KIND OF A BIG DEAL BBQ

KIND OF A BIG DEAL BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 14 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2022. Their best overall finish is 11th of 26 at the Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cook-off (2021). They are ranked #5125 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#5,125

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1460

peak 1460 · rated over 14 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

May 3, 2013

latest Nov 18, 2022 · 9.5 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#663

Master 2021 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

0 podiums

Overall top-10s

0% of 14 contests

Avg finish

top 71%

overall standings

Best overall

663.8056 / 720

Master · Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cook-off

Perfect 180s

Current form

655.24 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 642.68 (+12.56)

Walk rate

50%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

173.7144

Pork · Smokelawn

Consistency

±13.81

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 162.57 · weakest Brisket (157.21)

Road miles

1,485

across 14 mapped stops · furthest 640 mi

Schedule strength

51%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1566)

Purse competed for

$24K

listed at 3 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 4 state-championship entries

Master avg

642.68 / 720

14 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (9 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

663.8056 career-best overall

92.2% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 663.8056 at Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cook-off — 92.2% of a perfect 720.

Master
Oct 8, 2021

A tough matchup

9–0 behind in the head-to-head

SUE E PIGG ahead in 100% of their meetings

SUE E PIGG has come out ahead in 9 of their 9 shared contests.

The weak link

−5.4 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 5.36 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 0% of the time against 29%.

Brisket avg 157.21
Chicken avg 162.57
0 calls in 14 entries

A strong matchup

7–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of THE SMOKIN' GRILL in 7 of their 7 shared contests.

The comeback

3.1 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 3.1 years, then back at Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival (Jun 10, 2016).

last seen May 3, 2013
back Jun 10, 2016

Chicken nemesis

8 of 8 shared chicken entries lost

MIDNIGHT BURN ahead 100% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, MIDNIGHT BURN has out-cooked them in 8 of 8 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

QUE IT UP! GREENWOOD has landed one call behind them 2 times.

Show 2 more storylines

An October team

Top 63% average finish in October

Something about October: average finish in the top 63% across 5 contests, versus top 71% the rest of the year.

5 October contests
top 71% the rest of the year

The metronome

±1.92% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.92% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 89.3% of a perfect score
14 contests

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
2023 ↗	Master	#1255 (60 pts)	#1319 (60 pts)	#1432 (60 pts)	#1287 (60 pts)	#1180 (90 pts)
2021 ↗	Master	#663 (228 pts)	#627 (268 pts)	#615 (288 pts)	#743 (198 pts)	#750 (203 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#1636 (114 pts)	#1448 (149 pts)	#1800 (99 pts)	#1440 (149 pts)	#1787 (94 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1448 (137 pts)	#1447 (157 pts)	#1327 (187 pts)	#1539 (132 pts)	#1714 (117 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1139 (266 pts)	#1100 (316 pts)	#1153 (291 pts)	#1246 (256 pts)	#1119 (296 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1364 (202 pts)	#1178 (282 pts)	#1437 (207 pts)	#1446 (212 pts)	#1454 (197 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#2397 (71 pts)	#2521 (66 pts)	#2517 (66 pts)	#1413 (181 pts)	#2029 (76 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to KIND OF A BIG DEAL BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

ON THE SPOT BBQ

#5,103 of the rated field

1460 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1500

2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to KIND OF A BIG DEAL BBQ)

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

rated over 11 contests
last seen Oct 6, 2017

⚔ Head-to-head

J Adams Rib

#5,105 of the rated field

1460 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1460

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 14 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 14 contests
last seen Jun 26, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Wild Hog BBQ

#5,106 of the rated field

1460 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 33%
Peak: 1460

Careers of much the same size, 15 contests to 14, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Jun 26, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

GRILLSTAR.DE BBQ TEAM

#5,121 of the rated field

1460 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1460

15 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Feb 24, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

2 FAT BOYS & A GRILL

#5,141 of the rated field

1460 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1502

Their last contest in the data was back in 2016, 6 years before KIND OF A BIG DEAL BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 13 contests

⚔ Compare careers

Florida Boys

#5,118 of the rated field

1460 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1518

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

rated over 12 contests
last seen Nov 21, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SUE E PIGG	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
PIG ON FIRE	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare
SWIG-N-PIG	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
ELITE BBQ SMOKERS	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
MIDNIGHT BURN	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKIN' GRILL	7	7	0	100%	⚔ compare
Nards Backyard BBQ	7	5	2	71%	⚔ compare
CONTAGIOUS Q	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
Smoke Central BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
SMOKE ON THIS	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
MUTTLEY CREW BBQ	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
BAYOU POKER SMOKERS	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
SAUCED! BBQ TEAM	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	14	4	173.1200	151.9316	162.57	top 64%
Pork Ribs	14	2	173.1200	144.5144	160.73	top 63%
Pork	14	2	173.7144	155.3712	162.17	top 67%
Brisket	14	0	170.8460	148.4916	157.21	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	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	2	top 64%
Medium (20–39)	5	top 69%
Large (40+)	7	top 74%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
SC	9	top 73%
NC	3	top 65%
GA	1	top 86%
AR	1	top 59%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Squealin on the Square	3	11	top 70%	Oct 1, 2021
Squealin in the Square	2	18	top 72%	Oct 5, 2018
SC Festival Of Discovery	2	56	top 67%	Jul 12, 2018

