MOON RIVER BARBEQUE

MOON RIVER BARBEQUE is a competition barbecue team with 46 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2019. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 47 at the Twin Valley Fire And Smoke (2018), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #852 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#852

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1622

peak 1630 · rated over 46 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Jul 12, 2013

latest Mar 8, 2019 · 5.7 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#351

Master 2018 · every season

Grand champs

1 reserve

Category wins

12 podiums

Overall top-10s

22% of 46 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 43%

overall standings

Best overall

683.3712 / 720

Master · Twin Valley Fire And Smoke

Perfect 180s

1 🔥

Current form

651.06 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 642.30 (+8.76)

Walk rate

67%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

180 🔥

Pork · Twin Valley Fire And Smoke

Consistency

±20.98

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 162.29 · weakest Brisket (158.44)

Road miles

5,973

across 46 mapped stops · furthest 330 mi

Schedule strength

45%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1559)

Purse competed for

$7,500

listed at 1 contest — purses, not winnings

Master avg

642.30 / 720

46 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (11 found in their record)

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

Perfect scores on the board

1 perfect 180

1 perfect 180 in the data — every judge at the table handing back a nine, all in pork.

Pork ×1

They almost always walk

67% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 31 of 46 contests

A top-10 category call in 67% of their 46 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

683.3712 career-best overall

94.9% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 683.3712 at Twin Valley Fire And Smoke — 94.9% of a perfect 720.

Master
May 18, 2018

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

QUEGASM has finished one call ahead of MOON RIVER BARBEQUE 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

26–5 behind in the head-to-head

Dr. Pearl's Medicinal Smoke BBQ Team ahead in 84% of their meetings

Dr. Pearl's Medicinal Smoke BBQ Team has come out ahead in 26 of their 31 shared contests.

A strong matchup

15–6 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 71% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of SMOKIN' TEX BBQ in 15 of their 21 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

19 of 31 shared chicken entries lost

Dr. Pearl's Medicinal Smoke BBQ Team ahead 61% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, Dr. Pearl's Medicinal Smoke BBQ Team has out-cooked them in 19 of 31 shared chicken entries.

Show 4 more storylines

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

Babylon Grillbillies has landed one call behind them 2 times.

A July team

Top 29% average finish in July

Something about July: average finish in the top 29% across 6 contests, versus top 43% the rest of the year.

6 July contests
top 43% the rest of the year

The long haul

5,973 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 5,973 miles across 46 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 330 miles to Thrillin & Grillin at Aquaboggan Water park.

46 mapped stops
furthest 330 mi

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked Hudson Valley Ribfest every year from 2015 to 2018 — the contest they never miss.

4 visits in all
best finish 12th

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)	#1276 (185 pts)	#1489 (135 pts)	#2029 (60 pts)	#2010 (60 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#351 (970 pts)	#440 (830 pts)	#362 (960 pts)	#269 (1,145 pts)	#453 (800 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#374 (974 pts)	#485 (804 pts)	#411 (944 pts)	#339 (1,064 pts)	#489 (814 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#480 (839 pts)	#622 (654 pts)	#392 (994 pts)	#411 (969 pts)	#475 (864 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#420 (899 pts)	#273 (1,224 pts)	#484 (804 pts)	#391 (949 pts)	#361 (1,009 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#752 (458 pts)	#757 (493 pts)	#488 (818 pts)	#875 (418 pts)	#848 (408 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#945 (309 pts)	#924 (349 pts)	#1281 (224 pts)	#917 (349 pts)	#945 (324 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to MOON RIVER BARBEQUE, each with one reason worth a look.

