BIG BELLY BBQ

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

Power ranking

#5134

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1459

peak 1532 · rated over 31 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-06-28

latest 2022-09-23

Best ToY finish

#765

Master 2014

Grand champs

1 reserve

Category wins

4 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 32 contests

Avg finish

top 60%

overall standings

Best overall

673.8060 / 720

Master · Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que

Perfect 180s

Current form

642.16 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 637.76 (+4.40)

Walk rate

56%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

174.8572

Chicken · Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship

Consistency

±15.37

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 160.92 · weakest Brisket (157.39)

Road miles

18,084

mi across 31 mapped stops · furthest 1427 mi

Schedule strength

38%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1550)

Purse competed for

$81K

listed at 7 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

GCs in 7 state-championship entries

Master avg

637.76 / 720

31 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ 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.

High-water mark

673.8060 career-best overall

93.6% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 673.8060 at Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que — 93.6% of a perfect 720.

Master
2014-06-13

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 28%.

3 contests
1 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 28%

A tough matchup

11–1 behind in the head-to-head

GOOD SMOKE BBQ ahead in 92% of their meetings

GOOD SMOKE BBQ has come out ahead in 11 of their 12 shared contests.

A strong matchup

8–3 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 73% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of SMOKIN' AIN'T EASY in 8 of their 11 shared contests.

The comeback

2 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2 years, then back at Smokin' For Garrett (2022-09-16).

last seen 2020-09-25
back 2022-09-16

Pork Ribs nemesis

10 of 14 shared pork ribs entries lost

KISS MY BBQ ahead 71% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, KISS MY BBQ has out-cooked them in 10 of 14 shared pork ribs entries.

Announced themselves early

2nd at their very first contest

Finished 2 at their very first tracked contest, Cambridge Rib Fest(GRILLING SERIES) ().

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

GALLOWAY'S HELLFIRE BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

The long haul

18,084 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 18,084 miles across 31 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 1,427 miles to Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship.

31 mapped stops
furthest 1,427 mi

The metronome

±2.14% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.14% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 88.6% of a perfect score
32 contests

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.

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

Secondhand Smoke

#5128 of the rated field

1459 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 48
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1459

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to BIG BELLY BBQ)

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

rated over 45 contests
last seen 2025-10-03

⚔ Head-to-head

YARD LOBSTER BBQ

#5125 of the rated field

1459 ▲ 0 power rating

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

No shared contest yet.

They've been 1502 at their best, 43 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 22 contests
last seen 2020-02-21

⚔ Head-to-head

AM & PM SMOKERS

#5137 of the rated field

1459 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1519

No shared contest yet.

Fewer contests behind them than BIG BELLY BBQ has cooked, 18 to 32, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 18 contests
last seen 2025-09-19

⚔ Head-to-head

Brother In-Law BBQ

#5140 of the rated field

1459 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 17%
Peak: 1517

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 12 contests
last seen 2026-03-27

⚔ Head-to-head

MAD PIG BBQ

#5145 of the rated field

1459 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1459

No shared contest yet.

Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 3 years before BIG BELLY BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 12 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

SWEET MAISIE-ROSE BBQ

#5149 of the rated field

1459 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 9%
Peak: 1459

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 11 contests
last seen 2015-03-20

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
KISS MY BBQ	14	8	6	57%	⚔ compare
RED VALLEY BBQ	14	3	11	21%	⚔ compare
THE GOOD CUE CREW	13	9	4	69%	⚔ compare
BEHIND BBQ	12	6	6	50%	⚔ compare
SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS	12	6	6	50%	⚔ compare
GOOD SMOKE BBQ	12	1	11	8%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN' AIN'T EASY	11	8	3	73%	⚔ compare
TRANQUIL CARNIVORES	11	6	5	55%	⚔ compare
BLACK DAWG BBQ	10	6	4	60%	⚔ compare
Sweet Heat BBQ	10	5	5	50%	⚔ compare
THREE DOGS BBQ	10	5	5	50%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS	10	3	7	30%	⚔ compare
BUTTS & LINKS BBQ	9	8	1	89%	⚔ compare
THE 5TH ARTERY	9	4	5	44%	⚔ compare
Big Pappa's Smokin' BBQ	8	7	1	88%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	32	6	0	2	174.8572	145.1200	160.32	top 61%
Pork Ribs	33	6	1	1	169.6916	145.6456	160.92	top 53%
Pork	31	5	0	0	172.0000	138.1828	159.13	top 58%
Brisket	31	6	0	1	172.6516	133.1088	157.39	top 57%

“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
NY	14	top 40%
SC	9	top 71%
TN	2	top 85%
WI	2	top 65%
TX	2	top 70%
IL	1	top 93%
PA	1	top 79%
CO	1	top 100%

By contest size

Field	Contests	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	2	top 82%
Medium (20–39)	13	top 70%
Large (40+)	16	top 48%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Oinktoberfest	6	13	top 45%	2019-09-21
Smoke on the Harbor BBQ throwdown	3	16	top 71%	2018-11-16
SC Festival of Discovery	2	52	top 62%	2019-07-12
*Low Country Hog Fest	2	12	top 62%	2016-09-02

