THE GOOD CUE CREW

THE GOOD CUE CREW is a competition barbecue team with 39 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2021. Their best overall finish is 3rd of 42 at the Jim Beam BBQ Classic (2018). They are ranked #1488 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#1,488

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1565

peak 1591 · rated over 39 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Jun 28, 2013

latest Mar 27, 2021 · 7.7 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#387

Master 2018 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

10 podiums

Overall top-10s

28% of 39 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 48%

overall standings

Best overall

687.9312 / 720

Master · Jim Beam BBQ Classic

Perfect 180s

Current form

654.27 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 642.86 (+11.41)

Walk rate

62%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

177.1544

Pork · Ayr Charity BBQ

Consistency

±20.57

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 165.03 · weakest Brisket (158.64)

Road miles

7,352

across 39 mapped stops · furthest 544 mi

Schedule strength

40%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1552)

Purse competed for

$51K

listed at 7 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 6 state-championship entries

Master avg

642.86 / 720

39 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (11 found in their record)

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

They almost always walk

62% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 24 of 39 contests

A top-10 category call in 62% of their 39 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

687.9312 career-best overall

95.5% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 687.9312 at Jim Beam BBQ Classic — 95.5% of a perfect 720.

Master
Oct 5, 2018

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

SMOKIN' AIN'T EASY has finished one call ahead of THE GOOD CUE CREW 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

23–2 behind in the head-to-head

GOOD SMOKE BBQ ahead in 92% of their meetings

GOOD SMOKE BBQ has come out ahead in 23 of their 25 shared contests.

The weak link

−6.4 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 6.39 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 21% of the time against 36%.

Brisket avg 158.64
Chicken avg 165.03
8 calls in 39 entries

A strong matchup

10–3 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 77% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of MORT'S MEAT MAFIA in 10 of their 13 shared contests.

The comeback

1.5 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 1.5 years, then back at BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) (Mar 26, 2021).

last seen Sep 21, 2019
back Mar 26, 2021

Show 4 more storylines

Chicken nemesis

17 of 27 shared chicken entries lost

SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS ahead 63% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS has out-cooked them in 17 of 27 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

J & J Backyard BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

A September team

Top 38% average finish in September

Something about September: average finish in the top 38% across 9 contests, versus top 48% the rest of the year.

9 September contests
top 48% the rest of the year

The long haul

7,352 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 7,352 miles across 39 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 544 miles to Jim Beam BBQ Classic.

39 mapped stops
furthest 544 mi

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	#917 (120 pts)	#530 (350 pts)	#951 (140 pts)	#960 (120 pts)	#904 (135 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#605 (538 pts)	#568 (608 pts)	#769 (423 pts)	#559 (618 pts)	#690 (488 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#387 (883 pts)	#542 (688 pts)	#533 (713 pts)	#596 (623 pts)	#342 (993 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#561 (700 pts)	#486 (800 pts)	#501 (790 pts)	#811 (495 pts)	#608 (650 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#573 (690 pts)	#486 (830 pts)	#719 (560 pts)	#577 (710 pts)	#630 (635 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#609 (600 pts)	#408 (935 pts)	#542 (720 pts)	#784 (475 pts)	#563 (660 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1070 (286 pts)	#828 (436 pts)	#1092 (301 pts)	#1141 (286 pts)	#983 (336 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#1536 (149 pts)	#1599 (149 pts)	#1512 (164 pts)	#1623 (149 pts)	#1559 (149 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to THE GOOD CUE CREW, each with one reason worth a look.

901Q

#1,490 of the rated field

1565 power rating

Contests: 48
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 25%
Peak: 1573

Careers of much the same size, 48 contests to 39, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 46 contests
last seen Sep 18, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Lake Rat BBQ

#1,491 of the rated field

1565 power rating

Contests: 29
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 17%
Peak: 1593

29 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 17% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 29 contests
last seen Jun 11, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

BRUTUS AND COMPANY

#1,485 of the rated field

1565 power rating

Contests: 29
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 31%
Peak: 1593

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

rated over 28 contests
last seen Jul 12, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

DADDY O'S SMOKIN' BBQ

#1,486 of the rated field

1565 power rating

Contests: 26
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 12%
Peak: 1574

Level with THE GOOD CUE CREW on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 26 contests
last seen Sep 23, 2022

