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Z SMOKE

Z SMOKE is a competition barbecue team with 53 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2021. Their best overall finish is 7th of 28 at the Smoke On the Ohio (2019). They are ranked #5957 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “Z-Smoke”.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#5,957
of 6,477 rated · rankings

Rating

1436
peak 1507 · rated over 53 contests

Contests

53
in the data

First seen

Apr 5, 2013
latest Oct 22, 2021 · 8.5 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#450
Master 2017 · every season

Grand champs

0
0 reserve

Category wins

1
5 podiums

Overall top-10s

3
6% of 53 contests

Avg finish

top 66%
overall standings

Best overall

673.6800 / 720

Perfect 180s

0

Current form

639.86 ▼
last 5 Master vs avg 642.54 (-2.68)

Walk rate

40%
contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

175.4400

Consistency

±24.56
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken
avg 164.39 · weakest Brisket (157.81)

Road miles

10,626
across 53 mapped stops · furthest 711 mi

Schedule strength

53%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1569)

Purse competed for

$65K
listed at 9 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅
won from 8 state-championship entries

Master avg

642.54 / 720
53 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

673.6800 career-best overall

93.6% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 673.6800 at Smokin For Garrett — 93.6% of a perfect 720.

  • Master
  • Jun 2, 2017

The one to beat

3× one call ahead of them

HOBBIE BAR-B-Q has finished one call ahead of Z SMOKE 3 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2013 their best year

2013 was the year it came together: 6 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 1 category win, at an average finish in the top 50%.

  • 6 contests
  • 0 overall top-10s
  • 1 category win
  • average top 50%

A tough matchup

24–0 behind in the head-to-head

WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS ahead in 100% of their meetings

WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS has come out ahead in 24 of their 24 shared contests.

The weak link

−6.6 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 6.58 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 4% of the time against 21%.

  • Brisket avg 157.81
  • Chicken avg 164.39
  • 2 calls in 53 entries

A strong matchup

9–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of Up in Smoke in 9 of their 9 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

19 of 24 shared chicken entries lost

WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS ahead 79% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS has out-cooked them in 19 of 24 shared chicken entries.

Show 3 more storylines

Looking over their shoulder

3× one call behind them

HOBBIE BAR-B-Q has landed one call behind them 3 times.

An April team

Top 56% average finish in April

Something about April: average finish in the top 56% across 9 contests, versus top 66% the rest of the year.

  • 9 April contests
  • top 66% the rest of the year

The long haul

10,626 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 10,626 miles across 53 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 711 miles to Don't Be Cruel BBQ Duel.

  • 53 mapped stops
  • furthest 711 mi

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

YearSeriesOverallChickenRibsPorkBrisket
2018 ↗ Master #1954 (60 pts) #2012 (60 pts) #1996 (60 pts) #2030 (60 pts) #1990 (60 pts)
2017 ↗ Master #450 (847 pts) #327 (1,112 pts) #414 (937 pts) #559 (707 pts) #455 (877 pts)
2016 ↗ Master #712 (530 pts) #591 (685 pts) #685 (590 pts) #746 (530 pts) #719 (555 pts)
2015 ↗ Master #785 (441 pts) #594 (656 pts) #664 (586 pts) #646 (586 pts) #776 (471 pts)
2014 ↗ Master #700 (512 pts) #651 (582 pts) #720 (522 pts) #594 (657 pts) #649 (572 pts)
2013 ↗ Master #1321 (185 pts) #1412 (180 pts) #1482 (170 pts) #811 (405 pts) #1663 (135 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Z SMOKE, each with one reason worth a look.

