Happy hunting ground
Top 17%
average finish here
Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off is their spot: an average finish in the top 17% across 2 visits.
- 2 visits
- best finish 3rd
- average top 17%
JOE'S COOKSHACK
JOE'S COOKSHACK is a competition barbecue team with 18 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2025. Their best overall finish is 3rd of 69 at the Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off (2018). They are ranked #2070 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “Joe's Cook Shack”.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1536
peak 1567 · rated over 14 contests3 invitational or side-series contests not counted
Contests
18
in the data
First seen
Mar 1, 2013
latest Jan 9, 2025 · 11.9 years on the trail
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
2
3 podiums
Overall top-10s
3
17% of 18 contests
Avg finish
top 44%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
646.29 ▼
last 5 Master vs avg 654.87 (-8.58)
Walk rate
39%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±23.06
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork Ribs
avg 164.45 · weakest Brisket (162.59)
Road miles
5,746
across 18 mapped stops · furthest 948 mi
Schedule strength
34%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1545)
Purse competed for
$7,200
listed at 1 contest — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 3 state-championship entries
Master avg
654.87 / 720
17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #986 (120 pts) | #1051 (120 pts) | #1107 (120 pts) | #1046 (120 pts) | #1021 (120 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #2212 (60 pts) | #2286 (60 pts) | #2304 (60 pts) | #2260 (60 pts) | #1623 (155 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #1676 (120 pts) | #1778 (120 pts) | #1776 (120 pts) | #1790 (120 pts) | #1763 (120 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #1228 (213 pts) | #1425 (178 pts) | #1539 (158 pts) | #1190 (243 pts) | #990 (303 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to JOE'S COOKSHACK, each with one reason worth a look.
78 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#2,069 of the rated field
- Contests
- 14
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 14%
- Peak
- 1543
2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to JOE'S COOKSHACK)
2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team JOE'S COOKSHACK has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-head#2,071 of the rated field
- Contests
- 10
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 20%
- Peak
- 1536
2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to JOE'S COOKSHACK)
Fewer contests behind them than JOE'S COOKSHACK has cooked, 10 to 18, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.
⚔ Head-to-head#2,061 of the rated field
- Contests
- 15
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 20%
- Peak
- 1536
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 15 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careers#2,058 of the rated field
- Contests
- 13
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 54%
- Peak
- 1552
Their last contest in the data was back in 2022, 3 years before JOE'S COOKSHACK's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#2,080 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 9%
- Peak
- 1547
Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.
⚔ Compare careers#2,078 of the rated field
- Contests
- 19
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 5%
- Peak
- 1536
19 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 5% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA PASADITA | 11 | 6 | 5 | 55% | ⚔ compare |
| HONKY-TONK SMOKERS | 10 | 8 | 2 | 80% | ⚔ compare |
| FAT BOYS BBQ - TEMPLE, TX | 10 | 5 | 5 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| BUTCHER BBQ | 10 | 3 | 7 | 30% | ⚔ compare |
| BUFFALO'S BBQ | 9 | 1 | 8 | 11% | ⚔ compare |
| 4 LEGS UP BBQ | 8 | 2 | 6 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| CLARK CREW BBQ | 8 | 2 | 6 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| CAVEMAN CUISINE | 7 | 5 | 2 | 71% | ⚔ compare |
| GETTIN' SAUCED | 7 | 3 | 4 | 43% | ⚔ compare |
| SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 7 | 2 | 5 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| THE SMOKING HILLS | 7 | 2 | 5 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | 7 | 2 | 5 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| GOOD SMOKE BBQ | 6 | 4 | 2 | 67% | ⚔ compare |
| Lucky Dawgs' BBQ | 6 | 3 | 3 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 17 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 177.7028 | 139.3600 | 164.01 | top 51% |
| Pork Ribs | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 172.5600 | 151.4056 | 164.45 | top 48% |
| Pork | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 177.7028 | 146.8228 | 163.81 | top 47% |
| Brisket | 17 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 179.4400 | 145.6688 | 162.59 | top 50% |
“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) | 2 | 0 | top 63% |
| Large (40+) | 15 | 0 | top 42% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off | 2 | 3 | 0 | top 17% | Apr 6, 2018 |
| Cedar Fest BBQ | 2 | 6 | 0 | top 25% | Apr 1, 2016 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2015
4 contests
Contests a season
2
across 9 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
TX
7 of 18 contests · 6 states in all
Contests visited
15
