SHADE TREE BBQ

SHADE TREE BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 31 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2017. Their best overall finish is 7th of 33 at the Roarin' Lions Smokin' BBQ (GBC Qualifier) (2016). They are ranked #3011 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#3,011

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1506

peak 1525 · rated over 31 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Nov 15, 2013

latest Mar 3, 2017 · 3.3 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#309

Master 2014 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

4 podiums

Overall top-10s

13% of 31 contests

Avg finish

top 60%

overall standings

Best overall

690.2516 / 720

Master · The National BBQ Cup (SBBQA)

Perfect 180s

Current form

671.76 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 653.05 (+18.71)

Walk rate

65%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

179.4400

Chicken · Brasstown Valley Resort BBQ Throwdown (Teams & Judges Full)

Consistency

±37.89

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 164.99 · weakest Brisket (160.16)

Road miles

4,533

across 31 mapped stops · furthest 1,278 mi

Schedule strength

55%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1571)

Master avg

653.05 / 720

31 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (10 found in their record)

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

They almost always walk

65% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 20 of 31 contests

A top-10 category call in 65% of their 31 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

690.2516 career-best overall

95.9% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 690.2516 at The National BBQ Cup (SBBQA) — 95.9% of a perfect 720.

Master
Nov 21, 2014

The one to beat

4× one call ahead of them

ROLLIN' SMOKE COMPETITION QUE has finished one call ahead of SHADE TREE BBQ 4 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

20–2 behind in the head-to-head

QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N ahead in 91% of their meetings

QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N has come out ahead in 20 of their 22 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.8 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.83 points below their pork ribs, and turns into a call 6% of the time against 19%.

Brisket avg 160.16
Pork Ribs avg 164.99
2 calls in 31 entries

A strong matchup

12–4 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 75% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of HOOTIE-Q in 12 of their 16 shared contests.

Pork Ribs nemesis

18 of 22 shared pork ribs entries lost

QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N ahead 82% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N has out-cooked them in 18 of 22 shared pork ribs entries.

Show 3 more storylines

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

CHATTAHOOCHEE QUE has landed one call behind them 2 times.

A November team

Top 47% average finish in November

Something about November: average finish in the top 47% across 5 contests, versus top 60% the rest of the year.

5 November contests
top 60% the rest of the year

The long haul

4,533 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 4,533 miles across 31 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 1,278 miles to Griller's Cup.

31 mapped stops
furthest 1,278 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
2017 ↗	Master	#1666 (130 pts)	#1049 (345 pts)	#1822 (120 pts)	#1799 (120 pts)	#1703 (140 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1036 (310 pts)	#791 (495 pts)	#964 (380 pts)	#1492 (200 pts)	#1285 (240 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#588 (629 pts)	#371 (999 pts)	#454 (839 pts)	#547 (714 pts)	#543 (689 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#309 (1,169 pts)	#169 (1,540 pts)	#253 (1,288 pts)	#220 (1,339 pts)	#449 (844 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#1970 (75 pts)	#2073 (75 pts)	#2043 (75 pts)	#2080 (75 pts)	#2034 (75 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to SHADE TREE BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

Nice Rack BBQ

#3,012 of the rated field

1506 power rating

Contests: 24
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1522

2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to SHADE TREE BBQ)

2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team SHADE TREE BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 24 contests
last seen Nov 17, 2023

⚔ Head-to-head

BLINDOG'S OUTLAW BBQ GANG

#2,999 of the rated field

1506 power rating

Contests: 8
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1513

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to SHADE TREE BBQ)

Fewer contests behind them than SHADE TREE BBQ has cooked, 8 to 31, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 8 contests
last seen Jun 10, 2016

⚔ Head-to-head

RED OAK BBQ

#3,016 of the rated field

1505 power rating

Contests: 32
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1535

They've been 1535 at their best, 30 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 32 contests
last seen Sep 30, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

DAT'S BBQ

#3,001 of the rated field

1506 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 14%
Peak: 1506

22 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 14% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 22 contests
last seen Sep 11, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

