RIB CAGE BBQ

RIB CAGE BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 21 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2018. Their best overall finish is 7th of 50 at the Platte City BBQ Cook-Off (2014). They are ranked #1896 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#1,896

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1544

peak 1545 · rated over 21 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

May 3, 2013

latest Sep 15, 2018 · 5.4 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#294

Master 2014 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

3 podiums

Overall top-10s

19% of 21 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 48%

overall standings

Best overall

677.1084 / 720

Master · Platte City BBQ Cook-Off

Perfect 180s

Current form

661.04 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 656.43 (+4.61)

Walk rate

48%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

177.7028

Chicken · Smokin on the Summit

Consistency

±14.16

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 164.79 · weakest Pork Ribs (163.55)

Road miles

1,507

across 21 mapped stops · furthest 290 mi

Schedule strength

40%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1553)

Master avg

656.43 / 720

21 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (6 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

677.1084 career-best overall

94.0% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 677.1084 at Platte City BBQ Cook-Off — 94.0% of a perfect 720.

Master
May 16, 2014

A tough matchup

13–0 behind in the head-to-head

SMOOTH SMOKE ahead in 100% of their meetings

SMOOTH SMOKE has come out ahead in 13 of their 13 shared contests.

A strong matchup

6–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of DUSTY ROADS BBQ in 6 of their 6 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

11 of 13 shared chicken entries lost

Theslabs.com ahead 85% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, Theslabs.com has out-cooked them in 11 of 13 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

ABS of SQUEAL has landed one call behind them 2 times.

The metronome

±1.97% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.97% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 91.2% of a perfect score
21 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	#1541 (160 pts)	#1768 (125 pts)	#1363 (220 pts)	#1707 (135 pts)	#1538 (175 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1702 (135 pts)	#1883 (120 pts)	#1765 (140 pts)	#1720 (155 pts)	#1772 (130 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1455 (170 pts)	#1892 (115 pts)	#1313 (230 pts)	#1281 (240 pts)	#1629 (145 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#294 (1,199 pts)	#241 (1,304 pts)	#320 (1,089 pts)	#294 (1,169 pts)	#206 (1,464 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to RIB CAGE BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

Good Grief BBQ

#1,897 of the rated field

1544 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1563

2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to RIB CAGE BBQ)

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

rated over 18 contests
last seen Sep 12, 2025

⚔ Head-to-head

SMOKING BAD BBQ TEAM

#1,895 of the rated field

1544 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 59%
Peak: 1569

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to RIB CAGE BBQ)

Careers of much the same size, 17 contests to 21, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 16 contests
last seen Sep 14, 2019

⚔ Head-to-head

Slow & Easy BBQ

#1,893 of the rated field

1544 power rating

Contests: 10
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 30%
Peak: 1548

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to RIB CAGE BBQ)

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

rated over 10 contests
last seen Aug 26, 2016

⚔ Head-to-head

Lolli Q

#1,886 of the rated field

1544 power rating

Contests: 21
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 10%
Peak: 1550

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

rated over 21 contests
last seen Apr 1, 2022

⚔ Compare careers

FAT HEAD'S BREWERY & SMOKEHOUSE

#1,892 of the rated field

1544 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 14%
Peak: 1556

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

rated over 22 contests
last seen Apr 28, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

SMOKIN' MONEY

#1,901 of the rated field

1544 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 14%
Peak: 1553

Careers of much the same size, 22 contests to 21, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 22 contests
last seen Feb 17, 2017

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
Theslabs.com	13	4	9	31%	⚔ compare
SMOOTH SMOKE	13	0	13	0%	⚔ compare
B & C SMOKERS	12	4	8	33%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' BASTED	12	1	11	8%	⚔ compare
THUMP & STRUM BBQ	11	3	8	27%	⚔ compare
Four Men and A Pig	11	2	9	18%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' SAUCED	11	1	10	9%	⚔ compare
SLAPS BBQ	11	0	11	0%	⚔ compare
JAESTAR BBQ	11	0	11	0%	⚔ compare
HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB	10	3	7	30%	⚔ compare
DIRT ROAD BBQ	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
SOCIAL SMOKERS BBQ SQUAD	9	4	5	44%	⚔ compare
PIG NEWTON	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
Three Brothers Different Mothers	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKING HILLS	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	21	4	1	1	177.7028	148	164.79	top 51%
Pork Ribs	21	4	0	0	176.6172	146.2856	163.55	top 50%
Pork	21	4	0	1	175.4056	142.2056	164.01	top 50%
Brisket	21	6	0	1	172.5484	156.5028	164.09	top 44%

“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)	5	0	top 52%
Large (40+)	16	0	top 47%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
KS	10	top 45%
MO	10	top 48%
AR	1	top 88%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2	14	0	top 50%	Apr 28, 2017

More numbers

Busiest season 2014 12 contests

Contests a season 3.5 across 6 seasons in the data

Most contests held in KS 10 of 21 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 20 1 of them more than once

Opponents faced 1,646 finished ahead 1,738 times, behind 1,622

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

20182 milestones

May 25 Peak power rating (1545) Shepherd's Smokin Summer Kick Off
Sep 15 Most recent contest 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)

20147 milestones

Apr 25 First call VFW Post 846 6th Annual BBQ Challenge (10 TEAM SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE)
Apr 25 First overall top-10 VFW Post 846 6th Annual BBQ Challenge (10 TEAM SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE)
Apr 25 First overall past 90% of a perfect score675.9888 VFW Post 846 6th Annual BBQ Challenge (10 TEAM SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE)
May 16 Career-best overall score677.1084 Platte City BBQ Cook-Off
Jun 6 First category win (Chicken) Smokin on the Summit
Jun 6 Career-best single call (Chicken)177.7028 Smokin on the Summit
Aug 8 10th tracked contest Balloons & BBQ Festival at Kansas Speedway

