IN THE KEY OF QUE

IN THE KEY OF QUE is a competition barbecue team with 11 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2016. Their best overall finish is 10th of 16 at the Oak Grove BBQ & Lemonade Festival (2015). They are ranked #3340 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#3,340

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1497

peak 1505 · rated over 11 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

May 3, 2013

latest May 6, 2016 · 3 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#805

Master 2013 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

1 podium

Overall top-10s

9% of 11 contests

Avg finish

top 56%

overall standings

Best overall

680.5600 / 720

Master · Racing for the BBQ

Perfect 180s

Current form

655.45 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 649.94 (+5.51)

Walk rate

73%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176.5600

Chicken · Racing for the BBQ

Consistency

±13.77

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 165.43 · weakest Brisket (157.59)

Road miles

520

across 11 mapped stops · furthest 81 mi

Schedule strength

21%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1529)

Master avg

649.94 / 720

11 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (8 found in their record)

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

They almost always walk

73% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 8 of 11 contests

A top-10 category call in 73% of their 11 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

680.5600 career-best overall

94.5% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 680.5600 at Racing for the BBQ — 94.5% of a perfect 720.

Master
Jul 24, 2015

A tough matchup

7–0 behind in the head-to-head

VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY ahead in 100% of their meetings

VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY has come out ahead in 7 of their 7 shared contests.

The weak link

−7.8 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 7.85 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 18% of the time against 18%.

Brisket avg 157.59
Chicken avg 165.43
2 calls in 11 entries

A strong matchup

5–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of UTB BBQ in 5 of their 5 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

7 of 7 shared chicken entries lost

GETTIN' BASTED ahead 100% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, GETTIN' BASTED has out-cooked them in 7 of 7 shared chicken entries.

A July team

Top 45% average finish in July

Something about July: average finish in the top 45% across 3 contests, versus top 56% the rest of the year.

3 July contests
top 56% the rest of the year

Show 1 more storyline

The metronome

±1.91% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.91% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 90.3% of a perfect score
11 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
2016 ↗	Master	#2232 (67 pts)	#2313 (67 pts)	#2161 (97 pts)	#1558 (182 pts)	#2892 (57 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1022 (296 pts)	#876 (411 pts)	#1334 (221 pts)	#1334 (231 pts)	#1100 (281 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1589 (150 pts)	#1666 (150 pts)	#1327 (225 pts)	#1498 (190 pts)	#1664 (150 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#805 (379 pts)	#797 (409 pts)	#654 (509 pts)	#845 (389 pts)	#755 (429 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to IN THE KEY OF QUE, each with one reason worth a look.

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

KCKing BBQ

#3,357 of the rated field

1496 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 18%
Peak: 1525

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to IN THE KEY OF QUE)

One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team IN THE KEY OF QUE has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 10 contests
last seen Apr 8, 2022

⚔ Head-to-head

Braizin' Assets

#3,352 of the rated field

1497 power rating

Contests: 6
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1497

2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to IN THE KEY OF QUE)

Fewer contests behind them than IN THE KEY OF QUE has cooked, 6 to 11, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 6 contests
last seen Oct 29, 2016

⚔ Head-to-head

SMOKIN TATERS

#3,329 of the rated field

1497 power rating

Contests: 6
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1497

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to IN THE KEY OF QUE)

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

rated over 6 contests
last seen Jun 20, 2014

⚔ Head-to-head

PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ

#3,338 of the rated field

1497 power rating

Contests: 132
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 18%
Peak: 1652

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to IN THE KEY OF QUE)

They've been 1652 at their best, 155 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 126 contests
last seen Jul 11, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

PIG PUSHERS BBQ & CATERING

#3,351 of the rated field

1497 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1510

12 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 12 contests
last seen May 12, 2017

⚔ Compare careers

Hoochie Que

#3,349 of the rated field

1497 power rating

Contests: 10
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 10%
Peak: 1502

Level with IN THE KEY OF QUE on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 10 contests
last seen May 9, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' BASTED	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
Bare Bones BBQ Team	6	4	2	67%	⚔ compare
DIRT ROAD BBQ	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
UTB BBQ	5	5	0	100%	⚔ compare
PARK AVENUE PORK	5	3	2	60%	⚔ compare
NICKLE BOYS BBQ	5	3	2	60%	⚔ compare
KCQ	5	3	2	60%	⚔ compare
HANG 'EM' HIGH	5	2	3	40%	⚔ compare
50 SHADES OF QUE	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare
SPICEWINE IRONWORKS	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare
BACKFIRIN' BBQ	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare
SLAPS BBQ	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
THUMP & STRUM BBQ	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' SAUCED	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	11	2	1	176.5600	155.3828	165.43	top 47%
Pork Ribs	11	3	0	171.4286	157.6572	164.97	top 42%
Pork	11	2	0	173.1200	151.4284	161.95	top 56%
Brisket	11	2	0	170.8800	139.8856	157.59	top 62%