DOCTOR CUE NC

#3,015 of the rated field

1505 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 9%
Peak: 1520

Level with SHADE TREE BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 22 contests
last seen Oct 13, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

Pit Bull Smokers

#3,014 of the rated field

1505 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 77%
Peak: 1527

They turned up 5 years after SHADE TREE BBQ did, first appearing in 2018.

rated over 20 contests
last seen Sep 26, 2026
on a 4-contest top-10 run

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N	22	2	20	9%	⚔ compare
OLD PLANTATION BBQ	21	2	19	10%	⚔ compare
ATLANTA BBQ STORE	20	4	16	20%	⚔ compare
SMOKE ON THIS	17	2	15	12%	⚔ compare
HOOTIE-Q	16	12	4	75%	⚔ compare
Pot's BBQ	16	5	11	31%	⚔ compare
J & B'S BBQ	16	3	13	19%	⚔ compare
CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ	14	11	3	79%	⚔ compare
ROLLIN' SMOKE COMPETITION QUE	14	6	8	43%	⚔ compare
MOYERS COMPETITION BAR-B-Q TEAM	14	2	12	14%	⚔ compare
CHATTAHOOCHEE QUE	14	2	12	14%	⚔ compare
Under the Radar	14	2	12	14%	⚔ compare
SWINE AND SHINE BBQ	13	6	7	46%	⚔ compare
WICKED QUE	12	3	9	25%	⚔ compare
DIGGIN QUE-GA	12	1	11	8%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	31	13	1	3	179.4400	20	164.09	top 42%
Pork Ribs	31	6	0	0	175.4516	129.0744	164.99	top 52%
Pork	31	7	0	1	176.5828	143.9312	163.81	top 59%
Brisket	31	2	0	0	174.8572	136.5032	160.16	top 70%

“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)	18	0	top 65%
Large (40+)	13	0	top 51%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
GA	27	top 57%
WY	1	top 100%
MO	1	top 100%
TN	1	top 22%
AL	1	top 94%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Hawgin on Lanier (GBC Qualifier)	2	19	top 54%	Aug 28, 2015
Classic City BBQ Fest & Tailgate Show (GBC Qualifier)	2	9	top 40%	Aug 14, 2015
Euharlee Covered Bridge 'Que (GBC Qualifier)	2	13	top 50%	Jun 5, 2015
Roman Roast on the River	2	23	top 67%	May 8, 2015
The National BBQ Cup (SBBQA)	2	8	top 45%	Nov 21, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2014 12 contests

Contests a season 6.2 across 5 seasons in the data

Most contests held in GA 27 of 31 contests · 5 states in all

Contests visited 26 5 of them more than once

Opponents faced 498 finished ahead 542 times, behind 688

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

20173 milestones

Feb 3 First category win (Chicken) Brasstown Valley Resort BBQ Throwdown (Teams & Judges Full)
Feb 3 Career-best single call (Chicken)179.4400 Brasstown Valley Resort BBQ Throwdown (Teams & Judges Full)
Mar 3 Most recent contest Sip & Swine BBQ Festival

20161 milestone

Jul 15 25th tracked contest Griller's Cup

20145 milestones

Feb 7 First call Brasstown Valley's BBQ Throwdown (GBC Qualifier)
Aug 14 First overall top-10 Classic City BBQ Fest & Tailgate Show (GBC Qualifier)
Oct 3 10th tracked contest Great Miller Lite Chili and BBQ Cookoff (GBC Qualifier)
Oct 3 Peak power rating (1525) Great Miller Lite Chili and BBQ Cookoff (GBC Qualifier)
Nov 21 Career-best overall score690.2516 The National BBQ Cup (SBBQA)

20132 milestones

Nov 15 First tracked contest The National BBQ Cup (GBC Qualifier)
Nov 15 First overall past 90% of a perfect score657.0400 The National BBQ Cup (GBC Qualifier)