The story so far (17 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 9.2 yrs 2013-06-28 → 2022-09-23

Busiest season 2016 8 contests

Contests a season 3.2 across 10 seasons in the data

Cooks most in NY 14 of 32 contests · 8 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 23 4 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Pork Ribs 33 entries · 1 win · 6 calls

Strongest meat Pork Ribs averages 160.92 · weakest Brisket (157.39)

Walk rate 56% a top-10 call in 18 of 32 contests

Overall top-10 rate 9% 3 of 32 contests

Master average 637.76 out of 720 · 31 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 729 588–756 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 18,084 31 mapped stops · furthest 1,427 mi

Schedule strength 1550 average field rating faced — tougher than 38% of rated contests

Purse competed for $80,870 listed at 7 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships 0 from 7 state-championship entries

Longest layoff 2 yrs 2020-09-25 → 2022-09-16

Power rating 1459 peak 1532 · #5134 of 6,413 rated

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

First tracked contest Cambridge Rib Fest(GRILLING SERIES)
First call Cambridge Rib Fest(GRILLING SERIES)
First category win (Pork Ribs) Cambridge Rib Fest(GRILLING SERIES)
First overall top-10 Cambridge Rib Fest(GRILLING SERIES)
First overall podium Cambridge Rib Fest(GRILLING SERIES)
First Reserve Championship Cambridge Rib Fest(GRILLING SERIES)
2014
Jun 13 First overall past 90% of a perfect score673.8060 Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que
Jun 13 Career-best overall score673.8060 Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que
2015
May 23 Peak power rating (1532) Roc City Rib Fest
Sep 4 10th tracked contest Low Country Hog Fest
2016
Aug 26 Career-best single call (Chicken)174.8572 Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship
2018
Nov 16 25th tracked contest Smoke on the Harbor BBQ throwdown
2022
Sep 23 Most recent contest TN River BBQ Battle

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+14.6	Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que	2014-06-13
+10.3	Roc City Rib Fest	2016-05-28
+8.2	Oinktoberfest	2015-09-19
+7.5	Oinktoberfest	2017-09-22
+6.6	Oinktoberfest	2014-09-20

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-13.7	Wild West BBQ Cook Off	2016-05-13
-9.7	Smokin' For Garrett	2022-09-16
-9.5	Smoke on the Harbor BBQ throwdown	2016-11-11
-9.4	Piggin In The Park	2018-06-01
-8.6	Oinktoberfest	2019-09-21

