Rudes BBQ IL
Rating
1758
peak 1779
Contests
80
in the data
First seen
2022-06-17
latest 2026-06-19
Best ToY finish
#5
Backyard 2025
Grand champs
6
4 reserve
Category wins
11
29 podiums
Overall top-10s
37
of 80 contests
Avg finish
top 26%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
3 🔥
Current form
410.35 ▲
last 5 vs career avg 394.73 (+15.62)
Walk rate
68%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
9
best run (overall)
Best single call
180.0000 🔥
Consistency
±119.56
std dev of overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork Ribs
avg 171.43 · weakest Pork (167.54)
Road miles
13268
mi across 80 mapped stops · furthest 385 mi
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que has finished one call ahead of Rudes BBQ 3 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
Take It Easy BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
Big James Kitchen has come out ahead in 6 of their 8 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que in 22 of their 31 shared contests.
🏕️ Happy hunting ground
Morris Rhythm & BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) is their spot: 1 Grand Championship in 2 visits.
💔 The heartbreaker
Came within 0.0112 points of the Grand Championship at Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT) (2026-04-10).
🗡️ Giant slayer
Took the Grand Championship over a 41-team field at Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD).
📅 A September team
Something about September: average finish in the top 17% across 3 contests, versus top 26% the rest of the year.
🃏 Against the odds
Their Grand Championship at Morris Rhythm & BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) (2024-06-14) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 28-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ.
Teams like this (closest power rating, IL first)
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 63 | 32 | 3 | 10 | 180.0000 🔥 | 153.7144 | 171.26 | top 30% |
| Pork Ribs | 77 | 45 | 8 | 18 | 179.4400 | 157.1316 | 171.43 | top 31% |
| Pork | 16 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 176.5600 | 158.8116 | 167.54 | top 56% |
| Brisket | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 176.5716 | 157.6800 | 168.93 | top 46% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| IL | 21 | 4 | top 23% |
| WI | 11 | 1 | top 25% |
| TN | 9 | 0 | top 36% |
| MO | 8 | 1 | top 25% |
| IA | 7 | 0 | top 20% |
| KS | 2 | 0 | top 3% |
| IN | 1 | 0 | top 11% |
| MN | 1 | 0 | top 83% |
| MI | 1 | 0 | top 60% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 7 | 0 | top 21% |
| Medium (20–39) | 30 | 4 | top 24% |
| Large (40+) | 24 | 2 | top 30% |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2025 (32 contests)
- Cooks mostly in IL (30 of 80 contests)
- Most-entered category: Pork Ribs (77 entries)
- First Grand Championship in the data: Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) (2024-06-07)
- Wins it all in 8% of contests
- All-time average overall score: 394.73
- 3 perfect 180s on the books 🔥
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
Category scores over time
Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)
Where they finish (overall)
Best vs average (by meat)
Team of the Year rank by season
Season by season
| Season | Contests | GCs | Category wins | Best overall | Avg overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 686.1944 | 444.75 |
| 2025 | 32 | 4 | 6 | 701.0972 | 388.32 |
| 2024 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 677.0172 | 386.00 |
| 2023 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 491.9776 | 357.05 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 659.9316 | 435.95 |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-19 | Rhythm & BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Morris, IL | 23 / 41 (339.3828) | 14 (172.5600) | 27 (166.8228) | — | — |
