 (162.2744)	12 (167.4172)
Jul 21, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Eagan, MN	13 / 30 (665.0972)	17 (165.6800)	13 (165.6800)	21 (161.1772)	5 (172.5600)
Jun 23, 2017	Rotary Rockn Ribs LaCrosse, WI	7 / 37 (673.0744)	24 (165.1200)	1 (174.2744)	1 (172.5828)	21 (161.0972)
Jun 2, 2017	Smokin In Steele Owatonna, MN	19 / 46 (667.3256)	3 (176)	28 (160.5028)	34 (161.6456)	13 (169.1772)
Sep 16, 2016	KTD Smokin ' Gobbler Cook-Off Worthington, MN	29 / 29 (631.2916)	25 (162.8688)	15 (165.7144)	28 (151.3484)	28 (151.3600)
Jul 22, 2016	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Woodbury, MN	20 / 30 (646.1488)	10 (169.1316)	3 (173.1316)	22 (162.2284)	29 (141.6572)
Jun 24, 2016	Smoke on the Waterfall Redwoodfalls, MN	18 / 26 (652.4460)	16 (166.2400)	6 (171.9772)	8 (167.9772)	26 (146.2516)
Jun 3, 2016	Smokin in Steele Owatonna, MN	25 / 53 (659.3028)	12 (169.6800)	37 (159.3828)	16 (167.9772)	28 (162.2628)
Aug 7, 2015	Med City BBQ & Musicfest Rochester, MN	27 / 47 (644.4684)	29 (164.5600)	35 (156.5372)	37 (155.9884)	12 (167.3828)
May 29, 2015	Smokin' in Steel Owatonna, MN	40 / 60 (640.9828)	46 (158.8116)	6 (170.8228)	53 (153.1200)	36 (158.2284)
Aug 8, 2014	Med City BBQ & Musicfest Rochester, MN	12 / 40 (658.1944)	10 (170.2744)	25 (156.5716)	29 (157.0740)	3 (174.2744)
Jul 18, 2014	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Woodbury, MN	17 / 30 (642.1716)	20 (164)	25 (154.8000)	20 (162.2628)	15 (161.1088)
May 30, 2014	Smokin in Steele Owatonna, MN	41 / 67 (656.5488)	34 (166.8916)	54 (155.4172)	18 (170.2628)	31 (163.9772)
Sep 13, 2013	KTD Smokin' Gobbler Cook-off Worthington, MN	31 / 39 (641.6112)	7 (174.8800)	28 (159.9428)	30 (158.2628)	37 (148.5256)
Aug 9, 2013	Med City BBQ & Musicfest Rochester, MN	24 / 50 (650.1256)	39 (155.9428)	21 (163.3828)	34 (159.3944)	10 (171.4056)
Jul 12, 2013	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Woodbury, MN	15 / 29 (648.5260)	25 (152.5716)	12 (165.6800)	7 (166.2856)	17 (163.9888)
Jun 15, 2013	Treasure Island International BBQ Championship Welch, MN	39 / 68 (658.8572)	11 (172.5716)	39 (165.7142)	62 (155.4284)	37 (165.1430)
May 31, 2013	Smokin' in Steele Owatonna, MN	21 / 51 (651.9998)	11 (172)	26 (162.2856)	29 (160)	30 (157.7142)

C R BUTTS SMOKE

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Best top-10 run

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (12 found in their record)

A multi-meat day

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

An August team

The long haul

The metronome

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

By meat

By field size and state

By contest size

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

More numbers

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)