HUMPHREY'S BBQ

#855 of the rated field

1621 power rating

Contests: 75
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 33%
Peak: 1622

2–3 in 5 shared contests (40% to MOON RIVER BARBEQUE)

These two have cooked 5 of the same contests — HUMPHREY'S BBQ ahead 3–2 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 69 contests
last seen Oct 9, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

POPPA PIG AND PORKCHOP

#851 of the rated field

1622 power rating

Contests: 71
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 38%
Peak: 1678

They've been 1678 at their best, 56 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 69 contests
last seen Oct 17, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

FROZEN TOQUE BBQ

#849 of the rated field

1622 power rating

Contests: 30
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 63%
Peak: 1624

Fewer contests behind them than MOON RIVER BARBEQUE has cooked, 30 to 46, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 28 contests
last seen Oct 14, 2022

⚔ Compare careers

HOOSIER FAVORITE BBQ

#850 of the rated field

1622 power rating

Contests: 24
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 42%
Peak: 1622

Their last contest in the data was back in 2016, 3 years before MOON RIVER BARBEQUE's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 23 contests

⚔ Compare careers

SWEET PEPPERS

#853 of the rated field

1622 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 79%
Peak: 1622

19 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 79% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 19 contests
last seen Jul 2, 2016

⚔ Compare careers

Sweaty Hogs

#854 of the rated field

1621 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 7
Top-10s: 83%
Peak: 1621

They turned up 6 years after MOON RIVER BARBEQUE did, first appearing in 2019.

rated over 10 contests
last seen Aug 19, 2022
on an 8-contest top-10 run

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
Dr. Pearl's Medicinal Smoke BBQ Team	31	5	26	16%	⚔ compare
Chicken Chokers	30	12	18	40%	⚔ compare
BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ	23	5	18	22%	⚔ compare
Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit	22	7	15	32%	⚔ compare
RIBS WITHIN	22	6	16	27%	⚔ compare
SMOKOPOLIS BBQ	22	6	16	27%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA	22	4	18	18%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN' TEX BBQ	21	15	6	71%	⚔ compare
Hot Rod's BBQ	21	14	7	67%	⚔ compare
Q HAVEN BBQ	20	4	16	20%	⚔ compare
Rogue Hog BBQ	20	3	17	15%	⚔ compare
ACK-QUE	18	6	12	33%	⚔ compare
BEERBEQUE	18	5	13	28%	⚔ compare
Top Gun Barbecue	17	9	8	53%	⚔ compare
BACKDRAFT BAR-B-Q CT	16	9	7	56%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	46	10	0	3	174.8456	149.6568	162.29	top 47%
Pork Ribs	46	13	0	3	172.0572	138.7772	160.64	top 43%
Pork	46	11	1	5	180 🔥	138.2628	160.93	top 44%
Brisket	46	10	0	1	174.8572	139.3600	158.44	top 46%

“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)	16	0	top 41%
Large (40+)	30	0	top 43%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
NJ	14	top 50%
NY	11	top 35%
PA	11	top 41%
CT	5	top 41%
ME	2	top 34%
DE	2	top 42%
VA	1	top 72%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Hudson Valley Ribfest	4	12	top 27%	Aug 17, 2018
Ridgefield Gone Country BBQ Festival	3	14	top 45%	May 5, 2018
New Jersey State Barbecue Championship	3	9	top 29%	Jul 10, 2015
Historic New Castle Colonial BBQ Competition	2	12	top 42%	Jun 8, 2018
Twin Valley Fire And Smoke	2	2	top 23%	May 18, 2018
NYC BBQ Cookoff	2	11	top 47%	Apr 6, 2018
Que for the Troops	2	18	top 46%	Jun 2, 2017
Que by the Sea	2	31	top 71%	Sep 17, 2016
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2	10	top 39%	Jun 10, 2016
Red, White and Que	2	12	top 56%	Sep 26, 2015
New York City BBQ Cookoff	2	10	top 42%	Apr 10, 2015
DO AC Smokin' Hot Atlantic City BBQ Championship	2	27	top 61%	Oct 3, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2017 11 contests

