PARADISE BBQ

At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)

Power ranking

#6061

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1428

peak 1428 · rated over 17 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-06-07

latest 2021-09-10

Best ToY finish

#1054

Master 2017

Grand champs

1 reserve

Category wins

1 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 21 contests

Avg finish

top 72%

overall standings

Best overall

677.7944

Competitor Series · Kentucky's Fort Harrod Beef Festival Grill-Off (COMPETITORS SERIES)

Perfect 180s

Current form

635.61 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 639.89 (-4.28)

Walk rate

43%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176.5944

Chicken · Bands & BBQ at the Point

Consistency

±15.63

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 161.69 · weakest Brisket (158.01)

Road miles

2,013

mi across 21 mapped stops · furthest 240 mi

Schedule strength

46%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1560)

Purse competed for

$31K

listed at 4 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

GCs in 3 state-championship entries

Master avg

639.89 / 720

17 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (8 found in this team's record)

Each card leads with the number that made it a story — read straight out of their results, no editorialising.

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

ACME BBQ has finished one call ahead of PARADISE BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

13–0 behind in the head-to-head

BLUE CHIP BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

BLUE CHIP BBQ has come out ahead in 13 of their 13 shared contests.

A strong matchup

4–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 80% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of Smokin' Gone Wild in 4 of their 5 shared contests.

The comeback

1.9 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 1.9 years, then back at Bands & BBQ at the Point (2021-09-10).

last seen 2019-10-04
back 2021-09-10

Pork Ribs nemesis

10 of 13 shared pork ribs entries lost

BLUE CHIP BBQ ahead 77% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, BLUE CHIP BBQ has out-cooked them in 10 of 13 shared pork ribs entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

Making Meat BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

The metronome

±2.17% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.17% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 88.9% of a perfect score
21 contests

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked Bands & BBQ at the Point every year from 2016 to 2019 — the contest they never miss.

7 visits in all
best finish 12th

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The nearest teams in the power rankings, with a different reason on each card — six teams on one rating are rarely on it for the same reason. Rating decides who makes the list; where teams tie on it, the ones this team has actually cooked against come first, then teams at a similar point in their own career. KCBS doesn’t publish where a team is from, so nothing here is inferred from geography.

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

The Smokin' Irish

#6057 of the rated field

1429 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 8
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1429

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

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

rated over 8 contests
last seen 2023-08-18

⚔ Head-to-head

HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS

#6066 of the rated field

1428 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 153
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 5%
Peak: 1428

0–2 in 2 shared contests (0% to PARADISE BBQ)

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 153 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 153 contests
last seen 2026-08-07

⚔ Head-to-head

Still Smokin

#6059 of the rated field

1429 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1429

No shared contest yet.

Careers of much the same size, 22 contests to 21, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 22 contests
last seen 2024-08-23

⚔ Head-to-head

Second Hand Smokers

#6067 of the rated field

1428 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1428

No shared contest yet.

12 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 12 contests
last seen 2026-05-01

⚔ Head-to-head

Cousins Q

#6054 of the rated field

1429 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1429

No shared contest yet.

They turned up 9 years after PARADISE BBQ did, first appearing in 2022.

rated over 12 contests
last seen 2026-02-20

⚔ Head-to-head

Poultrygeist BBQ

#6065 of the rated field

1428 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1428

No shared contest yet.

Level with PARADISE BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 11 contests
last seen 2026-06-13

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
BLUE CHIP BBQ	13	0	13	0%	⚔ compare
Extra Mile BBQ	11	2	9	18%	⚔ compare
ELKHAWG SMOKERS	10	4	6	40%	⚔ compare
WeQ4U	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
MEAT MISTERS	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
PATRIOTIC RADIO NETWORK BBQ TEAM	7	4	3	57%	⚔ compare
ACME BBQ	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
Making Meat BBQ	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
HOGTOWN BARBECUE	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
HISTORIC BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
SMOKE ON THIS	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
DIVINE SWINE	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare
BULLHEADED BBQ	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare
SMOKE-N-PEPPERS	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	17	3	0	176.5944	145.6572	160.07	top 73%
Pork Ribs	17	3	0	170.2860	153.6800	161.69	top 68%
Pork	17	1	1	170.2858	138.8570	160.48	top 69%
Brisket	21	6	0	163.4284	147.9656	158.01	top 69%

