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 (2019-09-12).
TWO BUTTS AND A HAM
At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)
Rating
1526
peak 1526 · rated over 13 contests ⓘ
Contests
15
in the data
First seen
2013-04-19
latest 2019-09-12
Best ToY finish
#777
Master 2013
Grand champs
0
1 reserve
Category wins
0
1 podiums
Overall top-10s
2
of 15 contests
Avg finish
top 55%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
656.47 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 652.37 (+4.10)
Walk rate
40%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±15.74
std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Brisket
avg 165.09 · weakest Pork Ribs (160.58)
Road miles
1,353
mi 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 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
GCs in 1 state-championship entries
Master avg
652.37 / 720
15 Master contests · 0 GCs
Storylines (9 found in this team's record)
Each card leads with the number that made it a story — read straight out of their results, no editorialising.
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
- 2018-09-15
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 calls in 15 entries
A strong matchup
3–0
ahead in the head-to-head
Ahead in 100% of their meetings
They've finished ahead of Party Q in 3 of their 3 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) (2018-09-14).
- last seen 2015-10-03
- back 2018-09-14
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.
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
The metronome
±2.19%
swing around their own average
Their overall lands within ±2.19% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.
- averages 90.6% of a perfect score
- 15 contests
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The nearest teams in the power rankings, with a different reason on each card — six teams on one rating are rarely on it for the same reason. Rating decides who makes the list; where teams tie on it, the ones this team has actually cooked against come first, then teams at a similar point in their own career. KCBS doesn’t publish where a team is from, so nothing here is inferred from geography.
68 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#2309 of the rated field
- Contests
- 14
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1540
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to TWO BUTTS AND A HAM)
One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team TWO BUTTS AND A HAM has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-head#2305 of the rated field
- Contests
- 21
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1527
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to TWO BUTTS AND A HAM)
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 21 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-head#2313 of the rated field
- Contests
- 42
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 21%
- Peak
- 1603
2–1 in 3 shared contests (67% to TWO BUTTS AND A HAM)
42 contests to 15: their number has had years to settle where TWO BUTTS AND A HAM's is still finding its level.
⚔ Head-to-head#2310 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1537
No shared contest yet.
Level with TWO BUTTS AND A HAM on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Head-to-head#2308 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 27%
- Peak
- 1538
No shared contest yet.
Their last contest in the data was back in 2016, 3 years before TWO BUTTS AND A HAM's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-head#2300 of the rated field
- Contests
- 19
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 21%
- Peak
- 1526
No shared contest yet.
19 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 21% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Head-to-headFamiliar 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 | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 15 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 172.5600 | 150.2856 | 163.87 | top 56% |
| Pork Ribs | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 169.1316 | 151.4288 | 160.58 | top 63% |
| Pork | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 178.3200 | 142.8570 | 162.83 | top 58% |
| Brisket | 15 | 4 | 0 | 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 state / province
| Where | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| MO | 7 | 0 | top 63% |
| IL | 5 | 0 | top 55% |
| KS | 3 | 0 | top 36% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium (20–39) | 5 | 0 | top 50% |
| Large (40+) | 10 | 0 | top 58% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off | 3 | 27 | 0 | top 59% | 2015-09-25 |
| 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) | 2 | 126 | 0 | top 53% | 2018-09-15 |
| Knights of Columbus | 2 | 10 | 0 | top 50% | 2015-06-19 |
The story so far (17 numbers that describe this team)
On the trail
6.4 yrs
2013-04-19 → 2019-09-12
Busiest season
2015
4 contests
Contests a season
3
across 5 seasons in the data
Cooks most in
MO
7 of 15 contests · 3 states/provinces in all