⚔ Compare careers

STRESS RELIEF BBQ

#1,489 of the rated field

1565 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 17%
Peak: 1566

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 18 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 18 contests
last seen Jun 22, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

AGAINST THE GRAIN BBQ

#1,483 of the rated field

1566 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 25%
Peak: 1566

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 12 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Jan 27, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS	27	5	22	19%	⚔ compare
BEHIND BBQ	25	13	12	52%	⚔ compare
GOOD SMOKE BBQ	25	2	23	8%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS	23	2	21	9%	⚔ compare
TRANQUIL CARNIVORES	20	9	11	45%	⚔ compare
KISS MY BBQ	19	9	10	47%	⚔ compare
THREE DOGS BBQ	19	9	10	47%	⚔ compare
Sweet Heat BBQ	17	10	7	59%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN' AIN'T EASY	17	8	9	47%	⚔ compare
RED VALLEY BBQ	17	7	10	41%	⚔ compare
TEAM EATAPEDIA	15	3	12	20%	⚔ compare
Q'N CANUCKS	15	3	12	20%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA	14	1	13	7%	⚔ compare
MORT'S MEAT MAFIA	13	10	3	77%	⚔ compare
JACK9 BBQ	13	6	7	46%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	39	14	0	6	176.5600	147.4284	165.03	top 40%
Pork Ribs	39	8	0	0	171.9656	146.2172	160.19	top 51%
Pork	39	6	1	2	177.1544	139.9312	159.01	top 57%
Brisket	39	8	0	2	174.2628	139.9772	158.64	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 field size and state

By contest size

Field	Contests	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	3	top 29%
Medium (20–39)	13	top 50%
Large (40+)	23	top 49%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
NY	24	top 49%
ON	5	top 30%
VA	3	top 61%
PA	3	top 63%
KY	1	top 7%
WV	1	top 75%
CA	1	top 71%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Oinktoberfest	6	8	top 36%	Sep 21, 2019
BBQ Gives Back (Day 2)	2	29	top 72%	Mar 27, 2021
Hudson Valley Ribfest	2	16	top 42%	Aug 16, 2019
I Love Barbecue & Music Festival	2	11	top 57%	Jul 5, 2019
BBQ in The Valley	2	6	top 27%	May 4, 2018
Finger Lakes Fire & Smoke	2	13	top 53%	Sep 3, 2016
Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que	2	25	top 59%	Jun 19, 2015
Roc City Rib Fest	2	31	top 66%	May 23, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2018 7 contests

Contests a season 4.9 across 8 seasons in the data

Most contests held in NY 24 of 39 contests · 7 states and provinces in all

Contests visited 27 8 of them more than once

Opponents faced 605 finished ahead 791 times, behind 821

Longest layoff 1.5 yrs Sep 21, 2019 → Mar 26, 2021

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

20211 milestone

Mar 27 Most recent contest BBQ Gives Back (Day 2)

20193 milestones

Jun 21 First category win (Pork) Ayr Charity BBQ
Jun 21 Career-best single call (Pork)177.1544 Ayr Charity BBQ
Jul 5 Peak power rating (1591) I Love Barbecue & Music Festival

20182 milestones

May 4 25th tracked contest BBQ in The Valley
Oct 5 Career-best overall score687.9312 Jim Beam BBQ Classic

20161 milestone

Jul 8 First overall podium Drayton Kinsmen Smoke and Sound Festival

20154 milestones

Jun 19 First call Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que
Jul 10 First overall top-10 Drayton Kinsmen Smoke and Sounds Festval
Jul 10 First overall past 90% of a perfect score665.0968 Drayton Kinsmen Smoke and Sounds Festval
Aug 8 10th tracked contest Fatboys Canadian Capital Classic BBQ Competition

20131 milestone

Jun 28 First tracked contest Boston Hill BBQ Fest

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+16.4	Jim Beam BBQ Classic	Oct 5, 2018
+13.5	Drayton Kinsmen Smoke and Sound Festival	Jul 8, 2016
+12	Capital BBQ Festival	Aug 5, 2017
+11.9	Oinktoberfest	Sep 22, 2017
+10.3	BBQ in The Valley	May 4, 2018

