PORKERSTARS

At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)

Power ranking

#668

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1646

peak 1656 · rated over 39 contests ⓘ

Best runs

straight top-10s

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-03-15

latest 2022-10-28

Best ToY finish

#434

Master 2015

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

10 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 39 contests

Avg finish

top 38%

overall standings

Best overall

690.7884 / 720

Master · Kelly Wilson BBQ (KWBBQ)

Perfect 180s

Current form

676.35 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 663.83 (+12.52)

Walk rate

59%

contests with a top-10 call

Top-10 streak

best run (overall)

Best single call

178.2972

Brisket · Smoke on the Trails

Consistency

±18.22

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 167.46 · weakest Brisket (164.56)

Road miles

1,403

mi across 39 mapped stops · furthest 105 mi

Schedule strength

42%

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

Purse competed for

$50K

listed at 6 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

GCs in 9 state-championship entries

Master avg

663.83 / 720

39 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (9 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.

High-water mark

690.7884 career-best overall

95.9% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 690.7884 at Kelly Wilson BBQ (KWBBQ) — 95.9% of a perfect 720.

Master
2019-05-31

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

THUMP & STRUM BBQ has finished one call ahead of PORKERSTARS 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2019 their best year

2019 was the year it came together: 6 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 1 category win, at an average finish in the top 19%.

6 contests
5 overall top-10s
1 category wins
average top 19%

A tough matchup

19–3 behind in the head-to-head

SLAPS BBQ ahead in 86% of their meetings

SLAPS BBQ has come out ahead in 19 of their 22 shared contests.

A strong matchup

12–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 92% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of DUNN UP BBQ in 12 of their 13 shared contests.

The comeback

2.5 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2.5 years, then back at East Central State BBQ Cook-Off-Paola Roots Festival (2022-08-26).

last seen 2020-03-13
back 2022-08-26

Pork Ribs nemesis

16 of 22 shared pork ribs entries lost

SLAPS BBQ ahead 73% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, SLAPS BBQ has out-cooked them in 16 of 22 shared pork ribs entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

CRAZY BONES BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

A March team

Top 27% average finish in March

Something about March: average finish in the top 27% across 3 contests, versus top 38% the rest of the year.

3 March contests
top 38% the rest of the year

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.

HAROLD'S HOT MEAT SMOKERS

#662 of the rated field

1646 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 43
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 16%
Peak: 1646

No shared contest yet.

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 40 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 40 contests
last seen 2026-08-21

⚔ Head-to-head

DEAD BIRD BBQ

#661 of the rated field

1646 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 39
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 31%
Peak: 1666

No shared contest yet.

Careers of much the same size, 39 contests to 39, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 38 contests
last seen 2022-05-20

⚔ Head-to-head

Say My Name BBQ

#666 of the rated field

1646 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 41
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 37%
Peak: 1666

No shared contest yet.

Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 41 contests, alongside a 37% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 37 contests
last seen 2026-08-15

⚔ Head-to-head

iQue

#664 of the rated field

1646 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 34
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 41%
Peak: 1658

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 33 contests
last seen 2025-08-02

⚔ Head-to-head

Rollin' Smoke BBQ Texas

#669 of the rated field

1646 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 55
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 24%
Peak: 1660

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 50 contests
last seen 2025-11-21

⚔ Head-to-head

BOOTIES BBQ

#663 of the rated field

1646 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 39
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 49%
Peak: 1648

No shared contest yet.

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 29 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 29 contests
last seen 2024-10-17

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SLAPS BBQ	22	3	19	14%	⚔ compare
DIRT ROAD BBQ	18	1	17	6%	⚔ compare
Theslabs.com	15	4	11	27%	⚔ compare
913 BBQ	15	2	13	13%	⚔ compare
B & C SMOKERS	14	5	9	36%	⚔ compare
HIGH i QUE	14	3	11	21%	⚔ compare
THUMP & STRUM BBQ	14	2	12	14%	⚔ compare
DUNN UP BBQ	13	12	1	92%	⚔ compare
MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ	13	9	4	69%	⚔ compare
AMERICAN FIRE BBQ	12	6	6	50%	⚔ compare
BULL CREEK BBQ	12	4	8	33%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' BASTED	12	2	10	17%	⚔ compare
PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS	12	2	10	17%	⚔ compare
JAESTAR BBQ	12	1	11	8%	⚔ compare
LOVE 2 Q	12	1	11	8%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	39	11	1	2	177.7028	146.8568	166.76	top 41%
Pork Ribs	39	9	0	1	177.7144	145.0400	167.46	top 35%
Pork	39	5	0	3	176.5600	148.4800	165.05	top 46%
Brisket	39	12	1	4	178.2972	145.0628	164.56	top 41%

