SUGARFIRE SMOKEHOUSE

SUGARFIRE SMOKEHOUSE is a competition barbecue team with 15 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2021. Their best overall finish is 3rd of 467 at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST (2021). They are ranked #2234 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#2,234

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1530

peak 1530 · rated over 14 contests1 invitational or side-series contest not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Mar 15, 2013

latest Sep 16, 2021 · 8.5 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#786

Master 2013 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

0 podiums

Overall top-10s

20% of 15 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 55%

overall standings

Best overall

672.5144 / 720

Master · 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST

Perfect 180s

Current form

660.93 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 648.34 (+12.59)

Walk rate

20%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176

Pork · 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)

Consistency

±20.39

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 166.28 · weakest Brisket (157.61)

Road miles

2,342

across 15 mapped stops · furthest 163 mi

Schedule strength

43%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1556)

Purse competed for

$150K

listed at 4 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 3 state-championship entries

Master avg

648.34 / 720

14 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (7 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

672.5144 career-best overall

93.4% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 672.5144 at 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST — 93.4% of a perfect 720.

Master
Sep 12, 2019

A tough matchup

9–2 behind in the head-to-head

SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ ahead in 82% of their meetings

SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ has come out ahead in 9 of their 11 shared contests.

The weak link

−8.7 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 8.66 points below their pork ribs, and turns into a call 7% of the time against 20%.

Brisket avg 157.61
Pork Ribs avg 166.28
1 call in 15 entries

A strong matchup

6–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of HI-TECH SMOKERS in 6 of their 6 shared contests.

The comeback

2.6 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2.6 years, then back at 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) (Oct 29, 2016).

last seen Apr 11, 2014
back Oct 29, 2016

Pork Ribs nemesis

8 of 11 shared pork ribs entries lost

SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ ahead 73% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ has out-cooked them in 8 of 11 shared pork ribs entries.

A September team

Top 34% average finish in September

Something about September: average finish in the top 34% across 5 contests, versus top 55% the rest of the year.

5 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
2021 ↗	Master	#917 (120 pts)	#886 (150 pts)	#1023 (120 pts)	#804 (175 pts)	#957 (120 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1954 (60 pts)	#2012 (60 pts)	#1996 (60 pts)	#2030 (60 pts)	#1990 (60 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1722 (120 pts)	#1493 (180 pts)	#1480 (185 pts)	#1743 (130 pts)	#1794 (120 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#2274 (60 pts)	#2353 (60 pts)	#2349 (60 pts)	#2326 (60 pts)	#2345 (60 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#2494 (71 pts)	#2141 (81 pts)	#1578 (166 pts)	#2549 (71 pts)	#2525 (71 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#786 (392 pts)	#792 (412 pts)	#623 (537 pts)	#818 (402 pts)	#789 (402 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to SUGARFIRE SMOKEHOUSE, each with one reason worth a look.

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

Disco Pigs

#2,226 of the rated field

1530 power rating

Contests: 7
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1530

3–0 in 3 shared contests (100% to SUGARFIRE SMOKEHOUSE)

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

rated over 6 contests
last seen Sep 12, 2019

⚔ Head-to-head

Sauced BBQ

#2,238 of the rated field

1530 power rating

Contests: 7
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 14%
Peak: 1530

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to SUGARFIRE SMOKEHOUSE)

Their last contest in the data was back in 2018, 3 years before SUGARFIRE SMOKEHOUSE's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 5 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

EADS DOWNHOME

#2,223 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

#2,217 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

COOTERS COUNTRY CATERING

#2,232 of the rated field

1530 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 14%
Peak: 1532

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 13 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 13 contests
last seen Sep 9, 2016

⚔ Compare careers

Big Baker's BBQ

#2,235 of the rated field

1530 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 25%
Peak: 1530

They turned up 8 years after SUGARFIRE SMOKEHOUSE did, first appearing in 2021.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Nov 14, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ	11	2	9	18%	⚔ compare
PITMASTERIQ BBQ	10	2	8	20%	⚔ compare
OUTLAW HAWGS BBQ	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
BURNT FINGER BBQ	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' BASTED	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare
SMOKE THIS BBQ MO	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare
UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare
QUAU	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
DIRT ROAD BBQ	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
SLAPS BBQ	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
Big Wigs BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
OKLAHOMA JOE'S SERIOUS QUE	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
HI-TECH SMOKERS	6	6	0	100%	⚔ compare
Moolicious Intentions	6	5	1	83%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	15	1	173.7372	154.2858	164.44	top 51%
Pork Ribs	15	3	173.7144	157.1544	166.28	top 43%
Pork	15	1	176	130.8570	160.48	top 58%
Brisket	15	1	170.8228	142.8568	157.61	top 68%

“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
Small (<20 teams)	1	0	top 91%
Large (40+)	14	0	top 52%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
MO	9	top 68%
KS	5	top 28%
IL	1	top 71%