| 2026-06-13 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 3 / 37 (345.6800) | 19 (167.9772) | 2 (177.7028) | — | — |
| 2026-06-12 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 24 / 40 (338.2172) | 18 (170.8228) | 28 (167.3944) | — | — |
| 2026-06-12 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (ONE MEAT RIBS) West Salem, WI | — | — | 2 (178.8572) | — | — |
| 2026-05-24 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Master Series Invitational and the Backyard Series Invitational (Sunday, May 24, 2026) Lebanon, TN | 19 / 82 (346.2400) | 22 (173.1200) | 19 (173.1200) | — | — |
| 2026-05-23 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Wells Cup, Cocktail Ancillary, Dessert Ancillary (Saturday, May 23, 2026) Lebanon, TN | 70 / 117 (682.2056) | 10 (178.8572) | 43 (173.1428) | 112 (161.0972) | 69 (169.1084) |
| 2026-05-22 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: World Chicken Finals (Friday, May 22, 2026) Lebanon, TN | — | 3 (180.0000) | — | — | — |
| 2026-05-22 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: World Rib Finals (Friday, May 22, 2026) Lebanon, TN | — | — | 53 (170.8344) | — | — |
| 2026-05-01 | SmokeHouse Barbeque Showdown (OPEN FORMAT) (REGISTRATION FULL) Cambridge, IA | 3 / 17 (686.1944) | 15 (170.8228) | 12 (170.2744) | 16 (169.6800) | 4 (175.4172) |
| 2026-04-24 | Smoke & Fire (BACKYARD ONLY) Stanley, WI | 11 / 24 (337.6916) | 5 (174.2972) | 18 (163.3944) | — | — |
| 2026-04-10 | Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT) Osage City, KS | 2 / 101 (669.6116) | 95 (162.8228) | 63 (170.2744) | 98 (161.0972) | 13 (175.4172) |
| 2026-04-03 | Iowa State BBQ Championship Altoona, IA | 2 / 42 (353.7144) | 4 (176.5716) | 3 (177.1428) | — | — |
| 2026-03-20 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Lebanon, TN | — | 43 (168.5256) | — | — | — |
| 2026-03-20 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship Lebanon, TN | 9 / 125 (348.5372) | 10 (176.5600) | 13 (171.9772) | 28 (167.9772) | — |
| 2026-03-20 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT RIBS) Lebanon, TN | — | — | 35 (170.2628) | — | — |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest Kansas City, KS | 15 / 401 (701.0972) | 17 (178.2972) | 34 (176.5600) | 155 (171.9656) | 69 (174.2744) |
| 2025-10-10 | Stover Rock Island Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Stover, MO | 3 / 13 (351.9656) | 2 (176.5600) | 4 (175.4056) | 2 (176.5600) | — |
| 2025-10-03 | Big Creek BBQ Bash (BACKYARD ONLY) Pleasant Hill, MO | 4 / 23 (354.8456) | 1 (180.0000) | 7 (174.8456) | — | — |
| 2025-09-19 | Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) Loves Park, IL | 3 / 17 (339.3828) | 6 (167.3828) | 4 (172.0000) | — | — |
| 2025-09-13 | Trekking for CDH Pierron, IL | 4 / 27 (338.7884) | 3 (171.4056) | 8 (167.3828) | — | — |
| 2025-09-13 | Trekking for CDH (ONE MEAT RIBS) Pierron, IL | — | — | 12 (170.8228) | — | — |
| 2025-08-31 | Smokin Ghost BBQ Rib Double Dip 2 (ONE MEAT RIBS) Chillicothe, IL | — | — | 1 (174.8572) | — | — |
| 2025-08-31 | Smokin Ghost BBQ Rib Double Dip 1 (ONE MEAT RIBS) Chillicothe, IL | — | — | 4 (173.1200) | — | — |
| 2025-08-22 | Up in Smoke on the Square (BACKYARD ONLY) Lincoln, IL | 13 / 31 (342.2400) | 16 (169.1084) | 8 (173.1316) | — | — |
| 2025-08-16 | Smoke on the Midway (BACKYARD ONLY) Fairbury, IL | 2 / 20 (347.4056) | 4 (170.8456) | 1 (176.5600) | — | — |
| 2025-08-16 | Smoke N for the Kids Troy, IL | 1 / 32 (349.1316) | 6 (173.1200) | 2 (176.0116) | — | — |
| 2025-08-09 | Smokin Downtown (BACKYARD ONLY) Warsaw, IN | 2 / 18 (352.0116) | 3 (174.8572) | 2 (177.1544) | — | — |
| 2025-07-12 | Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 2) Miles, IA | 3 / 16 (348.5372) | 6 (176.5600) | 3 (171.9772) | — | — |
| 2025-07-11 | Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 1) Miles, IA | 4 / 18 (347.4172) | 1 (179.4400) | 11 (167.9772) | 8 (170.8456) | — |
