The heartbreaker
0.5828
points from the title
Came within 0.5828 points of the Grand Championship at Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest (Jun 12, 2026).
Bad Dog BBQ
Bad Dog BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 38 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2026. They have won 2 Grand Championships, most recently at the Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2) (2026), and finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #1254 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings and hold 1 all-time KCBS record. Also listed in KCBS results as “BAD DOG BBQ - DE”.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1582
peak 1582 · rated over 36 contests1 invitational or side-series contest not counted
Contests
38
in the data
First seen
Apr 19, 2013
latest Oct 9, 2026 · 13.5 years on the trail
Grand champs
2
1 reserve · wins it all 5% of the time
Category wins
3
12 podiums
Overall top-10s
7
18% of 38 contests
Best top-10 run
2
straight overall top-10s
Avg finish
top 51%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
4 🔥
Current form
695.92 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 660.58 (+35.34)
Walk rate
39%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±34.75
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 166.40 · weakest Brisket (162.65)
Road miles
19,206
across 38 mapped stops · furthest 1,466 mi
Schedule strength
57%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1572)
Purse competed for
$272K
listed at 18 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
2 🏅
won from 17 state-championship entries
Master avg
660.58 / 720
37 Master contests · 2 GCs
Holds 1 KCBS record (on 2 all-time boards)
Where this team sits in the all-time KCBS record book. A gold line is a record they hold outright; the rest are boards they are on.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #199 (962 pts) | #283 (787 pts) | #318 (757 pts) | #241 (852 pts) | #215 (932 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #279 (785 pts) | #264 (845 pts) | #276 (925 pts) | #296 (780 pts) | #297 (795 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #424 (485 pts) | #443 (495 pts) | #436 (555 pts) | #453 (455 pts) | #365 (620 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #1954 (60 pts) | #1949 (70 pts) | #1996 (60 pts) | #2030 (60 pts) | #1776 (105 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #2212 (60 pts) | #2286 (60 pts) | #2304 (60 pts) | #2199 (70 pts) | #2266 (60 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #1257 (230 pts) | #1363 (225 pts) | #1330 (235 pts) | #980 (380 pts) | #1503 (180 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #951 (330 pts) | #1328 (220 pts) | #890 (400 pts) | #1048 (320 pts) | #1327 (210 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #1578 (153 pts) | #1763 (143 pts) | #1492 (188 pts) | #1728 (148 pts) | #1477 (188 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #1308 (190 pts) | #1281 (215 pts) | #1482 (170 pts) | #1510 (160 pts) | #1483 (155 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to Bad Dog BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
43 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#1,256 of the rated field
- Contests
- 29
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 31%
- Peak
- 1582
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 27 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careers#1,252 of the rated field
- Contests
- 26
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 35%
- Peak
- 1646
Their last contest in the data was back in 2021, 5 years before Bad Dog BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#1,255 of the rated field
- Contests
- 60
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 17%
- Peak
- 1638
A longer road to the same neighbourhood — 60 contests to 38.
⚔ Compare careers#1,257 of the rated field
- Contests
- 23
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 39%
- Peak
- 1582
23 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 39% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careers#1,253 of the rated field
- Contests
- 22
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 27%
- Peak
- 1597
They turned up 6 years after Bad Dog BBQ did, first appearing in 2019.
