Rough Cut Q NJ
Rating
1726
peak 1726 · rated over 44 contests
Best runs
12
straight top-10s
Contests
65
in the data
First seen
2024-04-19
latest 2026-08-08
Best ToY finish
#7
Backyard 2024
Grand champs
7
8 reserve
Category wins
9
33 podiums
Overall top-10s
36
of 65 contests
Avg finish
top 27%
overall standings
Best overall
703.9656 / 360
Perfect 180s
1 🔥
Current form
414.36 ▲
last 5 Backyard vs avg 351.77 (+62.59)
Walk rate
78%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
12
best run (overall)
Consistency
±59.10
std dev of Backyard overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork
avg 172.04 · weakest Brisket (168.46)
Road miles
6736
mi across 65 mapped stops · furthest 691 mi
Schedule strength
80%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1580)
Purse competed for
$188K
listed at 48 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
7 🏅
GCs in 36 state-championship entries
Master avg
683.91 / 720
7 Master contests · 0 GCs
Backyard avg
351.77 / 360
37 Backyard contests · 7 GCs
Master and Backyard overall scores sit on different scales (Master is out of 720, Backyard out of 360), so they're kept separate — averaging them together would be misleading.
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
Yardogs BBQ has finished one call ahead of Rough Cut Q 7 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
Leaning Jowler BBQ has landed one call behind them 4 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
GETTIN' BASTED has come out ahead in 6 of their 8 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of All About the Wood in 17 of their 24 shared contests.
🏕️ Happy hunting ground
BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) is their spot: 1 Grand Championship in 4 visits.
💔 The heartbreaker
Came within 0.0116 points of the Grand Championship at First State BBQ Bash (2025-09-26).
🗡️ Giant slayer
Took the Grand Championship over a 59-team field at Grand American Barbecue New York State Championship Open (OPEN FORMAT).
😤 Pork nemesis
Even in their strongest meat, SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA has out-cooked them in 5 of 8 shared pork entries.
📅 A March team
Something about March: average finish in the top 9% across 4 contests, versus top 27% the rest of the year.
Teams like this (closest power rating, NJ first)
Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaning Jowler BBQ | 34 | 16 | 18 | 47% | ⚔ compare |
| Capt. Blue BBQ | 31 | 19 | 12 | 61% | ⚔ compare |
| FIRE & SHINE BBQ | 30 | 14 | 16 | 47% | ⚔ compare |
| All About the Wood | 24 | 17 | 7 | 71% | ⚔ compare |
| Yardogs BBQ | 24 | 10 | 14 | 42% | ⚔ compare |
| Oink N' Doink BBQ | 23 | 13 | 10 | 57% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | 23 | 7 | 15 | 30% | ⚔ compare |
| Backwooder BBQ | 21 | 15 | 6 | 71% | ⚔ compare |
| Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit | 21 | 14 | 7 | 67% | ⚔ compare |
| Meat Monarchy | 20 | 14 | 6 | 70% | ⚔ compare |
| WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | 20 | 10 | 10 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| Grandpa Val's BBQ | 19 | 13 | 4 | 68% | ⚔ compare |
| SUSQUEHANNA SMOKERS | 18 | 15 | 3 | 83% | ⚔ compare |
| Castleton Q | 18 | 14 | 4 | 78% | ⚔ compare |
| BOGGS HOG BBQ | 18 | 8 | 7 | 44% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 53 | 34 | 1 | 11 | 178.8572 | 161.6456 | 171.31 | top 34% |
| Pork Ribs | 56 | 46 | 8 | 22 | 180.0000 🔥 | 160.5144 | 171.60 | top 28% |
| Pork | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 176.5600 | 168.0000 | 172.04 | top 43% |
| Brisket | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 174.2628 | 163.3828 | 168.46 | 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 state / province
| Where | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| PA | 13 | 3 | top 31% |
| NJ | 10 | 1 | top 18% |
| VA | 7 | 1 | top 22% |
| NY | 4 | 1 | top 30% |
| MA | 3 | 0 | top 42% |
| DE | 3 | 1 | top 21% |
| TN | 2 | 0 | top 45% |
| CT | 1 | 0 | top 22% |
| MD | 1 | 0 | top 7% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 11 | 0 | top 41% |
| Medium (20–39) | 26 | 6 | top 21% |
