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.
BLACKSTRAP BBQ
BLACKSTRAP BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 11 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2017. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 22 at the Fatboys Canadian Capital Classic BBQ Competition (2015), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #1715 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “Blackstrap BBQ *”.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1551
peak 1551 · rated over 11 contests
Contests
11
in the data
First seen
Jul 20, 2013
latest Jun 16, 2017 · 3.9 years on the trail
Grand champs
0
1 reserve
Category wins
1
5 podiums
Overall top-10s
5
45% of 11 contests
Best top-10 run
3
straight overall top-10s, still running
Avg finish
top 39%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
644.74 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 633.77 (+10.97)
Walk rate
73%
contests with a top-10 call
Best single call
171.9656
Consistency
±24.76
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork
avg 160.65 · weakest Brisket (155.91)
Road miles
3,166
across 11 mapped stops · furthest 773 mi
Schedule strength
21%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1529)
Master avg
633.77 / 720
11 Master contests · 0 GCs
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #1596 (147 pts) | #1715 (137 pts) | #1776 (127 pts) | #1356 (217 pts) | #1671 (147 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #1557 (165 pts) | #1791 (135 pts) | #1593 (175 pts) | #2090 (105 pts) | #2059 (110 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #1147 (247 pts) | #1925 (112 pts) | #1245 (247 pts) | #1191 (272 pts) | #1647 (142 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #818 (416 pts) | #803 (456 pts) | #1092 (301 pts) | #779 (476 pts) | #983 (336 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #1018 (281 pts) | #1255 (221 pts) | #824 (396 pts) | #852 (386 pts) | #1183 (241 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to BLACKSTRAP BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
63 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#1,717 of the rated field
- Contests
- 13
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 38%
- Peak
- 1567
Careers of much the same size, 13 contests to 11, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careers#1,712 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 17%
- Peak
- 1553
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 12 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careers#1,710 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 25%
- Peak
- 1552
12 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 25% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careers#1,709 of the rated field
- Contests
- 10
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 40%
- Peak
- 1552
They turned up 10 years after BLACKSTRAP BBQ did, first appearing in 2023.
⚔ Compare careers#1,707 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 9%
- Peak
- 1552
Level with BLACKSTRAP BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careers#1,718 of the rated field
- Contests
- 17
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 53%
- Peak
- 1560
A longer road to the same neighbourhood — 17 contests to 11.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOOD SMOKE BBQ | 8 | 3 | 5 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | 6 | 4 | 2 | 67% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS | 6 | 3 | 3 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| Rogue Hog BBQ | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| Pistol Packin' Piggies | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| THE 5TH ARTERY | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 169.1544 | 147.3600 | 158.10 | top 53% |
| Pork Ribs | 11 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 171.9656 | 144.5144 | 159.11 | top 36% |
| Pork | 11 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 170.8456 | 135.4172 | 160.65 | top 36% |
| Brisket | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 171.9656 | 139.3140 | 155.91 | top 45% |
“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 41% |
