High-water mark
679.9544
career-best overall
94.4% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 679.9544 at *Sertoma 48 BBQ(JUDGESFULL) — 94.4% of a perfect 720.
- Master
- 2017-05-05
BONES BRIGADE
At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)
Rating
1481
peak 1481 · rated over 10 contests ⓘ
Contests
10
in the data
First seen
2013-08-16
latest 2019-05-24
Best ToY finish
#2603
Master 2013
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
1
1 podiums
Overall top-10s
1
of 10 contests
Avg finish
top 66%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
646.47 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 629.21 (+17.27)
Walk rate
20%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±33.16
std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork Ribs
avg 159.88 · weakest Pork (155.58)
Road miles
3,457
mi across 10 mapped stops · furthest 547 mi
Schedule strength
44%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1557)
Purse competed for
$8K
listed at 1 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
GCs in 1 state-championship entries
Master avg
629.21 / 720
9 Master contests · 0 GCs
Backyard avg
314.24 / 360
1 Backyard contest · 0 GCs
Master and Backyard overall scores sit on different scales (Master is out of 720, Backyard out of 360), so they're kept separate — averaging them together would be misleading.
This team cooks the Backyard series — its own boards, records and Team of the Year are here.
Storylines (7 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.
A tough matchup
5–0
behind in the head-to-head
THE SMOKING HILLS ahead in 100% of their meetings
THE SMOKING HILLS has come out ahead in 5 of their 5 shared contests.
The weak link
−4.3
points behind their best meat
Pork is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.30 points below their pork ribs, and turns into a call 22% of the time against 0%.
- Pork avg 155.58
- Pork Ribs avg 159.88
- 2 calls in 9 entries
The comeback
2.1 yrs
off the trail, then back
Off the trail for 2.1 years, then back at Red, White, and BBQ Day 1 (2019-05-24).
- last seen 2017-05-05
- back 2019-05-24
Pork Ribs nemesis
5 of 5
shared pork ribs entries lost
913 BBQ ahead 100% of the time
Even in their strongest meat, 913 BBQ has out-cooked them in 5 of 5 shared pork ribs entries.
A May team
Top 44%
average finish in May
Something about May: average finish in the top 44% across 3 contests, versus top 66% the rest of the year.
- 3 May contests
- top 66% the rest of the year
The long haul
3,457
road miles between contests
Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 3,457 miles across 10 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 547 miles to Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge.
- 10 mapped stops
- furthest 547 mi
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.
124 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#4051 of the rated field
- Contests
- 8
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1510
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to BONES BRIGADE)
One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team BONES BRIGADE has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-head#4055 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1482
No shared contest yet.
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 11 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-head#4049 of the rated field
- Contests
- 9
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 11%
- Peak
- 1482
No shared contest yet.
Careers of much the same size, 9 contests to 10, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Head-to-head#4074 of the rated field
- Contests
- 9
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1506
No shared contest yet.
Level with BONES BRIGADE on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Head-to-head#4076 of the rated field
- Contests
- 8
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 25%
- Peak
- 1503
No shared contest yet.
Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.
⚔ Head-to-head#4080 of the rated field
- Contests
- 8
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 13%
- Peak
- 1506
No shared contest yet.
Careers of much the same size, 8 contests to 10, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Head-to-headFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B & C SMOKERS | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
| 4 LEGS UP BBQ | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
| PELLET ENVY | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
| OLD STYLE BBQ | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
| Backdraft BBQ | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| THUMP & STRUM BBQ | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| Theslabs.com | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| Four Men and A Pig | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| HIGH i QUE | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| THE SMOKING HILLS | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| 913 BBQ | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 169.1200 | 141.1312 | 156.85 | top 69% |
| Pork Ribs | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 168.0572 | 146.2628 | 159.88 | top 58% |
