SAPONI SMOKERS

At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)

Power ranking

#5039

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1461

peak 1461 · rated over 22 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-04-26

latest 2021-09-24

Best ToY finish

#610

Master 2020

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

4 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 22 contests

Avg finish

top 68%

overall standings

Best overall

677.6572 / 720

Master · Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic

Perfect 180s

Current form

659.68 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 649.84 (+9.84)

Walk rate

41%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

174.2972

Pork Ribs · Black Dog Music and Que Festival

Consistency

±12.09

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 163.76 · weakest Brisket (159.82)

Road miles

1,037

mi across 22 mapped stops · furthest 144 mi

Schedule strength

62%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1578)

Purse competed for

$76K

listed at 8 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

GCs in 7 state-championship entries

Master avg

649.84 / 720

22 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (5 found in this team's record)

Each card leads with the number that made it a story — read straight out of their results, no editorialising.

High-water mark

677.6572 career-best overall

94.1% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 677.6572 at Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic — 94.1% of a perfect 720.

Master
2017-09-15

A tough matchup

18–1 behind in the head-to-head

MUTTLEY CREW BBQ ahead in 95% of their meetings

MUTTLEY CREW BBQ has come out ahead in 18 of their 19 shared contests.

A strong matchup

6–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 86% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of Smokin' Joe's BBQ in 6 of their 7 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

14 of 19 shared chicken entries lost

MUTTLEY CREW BBQ ahead 74% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, MUTTLEY CREW BBQ has out-cooked them in 14 of 19 shared chicken entries.

The metronome

±1.68% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.68% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 90.3% of a perfect score
22 contests

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The nearest teams in the power rankings, with a different reason on each card — six teams on one rating are rarely on it for the same reason. Rating decides who makes the list; where teams tie on it, the ones this team has actually cooked against come first, then teams at a similar point in their own career. KCBS doesn’t publish where a team is from, so nothing here is inferred from geography.

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

THE GIGGLIN PIG BBQ

#5047 of the rated field

1461 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1461

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to SAPONI SMOKERS)

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

rated over 13 contests
last seen 2019-05-24

⚔ Head-to-head

Sloppy Seconds

#5046 of the rated field

1461 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1520

No shared contest yet.

They've been 1520 at their best, 59 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 20 contests
last seen 2024-09-27

⚔ Head-to-head

Beantown Smokers

#5057 of the rated field

1461 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1461

No shared contest yet.

Careers of much the same size, 19 contests to 22, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 19 contests
last seen 2025-08-09

⚔ Head-to-head

Rub You Long Time

#5062 of the rated field

1461 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1525

No shared contest yet.

18 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 18 contests
last seen 2025-11-05

⚔ Head-to-head

JERRY KING MIDLAND TX

#5058 of the rated field

1461 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 27
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1532

No shared contest yet.

Their last contest in the data was back in 2018, 3 years before SAPONI SMOKERS's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 27 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

HOT ASH BBQ COMPANY

#5051 of the rated field

1461 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1461

No shared contest yet.

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.

rated over 16 contests
last seen 2019-08-24

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
MUTTLEY CREW BBQ	19	1	18	5%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA	17	1	16	6%	⚔ compare
WHO CARES BBQ	15	2	13	13%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN SKULLIES	15	1	14	7%	⚔ compare
SAUCED! BBQ TEAM	15	0	15	0%	⚔ compare
HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC	14	4	10	29%	⚔ compare
MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ	14	2	12	14%	⚔ compare
SMOKE THIS	14	0	14	0%	⚔ compare
REDNECK SCIENTIFIC	14	0	14	0%	⚔ compare
K & D SMOKERS	12	2	10	17%	⚔ compare
CONTAGIOUS Q	12	2	10	17%	⚔ compare
WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	12	0	12	0%	⚔ compare
PICKIN' PORKERS	11	3	8	27%	⚔ compare
BALONEY JOE'S BBQ	10	4	6	40%	⚔ compare
HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY	10	3	7	30%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	22	2	1	172.5828	151.9540	163.76	top 61%
Pork Ribs	22	5	2	174.2972	146.7888	163.04	top 58%
Pork	22	4	0	174.2628	153.0512	163.22	top 60%
Brisket	22	3	1	173.7028	145.1428	159.82	top 64%

