OWLS NEST BBQ

OWLS NEST BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 24 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2018. Their best overall finish is 6th of 35 at the BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier) (2016). They are ranked #5545 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#5,545

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1450

peak 1450 · rated over 22 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Sep 28, 2013

latest May 11, 2018 · 4.6 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#638

Master 2016 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

0 podiums

Overall top-10s

4% of 24 contests

Avg finish

top 72%

overall standings

Best overall

687.4176 / 720

Master · BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier)

Perfect 180s

Current form

649.31 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 655.66 (-6.35)

Walk rate

25%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.2972

Chicken · The Rotary Club of Bearden - Que Fest

Consistency

±16.89

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 167.80 · weakest Pork (161.36)

Road miles

2,572

across 24 mapped stops · furthest 309 mi

Schedule strength

71%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1590)

Master avg

655.66 / 720

22 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (8 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

687.4176 career-best overall

95.5% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 687.4176 at BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier) — 95.5% of a perfect 720.

Master
Apr 29, 2016

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

RUNWAY SMOKE has finished one call ahead of OWLS NEST BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2015 their best year

2015 was the year it came together: 7 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 62%.

7 contests
0 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 62%

A tough matchup

15–0 behind in the head-to-head

QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N ahead in 100% of their meetings

QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N has come out ahead in 15 of their 15 shared contests.

The weak link

−6.4 points behind their best meat

Pork is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 6.44 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 5% of the time against 22%.

Pork avg 161.36
Chicken avg 167.80
1 call in 22 entries

A strong matchup

5–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of CAUGHT BY THE FIRE in 5 of their 5 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

14 of 15 shared chicken entries lost

QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N ahead 93% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N has out-cooked them in 14 of 15 shared chicken entries.

Show 1 more storyline

The metronome

±2.35% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.35% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 91.1% of a perfect score
24 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
2017 ↗	Master	#2212 (60 pts)	#2286 (60 pts)	#2304 (60 pts)	#2260 (60 pts)	#2109 (85 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#638 (605 pts)	#648 (635 pts)	#719 (560 pts)	#684 (590 pts)	#630 (635 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#786 (440 pts)	#626 (615 pts)	#727 (525 pts)	#866 (420 pts)	#742 (495 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1669 (147 pts)	#1546 (177 pts)	#1719 (147 pts)	#1736 (147 pts)	#1725 (147 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#2498 (65 pts)	#1974 (90 pts)	#2656 (55 pts)	#2584 (60 pts)	#1803 (115 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to OWLS NEST BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

Cookin Possums

#5,547 of the rated field

1450 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 9%
Peak: 1511

2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to OWLS NEST BBQ)

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

rated over 11 contests
last seen May 19, 2017

⚔ Head-to-head

SKILLET HEAD BBQ

#5,566 of the rated field

1450 power rating

Contests: 8
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1450

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to OWLS NEST BBQ)

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 8 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 8 contests
last seen Mar 19, 2016

⚔ Head-to-head

E.T.'S BBQ

#5,543 of the rated field

1450 power rating

Contests: 95
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1511

5–2 in 7 shared contests (71% to OWLS NEST BBQ)

95 contests to 24: their number has had years to settle where OWLS NEST BBQ's is still finding its level.

rated over 95 contests
last seen Mar 5, 2021

⚔ Head-to-head

Smokesdidier bbq

#5,570 of the rated field

1450 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 14%
Peak: 1450

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

rated over 22 contests
last seen Aug 7, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

HAMOUFLAGE

#5,562 of the rated field

1450 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 5%
Peak: 1450

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

rated over 20 contests
last seen Aug 9, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

