TWO BUTTS AND A HAM

TWO BUTTS AND A HAM is a competition barbecue team with 15 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2019. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 468 at the 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST (2019), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #2221 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#2,221

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1530

peak 1530 · rated over 13 contests2 invitational or side-series contests not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Apr 19, 2013

latest Sep 12, 2019 · 6.4 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#777

Master 2013 · every season

Grand champs

1 reserve

Category wins

1 podium

Overall top-10s

13% of 15 contests

Avg finish

top 55%

overall standings

Best overall

674.2404 / 720

Master · 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)

Perfect 180s

Current form

656.47 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 652.37 (+4.10)

Walk rate

40%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.3200

Pork · 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)

Consistency

±15.74

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Brisket

avg 165.09 · weakest Pork Ribs (160.58)

Road miles

1,353

across 15 mapped stops · furthest 162 mi

Schedule strength

40%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1553)

Purse competed for

$68K

listed at 1 contest — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 1 state-championship entry

Master avg

652.37 / 720

15 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (8 found in their record)

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

The heartbreaker

1.1428 points from the title

Came within 1.1428 points of the Grand Championship at 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST (Sep 12, 2019).

High-water mark

674.2404 career-best overall

93.6% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 674.2404 at 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) — 93.6% of a perfect 720.

Master
Sep 15, 2018

A tough matchup

11–1 behind in the head-to-head

QUAU ahead in 92% of their meetings

QUAU has come out ahead in 11 of their 12 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.5 points behind their best meat

Pork Ribs is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.50 points below their brisket, and turns into a call 7% of the time against 27%.

Pork Ribs avg 160.58
Brisket avg 165.09
1 call in 15 entries

A strong matchup

4–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of RUB IT, SMOKE IT, LOVE IT in 4 of their 4 shared contests.

The comeback

3 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 3 years, then back at 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL) (Sep 14, 2018).

last seen Oct 3, 2015
back Sep 14, 2018

Brisket nemesis

12 of 12 shared brisket entries lost

QUAU ahead 100% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, QUAU has out-cooked them in 12 of 12 shared brisket entries.

Show 1 more storyline

A September team

Top 46% average finish in September

Something about September: average finish in the top 46% across 7 contests, versus top 55% the rest of the year.

7 September contests
top 55% the rest of the year

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	#1955 (60 pts)	#2049 (60 pts)	#2026 (60 pts)	#2029 (60 pts)	#2010 (60 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1108 (263 pts)	#1015 (328 pts)	#1240 (248 pts)	#1200 (268 pts)	#939 (368 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#937 (344 pts)	#1040 (329 pts)	#981 (354 pts)	#863 (424 pts)	#752 (484 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#777 (397 pts)	#741 (442 pts)	#743 (447 pts)	#893 (362 pts)	#672 (482 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to TWO BUTTS AND A HAM, each with one reason worth a look.

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

MR. BIBS

#2,219 of the rated field

1531 power rating

Contests: 9
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1531

3–0 in 3 shared contests (100% to TWO BUTTS AND A HAM)

These two have cooked 3 of the same contests — TWO BUTTS AND A HAM ahead 3–0 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 9 contests
last seen Sep 16, 2021

⚔ Head-to-head

Smokin T's BBQ

#2,229 of the rated field

1530 power rating

Contests: 6
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 17%
Peak: 1532

1–1 in 2 shared contests (50% to TWO BUTTS AND A HAM)

Their last contest in the data was back in 2014, 5 years before TWO BUTTS AND A HAM's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 6 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

EADS DOWNHOME

#2,234 of the rated field

1530 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 36%
Peak: 1536

Careers of much the same size, 14 contests to 15, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 14 contests
last seen Jul 6, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

BR.BQ

#2,228 of the rated field

1530 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 38%
Peak: 1541

Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 16 contests, alongside a 38% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 14 contests
last seen Jul 2, 2016

⚔ Compare careers

GO BIG OR GO BBQ

#2,223 of the rated field

1530 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 25%
Peak: 1530

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 15 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Sep 30, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Boots Style BBQ

#2,220 of the rated field

1530 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1534

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

rated over 15 contests
last seen Jul 29, 2016

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
PITMASTERIQ BBQ	13	3	10	23%	⚔ compare
QUAU	12	1	11	8%	⚔ compare
One2BBQ	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
OKLAHOMA JOE'S SERIOUS QUE	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
ST. LOUIS BLACK IRON BBQ	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
BOSS HAWG BBQ	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
GILLY'S BBQ	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
ALL IN QUE	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
OUTLAW HAWGS BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
Its 5 Oclock Somewhere	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
BLAZIN' BLUES BBQ	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' BASTED	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	15	2	1	172.5600	150.2856	163.87	top 56%
Pork Ribs	15	1	0	169.1316	151.4288	160.58	top 63%
Pork	15	2	0	178.3200	142.8570	162.83	top 58%
Brisket	15	4	0	173.1316	149.1430	165.09	top 44%

