Smoke Me Tender BBQ

Smoke Me Tender BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 41 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 7th of 31 at the Holy Smoke BBQ Contest (2013). They are ranked #4108 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#4,108

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1481

peak 1525 · rated over 37 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Apr 19, 2013

latest Jul 24, 2026 · 13.3 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#513

Master 2013 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

1 podium

Overall top-10s

5% of 41 contests

Avg finish

top 58%

overall standings

Best overall

675.3828 / 720

Master · American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest

Perfect 180s

Current form

667.22 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 649.89 (+17.33)

Walk rate

22%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176.0344

Chicken · 35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open

Consistency

±14.00

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 165.01 · weakest Brisket (157.85)

Road miles

774

across 41 mapped stops · furthest 149 mi

Schedule strength

41%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1555)

Purse competed for

$491K

listed at 18 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 18 state-championship entries

Master avg

649.89 / 720

37 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (12 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

675.3828 career-best overall

93.8% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 675.3828 at American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest — 93.8% of a perfect 720.

Master
Nov 5, 2025

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

ABS of SQUEAL has finished one call ahead of Smoke Me Tender BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2013 their best year

2013 was the year it came together: 6 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 41%.

6 contests
2 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 41%

A tough matchup

25–0 behind in the head-to-head

SLAPS BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

SLAPS BBQ has come out ahead in 25 of their 25 shared contests.

The weak link

−7.2 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 7.16 points below their pork, and turns into a call 5% of the time against 11%.

Brisket avg 157.85
Pork avg 165.01
2 calls in 37 entries

A strong matchup

13–2 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 87% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of Brewski and Barbeque in 13 of their 15 shared contests.

The comeback

1.8 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 1.8 years, then back at The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship (Jun 25, 2021).

last seen Sep 12, 2019
back Jun 25, 2021

Show 5 more storylines

Pork nemesis

20 of 25 shared pork entries lost

SLAPS BBQ ahead 80% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, SLAPS BBQ has out-cooked them in 20 of 25 shared pork entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

50 SHADES OF QUE has landed one call behind them 2 times.

A June team

Top 45% average finish in June

Something about June: average finish in the top 45% across 9 contests, versus top 58% the rest of the year.

9 June contests
top 58% the rest of the year

The metronome

±1.94% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.94% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 90.3% of a perfect score
41 contests

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship every year from 2023 to 2026 — the contest they never miss.

6 visits in all
best finish 45th

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	#1152 (260 pts)	#1161 (285 pts)	#1246 (255 pts)	#1160 (290 pts)	#1028 (340 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#2084 (75 pts)	#2167 (75 pts)	#2161 (75 pts)	#2172 (75 pts)	#2148 (75 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#513 (607 pts)	#606 (542 pts)	#434 (742 pts)	#455 (722 pts)	#498 (642 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Smoke Me Tender BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

LIFT, TILT, AND STAGGER BBQ

#4,103 of the rated field

1481 power rating

Contests: 28
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 7%
Peak: 1535

1–8 in 9 shared contests (11% to Smoke Me Tender BBQ)

These two have cooked 9 of the same contests — LIFT, TILT, AND STAGGER BBQ ahead 8–1 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 28 contests
last seen Nov 5, 2025

⚔ Head-to-head

Burn Out BBQ

#4,125 of the rated field

1480 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1516

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to Smoke Me Tender BBQ)

They've been 1516 at their best, 36 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 14 contests
last seen Oct 23, 2021

⚔ Head-to-head

Smokin Trees BBQ

#4,124 of the rated field

1480 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1515

2–4 in 6 shared contests (33% to Smoke Me Tender BBQ)

Fewer contests behind them than Smoke Me Tender BBQ has cooked, 13 to 41, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 13 contests
last seen Nov 5, 2025

⚔ Head-to-head

BBQ Bud's

#4,092 of the rated field

1481 power rating

Contests: 10
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1481

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Smoke Me Tender BBQ)