| Medium (20–39) | 4 | 0 | top 32% |
| Large (40+) | 6 | 0 | top 44% |
More numbers
Busiest season
2014
4 contests
Contests a season
2.2
across 5 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
NY
5 of 11 contests · 7 states and provinces in all
Contests visited
11
a different one every time
Opponents faced
374
finished ahead 290 times, behind 215
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20172 milestones
- Peak power rating (1551) Wolf BBQ FEst Richmond 2017
- Most recent contest Wolf BBQ FEst Richmond 2017
20161 milestone
- 10th tracked contest Fatboys Classic-Canadian BBQ Championship
20153 milestones
- First category win (Pork) Fatboys Canadian Capital Classic BBQ Competition
- First overall podium Fatboys Canadian Capital Classic BBQ Competition
- First Reserve Championship Fatboys Canadian Capital Classic BBQ Competition
20144 milestones
- First overall top-10 Troy Pig Out
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score668.4800 Smokin' Eagles International BBQ Festival
- Career-best overall score668.4800 Smokin' Eagles International BBQ Festival
- Career-best single call (Brisket)171.9656 Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY)
20132 milestones
- First tracked contest Wakefield Rotary Campus CookOff & State BBQ Championships
- First call Wakefield Rotary Campus CookOff & State BBQ Championships
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +14.6 | Fatboys Canadian Capital Classic BBQ Competition | Aug 8, 2015 |
| +13.1 | Smokin' Eagles International BBQ Festival | Aug 8, 2014 |
| +10.4 | Fatboys Classic-Canadian BBQ Championship | Aug 6, 2016 |
| +9.5 | Oinktoberfest | Sep 20, 2013 |
| +9 | Hudson Valley Ribfest | Aug 16, 2013 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -12 | DO AC Smokin' Hot Atlantic City BBQ Championship | Oct 5, 2013 |
| -7.7 | I Love Barbecue & Music Festival | Jul 4, 2014 |
| -1.8 | Wakefield Rotary Campus CookOff & State BBQ Championships | Jul 20, 2013 |
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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | top 41% | 87.5% | 87.5% |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | top 17% | 86.6% | 86.6% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100% | top 9% | 88.3% | 88.3% |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50% | top 42% | 92.8% | 89.4% |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75% | top 48% | 90% | 87.1% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 16, 2017 | Wolf BBQ FEst Richmond 2017 Richmond, QC | 7 / 17 (630.1484) | 8 (156.5256) | 9 (150.2744) | 3 (168.5256) | 7 (154.8228) |
| Aug 6, 2016 | Fatboys Classic-Canadian BBQ Championship Ottawa, CA | 7 / 41 (623.4056) | 10 (158.2972) | 6 (157.7028) | 16 (154.8456) | 15 (152.5600) |
| Aug 8, 2015 | Fatboys Canadian Capital Classic BBQ Competition Ottawa, ON | 2 / 22 (636.0340) | 12 (153.7028) | 2 (159.4628) | 1 (170.8456) | 8 (152.0228) |
| Oct 24, 2014 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) Lynchburg, TN | 47 / 92 (665.6340) | 58 (165.1772) | 24 (171.9656) | 78 (156.5256) | 24 (171.9656) |
| Aug 8, 2014 | Smokin' Eagles International BBQ Festival N. Tonawanda, NY | 5 / 39 (668.4800) | 16 (166.8228) | 15 (163.9772) | 6 (169.7028) | 6 (167.9772) |
| Jul 19, 2014 | Troy Pig Out Troy, NY | 7 / 25 (640.4684) | 3 (169.1544) | 13 (153.7028) | 5 (165.6684) | 16 (151.9428) |
| Jul 4, 2014 | I Love Barbecue & Music Festival Lake Placid, NY | 21 / 27 (599.8172) | 11 (159.3944) | 20 (144.5144) | 11 (153.6800) | 23 (142.2284) |
| Oct 5, 2013 | DO AC Smokin' Hot Atlantic City BBQ Championship Atlantic City, NJ | 75 / 85 (580.4112) | 73 (147.3600) | 29 (158.3200) | 79 (135.4172) | 71 (139.3140) |
| Sep 20, 2013 | Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY | 15 / 71 (647.8284) | 58 (150.8000) | 12 (165.1200) | 27 (161.0856) | 9 (170.8228) |
| Aug 16, 2013 | Hudson Valley Ribfest New Paltz, NY | 13 / 51 (646.1368) | 27 (158.2284) | 3 (170.2628) | 17 (162.8228) | 21 (154.8228) |
| Jul 20, 2013 | Wakefield Rotary Campus CookOff & State BBQ Championships Kingston, RI | 27 / 46 (633.0972) | 36 (153.6572) | 32 (154.8572) | 5 (168.0572) | 25 (156.5256) |