JW HAYES BBQ

JW HAYES BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 17 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2022. Their best overall finish is 6th of 56 at the Newport Beach Winter Q (2017). They are ranked #2696 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#2,696

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1513

peak 1555 · rated over 17 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Oct 4, 2013

latest Jun 3, 2022 · 8.7 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#721

Master 2015 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

3 podiums

Overall top-10s

12% of 17 contests

Avg finish

top 52%

overall standings

Best overall

686.2172 / 720

Master · Newport Beach Winter Q

Perfect 180s

Current form

645.15 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 660.65 (-15.49)

Walk rate

65%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

177.7144

Pork Ribs · Newport Beach Winter Q

Consistency

±19.56

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 168.26 · weakest Pork (161.48)

Road miles

632

across 17 mapped stops · furthest 51 mi

Schedule strength

45%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1558)

Purse competed for

$8,000

listed at 1 contest — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 1 state-championship entry

Master avg

660.65 / 720

17 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 11 of 17 contests

A top-10 category call in 65% of their 17 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

686.2172 career-best overall

95.3% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 686.2172 at Newport Beach Winter Q — 95.3% of a perfect 720.

Master
Jan 27, 2017

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

DAY OF THE PIG BBQ has finished one call ahead of JW HAYES BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2015 their best year

2015 was the year it came together: 5 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 33%.

5 contests
1 overall top-10
0 category wins
average top 33%

A tough matchup

16–0 behind in the head-to-head

LADY OF Q ahead in 100% of their meetings

LADY OF Q has come out ahead in 16 of their 16 shared contests.

The weak link

−6.8 points behind their best meat

Pork is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 6.78 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 6% of the time against 24%.

Pork avg 161.48
Chicken avg 168.26
1 call in 17 entries

A strong matchup

7–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of BLUES ROCK BBQ in 7 of their 7 shared contests.

Show 3 more storylines

The comeback

3.8 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 3.8 years, then back at Horse Town Brew N Que Festival (Jun 3, 2022).

last seen Aug 17, 2018
back Jun 3, 2022

Chicken nemesis

12 of 13 shared chicken entries lost

ZZYZX BAR.B.Q ahead 92% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, ZZYZX BAR.B.Q has out-cooked them in 12 of 13 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

DG FIREHOUSE BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

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
2022 ↗	Master	#1309 (60 pts)	#1341 (60 pts)	#1404 (60 pts)	#1348 (60 pts)	#1213 (90 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1266 (180 pts)	#1089 (265 pts)	#988 (325 pts)	#1342 (180 pts)	#1330 (180 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#965 (355 pts)	#854 (460 pts)	#808 (495 pts)	#1126 (305 pts)	#1002 (350 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1193 (248 pts)	#1067 (328 pts)	#959 (383 pts)	#1444 (213 pts)	#762 (503 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#721 (489 pts)	#829 (439 pts)	#610 (639 pts)	#886 (409 pts)	#560 (664 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 JW HAYES BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

BLOWN AWAY BBQ

#2,714 of the rated field

1513 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1518

Their last contest in the data was back in 2018, 4 years before JW HAYES BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 17 contests

⚔ Compare careers

KenzielouQ

#2,690 of the rated field

1514 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 42%
Peak: 1579

They've been 1579 at their best, 65 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 18 contests
last seen Oct 11, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

Whimpy's

#2,703 of the rated field

1513 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1537

Careers of much the same size, 14 contests to 17, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 14 contests
last seen Oct 4, 2024

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SWINE ENTHUSIAST BBQ

#2,712 of the rated field

1513 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 7%
Peak: 1524

14 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 7% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 14 contests
last seen May 31, 2019

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Last Place Chicken

#2,684 of the rated field

1514 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1526

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

rated over 13 contests
last seen Oct 16, 2026

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Smokin' Pelletheads

#2,683 of the rated field

1514 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1519

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

rated over 13 contests

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
LADY OF Q	16	0	16	0%	⚔ compare
Sharpe's Woodshed	14	1	13	7%	⚔ compare
Que'd Up	13	8	5	62%	⚔ compare
NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q	13	5	8	38%	⚔ compare
SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ	13	2	11	15%	⚔ compare
ZZYZX BAR.B.Q	13	1	12	8%	⚔ compare
FU MAN QUE CREW	12	8	4	67%	⚔ compare
Smokin it Up BBQ	12	6	6	50%	⚔ compare
COOL GRILLING	12	6	6	50%	⚔ compare
DG FIREHOUSE BBQ	12	4	8	33%	⚔ compare
Burnin and Lootin	12	2	10	17%	⚔ compare
Meat Candy Q	11	4	7	36%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN' HART'S	11	4	7	36%	⚔ compare
JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE	11	3	8	27%	⚔ compare
BIG POPPA SMOKERS	11	0	11	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	17	4	1	177.1428	153.1656	168.26	top 43%
Pork Ribs	17	6	0	177.7144	154.2628	167.56	top 39%
Pork	17	1	0	173.1428	140.4800	161.48	top 64%
Brisket	17	3	2	175.4400	146.2284	163.36	top 48%

“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)	3	0	top 52%
Large (40+)	14	0	top 52%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Dana Point State BBQ Championship	2	29	0	top 57%	Oct 7, 2016