Their last contest in the data was back in 2022, 4 years before Smoke Me Tender BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 9 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

Quad Hogs BBQ

#4,112 of the rated field

1481 power rating

Contests: 9
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1481

1–1 in 2 shared contests (50% to Smoke Me Tender BBQ)

Level with Smoke Me Tender BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 9 contests
last seen Jun 19, 2020

⚔ Head-to-head

DOUBLE DOWN BBQ

#4,094 of the rated field

1481 power rating

Contests: 8
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 38%
Peak: 1500

3–0 in 3 shared contests (100% to Smoke Me Tender BBQ)

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

rated over 8 contests
last seen Sep 12, 2019

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
BURNT FINGER BBQ	25	2	23	8%	⚔ compare
HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB	25	2	23	8%	⚔ compare
SLAPS BBQ	25	0	25	0%	⚔ compare
B & C SMOKERS	21	4	17	19%	⚔ compare
LOVE 2 Q	21	3	18	14%	⚔ compare
BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE	21	0	21	0%	⚔ compare
Hawg Wild	20	9	11	45%	⚔ compare
OINK, MOO & COCK-A-DOODLE DOO	20	8	12	40%	⚔ compare
Three Brothers Different Mothers	20	1	19	5%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' BASTED	20	0	20	0%	⚔ compare
913 BBQ	19	0	19	0%	⚔ compare
ROADKILL BBQ	18	7	11	39%	⚔ compare
KC Meat Sweats	18	4	14	22%	⚔ compare
Sons of a Brisket	18	2	16	11%	⚔ compare
AMERICAN FIRE BBQ	18	1	17	6%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	37	3	0	176.0344	143.4284	164.35	top 50%
Pork Ribs	37	3	1	174.2858	143.3832	162.67	top 57%
Pork	37	4	0	175.4172	150.8228	165.01	top 50%
Brisket	37	2	0	170.2628	135.9544	157.85	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)	9	0	top 54%
Large (40+)	28	0	top 59%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
KS	23	0	top 61%
MO	14	0	top 52%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship	6	45	top 44%	Jun 26, 2026
American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest	3	381	top 80%	Sep 27, 2023
American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest	2	218	top 67%	Nov 5, 2025
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2	20	top 77%	Apr 28, 2017
The Best Damn BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake	2	37	top 73%	Apr 7, 2017
Liberty 4th Fest BBQ Contest	2	9	top 37%	Jul 3, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2013 6 contests

Contests a season 3.2 across 13 seasons in the data

Most contests held in KS 27 of 41 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 26 6 of them more than once

Opponents faced 2,833 finished ahead 3,150 times, behind 4,865

Longest layoff 1.8 yrs Sep 12, 2019 → Jun 25, 2021

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

20261 milestone

Jul 24 Most recent contest Masters at the Midway: Johnson County Fair BBQ Championship

20251 milestone

Nov 5 Career-best overall score675.3828 American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest

20211 milestone

Sep 16 25th tracked contest American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST

20152 milestones

Jul 3 10th tracked contest Liberty 4th Fest BBQ Contest
Jul 3 Peak power rating (1525) Liberty 4th Fest BBQ Contest

20141 milestone

Oct 2 Career-best single call (Chicken)176.0344 35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open

20134 milestones

Apr 19 First tracked contest Rock'n Ribs BBQ Festival
Apr 19 First call Rock'n Ribs BBQ Festival
Apr 19 First overall past 90% of a perfect score663.4286 Rock'n Ribs BBQ Festival
Jul 3 First overall top-10 Liberty 4th Fest BBQ Contest

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+9.8	Rock'n Ribs BBQ Festival	Apr 19, 2013
+9.4	Holy Smoke BBQ Contest	Aug 23, 2013
+9	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship	Jun 26, 2026
+7.9	Liberty 4th Fest BBQ Contest	Jul 3, 2013
+7.2	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship	Jun 27, 2025