| 2025-06-27 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown Eureka, IL | 1 / 26 (348.5372) | 2 (175.4056) | 4 (173.1316) | — | — |
| 2025-06-27 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (ONE MEAT RIBS) Eureka, IL | — | — | 5 (174.8572) | — | — |
| 2025-06-20 | Rhythm & BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Morris, IL | 1 / 36 (355.4172) | 1 (180.0000) | 7 (175.4172) | — | — |
| 2025-06-14 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 8 / 36 (341.6688) | 6 (173.1200) | 10 (168.5488) | — | — |
| 2025-06-13 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 4 / 36 (349.1084) | 7 (176.5600) | 7 (172.5484) | — | — |
| 2025-06-13 | Bring'n Home the Bacon (ONE MEAT RIBS) West Salem, WI | — | — | 28 (163.9428) | — | — |
| 2025-05-25 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) Lebanon, TN | 21 / 70 (343.9544) | 18 (171.9772) | 21 (171.9772) | — | — |
| 2025-05-24 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025) Lebanon, TN | 46 / 106 (688.4916) | 19 (176.5600) | 45 (172.5600) | 65 (169.6916) | 63 (169.6800) |
| 2025-05-23 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational Ribs (Friday, May 23, 2025) Lebanon, TN | — | — | 20 (172.5600) | — | — |
| 2025-05-09 | Minnesota in May St. Peter, MN | 48 / 58 (661.0516) | 23 (171.9772) | 48 (165.1200) | 47 (166.2744) | 51 (157.6800) |
| 2025-04-25 | Smoke & Fire (BACKYARD ONLY) Stanley, WI | 6 / 24 (342.2400) | 6 (170.2628) | 5 (171.9772) | — | — |
| 2025-04-04 | Iowa State BBQ Championship Altoona, IA | 12 / 49 (343.9544) | 20 (169.6800) | 9 (174.2744) | — | — |
| 2025-03-29 | Kickin' It Route 66 Barbecue Challenge (Day 2) St. Robert, MO | 4 / 25 (346.2284) | 5 (171.9656) | 2 (174.2628) | — | — |
| 2025-03-28 | Kickin' It Route 66 Barbecue Challenge (Day 1) St. Robert, MO | 1 / 27 (346.2516) | 5 (167.3944) | 1 (178.8572) | — | — |
| 2025-03-21 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest Kansas City, MO | 9 / 33 (346.2400) | 17 (168.5372) | 2 (177.7028) | — | — |
| 2025-03-14 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship Lebanon, TN | 36 / 100 (333.6228) | 38 (165.0856) | 28 (168.5372) | 13 (171.9656) | — |
| 2025-03-14 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT RIBS) Lebanon, TN | — | — | 4 (178.8572) | — | — |
| 2024-09-14 | Trekking for CDH Pierron, IL | 7 / 35 (339.3716) | 11 (166.2516) | 5 (173.1200) | — | — |
| 2024-09-01 | Rib Double Dip (2) (ONE MEAT RIBS) Chillicothe, IL | — | — | 11 (166.2400) | — | — |
| 2024-09-01 | Rib Double Dip (1) (ONE MEAT RIBS) Chillicothe, IL | — | — | 7 (171.4056) | — | — |
| 2024-08-23 | Up in Smoke on the Square (BACKYARD ONLY) Lincoln, IL | 6 / 28 (338.7884) | 12 (164.5256) | 6 (174.2628) | — | — |
| 2024-08-17 | Smoke N for the Kids Troy, IL | 14 / 27 (322.7660) | 13 (164.5488) | 17 (158.2172) | — | — |
| 2024-08-17 | Smoke on the Midway (BACKYARD ONLY) Fairbury, IL | 3 / 26 (348.5372) | 11 (170.8344) | 1 (177.7028) | — | — |
| 2024-07-27 | Code 3 Spices - Smokin' on Main Collinsville, IL | 12 / 34 (335.3596) | 18 (163.3712) | 3 (171.9884) | — | — |
| 2024-07-12 | Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) Miles, IA | 4 / 11 (348.5372) | 4 (175.4172) | 3 (173.1200) | 5 (171.9772) | — |
| 2024-06-14 | Morris Rhythm & BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Morris, IL | 1 / 40 (349.6916) | 7 (170.8344) | 1 (178.8572) | — | — |
| 2024-06-08 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 13 / 37 (335.3944) | 11 (168.5600) | 11 (166.8344) | — | — |
| 2024-06-07 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 1 / 41 (349.7028) | 5 (173.7028) | 1 (176.0000) | — | — |
| 2024-05-25 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL Lebanon, TN | 19 / 47 (344.5484) | 23 (173.1084) | 21 (171.4400) | — | — |
