PARADISE BBQ

PARADISE BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 21 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2021. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 12 at the Kentucky's Fort Harrod Beef Festival Grill-Off (COMPETITORS SERIES) (2019), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #6115 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#6,115

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1429

peak 1429 · rated over 17 contests1 invitational or side-series contest not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Jun 7, 2013

latest Sep 10, 2021 · 8.3 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#1054

Master 2017 · every season

Grand champs

1 reserve

Category wins

1 podium

Overall top-10s

14% of 21 contests

Avg finish

top 72%

overall standings

Best overall

677.7944 / 720

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

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 161.69 · weakest Brisket (158.01)

Road miles

2,013

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 🏅

won from 3 state-championship entries

Master avg

639.89 / 720

17 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (9 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

677.7944 career-best overall

94.1% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 677.7944 at Kentucky's Fort Harrod Beef Festival Grill-Off (COMPETITORS SERIES) — 94.1% of a perfect 720.

Competitor Series
Oct 4, 2019

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 (Sep 10, 2021).

last seen Oct 4, 2019
back Sep 10, 2021

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.

Show 2 more storylines

The metronome

±2.43% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.43% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 89.2% 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

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
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)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

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

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

Kickin' Ash BBQ

#6,104 of the rated field

1429 power rating

Contests: 9
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 9 contests
last seen Jul 27, 2024

⚔ Head-to-head

The Smokin' Irish

#6,112 of the rated field

1429 power rating

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

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

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 8 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 8 contests
last seen Aug 18, 2023

⚔ Head-to-head

BBEEQ

#6,111 of the rated field

1429 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1429

Their last contest in the data was back in 2017, 4 years before PARADISE BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 14 contests

⚔ Compare careers

Still Smokin

#6,113 of the rated field

1429 power rating

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

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 Aug 23, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

SMOKE & FIRE BBQ

#6,121 of the rated field

1428 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1428

13 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 13 contests
last seen Aug 18, 2017

⚔ Compare careers

Cousins Q

#6,109 of the rated field

1429 power rating

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

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

rated over 12 contests
last seen Feb 20, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

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 field size and state

By contest size

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

By state / province (where the contests were held)

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

Repeat visits (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%	Sep 10, 2021
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2	9	0	top 56%	Jun 20, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2017 5 contests

Contests a season 2.6 across 8 seasons in the data

Most contests held in KY 20 of 21 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 11 2 of them more than once

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

Opponents faced 296 finished ahead 136 times, behind 410

Longest layoff 1.9 yrs Oct 4, 2019 → Sep 10, 2021

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

20211 milestone

Sep 10 Most recent contest Bands & BBQ at the Point

20193 milestones

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)

20162 milestones

Sep 16 10th tracked contest Bands & BBQ at the Point
Sep 16 Career-best single call (Chicken)176.5944 Bands & BBQ at the Point

20141 milestone

Sep 5 First overall past 90% of a perfect score658.2060 Bands & BBQ at the Point

20134 milestones

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

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+9.3	Bands & BBQ at the Point	Sep 16, 2016
+6.7	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Jun 14, 2013
+1.7	Bands & BBQ at the Point	Sep 5, 2014

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12.1	Bands & BBQ at the Point	Sep 6, 2013
-11	Bourbon City BBQ Festival Cookoff	Jun 7, 2013
-9.7	Fire on the Mountain	Jul 26, 2019
-9.6	Calhoun KOA's	Dec 5, 2014
-7.8	Grills Gone Wild BBQ Festival	Mar 28, 2014

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)
2021	1	0	0%	top 82%	86.6%	86.6%
2019	3	1	33%	top 66%	94.1%	89.8%
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
Sep 10, 2021	Bands & BBQ at the Point 🏅 Carrollton, KY	23 / 28 (623.2800)	24 (157.7028)	25 (153.6800)	22 (155.9656)	24 (155.9316)
Oct 4, 2019	Kentucky's Fort Harrod Beef Festival Grill-Off (COMPETITORS SERIES) unrated Harrodsburg, KY	2 / 12 (677.7944)	—	—	—	9 (161.7372)
Sep 13, 2019	Bands & BBQ at the Point 🏅 Carrollton, KY	23 / 28 (632.3660)	26 (155.9200)	25 (157.1088)	23 (158.2400)	21 (161.0972)
Jul 26, 2019	Fire on the Mountain 🏅 Leburn, KY	25 / 25 (629.5772)	23 (162.2400)	19 (161.7144)	25 (152.5372)	23 (153.0856)
Sep 14, 2018	Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY	19 / 27 (648.9484)	19 (163.9772)	23 (161.6572)	20 (162.2284)	20 (161.0856)
Jun 8, 2018	Kentucky's Fort Harrod Beef Festival Grill-Off (COMPETITOR'S SERIES) Harrodsburg, KY	—	—	—	—	8 (155.3484)
Oct 20, 2017	Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-off Munfordville, KY	28 / 36 (643.8744)	22 (165.6800)	22 (163.4172)	33 (157.0972)	29 (157.6800)
Sep 15, 2017	Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY	25 / 33 (642.7540)	19 (166.8228)	29 (154.8112)	14 (166.8572)	27 (154.2628)
Jul 28, 2017	Fire on the Mountain Leburn, KY	9 / 13 (645.6800)	5 (168)	7 (165.1660)	11 (157.6912)	9 (154.8228)
Jun 16, 2017	Barbourville BBQ Cookoff & Festival Barbourville, KY	23 / 31 (647.8624)	23 (162.7884)	21 (162.8344)	26 (159.9656)	20 (162.2740)
Jun 9, 2017	Kentucky's Fort Harrod Beef Festival Grill-Off (COMPETITOR'S SERIES) Harrodsburg, KY	—	—	—	—	6 (163.4284)
Sep 16, 2016	Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY	12 / 31 (674.2172)	6 (176.5944)	18 (166.2628)	15 (169.6916)	19 (161.6684)
Jun 10, 2016	KY Fort Harrod Beef Festival Grill-off (COMPETITOR'S SERIES) Harrodsburg, KY	—	—	—	—	5 (157.6800)
Jun 5, 2015	Bourbon City BBQ Festival Bardstown, KY	29 / 34 (649.6688)	10 (170.8572)	25 (162.2400)	32 (156)	27 (160.5716)
Dec 5, 2014	Calhoun KOA's Calhoun, GA	37 / 38 (646.6740)	38 (151.3484)	33 (164.5372)	20 (169.6684)	32 (161.1200)
Sep 5, 2014	Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY	20 / 36 (658.2060)	25 (164.5372)	8 (170.2860)	12 (169.7028)	28 (153.6800)
Jun 20, 2014	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Lexington, KY	22 / 28 (638.7540)	25 (158.8456)	24 (157.7028)	20 (161.7028)	17 (160.5028)
Mar 28, 2014	Grills Gone Wild BBQ Festival London, KY	34 / 42 (631.2688)	39 (147.3944)	14 (167.4172)	28 (161.6916)	31 (154.7656)
Sep 6, 2013	Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY	31 / 34 (614.6856)	34 (145.6572)	23 (161.1200)	23 (159.9428)	29 (147.9656)
Jun 14, 2013	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Lexington, KY	9 / 27 (643.9994)	23 (150.8568)	9 (163.4282)	3 (170.2858)	9 (159.4286)
Jun 7, 2013	Bourbon City BBQ Festival Cookoff Bardstown, KY	26 / 30 (606.2854)	24 (152)	23 (155.4284)	29 (138.8570)	19 (160)

An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.

PARADISE BBQ

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

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (9 found in their record)

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

A strong matchup

The comeback

Pork Ribs nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

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)