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-11.8	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Apr 26, 2013
-9.5	American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST	Sep 16, 2021
-6.9	Racing for the BBQ	Jul 24, 2015
-6.8	The Best Damn BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake	Apr 8, 2016
-6.8	38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)	Sep 1, 2017

Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — 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)
2026	2	0	50%	top 56%	93.2%	91.9%
2025	5	0	0%	top 61%	93.8%	92.7%
2024	4	0	0%	top 70%	90.3%	89.7%
2023	3	0	0%	top 69%	89.7%	89.6%
2022	2	0	0%	top 81%	88.9%	88.9%
2021	2	0	0%	top 67%	89.5%	88.1%
2019	2	0	0%	top 48%	91.2%	90.6%
2018	2	0	0%	top 62%	88.8%	88.4%
2017	4	0	25%	top 60%	92%	89.8%
2016	3	0	33%	top 61%	91%	89.8%
2015	3	0	67%	top 54%	91.6%	90.7%
2014	3	0	0%	top 55%	92.2%	89%
2013	6	2	67%	top 41%	93.4%	91%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jul 24, 2026	Masters at the Midway: Johnson County Fair BBQ Championship 🏅 Gardner, KS	24 / 29 (653.0404)	10 (173.7144)	21 (166.8572)	17 (167.3944)	29 (145.0744)
Jun 26, 2026	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	45 / 157 (670.7660)	15 (176)	39 (170.8572)	15 (175.4172)	137 (148.4916)
Nov 5, 2025	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS	—	—	—	—	—
Nov 5, 2025	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS	218 / 401 (675.3828)	118 (173.1428)	153 (171.4172)	296 (164.5372)	231 (166.2856)
Jun 27, 2025	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	55 / 159 (670.1712)	63 (167.4172)	46 (172)	102 (161.6456)	47 (169.1084)
Apr 11, 2025	Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS	68 / 92 (666.7432)	83 (163.3828)	61 (167.9888)	56 (167.9772)	56 (167.3944)
Mar 21, 2025	7th Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship 🏅 Olathe, KS	58 / 70 (657.5316)	56 (165.6916)	48 (167.3828)	62 (161.6572)	56 (162.8000)
Oct 30, 2024	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS	—	—	—	—	—
Oct 30, 2024	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS	353 / 444 (649.0288)	337 (162.8228)	332 (163.9656)	180 (170.2744)	391 (151.9660)
Aug 16, 2024	BBQ & Fly-In on the River 🏅 Excelsior Springs, MO	55 / 65 (637.5548)	39 (166.2632)	57 (158.2516)	47 (165.6800)	60 (147.3600)
Jun 21, 2024	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	79 / 172 (650.2056)	107 (160.5600)	126 (156.5372)	92 (163.4056)	33 (169.7028)
Sep 27, 2023	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS	—	—	—	—	—
Sep 27, 2023	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS	381 / 487 (646.1372)	388 (161.0972)	235 (169.1316)	407 (158.2284)	398 (157.6800)
Jun 23, 2023	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	99 / 167 (644.4460)	58 (166.8228)	121 (158.8572)	103 (162.2516)	109 (156.5144)
Oct 1, 2022	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - SIDES Kansas City, KS	—	—	—	—	—
Sep 29, 2022	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS	409 / 505 (640.4112)	411 (159.9544)	397 (160.5140)	308 (164.5600)	417 (155.3828)
Sep 16, 2021	American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS	384 / 467 (623.8976)	206 (167.4172)	450 (143.3832)	348 (158.2744)	368 (154.8228)
Jun 25, 2021	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	74 / 145 (644.5260)	18 (169.7144)	16 (172)	81 (161.1200)	134 (141.6916)
Sep 12, 2019	40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS	255 / 468 (656.5372)	157 (168.5944)	261 (164.5484)	224 (165.7372)	336 (157.6572)