More numbers

Busiest season 2013 5 contests

Contests a season 2.1 across 7 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MO 9 of 15 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 15 a different one every time

Opponents faced 1,461 finished ahead 1,848 times, behind 974

Longest layoff 2.6 yrs Apr 11, 2014 → Oct 29, 2016

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

20212 milestones

Sep 16 Peak power rating (1530) American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST
Sep 16 Most recent contest American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST

20193 milestones

Mar 14 First overall top-10 Big 12 Big Q (NBBQL COMPETITORS SERIES)
Sep 12 First overall podium 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST
Sep 12 Career-best overall score672.5144 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST

20172 milestones

Sep 1 Career-best single call (Pork)176 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)
Sep 22 10th tracked contest Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff

20133 milestones

Mar 15 First tracked contest NKC MO State BBQ Championship
Apr 19 First call Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest
Aug 2 First overall past 90% of a perfect score657.1092 Laurie Hillbilly BBQ

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+19.2	40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST	Sep 12, 2019
+18.7	American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST	Sep 16, 2021
+8	38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)	Sep 1, 2017
+6.4	37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)	Oct 29, 2016
+5.8	Laurie Hillbilly BBQ	Aug 2, 2013

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-11.5	Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest	Apr 19, 2013
-10	6th Annual Wellsville BBQ Cookoff	Jul 12, 2013
-8.2	NKC MO State BBQ Championship	Mar 15, 2013
-3.2	Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff	Sep 22, 2017
-1.2	Main Street BBQ & Blues Fest	Apr 21, 2017

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)
2021	2	1	0%	top 30%	97.4%	94.6%
2019	2	2	50%	top 46%	96.2%	93.6%
2018	1	0	0%	top 60%	90.8%	90.8%
2017	3	0	0%	top 58%	92.9%	91.4%
2016	1	0	0%	top 42%	91.8%	91.8%
2014	1	0	100%	top 59%	90.1%	90.1%
2013	5	0	20%	top 67%	91.3%	87.2%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Sep 16, 2021	American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS	3 / 467 (525.6916)	142 (169.7144)	237 (166.2628)	104 (170.8112)	328 (157.7372)
Apr 23, 2021	WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest 🏅 Washington, MO	27 / 45 (661.0056)	19 (169.7144)	30 (165.7028)	14 (168.5372)	39 (157.0512)
Sep 12, 2019	40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS	3 / 468 (519.3484)	181 (167.9772)	299 (162.2744)	85 (171.4400)	110 (170.8228)
Mar 14, 2019	Big 12 Big Q (NBBQL COMPETITORS SERIES) unrated Kansas City, MO	10 / 11 (655.3144)	5 (173.7372)	9 (163.9544)	9 (158.2628)	10 (159.3600)
Sep 15, 2018	39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	282 / 467 (653.6116)	340 (161.0856)	57 (173.7144)	273 (162.8228)	352 (155.9888)
Sep 22, 2017	Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff Murphysboro, IL	39 / 55 (653.0056)	41 (163.9428)	20 (170.2628)	42 (162.8344)	43 (155.9656)
Sep 1, 2017	38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	150 / 407 (669.0972)	193 (166.8800)	173 (166.8228)	28 (176)	277 (159.3944)
Apr 21, 2017	Main Street BBQ & Blues Fest Washington, MO	26 / 40 (653.0288)	13 (168.5372)	12 (169.1200)	23 (163.9772)	35 (151.3944)
Oct 29, 2016	37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	232 / 557 (661.1084)	192 (167.4400)	65 (172.5828)	489 (153.0972)	151 (167.9884)
Apr 11, 2014	6th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO	27 / 46 (648.5024)	23 (163.3828)	8 (170.8572)	32 (160.0456)	36 (154.2168)
Aug 23, 2013	Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest Cape Girardeau, MO	25 / 56 (641.6112)	35 (154.7884)	21 (162.8800)	24 (161.1084)	22 (162.8344)
Aug 2, 2013	Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Laurie, MO	20 / 51 (657.1092)	16 (166.2860)	28 (162.2516)	19 (166.8572)	21 (161.7144)
Jul 12, 2013	6th Annual Wellsville BBQ Cookoff Wellsville, MO	37 / 42 (630.2744)	27 (163.4744)	35 (157.1544)	40 (149.0972)	30 (160.5484)
Apr 19, 2013	Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO	44 / 50 (600)	33 (154.2858)	4 (168.5716)	50 (130.8570)	43 (146.2856)
Mar 15, 2013	NKC MO State BBQ Championship N. Kansas City, MO	60 / 79 (611.4284)	55 (155.4286)	32 (161.7144)	63 (151.4286)	75 (142.8568)

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

SUGARFIRE SMOKEHOUSE

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 (7 found in their record)

High-water mark

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Pork Ribs 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)

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)