Serial Grillers

At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)

Power ranking

#4604

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1470

peak 1470 · rated over 25 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-09-19

latest 2026-06-06

Best ToY finish

#179

Backyard 2025

Grand champs

1 reserve

Category wins

2 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 25 contests

Avg finish

top 67%

overall standings

Best overall

685.0856 / 720

Master · Murphysboro BBQ Cook Off

Perfect 180s

Current form

660.24 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 637.92 (+22.32)

Walk rate

32%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

177.7144

Brisket · Southaven Springfest

Consistency

±48.27

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 162.65 · weakest Pork Ribs (157.10)

Road miles

29,708

mi across 25 mapped stops · furthest 8794 mi

Schedule strength

59%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1574)

Purse competed for

$150K

listed at 11 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

GCs in 9 state-championship entries

Master avg

637.92 / 720

24 Master contests · 0 GCs

Backyard avg

353.12 / 360

1 Backyard contest · 0 GCs

Master and Backyard overall scores sit on different scales (Master is out of 720, Backyard out of 360), so they're kept separate — averaging them together would be misleading.

This team cooks the Backyard series — its own boards, records and Team of the Year are here.

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (10 found in this team's record)

Each card leads with the number that made it a story — read straight out of their results, no editorialising.

The heartbreaker

1.1544 points from the title

Came within 1.1544 points of the Grand Championship at WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) (2025-10-17).

High-water mark

685.0856 career-best overall

95.2% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 685.0856 at Murphysboro BBQ Cook Off — 95.2% of a perfect 720.

Master
2019-09-20

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

Camo Cookers has finished one call ahead of Serial Grillers 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

8–1 behind in the head-to-head

IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ ahead in 89% of their meetings

IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ has come out ahead in 8 of their 9 shared contests.

The weak link

−5.6 points behind their best meat

Pork Ribs is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 5.55 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 12% of the time against 16%.

Pork Ribs avg 157.10
Chicken avg 162.65
3 calls in 26 entries

A strong matchup

7–3 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 70% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of AUTO"BE"GRILLIN in 7 of their 10 shared contests.

The comeback

2.6 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2.6 years, then back at Southaven Springfest (2022-04-22).

last seen 2019-09-20
back 2022-04-22

Chicken nemesis

8 of 9 shared chicken entries lost

IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ ahead 89% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ has out-cooked them in 8 of 9 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

FIRE DANCER BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

The long haul

29,708 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 29,708 miles across 25 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 8,794 miles to Queensland BBQ Championship.

25 mapped stops
furthest 8,794 mi

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The nearest teams in the power rankings, with a different reason on each card — six teams on one rating are rarely on it for the same reason. Rating decides who makes the list; where teams tie on it, the ones this team has actually cooked against come first, then teams at a similar point in their own career. KCBS doesn’t publish where a team is from, so nothing here is inferred from geography.

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

BAR BQ POSSE

#4601 of the rated field

1470 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 8
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1470

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to Serial Grillers)

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

rated over 8 contests
last seen 2019-06-21

⚔ Head-to-head

3 PUTTIN PIGGIES

#4623 of the rated field

1470 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 7
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 14%
Peak: 1470

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to Serial Grillers)

Their last contest in the data was back in 2022, 4 years before Serial Grillers's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 7 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

This is Nice

#4613 of the rated field

1470 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 24
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1470

No shared contest yet.

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 24 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 24 contests
last seen 2026-06-26

⚔ Head-to-head

ELWOOD BBQ

#4603 of the rated field

1470 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 29
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 10%
Peak: 1531

No shared contest yet.

Careers of much the same size, 29 contests to 25, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 29 contests
last seen 2023-09-02

⚔ Head-to-head

PURPLE SHADOW

#4609 of the rated field

1470 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1534

No shared contest yet.

19 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 11% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 19 contests
last seen 2020-10-16

⚔ Head-to-head

SMALLEYWOOD BBQ

#4608 of the rated field

1470 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1470

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 17 contests
last seen 2019-06-21

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
AUTO"BE"GRILLIN	10	7	3	70%	⚔ compare
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
BOARS NIGHT OUT	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare
RAZORRACKS	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
Party Q	7	6	1	86%	⚔ compare
FIRE DANCER BBQ	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
THE BBQ BUS	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
Swine Life	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
Organizer Portal	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
Q-BONES BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
Dewey Smokem & Howe	6	6	0	100%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN' BUTTS	6	3	3	50%	⚔ compare
Backdraft Cooking Systems	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare
JANKY LEG BBQ	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	25	4	0	1	176.5944	140.5712	162.65	top 65%
Pork Ribs	26	3	0	0	176.5600	20.0000	157.10	top 58%
Pork	24	4	0	0	174.2628	127.9884	161.50	top 64%
Brisket	24	2	1	1	177.7144	111.4168	158.35	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 state / province