Jun 21, 2019	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	77 / 183 (648.4344)	60 (165.1428)	128 (154.8116)	53 (167.3828)	88 (161.0972)
Sep 15, 2018	39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	367 / 467 (634.1828)	323 (162.2400)	376 (157.6800)	422 (150.8228)	241 (163.4400)
Jun 22, 2018	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle Lenexa, KS	85 / 185 (639.3484)	55 (163.4172)	85 (161.1656)	107 (157.6800)	100 (157.0856)
Sep 1, 2017	38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	320 / 407 (632.9600)	329 (157.0972)	260 (162.2400)	141 (168.5600)	373 (145.0628)
Jun 23, 2017	Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	51 / 184 (647.9544)	54 (163.4172)	130 (153.1544)	15 (170.8228)	71 (160.5600)
Apr 28, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Overland Park, KS	20 / 30 (662.7088)	15 (166.2516)	21 (164.5372)	24 (161.6572)	7 (170.2628)
Apr 7, 2017	The Best Damn BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake Smithville, MO	37 / 54 (641.6112)	32 (162.8572)	39 (159.3828)	44 (157.1084)	25 (162.2628)
Oct 29, 2016	37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	319 / 557 (649.6688)	86 (171.9884)	368 (159.9660)	313 (162.8572)	395 (154.8572)
May 6, 2016	Truman Heritage Festival BBQ Championship Grandview, MO	12 / 25 (655.3828)	7 (168)	16 (162.2972)	13 (163.9656)	15 (161.1200)
Apr 8, 2016	The Best Damn BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake Smithville, MO	41 / 53 (635.3832)	24 (165.1544)	18 (166.8572)	22 (167.4172)	53 (135.9544)
Oct 3, 2015	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO	268 / 606 (656.4568)	204 (167.4056)	435 (157.6684)	62 (173.1084)	372 (158.2744)
Jul 24, 2015	Racing for the BBQ Lees Summit, MO	46 / 63 (643.3140)	61 (151.3828)	45 (158.8572)	6 (175.4056)	42 (157.6684)
Jul 3, 2015	Liberty 4th Fest BBQ Contest Liberty, MO	12 / 27 (659.3028)	19 (163.3944)	4 (171.9656)	14 (164.5372)	17 (159.4056)
Oct 2, 2014	35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO	185 / 552 (663.9776)	27 (176.0344)	390 (157.6916)	85 (171.9772)	339 (158.2744)
Jun 21, 2014	Buckner Smoke Out in the Valley Buckner, MO	24 / 35 (629.0400)	31 (149.6800)	22 (157.7028)	23 (161.1200)	16 (160.5372)
Mar 14, 2014	NKC MO State Championship BBQ 🏅 N. Kansas City, MO	39 / 61 (629.0400)	28 (160.5600)	40 (155.9772)	30 (159.4172)	42 (153.0856)
Oct 3, 2013	34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO	253 / 535 (639.8968)	369 (155.9540)	178 (163.9656)	280 (159.9772)	238 (160)
Aug 23, 2013	Holy Smoke BBQ Contest Liberty, MO	7 / 31 (663.9544)	11 (165.6916)	5 (168)	16 (163.4400)	4 (166.8228)
Aug 17, 2013	BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway Kansas City, KS	12 / 31 (672.5716)	17 (166.8572)	14 (168)	12 (170.2628)	11 (167.4516)
Jul 3, 2013	Liberty 4th Fest BBQ Contest Liberty, MO	9 / 30 (667.4288)	13 (162.8572)	2 (174.2858)	7 (169.7144)	14 (160.5714)
Apr 26, 2013	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Overland Park, KS	26 / 30 (623.4284)	30 (143.4284)	26 (146.8572)	5 (168.5712)	11 (164.5716)
Apr 19, 2013	Rock'n Ribs BBQ Festival Springfield, MO	14 / 68 (663.4286)	10 (169.7144)	12 (172)	9 (171.4286)	47 (150.2856)

Smoke Me Tender 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 (12 found in their record)

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Pork nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

A June team

The metronome

A standing appointment

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, averaged over 5 contests — 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)