HEY GOOD BUDDY BARBECUE TEAM

HEY GOOD BUDDY BARBECUE TEAM is a competition barbecue team with 23 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2018. Their best overall finish is 11th of 26 at the Squealin in the Square (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) (2017). They are ranked #4439 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#4,439

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1474

peak 1502 · rated over 23 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Aug 23, 2013

latest Jun 1, 2018 · 4.8 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#836

Master 2017 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

1 podium

Overall top-10s

0% of 23 contests

Avg finish

top 68%

overall standings

Best overall

674.7888 / 720

Master · Smoke on the Shrine Lake & Bluesgrass Festival

Perfect 180s

Current form

665.11 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 652.59 (+12.52)

Walk rate

52%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

174.8572

Pork Ribs · Que'n In Cumming (DAY 1) Duel

Consistency

±15.85

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 166.99 · weakest Brisket (159.59)

Road miles

2,920

across 23 mapped stops · furthest 137 mi

Schedule strength

68%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1586)

State championships

0 🏅

won from 1 state-championship entry

Master avg

652.59 / 720

23 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (9 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

674.7888 career-best overall

93.7% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 674.7888 at Smoke on the Shrine Lake & Bluesgrass Festival — 93.7% of a perfect 720.

Master
Jul 29, 2016

Their season

2014 their best year

2014 was the year it came together: 3 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 47%.

3 contests
0 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 47%

A tough matchup

15–1 behind in the head-to-head

SAUCED! BBQ TEAM ahead in 94% of their meetings

SAUCED! BBQ TEAM has come out ahead in 15 of their 16 shared contests.

The weak link

−7.4 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 7.40 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 13% of the time against 26%.

Brisket avg 159.59
Chicken avg 166.99
3 calls in 23 entries

A strong matchup

8–3 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 73% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of PIG ON FIRE in 8 of their 11 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

13 of 16 shared chicken entries lost

SAUCED! BBQ TEAM ahead 81% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, SAUCED! BBQ TEAM has out-cooked them in 13 of 16 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

SOME-R SWINE has landed one call behind them 2 times.

Show 2 more storylines

The metronome

±2.20% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.20% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 90.6% of a perfect score
23 contests

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked Piggin In The Park every year from 2015 to 2018 — the contest they never miss.

4 visits in all
best finish 11th

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
2018 ↗	Master	#1942 (64 pts)	#1911 (79 pts)	#2483 (59 pts)	#2015 (64 pts)	#1762 (109 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#836 (445 pts)	#784 (505 pts)	#832 (475 pts)	#840 (475 pts)	#608 (650 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1719 (130 pts)	#1406 (210 pts)	#1542 (180 pts)	#1130 (305 pts)	#1729 (140 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1338 (190 pts)	#1180 (260 pts)	#1511 (175 pts)	#1427 (205 pts)	#1480 (175 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1082 (280 pts)	#1026 (335 pts)	#1357 (220 pts)	#1081 (305 pts)	#1288 (230 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#1589 (141 pts)	#1644 (141 pts)	#1570 (151 pts)	#1681 (141 pts)	#1620 (141 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to HEY GOOD BUDDY BARBECUE TEAM, each with one reason worth a look.

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

SMOKIN TRIGGERS

#4,448 of the rated field

1474 power rating

Contests: 152
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 24%
Peak: 1708

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to HEY GOOD BUDDY BARBECUE TEAM)

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

rated over 144 contests
last seen Aug 11, 2023

⚔ Head-to-head

RICH AND STU'S VOODOO BBQ

#4,454 of the rated field

1474 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 5%
Peak: 1502

Careers of much the same size, 22 contests to 23, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 22 contests
last seen Apr 29, 2022

⚔ Compare careers

HONEY BEARS BBQ TEAM

#4,455 of the rated field

1474 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 5%
Peak: 1503

20 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 5% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 20 contests
last seen Jul 13, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

McQ Smokers

#4,435 of the rated field

1474 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1474

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 17 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 17 contests
last seen Sep 11, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

A TASTE OF CAROLINA

#4,423 of the rated field

1475 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1511

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

rated over 17 contests
last seen Sep 27, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

Team Sunrise BBQ

#4,457 of the rated field

1474 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 43%
Peak: 1474

6 straight overall top-10s says this rating is a moving target.