⚔ Compare careers#1,250 of the rated field
- Contests
- 21
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 81%
- Peak
- 1592
Level with Bad Dog BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAZORRACKS | 15 | 5 | 10 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| Kermit's Ex | 14 | 6 | 8 | 43% | ⚔ compare |
| FIRE DANCER BBQ | 13 | 7 | 6 | 54% | ⚔ compare |
| Big D's BBQ | 12 | 5 | 7 | 42% | ⚔ compare |
| SLOWER LOWER BBQ | 10 | 3 | 7 | 30% | ⚔ compare |
| PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | 10 | 1 | 9 | 10% | ⚔ compare |
| PIGHEADED BBQ | 10 | 1 | 9 | 10% | ⚔ compare |
| JANKY LEG BBQ | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| BLIND HOG BBQ | 9 | 6 | 3 | 67% | ⚔ compare |
| MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | 9 | 4 | 5 | 44% | ⚔ compare |
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 9 | 4 | 5 | 44% | ⚔ compare |
| Glamping Grillers | 9 | 3 | 6 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| Meat Candy Q | 9 | 3 | 6 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| TRIPLE H BBQ | 9 | 2 | 7 | 22% | ⚔ compare |
| WILBUR'S REVENGE | 9 | 2 | 7 | 22% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 37 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 180 🔥 | 126.7884 | 166.40 | top 49% |
| Pork Ribs | 37 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 180 🔥 | 147.4744 | 165.29 | top 49% |
| Pork | 37 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 180 🔥 | 146.7656 | 166.24 | top 47% |
| Brisket | 37 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 180 🔥 | 141.0856 | 162.65 | top 52% |
“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) | 17 | 2 | top 47% |
| Large (40+) | 20 | 0 | top 53% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Holland Summer Fest | 4 | 39 | 0 | top 70% | Aug 26, 2016 |
| Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2) | 2 | 1 | 1 | top 20% | Jul 18, 2026 |
| Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival | 2 | 1 | 1 | top 26% | Sep 26, 2025 |
| Southaven Springfest | 2 | 8 | 0 | top 48% | Apr 24, 2026 |
| University of Arkansas Animal Science Boots, Brews, and BBQ Contest | 2 | 14 | 0 | top 51% | Mar 13, 2026 |
| Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons | 2 | 28 | 0 | top 72% | Aug 5, 2016 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2026
8 contests · 1 GC
Contests a season
4.2
across 9 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
AR
8 of 38 contests · 11 states in all
Contests visited
29
6 of them more than once
First title
Sep 26, 2025
Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival
Opponents faced
1,318
finished ahead 1,173 times, behind 1,248
Longest layoff
5.9 yrs
Jul 13, 2018 → Jun 7, 2024
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20264 milestones
- First Reserve Championship Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest
- Biggest field won (32 teams) Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2)
- Peak power rating (1582) Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2)
- Most recent contest Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY)
20256 milestones
- First overall podium Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival
- First Grand Championship Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival
- First state championship Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival
- First multi-meat day Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival
- First perfect 180 (Chicken) Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival
- Career-best overall score717.7028 Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival
20242 milestones
- First category win (Pork Ribs) Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival
- 25th tracked contest American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides
20154 milestones