20131 milestone

May 3 First tracked contest Smokelawn

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+13.9	VFW Post 846 6th Annual BBQ Challenge (10 TEAM SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE)	Apr 25, 2014
+12.3	Rock'n Ribs BBQ Festival	May 9, 2014
+12.2	Platte City BBQ Cook-Off	May 16, 2014
+7.7	Battle of the Brisket	Sep 19, 2014
+7	Smokin on the Summit	Jun 6, 2014

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-11.7	Smokelawn	May 3, 2013
-4.8	The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake	Apr 11, 2014
-4.3	Smokin On Big Creek - Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief	Apr 4, 2014
-3.9	2016 Smokin in the Wood BBQ Competition	May 13, 2016
-3.3	Balloons & BBQ Festival at Kansas Speedway	Aug 8, 2014

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	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2018	2	0	0	50%	top 58%	92.3%	91.6%
2017	2	0	0	50%	top 51%	92.4%	92.3%
2016	2	0	0	0%	top 58%	91.9%	91.6%
2015	2	0	0	50%	top 49%	92.8%	91.6%
2014	12	4	1	58%	top 41%	94%	91.2%
2013	1	0	0	0%	top 88%	85.6%	85.6%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Sep 15, 2018	39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	267 / 467 (655.3140)	358 (159.4056)	132 (170.2628)	257 (163.4172)	277 (162.2284)
May 25, 2018	Shepherd's Smokin Summer Kick Off Branson, MO	29 / 50 (664.4456)	5 (176.5600)	34 (161.6912)	29 (165.0972)	33 (161.0972)
Sep 1, 2017	38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	195 / 407 (662.8228)	113 (171.4172)	199 (165.6800)	206 (165.7372)	270 (159.9884)
Apr 28, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Overland Park, KS	16 / 30 (665.6112)	23 (161.0856)	7 (170.8916)	21 (165.6684)	13 (167.9656)
Oct 29, 2016	37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	259 / 557 (657.0056)	233 (166.2744)	295 (164.5256)	310 (163.3712)	269 (162.8344)
May 13, 2016	2016 Smokin in the Wood BBQ Competition Greenwood, MO	21 / 30 (661.6568)	24 (166.2400)	20 (165.7144)	17 (169.1312)	22 (160.5712)
Oct 3, 2015	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO	316 / 606 (650.8344)	289 (164.5372)	317 (162.9144)	329 (163.3828)	340 (160)
May 8, 2015	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Overland Park, KS	14 / 30 (668.5028)	28 (159.3828)	6 (172.5600)	5 (170.8572)	19 (165.7028)
Oct 2, 2014	35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO	230 / 552 (659.3484)	219 (166.8572)	288 (163.4056)	219 (166.2628)	260 (162.8228)
Sep 26, 2014	Burg Fest BBQ Contest Warrensburg, MO	12 / 22 (657.6572)	6 (171.9772)	15 (161.1316)	19 (154.8228)	5 (169.7256)
Sep 19, 2014	Battle of the Brisket Mission, KS	12 / 46 (664.5028)	19 (165.6800)	18 (165.7028)	4 (170.8572)	12 (162.2628)
Aug 8, 2014	Balloons & BBQ Festival at Kansas Speedway Kansas City, KS	34 / 53 (650.1372)	26 (167.3828)	40 (157.1200)	38 (160.5372)	25 (165.0972)
Jun 6, 2014	Smokin on the Summit Lee's Summit, MO	22 / 79 (657.5884)	1 (177.7028)	19 (168.5600)	78 (142.2056)	9 (169.1200)
May 24, 2014	Sugar Mound BBQ Festival Mound City, KS	53 / 87 (643.3140)	59 (161.1428)	42 (162.2628)	45 (163.4056)	58 (156.5028)
May 16, 2014	Platte City BBQ Cook-Off Platte City, MO	7 / 50 (677.1084)	7 (172.0228)	34 (158.8228)	3 (175.4056)	10 (170.8572)
May 9, 2014	Rock'n Ribs BBQ Festival Springfield, MO	9 / 57 (667.3256)	11 (169.6800)	10 (167.4056)	22 (161.1200)	7 (169.1200)
May 2, 2014	Brew, Blues & Bar-B-Q Cook-Off Lansing, KS	9 / 26 (661.0168)	12 (162.8228)	14 (156.5256)	7 (169.1200)	2 (172.5484)
Apr 25, 2014	VFW Post 846 6th Annual BBQ Challenge (10 TEAM SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE) Overland Park, KS	9 / 65 (675.9888)	36 (163.3944)	4 (176.6172)	29 (165.1200)	6 (170.8572)
Apr 11, 2014	The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake Smithville, MO	39 / 54 (634.2172)	48 (150.7772)	34 (159.9772)	27 (163.4972)	29 (159.9656)
Apr 4, 2014	Smokin On Big Creek - Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief Pleasant Hill, MO	54 / 75 (634.1484)	59 (158.2628)	60 (156.5028)	51 (160.5484)	42 (158.8344)
May 3, 2013	Smokelawn Hot Springs, AR	36 / 41 (616.5712)	38 (148)	39 (146.2856)	14 (164.5716)	26 (157.7140)

RIB CAGE BBQ

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Best top-10 run

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)

High-water mark

A tough matchup

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

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)