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

BIG JOHN'S TEXAS BAR-B-QUE
#5,951 of the rated field
1437 power rating
Contests
27
GCs
0
Top-10s
4%
Peak
1437
1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to Z SMOKE)

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

  • rated over 27 contests
  • last seen Jan 24, 2020
⚔ Head-to-head
50 Shades of Pork
#5,949 of the rated field
1437 power rating
Contests
42
GCs
0
Top-10s
2%
Peak
1437

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 42 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

  • rated over 42 contests
  • last seen Jun 27, 2025
⚔ Compare careers
Double D's BBQ
#5,961 of the rated field
1436 power rating
Contests
16
GCs
0
Top-10s
13%
Peak
1436

Fewer contests behind them than Z SMOKE has cooked, 16 to 53, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

  • rated over 15 contests
  • last seen Oct 11, 2024
⚔ Compare careers
Chubby Cheeks BBQ
#5,952 of the rated field
1437 power rating
Contests
12
GCs
0
Top-10s
0%
Peak
1437

12 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

  • rated over 12 contests
  • last seen Aug 14, 2026
⚔ Compare careers
Big JT and the pork pistols
#5,959 of the rated field
1436 power rating
Contests
9
GCs
0
Top-10s
0%
Peak
1436

They turned up 5 years after Z SMOKE did, first appearing in 2018.

  • rated over 9 contests
  • last seen Sep 5, 2025
⚔ Compare careers
ROOT'N TOOT'N BBQ
#5,958 of the rated field
1436 power rating
Contests
9
GCs
0
Top-10s
0%
Peak
1436

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

  • rated over 9 contests
  • last seen Dec 27, 2019
⚔ Compare careers

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

OpponentMeetingsAheadBehindWin rate
HOBBIE BAR-B-Q 27 10 17 37% ⚔ compare
SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS 24 2 22 8% ⚔ compare
WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS 24 0 24 0% ⚔ compare
BLUE CHIP BBQ 22 1 21 5% ⚔ compare
SON SEEKERS BBQ 22 1 21 5% ⚔ compare
Kentucky Kookers 20 7 13 35% ⚔ compare
EAT MOR BUTT BBQ 18 0 18 0% ⚔ compare
OWENSBORO PORK PULLERS 17 9 8 53% ⚔ compare
WeQ4U 17 1 16 6% ⚔ compare
Extra Mile BBQ 16 3 13 19% ⚔ compare
RURAL ROUTE BBQ 16 2 14 13% ⚔ compare
Hickory Pit Stop 15 5 10 33% ⚔ compare
THUNDER HOG BBQ 15 1 14 7% ⚔ compare
TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI 15 1 14 7% ⚔ compare
Pappy Q 14 2 12 14% ⚔ compare

By meat

CategoryEntriesCallsWinsPodiumsBestWorstAverageAvg finish
Chicken 53 11 0 3 174.8456 147.4282 164.39 top 55%
Pork Ribs 53 8 0 0 172.6060 146.8000 160.96 top 62%
Pork 53 6 1 2 175.4400 20 159.38 top 62%
Brisket 53 2 0 0 172.5828 135.3828 157.81 top 67%

“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

FieldContestsGCsAvg finish
Small (<20 teams)10top 58%
Medium (20–39)310top 68%
Large (40+)210top 63%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

WhereContestsGCsAvg finish
WI140top 75%
IN130top 68%
KY130top 65%
TN50top 68%
IL50top 43%
AL20top 46%
MS10top 61%

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

ContestVisitsBestGCsAvg finishLast visit
Smokin' For Garrett 3 21 0 top 85% Oct 22, 2021
Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-off 3 17 0 top 51% Oct 20, 2017
Smoke On the Ohio 2 7 0 top 63% Sep 13, 2019
8th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) 2 26 0 top 90% Aug 24, 2019
Grilling & Chillin BBQ 2 22 0 top 60% Sep 21, 2018
7th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) 2 20 0 top 79% Aug 24, 2018
Smokin For Garrett 2 13 0 top 58% Jun 2, 2017
The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ 2 25 0 top 46% May 5, 2017
Wabash Ribberfest BBQ Championship (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL) 2 7 0 top 29% Apr 28, 2017
Grillin N Chillin BBQ 2 28 0 top 71% Sep 25, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2017 11 contests
Contests a season 5.9 across 9 seasons in the data
Most contests held in WI 14 of 53 contests · 7 states in all
Contests visited 41 10 of them more than once
Opponents faced 959 finished ahead 770 times, behind 1,440
Longest layoff 1.1 yrs Sep 20, 2019 → Oct 23, 2020

