BIG ROCK BBQ

BIG ROCK BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 18 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2019. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 15 at The Best BBQ Chef Competition (2014), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #1779 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#1,779

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1549

peak 1549 · rated over 16 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Jul 13, 2013

latest Jun 1, 2019 · 5.9 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#818

Master 2016 · every season

Grand champs

1 reserve

Category wins

5 podiums

Overall top-10s

17% of 18 contests

Avg finish

top 49%

overall standings

Best overall

670.8000 / 720

Master · New London's Best BBQ Chef Competiton

Perfect 180s

Current form

658.81 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 638.50 (+20.31)

Walk rate

67%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

174.9372

Pork · The Best BBQ Chef Competition

Consistency

±54.12

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 163.25 · weakest Chicken (160.69)

Road miles

941

across 18 mapped stops · furthest 179 mi

Schedule strength

46%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1560)

Purse competed for

$27K

listed at 1 contest — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 1 state-championship entry

Master avg

638.50 / 720

16 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (10 found in their record)

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

They almost always walk

67% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 12 of 18 contests

A top-10 category call in 67% of their 18 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

670.8000 career-best overall

93.2% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 670.8000 at New London's Best BBQ Chef Competiton — 93.2% of a perfect 720.

Master
Aug 12, 2017

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

FOUR SMOKING GUYS has finished one call ahead of BIG ROCK BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2014 their best year

2014 was the year it came together: 3 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 1 category win, at an average finish in the top 29%.

3 contests
1 overall top-10
1 category win
average top 29%

A tough matchup

12–1 behind in the head-to-head

SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA ahead in 92% of their meetings

SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA has come out ahead in 12 of their 13 shared contests.

A strong matchup

7–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of BACKYARD SMOKERS in 7 of their 7 shared contests.

Pork nemesis

10 of 12 shared pork entries lost

Rogue Hog BBQ ahead 83% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, Rogue Hog BBQ has out-cooked them in 10 of 12 shared pork entries.

Show 3 more storylines

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

ACK-QUE has landed one call behind them 2 times.

Boom or bust

±7.52% swing around their own average

Their overall swings ±7.52% of a perfect score around its own average — when it lands they're dangerous, and when it doesn't the weekend is gone by lunch.

averages 88.7% of a perfect score
best 93.2%

A standing appointment

5 years running at one contest

They've cooked Sun BBQ Fest every year from 2014 to 2018 — the contest they never miss.

5 visits in all
best finish 14th

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
2019 ↗	Master	#1955 (60 pts)	#1558 (125 pts)	#2026 (60 pts)	#2029 (60 pts)	#2010 (60 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1382 (155 pts)	#1452 (155 pts)	#1091 (270 pts)	#1610 (120 pts)	#1195 (230 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1181 (249 pts)	#1260 (249 pts)	#1494 (184 pts)	#1086 (324 pts)	#1110 (299 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#818 (439 pts)	#957 (379 pts)	#791 (504 pts)	#903 (429 pts)	#860 (429 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1110 (262 pts)	#1320 (222 pts)	#1165 (272 pts)	#939 (382 pts)	#802 (457 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#918 (352 pts)	#1201 (267 pts)	#1002 (342 pts)	#1046 (322 pts)	#937 (357 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to BIG ROCK BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

BRISKETS-BONES & BREWS BBQ

#1,774 of the rated field

1549 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 29%
Peak: 1549

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 16 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 16 contests
last seen Apr 29, 2022
on a 3-contest top-10 run

⚔ Compare careers

St. Louis Pit - Que

#1,785 of the rated field

1548 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 28%
Peak: 1551

Their last contest in the data was back in 2015, 4 years before BIG ROCK BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 18 contests

⚔ Compare careers

Porkasaurus Rex BBQ

#1,772 of the rated field

1549 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 64%
Peak: 1549

Careers of much the same size, 14 contests to 18, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 14 contests
last seen Oct 2, 2026
on a 4-contest top-10 run

⚔ Compare careers

SWEET ASH BBQ

#1,769 of the rated field

1549 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1552

13 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 8% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 13 contests
last seen Sep 24, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