“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	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	5	0	top 50%
Large (40+)	10	0	top 58%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
MO	7	top 63%
IL	5	top 55%
KS	3	top 36%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off	3	27	top 59%	Sep 25, 2015
39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)	2	126	top 53%	Sep 15, 2018
Knights of Columbus	2	10	top 50%	Jun 19, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2015 4 contests

Contests a season 3 across 5 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MO 7 of 15 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 11 3 of them more than once

Opponents faced 1,234 finished ahead 1,292 times, behind 1,021

Longest layoff 3 yrs Oct 3, 2015 → Sep 14, 2018

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

20194 milestones

Sep 12 First overall podium 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST
Sep 12 First Reserve Championship 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST
Sep 12 Peak power rating (1530) 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST
Sep 12 Most recent contest 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST

20182 milestones

Sep 15 Career-best overall score674.2404 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)
Sep 15 Career-best single call (Pork)178.3200 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)

20151 milestone

Sep 25 10th tracked contest Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off

20141 milestone

Apr 11 First overall past 90% of a perfect score648.4572 6th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest

20133 milestones

Apr 19 First tracked contest Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest
May 10 First call 2013 Optimist Kick-Off Cook-Off
Jun 21 First overall top-10 Knights of Columbus

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+18.5	40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST	Sep 12, 2019
+9.8	39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)	Sep 15, 2018
+7.2	Knights of Columbus	Jun 21, 2013
+6	Hermann Bar-BQ and Brats Festival	Sep 26, 2014
+3.4	Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off	Sep 18, 2014

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-10	Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest	Apr 19, 2013
-2.9	Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off	Sep 25, 2015
-2.8	Knights of Columbus	Jun 19, 2015
-2.1	Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-off	Sep 19, 2013
-1.6	6th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest	Apr 11, 2014

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — 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	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2019	1	1	0%	top 0%	96.3%	96.3%
2018	2	0	50%	top 53%	93.6%	93.3%
2015	4	0	50%	top 71%	91.5%	90.1%
2014	4	0	25%	top 53%	93.4%	92.1%
2013	4	1	50%	top 56%	89.8%	88.4%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Sep 12, 2019	40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS	2 / 468 (520.0344)	243 (165.1200)	327 (161.0856)	304 (162.2628)	271 (161.1544)
Sep 15, 2018	39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	137 / 467 (674.2404)	164 (169.6800)	285 (163.4060)	9 (178.3200)	254 (162.8344)
Sep 14, 2018	39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL) unrated Kansas City, KS	126 / 164 (669.0288)	67 (172.5600)	159 (156.5144)	123 (166.8228)	57 (173.1316)
Oct 3, 2015	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO	338 / 606 (649.0168)	332 (163.3828)	389 (160.5484)	240 (165.7256)	354 (159.3600)
Oct 2, 2015	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO	177 / 187 (640.4572)	160 (162.8688)	182 (153.6572)	176 (157.1084)	122 (166.8228)
Sep 25, 2015	Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off Murphysboro, IL	37 / 55 (647.3028)	46 (158.8000)	42 (154.8228)	36 (162.2628)	9 (171.4172)
Jun 19, 2015	Knights of Columbus Quincy, IL	19 / 28 (658.7200)	8 (169.1084)	22 (160.5372)	18 (165.6800)	15 (163.3944)
Nov 7, 2014	MO Veterans Home BBQ BIVOUAC St. James, MO	20 / 31 (669.5772)	24 (166.2400)	16 (167.9772)	25 (163.9428)	12 (171.4172)
Sep 26, 2014	Hermann Bar-BQ and Brats Festival Hermann, MO	14 / 37 (672.5032)	19 (165.7144)	16 (169.1316)	12 (167.3828)	6 (170.2744)
Sep 18, 2014	Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off Murphysboro, IL	27 / 57 (662.1488)	19 (169.1200)	37 (163.3828)	14 (170.2744)	44 (159.3716)
Apr 11, 2014	6th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO	28 / 46 (648.4572)	40 (155.3828)	32 (157.6916)	17 (166.2628)	17 (169.1200)
Sep 19, 2013	Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-off Murphysboro, IL	47 / 76 (646.7884)	31 (166.2972)	49 (160)	67 (153.0512)	24 (167.4400)
Jun 21, 2013	Knights of Columbus Quincy, IL	10 / 32 (645.1428)	3 (170.2856)	18 (151.4288)	21 (155.4284)	5 (168)
May 10, 2013	2013 Optimist Kick-Off Cook-Off Florissant, MO	12 / 25 (641.7144)	23 (150.2856)	9 (162.8572)	9 (165.1428)	8 (163.4288)
Apr 19, 2013	Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO	41 / 50 (610.8568)	37 (153.1426)	11 (165.7142)	48 (142.8570)	38 (149.1430)

An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.

TWO BUTTS AND A HAM

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

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 (8 found in their record)

The heartbreaker

High-water mark

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Brisket nemesis

A September team

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 — 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)