“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 state / province

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
KY	17	0	top 71%
GA	1	0	top 97%

By contest size

Field	Contests	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	2	top 43%
Medium (20–39)	15	top 75%
Large (40+)	1	top 81%

Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Bands & BBQ at the Point	7	12	0	top 71%	2021-09-10
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2	9	0	top 56%	2014-06-20

The story so far (17 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 8.3 yrs 2013-06-07 → 2021-09-10

Busiest season 2017 5 contests

Contests a season 2.6 across 8 seasons in the data

Cooks most in KY 20 of 21 contests · 2 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 11 2 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Brisket 21 entries · 0 wins · 6 calls

Strongest meat Pork Ribs averages 161.69 · weakest Brisket (158.01)

Walk rate 43% a top-10 call in 9 of 21 contests

Overall top-10 rate 14% 3 of 21 contests

Master average 639.89 out of 720 · 17 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 297 136–410 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 2,013 21 mapped stops · furthest 240 mi

Schedule strength 1560 average field rating faced — tougher than 46% of rated contests

Purse competed for $31,000 listed at 4 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships 0 from 3 state-championship entries

Longest layoff 1.9 yrs 2019-10-04 → 2021-09-10

Power rating 1428 peak 1428 · #6061 of 6,413 rated

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

2013
Jun 7 First tracked contest Bourbon City BBQ Festival Cookoff
Jun 14 First call Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Jun 14 First overall top-10 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Jun 14 Peak power rating (1496) Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
2014
Sep 5 First overall past 90% of a perfect score658.2060 Bands & BBQ at the Point
2016
Sep 16 10th tracked contest Bands & BBQ at the Point
Sep 16 Career-best single call (Chicken)176.5944 Bands & BBQ at the Point
2019
Oct 4 First overall podium Kentucky's Fort Harrod Beef Festival Grill-Off (COMPETITORS SERIES)
Oct 4 First Reserve Championship Kentucky's Fort Harrod Beef Festival Grill-Off (COMPETITORS SERIES)
Oct 4 Career-best overall score677.7944 Kentucky's Fort Harrod Beef Festival Grill-Off (COMPETITORS SERIES)
2021
Sep 10 Most recent contest Bands & BBQ at the Point

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+9.3	Bands & BBQ at the Point	2016-09-16
+6.7	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2013-06-14
+1.7	Bands & BBQ at the Point	2014-09-05

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12.1	Bands & BBQ at the Point	2013-09-06
-11	Bourbon City BBQ Festival Cookoff	2013-06-07
-9.7	Fire on the Mountain	2019-07-26
-9.6	Calhoun KOA's	2014-12-05
-7.8	Grills Gone Wild BBQ Festival	2014-03-28

Category scores over time

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Team of the Year rank by season