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

20211 milestone
  1. Most recent contest Smokin' For Garrett
20191 milestone
  1. 50th tracked contest Smoke On the Ohio
20171 milestone
  1. Career-best overall score673.6800 Smokin For Garrett
20162 milestones
  1. First overall top-10 Wabash Ribberfest BBQ Championship
  2. 25th tracked contest 6th Annual Smokin' In the Bogs
20141 milestone
  1. 10th tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
20136 milestones
  1. First tracked contest 1st Annual Parkinson's Smoke Out
  2. First call 1st Annual Parkinson's Smoke Out
  3. First overall past 90% of a perfect score665.7142 Queen City Cook-Off
  4. First category win (Pork) Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off
  5. Career-best single call (Pork)175.4400 Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off
  6. Peak power rating (1507) Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

SwingContestDate
+13.3Wabash Ribberfest BBQ Championship (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL)Apr 28, 2017
+12.4Smoke On the OhioSep 13, 2019
+9.4Wabash Ribberfest BBQ ChampionshipApr 22, 2016
+8.8Smoke on the ShoresMar 10, 2017
+7.4The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQMay 6, 2016

📉 Toughest weekends

SwingContestDate
-13.7Sam's Club National BBQ TourMay 23, 2014
-13.4Smoke On The Ohio (JUDGES FULL)Sep 8, 2017
-9.92nd Annual Parkinson's Smoke OutApr 3, 2014
-9.8Smokin' On The RiverJun 13, 2014
-9.3Smokin For GarrettOct 23, 2020

Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — 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

SeasonContestsGCsTop-10sCategory winsWalk rateAvg finishBest overall (% of perfect)Avg overall (% of perfect)
20211000 100% top 85% 87.2% 87.2%
20201000 0% top 90% 84.6% 84.6%
20197010 57% top 69% 93.5% 89.2%
20186000 50% top 81% 90.9% 88.1%
201711010 36% top 58% 93.6% 89.6%
20167010 29% top 62% 92.8% 90.2%
20157000 29% top 67% 91.7% 89.4%
20147000 14% top 70% 90.7% 88.6%
20136001 67% top 50% 92.5% 90.2%

