James Brothers BBQ

James Brothers BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 12 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2018. Their best overall finish is 19th of 21 at the Smoke Out in the Valley (2017). They are ranked #5418 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#5,418

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1453

peak 1502 · rated over 12 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Jul 26, 2013

latest Oct 5, 2018 · 5.2 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#1775

Master 2016 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

1 podium

Overall top-10s

0% of 12 contests

Avg finish

top 71%

overall standings

Best overall

659.9772 / 720

Master · BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway

Perfect 180s

Current form

595.18 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 625.18 (-30.00)

Walk rate

17%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176.5600

Pork · Blue Springs Barbeque Blaze-Off

Consistency

±45.24

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 161.21 · weakest Pork (147.32)

Road miles

854

across 12 mapped stops · furthest 111 mi

Schedule strength

47%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1561)

Master avg

625.18 / 720

12 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (6 found in their record)

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

A tough matchup

7–0 behind in the head-to-head

SLAPS BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

SLAPS BBQ has come out ahead in 7 of their 7 shared contests.

The weak link

−13.9 points behind their best meat

Pork is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 13.89 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 8% of the time against 0%.

Pork avg 147.32
Chicken avg 161.21
1 call in 12 entries

A strong matchup

4–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 80% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of Splitlog Smokers in 4 of their 5 shared contests.

The comeback

1.6 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 1.6 years, then back at Rock N Ribs BBQ Festival (Apr 24, 2015).

last seen Sep 6, 2013
back Apr 24, 2015

Chicken nemesis

7 of 7 shared chicken entries lost

VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY ahead 100% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY has out-cooked them in 7 of 7 shared chicken entries.

A September team

Top 54% average finish in September

Something about September: average finish in the top 54% across 3 contests, versus top 71% the rest of the year.

3 September contests
top 71% the rest of the year

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
2016 ↗	Master	#1775 (120 pts)	#1883 (120 pts)	#1884 (120 pts)	#1872 (120 pts)	#1839 (120 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#2158 (60 pts)	#2209 (60 pts)	#2209 (60 pts)	#2225 (60 pts)	#2214 (60 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#1970 (75 pts)	#2073 (75 pts)	#2043 (75 pts)	#1168 (250 pts)	#2034 (75 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to James Brothers BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

Faith Technologies

#5,405 of the rated field

1454 power rating

Contests: 5
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1454

2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to James Brothers BBQ)

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

rated over 5 contests
last seen Apr 20, 2018

⚔ Head-to-head

Three Legged Pig BBQ

#5,399 of the rated field

1454 power rating

Contests: 30
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1454

2–1 in 3 shared contests (67% to James Brothers BBQ)

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 30 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 30 contests
last seen Mar 20, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

Drumline BBQ

#5,417 of the rated field

1453 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1453

Careers of much the same size, 12 contests to 12, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Sep 30, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Shell Rock Smokers

#5,395 of the rated field

1454 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1454

12 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Texas Smoke

#5,414 of the rated field

1453 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1453

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

rated over 12 contests
last seen Sep 8, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

Sholly AM Hams

#5,425 of the rated field

1453 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1453

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

rated over 11 contests
last seen Jun 19, 2020

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SLAPS BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
Smoke on the Water	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
HI-TECH SMOKERS	6	3	3	50%	⚔ compare
UNFAMOUS DAVE'S	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
DIRT ROAD BBQ	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
R BUTTS R SMOKIN	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' BASTED	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKING HILLS	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
Splitlog Smokers	5	4	1	80%	⚔ compare
A SLEW OF SOWS AND A SMOKER	5	4	1	80%	⚔ compare
Sons of a Brisket	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare
THUMP & STRUM BBQ	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
PELLET ENVY	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
Theslabs.com	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	12	0	0	169.1200	150.7772	161.21	top 65%
Pork Ribs	12	0	0	168.5488	143.3600	158.93	top 64%
Pork	12	1	1	176.5600	20	147.32	top 70%
Brisket	12	1	0	171.4056	140.4800	157.72	top 60%

“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 81%
Large (40+)	9	0	top 68%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
MO	11	0	top 72%
KS	1	0	top 61%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Independence Fire & Ice BBQ	3	48	0	top 81%	Oct 5, 2018