Where	Contests	Avg finish
MS	7	top 71%
IL	7	top 62%
AL	4	top 43%
WI	2	top 94%
NS	1	top 73%
DC	1	top 79%
BC	1	top 95%

By contest size

Field	Contests	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	1	top 73%
Medium (20–39)	10	top 68%
Large (40+)	14	top 65%

Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Southaven Springfest	5	16	top 71%	2025-04-25
Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard	3	37	top 81%	2024-09-20
Southaven Springfest	2	26	top 70%	2022-04-22
The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ	2	27	top 50%	2018-05-04
Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff	2	29	top 55%	2017-09-22

The story so far (18 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 12.7 yrs 2013-09-19 → 2026-06-06

Busiest season 2018 5 contests

Contests a season 2.1 across 12 seasons in the data

Cooks most in MS 7 of 25 contests · 7 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 16 5 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Pork Ribs 26 entries · 0 wins · 3 calls

Strongest meat Chicken averages 162.65 · weakest Pork Ribs (157.10)

Walk rate 32% a top-10 call in 8 of 25 contests

Overall top-10 rate 4% 1 of 25 contests

Master average 637.92 out of 720 · 24 contests · 0 GCs

Backyard average 353.12 out of 360 · 1 contest · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 705 393–706 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 29,708 25 mapped stops · furthest 8,794 mi

Schedule strength 1574 average field rating faced — tougher than 59% of rated contests

Purse competed for $149,700 listed at 11 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships 0 from 9 state-championship entries

Longest layoff 2.6 yrs 2019-09-20 → 2022-04-22

Power rating 1470 peak 1470 · #4604 of 6,413 rated

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

2013
Sep 19 First tracked contest Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-off
Sep 19 First overall past 90% of a perfect score649.6568 Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-off
Sep 19 Peak power rating (1499) Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-off
2018
Apr 27 First call Southaven Springfest
May 4 10th tracked contest The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ
2019
Apr 26 First category win (Brisket) Southaven Springfest
Apr 26 Career-best single call (Brisket)177.7144 Southaven Springfest
Sep 20 Career-best overall score685.0856 Murphysboro BBQ Cook Off
2025
Oct 17 First overall top-10 WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
Oct 17 First overall podium WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
Oct 17 First Reserve Championship WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
2026
Jun 6 25th tracked contest Throttled Up BBQ Throwdown
Jun 6 Most recent contest Throttled Up BBQ Throwdown

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+18.5	WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)	2025-10-17
+14.3	Murphysboro BBQ Cook Off	2019-09-20
+5.5	Southaven Springfest	2018-04-27
+4.9	The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ	2015-05-01
+3.7	Queensland BBQ Championship	2019-06-29

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-13.3	Barn Burner BBQ	2015-03-21
-11.8	Nassau Bahamas Smokin' Hot BBQ	2014-05-02
-11.4	Southaven Springfest	2019-04-26
-9.1	*Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2	2018-07-14
-6.3	Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard	2024-09-20

Category scores over time

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Team of the Year rank by season