“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	25	0	top 38%
MO	14	0	top 40%

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	4	0	top 46%
Large (40+)	35	0	top 38%

Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
East Central State BBQ Cook-Off-Paola Roots Festival	6	4	top 29%	2022-08-26
Cookin on the Kaw	3	8	top 29%	2015-10-09
Smoke on the Trails	2	8	top 24%	2019-09-27
Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest	2	9	top 27%	2019-07-12
Racing for the BBQ	2	26	top 45%	2016-07-29
Smokin On Big Creek BBQ Contest Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief	2	20	top 56%	2016-04-01

The story so far (18 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 9.6 yrs 2013-03-15 → 2022-10-28

Busiest season 2016 9 contests

Contests a season 4.9 across 8 seasons in the data

Cooks most in KS 25 of 39 contests · 2 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 28 6 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 39 entries · 1 win · 11 calls

Strongest meat Pork Ribs averages 167.46 · weakest Brisket (164.56)

Walk rate 59% a top-10 call in 23 of 39 contests

Overall top-10 rate 28% 11 of 39 contests

Best top-10 run 4 straight contests

Master average 663.83 out of 720 · 39 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 1,045 1,378–825 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 1,403 39 mapped stops · furthest 105 mi

Schedule strength 1555 average field rating faced — tougher than 42% of rated contests

Purse competed for $49,800 listed at 6 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships 0 from 9 state-championship entries

Longest layoff 2.5 yrs 2020-03-13 → 2022-08-26

Power rating 1646 peak 1656 · #668 of 6,413 rated

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

2013
Mar 15 First tracked contest NKC MO State BBQ Championship
Aug 1 First overall past 90% of a perfect score652.4456 Wheels 'N' Squeels BBQ Challenge
Oct 11 First call Cookin' on the Kaw
Oct 11 First overall top-10 Cookin' on the Kaw
2014
Oct 10 First category win (Chicken) Cookin on the Kaw
2015
Apr 3 10th tracked contest Smokin On Big Creek BBQ Contest Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief(Judges Full)
2016
Aug 26 25th tracked contest East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival
2019
May 31 Career-best overall score690.7884 Kelly Wilson BBQ (KWBBQ)
Sep 27 Career-best single call (Brisket)178.2972 Smoke on the Trails
2022
Aug 26 Peak power rating (1656) East Central State BBQ Cook-Off-Paola Roots Festival
Oct 28 Most recent contest Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+14.4	Independence Fire & Ice BBQ	2015-09-11
+13.4	Kelley Wilson Memorial BBQ Competition	2015-05-29
+13	*East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival	2018-08-24
+10.9	Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest	2019-07-12
+10.7	Cookin' on the Kaw	2013-10-11

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-10.5	Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship	2022-10-28
-9.1	VFW Post 846 6th Annual BBQ Challenge (10 TEAM SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE)	2014-04-25
-8.9	Smokin On Big Creek BBQ Contest Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief(Judges Full)	2015-04-03
-6.8	20th Annual Platte City BBQ Cook-Off	2015-05-15
-4.6	5th Annual VFW Post 846 BBQ Challenge (FULL)	2013-04-19