BLOWIN' SMOKE LLC

#1,773 of the rated field

1549 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 23%
Peak: 1558

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

rated over 13 contests
last seen Jul 7, 2016

⚔ Compare careers

BURN ALL NITE

#1,787 of the rated field

1548 power rating

Contests: 21
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 29%
Peak: 1555

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

rated over 21 contests
last seen Jun 3, 2016

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
FOUR SMOKING GUYS	15	6	9	40%	⚔ compare
ACK-QUE	14	6	8	43%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA	13	1	12	8%	⚔ compare
JOHN'S TWISTED Q	12	7	5	58%	⚔ compare
THAT'S OUR QUE	12	5	7	42%	⚔ compare
BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ	12	2	10	17%	⚔ compare
Rogue Hog BBQ	12	1	11	8%	⚔ compare
Q HAVEN BBQ	11	5	6	45%	⚔ compare
FIRE DOWN BELOW	10	2	8	20%	⚔ compare
INSANE SWINE BBQ	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
Smokin Aces	9	5	4	56%	⚔ compare
THE BASIC BBQ TEAM	9	3	6	33%	⚔ compare
PADDY MCQ'S	9	3	6	33%	⚔ compare
BEVERAGE BROTHERS	8	6	2	75%	⚔ compare
TWO LITTLE PIGS BBQ EAST	8	5	3	63%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	17	3	0	0	170.8800	143.3712	160.69	top 55%
Pork Ribs	17	7	0	2	171.4400	144.5600	161.45	top 46%
Pork	16	5	1	1	174.9372	146.2856	163.25	top 46%
Brisket	15	6	0	2	174.2972	144.5256	162.79	top 40%

“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	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	3	top 39%
Medium (20–39)	7	top 57%
Large (40+)	6	top 44%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
CT	14	0	top 49%
RI	2	0	top 47%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Sun BBQ Fest	5	14	top 44%	Jun 2, 2018
The Best BBQ Chef Competition	3	2	top 53%	Aug 29, 2015
Ridgefield Gone Country BBQ Festival	2	13	top 39%	May 5, 2018
New London's Best BBQ Chef Competiton	2	4	top 42%	Aug 12, 2017

More numbers

Busiest season 2016 4 contests

Contests a season 2.6 across 7 seasons in the data

Most contests held in CT 15 of 18 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 8 4 of them more than once

Opponents faced 214 finished ahead 325 times, behind 273

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

20192 milestones

Jun 1 Peak power rating (1549) Sun BBQFest
Jun 1 Most recent contest Sun BBQFest

20171 milestone

Aug 12 Career-best overall score670.8000 New London's Best BBQ Chef Competiton

20161 milestone

Jun 11 10th tracked contest Sun BBQ Fest

20146 milestones

Jun 20 First overall past 90% of a perfect score648 Sun BBQ Fest
Sep 27 First category win (Pork) The Best BBQ Chef Competition
Sep 27 First overall top-10 The Best BBQ Chef Competition
Sep 27 First overall podium The Best BBQ Chef Competition
Sep 27 First Reserve Championship The Best BBQ Chef Competition
Sep 27 Career-best single call (Pork)174.9372 The Best BBQ Chef Competition

20132 milestones

Jul 13 First tracked contest Pork In The Park BBQ
Sep 28 First call The Best BBQ Chef Competition

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+14.6	The Best BBQ Chef Competition	Sep 27, 2014
+12.3	Rotary Club of Wakefield Rhode Island	Jul 22, 2016
+9.5	New London's Best BBQ Chef Competiton	Aug 12, 2017
+9.1	Ridgefield Gone Country BBQ Festival	Apr 30, 2016
+8.7	Sun BBQ Fest	Jun 13, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-15.6	Pork In The Park BBQ	Jul 13, 2013
-4.8	The Best BBQ Chef Competition	Aug 29, 2015
-4.5	The Best BBQ Chef Competition	Sep 28, 2013
-3.1	Wakefield Rotary Campus Cook Off	Jul 17, 2015