Season by season

Season	Contests	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2026	1	0	0	100%	top 73%	92.5%	92.5%
2025	2	1	0	50%	top 38%	98.1%	95.9%
2024	1	0	0	0%	top 88%	88.9%	88.9%
2023	2	0	0	0%	top 72%	92.4%	91.7%
2022	2	0	0	0%	top 76%	91.4%	90%
2019	4	0	1	100%	top 58%	95.2%	87.9%
2018	5	0	0	40%	top 74%	93.6%	88.5%
2017	2	0	0	0%	top 61%	92.5%	92.3%
2016	2	0	0	0%	top 63%	92.2%	91.6%
2015	2	0	0	0%	top 69%	92.4%	82.3%
2014	1	0	0	0%	top 88%	71%	71%
2013	1	0	0	0%	top 58%	90.2%	90.2%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2026-06-06	Throttled Up BBQ Throwdown Upper Onslow, NS	11 / 15 (665.7372)	4 (175.4628)	12 (161.7372)	10 (167.9884)	13 (160.5488)
2025-10-17	WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL	2 / 39 (353.1200)	7 (176.5600)	4 (176.5600)	—	—
2025-04-25	Southaven Springfest 🏅 Southaven, MS	24 / 34 (674.7200)	14 (173.1084)	24 (171.4288)	26 (166.2400)	30 (163.9428)
2024-09-20	Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard 🏅 Murphysboro, IL	51 / 58 (640.4228)	52 (160.5484)	47 (164.5372)	43 (168.0000)	57 (147.3372)
2023-09-21	Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard 🏅 Murphysboro, IL	37 / 50 (655.3372)	42 (158.2400)	24 (171.4172)	45 (158.2400)	25 (167.4400)
2023-04-21	Southaven Springfest 🏅 Southaven, MS	24 / 34 (664.9712)	28 (165.6800)	11 (173.1200)	25 (163.3944)	26 (162.7768)
2022-09-23	Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard 🏅 Murphysboro, IL	37 / 46 (637.5544)	32 (166.8344)	38 (160.0000)	36 (165.0856)	45 (145.6344)
2022-04-22	Southaven Springfest 🏅 Southaven, MS	26 / 36 (658.1028)	35 (158.2172)	22 (165.6800)	24 (166.2284)	15 (167.9772)
2019-09-20	Murphysboro BBQ Cook Off 🏅 Murphysboro, IL	12 / 54 (685.0856)	10 (172.0228)	15 (171.9772)	6 (174.2628)	24 (166.8228)
2019-09-13	RiverFest 🏅 Decatur, AL	25 / 37 (651.3140)	33 (155.9772)	8 (171.4172)	22 (162.7884)	24 (161.1312)
2019-06-29	Queensland BBQ Championship CLEVELAND QUEENSLAND, 4163	19 / 41 (666.8456)	3 (176.5944)	18 (163.9772)	34 (158.8228)	22 (163.4400)
2019-04-26	Southaven Springfest 🏅 Southaven, MS	30 / 31 (529.6456)	26 (160.5256)	31 (20.0000)	8 (171.4056)	1 (177.7144)
2018-07-14	*Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2 Green Bay, WI	49 / 49 (602.8224)	44 (156.5484)	49 (149.1084)	48 (148.0228)	49 (149.1428)
2018-07-13	*Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1 Green Bay, WI	47 / 54 (616.4228)	47 (153.0856)	52 (143.3600)	48 (154.2972)	24 (165.6800)
2018-06-23	*Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle Washington, DC	33 / 42 (623.1540)	31 (154.2056)	25 (164.5372)	35 (155.3600)	35 (149.0512)
2018-05-04	The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ Huntsville, AL	35 / 61 (668.4800)	38 (166.2744)	30 (167.3828)	8 (174.2628)	48 (160.5600)
2018-04-27	Southaven Springfest Southaven, MS	16 / 34 (673.5884)	25 (164.5256)	4 (176.0000)	28 (161.0856)	8 (171.9772)
2017-09-22	Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff Murphysboro, IL	29 / 55 (663.3484)	38 (164.5256)	38 (163.4172)	17 (170.2628)	24 (165.1428)
2017-04-28	Southaven Springfest Southaven, MS	23 / 33 (666.1372)	18 (169.1316)	20 (167.3828)	18 (168.5372)	26 (161.0856)
2016-09-23	Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff Murphysboro, IL	37 / 64 (663.9084)	37 (166.8456)	29 (166.2628)	51 (161.6800)	21 (169.1200)
2016-04-22	Southaven Springfest Southaven, MS	28 / 41 (655.8280)	31 (162.8112)	24 (166.8228)	27 (166.2400)	30 (159.9540)
2015-05-01	The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ Huntsville, AL	27 / 63 (665.5884)	34 (165.1316)	29 (167.3828)	21 (170.8228)	40 (162.2512)
2015-03-21	Barn Burner BBQ Yarrow, BC	20 / 21 (519.9884)	21 (140.5712)	21 (119.4172)	21 (127.9884)	20 (132.0116)
2014-05-02	Nassau Bahamas Smokin' Hot BBQ Nassau Bahamas, 00907	21 / 24 (511.4052)	11 (142.2744)	21 (125.6456)	13 (132.0684)	23 (111.4168)
2013-09-19	Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-off Murphysboro, IL	44 / 76 (649.6568)	55 (160.5484)	16 (168.0228)	38 (162.8456)	54 (158.2400)

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

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
2025 ↗	Backyard	#179 (260 pts)	#245 (165 pts)	#222 (210 pts)	—	—
2025 ↗	Master	#1135 (64 pts)	#1021 (114 pts)	#1284 (64 pts)	#1414 (59 pts)	#1414 (59 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#1223 (181 pts)	#1258 (191 pts)	#1363 (166 pts)	#918 (326 pts)	#878 (346 pts)