2 of them more than once
Opponents faced
1,674
finished ahead 1,880 times, behind 1,036
Longest layoff
4.1 yrs
Aug 31, 2018 → Sep 29, 2022
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20251 milestone
- Most recent contest 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam
20222 milestones
- Career-best overall score690.2284 American Royal World Series of Barbecue - INVITATIONAL CONTEST
- Peak power rating (1567) American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST
20181 milestone
- First overall podium Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off
20163 milestones
- First category win (Brisket) Cedar Fest BBQ
- Career-best single call (Brisket)179.4400 Cedar Fest BBQ
- 10th tracked contest City of Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival
20134 milestones
- First tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First call Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First overall top-10 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score665.1426 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +14.8 | 34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open | Oct 3, 2013 |
| +13.4 | Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off | Apr 6, 2018 |
| +13.1 | Cedar Fest BBQ | Apr 1, 2016 |
| +9.3 | 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open | Oct 3, 2015 |
| +6.6 | World Barbecue Championship | Nov 8, 2017 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -16.3 | 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show | Jan 4, 2024 |
| -14.3 | 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam | Jan 9, 2025 |
| -7.3 | City of Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival | Sep 3, 2016 |
| -0.4 | Shotgun Fred BBQ Showdown | Feb 26, 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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 95% | 82.5% | 82.5% |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 95% | 86% | 86% |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 36% | 95.9% | 94.2% |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 50% | top 25% | 94.7% | 93.2% |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 42% | 93.4% | 93.4% |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100% | top 40% | 91% | 90% |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25% | top 46% | 93% | 90.9% |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 30% | 89.6% | 89.6% |
| 2013 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33% | top 36% | 93.3% | 92.1% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 9, 2025 | 9th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam 🏅 Elkton, FL | 36 / 38 (594.0684) | 38 (139.3600) | 35 (159.9772) | 38 (146.8228) | 36 (147.9084) |
| Jan 4, 2024 | 8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show 🏅 Elkton, FL | 41 / 43 (619.2908) | 37 (161.6684) | 43 (151.4056) | 41 (150.8340) | 40 (155.3828) |
| Oct 1, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - SIDES Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sep 29, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 255 / 505 (666.7772) | 298 (165.7028) | 234 (167.4288) | 86 (174.2628) | 372 (159.3828) |
| Sep 29, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - INVITATIONAL CONTEST unrated Kansas City, KS | 52 / 249 (690.2284) | 28 (176.5828) | 139 (170.2744) | 25 (177.7028) | 189 (165.6684) |
| Aug 31, 2018 | Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival Bedford, TX | 34 / 74 (661.0740) | 11 (174.3200) | 25 (167.4172) | 51 (161.6684) | 53 (157.6684) |
| Apr 6, 2018 | Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off Cedar Park, TX | 3 / 69 (681.6568) | 1 (177.7028) | 16 (169.7028) | 17 (168.5600) | 19 (165.6912) |
| Nov 8, 2017 | World Barbecue Championship Orange Beach, AL | 39 / 93 (672.4572) | 58 (167.3828) | 75 (162.2400) | 35 (168.5600) | 8 (174.2744) |
| Sep 3, 2016 | City of Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival Bedford, TX | 41 / 58 (640.9940) | 30 (164.5372) | 7 (172.5600) | 47 (155.9312) | 53 (147.9656) |
| Apr 1, 2016 | Cedar Fest BBQ Cedar Park, TX | 6 / 67 (655.3712) | 26 (159.3828) | 18 (163.9884) | 43 (152.5600) | 1 (179.4400) |
| Oct 3, 2015 | 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO | 146 / 606 (669.6572) | 360 (162.2400) | 129 (169.7144) | 245 (165.7028) | 73 (172) |
| Oct 2, 2015 | 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO | 126 / 187 (668.4684) | 157 (163.4056) | 77 (169.6684) | 143 (164.5372) | 71 (170.8572) |
| Apr 10, 2015 | Cedar Fest BBQ Cedar Park, TX | 22 / 53 (634.6972) | 31 (158.8228) | 14 (166.2512) | 10 (163.9544) | 42 (145.6688) |
| Feb 26, 2015 | Shotgun Fred BBQ Showdown Huntsville, TX | 32 / 61 (644.4800) | 41 (158.2744) | 29 (163.9772) | 36 (161.1084) | 29 (161.1200) |
| Apr 4, 2014 | Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off (Teams Full) Cedar Park, TX | 15 / 50 (645.0856) | 8 (165.1428) | 37 (152.5600) | 16 (163.4172) | 18 (163.9656) |
| Oct 3, 2013 | 34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO | 119 / 174 (651.3484) | 152 (159.4056) | 61 (167.3828) | 83 (165.1544) | 123 (159.4056) |
| Oct 3, 2013 | 34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO | 34 / 535 (671.9660) | 58 (170.8572) | 171 (164.0344) | 42 (171.9772) | 133 (165.0972) |
| Mar 1, 2013 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Baton Rouge, LA | 9 / 28 (665.1426) | 15 (163.4286) | 19 (157.1428) | 6 (171.9998) | 3 (172.5714) |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.