| Large (40+) | 7 | 1 | top 24% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2) | 6 | 1 | 1 | top 13% | 2026-04-18 |
| Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) | 4 | 1 | 1 | top 43% | 2026-07-25 |
| BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) | 4 | 1 | 1 | top 9% | 2026-03-28 |
| York County BBQ Festival (Day 2) | 4 | 1 | 1 | top 30% | 2025-06-28 |
| Rekindled Ironman | 2 | 1 | 1 | top 16% | 2026-04-03 |
| Trillium BBQ Throwdown | 2 | 3 | 0 | top 36% | 2026-08-08 |
| K.S. Que (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2 | 3 | 0 | top 27% | 2026-07-11 |
| Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) | 2 | 6 | 0 | top 24% | 2025-10-25 |
| First State BBQ Bash (SUNDAY BACKYARD ONLY) | 2 | 2 | 0 | top 29% | 2025-09-28 |
| Catskills Barbeque - Backyard Competition (Day 2) | 2 | 2 | 0 | top 38% | 2025-06-07 |
| 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) | 2 | 15 | 0 | top 45% | 2025-05-25 |
| Revolutionary BBQ Brawl (Day 2) | 2 | 3 | 0 | top 33% | 2025-04-26 |
| Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) | 2 | 2 | 0 | top 27% | 2024-10-19 |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2025 (31 contests)
- Cooks mostly in NJ (16 of 65 contests)
- Most-entered category: Pork Ribs (56 entries)
- First Grand Championship in the data: York County BBQ Festival (Day 1) (2024-06-28)
- Wins it all in 11% of contests
- Average Master overall score: 683.91 / 720
- Average Backyard overall score: 351.77 / 360
- 1 perfect 180 on the books 🔥
Milestones
- 🚩 2024-04-19 — First tracked contest · New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 1)
- 📣 2024-04-19 — First call · New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 1)
- 🏆 2024-06-28 — First Grand Championship · York County BBQ Festival (Day 1)
- 🔥 2025-04-25 — First perfect 180 (Pork Ribs) · Revolutionary BBQ Brawl (Day 1)
- 🎖️ 2025-05-03 — 25th tracked contest · New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2)
- 🎖️ 2026-04-03 — 50th tracked contest · Rekindled Ironman
- ⭐ 2026-05-02 — Career-best overall score (703.9656) · Grand American Barbecue New York State Championship Open (OPEN FORMAT)
- 📈 2026-08-08 — Peak power rating (1726) · Trillium BBQ Throwdown
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +16.7 | York County BBQ Festival (Day 1) | 2024-06-28 |
| +15.9 | "The First State" BBQ Bash | 2024-09-27 |
| +15.4 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2) | 2024-04-20 |
| +15.1 | York County BBQ Festival (Day 2) | 2024-06-29 |
| +14.1 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard) | 2025-03-22 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -8.8 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) | 2025-07-25 |
| -8.1 | Mass in May (Day 2) | 2026-05-16 |
| -7.1 | Trillium BBQ Throwdown | 2025-08-09 |
| -5.8 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025) | 2025-05-24 |
| -5.2 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) | 2025-07-26 |
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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 19 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 84% | top 21% | 195.5% | 103.6% |
| 2025 | 31 | 1 | 17 | 3 | 77% | top 33% | 99% | 95.3% |
| 2024 | 15 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 73% | top 19% | 97.3% | 94.1% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-08 | Trillium BBQ Throwdown 🏅 Canton, MA | 3 / 25 (686.2056) | 7 (172.0000) | 6 (171.9772) | 11 (171.9656) | 8 (170.2628) |
| 2026-07-25 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 1 / 39 (347.3828) | 9 (173.1200) | 4 (174.2628) | — | — |
| 2026-07-24 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 19 / 43 (335.3600) | 11 (171.4172) | 24 (163.9428) | — | — |
| 2026-07-18 | Connecticut Barbecue Challenge 🏅 Somers, CT | 8 / 36 (689.6224) | 11 (172.5600) | 11 (173.1428) | 11 (173.1084) | 12 (170.8112) |
| 2026-07-11 | K.S. Que (BACKYARD ONLY) Kennett Square, PA | 5 / 15 (335.3712) | 5 (170.2856) | 8 (165.0856) | — | — |
| 2026-06-13 | Bristol BBQ Bash - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Bristol, CT | — | 2 (174.2744) | — | — | — |
| 2026-06-13 | Bristol BBQ Bash - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT RIBS) Bristol, CT | — | — | 1 (176.0000) | — | — |