More numbers

Busiest season 2015 5 contests

Contests a season 2.8 across 6 seasons in the data

Most contests held in CA 17 of 17 contests

Contests visited 16 1 of them more than once

Opponents faced 375 finished ahead 466 times, behind 502

Longest layoff 3.8 yrs Aug 17, 2018 → Jun 3, 2022

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

20221 milestone

Jun 3 Most recent contest Horse Town Brew N Que Festival

20174 milestones

Jan 27 10th tracked contest Newport Beach Winter Q
Jan 27 Career-best overall score686.2172 Newport Beach Winter Q
Jan 27 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)177.7144 Newport Beach Winter Q
Jan 27 Peak power rating (1555) Newport Beach Winter Q

20153 milestones

Mar 20 First overall past 90% of a perfect score667.9772 4th Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship
May 8 First call West Coast BBQ Classic
Jun 26 First overall top-10 Newport Beach Barbecue Contest

20131 milestone

Oct 4 First tracked contest Dana Point State BBQ Championship

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+13.6	Newport Beach Winter Q	Jan 27, 2017
+8.9	City of Dana Point State BBQ Championship	Oct 2, 2015
+8.9	West Coast BBQ Classic	May 8, 2015
+8.4	Newport Beach Barbecue Contest	Jun 26, 2015
+8	7th Annual Vista BBQ Classic	Jul 24, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-11.9	OC BBQ Competition	Oct 13, 2017
-11.5	Horse Town Brew N Que Festival	Jun 3, 2022
-6.9	Dana Point State BBQ Championship	Oct 4, 2013
-6.4	7th Annual Santa Anita Winners Circle BBQ Championship	Mar 23, 2018
-4.2	Turf & Surf BBQ Championship	Aug 17, 2018

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	Top-10s	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2022	1	0	0%	top 89%	89.5%	89.5%
2018	3	0	67%	top 66%	92.9%	90.4%
2017	4	1	75%	top 57%	95.3%	91.1%
2016	3	0	100%	top 44%	94%	92.9%
2015	5	1	60%	top 33%	94.9%	94%
2013	1	0	0%	top 75%	85.9%	85.9%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jun 3, 2022	Horse Town Brew N Que Festival 🏅 Norco, CA	33 / 37 (644.4460)	30 (159.3828)	35 (158.2056)	34 (160.0232)	19 (166.8344)
Aug 17, 2018	Turf & Surf BBQ Championship Del Mar, CA	35 / 51 (639.2912)	30 (160.5372)	8 (170.2628)	28 (162.2628)	41 (146.2284)
Jun 1, 2018	Horse Town Brew B Que Festival Norco, CA	32 / 57 (669.1432)	9 (173.7028)	15 (172.5600)	42 (163.4516)	41 (159.4288)
Mar 23, 2018	7th Annual Santa Anita Winners Circle BBQ Championship Arcadia, CA	58 / 78 (644.4684)	26 (170.2628)	28 (168.0112)	77 (151.3828)	64 (154.8116)
Oct 13, 2017	OC BBQ Competition Costa Messa, CA	51 / 56 (628.4228)	39 (164.5256)	50 (154.2628)	56 (140.4800)	13 (169.1544)
Jul 28, 2017	8th Annual Vista BBQ Classic (JUDGES FULL) Vista, CA	25 / 40 (661.1888)	19 (169.7372)	7 (172)	19 (165.7144)	33 (153.7372)
May 12, 2017	West Coast BBQ Classic Long Beach, CA	25 / 40 (647.9544)	3 (177.1428)	27 (159.4172)	27 (158.3316)	30 (153.0628)
Jan 27, 2017	Newport Beach Winter Q Newport, CA	6 / 56 (686.2172)	22 (169.6800)	4 (177.7144)	18 (170.2628)	15 (168.5600)
Oct 7, 2016	Dana Point State BBQ Championship Dana Point, CA	29 / 75 (666.3200)	28 (168.5600)	4 (175.4628)	30 (167.4972)	62 (154.8000)
Jul 29, 2016	8th Annual Vista BBQ Classic Vista, CA	24 / 42 (662.2740)	26 (165.6684)	37 (155.4172)	20 (166.3084)	3 (174.8800)
Jun 24, 2016	Newport Beach Barbecue Competition Newport, CA	12 / 33 (677.1544)	4 (174.2856)	14 (168.0344)	23 (163.4172)	4 (171.4172)
Oct 2, 2015	City of Dana Point State BBQ Championship Dana Point, CA	18 / 75 (680.6060)	16 (174.2972)	21 (170.8344)	54 (161.6800)	13 (173.7944)
Jul 24, 2015	7th Annual Vista BBQ Classic Vista, CA	17 / 54 (683.4284)	36 (165.1312)	6 (176.0116)	32 (166.8456)	2 (175.4400)
Jun 26, 2015	Newport Beach Barbecue Contest Newport Beach, CA	9 / 29 (678.8456)	9 (172)	11 (168)	6 (173.1428)	15 (165.7028)
May 8, 2015	West Coast BBQ Classic Long Beach, CA	18 / 57 (674.8912)	22 (169.7256)	7 (172.5600)	39 (161.1656)	13 (171.4400)
Mar 20, 2015	4th Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship Arcadia, CA	47 / 100 (667.9772)	26 (172.5828)	18 (170.8344)	57 (164)	71 (160.5600)
Oct 4, 2013	Dana Point State BBQ Championship Dana Point, CA	74 / 99 (618.3776)	79 (153.1656)	61 (158.8688)	86 (149.1544)	60 (157.1888)

JW HAYES 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

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (10 found in their record)

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

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

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)