QUE THE SMOKE

QUE THE SMOKE is a competition barbecue team with 18 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2014 and 2017. Their best overall finish is 6th of 33 at the Grillin' in Grafton (2015). They are ranked #2773 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#2,773

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1512

peak 1520 · rated over 18 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

May 2, 2014

latest Aug 25, 2017 · 3.3 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#438

Master 2015 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

3 podiums

Overall top-10s

17% of 18 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 57%

overall standings

Best overall

675.4060 / 720

Master · Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay

Perfect 180s

Current form

647.52 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 633.48 (+14.05)

Walk rate

61%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176

Chicken · 6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 1)

Consistency

±45.58

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 163.46 · weakest Pork Ribs (157.75)

Road miles

884

across 18 mapped stops · furthest 98 mi

Schedule strength

53%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1568)

Master avg

633.48 / 720

18 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (8 found in their record)

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

They almost always walk

61% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 11 of 18 contests

A top-10 category call in 61% of their 18 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

675.4060 career-best overall

93.8% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 675.4060 at Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay — 93.8% of a perfect 720.

Master
Jul 10, 2015

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

5 FINGER BBQ has finished one call ahead of QUE THE SMOKE 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

18–0 behind in the head-to-head

TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI ahead in 100% of their meetings

TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI has come out ahead in 18 of their 18 shared contests.

The weak link

−5.7 points behind their best meat

Pork Ribs is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 5.72 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 11% of the time against 28%.

Pork Ribs avg 157.75
Chicken avg 163.46
2 calls in 18 entries

A strong matchup

7–3 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 70% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of BURNITA BAR-B-QUE in 7 of their 10 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

15 of 18 shared chicken entries lost

TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI ahead 83% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI has out-cooked them in 15 of 18 shared chicken entries.

Show 1 more storyline

Looking over their shoulder

3× one call behind them

T-MAC SMOKIN has landed one call behind them 3 times.

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	#1133 (270 pts)	#869 (450 pts)	#1076 (325 pts)	#1224 (260 pts)	#1261 (240 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1105 (282 pts)	#1050 (332 pts)	#985 (372 pts)	#1061 (337 pts)	#1184 (272 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#438 (869 pts)	#488 (789 pts)	#630 (619 pts)	#295 (1,129 pts)	#449 (834 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1213 (237 pts)	#1019 (337 pts)	#1234 (252 pts)	#1187 (272 pts)	#1229 (247 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to QUE THE SMOKE, each with one reason worth a look.

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

RIB RUNNERS

#2,782 of the rated field

1512 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1531

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

rated over 18 contests
last seen Jun 16, 2017

⚔ Compare careers

SERIAL GRILLAZ(NL)

#2,765 of the rated field

1512 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 20%
Peak: 1549

They've been 1549 at their best, 37 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 19 contests
last seen Jun 3, 2022

⚔ Compare careers

PURE SMOKE

#2,758 of the rated field

1512 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 5%
Peak: 1512

20 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 5% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 20 contests
last seen Jun 5, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

JUST SMOKIN' AROUND

#2,763 of the rated field

1512 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1515

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

rated over 16 contests
last seen Mar 31, 2017

⚔ Compare careers

DIDY SMOKE IT

#2,752 of the rated field

1512 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 27%
Peak: 1512

They turned up 5 years after QUE THE SMOKE did, first appearing in 2019.

rated over 22 contests
last seen Sep 4, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Wolf Valley BBQ

#2,768 of the rated field

1512 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 29%
Peak: 1533

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 May 15, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
5 FINGER BBQ	18	3	15	17%	⚔ compare
TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI	18	0	18	0%	⚔ compare
FOX RIVER BBQ	16	6	10	38%	⚔ compare
T-MAC SMOKIN	16	4	12	25%	⚔ compare
LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW	15	7	8	47%	⚔ compare
TOPPGATOR BBQ	13	9	4	69%	⚔ compare
CHEFS GONE GRILLIN	13	6	7	46%	⚔ compare
PLASTERED PORK BBQ	13	5	8	38%	⚔ compare
CRASH TEST SMOKERS	13	3	10	23%	⚔ compare
FAT ANDY'S BBQ	13	3	10	23%	⚔ compare
BIG "E" BBQ	13	1	12	8%	⚔ compare
DD'S BBQ	12	8	4	67%	⚔ compare
Freeman Brothers BBQ	12	4	8	33%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ	12	3	9	25%	⚔ compare
BUCKAROO BBQ	12	2	10	17%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	18	5	0	1	176	146.8116	163.46	top 51%
Pork Ribs	18	2	0	0	169.7028	139.9656	157.75	top 61%
Pork	18	5	1	2	172	146.2284	160.85	top 51%
Brisket	17	3	0	0	172.0344	151.9884	160.32	top 54%

“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)	10	0	top 57%
Large (40+)	8	0	top 58%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2)	2	19	top 69%	Aug 25, 2017
BBQ 4 ASTOP	2	8	top 44%	May 20, 2016
Puckaway Pigfest	2	11	top 54%	Sep 11, 2015
Grillin' in Grafton	2	6	top 36%	Jun 26, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2015 8 contests