| 2026-05-16 | Mass in May (Day 2) 🏅 Wrentham, MA | 17 / 31 (672.9940) | 17 (167.9656) | 9 (173.1200) | 17 (168.5256) | 21 (163.3828) |
| 2026-05-16 | Mass in May (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Wrentham, MA | — | 10 (171.9656) | — | — | — |
| 2026-05-16 | Mass in May (ONE MEAT RIBS) Wrentham, MA | — | — | 13 (166.2856) | — | — |
| 2026-05-02 | Grand American Barbecue New York State Championship Open (OPEN FORMAT) 🏅 New Paltz, NY | 1 / 59 (703.9656) | 5 (177.7028) | 10 (175.4400) | 4 (176.5600) | 12 (174.2628) |
| 2026-05-01 | Grand American Barbecue World Championship (ONE MEAT RIBS) New Paltz, NY | — | — | 2 (176.0000) | — | — |
| 2026-04-18 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2) 🏅 Blairstown, NJ | 7 / 26 (686.7544) | 7 (174.2744) | 7 (175.4172) | 8 (173.1200) | 23 (163.9428) |
| 2026-04-18 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT RIBS) Blairstown, NJ | — | — | 5 (160.5144) | — | — |
| 2026-04-17 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 1) 🏅 Blairstown, NJ | 1 / 26 (349.7028) | 1 (177.7028) | 4 (172.0000) | — | — |
| 2026-04-03 | Rekindled Ironman 🏅 Seven Valleys, PA | 4 / 14 (341.6800) | 4 (173.1200) | 5 (168.5600) | — | — |
| 2026-03-28 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 1 / 36 (349.1200) | 6 (174.2628) | 1 (174.8572) | — | — |
| 2026-03-27 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 6 / 40 (693.6572) | 6 (176.5600) | 5 (174.8572) | 13 (174.2628) | 21 (167.9772) |
| 2026-03-27 | BBQ Gives Back (ONE MEAT RIBS) Urbanna, VA | — | — | 1 (178.8572) | — | — |
| 2025-10-25 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) 🏅 Jackson, NJ | 9 / 32 (337.6572) | 12 (165.0856) | 2 (172.5716) | — | — |
| 2025-10-25 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (One Meat Ribs) Jackson, NJ | — | — | 9 (171.9772) | — | — |
| 2025-10-24 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (One Meat Chicken) Jackson, NJ | — | 13 (170.8344) | — | — | — |
| 2025-10-24 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 1) 🏅 Jackson, NJ | 6 / 31 (340.5028) | 7 (170.8228) | 4 (169.6800) | — | — |
| 2025-10-10 | MD State BBQ Bash 🏅 Bel Air, MD | 2 / 29 (348.5256) | 5 (174.2628) | 2 (174.2628) | — | — |
| 2025-09-28 | First State BBQ Bash (SUNDAY BACKYARD ONLY) Milford, DE | 7 / 14 (338.8000) | 4 (173.1200) | 9 (165.6800) | — | — |
| 2025-09-26 | First State BBQ Bash (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Milford, DE | — | 2 (173.7028) | — | — | — |
| 2025-09-26 | First State BBQ Bash 🏅 Milford, DE | 2 / 25 (348.5256) | 2 (177.7028) | 5 (170.8228) | — | — |
| 2025-09-26 | First State BBQ Bash (ONE MEAT RIBS) Milford, DE | — | — | 1 (178.8572) | — | — |
| 2025-08-22 | Stoney Creek BBQ Cookoff 🏅 Edinburg, VA | 9 / 16 (335.3600) | 15 (163.3828) | 5 (171.9772) | — | — |
| 2025-08-09 | Trillium BBQ Throwdown 🏅 Canton, MA | 12 / 20 (678.2516) | 18 (163.4172) | 3 (174.8572) | 13 (168.0000) | 5 (171.9772) |
| 2025-07-26 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 15 / 27 (335.3600) | 18 (166.8228) | 13 (168.5372) | — | — |
| 2025-07-25 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 21 / 30 (333.6456) | 15 (169.7028) | 25 (163.9428) | — | — |
| 2025-06-28 | York County BBQ Festival (Day 2) 🏅 Delta, PA | 8 / 10 (340.5256) | 3 (173.7028) | 11 (166.8228) | — | — |
| 2025-06-27 | York County BBQ Festival (Day 1) 🏅 Delta, PA | 7 / 26 (337.0972) | 15 (165.1084) | 2 (171.9888) | — | — |
| 2025-06-07 | Catskills Barbeque - Backyard Competition (Day 2) Grahamsville, NY | 2 / 8 (356.5716) | 3 (178.8572) | 2 (177.7144) | 5 (173.1200) | — |
| 2025-06-06 | Catskills Barbeque - Backyard Competition (Day 1) Grahamsville, NY | 4 / 8 (347.3828) | 4 (173.1084) | 3 (174.2744) | — | — |
| 2025-05-25 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) Lebanon, TN | 15 / 70 (346.2400) | 30 (170.8228) | 11 (175.4172) | — | — |
| 2025-05-24 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025) Lebanon, TN | 72 / 106 (679.8628) | 37 (174.2628) | 60 (170.8344) | 66 (169.6800) | 87 (165.0856) |