- 10th tracked contest Triple Threat BBQ Beer and Music Festival
- First call 7th Annual Vista BBQ Classic
- First overall top-10 7th Annual Vista BBQ Classic
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score695.4856 7th Annual Vista BBQ Classic
20131 milestone
- First tracked contest Pork in the Park Barbeque Festival
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +18.7 | Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival | Sep 26, 2025 |
| +17.4 | Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2) | Jul 18, 2026 |
| +16.6 | Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest | Jun 12, 2026 |
| +16.6 | 7th Annual Vista BBQ Classic | Jul 24, 2015 |
| +15.6 | Smoke on the Water | Sep 20, 2024 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -9.5 | New Holland Summer Fest | Aug 26, 2016 |
| -7.5 | New Holland Summer Fest | Aug 28, 2015 |
| -7.2 | Certified BBQ Judging Class - Cancelled | Jan 17, 2015 |
| -6.8 | 8th Annual Vista BBQ Classic (JUDGES FULL) | Jul 28, 2017 |
| -6.5 | Triple Threat BBQ, Beer and Music Festval | Apr 8, 2016 |
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
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 63% | top 44% | 98.5% | 96.1% |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 100% | top 32% | 99.7% | 96.9% |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 33% | top 46% | 95.7% | 95.1% |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 78% | 89.7% | 89.7% |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 80% | 87.2% | 87.2% |
| 2016 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25% | top 69% | 93.1% | 87.6% |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40% | top 54% | 96.6% | 89.9% |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 58% | 86.4% | 85.6% |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 48% | 88.1% | 86.7% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 2026 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) unrated Lynchburg, TN | 63 / 99 (684.4456) | 8 (177.7028) | 26 (175.4172) | 73 (168.5256) | 95 (162.8000) |
| Jul 18, 2026 | Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2) 🏅 Osceola, MO | 1 / 32 (709.1316) | 4 (176.5600) | 4 (178.8572) | 10 (175.4172) | 4 (178.2972) |
| Jul 17, 2026 | Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 1) 🏅 Osceola, MO | 12 / 32 (691.3256) | 23 (170.8228) | 16 (171.9772) | 10 (174.2628) | 10 (174.2628) |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest 🏅 Derby, KS | 2 / 36 (701.0972) | 10 (176.0116) | 8 (174.2744) | 7 (175.4056) | 2 (175.4056) |
| May 29, 2026 | Covington World's Oldest Barbeque Contest 🏅 Covington, TN | 18 / 25 (693.6112) | 15 (174.2628) | 17 (173.1200) | 4 (180) | 20 (166.2284) |
| Apr 24, 2026 | Southaven Springfest 🏅 Southaven, MS | 24 / 33 (679.8972) | 12 (177.1428) | 20 (170.8344) | 28 (163.3828) | 23 (168.5372) |
| Mar 20, 2026 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship 🏅 Lebanon, TN | 59 / 125 (684.4916) | 25 (176) | 92 (165.6916) | 75 (169.6800) | 33 (173.1200) |
| Mar 13, 2026 | University of Arkansas Animal Science Boots, Brews, and BBQ Contest 🏅 Fayetteville, AR | 19 / 37 (688.5488) | 18 (174.2744) | 25 (167.9656) | 16 (173.1544) | 11 (173.1544) |
| Sep 26, 2025 | Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival 🏅 Jonesboro, AR | 1 / 26 (717.7028) | 2 (180) | 1 (180) | 6 (177.7028) | 1 (180) |
| Jun 27, 2025 | Old Town Smokeout 🏅 Van Buren, AR | 14 / 27 (687.8852) | 26 (166.8112) | 3 (176.5600) | 9 (173.7028) | 10 (170.8112) |
| Jun 6, 2025 | Hayden West's Delta Smoke BBQ Contest 🏅 Wynne, AR | 9 / 30 (701.6572) | 2 (178.8572) | 23 (169.6800) | 4 (178.8572) | 9 (174.2628) |
| Apr 25, 2025 | Southaven Springfest 🏅 Southaven, MS | 8 / 34 (694.7656) | 25 (168.5256) | 3 (176.5600) | 5 (174.2628) | 5 (175.4172) |
| Mar 14, 2025 | University of Arkansas Animal Science Boots, Brews, and BBQ Contest 🏅 Fayetteville, AR | 14 / 28 (687.8856) | 3 (178.8572) | 11 (173.1200) | 18 (170.8228) | 22 (165.0856) |