More numbers

Busiest season 2017 4 contests

Contests a season 2 across 7 seasons in the data

Most contests held in SC 9 of 14 contests · 4 states in all

Contests visited 10 3 of them more than once

Opponents faced 382 finished ahead 168 times, behind 454

Longest layoff 3.1 yrs May 3, 2013 → Jun 10, 2016

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

20221 milestone

Nov 18 Most recent contest Atlanta BBQ Store Classic

20211 milestone

Oct 8 Career-best overall score663.8056 Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cook-off

20181 milestone

Oct 5 10th tracked contest Squealin in the Square

20171 milestone

Apr 14 First overall past 90% of a perfect score652.4572 21st Annual Fire House BBQ Cook-Off

20134 milestones

May 3 First tracked contest Smokelawn
May 3 First call Smokelawn
May 3 Career-best single call (Pork)173.7144 Smokelawn
May 3 Peak power rating (1498) Smokelawn

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+6.8	Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cook-off	Oct 8, 2021
+3.1	Squealin on the Square	Oct 4, 2019
+0.4	SC Festival of Discovery (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES)	Jul 6, 2017

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-9	Atlanta BBQ Store Classic	Nov 18, 2022
-8.9	Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival	Jun 10, 2016
-8.6	Piggin In The Park (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES)	Jun 2, 2017
-7.2	Low Country Hog Fest	Sep 2, 2016
-6.7	Squealin' on the Square	Sep 30, 2016

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)
2022	1	0%	top 86%	89.7%	89.7%
2021	2	100%	top 56%	92.2%	92%
2019	1	100%	top 58%	91%	91%
2018	2	50%	top 72%	90.5%	89.1%
2017	4	25%	top 72%	90.6%	89.3%
2016	3	33%	top 83%	88.5%	87%
2013	1	100%	top 59%	88.7%	88.7%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Nov 18, 2022	Atlanta BBQ Store Classic 🏅 Cumming, GA	49 / 57 (645.5432)	56 (153.6572)	41 (162.8000)	48 (158.2400)	19 (170.8460)
Oct 8, 2021	Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n BBQ Cook-off 🏅 Waxhaw, NC	11 / 26 (663.8056)	6 (173.1200)	11 (168.5256)	17 (162.8000)	14 (159.3600)
Oct 1, 2021	Squealin on the Square 🏅 Laurens, SC	12 / 17 (660.3884)	13 (159.9428)	5 (173.1200)	12 (166.2400)	14 (161.0856)
Oct 4, 2019	Squealin on the Square 🏅 Laurens, SC	11 / 19 (655.2112)	7 (170.8228)	14 (159.3600)	7 (167.3828)	15 (157.6456)
Oct 5, 2018	Squealin in the Square Laurens, SC	20 / 27 (651.2572)	16 (166.8228)	10 (167.3944)	21 (160.5372)	24 (156.5028)
Jul 12, 2018	SC Festival Of Discovery Greenwood, SC	63 / 89 (631.2116)	77 (151.9316)	54 (161.0856)	38 (166.2400)	68 (151.9544)
Oct 6, 2017	Squealin in the Square (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) Laurens, SC	18 / 26 (650.7772)	9 (168.5600)	19 (158.8228)	20 (157.1544)	12 (166.2400)
Jul 6, 2017	SC Festival of Discovery (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) Greenwood, SC	56 / 89 (644.4000)	54 (163.4172)	41 (167.3712)	46 (164.5372)	71 (149.0744)
Jun 2, 2017	Piggin In The Park (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) Woodruff, SC	40 / 44 (625.4744)	34 (161.6456)	37 (157.0628)	39 (158.2744)	41 (148.4916)
Apr 14, 2017	21st Annual Fire House BBQ Cook-Off Kings Mountain, NC	32 / 49 (652.4572)	33 (164.5372)	19 (167.9772)	45 (155.9428)	25 (164)
Sep 30, 2016	Squealin' on the Square Laurens, SC	21 / 26 (637.5312)	8 (169.1200)	17 (160.5600)	26 (155.3712)	21 (152.4800)
Sep 2, 2016	Low Country Hog Fest Charleston, SC	21 / 26 (615.1656)	20 (159.3484)	24 (144.5144)	15 (161.0856)	22 (150.2172)
Jun 10, 2016	Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival Tryon, NC	66 / 76 (626.0684)	62 (159.9428)	72 (148.5256)	55 (162.8228)	62 (154.7772)
May 3, 2013	Smokelawn Hot Springs, AR	24 / 41 (638.2858)	36 (153.1428)	31 (153.1428)	6 (173.7144)	23 (158.2858)

KIND OF A BIG DEAL 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 (9 found in their record)

High-water mark

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

An October team

The metronome

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)