rated over 14 contests
last seen Jun 19, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SAUCED! BBQ TEAM	16	1	15	6%	⚔ compare
SMOKING BUTT HEADS	15	2	13	13%	⚔ compare
MIDNIGHT BURN	14	1	13	7%	⚔ compare
PIG ON FIRE	11	8	3	73%	⚔ compare
Pot's BBQ	11	2	9	18%	⚔ compare
SMOKE THIS	11	0	11	0%	⚔ compare
Bald Hawg BBQ	11	0	11	0%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA	11	0	11	0%	⚔ compare
CONTAGIOUS Q	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
J & B'S BBQ	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
ELITE BBQ SMOKERS	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
Killer B's BBQ	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
Backwoods BBQ	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
MUTTLEY CREW BBQ	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
V QUE	8	5	3	63%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	23	6	0	174.2628	147.3372	166.99	top 52%
Pork Ribs	23	4	0	174.8572	145.6344	162.32	top 62%
Pork	23	3	1	174.2856	152.5256	163.69	top 61%
Brisket	23	3	0	171.4056	145.6572	159.59	top 66%

“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)	13	0	top 67%
Large (40+)	10	0	top 68%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
SC	11	top 66%
GA	7	top 74%
NC	5	top 62%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Piggin In The Park	4	11	top 68%	Jun 1, 2018
The National BBQ Cup	3	42	top 77%	Nov 20, 2015
Que'n In Cumming (DAY 1)	2	36	top 77%	Nov 17, 2017
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2	21	top 85%	Aug 18, 2017
Sooie't Relief BBQ Benefit	2	22	top 69%	Aug 22, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2017 8 contests

Contests a season 3.8 across 6 seasons in the data

Most contests held in SC 11 of 23 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 15 5 of them more than once

Opponents faced 466 finished ahead 337 times, behind 667

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

20181 milestone

Jun 1 Most recent contest Piggin In The Park

20171 milestone

Nov 17 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)174.8572 Que'n In Cumming (DAY 1) Duel

20161 milestone

Jul 29 Career-best overall score674.7888 Smoke on the Shrine Lake & Bluesgrass Festival

20152 milestones

May 29 Peak power rating (1502) Piggin' in the Park
Nov 20 10th tracked contest The National BBQ Cup

20142 milestones

Jun 6 First call Lincolnton Hog Happenin'
Jun 6 First overall past 90% of a perfect score663.8168 Lincolnton Hog Happenin'

20131 milestone

Aug 23 First tracked contest Sooie't Relief BBQ Benefit

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+8.2	Squealin in the Square (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES)	Oct 6, 2017
+7.9	Lincolnton Hog Happenin'	Jun 6, 2014
+6.7	BBQ Capital Cook-Off	Apr 24, 2015
+4.8	The National BBQ Cup (SBBQA)	Nov 21, 2014
+4.5	Piggin In The Park (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES)	Jun 2, 2017

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-13.1	Piggin In The Park	May 20, 2016
-12.7	The National BBQ Cup (GBC Qualifier)	Nov 15, 2013
-12.2	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Jun 5, 2015
-7.8	Sooie't Relief BBQ Benefit	Aug 23, 2013
-7.6	Smoke on the Shrine Lake & Bluegrass Festival (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES)	Jul 28, 2017