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-9.9	BBQ Gives Back (Day 1)	Mar 26, 2021
-9.5	BBQ Gives Back (Day 2)	Mar 27, 2021
-9.1	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Jun 9, 2017
-8.6	Smokin' Eagles International BBQ Festival	Aug 8, 2014
-8.2	Hudson Valley Ribfest	Aug 16, 2019

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	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2021	2	0	0	50%	top 72%	92.1%	91.9%
2019	6	2	1	67%	top 41%	91.8%	90.6%
2018	7	3	0	86%	top 40%	95.5%	91%
2017	6	3	0	67%	top 45%	92.9%	89.5%
2016	6	1	0	67%	top 43%	92.8%	89.2%
2015	6	2	0	83%	top 49%	92.4%	88.1%
2014	4	0	0	0%	top 64%	87.9%	86.7%
2013	2	0	0	0%	top 67%	85.8%	84.9%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Mar 27, 2021	BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) 🏅 Urbanna, VA	29 / 40 (663.2684)	2 (176.5600)	24 (166.8228)	39 (153.6228)	22 (166.2628)
Mar 26, 2021	BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) 🏅 Urbanna, VA	33 / 46 (660.4344)	19 (170.2744)	22 (165.0972)	28 (167.4056)	39 (157.6572)
Sep 21, 2019	Oinktoberfest 🏅 Clarence, NY	14 / 43 (655.3368)	23 (161.1084)	22 (160.5600)	5 (170.8228)	19 (162.8456)
Aug 31, 2019	Route Six Ribfest 🏅 Coudersport, PA	6 / 16 (650.6860)	6 (169.1200)	13 (156.5144)	4 (169.6800)	9 (155.3716)
Aug 16, 2019	Hudson Valley Ribfest 🏅 New Paltz, NY	30 / 53 (641.6116)	28 (163.9772)	32 (158.8344)	27 (161.1316)	28 (157.6684)
Jul 5, 2019	I Love Barbecue & Music Festival 🏅 Lake Placid, NY	11 / 32 (653.5768)	4 (170.8456)	22 (156.5484)	12 (165.0856)	15 (161.0972)
Jun 21, 2019	Ayr Charity BBQ Ayr Ontario	8 / 23 (661.0744)	8 (170.2628)	12 (162.8228)	1 (177.1544)	20 (150.8344)
May 25, 2019	Capital BBQ Festival Ottawa, ON	21 / 43 (649.6232)	14 (166.2744)	14 (165.1544)	32 (154.8000)	16 (163.3944)
Oct 5, 2018	Jim Beam BBQ Classic Springfield, KY	3 / 42 (687.9312)	13 (172.5600)	14 (171.9656)	12 (169.1428)	4 (174.2628)
Sep 22, 2018	Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY	9 / 51 (648.4568)	17 (161.1084)	25 (156.5256)	22 (157.6800)	3 (173.1428)
Aug 31, 2018	West Virginia BBQ Festival (JUDGES FULL) Ranson, WV	30 / 40 (631.2116)	29 (160.5144)	29 (158.2628)	30 (158.2172)	33 (154.2172)
Aug 17, 2018	Hudson Valley Ribfest New Paltz, NY	16 / 58 (662.7884)	22 (167.4400)	25 (164.5256)	29 (161.1544)	5 (169.6684)
Jun 23, 2018	Smoke In the Woods CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES Galway, NY	15 / 23 (653.6000)	10 (167.9772)	19 (159.9772)	9 (166.8456)	15 (158.8000)
May 25, 2018	Gettysburg BBQ Festival (JUDGES FULL) Gettysburg, PA	22 / 35 (647.8516)	18 (165.0972)	5 (170.8572)	31 (153.0628)	23 (158.8344)
May 4, 2018	BBQ in The Valley Jamestown, NY	6 / 25 (654.8340)	12 (161.1656)	7 (165.6684)	13 (161.6800)	9 (166.3200)
Oct 13, 2017	Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest Woodstock, VA	12 / 30 (655.7940)	13 (166.2284)	4 (169.6916)	21 (158.8000)	14 (161.0740)
Sep 22, 2017	Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY	8 / 53 (662.2968)	30 (160.5256)	4 (169.1428)	12 (163.4400)	6 (169.1884)
Aug 5, 2017	Capital BBQ Festival Ottawa, ON	7 / 42 (645.5652)	2 (172.5828)	13 (159.3484)	26 (155.9656)	19 (157.6684)