“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
NC	19	0	top 66%
VA	3	0	top 77%

By contest size

Field	Contests	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	1	top 64%
Medium (20–39)	8	top 78%
Large (40+)	13	top 61%

Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic	4	14	top 52%	2017-09-15
BBQ Capital Cook Off	3	33	top 68%	2019-04-26
Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge	2	18	top 76%	2021-09-24
Jiggy With The Piggy	2	44	top 68%	2019-05-03
Uptown Lexington BBQ Capital Cook Off	2	30	top 71%	2017-04-28

The story so far (16 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 8.4 yrs 2013-04-26 → 2021-09-24

Busiest season 2019 5 contests

Contests a season 2.4 across 9 seasons in the data

Cooks most in NC 19 of 22 contests · 2 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 14 5 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 22 entries · 0 wins · 2 calls

Strongest meat Chicken averages 163.76 · weakest Brisket (159.82)

Walk rate 41% a top-10 call in 9 of 22 contests

Overall top-10 rate 5% 1 of 22 contests

Master average 649.84 out of 720 · 22 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 399 364–665 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 1,037 22 mapped stops · furthest 144 mi

Schedule strength 1578 average field rating faced — tougher than 62% of rated contests

Purse competed for $76,205 listed at 8 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships 0 from 7 state-championship entries

Power rating 1461 peak 1461 · #5039 of 6,413 rated

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

2013
Apr 26 First tracked contest BBQ Capital Cook-Off
Apr 26 First call BBQ Capital Cook-Off
Apr 26 Peak power rating (1499) BBQ Capital Cook-Off
Sep 20 First overall past 90% of a perfect score650.2284 Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic
2014
Sep 12 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)174.2972 Black Dog Music and Que Festival
2016
May 6 10th tracked contest Jiggy With the Piggy
2017
Sep 15 Career-best overall score677.6572 Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic
2019
Oct 4 First overall top-10 Hops and Hogs Festival
2021
Sep 24 Most recent contest Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+13.3	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic	2017-09-15
+3.9	BBQ Capital Cookoff	2014-04-25
+2.1	Hops and Hogs Festival	2019-10-04
+0.6	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic	2016-09-16
+0.2	Uptown Lexington BBQ Capital Cook Off	2016-04-22

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-6.7	Jammin' Pig BBQ Musice Festival	2014-04-11
-6.5	The Nightmare Before Zom-B-Q	2020-10-29
-6.3	Bone Suckin Sauce Peak City Pig Fest	2018-06-15
-5.4	Uptown Lexington BBQ Capital Cook Off	2017-04-28
-4.1	Butts and Beans BBQ Challenge	2019-09-27