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+16.8	The National BBQ Cup (SBBQA)	Nov 21, 2014
+14.7	Roarin' Lions Smokin' BBQ (GBC Qualifier)	Nov 4, 2016
+14.2	Que'n in Cumming (Day 1)	Nov 18, 2016
+12.3	Foothills Country Fair BBQ Bash	Jul 25, 2014
+11.4	Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que (GBC Qualifier)	May 22, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-14.5	Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest	May 6, 2016
-11.9	Griller's Cup	Jul 15, 2016
-10.9	Smokin' Up The Saddle Club (SBBQA)	Nov 14, 2014
-10.9	Smoke on the Falls Noccalula BBQ Fest	Apr 11, 2014
-10.4	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier)	Jul 31, 2015

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)
2017	2	0	1	50%	top 67%	92.9%	91.3%
2016	7	1	0	43%	top 63%	95.8%	89.3%
2015	9	0	0	56%	top 64%	93.6%	91.7%
2014	12	3	0	92%	top 51%	95.9%	90.6%
2013	1	0	0	0%	top 81%	91.3%	91.3%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Mar 3, 2017	Sip & Swine BBQ Festival Lawrenceville, GA	49 / 63 (646.0800)	49 (162.8000)	41 (164.5256)	44 (162.2400)	51 (156.5144)
Feb 3, 2017	Brasstown Valley Resort BBQ Throwdown (Teams & Judges Full) Young Harris, GA	23 / 41 (669.0516)	1 (179.4400)	37 (157.6916)	26 (166.2400)	21 (165.6800)
Nov 18, 2016	Que'n in Cumming (Day 1) Cumming, GA	11 / 47 (683.3372)	2 (176.5716)	12 (169.7028)	27 (167.3828)	23 (169.6800)
Nov 4, 2016	Roarin' Lions Smokin' BBQ (GBC Qualifier) Winder, GA	7 / 33 (689.6688)	3 (175.4172)	7 (173.1200)	8 (172.5600)	16 (168.5716)
Sep 23, 2016	Smokin Butts & Tires (GBC Qualifier) Conyers, GA	11 / 25 (670.6852)	6 (173.1084)	10 (168.5256)	19 (161.6684)	13 (167.3828)
Aug 19, 2016	Classic City BBQ Fest (GBC Qualifier) Athens, GA	26 / 39 (658.6860)	23 (167.3944)	11 (170.2744)	38 (155.9200)	25 (165.0972)
Jul 15, 2016	Griller's Cup Laramie, WY	27 / 27 (558.0456)	27 (138.8000)	27 (129.0744)	27 (143.9312)	26 (146.2400)
May 6, 2016	Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest Columbia, MO	32 / 32 (594.1024)	32 (133.0628)	26 (158.2856)	30 (150.8456)	29 (151.9084)
Apr 15, 2016	Cornelia Apple Blossom BBQ & Brews Festival Cornelia, GA	26 / 30 (646.6860)	20 (166.2400)	29 (160.5488)	11 (169.6800)	30 (150.2172)
Aug 28, 2015	Hawgin on Lanier (GBC Qualifier) Gainesville, GA	24 / 41 (670.1604)	5 (175.4172)	12 (171.9772)	16 (169.6916)	37 (153.0744)
Aug 14, 2015	Classic City BBQ Fest & Tailgate Show (GBC Qualifier) Athens, GA	22 / 40 (660.4004)	13 (171.9656)	4 (170.8460)	34 (155.9316)	29 (161.6572)
Jul 31, 2015	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier) Dillard, GA	50 / 55 (642.6856)	24 (171.4056)	51 (152.5144)	47 (160.5256)	45 (158.2400)
Jun 5, 2015	Euharlee Covered Bridge 'Que (GBC Qualifier) Euharlee, GA	24 / 42 (660.4916)	20 (170.8344)	16 (169.1428)	37 (158.2172)	27 (162.2972)
