STRUGGLETOWN BBQ

STRUGGLETOWN BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 10 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2017. Their best overall finish is 8th of 32 at the 8th Annual Smokin at the Maples (2015). They are ranked #5136 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#5,136

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1460

peak 1460 · rated over 10 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Jul 4, 2013

latest Jul 7, 2017 · 4 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#1070

Master 2015 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

2 podiums

Overall top-10s

10% of 10 contests

Avg finish

top 72%

overall standings

Best overall

658.1716 / 720

Master · Hudson Valley Ribfest

Perfect 180s

Current form

617.81 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 600.00 (+17.81)

Walk rate

20%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

173.1200

Pork · Hudson Valley Ribfest

Consistency

±27.32

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 154.66 · weakest Brisket (147.57)

Road miles

1,528

across 10 mapped stops · furthest 256 mi

Schedule strength

26%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1536)

Master avg

600.00 / 720

10 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (7 found in their record)

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

Their season

2015 their best year

2015 was the year it came together: 3 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 51%.

3 contests
1 overall top-10
0 category wins
average top 51%

A tough matchup

8–0 behind in the head-to-head

GOOD SMOKE BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

GOOD SMOKE BBQ has come out ahead in 8 of their 8 shared contests.

The weak link

−7.1 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 7.09 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 0% of the time against 20%.

Brisket avg 147.57
Chicken avg 154.66
0 calls in 10 entries

A strong matchup

3–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 75% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of NY PHAT DADDY'S in 3 of their 4 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

8 of 8 shared chicken entries lost

GOOD SMOKE BBQ ahead 100% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, GOOD SMOKE BBQ has out-cooked them in 8 of 8 shared chicken entries.

An August team

Top 49% average finish in August

Something about August: average finish in the top 49% across 4 contests, versus top 72% the rest of the year.

4 August contests
top 72% the rest of the year

A standing appointment

5 years running at one contest

They've cooked I love Barbecue & Music Festival every year from 2013 to 2017 — the contest they never miss.

5 visits in all
best finish 23rd

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	#2212 (60 pts)	#1768 (125 pts)	#2304 (60 pts)	#2260 (60 pts)	#2266 (60 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1573 (163 pts)	#1447 (198 pts)	#1757 (143 pts)	#1175 (293 pts)	#1578 (173 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1070 (278 pts)	#922 (378 pts)	#1080 (308 pts)	#1325 (233 pts)	#1043 (308 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1358 (202 pts)	#1404 (212 pts)	#1348 (222 pts)	#1235 (257 pts)	#1397 (207 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

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

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

SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ, NY

#5,110 of the rated field

1460 power rating

Contests: 7
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1460

2–1 in 3 shared contests (67% to STRUGGLETOWN BBQ)

These two have cooked 3 of the same contests — STRUGGLETOWN BBQ ahead 2–1 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 7 contests
last seen Sep 15, 2017

⚔ Head-to-head

BIGHEAD ED'S DO IT GENTLY BBQ

#5,125 of the rated field

1460 power rating

Contests: 5
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1460

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

Fewer contests behind them than STRUGGLETOWN BBQ has cooked, 5 to 10, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 5 contests
last seen Jun 10, 2016

⚔ Head-to-head

MEAT BEATERS

#5,145 of the rated field

1460 power rating

Contests: 10
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1460

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 10 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 10 contests
last seen Sep 27, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES

#5,120 of the rated field

1460 power rating

Contests: 10
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1502

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

rated over 10 contests
last seen Jun 12, 2015

⚔ Compare careers

Yeti Mafia BBQ

#5,137 of the rated field

1460 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 9%
Peak: 1500

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

rated over 11 contests
last seen Apr 17, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

SWINEFELD

#5,123 of the rated field

1460 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1460

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 11 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 11 contests
last seen Aug 13, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
GOOD SMOKE BBQ	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
Rogue Hog BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
BOAR-N-Q	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
V Licious BBQ	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare
DR. BUTTS BBQ	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare
TEAM EATAPEDIA	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
Smokin' Bulldogs	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
ACK-QUE	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	10	2	1	171.4056	137.0856	154.66	top 59%
Pork Ribs	10	1	0	163.4516	131.3600	149.24	top 68%
Pork	10	1	1	173.1200	132.5028	148.52	top 70%
Brisket	10	0	0	161.0972	123.9428	147.57	top 64%

