WATER DAWGZ BBQ

WATER DAWGZ BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 24 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2024. Their best overall finish is 7th of 28 at the Smokin on Oak (2017). They are ranked #2691 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “WATERDAWGZ BBQ”.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#2,691

of 6,477 rated · rankings

Rating

1513

peak 1528 · rated over 23 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

May 3, 2013

latest Oct 30, 2024 · 11.5 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#880

Master 2016 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

3 podiums

Overall top-10s

8% of 24 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 57%

overall standings

Best overall

682.1828 / 720

Master · Smokin on Oak

Perfect 180s

Current form

657.58 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 655.73 (+1.84)

Walk rate

29%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

177.7144

Chicken · Brew, Blues & Bar-B-Q Cook-Off

Consistency

±13.36

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 165.09 · weakest Brisket (161.42)

Road miles

452

across 24 mapped stops · furthest 55 mi

Schedule strength

57%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1573)

Purse competed for

$105K

listed at 4 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 4 state-championship entries

Master avg

655.73 / 720

23 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (10 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

682.1828 career-best overall

94.7% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 682.1828 at Smokin on Oak — 94.7% of a perfect 720.

Master
Aug 18, 2017

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

Three Brothers Different Mothers has finished one call ahead of WATER DAWGZ BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2013 their best year

2013 was the year it came together: 3 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 1 category win, at an average finish in the top 41%.

3 contests
0 overall top-10s
1 category win
average top 41%

A tough matchup

14–0 behind in the head-to-head

913 BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

913 BBQ has come out ahead in 14 of their 14 shared contests.

A strong matchup

13–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of DUSTY ROADS BBQ in 13 of their 13 shared contests.

The comeback

2.6 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2.6 years, then back at American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest (Oct 30, 2024).

last seen Apr 8, 2022
back Oct 30, 2024

Pork nemesis

11 of 14 shared pork entries lost

913 BBQ ahead 79% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, 913 BBQ has out-cooked them in 11 of 14 shared pork entries.

Show 3 more storylines

An August team

Top 46% average finish in August

Something about August: average finish in the top 46% across 4 contests, versus top 57% the rest of the year.

4 August contests
top 57% the rest of the year

The metronome

±1.86% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.86% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 91.1% of a perfect score
24 contests

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge every year from 2016 to 2019 — the contest they never miss.

4 visits in all
best finish 14th

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
2022 ↗	Master	#1309 (60 pts)	#1341 (60 pts)	#1404 (60 pts)	#1348 (60 pts)	#1333 (60 pts)
2021 ↗	Master	#1236 (60 pts)	#1286 (60 pts)	#1309 (60 pts)	#1262 (60 pts)	#1245 (60 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#1887 (70 pts)	#1763 (105 pts)	#2026 (60 pts)	#1689 (115 pts)	#1973 (65 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#990 (284 pts)	#1142 (244 pts)	#1116 (259 pts)	#1172 (239 pts)	#922 (349 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1121 (273 pts)	#1230 (258 pts)	#921 (423 pts)	#1218 (263 pts)	#1255 (243 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#880 (394 pts)	#1105 (309 pts)	#807 (494 pts)	#818 (479 pts)	#860 (429 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1037 (291 pts)	#782 (471 pts)	#1175 (266 pts)	#1117 (296 pts)	#950 (361 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#2084 (75 pts)	#2167 (75 pts)	#2161 (75 pts)	#2172 (75 pts)	#2148 (75 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#964 (299 pts)	#670 (489 pts)	#1078 (284 pts)	#1158 (254 pts)	#1136 (254 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to WATER DAWGZ BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

SWINE ENTHUSIAST BBQ

#2,704 of the rated field

1513 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 7%
Peak: 1524

2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to WATER DAWGZ BBQ)

2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team WATER DAWGZ BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 14 contests
last seen May 31, 2019

⚔ Head-to-head

Smokin' Pelletheads

#2,676 of the rated field

1514 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1519

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to WATER DAWGZ BBQ)

Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 5 years before WATER DAWGZ BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 13 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

NELSON FAMILY BARBEQUE

#2,680 of the rated field

1514 power rating

Contests: 8
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1519

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to WATER DAWGZ BBQ)

Fewer contests behind them than WATER DAWGZ BBQ has cooked, 8 to 24, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 8 contests
last seen Jun 7, 2019