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

DateEventOverallChickenRibsPorkBrisket
Oct 22, 2021 Smokin' For Garrett 🏅 Boonville, IN 23 / 27 (627.7940) 23 (160.5372) 4 (172.5600) 23 (153.6456) 26 (141.0512)
Oct 23, 2020 Smokin For Garrett Boonville, IN 37 / 41 (608.9828) 35 (157.6688) 34 (156.5372) 33 (159.3940) 40 (135.3828)
Sep 20, 2019 Grillin & Chillin BBQ 🏅 Owensboro, KY 20 / 34 (658.1716) 7 (173.1200) 26 (158.8688) 12 (169.6800) 25 (156.5028)
Sep 13, 2019 Smoke On the Ohio 🏅 Mt.Vernon, IN 7 / 28 (673.0624) 2 (174.8456) 7 (167.4056) 8 (169.1200) 13 (161.6912)
Aug 30, 2019 Smokin in the Bogs 🏅 Warrens, WI 31 / 38 (631.2684) 32 (155.4172) 26 (159.3484) 30 (161.6800) 30 (154.8228)
Aug 24, 2019 8th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) 🏅 Washington Island, WI 26 / 29 (627.9088) 18 (166.8572) 27 (150.2516) 9 (169.7028) 29 (141.0972)
Aug 23, 2019 8th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 1) 🏅 Washington Island, WI 27 / 30 (618.7196) 26 (156.5028) 24 (159.4056) 29 (146.2512) 26 (156.5600)
Aug 16, 2019 Evansville BBQ 🏅 Evansville, IN 11 / 19 (646.2516) 7 (165.1316) 5 (168.5716) 12 (161.7372) 15 (150.8112)
Apr 26, 2019 Smokin For Garrett 🏅 Boonville, IN 21 / 26 (639.9200) 25 (157.1316) 22 (158.2056) 16 (165.7144) 18 (158.8684)
Sep 21, 2018 Grilling & Chillin BBQ Owensboro, KY 25 / 37 (638.2172) 27 (159.3828) 35 (149.1088) 2 (171.9884) 26 (157.7372)
Aug 24, 2018 7th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) Washington Island, WI 22 / 27 (636.4688) 6 (172.5600) 26 (149.0744) 18 (159.9772) 22 (154.8572)
Aug 23, 2018 7th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 1) Washington Island, WI 20 / 26 (649.6228) 9 (169.1200) 18 (163.4172) 23 (158.8112) 22 (158.2744)
Jul 14, 2018 Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2 Green Bay, WI 44 / 49 (629.1088) 43 (157.7144) 37 (160.5600) 42 (159.4172) 47 (151.4172)
Jul 13, 2018 Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1 Green Bay, WI 52 / 54 (598.2400) 49 (151.3716) 51 (147.4400) 49 (153.7144) 52 (145.7140)
Mar 9, 2018 Smoke on the Shores Nashville, TN 66 / 87 (654.1828) 64 (163.4172) 57 (162.2628) 33 (170.8228) 70 (157.6800)
Nov 10, 2017 Brew B Q Nashville, TN 18 / 26 (667.2912) 21 (168.5600) 16 (167.3944) 21 (162.2284) 13 (169.1084)
Oct 20, 2017 Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-off Munfordville, KY 17 / 36 (670.7428) 7 (174.2628) 19 (165.0972) 22 (167.3828) 17 (164)
Sep 22, 2017 Grilling & Chillin BBQ Owensboro, KY 22 / 42 (652.5260) 15 (168) 33 (154.8344) 28 (162.2400) 17 (167.4516)
Sep 8, 2017 Smoke On The Ohio (JUDGES FULL) Mt.Vernon, IN 29 / 29 (511.8740) 19 (162.2284) 18 (163.9656) 29 (20) 14 (165.6800)
Sep 1, 2017 7th Annual Smokin' In The Bogs Warrens, WI 15 / 29 (648.4916) 22 (162.7884) 6 (168.5716) 17 (160.5256) 20 (156.6060)
Jun 30, 2017 Grillin' in Grafton Graffton, WI 21 / 27 (615.9088) 11 (163.9772) 12 (157.1200) 25 (143.3944) 21 (151.4172)
Jun 2, 2017 Smokin For Garrett Boonville, IN 13 / 31 (673.6800) 8 (172.5828) 5 (170.2744) 11 (169.7256) 21 (161.0972)
May 5, 2017 The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ Huntsville, AL 38 / 69 (659.8740) 25 (168.5600) 35 (166.2284) 59 (158.7884) 33 (166.2972)
Apr 28, 2017 Wabash Ribberfest BBQ Championship (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL) Mt.Carmel, IL 7 / 29 (672.4800) 5 (171.9772) 11 (168.5372) 18 (163.3828) 10 (168.5828)
Apr 7, 2017 First Annual Operation Stand Down KY BBQ Smoke Off (TEAMS FULL) Bowling Green, KY 32 / 40 (654.1716) 28 (163.3944) 32 (165.6800) 32 (162.8344) 29 (162.2628)
Mar 10, 2017 Smoke on the Shores Nashville, TN 24 / 62 (672.5032) 15 (173.1660) 35 (166.2400) 26 (167.9772) 36 (165.1200)