Season by season

Season	Contests	Top-10s	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2021	1	0	0%	top 82%	86.6%	86.6%
2019	3	1	33%	top 66%	87.8%	87.6%
2018	2	0	50%	top 70%	90.1%	90.1%
2017	5	1	40%	top 74%	90%	89.6%
2016	2	0	100%	top 39%	93.6%	93.6%
2015	1	0	100%	top 85%	90.2%	90.2%
2014	4	0	25%	top 78%	91.4%	89.4%
2013	3	1	33%	top 70%	89.4%	86.3%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2021-09-10	Bands & BBQ at the Point 🏅 Carrollton, KY	23 / 28 (623.2800)	24 (157.7028)	25 (153.6800)	22 (155.9656)	24 (155.9316)
2019-10-04	Kentucky's Fort Harrod Beef Festival Grill-Off (COMPETITORS SERIES) unrated Harrodsburg, KY	2 / 12 (677.7944)	—	—	—	9 (161.7372)
2019-09-13	Bands & BBQ at the Point 🏅 Carrollton, KY	23 / 28 (632.3660)	26 (155.9200)	25 (157.1088)	23 (158.2400)	21 (161.0972)
2019-07-26	Fire on the Mountain 🏅 Leburn, KY	25 / 25 (629.5772)	23 (162.2400)	19 (161.7144)	25 (152.5372)	23 (153.0856)
2018-09-14	Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY	19 / 27 (648.9484)	19 (163.9772)	23 (161.6572)	20 (162.2284)	20 (161.0856)
2018-06-08	*Kentucky's Fort Harrod Beef Festival Grill-Off (COMPETITOR'S SERIES) Harrodsburg, KY	—	—	—	—	8 (155.3484)
2017-10-20	*Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-off Munfordville, KY	28 / 36 (643.8744)	22 (165.6800)	22 (163.4172)	33 (157.0972)	29 (157.6800)
2017-09-15	Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY	25 / 33 (642.7540)	19 (166.8228)	29 (154.8112)	14 (166.8572)	27 (154.2628)
2017-07-28	*Fire on the Mountain Leburn, KY	9 / 13 (645.6800)	5 (168.0000)	7 (165.1660)	11 (157.6912)	9 (154.8228)
2017-06-16	Barbourville BBQ Cookoff & Festival Barbourville, KY	23 / 31 (647.8624)	23 (162.7884)	21 (162.8344)	26 (159.9656)	20 (162.2740)
2017-06-09	*Kentucky's Fort Harrod Beef Festival Grill-Off (COMPETITOR'S SERIES) Harrodsburg, KY	—	—	—	—	6 (163.4284)
2016-09-16	Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY	12 / 31 (674.2172)	6 (176.5944)	18 (166.2628)	15 (169.6916)	19 (161.6684)
2016-06-10	KY Fort Harrod Beef Festival Grill-off(COMPETITOR'S SERIES) Harrodsburg, KY	—	—	—	—	5 (157.6800)
2015-06-05	Bourbon City BBQ Festival Bardstown, KY	29 / 34 (649.6688)	10 (170.8572)	25 (162.2400)	32 (156.0000)	27 (160.5716)
2014-12-05	Calhoun KOA's Calhoun, GA	37 / 38 (646.6740)	38 (151.3484)	33 (164.5372)	20 (169.6684)	32 (161.1200)
2014-09-05	Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY	20 / 36 (658.2060)	25 (164.5372)	8 (170.2860)	12 (169.7028)	28 (153.6800)
2014-06-20	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Lexington, KY	22 / 28 (638.7540)	25 (158.8456)	24 (157.7028)	20 (161.7028)	17 (160.5028)
2014-03-28	Grills Gone Wild BBQ Festival London, KY	34 / 42 (631.2688)	39 (147.3944)	14 (167.4172)	28 (161.6916)	31 (154.7656)
2013-09-06	Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY	31 / 34 (614.6856)	34 (145.6572)	23 (161.1200)	23 (159.9428)	29 (147.9656)
2013-06-14	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Lexington, KY	9 / 27 (643.9994)	23 (150.8568)	9 (163.4282)	3 (170.2858)	9 (159.4286)
2013-06-07	Bourbon City BBQ Festival Cookoff Bardstown, KY	26 / 30 (606.2854)	24 (152.0000)	23 (155.4284)	29 (138.8570)	19 (160.0000)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)

Team of the Year standings (rank per category by season — year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Year	Series	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2021 ↗	Master	#1224 (63 pts)	#1514 (58 pts)	#1600 (53 pts)	#1239 (68 pts)	#1498 (58 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#1645 (113 pts)	#1722 (113 pts)	#1508 (133 pts)	#1715 (113 pts)	#1477 (133 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1840 (82 pts)	#1892 (82 pts)	#1992 (62 pts)	#1943 (77 pts)	#1906 (77 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1054 (307 pts)	#973 (392 pts)	#1028 (352 pts)	#1061 (337 pts)	#1062 (322 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1768 (121 pts)	#1630 (171 pts)	#2189 (91 pts)	#2088 (106 pts)	#2195 (86 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#2713 (59 pts)	#1707 (134 pts)	#2716 (59 pts)	#2733 (59 pts)	#2741 (59 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1286 (221 pts)	#1527 (181 pts)	#1013 (336 pts)	#1191 (271 pts)	#1344 (221 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#1107 (251 pts)	#1410 (181 pts)	#1115 (271 pts)	#914 (351 pts)	#1052 (281 pts)