⚔ Head-to-head

CAPTAIN JACK'S BBQ CREW

#2,687 of the rated field

1513 power rating

Contests: 9
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1515

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to WATER DAWGZ BBQ)

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

rated over 7 contests
last seen Mar 2, 2018

⚔ Head-to-head

Poker Porkers

#2,702 of the rated field

1513 power rating

Contests: 28
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 21%
Peak: 1545

They've been 1545 at their best, 32 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 28 contests
last seen Sep 24, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

KenzielouQ

#2,683 of the rated field

1514 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 42%
Peak: 1579

Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 19 contests, alongside a 42% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 18 contests
last seen Oct 11, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
913 BBQ	14	0	14	0%	⚔ compare
DUSTY ROADS BBQ	13	13	0	100%	⚔ compare
AMERICAN FIRE BBQ	13	1	12	8%	⚔ compare
HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB	13	1	12	8%	⚔ compare
Sons of a Brisket	13	1	12	8%	⚔ compare
SLAPS BBQ	13	0	13	0%	⚔ compare
Theslabs.com	12	4	8	33%	⚔ compare
3 PIGS SMOKIN	12	4	8	33%	⚔ compare
BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE	12	1	11	8%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKING HILLS	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' SAUCED	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
SMOOTH SMOKE	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
LOVE 2 Q	9	4	5	44%	⚔ compare
PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
KC SMOKE DAWGS	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	23	3	1	2	177.7144	150.2172	164.92	top 54%
Pork Ribs	23	2	0	1	173.7144	147.9428	164.30	top 55%
Pork	23	2	0	0	175.4056	145.7028	165.09	top 52%
Brisket	23	3	0	0	172.5600	146.7772	161.42	top 58%

“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)	11	0	top 54%
Large (40+)	12	0	top 59%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
KS	18	0	top 57%
MO	5	0	top 56%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge	4	14	top 52%	Jun 7, 2019
Smokin on Oak	3	7	top 47%	Aug 18, 2017
Smoke in the Spring	2	79	top 81%	Apr 8, 2022
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2	26	top 92%	Apr 28, 2017

More numbers

Busiest season 2016 5 contests

Contests a season 2.4 across 10 seasons in the data

Most contests held in KS 19 of 24 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 16 4 of them more than once

Opponents faced 1,771 finished ahead 1,649 times, behind 1,823

Longest layoff 2.6 yrs Apr 8, 2022 → Oct 30, 2024

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

20241 milestone

Oct 30 Most recent contest American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides

20191 milestone

Jun 7 Peak power rating (1528) Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge

20172 milestones

Aug 18 First overall top-10 Smokin on Oak
Aug 18 Career-best overall score682.1828 Smokin on Oak

20161 milestone

Jun 10 10th tracked contest Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge

20135 milestones

May 3 First tracked contest Brew, Blues & Bar-B-Q Cook-Off
May 3 First call Brew, Blues & Bar-B-Q Cook-Off
May 3 First category win (Chicken) Brew, Blues & Bar-B-Q Cook-Off
May 3 First overall past 90% of a perfect score658.2856 Brew, Blues & Bar-B-Q Cook-Off
May 3 Career-best single call (Chicken)177.7144 Brew, Blues & Bar-B-Q Cook-Off

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+10.8	Smokin on Oak	Aug 18, 2017
+7.8	Brew, Blues, & Bar-B-Q	May 4, 2018
+5.8	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge	Jun 10, 2016
+5.5	34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open	Oct 3, 2013
+5	Smokin' On Oak	Aug 26, 2016