PLUM CRAZY BBQ

#5,523 of the rated field

1450 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 10%
Peak: 1450

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 19 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 19 contests
last seen Jul 30, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SMOKE ON THIS	15	3	12	20%	⚔ compare
QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N	15	0	15	0%	⚔ compare
SWINE AND SHINE BBQ	14	2	12	14%	⚔ compare
ATLANTA BBQ STORE	11	2	9	18%	⚔ compare
OLD PLANTATION BBQ	11	2	9	18%	⚔ compare
CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ	10	6	4	60%	⚔ compare
Under the Radar	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
SAUCED! BBQ TEAM	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS	9	6	3	67%	⚔ compare
FIREHOUSE SMOKERS TN	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
J & B'S BBQ	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
Bubba Q	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
CONTAGIOUS Q	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare
DIRTY OL' BUTT SLAPPERS	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	23	5	178.2972	149.6800	167.80	top 57%
Pork Ribs	23	2	174.8456	151.3372	163.82	top 66%
Pork	22	1	170.8456	144.4800	161.36	top 74%
Brisket	22	1	171.9656	153.0744	163.45	top 62%

“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)	11	0	top 66%
Large (40+)	11	0	top 78%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
GA	14	top 72%
TN	7	top 70%
AL	1	top 83%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
The National BBQ Cup (Day 2)	2	39	top 84%	May 28, 2016
Roman Roast on the River	2	11	top 41%	May 13, 2016
Smokin' Up The Saddle Club (GBC Qualifier)	2	31	top 94%	Nov 13, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2016 7 contests

Contests a season 4 across 6 seasons in the data

Most contests held in GA 14 of 24 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 19 3 of them more than once

Opponents faced 448 finished ahead 267 times, behind 734

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

20181 milestone

May 11 Most recent contest Roman Roast on the River

20162 milestones

Apr 29 First overall top-10 BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier)
Apr 29 Career-best overall score687.4176 BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier)

20153 milestones

May 29 First call The Rotary Club of Bearden - Que Fest
May 29 Career-best single call (Chicken)178.2972 The Rotary Club of Bearden - Que Fest
Jul 31 10th tracked contest I Grill Because I CARE (Competitor's Series)

20141 milestone

May 30 First overall past 90% of a perfect score649.5656 The Rotary Club of West Knoxville - Rocky Top Hummin' & Strummin' BBQ Cook-Off

20132 milestones

Jul 26 First tracked contest Foothills Country Fair BBQ Bash
Sep 28 Peak power rating (1493) Whole Hawg Happenin'

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+16.3	BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier)	Apr 29, 2016
+9.1	Roman Roast on the River	May 13, 2016
+5.3	Blount County BBQ Bash	Jun 26, 2015
+3.4	Roman Roast on the River	May 8, 2015
+2.3	The Rotary Club of Bearden - Que Fest	May 29, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-9.8	Whole Hawg Happenin' (SBBQA)	Sep 27, 2014
-8	Flames on the Flint (GBC Qualifier)	Mar 11, 2016
-8	Smokin' Up The Saddle Club (GBC Qualifier)	Nov 13, 2015
-7.3	Smokin up the Campground (GBC Qualifier)	Dec 1, 2017
-6.9	Whole Hawg Happenin'	Sep 28, 2013