| Oct 30, 2024 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Oct 30, 2024 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 181 / 444 (679.4060) | 19 (177.7144) | 297 (165.7144) | 97 (173.1428) | 310 (162.8344) |
| Sep 27, 2024 | Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival 🏅 Jonesboro, AR | 13 / 27 (689.0740) | 11 (172.5484) | 1 (179.4400) | 12 (173.1428) | 22 (163.9428) |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Smoke on the Water 🏅 Pine Bluff, AR | 8 / 42 (687.3828) | 11 (174.8456) | 34 (161.7028) | 18 (171.9772) | 2 (178.8572) |
| Jul 19, 2024 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 1) 🏅 Osceola, MO | 23 / 37 (685.6112) | 25 (171.4056) | 21 (171.4172) | 28 (169.6684) | 11 (173.1200) |
| Jun 7, 2024 | Hayden West's Delta Smoke BBQ Contest 🏅 Wynne, AR | 19 / 33 (681.6228) | 18 (170.8456) | 21 (167.3944) | 12 (171.9656) | 16 (171.4172) |
| Jul 13, 2018 | 9th Annual Vista BBQ Classic (JUDGES FULL) Vista, CA | 29 / 37 (646.1600) | 23 (163.4056) | 28 (161.0972) | 36 (153.6800) | 16 (167.9772) |
| Jul 28, 2017 | 8th Annual Vista BBQ Classic (JUDGES FULL) Vista, CA | 32 / 40 (627.9540) | 31 (161.7372) | 36 (150.8228) | 23 (165.6684) | 34 (149.7256) |
| Aug 26, 2016 | New Holland Summer Fest New Holland, PA | 56 / 66 (613.6572) | 26 (164) | 53 (153.1772) | 46 (155.3944) | 61 (141.0856) |
| Aug 5, 2016 | Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Huntington Beach, CA | 28 / 36 (636.4800) | 26 (161.6800) | 24 (163.4172) | 28 (159.9428) | 28 (151.4400) |
| Jul 29, 2016 | 8th Annual Vista BBQ Classic Vista, CA | 15 / 42 (670.3316) | 16 (169.1772) | 15 (167.4172) | 2 (176.5716) | 31 (157.1656) |
| Apr 8, 2016 | Triple Threat BBQ, Beer and Music Festval Harrington, DE | 59 / 75 (603.8172) | 58 (153.1084) | 59 (150.2512) | 60 (151.3716) | 55 (149.0860) |
| Aug 28, 2015 | New Holland Summer Fest New Holland, PA | 53 / 70 (611.9312) | 68 (126.7884) | 7 (170.2972) | 45 (155.9884) | 30 (158.8572) |
| Aug 7, 2015 | Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Huntington Beach, CA | 38 / 58 (654.2056) | 41 (162.2628) | 21 (170.2628) | 22 (166.8456) | 48 (154.8344) |
| Jul 24, 2015 | 7th Annual Vista BBQ Classic Vista, CA | 4 / 54 (695.4856) | 17 (173.1772) | 2 (179.4400) | 5 (174.8800) | 19 (167.9884) |
| Apr 10, 2015 | Triple Threat BBQ Beer and Music Festival Harrington, DE | 43 / 99 (639.3828) | 63 (156.5828) | 34 (162.2856) | 26 (163.9656) | 57 (156.5488) |
| Jan 17, 2015 | Certified BBQ Judging Class - Cancelled Hartselle, AL | 28 / 36 (636.4800) | 26 (161.6800) | 24 (163.4172) | 28 (159.9428) | 28 (151.4400) |
| Oct 3, 2014 | DO AC Smokin' Hot Atlantic City BBQ Championship Atlantic City, NJ | 37 / 65 (617.6112) | 35 (158.2628) | 44 (147.9312) | 22 (161.6800) | 39 (149.7372) |
| Aug 22, 2014 | New Holland Summer Fest New Holland, PA | 39 / 70 (622.1144) | 51 (151.9888) | 17 (163.9772) | 35 (155.3600) | 44 (150.7884) |
| May 9, 2014 | Pork In The Park BBQ Festival Salisbury, MD | 23 / 43 (617.6116) | 31 (153.0972) | 24 (150.8572) | 24 (155.9772) | 16 (157.6800) |
| Apr 11, 2014 | Delaware's Triple Threat BBQ Festival at the Fair Harrington, DE | 71 / 109 (606.7312) | 45 (158.3200) | 68 (149.1428) | 88 (146.7656) | 58 (152.5028) |
| Sep 20, 2013 | Hogs & Hops Dover Dover, DE | 19 / 45 (634.1828) | 13 (165.7028) | 31 (152) | 18 (163.3712) | 24 (153.1088) |
| Aug 23, 2013 | New Holland Summer Fest New Holland, PA | 46 / 71 (615.4516) | 47 (155.4056) | 56 (147.4744) | 43 (155.4288) | 31 (157.1428) |
| May 17, 2013 | Middletown BBQ Cook Off Middletown, DE | 17 / 56 (631.4282) | 12 (161.7144) | 21 (156.5712) | 23 (158.2856) | 24 (154.8570) |
| Apr 19, 2013 | Pork in the Park Barbeque Festival Salisbury, MD | 58 / 106 (614.8566) | 68 (155.4284) | 39 (156) | 63 (154.8568) | 71 (148.5714) |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.