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-10.1	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Apr 29, 2016
-8.6	Smoke in the Spring	Apr 8, 2022
-7.9	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Apr 28, 2017
-7.1	Smoke in the Spring	Apr 9, 2021
-4.4	Smokin' on Oak	Aug 28, 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	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2024	2	0	0	0%	top 57%	93.3%	93.3%
2022	1	0	0	0%	top 87%	88.1%	88.1%
2021	1	0	0	0%	top 75%	91.3%	91.3%
2019	1	0	0	0%	top 50%	92%	92%
2018	3	1	0	33%	top 46%	93.6%	92.2%
2017	3	1	0	33%	top 59%	94.7%	90.9%
2016	5	0	0	40%	top 57%	92.2%	90.9%
2015	4	0	0	25%	top 61%	91.8%	90.7%
2014	1	0	0	0%	top 67%	88.9%	88.9%
2013	3	0	1	67%	top 41%	93.3%	91.6%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Oct 30, 2024	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS	—	—	—	—	—
Oct 30, 2024	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS	252 / 444 (671.9084)	80 (175.4172)	200 (170.2628)	65 (175.4056)	396 (150.8228)
Apr 8, 2022	Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS	82 / 94 (634.0688)	89 (150.2172)	69 (163.9544)	43 (170.8228)	90 (149.0744)
Apr 9, 2021	Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS	79 / 105 (657.5656)	68 (166.8456)	94 (158.8116)	66 (166.2400)	72 (165.6684)
Jun 7, 2019	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge 🏅 Kansas City, KS	23 / 46 (662.1828)	16 (169.1200)	38 (159.4172)	14 (170.2628)	24 (163.3828)
Oct 6, 2018	Rib's and Bibs Topeka, KS	20 / 37 (662.1600)	25 (164.5256)	18 (167.9772)	28 (157.0972)	10 (172.5600)
Jun 8, 2018	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge Kansas City, KS	23 / 46 (655.2684)	34 (161.6800)	24 (165.7028)	25 (163.9428)	18 (163.9428)
May 4, 2018	Brew, Blues, & Bar-B-Q Lansing, KS	10 / 29 (674.1828)	11 (169.1200)	16 (166.8572)	12 (169.6800)	12 (168.5256)
Aug 18, 2017	Smokin on Oak Bonner Springs, KS	7 / 28 (682.1828)	16 (166.2284)	3 (173.1200)	8 (171.9772)	10 (170.8572)
Jun 9, 2017	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge Kansas City, KS	28 / 42 (638.1600)	16 (167.4400)	18 (167.4172)	35 (156.5256)	39 (146.7772)
Apr 28, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Overland Park, KS	26 / 30 (642.7196)	28 (155.4056)	16 (167.3828)	25 (161.1428)	26 (158.7884)
Oct 29, 2016	37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	242 / 557 (659.2800)	205 (167.3828)	102 (170.8572)	139 (169.6800)	456 (151.3600)
Aug 26, 2016	Smokin' On Oak Bonner Springs, KS	16 / 37 (659.2340)	22 (166.2284)	16 (166.8228)	30 (159.3600)	13 (166.8228)
Jul 29, 2016	Racing for the BBQ Lee's Summit, MO	32 / 54 (663.8744)	44 (161.6456)	19 (168.0116)	24 (170.2628)	31 (163.9544)
Jun 10, 2016	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge Kansas City, KS	14 / 34 (662.7200)	26 (157.6684)	5 (173.7144)	19 (166.2400)	10 (165.0972)
Apr 29, 2016	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Overland Park, KS	29 / 30 (625.5084)	29 (155.9312)	29 (147.9428)	4 (170.8344)	28 (150.8000)
Oct 3, 2015	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO	286 / 606 (654.1372)	290 (164.5256)	396 (160.5372)	339 (162.8228)	207 (166.2516)
Sep 11, 2015	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour N. Kansas City, MO	20 / 28 (661.0396)	12 (167.9772)	22 (159.4056)	19 (165.1084)	11 (168.5484)
Aug 28, 2015	Smokin' on Oak Bonner Springs, KS	30 / 42 (644.4460)	30 (161.7144)	39 (153.6688)	18 (170.2628)	30 (158.8000)
Jun 5, 2015	McLouth BBQ Blowout 24th Annual (JUDGES FULL) McLouth, KS	18 / 33 (653.0740)	3 (174.8800)	21 (163.9656)	31 (145.7028)	13 (168.5256)
Oct 2, 2014	35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO	369 / 552 (639.9548)	489 (151.9772)	232 (165.7144)	108 (170.8572)	445 (151.4060)
Oct 3, 2013	34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO	187 / 535 (648.5144)	111 (168)	295 (158.2744)	378 (154.8572)	93 (167.3828)
Aug 17, 2013	BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway Kansas City, KS	14 / 31 (671.4060)	10 (171.4172)	16 (166.2972)	16 (166.2972)	13 (167.3944)
May 3, 2013	Brew, Blues & Bar-B-Q Cook-Off Lansing, KS	14 / 33 (658.2856)	1 (177.7144)	15 (162.8572)	21 (161.7140)	24 (156)

WATER DAWGZ BBQ

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 (10 found in their record)

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

A strong matchup

The comeback

Pork nemesis

An August team

The metronome

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 — 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)