More numbers

Busiest season 2017 3 contests

Contests a season 2.4 across 5 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MO 11 of 12 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 10 1 of them more than once

Opponents faced 433 finished ahead 213 times, behind 456

Longest layoff 1.6 yrs Sep 6, 2013 → Apr 24, 2015

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

20181 milestone

Oct 5 Most recent contest Independence Fire & Ice BBQ

20171 milestone

Oct 6 10th tracked contest Independence Fire & Ice BBQ

20151 milestone

Sep 11 Peak power rating (1502) Independence Fire & Ice BBQ

20135 milestones

Jul 26 First tracked contest Racing For The BBQ
Jul 26 First call Racing For The BBQ
Aug 17 First overall past 90% of a perfect score659.9772 BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway
Aug 17 Career-best overall score659.9772 BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway
Sep 6 Career-best single call (Pork)176.5600 Blue Springs Barbeque Blaze-Off

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+4.5	Rock N Ribs BBQ Festival	Apr 24, 2015
+4.5	Independence Fire & Ice BBQ	Sep 11, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12.4	Independence Fire & Ice BBQ	Oct 5, 2018
-9.6	The Best Damn BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake	Apr 7, 2017
-8.2	Smoke Out in the Valley	Jun 17, 2017
-6.6	Red White Blue and Que Presented by Lucas Oil Speedway	Aug 4, 2018
-6	Independence Fire & Ice BBQ	Oct 6, 2017

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	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2018	2	0%	top 96%	89%	78.1%
2017	3	0%	top 87%	86.3%	85.7%
2016	2	0%	top 67%	90.7%	88.8%
2015	2	0%	top 42%	90.8%	90.4%
2013	3	67%	top 63%	91.7%	90.1%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Oct 5, 2018	Independence Fire & Ice BBQ Independence, MO	56 / 56 (483.2688)	29 (163.4288)	40 (159.3600)	56 (20)	52 (140.4800)
Aug 4, 2018	Red White Blue and Que Presented by Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland, MO	34 / 37 (641.0172)	16 (167.4400)	34 (157.0972)	33 (159.9544)	33 (156.5256)
Oct 6, 2017	Independence Fire & Ice BBQ Independence, MO	60 / 76 (614.6512)	43 (162.8228)	56 (154.8000)	72 (144.5256)	57 (152.5028)
Jun 17, 2017	Smoke Out in the Valley Buckner, MO	19 / 21 (621.0516)	16 (166.2856)	19 (143.3600)	15 (164.0116)	20 (147.3944)
Apr 7, 2017	The Best Damn BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake Smithville, MO	49 / 54 (615.9088)	41 (160.5600)	44 (156.5716)	53 (143.9544)	37 (154.8228)
Sep 9, 2016	Independence Fire & Ice BBQ Independence, MO	48 / 76 (653.0056)	61 (157.6572)	35 (165.7028)	56 (162.2400)	27 (167.4056)
Apr 22, 2016	Rock N Ribs BBQ Festival Springfield, MO	43 / 61 (625.5772)	53 (151.9316)	32 (159.4284)	45 (154.8572)	34 (159.3600)
Sep 11, 2015	Independence Fire & Ice BBQ Independence, MO	33 / 76 (653.7144)	46 (158.8116)	26 (166.2856)	30 (164.0228)	26 (164.5944)
Apr 24, 2015	Rock N Ribs BBQ Festival Springfield, MO	26 / 63 (647.8972)	55 (150.7772)	24 (165.1772)	33 (163.4172)	13 (168.5256)
Sep 6, 2013	Blue Springs Barbeque Blaze-Off Blue Springs, MO	40 / 72 (643.8400)	37 (163.3828)	65 (147.9544)	3 (176.5600)	43 (155.9428)
Aug 17, 2013	BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway Kansas City, KS	19 / 31 (659.9772)	14 (169.1200)	13 (168.5488)	14 (168.6172)	26 (153.6912)
Jul 26, 2013	Racing For The BBQ Lee's Summit, MO	41 / 58 (642.2172)	39 (162.2744)	32 (162.8572)	57 (145.6800)	5 (171.4056)

James Brothers 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 (6 found in their record)

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Chicken nemesis

A September team

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 — 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)