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	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2022	2	0	0	100%	top 51%	95.3%	94.2%
2020	1	0	0	0%	top 37%	93.9%	93.9%
2019	6	5	1	100%	top 19%	95.9%	94.7%
2018	3	1	0	67%	top 23%	95.4%	94.3%
2016	9	1	0	56%	top 40%	94.2%	92.5%
2015	9	3	0	44%	top 43%	95.1%	91.7%
2014	5	0	1	60%	top 53%	91.6%	89.5%
2013	4	1	0	25%	top 42%	90.9%	89.3%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2022-10-28	Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship 🏅 Oak Grove, MO	29 / 40 (670.1484)	33 (164.5140)	16 (171.9656)	36 (158.2516)	4 (175.4172)
2022-08-26	East Central State BBQ Cook-Off-Paola Roots Festival 🏅 Paola, KS	13 / 45 (686.2288)	24 (166.2744)	5 (177.7144)	25 (167.3828)	6 (174.8572)
2020-03-13	2nd Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship 🏅 Olathe, KS	25 / 68 (676.4340)	34 (167.3828)	13 (173.1200)	15 (173.7028)	47 (162.2284)
2019-09-27	Smoke on the Trails 🏅 Gardner, KS	8 / 53 (678.7656)	10 (171.9772)	15 (167.4056)	31 (161.0856)	3 (178.2972)
2019-08-23	East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival 🏅 Paola, KS	25 / 66 (670.1600)	30 (167.3828)	3 (175.4056)	37 (164.5372)	33 (162.8344)
2019-07-12	Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest 🏅 Mayetta, KS	9 / 59 (687.3600)	20 (170.2744)	6 (176.0000)	22 (170.8228)	19 (170.2628)
2019-05-31	Kelly Wilson BBQ (KWBBQ) 🏅 Kansas City, MO	8 / 56 (690.7884)	21 (169.1200)	12 (170.2628)	3 (176.5600)	6 (174.8456)
2019-04-12	The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake 🏅 Smithville, MO	10 / 54 (679.9548)	6 (173.1316)	22 (166.2860)	21 (168.5372)	7 (172.0000)
2019-03-15	Qlathe BBQ Championship 🏅 Olathe, KS	9 / 64 (683.3600)	31 (165.7144)	22 (167.3828)	12 (172.5600)	1 (177.7028)
2018-09-28	*Smoke On the Trails Gardner, KS	23 / 68 (677.0856)	52 (163.9772)	15 (173.1428)	15 (171.4056)	23 (168.5600)
2018-08-24	*East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival Paola, KS	4 / 67 (686.8344)	2 (176.5600)	7 (173.1544)	44 (159.9428)	3 (177.1772)
2018-06-01	*Kelley Wilson BBQ Kansas City, MO	14 / 48 (673.5996)	13 (168.0000)	8 (173.1200)	11 (170.8456)	26 (161.6340)
2016-10-14	Balloons Blues and Barbeque Parsons, KS	26 / 39 (654.7432)	26 (164.5372)	20 (166.8344)	17 (166.8572)	30 (156.5144)
2016-09-09	*Independence Fire & Ice BBQ Independence, MO	29 / 76 (670.7544)	47 (163.9656)	16 (171.9772)	3 (175.4172)	56 (159.3944)
2016-08-26	East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival Paola, KS	17 / 61 (663.3376)	10 (169.6916)	18 (167.3944)	48 (155.3944)	8 (170.8572)
2016-07-29	Racing for the BBQ Lee's Summit, MO	26 / 54 (671.3372)	43 (161.6800)	7 (175.4172)	21 (170.8228)	36 (163.4172)
2016-06-03	Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest Mayetta, KS	21 / 55 (664.4456)	16 (169.7028)	19 (165.1200)	21 (167.9772)	30 (161.6456)
2016-05-13	21st Annual Platte City BBQ Cook-off At Basswood Resort Platte City, MO	29 / 51 (649.5540)	11 (169.6800)	40 (155.4056)	38 (158.7884)	17 (165.6800)
2016-04-29	Smokin' in the Ville Edwardsville, KS	9 / 30 (669.0628)	6 (172.0000)	17 (165.0856)	15 (161.1200)	5 (170.8572)
2016-04-22	8th Annual VFW Post 846 BBQ Challenge Overland Park, KS	18 / 60 (678.1828)	5 (176.5600)	32 (166.2400)	31 (166.2400)	14 (169.1428)
2016-04-01	Smokin On Big Creek BBQ Contest Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief Pleasant Hill, MO	20 / 72 (670.7428)	22 (171.4056)	19 (167.3944)	15 (172.0000)	40 (159.9428)