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)
2018	1	0	0%	top 90%	91%	91%
2017	3	0	0%	top 83%	90.8%	90.2%
2016	7	1	43%	top 67%	95.5%	91.9%
2015	7	0	43%	top 62%	94.7%	91.9%
2014	4	0	0%	top 81%	91.3%	89.4%
2013	2	0	0%	top 77%	89.7%	89.7%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
May 11, 2018	Roman Roast on the River Rome, GA	35 / 39 (655.2224)	34 (167.3712)	23 (168.5484)	29 (166.2284)	37 (153.0744)
Dec 1, 2017	Smokin up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) Calhoun, GA	27 / 30 (644.9488)	19 (166.2400)	27 (161.6456)	30 (155.9316)	23 (161.1316)
Nov 8, 2017	World Barbecue Championship Orange Beach, AL	77 / 93 (653.5884)	83 (161.6456)	66 (164)	76 (161.1200)	50 (166.8228)
Mar 3, 2017	Sip & Swine BBQ Festival Lawrenceville, GA	48 / 63 (649.0060)	45 (164.5372)	35 (165.6800)	63 (149.0972)	20 (169.6916)
Nov 18, 2016	Que'n in Cumming (Day 1) Cumming, GA	41 / 47 (643.7828)	34 (166.2400)	46 (151.3372)	36 (161.0856)	32 (165.1200)
Jun 3, 2016	Fire in the Valley Red Bank BBQ Red Bank(Chattanooga), TN	30 / 39 (660.9940)	32 (164.5256)	32 (161.1316)	27 (164.5140)	13 (170.8228)
May 28, 2016	The National BBQ Cup (Day 2) Nashville, TN	39 / 50 (672.4456)	8 (176.5600)	26 (170.2628)	40 (166.8228)	47 (158.8000)
May 27, 2016	The National BBQ Cup (Day 1) Nashville, TN	46 / 51 (666.1716)	34 (170.8344)	41 (165.1316)	21 (170.8456)	48 (159.3600)
May 13, 2016	Roman Roast on the River Rome, GA	11 / 36 (671.3140)	22 (164.5484)	20 (165.6800)	12 (169.6684)	9 (171.4172)
Apr 29, 2016	BBQ Boogie & Blues (GBC Qualifier) Calhoun, GA	6 / 35 (687.4176)	7 (173.7144)	6 (173.7144)	9 (170.8344)	11 (169.1544)
Mar 11, 2016	Flames on the Flint (GBC Qualifier) Bainbridge, GA	81 / 89 (627.2340)	42 (166.8344)	77 (157.0856)	88 (149.0856)	74 (154.2284)
Dec 4, 2015	Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) Calhoun, GA	27 / 39 (656.5260)	23 (166.8228)	11 (169.7144)	18 (166.8344)	35 (153.1544)
Nov 13, 2015	Smokin' Up The Saddle Club (GBC Qualifier) Chatsworth, GA	46 / 48 (624.3544)	45 (157.6800)	27 (169.1200)	48 (144.4800)	46 (153.0744)
Oct 2, 2015	Smoke-N-Thunder BBQ Classic Day 1 (GBC Qualifier) Rome, GA	30 / 52 (667.8284)	30 (169.6800)	35 (165.0972)	44 (161.0856)	13 (171.9656)
Jul 31, 2015	I Grill Because I CARE (Competitor's Series) New Hope, AL	—	10 (173.7256)	10 (174.8456)	—	—
Jun 26, 2015	Blount County BBQ Bash Maryville, TN	17 / 38 (667.3028)	9 (173.7028)	26 (160.5256)	20 (165.6800)	18 (167.3944)
May 29, 2015	The Rotary Club of Bearden - Que Fest Knoxville, TN	21 / 39 (681.6228)	4 (178.2972)	13 (172)	36 (162.7884)	21 (168.5372)
May 8, 2015	Roman Roast on the River Rome, GA	21 / 41 (674.2172)	23 (168.5372)	18 (169.6800)	26 (167.4400)	21 (168.5600)
Nov 14, 2014	Smokin' Up The Saddle Club (SBBQA) Chatsworth, GA	31 / 34 (640.3888)	22 (169.6800)	34 (153.0744)	31 (156.5372)	26 (161.0972)
Sep 27, 2014	Whole Hawg Happenin' (SBBQA) Marietta, GA	30 / 34 (626.6972)	33 (149.6800)	29 (155.9316)	31 (155.9656)	14 (165.1200)
Jul 25, 2014	Foothills Country Fair BBQ Bash Cleveland, TN	35 / 49 (657.6456)	21 (169.7028)	40 (160.5600)	37 (162.2628)	32 (165.1200)
May 30, 2014	The Rotary Club of West Knoxville - Rocky Top Hummin' & Strummin' BBQ Cook-Off Knoxville, TN	35 / 48 (649.5656)	23 (169.1200)	36 (161.7028)	33 (163.9428)	42 (154.8000)
Sep 28, 2013	Whole Hawg Happenin' Marietta, GA	23 / 30 (646.1484)	18 (169.6684)	29 (151.3828)	24 (157.6800)	13 (167.4172)
Jul 26, 2013	Foothills Country Fair BBQ Bash Cleveland, TN	—	—	—	—	—

OWLS NEST 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 (8 found in their record)

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

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)