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)
2019	1	0	0	0%	top 44%	91.3%	91.3%
2018	2	0	0	50%	top 50%	90.6%	90.5%
2017	3	1	0	67%	top 31%	93.2%	92.6%
2016	4	1	0	75%	top 42%	91.5%	90.6%
2015	3	0	0	67%	top 60%	92.3%	90.2%
2014	3	1	1	100%	top 29%	92.5%	91.2%
2013	2	0	0	50%	top 85%	85.9%	73.1%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jun 1, 2019	Sun BBQFest 🏅 Uncasville, CT	27 / 61 (657.1316)	12 (170.8800)	39 (157.7260)	25 (167.4172)	37 (161.1084)
Jun 2, 2018	Sun BBQ Fest Uncasville, CT	32 / 59 (652.4688)	50 (154.8116)	6 (170.8916)	34 (161.6456)	17 (165.1200)
May 5, 2018	Ridgefield Gone Country BBQ Festival Ridgefield, CT	18 / 40 (650.7888)	18 (163.4172)	18 (161.7144)	27 (160.5600)	11 (165.0972)
Sep 9, 2017	Green Mountain BBQ Championship Randolph, VT	—	—	—	—	—
Aug 12, 2017	New London's Best BBQ Chef Competiton New London, CT	4 / 14 (670.8000)	6 (167.3828)	9 (159.4172)	4 (169.7028)	2 (174.2972)
Jun 3, 2017	Sun BBQ Fest Uncasville, CT	25 / 73 (662.8576)	18 (168.5716)	42 (160.0116)	10 (173.1772)	39 (161.0972)
Aug 13, 2016	New London's Best BBQ Chef Competiton New London, CT	14 / 25 (652.6400)	16 (162.2628)	5 (170.8800)	14 (164.0572)	16 (155.4400)
Jul 22, 2016	Rotary Club of Wakefield Rhode Island Kingston, RI	8 / 34 (658.8804)	23 (162.8344)	4 (171.4400)	17 (161.7144)	13 (162.8916)
Jun 11, 2016	Sun BBQ Fest Uncasville, CT	37 / 69 (648.0688)	18 (168.0344)	55 (154.2516)	31 (162.2972)	29 (163.4856)
Apr 30, 2016	Ridgefield Gone Country BBQ Festival Ridgefield, CT	13 / 39 (648.6972)	13 (164.5828)	26 (153.7144)	7 (166.8800)	8 (163.5200)
Aug 29, 2015	The Best BBQ Chef Competition New London, CT	13 / 17 (636.4800)	13 (153.6800)	14 (154.8456)	4 (166.2400)	9 (161.7144)
Jul 17, 2015	Wakefield Rotary Campus Cook Off Kingston, RI	26 / 37 (646.3316)	36 (151.3944)	14 (167.4744)	22 (160.0228)	13 (167.4400)
Jun 13, 2015	Sun BBQ Fest Uncasville, CT	17 / 52 (664.6284)	26 (165.1200)	37 (158.8800)	14 (168.0112)	4 (172.6172)
Sep 27, 2014	The Best BBQ Chef Competition New London, CT	2 / 15 (665.7948)	4 (168.0228)	3 (168.5716)	1 (174.9372)	9 (154.2632)
Aug 29, 2014	Blues, Views and BBQ (Competitor's Series) Westport, CT	—	6 (158.2284)	5 (156.0116)	—	—
Jun 20, 2014	Sun BBQ Fest Uncasville, CT	14 / 32 (648)	21 (162.2856)	11 (164.0116)	27 (152.5256)	3 (169.1772)
Sep 28, 2013	The Best BBQ Chef Competition New London, CT	18 / 26 (618.2400)	22 (146.8688)	3 (170.3200)	17 (156.5256)	22 (144.5256)
Jul 13, 2013	Pork In The Park BBQ Stamford, CT	21 / 21 (434.2168)	20 (143.3712)	17 (144.5600)	20 (146.2856)	—

BIG ROCK 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 (10 found in their record)

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

A strong matchup

Pork nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

Boom or bust

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 — 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)