| Pork | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 177.1428 | 123.2000 | 155.58 | top 64% |
| Brisket | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 172.5600 | 142.2172 | 156.62 | 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 state / province
| Where | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| KS | 4 | 0 | top 49% |
| CO | 3 | 0 | top 91% |
| MO | 2 | 0 | top 78% |
| IL | 1 | 0 | top 40% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium (20–39) | 2 | 0 | top 94% |
| Large (40+) | 8 | 0 | top 60% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge | 3 | 27 | 0 | top 91% | 2015-08-14 |
The story so far (18 numbers that describe this team)
On the trail
5.8 yrs
2013-08-16 → 2019-05-24
Busiest season
2014
3 contests
Contests a season
1.7
across 6 seasons in the data
Cooks most in
KS
4 of 10 contests · 4 states/provinces in all
Contests visited
8
1 of them cooked more than once
Most-entered meat
Chicken
10 entries · 0 wins · 0 calls
Strongest meat
Pork Ribs
averages 159.88 · weakest Pork (155.58)
Walk rate
20%
a top-10 call in 2 of 10 contests
Overall top-10 rate
10%
1 of 10 contests
Master average
629.21
out of 720 · 9 contests · 0 GCs
Backyard average
314.24
out of 360 · 1 contest · 0 GCs
Opponents faced
1,056
371–1,189 across every shared overall standing
Road miles
3,457
10 mapped stops · furthest 547 mi
Schedule strength
1557
average field rating faced — tougher than 44% of rated contests
Purse competed for
$8,000
listed at 1 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0
from 1 state-championship entries
Longest layoff
2.1 yrs
2017-05-05 → 2019-05-24
Power rating
1481
peak 1481 · #4063 of 6,413 rated
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
- 2013
- First tracked contest Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge
- Peak power rating (1485) Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge
- 2016
- First call Wolf Creek Wildblue BBQ
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score676.5828 Wolf Creek Wildblue BBQ
- 2017
- First category win (Pork) *Sertoma 48 BBQ(JUDGESFULL)
- First overall top-10 *Sertoma 48 BBQ(JUDGESFULL)
- Career-best overall score679.9544 *Sertoma 48 BBQ(JUDGESFULL)
- Career-best single call (Pork)177.1428 *Sertoma 48 BBQ(JUDGESFULL)
- 2019
- 10th tracked contest Red, White, and BBQ Day 1
- Most recent contest Red, White, and BBQ Day 1
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +14.6 | *Sertoma 48 BBQ(JUDGESFULL) | 2017-05-05 |
| +13.1 | Wolf Creek Wildblue BBQ | 2016-07-15 |
| +5.9 | Red, White, and BBQ Day 1 | 2019-05-24 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -15.4 | Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge | 2013-08-16 |
| -9.7 | Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge | 2014-08-15 |
| -8.8 | Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge | 2015-08-14 |
| -7.3 | 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open | 2015-10-03 |
| -5.5 | 35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open | 2014-10-02 |
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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 40% | 87.3% | 87.3% |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100% | top 18% | 94.4% | 94.4% |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 52% | 94% | 91.6% |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 83% | 86.7% | 85.6% |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 79% | 87.4% | 86.3% |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 100% | 78.8% | 78.8% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-05-24 | Red, White, and BBQ Day 1 🏅 Westmont, IL | 16 / 40 (314.2400) | 14 (157.1544) | 18 (157.0856) | — | — |
| 2017-05-05 | *Sertoma 48 BBQ(JUDGESFULL) Lawrence, KS | 8 / 44 (679.9544) | 21 (166.8344) | 18 (165.7144) | 1 (177.1428) | 7 (170.2628) |
| 2016-10-07 | Cookin on the Kaw DeSoto, KS | 42 / 56 (642.8344) | 48 (160.0000) | 38 (161.7144) | 33 (163.4400) | 46 (157.6800) |
| 2016-07-15 | Wolf Creek Wildblue BBQ Burlington, KS | 13 / 46 (676.5828) | 24 (166.3200) | 33 (161.7028) | 5 (176.0000) | 5 (172.5600) |
| 2015-10-03 | 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO | 481 / 606 (624.5716) | 505 (154.2516) | 198 (167.4744) | 529 (151.4172) | 475 (151.4284) |
| 2015-08-14 | Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge Conifer, CO | 27 / 31 (608.4224) | 30 (146.8228) | 25 (151.9772) | 22 (155.9656) | 22 (153.6568) |
| 2014-10-02 | 35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO | 425 / 552 (629.2000) | 491 (151.4284) | 173 (168.0572) | 511 (147.9772) | 278 (161.7372) |
| 2014-08-15 | Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge Conifer, CO | 37 / 43 (605.0628) | 33 (155.4056) | 21 (161.1772) | 37 (146.2628) | 38 (142.2172) |
| 2014-05-24 | Sugar Mound BBQ Festival Mound City, KS | 64 / 87 (629.1200) | 22 (169.1200) | 82 (146.2628) | 62 (158.8572) | 63 (154.8800) |
| 2013-08-16 | Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge Conifer, CO | 33 / 33 (567.1080) | 33 (141.1312) | 23 (157.6568) | 33 (123.2000) | 24 (145.1200) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #2769 (56 pts) | #2768 (56 pts) | #2775 (56 pts) | #2167 (71 pts) | #2136 (71 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #2603 (58 pts) | #2618 (58 pts) | #2484 (68 pts) | #2616 (58 pts) | #2565 (63 pts) |