Contests a season 4.5 across 4 seasons in the data

Most contests held in WI 18 of 18 contests

Contests visited 14 4 of them more than once

Opponents faced 211 finished ahead 322 times, behind 394

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

20173 milestones

Aug 24 Career-best single call (Chicken)176 6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 1)
Aug 24 Peak power rating (1520) 6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 1)
Aug 25 Most recent contest 6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2)

20155 milestones

May 29 First overall top-10 BBQ 4 ASTOP
May 29 First overall past 90% of a perfect score659.3484 BBQ 4 ASTOP
Jun 26 First category win (Pork) Grillin' in Grafton
Jul 10 Career-best overall score675.4060 Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay
Aug 28 10th tracked contest 4th Annual Deaths Door Barbecue

20142 milestones

May 2 First tracked contest The Masters in May
Jun 27 First call Grillin' in Grafton

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+14	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay	Jul 10, 2015
+13.4	Grillin' in Grafton	Jun 26, 2015
+8.6	BBQ 4 ASTOP	May 29, 2015
+7.7	Puckaway Pigfest	Sep 11, 2015
+6.1	6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 1)	Aug 24, 2017

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-14.3	Badger Brews & Que	Jul 31, 2015
-9.4	The Masters In May	May 1, 2015
-7.8	6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2)	Aug 25, 2017
-6.7	The Masters in May	May 2, 2014
-6.5	Puckaway Pigfest	Sep 5, 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)
2017	4	0	0	50%	top 63%	91.9%	89.8%
2016	3	0	0	100%	top 64%	90.3%	89.7%
2015	8	3	1	50%	top 48%	93.8%	86.8%
2014	3	0	0	67%	top 68%	89%	86.9%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Aug 25, 2017	6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) Washington Island, WI	35 / 39 (624.9488)	23 (163.9544)	32 (157.0972)	38 (148.5028)	32 (155.3944)
Aug 24, 2017	6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 1) Washington Island, WI	19 / 40 (658.7084)	2 (176)	25 (159.9544)	23 (161.6684)	27 (161.0856)
May 6, 2017	Master In May-The Classic Appleton, WI	35 / 50 (642.2060)	41 (158.2172)	33 (160.5716)	29 (160.5716)	25 (162.8456)
May 5, 2017	The Masters In May (also Big Green Egg challenge) Appleton, WI	26 / 56 (661.6000)	40 (164.5372)	9 (169.7028)	23 (167.3828)	37 (159.9772)
Aug 6, 2016	Badger Brew & Que II (Day 2) Manitowoc, WI	16 / 22 (650.1600)	15 (161.6800)	12 (163.4172)	18 (159.9772)	10 (165.0856)
Aug 5, 2016	Badger Brew & Que I (Day 1) Manitowoc, WI	18 / 27 (639.8516)	18 (161.6800)	17 (156.5144)	5 (166.8228)	19 (154.8344)
May 20, 2016	BBQ 4 ASTOP Fond du Lac, WI	15 / 28 (646.7660)	8 (167.4172)	6 (166.2972)	20 (158.8000)	22 (154.2516)
Sep 11, 2015	Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI	11 / 33 (642.1828)	17 (157.6456)	11 (162.2516)	6 (166.2628)	20 (156.0228)
Aug 28, 2015	4th Annual Deaths Door Barbecue Washington Island, WI	16 / 35 (644.4112)	14 (166.2628)	26 (155.9428)	18 (160.5028)	12 (161.7028)
Jul 31, 2015	Badger Brews & Que Manitowoc, WI	30 / 30 (458.7312)	22 (159.4172)	21 (151.9772)	29 (147.3368)	—
Jul 10, 2015	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay Green Bay, WI	10 / 80 (675.4060)	10 (172.5600)	31 (162.8688)	11 (170.8228)	15 (169.1544)
Jun 26, 2015	Grillin' in Grafton Grafton, WI	6 / 33 (663.9772)	24 (157.6684)	21 (162.2744)	1 (172)	4 (172.0344)
May 29, 2015	BBQ 4 ASTOP Fond du Lac, WI	8 / 23 (659.3484)	9 (166.8228)	15 (156.5600)	3 (167.4172)	8 (168.5484)
May 2, 2015	The Masters In May - The Classic Appleton, WI	23 / 47 (646.7656)	14 (167.4172)	44 (149.0856)	15 (165.1200)	16 (165.1428)
May 1, 2015	The Masters In May Appleton, WI	50 / 57 (609.4972)	54 (146.8116)	47 (150.1828)	41 (157.0856)	39 (155.4172)
Sep 5, 2014	Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI	30 / 40 (618.7540)	10 (170.2628)	39 (139.9656)	28 (156.5372)	30 (151.9884)
Jun 27, 2014	Grillin' in Grafton Grafton, WI	17 / 32 (640.5144)	20 (158.8344)	14 (160.5600)	10 (162.2628)	15 (158.8572)
May 2, 2014	The Masters in May Fremont, WI	47 / 62 (618.7884)	17 (165.1772)	42 (154.2512)	60 (146.2284)	49 (153.1316)

QUE THE SMOKE

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 (8 found in their record)

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

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

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)