“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)	1	top 63%
Medium (20–39)	3	top 60%
Large (40+)	7	top 53%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest	2	15	0	top 66%	May 6, 2016

More numbers

Busiest season 2013 5 contests

Contests a season 2.8 across 4 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MO 11 of 11 contests

Contests visited 10 1 of them more than once

Opponents faced 1,026 finished ahead 681 times, behind 814

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

20161 milestone

May 6 Most recent contest Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest

20154 milestones

Jul 24 Career-best overall score680.5600 Racing for the BBQ
Jul 24 Career-best single call (Chicken)176.5600 Racing for the BBQ
Sep 25 First overall top-10 Oak Grove BBQ & Lemonade Festival
Oct 3 10th tracked contest 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open

20134 milestones

May 3 First tracked contest Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest
May 3 First call Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest
May 3 First overall past 90% of a perfect score651.4284 Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest
Oct 3 Peak power rating (1505) 34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+11.5	Racing for the BBQ	Jul 24, 2015
+4.5	Racing For The BBQ	Jul 26, 2013
+2.3	Bucksaw Band & BBQ	Sep 13, 2013
+1	34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open	Oct 3, 2013

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-6.9	Racing for the BBQ	Jul 25, 2014
-5.3	Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest	May 6, 2016
-5.1	The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake	Apr 11, 2014
-2.4	Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest	May 3, 2013
-1.4	Oak Grove BBQ & Lemonade Festival	Sep 25, 2015

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)
2016	1	0	100%	top 72%	90.2%	90.2%
2015	3	1	67%	top 48%	94.5%	91.7%
2014	2	0	50%	top 73%	89.7%	88.9%
2013	5	0	80%	top 51%	91.7%	89.9%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
May 6, 2016	Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest Columbia, MO	23 / 32 (649.6684)	23 (163.4512)	17 (163.9772)	5 (173.1200)	30 (149.1200)
Oct 3, 2015	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO	364 / 606 (644.4112)	255 (165.6684)	304 (163.4172)	396 (160.5372)	437 (154.7884)
Sep 25, 2015	Oak Grove BBQ & Lemonade Festival Oak Grove, MO	10 / 16 (656.4916)	10 (165.0972)	13 (157.6572)	13 (162.8572)	7 (170.8800)
Jul 24, 2015	Racing for the BBQ Lees Summit, MO	13 / 63 (680.5600)	3 (176.5600)	25 (167.9772)	23 (168.0344)	22 (167.9884)
Jul 25, 2014	Racing for the BBQ Lee's Summit, MO	41 / 54 (646.1368)	30 (165.0972)	34 (161.1200)	37 (159.9312)	31 (159.9884)
Apr 11, 2014	The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake Smithville, MO	38 / 54 (634.7084)	39 (159.4172)	10 (169.1428)	17 (166.2628)	53 (139.8856)
Oct 3, 2013	34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO	265 / 535 (638.2744)	76 (169.7144)	86 (167.4400)	428 (151.9772)	414 (149.1428)
Sep 13, 2013	Bucksaw Band & BBQ Clinton, MO	11 / 23 (627.8056)	14 (155.3828)	11 (159.3828)	9 (159.3828)	13 (153.6572)
Jul 26, 2013	Racing For The BBQ Lee's Summit, MO	23 / 58 (660.4568)	25 (166.2400)	26 (164)	35 (161.6456)	10 (168.5712)
May 17, 2013	Lake of the Ozarks Blues & BBQ Weekend Lake of the Ozarks, MO	23 / 41 (659.4282)	12 (170.2856)	8 (171.4286)	36 (151.4284)	17 (166.2856)
May 3, 2013	Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest Columbia, MO	15 / 25 (651.4284)	15 (162.8570)	7 (169.1430)	12 (166.2858)	22 (153.1426)

IN THE KEY OF QUE

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

Master avg

Storylines (8 found in their record)

They almost always walk

High-water mark

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

A July team

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

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)