| 2024-05-24 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN Lebanon, TN | 89 / 118 (677.0172) | 45 (174.2628) | 112 (159.9428) | 96 (166.2400) | 12 (176.5716) |
| 2024-04-19 | GLBBQA Spring Fling Charlotte, MI | 37 / 62 (674.7312) | 6 (177.7028) | 33 (167.9772) | 46 (165.0856) | 45 (163.9656) |
| 2024-03-29 | Iowa State BBQ Championship Altoona, IA | 6 / 42 (344.5256) | 24 (167.9656) | 4 (176.5600) | — | — |
| 2024-03-22 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest Kansas City, MO | 16 / 31 (338.2512) | 20 (166.2512) | 7 (172.0000) | — | — |
| 2024-03-15 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship Lebanon, TN | 6 / 93 (342.8116) | 6 (174.2744) | 15 (168.5372) | 24 (165.6800) | — |
| 2024-03-15 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT RIBS) Lebanon, TN | — | — | 33 (169.1316) | — | — |
| 2023-10-28 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) Oak Grove, MO | 11 / 40 (341.1428) | 17 (161.7028) | 1 (179.4400) | — | — |
| 2023-10-27 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) Oak Grove, MO | 15 / 47 (333.6684) | 16 (165.6800) | 10 (167.9884) | — | — |
| 2023-09-15 | Saluting with Smoke Single Meat - Rib Burn (ONE MEAT RIBS) Yorkville, IL | — | — | 11 (172.5600) | — | — |
| 2023-08-25 | Up in Smoke on the Square (BACKYARD ONLY) Lincoln, IL | 6 / 26 (343.3712) | 9 (170.2628) | 4 (173.1084) | — | — |
| 2023-08-19 | Smoke on the Midway (BACKYARD ONLY) Fairbury, IL | 3 / 32 (335.9544) | 2 (174.8572) | 13 (161.0972) | — | — |
| 2023-07-14 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown Eureka, IL | 4 / 25 (343.9772) | 5 (169.7028) | 1 (174.2744) | — | — |
| 2023-07-14 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (One Meat Ribs) Eureka, IL | — | — | 15 (157.1316) | — | — |
| 2023-06-17 | Morris Rhythm & BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Morris, IL | 3 / 33 (343.4284) | 2 (173.7028) | 8 (169.7256) | — | — |
| 2023-06-10 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 5 / 40 (337.6572) | 9 (168.5256) | 4 (169.1316) | — | — |
| 2023-06-09 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 3 / 43 (342.2744) | 4 (171.4172) | 4 (170.8572) | — | — |
| 2023-05-27 | Westmont Red White & BBQ (BACKYARD ONLY) Westmont, IL | 16 / 34 (491.9776) | 11 (166.8572) | 13 (166.3088) | 17 (158.8116) | — |
| 2022-11-04 | Saluting with Smoke Single Meat Rib Burn (ONE MEAT RIBS) Yorkville, IL | — | — | 6 (173.7372) | — | — |
| 2022-10-14 | Best of the Midwest BBQ Union Grove, WI | 18 / 36 (659.9316) | 18 (168.5944) | 14 (167.4172) | 19 (165.6800) | 26 (158.2400) |
| 2022-08-20 | Smoke on the Midway (BACKYARD ONLY) Fairbury, IL | 8 / 20 (321.0972) | 14 (153.7144) | 5 (167.3828) | — | — |
| 2022-06-17 | Morris Rhythm & BBQ Festival (Backyard) Morris, IL | 12 / 23 (326.8228) | 12 (163.9656) | 8 (162.8572) | — | — |
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 | #19 (903 pts) | #22 (869 pts) | #18 (984 pts) | — | — |
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #791 (60 pts) | #287 (430 pts) | #319 (435 pts) | #823 (60 pts) | #814 (60 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Backyard | #5 (1332 pts) | #9 (1311 pts) | #7 (1298 pts) | — | — |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #649 (230 pts) | #676 (260 pts) | #171 (1264 pts) | #774 (180 pts) | #774 (180 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Backyard | #21 (1151 pts) | #63 (826 pts) | #9 (1280 pts) | — | — |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #878 (120 pts) | #724 (235 pts) | #524 (442 pts) | #938 (120 pts) | #786 (185 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Backyard | — | #44 (1023 pts) | #27 (1139 pts) | — | — |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | — | — | #587 (371 pts) | — | — |
| 2022 ↗ | Backyard | — | #167 (213 pts) | #131 (313 pts) | — | — |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #1168 (95 pts) | #1214 (95 pts) | #1174 (115 pts) | #1236 (90 pts) | #1333 (60 pts) |