“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 74%
Large (40+)	5	0	top 70%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
NY	9	0	top 70%
NJ	1	0	top 94%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
I love Barbecue & Music Festival	5	23	0	top 87%	Jul 7, 2017
Hudson Valley Ribfest	3	15	0	top 57%	Aug 19, 2016

More numbers

Busiest season 2015 3 contests

Contests a season 2 across 5 seasons in the data

Most contests held in NY 9 of 10 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 4 2 of them more than once

Opponents faced 230 finished ahead 120 times, behind 290

Longest layoff 1 yrs Jul 4, 2013 → Jul 4, 2014

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

20172 milestones

Jul 7 10th tracked contest I love Barbecue & Music Festival
Jul 7 Most recent contest I love Barbecue & Music Festival

20163 milestones

Aug 19 First overall past 90% of a perfect score658.1716 Hudson Valley Ribfest
Aug 19 Career-best overall score658.1716 Hudson Valley Ribfest
Aug 19 Career-best single call (Pork)173.1200 Hudson Valley Ribfest

20152 milestones

Aug 1 First call 8th Annual Smokin at the Maples
Aug 1 First overall top-10 8th Annual Smokin at the Maples

20132 milestones

Jul 4 First tracked contest I Love Barbecue & Music Festival
Jul 4 Peak power rating (1489) I Love Barbecue & Music Festival

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+12.2	8th Annual Smokin at the Maples	Aug 1, 2015
+11.2	Hudson Valley Ribfest	Aug 19, 2016
+1.4	Hudson Valley Ribfest	Aug 14, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-11.9	I Love Barbecue & Music Festival	Jul 4, 2014
-11.3	DO AC Smokin' Hot Atlantic City BBQ Championship	Oct 3, 2014
-10.9	I Love Barbecue & Music Festival	Jul 4, 2013
-9.8	Hudson Valley Ribfest	Aug 16, 2014
-9.7	I love Barbecue & Music Festival	Jul 2, 2016

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	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2017	1	0	0%	top 88%	82.5%	82.5%
2016	2	0	50%	top 61%	91.4%	86.5%
2015	3	1	33%	top 51%	87.4%	85.9%
2014	3	0	0%	top 91%	81.3%	80.4%
2013	1	0	0%	top 86%	78.8%	78.8%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jul 7, 2017	I love Barbecue & Music Festival Lake Placid, NY	35 / 40 (594.1372)	12 (160.5600)	40 (131.3600)	27 (152.5372)	30 (149.6800)
Aug 19, 2016	Hudson Valley Ribfest New Paltz, NY	15 / 52 (658.1716)	9 (171.4056)	36 (152.5488)	3 (173.1200)	24 (161.0972)
Jul 2, 2016	I love Barbecue & Music Festival Lake Placid, NY	26 / 28 (587.7488)	28 (137.0856)	19 (153.1088)	24 (143.3372)	14 (154.2172)
Aug 14, 2015	Hudson Valley Ribfest New Paltz, NY	31 / 57 (619.8396)	32 (155.8968)	27 (159.4172)	48 (145.6912)	16 (158.8344)
Aug 1, 2015	8th Annual Smokin at the Maples Manorville, NY	8 / 32 (629.1320)	3 (166.8688)	5 (163.4516)	13 (153.6800)	19 (145.1316)
Jul 3, 2015	I Love Barbecue & Music Festival Lake Placid, NY	23 / 31 (607.2800)	19 (154.2628)	23 (153.1084)	28 (143.3600)	13 (156.5488)
Oct 3, 2014	DO AC Smokin' Hot Atlantic City BBQ Championship Atlantic City, NJ	61 / 65 (567.8172)	41 (156.5256)	60 (140.5716)	60 (146.7772)	63 (123.9428)
Aug 16, 2014	Hudson Valley Ribfest New Paltz, NY	52 / 60 (582.8112)	52 (147.4284)	34 (156.5828)	58 (132.5028)	44 (146.2972)
Jul 4, 2014	I Love Barbecue & Music Festival Lake Placid, NY	25 / 27 (585.6116)	23 (151.4400)	21 (142.8344)	14 (151.9428)	24 (139.3944)
Jul 4, 2013	I Love Barbecue & Music Festival Lake Placid, NY	24 / 28 (567.4276)	22 (145.1428)	23 (139.4284)	23 (142.2854)	22 (140.5710)

STRUGGLETOWN 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

Master avg

Storylines (7 found in their record)

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

An August team

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)