Oct 14, 2016 Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cookoff Munfordville, KY 29 / 34 (657.6232) 25 (167.3944) 22 (164.5488) 28 (164) 30 (161.6800)
Sep 23, 2016 Grillin and Chillin Owensboro, KY 29 / 39 (646.2060) 35 (157.7144) 25 (162.8344) 29 (163.3944) 20 (162.2628)
Sep 2, 2016 6th Annual Smokin' In the Bogs Warrens, WI 17 / 32 (646.2516) 21 (160.5716) 8 (168.5600) 9 (166.8456) 24 (150.2744)
May 20, 2016 Smokin' for Garrett Boonville, IN 26 / 35 (643.9088) 20 (165.1316) 27 (155.3716) 20 (166.8456) 27 (156.5600)
May 13, 2016 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Bowling Green, KY 23 / 29 (643.9656) 13 (169.7372) 18 (165.7028) 27 (154.2628) 24 (154.2628)
May 6, 2016 The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ Huntsville, AL 25 / 67 (668.4228) 38 (166.2400) 27 (165.6916) 30 (166.8228) 15 (169.6684)
Apr 22, 2016 Wabash Ribberfest BBQ Championship Mt. Carmel, IL 10 / 30 (641.0632) 3 (170.3088) 17 (158.2400) 22 (153.1088) 12 (159.4056)
Oct 16, 2015 Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off Munfordville, KY 22 / 34 (659.9088) 16 (169.1200) 11 (167.9888) 15 (168.5600) 29 (154.2400)
Sep 25, 2015 Grillin N Chillin BBQ Owensboro, KY 29 / 38 (635.1540) 6 (173.1200) 37 (150.1828) 38 (145.0284) 16 (166.8228)
Sep 4, 2015 5th Annual Smokin In the Bogs Warrens, WI 22 / 27 (635.3372) 22 (159.3828) 20 (158.8116) 13 (165.7144) 22 (151.4284)
Jul 10, 2015 Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay Green Bay, WI 53 / 80 (634.3084) 22 (168.5712) 59 (155.4400) 44 (160.5600) 57 (149.7372)
Jun 12, 2015 Smokin' On The River Jeffersonville, IN 36 / 59 (650.6628) 49 (155.9084) 10 (172.6060) 21 (169.6684) 51 (152.4800)
Apr 24, 2015 Wabash Ribber Fest Mt. Carmel, IL 27 / 46 (641.0400) 26 (165.1200) 24 (161.6800) 16 (167.9772) 43 (146.2628)
Mar 13, 2015 Don't Be Cruel BBQ Duel Tupelo, MS 57 / 94 (649.0056) 14 (173.1428) 68 (158.8228) 64 (161.6800) 71 (155.3600)
Sep 26, 2014 Grillin N Chillin BBQ Owensboro, KY 28 / 43 (650.1484) 36 (157.0856) 33 (159.9772) 6 (171.9772) 25 (161.1084)
Aug 29, 2014 4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs Warrens, WI 22 / 34 (641.1428) 26 (158.8228) 17 (162.8800) 25 (158.3200) 22 (161.1200)
Jun 13, 2014 Smokin' On The River Jeffersonville, IN 45 / 52 (623.2684) 26 (165.7372) 48 (146.8000) 41 (156.5028) 39 (154.2284)
May 23, 2014 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Hendersonville, TN 30 / 30 (631.3140) 29 (154.2628) 29 (157.6912) 28 (157.7144) 24 (161.6456)
May 2, 2014 The Masters in May Fremont, WI 29 / 62 (637.1200) 11 (166.8800) 26 (162.8572) 46 (153.6800) 48 (153.7028)
Apr 25, 2014 Wabash Ribberfest Barbecue Championship Mt. Carmel, IL 22 / 50 (653.0400) 19 (166.2628) 43 (152.5144) 29 (161.6800) 11 (172.5828)
Apr 3, 2014 2nd Annual Parkinson's Smoke Out Evansville, IN 55 / 64 (629.5892) 57 (155.9888) 57 (150.8232) 13 (168.5600) 52 (154.2172)
Oct 18, 2013 Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off Munfordville, KY 17 / 40 (660.4460) 16 (165.6916) 18 (165.0972) 1 (175.4400) 31 (154.2172)
Sep 27, 2013 Grillin and Chillin BBQ Owensboro, KY 23 / 45 (659.3144) 25 (165.1200) 26 (163.9660) 16 (168.5600) 27 (161.6684)
Jun 21, 2013 Queen City Cook-Off Clarksville, TN 21 / 39 (665.7142) 27 (164) 9 (170.2856) 23 (165.1428) 20 (166.2858)
May 4, 2013 Smokin' on the Water Liberty, IN 21 / 37 (638.8564) 34 (147.4282) 19 (161.1426) 13 (166.8572) 15 (163.4284)
Apr 26, 2013 Wabash Ribber Fest Barbecue Championship Mt. Carmel, IL 19 / 36 (634.8572) 2 (173.1430) 24 (156) 35 (147.4286) 20 (158.2856)
Apr 5, 2013 1st Annual Parkinson's Smoke Out Evansville, IN 21 / 50 (639.4284) 23 (160.5714) 35 (157.1428) 46 (150.8570) 5 (170.8572)

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

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