2015-10-09	Cookin on the Kaw DeSoto, KS	9 / 36 (685.0052)	10 (173.1084)	9 (175.4056)	28 (164.5256)	8 (171.9656)
2015-09-11	Independence Fire & Ice BBQ Independence, MO	7 / 76 (683.9084)	32 (163.9428)	12 (171.4056)	9 (171.9772)	3 (176.5828)
2015-08-28	East Central State BBQ Cook Off Paola Roots Festival Paola, KS	23 / 65 (654.0796)	17 (167.3828)	22 (166.2284)	24 (165.6800)	46 (154.7884)
2015-07-24	Racing for the BBQ Lees Summit, MO	26 / 63 (666.7540)	17 (170.2856)	29 (165.6800)	18 (169.1200)	37 (161.6684)
2015-06-05	2015 Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest Mayetta, KS	20 / 64 (659.7940)	5 (174.2628)	24 (165.0856)	27 (165.0856)	42 (155.3600)
2015-05-29	Kelley Wilson Memorial BBQ Competition Kansas City, MO	6 / 43 (679.3256)	17 (164.5256)	4 (173.1084)	6 (170.2744)	6 (171.4172)
2015-05-15	20th Annual Platte City BBQ Cook-Off Platte City, MO	39 / 51 (638.7540)	46 (152.5140)	30 (161.7028)	22 (165.1200)	24 (159.4172)
2015-04-17	VFW Post 846 7th Annual BBQ Challenge Overland Park, KS	31 / 47 (644.4228)	43 (151.3600)	14 (170.2744)	18 (165.6800)	38 (157.1084)
2015-04-03	Smokin On Big Creek BBQ Contest Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief(Judges Full) Pleasant Hill, MO	60 / 71 (630.0340)	34 (167.3712)	46 (162.8116)	66 (154.7884)	67 (145.0628)
2014-10-10	Cookin on the Kaw DeSoto, KS	20 / 46 (659.8168)	1 (177.7028)	30 (158.7884)	38 (155.3600)	13 (167.9656)
2014-09-19	Battle of the Brisket Mission, KS	19 / 46 (653.5312)	27 (162.8000)	28 (159.3484)	2 (175.4056)	23 (155.9772)
2014-08-22	East Central State BBQ Cook Off Paola Roots Festival Paola, KS	27 / 69 (643.8852)	35 (161.1312)	15 (167.9656)	30 (162.8228)	46 (151.9656)
2014-05-02	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Overland Park, KS	18 / 29 (642.0916)	8 (167.9772)	12 (165.6800)	26 (148.4800)	15 (159.9544)
2014-04-25	VFW Post 846 6th Annual BBQ Challenge (10 TEAM SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE) Overland Park, KS	52 / 65 (623.8168)	19 (166.2856)	60 (145.0400)	52 (157.6456)	48 (154.8456)
2013-10-11	Cookin' on the Kaw DeSoto, KS	8 / 42 (654.1484)	7 (168.5716)	9 (168.5256)	28 (157.6456)	14 (159.4056)
2013-08-01	Wheels 'N' Squeels BBQ Challenge Olathe, KS	39 / 74 (652.4456)	60 (158.8112)	25 (167.3944)	36 (165.1428)	42 (161.0972)
2013-04-19	5th Annual VFW Post 846 BBQ Challenge (FULL) Overland Park, KS	47 / 73 (617.7136)	67 (146.8568)	34 (158.2856)	51 (152.5712)	29 (160.0000)
2013-03-15	NKC MO State BBQ Championship N. Kansas City, MO	24 / 79 (646.8574)	17 (165.1430)	28 (162.2858)	37 (159.4286)	27 (160.0000)

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
2020 ↗	Master	#856 (60 pts)	#896 (60 pts)	#701 (120 pts)	#773 (110 pts)	#883 (60 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#515 (640 pts)	#665 (515 pts)	#519 (670 pts)	#803 (400 pts)	#397 (835 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#998 (280 pts)	#979 (320 pts)	#1082 (275 pts)	#1412 (170 pts)	#987 (305 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#578 (680 pts)	#429 (920 pts)	#597 (680 pts)	#500 (810 pts)	#517 (790 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#434 (880 pts)	#458 (860 pts)	#404 (915 pts)	#469 (830 pts)	#402 (930 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#782 (436 pts)	#563 (696 pts)	#792 (461 pts)	#696 (546 pts)	#775 (466 pts)