Contests a season 6.6 across 7 seasons in the data

Most contests held in NJ 14 of 46 contests · 7 states in all

Contests visited 30 12 of them more than once

Opponents faced 669 finished ahead 1,227 times, behind 874

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

20191 milestone

Mar 8 Most recent contest Mid Atlantic BBQ Expo

20185 milestones

May 18 First category win (Pork) Twin Valley Fire And Smoke
May 18 First Reserve Championship Twin Valley Fire And Smoke
May 18 First perfect 180 (Pork) Twin Valley Fire And Smoke
May 18 Career-best overall score683.3712 Twin Valley Fire And Smoke
May 18 Peak power rating (1630) Twin Valley Fire And Smoke

20171 milestone

Jul 28 First overall podium The Great Adirondack BBQ

20161 milestone

Sep 24 25th tracked contest Red White and Que

20152 milestones

May 8 10th tracked contest Smoke in the Valley BBQ Competition & Festival
Jun 5 First overall past 90% of a perfect score649.1428 Que for the Troops

20133 milestones

Jul 12 First tracked contest New Jersey State Barbecue Championship
Jul 12 First call New Jersey State Barbecue Championship
Jul 12 First overall top-10 New Jersey State Barbecue Championship

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+13.7	Twin Valley Fire And Smoke	May 18, 2018
+13.5	Smokin at the Ballpark BBQ Fest	Jul 15, 2017
+12.9	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Aug 4, 2017
+12.4	The Great Adirondack BBQ	Jul 28, 2017
+12.2	New Jersey State Barbecue Championship	Jul 12, 2013

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-9.2	DO AC Smokin' Hot Atlantic City BBQ Championship	Oct 5, 2013
-7.4	Que by the Sea	Sep 17, 2016
-6.8	Red, White and Que	Sep 6, 2014
-6.5	Que by the Sea	Sep 21, 2013
-5.9	Que for the Troops	Jun 2, 2017