Contests visited
11
3 of them cooked more than once
Most-entered meat
Chicken
15 entries · 0 wins · 2 calls
Strongest meat
Brisket
averages 165.09 · weakest Pork Ribs (160.58)
Walk rate
40%
a top-10 call in 6 of 15 contests
Overall top-10 rate
13%
2 of 15 contests
Master average
652.37
out of 720 · 15 contests · 0 GCs
Opponents faced
1,246
1,208–1,106 across every shared overall standing
Road miles
1,353
15 mapped stops · furthest 162 mi
Schedule strength
1553
average field rating faced — tougher than 40% of rated contests
Purse competed for
$68,425
listed at 1 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0
from 1 state-championship entries
Longest layoff
3 yrs
2015-10-03 → 2018-09-14
Power rating
1526
peak 1526 · #2306 of 6,413 rated
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
- 2013
- First tracked contest Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest
- First call 2013 Optimist Kick-Off Cook-Off
- First overall top-10 Knights of Columbus
- 2014
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score648.4572 6th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest
- 2015
- 10th tracked contest Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off
- 2018
- Career-best overall score674.2404 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)
- Career-best single call (Pork)178.3200 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)
- 2019
- First overall podium 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST
- First Reserve Championship 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST
- Peak power rating (1526) 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST
- Most recent contest 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +18.7 | 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST | 2019-09-12 |
| +10 | 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) | 2018-09-15 |
| +7.2 | Knights of Columbus | 2013-06-21 |
| +6.1 | Hermann Bar-BQ and Brats Festival | 2014-09-26 |
| +3.4 | Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off | 2014-09-18 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -10 | Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest | 2013-04-19 |
| -4.1 | 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open | 2015-10-03 |
| -2.8 | Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off | 2015-09-25 |
| -2.8 | Knights of Columbus | 2015-06-19 |
| -2.2 | Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-off | 2013-09-19 |
Category scores over time
Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)
Where they finish (overall)
Best vs average (by meat)
How entries end (by meat)
Team of the Year rank by season
Season by season
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% | top 0% | — | — |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 53% | 93.6% | 93.3% |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 71% | 91.5% | 90.1% |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25% | top 53% | 93.4% | 92.1% |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-09-12 | 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) |
| 2018-09-15 | 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) |
| 2018-09-14 | 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) |
| 2015-10-03 | 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) |
| 2015-10-02 | 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) |
| 2015-09-25 | Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off Murphysboro, IL | 37 / 55 (647.3028) | 46 (158.8000) | 42 (154.8228) | 36 (162.2628) | 9 (171.4172) |
| 2015-06-19 | Knights of Columbus Quincy, IL | 19 / 28 (658.7200) | 8 (169.1084) | 22 (160.5372) | 18 (165.6800) | 15 (163.3944) |
| 2014-11-07 | MO Veterans Home BBQ BIVOUAC St. James, MO | 20 / 31 (669.5772) | 24 (166.2400) | 16 (167.9772) | 25 (163.9428) | 12 (171.4172) |
| 2014-09-26 | Hermann Bar-BQ and Brats Festival Hermann, MO | 14 / 37 (672.5032) | 19 (165.7144) | 16 (169.1316) | 12 (167.3828) | 6 (170.2744) |
| 2014-09-18 | Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off Murphysboro, IL | 27 / 57 (662.1488) | 19 (169.1200) | 37 (163.3828) | 14 (170.2744) | 44 (159.3716) |
| 2014-04-11 | 6th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO | 28 / 46 (648.4572) | 40 (155.3828) | 32 (157.6916) | 17 (166.2628) | 17 (169.1200) |
| 2013-09-19 | Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-off Murphysboro, IL | 47 / 76 (646.7884) | 31 (166.2972) | 49 (160.0000) | 67 (153.0512) | 24 (167.4400) |
| 2013-06-21 | Knights of Columbus Quincy, IL | 10 / 32 (645.1428) | 3 (170.2856) | 18 (151.4288) | 21 (155.4284) | 5 (168.0000) |
| 2013-05-10 | 2013 Optimist Kick-Off Cook-Off Florissant, MO | 12 / 25 (641.7144) | 23 (150.2856) | 9 (162.8572) | 9 (165.1428) | 8 (163.4288) |
| 2013-04-19 | Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO | 41 / 50 (610.8568) | 37 (153.1426) | 11 (165.7142) | 48 (142.8570) | 38 (149.1430) |
Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)
Team of the Year standings (rank per category by season — 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) |