SAPONI SMOKERS

SAPONI SMOKERS is a competition barbecue team with 22 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2021. Their best overall finish is 7th of 11 at the Hops and Hogs Festival (2019). They are ranked #5071 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#5,071

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1461

peak 1461 · rated over 22 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Apr 26, 2013

latest Sep 24, 2021 · 8.4 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#610

Master 2020 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

4 podiums

Overall top-10s

5% 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

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 163.76 · weakest Brisket (159.82)

Road miles

1,037

across 22 mapped stops · furthest 144 mi

Schedule strength

61%

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

Purse competed for

$76K

listed at 8 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 7 state-championship entries

Master avg

649.84 / 720

22 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (5 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

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
Sep 15, 2017

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

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
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)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to SAPONI SMOKERS, each with one reason worth a look.

134 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

#5,079 of the rated field

1461 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 May 24, 2019

⚔ Head-to-head

Sloppy Seconds

#5,091 of the rated field

1461 power rating

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

They've been 1520 at their best, 60 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 20 contests
last seen Sep 27, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

JERRY KING MIDLAND TX

#5,082 of the rated field

1461 power rating

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

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

⚔ Compare careers

HOT ASH BBQ COMPANY

#5,083 of the rated field

1461 power rating

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

Careers of much the same size, 16 contests to 22, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 16 contests
last seen Aug 24, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

Men of Erin

#5,065 of the rated field

1461 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 21%
Peak: 1508

19 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 21% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Jun 26, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

SONS OF BRISKETS - KS

#5,070 of the rated field

1461 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1461

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

rated over 15 contests
last seen Aug 7, 2020

⚔ Compare careers

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 field size and state

By contest size

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

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
NC	19	0	top 66%
VA	3	0	top 77%

Repeat visits (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%	Sep 15, 2017
BBQ Capital Cook Off	3	33	top 68%	Apr 26, 2019
Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge	2	18	top 76%	Sep 24, 2021
Jiggy With The Piggy	2	44	top 68%	May 3, 2019
Uptown Lexington BBQ Capital Cook Off	2	30	top 71%	Apr 28, 2017

More numbers

Busiest season 2019 5 contests

Contests a season 2.4 across 9 seasons in the data

Most contests held in NC 19 of 22 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 14 5 of them more than once

Opponents faced 395 finished ahead 364 times, behind 665

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

20211 milestone

Sep 24 Most recent contest Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge

20191 milestone

Oct 4 First overall top-10 Hops and Hogs Festival

20171 milestone

Sep 15 Career-best overall score677.6572 Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic

20161 milestone

May 6 10th tracked contest Jiggy With the Piggy

20141 milestone

Sep 12 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)174.2972 Black Dog Music and Que Festival

20134 milestones

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

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	Sep 15, 2017
+3.9	BBQ Capital Cookoff	Apr 25, 2014
+2	Hops and Hogs Festival	Oct 4, 2019
+0.6	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic	Sep 16, 2016
+0.2	Uptown Lexington BBQ Capital Cook Off	Apr 22, 2016

📉 Toughest weekends

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

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	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
Sep 24, 2021	Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge 🏅 Rutherford College, NC	21 / 27 (651.2456)	24 (157.0628)	14 (166.2744)	11 (169.6684)	21 (158.2400)
Oct 29, 2020	The Nightmare Before Zom-B-Q 🏅 Wytheville, VA	28 / 33 (663.9660)	32 (160.5600)	28 (164.5716)	13 (172)	22 (166.8344)
Sep 11, 2020	Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge 🏅 Connelly Springs, NC	18 / 24 (666.7428)	14 (166.2284)	10 (170.8344)	17 (165.6800)	17 (164)
Oct 4, 2019	Hops and Hogs Festival Huntersville, NC	7 / 11 (667.3940)	3 (172.5828)	4 (170.2856)	10 (162.2628)	7 (162.2628)
Sep 27, 2019	Butts and Beans BBQ Challenge 🏅 Newton, NC	31 / 37 (649.0628)	32 (159.9428)	28 (163.4172)	30 (159.9656)	19 (165.7372)
Jul 19, 2019	Chillin & Grillin in the Glades 🏅 Wise, VA	23 / 27 (650.0912)	13 (169.6800)	23 (161.0972)	26 (155.9312)	20 (163.3828)
May 3, 2019	Jiggy With The Piggy 🏅 Kannapolis, NC	44 / 60 (642.1028)	53 (157.0856)	37 (161.1088)	21 (166.8228)	50 (157.0856)
Apr 26, 2019	BBQ Capital Cook Off 🏅 Lexington, NC	33 / 43 (625.4968)	36 (151.9540)	40 (146.7888)	36 (153.0512)	3 (173.7028)
Jun 15, 2018	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)
Sep 15, 2017	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)
Apr 28, 2017	Uptown Lexington BBQ Capital Cook Off Lexington, NC	30 / 38 (646.6968)	23 (165.6800)	14 (167.9772)	34 (155.3712)	30 (157.6684)
Sep 16, 2016	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)
May 6, 2016	Jiggy With the Piggy Kannapolis, NC	47 / 76 (650.1140)	58 (158.2400)	49 (161.6684)	30 (166.2628)	37 (163.9428)
Apr 22, 2016	Uptown Lexington BBQ Capital Cook Off Lexington, NC	34 / 54 (661.0744)	32 (166.2744)	26 (169.1200)	10 (172.5828)	49 (153.0972)
Sep 18, 2015	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)
Apr 24, 2015	BBQ Capital Cook-Off Lexington, NC	43 / 60 (642.7656)	56 (155.9772)	35 (162.8228)	46 (161.7028)	35 (162.2628)
Apr 10, 2015	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)
Sep 12, 2014	Black Dog Music and Que Festival Floyd, VA	13 / 21 (650.1256)	17 (156.4912)	3 (174.2972)	18 (158.2400)	10 (161.0972)
Apr 25, 2014	BBQ Capital Cookoff Lexington, NC	27 / 62 (646.7312)	14 (170.2628)	39 (156.5600)	39 (159.3828)	24 (160.5256)
Apr 11, 2014	Jammin' Pig BBQ Musice Festival Winston-Salem, NC	23 / 30 (632.5144)	8 (168.5944)	28 (151.3944)	25 (154.8572)	22 (157.6684)
Sep 20, 2013	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)
Apr 26, 2013	BBQ Capital Cook-Off Lexington, NC	39 / 71 (637.7140)	20 (165.7140)	47 (154.8572)	8 (172)	59 (145.1428)

SAPONI SMOKERS

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (5 found in their record)

High-water mark

A tough matchup

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

The metronome

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

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

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

By meat

By field size and state

By contest size

By state / province (where the contests were held)

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

More numbers

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

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

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

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

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