May 22, 2015	Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que (GBC Qualifier) Evans, GA	16 / 65 (673.5884)	51 (163.3712)	21 (169.1316)	25 (166.2284)	5 (174.8572)
May 8, 2015	Roman Roast on the River Rome, GA	30 / 41 (667.3484)	13 (172)	32 (165.7028)	30 (165.6800)	31 (163.9656)
Apr 24, 2015	BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier) Calhoun, GA	20 / 35 (653.5428)	15 (168.5372)	20 (163.3944)	19 (165.0856)	29 (156.5256)
Apr 17, 2015	Cornelia Apple Blossom BBQ Festival Cornelia, GA	25 / 29 (657.6344)	10 (172.5828)	26 (157.6916)	25 (161.1200)	19 (166.2400)
Mar 27, 2015	Smokin' Butts & Tires - Cookoff and Car Show (GBC Qualifier) Conyers, GA	27 / 38 (658.1600)	12 (171.9656)	28 (158.8228)	7 (171.4172)	34 (155.9544)
Nov 21, 2014	The National BBQ Cup (SBBQA) Cumming, GA	8 / 86 (690.2516)	39 (169.7028)	6 (175.4516)	24 (170.8344)	16 (174.2628)
Nov 14, 2014	Smokin' Up The Saddle Club (SBBQA) Chatsworth, GA	34 / 34 (500.9716)	34 (20)	19 (168.5372)	32 (153.6344)	29 (158.8000)
Oct 10, 2014	The Real Squeal: Lyons Barbeque & Music Festival (GBC & SBBQA Qualifier) Lyons, GA	19 / 25 (642.1144)	7 (172.5484)	22 (153.6572)	14 (163.3944)	22 (152.5144)
Oct 3, 2014	Great Miller Lite Chili and BBQ Cookoff (GBC Qualifier) Conyers, GA	8 / 22 (678.2056)	9 (170.8228)	15 (165.1544)	7 (170.2628)	8 (171.9656)
Sep 12, 2014	Jug Tavern Festival (GBC & SBBQA Qualifier) Winder, GA	16 / 42 (675.3488)	5 (176.5600)	13 (170.8572)	34 (161.0972)	20 (166.8344)
Aug 30, 2014	Hawgin on Lanier (GBC & SBBQA Qualifier) Gainesville, GA	19 / 39 (662.1372)	11 (170.8572)	4 (175.4172)	25 (162.8000)	33 (153.0628)
Aug 14, 2014	Classic City BBQ Fest & Tailgate Show (GBC Qualifier) Athens, GA	9 / 35 (670.7888)	4 (173.7144)	16 (165.1200)	8 (168.5372)	20 (163.4172)
Jul 25, 2014	Foothills Country Fair BBQ Bash Cleveland, TN	11 / 49 (681.0744)	4 (176.5600)	30 (165.6916)	9 (171.4172)	22 (167.4056)
Jun 6, 2014	Euharlee Covered Bridge 'Que (GBC Qualifier) Eurharlee, GA	13 / 31 (667.2800)	8 (170.8228)	17 (163.3828)	4 (173.7144)	24 (159.3600)
May 9, 2014	Roman Roast on the River (SBBQA) Rome, GA	23 / 38 (666.2056)	31 (162.8228)	13 (171.9888)	3 (176.5828)	36 (154.8112)
Apr 11, 2014	Smoke on the Falls Noccalula BBQ Fest Gadsden, AL	32 / 34 (631.2232)	19 (167.3828)	10 (170.2744)	32 (157.0628)	34 (136.5032)
Feb 7, 2014	Brasstown Valley's BBQ Throwdown (GBC Qualifier) Young Harris, GA	17 / 28 (661.6116)	5 (174.2628)	13 (167.9772)	13 (166.2400)	23 (153.1316)
Nov 15, 2013	The National BBQ Cup (GBC Qualifier) Cumming, GA	64 / 79 (657.0400)	41 (169.7028)	27 (170.2972)	77 (158.2284)	67 (158.8116)

SHADE TREE BBQ

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

Master avg

Storylines (10 found in their record)

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Pork Ribs nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

A November 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)