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	1	0	0	100%	top 50%	89.9%	89.9%
2018	9	1	1	67%	top 43%	94.9%	90.9%
2017	11	3	0	64%	top 39%	94.3%	90.6%
2016	8	2	0	75%	top 40%	91.4%	89.6%
2015	9	3	0	78%	top 43%	91.7%	88.7%
2014	5	0	0	60%	top 45%	89%	86.4%
2013	3	1	0	33%	top 55%	88.4%	83.9%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Mar 8, 2019	Mid Atlantic BBQ Expo Atlantic City, NJ	33 / 66 (647.2680)	5 (174.8456)	10 (168.5484)	29 (164.5140)	59 (139.3600)
Aug 17, 2018	Hudson Valley Ribfest New Paltz, NY	13 / 58 (667.8516)	13 (170.8344)	30 (162.8000)	16 (166.8228)	10 (167.3944)
Aug 11, 2018	Thrillin & Grillin at Aquaboggan Water park Saco, ME	16 / 30 (654.1824)	27 (154.8228)	9 (167.4056)	13 (166.8228)	12 (165.1312)
Jul 27, 2018	Smoke in the Grove Spring Grove, PA	35 / 54 (639.2684)	29 (160.5600)	15 (167.4172)	46 (153.6456)	39 (157.6456)
Jun 8, 2018	Historic New Castle Colonial BBQ Competition New Castle, DE	24 / 42 (646.7200)	13 (165.7028)	16 (163.4172)	30 (158.8000)	25 (158.8000)
Jun 2, 2018	Sun BBQ Fest Uncasville, CT	33 / 59 (651.8856)	24 (167.4172)	32 (161.6800)	18 (168.5600)	42 (154.2284)
May 18, 2018	Twin Valley Fire And Smoke Morgantown, PA	2 / 47 (683.3712)	22 (166.2972)	24 (165.1084)	1 (180)	7 (171.9656)
May 5, 2018	Ridgefield Gone Country BBQ Festival Ridgefield, CT	14 / 40 (657.6456)	12 (166.8456)	8 (166.2856)	16 (165.7028)	21 (158.8116)
Apr 28, 2018	New Jersey KnoQ-out-CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES Blairstown, NJ	25 / 40 (643.3028)	17 (166.8344)	9 (168)	32 (153.6572)	30 (154.8112)
Apr 6, 2018	NYC BBQ Cookoff Staten Island, NY	11 / 36 (647.8740)	15 (164)	13 (160.5256)	2 (169.6800)	25 (153.6684)
Sep 15, 2017	Smoke on the Water New Jersey State Barbecue Championship Atlantic City, NJ	20 / 42 (648.9600)	20 (163.9772)	16 (166.2516)	28 (159.3600)	24 (159.3712)
Aug 25, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Richmond, VA	21 / 29 (664.4112)	26 (166.2400)	25 (161.6800)	14 (167.3828)	8 (169.1084)
Aug 18, 2017	Hudson Valley Ribfest New Paltz, NY	12 / 59 (659.3028)	29 (161.6684)	29 (158.8344)	18 (163.9428)	3 (174.8572)
Aug 4, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour South Windsor, CT	4 / 30 (668.0572)	3 (173.7028)	3 (172.0572)	12 (166.2972)	20 (156)
Jul 28, 2017	The Great Adirondack BBQ Old Forge, NY	3 / 30 (664.5716)	19 (158.8228)	9 (165.7488)	2 (173.1772)	6 (166.8228)
Jul 15, 2017	Smokin at the Ballpark BBQ Fest Old Orchard Beach, ME	4 / 29 (678.8000)	4 (172.5600)	12 (166.2744)	2 (176.5600)	18 (163.4056)
Jun 9, 2017	Historic New Castle Colonial BBQ Competition New Castle, DE	12 / 46 (666.1828)	36 (157.6456)	3 (172)	17 (165.6800)	5 (170.8572)
Jun 2, 2017	Que for the Troops Levittown, PA	41 / 63 (623.3032)	31 (162.8344)	44 (156.5716)	59 (147.9200)	37 (155.9772)
May 19, 2017	Twin Valley Fire and Smoke Morgantown, PA	22 / 53 (655.3144)	46 (159.3716)	33 (160.5944)	16 (168.5256)	13 (166.8228)
May 6, 2017	Ridgefield Gone Country BBQ Festival Ridgefield, CT	22 / 38 (624.5944)	16 (158.8800)	17 (157.7488)	24 (151.3828)	15 (156.5828)
Apr 7, 2017	NYC BBQ Cookoff Staten Island, NY	27 / 43 (620.4916)	29 (154.2400)	25 (154.8344)	7 (167.4628)	39 (143.9544)
Sep 24, 2016	Red White and Que Cresskill, NJ	22 / 41 (635.3484)	36 (150.2856)	22 (155.9772)	14 (163.3944)	15 (165.6912)
Sep 17, 2016	Que by the Sea Seaside Heights, NJ	31 / 44 (616.9480)	38 (150.2284)	17 (162.3200)	39 (144.4340)	18 (159.9656)