| 2025-05-23 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational Chicken (Friday, May 23, 2025) Lebanon, TN | — | 12 (174.2628) | — | — | — |
| 2025-05-23 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational Ribs (Friday, May 23, 2025) Lebanon, TN | — | — | 2 (177.7028) | — | — |
| 2025-05-03 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2) 🏅 Blairstown, NJ | 2 / 34 (343.9544) | 2 (174.2744) | 1 (169.6800) | — | — |
| 2025-05-02 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Blairstown, NJ | — | 2 (176.5600) | — | — | — |
| 2025-05-02 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 1) 🏅 Blairstown, NJ | 3 / 33 (335.9316) | 5 (167.3944) | 4 (168.5372) | — | — |
| 2025-04-26 | Revolutionary BBQ Brawl (Day 2) 🏅 Williamsburg, VA | 8 / 16 (343.9428) | 13 (167.3828) | 2 (176.5600) | — | — |
| 2025-04-25 | Revolutionary BBQ Brawl (Day 1) 🏅 Williamsburg, VA | 3 / 20 (351.4172) | 12 (171.4172) | 2 (180.0000) | — | — |
| 2025-04-04 | Rekindled Ironman 🏅 Seven Valleys, PA | 1 / 23 (348.0456) | 3 (173.7256) | 1 (174.3200) | — | — |
| 2025-03-22 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 2 / 43 (352.5484) | 7 (175.4056) | 3 (177.1428) | — | — |
| 2025-03-21 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) (Masters and Backyard) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 6 / 45 (343.9312) | 10 (170.8112) | 4 (173.1200) | — | — |
| 2025-03-21 | BBQ Gives Back (ONE MEAT RIBS) Urbanna, VA | — | — | 7 (171.9656) | — | — |
| 2025-03-21 | BBQ Gives Back (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Urbanna, VA | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024-10-25 | Weekend of Giving (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Wrentham, MA | — | 12 (168.5256) | — | — | — |
| 2024-10-25 | Weekend of Giving (ONE MEAT RIBS) Wrentham, MA | — | — | 14 (165.1200) | — | — |
| 2024-10-19 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) 🏅 Columbia, NJ | 12 / 26 (335.3832) | 12 (167.9772) | 8 (167.4060) | — | — |
| 2024-10-19 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT RIBS) Columbia, NJ | — | — | 12 (167.3828) | — | — |
| 2024-10-18 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Columbia, NJ | — | 7 (172.0000) | — | — | — |
| 2024-10-18 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 1) 🏅 Columbia, NJ | 2 / 28 (337.6688) | 6 (168.5488) | 2 (169.1200) | — | — |
| 2024-09-27 | "The First State" BBQ Bash 🏅 Milford, DE | 1 / 26 (350.2628) | 3 (174.2628) | 1 (176.0000) | — | — |
| 2024-08-23 | New Holland Summer Fest 🏅 New Holland, PA | 9 / 38 (329.0628) | 7 (165.6800) | 9 (163.3828) | — | — |
| 2024-07-12 | Connecticut Barbecue Challenge (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Somers, CT | — | 11 (166.2284) | — | — | — |
| 2024-07-06 | K.S. Que (BACKYARD ONLY) Kennett Square, PA | 3 / 14 (341.6684) | 11 (167.4056) | 1 (174.2628) | — | — |
| 2024-06-29 | York County BBQ Festival (Day 2) 🏅 Delta, PA | 2 / 19 (345.1084) | 5 (170.8456) | 2 (174.2628) | — | — |
| 2024-06-28 | York County BBQ Festival (Day 1) 🏅 Delta, PA | 1 / 29 (346.2744) | 2 (174.2744) | 4 (172.0000) | — | — |
| 2024-06-14 | Catskills Barbeque (BACKYARD ONLY) Liberty, NY | 4 / 9 (323.8856) | 5 (161.6456) | 4 (162.2400) | — | — |
| 2024-04-20 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2) 🏅 Blairstown, NJ | 2 / 27 (338.8000) | 6 (168.5372) | 2 (170.2628) | — | — |
| 2024-04-19 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 1) 🏅 Blairstown, NJ | 7 / 29 (338.8000) | 7 (170.2628) | 5 (168.5372) | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Backyard | #8 (1259 pts) | #28 (959 pts) | #3 (1263 pts) | — | — |
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #189 (807 pts) | #125 (1079 pts) | #27 (1822 pts) | #260 (612 pts) | #328 (487 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Backyard | #16 (1245 pts) | #21 (1183 pts) | #5 (1301 pts) | — | — |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #762 (170 pts) | #261 (854 pts) | #223 (1081 pts) | #815 (165 pts) | #672 (230 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Backyard | #7 (1276 pts) | #40 (963 pts) | #11 (1260 pts) | — | — |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | — | #536 (370 pts) | #815 (201 pts) | — | — |