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	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2018	1	0%	top 71%	92.4%	92.4%
2017	8	75%	top 67%	93.2%	91.7%
2016	4	75%	top 77%	93.7%	89.8%
2015	5	40%	top 65%	92.1%	89.8%
2014	3	33%	top 47%	93.6%	92.3%
2013	2	0%	top 88%	87.3%	86.8%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jun 1, 2018	Piggin In The Park Woodruff, SC	24 / 34 (665.5772)	21 (166.2400)	29 (163.3944)	24 (167.3828)	15 (168.5600)
Nov 17, 2017	Que'n In Cumming (DAY 1) Duel Cumming, GA	43 / 58 (671.2916)	25 (171.9772)	8 (174.8572)	54 (158.2172)	38 (166.2400)
Nov 17, 2017	Que'n In Cumming (DAY 1) Cumming, GA	48 / 62 (664.4000)	57 (161.6572)	45 (166.2400)	25 (169.6800)	33 (166.8228)
Oct 6, 2017	Squealin in the Square (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) Laurens, SC	11 / 26 (666.1600)	7 (169.1200)	18 (159.3828)	6 (170.8228)	9 (166.8344)
Aug 18, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Asheville, NC	21 / 29 (658.1256)	14 (168.5484)	25 (159.3600)	25 (159.3600)	6 (170.8572)
Jul 28, 2017	Smoke on the Shrine Lake & Bluegrass Festival (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) Summerville, SC	23 / 25 (652.9716)	17 (166.8228)	7 (171.4288)	25 (154.2056)	20 (160.5144)
Jul 6, 2017	SC Festival of Discovery (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) Greenwood, SC	49 / 89 (654.6396)	51 (163.9428)	52 (163.9428)	41 (165.6684)	50 (161.0856)
Jun 2, 2017	Piggin In The Park (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) Woodruff, SC	23 / 44 (663.8052)	30 (163.9312)	29 (162.2284)	22 (166.2400)	7 (171.4056)
Apr 28, 2017	Uptown Lexington BBQ Capital Cook Off Lexington, NC	27 / 38 (650.1488)	6 (171.9772)	35 (155.9544)	19 (165.1200)	31 (157.0972)
Nov 18, 2016	Que'n in Cumming (Day 1) Cumming, GA	36 / 47 (650.1140)	42 (160.5028)	16 (169.6684)	3 (174.2856)	46 (145.6572)
Sep 30, 2016	Squealin' on the Square Laurens, SC	20 / 26 (637.5428)	15 (165.0972)	18 (159.3828)	11 (166.2628)	22 (146.8000)
Jul 29, 2016	Smoke on the Shrine Lake & Bluesgrass Festival Summerville, SC	12 / 22 (674.7888)	6 (173.7144)	5 (172.5716)	18 (161.0856)	11 (167.4172)
May 20, 2016	Piggin In The Park Woodruff, SC	20 / 20 (622.6516)	7 (167.9656)	19 (146.1944)	20 (152.5256)	18 (155.9660)
Nov 20, 2015	The National BBQ Cup Cumming, GA	62 / 74 (642.1032)	46 (167.3828)	58 (162.8116)	67 (158.8000)	66 (153.1088)
Jun 5, 2015	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Asheville, NC	29 / 30 (630.6060)	17 (169.6684)	30 (145.6344)	24 (162.8116)	29 (152.4916)
May 29, 2015	Piggin' in the Park Woodruff, SC	11 / 23 (661.0856)	5 (174.2628)	12 (162.8456)	12 (164)	16 (159.9772)
May 8, 2015	Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off (GBC Qualifier) 🏅 Waynesboro, GA	22 / 39 (636.9256)	16 (165.1200)	25 (158.2172)	20 (160.5256)	29 (153.0628)
Apr 24, 2015	BBQ Capital Cook-Off Lexington, NC	23 / 60 (663.3256)	22 (169.6684)	9 (173.1316)	16 (168.5600)	52 (151.9656)
Nov 21, 2014	The National BBQ Cup (SBBQA) Cumming, GA	42 / 86 (674.1600)	40 (169.6800)	41 (167.9656)	53 (165.6916)	33 (170.8228)
Aug 22, 2014	Sooie't Relief BBQ Benefit Greer, SC	22 / 37 (654.7888)	17 (169.1200)	21 (163.4172)	25 (164.5944)	29 (157.6572)
Jun 6, 2014	Lincolnton Hog Happenin' Lincolnton, NC	12 / 38 (663.8168)	8 (171.9656)	25 (158.2172)	7 (171.4056)	19 (162.2284)
Nov 15, 2013	The National BBQ Cup (GBC Qualifier) Cumming, GA	78 / 79 (628.9140)	56 (165.0856)	72 (155.3944)	70 (162.2284)	77 (146.2056)
Aug 23, 2013	Sooie't Relief BBQ Benefit Greer, SC	32 / 41 (621.5772)	39 (147.3372)	23 (161.1316)	34 (155.3828)	27 (157.7256)

HEY GOOD BUDDY BARBECUE TEAM

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

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (9 found in their record)

High-water mark

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

The metronome

A standing appointment

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)