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	Top-10s	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2021	1	0	0%	top 78%	90.5%	90.5%
2020	2	0	50%	top 80%	92.6%	92.4%
2019	5	1	40%	top 77%	92.7%	89.8%
2018	1	0	0%	top 80%	88%	88%
2017	2	0	50%	top 51%	94.1%	92%
2016	3	0	33%	top 61%	91.8%	90.5%
2015	3	0	33%	top 66%	91.3%	90.3%
2014	3	0	67%	top 61%	90.3%	89.3%
2013	2	0	50%	top 60%	90.3%	89.4%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2021-09-24	Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge 🏅 Rutherford College, NC	21 / 27 (651.2456)	24 (157.0628)	14 (166.2744)	11 (169.6684)	21 (158.2400)
2020-10-29	The Nightmare Before Zom-B-Q 🏅 Wytheville, VA	28 / 33 (663.9660)	32 (160.5600)	28 (164.5716)	13 (172.0000)	22 (166.8344)
2020-09-11	Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge 🏅 Connelly Springs, NC	18 / 24 (666.7428)	14 (166.2284)	10 (170.8344)	17 (165.6800)	17 (164.0000)
2019-10-04	Hops and Hogs Festival Huntersville, NC	7 / 11 (667.3940)	3 (172.5828)	4 (170.2856)	10 (162.2628)	7 (162.2628)
2019-09-27	Butts and Beans BBQ Challenge 🏅 Newton, NC	31 / 37 (649.0628)	32 (159.9428)	28 (163.4172)	30 (159.9656)	19 (165.7372)
2019-07-19	Chillin & Grillin in the Glades 🏅 Wise, VA	23 / 27 (650.0912)	13 (169.6800)	23 (161.0972)	26 (155.9312)	20 (163.3828)
2019-05-03	Jiggy With The Piggy 🏅 Kannapolis, NC	44 / 60 (642.1028)	53 (157.0856)	37 (161.1088)	21 (166.8228)	50 (157.0856)
2019-04-26	BBQ Capital Cook Off 🏅 Lexington, NC	33 / 43 (625.4968)	36 (151.9540)	40 (146.7888)	36 (153.0512)	3 (173.7028)
2018-06-15	Bone Suckin Sauce Peak City Pig Fest Apex, NC	35 / 44 (633.6000)	27 (165.1544)	25 (159.4056)	32 (158.8000)	37 (150.2400)
2017-09-15	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic Salisbury, NC	14 / 63 (677.6572)	28 (167.9656)	10 (173.1544)	8 (174.2628)	27 (162.2744)
2017-04-28	Uptown Lexington BBQ Capital Cook Off Lexington, NC	30 / 38 (646.6968)	23 (165.6800)	14 (167.9772)	34 (155.3712)	30 (157.6684)
2016-09-16	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic Salisbury, NC	40 / 68 (643.9200)	29 (166.8456)	52 (156.5372)	49 (157.6800)	28 (162.8572)
2016-05-06	Jiggy With the Piggy Kannapolis, NC	47 / 76 (650.1140)	58 (158.2400)	49 (161.6684)	30 (166.2628)	37 (163.9428)
2016-04-22	Uptown Lexington BBQ Capital Cook Off Lexington, NC	34 / 54 (661.0744)	32 (166.2744)	26 (169.1200)	10 (172.5828)	49 (153.0972)
2015-09-18	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic Salisbury, NC	37 / 59 (657.0060)	40 (164.5372)	39 (159.9544)	27 (167.4172)	32 (165.0972)
2015-04-24	BBQ Capital Cook-Off Lexington, NC	43 / 60 (642.7656)	56 (155.9772)	35 (162.8228)	46 (161.7028)	35 (162.2628)
2015-04-10	Bib's Camel City Cookoff (formerly Jammin' Pig) Winston-Salem, NC	33 / 51 (650.1828)	31 (165.7144)	3 (174.2628)	34 (161.0856)	48 (149.1200)
2014-09-12	Black Dog Music and Que Festival Floyd, VA	13 / 21 (650.1256)	17 (156.4912)	3 (174.2972)	18 (158.2400)	10 (161.0972)
2014-04-25	BBQ Capital Cookoff Lexington, NC	27 / 62 (646.7312)	14 (170.2628)	39 (156.5600)	39 (159.3828)	24 (160.5256)
2014-04-11	Jammin' Pig BBQ Musice Festival Winston-Salem, NC	23 / 30 (632.5144)	8 (168.5944)	28 (151.3944)	25 (154.8572)	22 (157.6684)
2013-09-20	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic Salisbury, NC	47 / 72 (650.2284)	21 (170.2628)	50 (160.5256)	39 (165.7256)	57 (153.7144)
2013-04-26	BBQ Capital Cook-Off Lexington, NC	39 / 71 (637.7140)	20 (165.7140)	47 (154.8572)	8 (172.0000)	59 (145.1428)

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
2021 ↗	Master	#1186 (72 pts)	#1518 (57 pts)	#1133 (107 pts)	#952 (122 pts)	#1203 (72 pts)
2020 ↗	Master	#610 (142 pts)	#612 (162 pts)	#569 (182 pts)	#517 (207 pts)	#606 (162 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#995 (263 pts)	#835 (383 pts)	#958 (308 pts)	#1177 (223 pts)	#953 (308 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1454 (180 pts)	#1547 (180 pts)	#1542 (180 pts)	#1267 (255 pts)	#1503 (180 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1372 (180 pts)	#1476 (180 pts)	#976 (355 pts)	#1505 (180 pts)	#1431 (180 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1183 (246 pts)	#961 (366 pts)	#986 (351 pts)	#1411 (211 pts)	#1159 (271 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#1471 (150 pts)	#1360 (195 pts)	#1571 (150 pts)	#1182 (245 pts)	#1506 (150 pts)