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)
—	1	1	1	100%	—	—	—
2022	2	0	0	50%	top 87%	91%	89.9%
2020	1	0	0	0%	top 89%	88.2%	88.2%
2019	4	0	0	25%	top 70%	89.9%	88.5%
2018	4	0	0	25%	top 76%	89.6%	87.2%
2017	1	0	0	100%	top 30%	89.7%	89.7%
2016	8	0	0	75%	top 61%	92.3%	88.2%
2015	6	1	0	67%	top 53%	90.5%	88.5%
2014	3	1	0	100%	top 28%	93.6%	90.7%
2013	2	0	0	0%	top 39%	89.6%	88.4%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2022-09-23	TN River BBQ Battle 🏅 Saltillo, TN	13 / 16 (655.2920)	14 (163.4060)	6 (169.6916)	15 (162.2400)	13 (159.9544)
2022-09-16	Smokin' For Garrett 🏅 Mt. Carmel, IL	25 / 27 (639.2456)	25 (156.0000)	15 (166.2400)	24 (161.0856)	23 (155.9200)
2020-09-25	TN River BBQ Battle & Music Fest 🏅 Savannah, TN	42 / 47 (635.3488)	38 (162.8800)	36 (162.2516)	44 (159.9772)	45 (150.2400)
2019-09-21	Oinktoberfest 🏅 Clarence, NY	30 / 43 (633.6460)	37 (155.3944)	13 (156.5372)	26 (158.8456)	17 (163.4172)
2019-07-12	SC Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC	52 / 83 (647.2688)	57 (161.1088)	47 (162.8000)	17 (170.8228)	65 (152.5372)
2019-06-28	Saltwater BBQ Bash 🏅 John's Island, SC	15 / 18 (639.8516)	15 (161.1316)	15 (160.5488)	16 (152.5028)	11 (165.6684)
2019-04-26	The Great Wisconsin Tune Up BBQ Contest 🏅 Manawa, WI	17 / 26 (629.1660)	18 (157.7488)	23 (150.8456)	8 (162.8800)	13 (157.6916)
2018-11-16	Smoke on the Harbor BBQ throwdown Mt. Pleasant, SC	18 / 25 (630.6512)	17 (159.3712)	16 (159.9544)	15 (161.1200)	18 (150.2056)
2018-09-22	Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY	38 / 51 (595.9540)	45 (145.1200)	23 (157.1312)	44 (142.2972)	23 (151.4056)
2018-07-12	SC Festival Of Discovery Greenwood, SC	55 / 89 (638.6628)	42 (165.6800)	61 (156.5372)	58 (160.5256)	60 (155.9200)
2018-06-01	Piggin In The Park Woodruff, SC	32 / 34 (644.9940)	34 (150.2056)	23 (166.2628)	8 (172.0000)	31 (156.5256)
2017-09-22	Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY	16 / 53 (645.7144)	36 (158.8116)	26 (160.0228)	13 (163.4288)	10 (163.4512)
2016-11-11	Smoke on the Harbor BBQ throwdown Mt. Pleasant, SC	21 / 25 (611.1656)	20 (147.3372)	6 (167.9772)	22 (138.1828)	15 (157.6684)
2016-09-23	Ointoberfest BBQ Cookoff Clarence, NY	24 / 54 (637.2232)	26 (161.6800)	19 (159.4516)	20 (162.9028)	30 (153.1888)
2016-09-02	*Low Country Hog Fest Charleston, SC	12 / 26 (646.6856)	19 (159.9428)	9 (167.9656)	5 (171.4056)	24 (147.3716)
2016-08-26	Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship Lubbock, TX	49 / 72 (638.8232)	3 (174.8572)	26 (168.0000)	41 (162.8572)	71 (133.1088)
2016-08-12	Salamanca Rock'in Ribfest Salamanca, NY	12 / 28 (651.9200)	20 (156.5028)	21 (159.4172)	6 (168.5828)	8 (167.4172)
2016-06-10	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Harrisburg, PA	23 / 29 (616.4684)	15 (161.6912)	6 (164.0116)	29 (138.2284)	22 (152.5372)
2016-05-28	Roc City Rib Fest Rochester, NY	12 / 50 (664.5832)	15 (169.1772)	33 (161.6916)	5 (170.2972)	18 (163.4172)
2016-05-13	Wild West BBQ Cook Off Lamar, CO	33 / 33 (611.9316)	33 (150.2744)	32 (145.6456)	20 (162.8800)	30 (153.1316)
2015-11-13	Smoke on the Harbor BBQ Throwdown Mount Pleasant, SC	16 / 28 (646.1256)	8 (166.2516)	19 (157.6800)	19 (157.6456)	11 (164.5484)
2015-09-19	Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY	13 / 52 (642.1944)	20 (160.5256)	22 (160.5944)	33 (153.6916)	7 (167.3828)
2015-09-04	Low Country Hog Fest Charleston, SC	20 / 26 (629.6456)	17 (166.3200)	24 (147.3828)	11 (165.1428)	23 (150.8000)
2015-08-28	Raider Red Meats BBQ and Ribeye Championship Lubbock, TX	41 / 57 (628.3768)	46 (155.3484)	28 (163.9772)	49 (150.2628)	31 (158.7884)
2015-05-23	Roc City Rib Fest Rochester, NY	22 / 57 (651.3828)	40 (160.5372)	20 (163.9656)	35 (159.4172)	9 (167.4628)
2015-05-15	Salt City BBQ Festival Syracuse, NY	10 / 21 (626.7544)	9 (160.5716)	4 (165.1428)	18 (146.2172)	12 (154.8228)
2014-09-20	Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY	19 / 66 (637.6916)	3 (172.0572)	39 (153.1316)	16 (165.1200)	51 (147.3828)
2014-08-08	Smokin' Eagles International BBQ Festival N. Tonawanda, NY	19 / 39 (646.8344)	12 (167.9540)	20 (160.0116)	34 (152.5716)	8 (166.2972)
2014-06-13	Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que Wilson, NY	3 / 47 (673.8060)	4 (171.4172)	12 (168.0572)	22 (161.6800)	2 (172.6516)
2013-09-20	Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY	30 / 71 (628.0120)	37 (156.5600)	19 (159.9888)	42 (156.0460)	35 (155.4172)
2013-06-28	Boston Hill BBQ Fest Hamburg, NY	18 / 49 (645.1426)	28 (158.2854)	16 (161.7144)	21 (162.2856)	17 (162.8572)
	Cambridge Rib Fest(GRILLING SERIES) Cambridge, WI	2 (325.6460)	4 (155.9544)	1 (169.6916)	—	—

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
2019 ↗	Master	#1352 (153 pts)	#1435 (153 pts)	#1410 (153 pts)	#1275 (188 pts)	#1339 (173 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1196 (204 pts)	#1249 (209 pts)	#1234 (224 pts)	#993 (314 pts)	#1267 (204 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1951 (105 pts)	#2286 (60 pts)	#2304 (60 pts)	#1799 (120 pts)	#1715 (135 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#914 (372 pts)	#1004 (352 pts)	#944 (392 pts)	#797 (492 pts)	#943 (372 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#977 (316 pts)	#1132 (276 pts)	#973 (356 pts)	#1437 (204 pts)	#853 (421 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#765 (446 pts)	#630 (601 pts)	#1092 (301 pts)	#1191 (271 pts)	#731 (506 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#1970 (75 pts)	#2073 (75 pts)	#1885 (105 pts)	#2080 (75 pts)	#2034 (75 pts)