Jul 7, 2017	I love Barbecue & Music Festival Lake Placid, NY	32 / 40 (607.3372)	20 (157.7028)	20 (157.6688)	29 (150.8572)	36 (141.1084)
Jun 9, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Harrisburg, PA	26 / 29 (627.9312)	26 (157.6912)	26 (151.4288)	23 (157.6684)	17 (161.1428)
May 5, 2017	BBQ In the Valley Jamestown, NY	8 / 26 (668.5484)	3 (174.8456)	12 (165.1544)	13 (162.8684)	11 (165.6800)
Sep 23, 2016	Ointoberfest BBQ Cookoff Clarence, NY	12 / 54 (648.5028)	4 (170.2628)	26 (156.5600)	10 (166.2628)	25 (155.4172)
Sep 3, 2016	Finger Lakes Fire & Smoke Geneva, NY	13 / 35 (646.3316)	14 (165.1200)	19 (158.8800)	16 (161.1772)	14 (161.1544)
Aug 12, 2016	Salamanca Rock'in Ribfest Salamanca, NY	14 / 28 (651.8628)	17 (160.5256)	7 (169.1200)	14 (164)	19 (158.2172)
Aug 6, 2016	Fatboys Classic-Canadian BBQ Championship Ottawa, CA	29 / 41 (588.9824)	27 (150.2400)	29 (148.5484)	37 (139.9312)	17 (150.2628)
Jul 8, 2016	Drayton Kinsmen Smoke and Sound Festival Drayton, ON	3 / 17 (668.4916)	3 (173.1428)	14 (158.8116)	2 (169.7028)	3 (166.8344)
May 28, 2016	Roc City Rib Fest Rochester, NY	30 / 50 (650.1140)	10 (171.4056)	18 (166.8456)	44 (157.0512)	34 (154.8116)
Sep 19, 2015	Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY	21 / 52 (634.7312)	30 (158.2284)	6 (167.9772)	44 (148.5484)	16 (159.9772)
Sep 4, 2015	Finger Lakes Fire & Smoke Geneva, NY	17 / 25 (626.1828)	4 (166.8572)	7 (161.6684)	12 (157.6800)	22 (139.9772)
Aug 8, 2015	Fatboys Canadian Capital Classic BBQ Competition Ottawa, ON	7 / 22 (617.1084)	3 (166.2628)	6 (154.8800)	19 (147.3828)	12 (148.5828)
Jul 10, 2015	Drayton Kinsmen Smoke and Sounds Festval Drayton, ON	6 / 18 (665.0968)	3 (173.7028)	12 (162.2744)	13 (160.5712)	5 (168.5484)
Jun 19, 2015	Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que Wilson, NY	30 / 47 (620.4116)	6 (171.9772)	39 (146.2172)	38 (144.5600)	20 (157.6572)
May 23, 2015	Roc City Rib Fest Rochester, NY	31 / 57 (644.4228)	25 (165.6684)	38 (157.6916)	49 (154.2400)	12 (166.8228)
Sep 20, 2014	Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY	27 / 66 (631.9888)	14 (164.5600)	22 (161.7144)	41 (152.5944)	33 (153.1200)
Aug 8, 2014	Smokin' Eagles International BBQ Festival N. Tonawanda, NY	32 / 39 (619.8512)	11 (167.9656)	32 (152.5600)	33 (153.6456)	36 (145.6800)
Jun 13, 2014	Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que Wilson, NY	25 / 47 (632.5944)	20 (164)	36 (150.8916)	34 (153.7028)	15 (164)
May 24, 2014	Roc City Rib Fest Rochester, NY	67 / 86 (612.4684)	58 (155.9656)	67 (148)	36 (161.1200)	69 (147.3828)
Sep 20, 2013	Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY	51 / 71 (605.0056)	60 (149.0972)	36 (153.1544)	49 (153.6912)	49 (149.0628)
Jun 28, 2013	Boston Hill BBQ Fest Hamburg, NY	30 / 49 (617.7140)	43 (147.4284)	22 (158.8570)	26 (158.2858)	28 (153.1428)

THE GOOD CUE CREW

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Best top-10 run

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 (11 found in their record)

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

A September team

The long haul

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, 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

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)