Aug 19, 2016	Hudson Valley Ribfest New Paltz, NY	16 / 52 (655.9656)	34 (160.5828)	5 (172)	10 (169.6800)	35 (153.7028)
Jun 10, 2016	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Harrisburg, PA	10 / 29 (658.2172)	8 (167.4172)	11 (161.0972)	3 (171.4400)	14 (158.2628)
Jun 3, 2016	Que for the Troops Levittown, PA	9 / 67 (658.2056)	28 (164)	23 (164)	7 (165.1200)	22 (165.0856)
May 6, 2016	Smoke in the Valley BBQ competition Greenlane, PA	15 / 47 (656.4680)	32 (159.4284)	4 (169.1200)	24 (161.1084)	13 (166.8112)
Apr 30, 2016	Ridgefield Gone Country BBQ Festival Ridgefield, CT	17 / 39 (642.2632)	28 (153.1200)	15 (162.2744)	19 (158.8688)	4 (168)
Apr 8, 2016	NYC BBQ Cookoff Staten Island, NY	14 / 35 (639.9312)	9 (165.7256)	13 (160.0116)	15 (162.2284)	20 (151.9656)
Oct 9, 2015	Smokin Hot Atlantic City BBQ Championship $15,000 Atlantic City, NJ	10 / 46 (659.9428)	4 (172.0228)	22 (156.5716)	14 (167.3828)	11 (163.9656)
Sep 26, 2015	Red, White and Que Cresskill, NJ	12 / 35 (643.3368)	13 (163.4628)	18 (157.0856)	7 (165.6684)	12 (157.1200)
Aug 21, 2015	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Harrisburg, PA	13 / 30 (646.2744)	15 (164.0228)	12 (159.4404)	22 (155.4056)	5 (167.4056)
Aug 14, 2015	Hudson Valley Ribfest New Paltz, NY	19 / 57 (636.5484)	15 (164)	43 (149.7028)	12 (160.5256)	10 (162.3200)
Jul 10, 2015	New Jersey State Barbecue Championship North Wildwood, NJ	33 / 65 (629.0060)	41 (157.1200)	46 (152.5488)	31 (157.6572)	19 (161.6800)
Jun 27, 2015	1st Annual Greenport Harbor Beer, BBQ & Blues Peconic, NY	10 / 21 (623.8968)	3 (172)	14 (158.2972)	15 (143.9084)	11 (149.6912)
Jun 5, 2015	Que for the Troops Levittown, PA	36 / 54 (649.1428)	20 (166.2972)	37 (158.3316)	22 (167.3940)	40 (157.1200)
May 8, 2015	Smoke in the Valley BBQ Competition & Festival Green Lane, PA	33 / 57 (632.3424)	21 (164.5484)	48 (148.4800)	8 (167.9772)	38 (151.3368)
Apr 10, 2015	New York City BBQ Cookoff Staten Island, NY	10 / 33 (625.1084)	3 (165.1772)	6 (162.2628)	19 (149.6684)	14 (148)
Oct 3, 2014	DO AC Smokin' Hot Atlantic City BBQ Championship Atlantic City, NJ	27 / 65 (630.7196)	37 (157.1428)	22 (160.5256)	48 (153.1084)	20 (159.9428)
Sep 6, 2014	Red, White and Que Cresskill, NJ	24 / 31 (597.0856)	27 (149.7028)	15 (153.6912)	22 (150.8456)	23 (142.8460)
Jul 11, 2014	New Jersey State Barbecue Championship North Wildwood, NJ	15 / 65 (631.2452)	47 (149.6568)	6 (163.9656)	15 (159.9428)	19 (157.6800)
Jun 6, 2014	Que for the Troops Levittown, PA	18 / 65 (640.6404)	8 (168.0456)	2 (167.4744)	41 (153.1432)	36 (151.9772)
Apr 11, 2014	New York City BBQ Cookoff Staten Island, NY	20 / 37 (612.0460)	14 (160)	8 (160.5944)	23 (150.8572)	30 (140.5944)
Oct 5, 2013	DO AC Smokin' Hot Atlantic City BBQ Championship Atlantic City, NJ	69 / 85 (590.1260)	45 (157.1544)	79 (138.7772)	71 (144.5028)	50 (149.6916)
Sep 21, 2013	Que by the Sea Seaside Heights, NJ	35 / 49 (585.0968)	32 (150.3084)	30 (145.7256)	47 (138.2628)	24 (150.8000)
Jul 12, 2013	New Jersey State Barbecue Championship North Wildwood, NJ	9 / 65 (636.5828)	5 (165.6912)	42 (145.2116)	5 (164.5600)	8 (161.1200)

MOON RIVER BARBEQUE

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

Master avg

Storylines (11 found in their record)

Perfect scores on the board

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

A July team

The long haul

A standing appointment

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)