SMOKE-N-PEPPERS IN
Rating
1704
peak 1731
Contests
52
in the data
First seen
2019-03-22
latest 2026-05-15
Best ToY finish
#29
Master 2021
Grand champs
2
5 reserve
Category wins
5
33 podiums
Overall top-10s
26
of 52 contests
Avg finish
top 31%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
1 🔥
Current form
686.68 ▲
last 5 vs career avg 682.22 (+4.46)
Walk rate
83%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
8
best run (overall)
Consistency
±11.00
std dev of overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 171.73 · weakest Brisket (169.97)
Road miles
6216
mi across 52 mapped stops · furthest 480 mi
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. has finished one call ahead of SMOKE-N-PEPPERS 3 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
WeQ4U has landed one call behind them 4 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS has come out ahead in 18 of their 20 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ in 26 of their 26 shared contests.
🏕️ Happy hunting ground
Hoosier BBQ Classic Day 2 is their spot: an average finish in the top 9% across 2 visits.
💔 The heartbreaker
Came within 0.5828 points of the Grand Championship at Big Blue Barbecue (2021-08-13).
🗡️ Giant slayer
Took the Grand Championship over a 39-team field at Rockin' BBQ - Day 2.
📅 A September team
Something about September: average finish in the top 19% across 10 contests, versus top 31% the rest of the year.
🃏 Against the odds
Their Grand Championship at Rockin' BBQ - Day 2 (2021-05-15) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 23-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN.
Teams like this (closest power rating, IN first)
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 50 | 23 | 2 | 8 | 180.0000 🔥 | 156.5372 | 171.73 | top 37% |
| Pork Ribs | 52 | 20 | 1 | 10 | 178.8572 | 159.3600 | 170.23 | top 36% |
| Pork | 50 | 19 | 0 | 8 | 178.8572 | 159.3716 | 170.25 | top 39% |
| Brisket | 50 | 21 | 2 | 7 | 178.3200 | 155.9084 | 169.97 | top 37% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| IN | 30 | 1 | top 32% |
| KY | 9 | 1 | top 33% |
| IL | 6 | 0 | top 31% |
| TN | 2 | 0 | top 37% |
| KS | 2 | 0 | top 12% |
| OH | 1 | 0 | top 13% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 2 | 0 | top 45% |
| Medium (20–39) | 28 | 2 | top 27% |
| Large (40+) | 20 | 0 | top 35% |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2022 (14 contests)
- Cooks mostly in IN (32 of 52 contests)
- Most-entered category: Pork Ribs (52 entries)
- First Grand Championship in the data: Rockin' BBQ - Day 2 (2021-05-15)
- Wins it all in 4% of contests
- All-time average overall score: 682.22
- 1 perfect 180 on the books 🔥
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
Category scores over time
Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)
Where they finish (overall)
Best vs average (by meat)
Team of the Year rank by season
Season by season
| Season | Contests | GCs | Category wins | Best overall | Avg overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 678.1716 | 674.76 |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 696.5144 | 692.87 |
| 2022 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 705.7144 | 686.11 |
| 2021 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 701.1544 | 687.41 |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 674.7544 | 667.61 |
| 2019 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 687.3252 | 675.85 |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-15 | Rockin' BBQ Warsaw, Indiana Warsaw, IN | 24 / 35 (671.3484) | 30 (165.0856) | 5 (174.2972) | 22 (167.4172) | 28 (164.5484) |
| 2026-03-20 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship Lebanon, TN | 79 / 125 (678.1716) | 85 (168.5372) | 89 (166.2400) | 98 (166.2400) | 15 (177.1544) |
| 2023-10-13 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series)(JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) Lynchburg, TN | 9 / 81 (693.7256) | 20 (172.5600) | 4 (177.7372) | 29 (171.9656) | 31 (171.4628) |
| 2023-09-08 | Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY | 3 / 33 (693.6572) | 15 (170.8228) | 3 (176.5600) | 6 (173.1316) | 1 (173.1428) |
| 2023-08-18 | Madison Ribberfest BBQ Blues Madison, IN | 6 / 41 (696.5144) | 9 (175.4172) | 14 (173.1200) | 2 (178.8572) | 20 (169.1200) |
| 2023-06-10 | Hoosier BBQ Classic #2 Franklin, IN | 3 / 28 (690.8116) | 12 (171.9772) | 3 (173.7028) | 6 (174.2972) | 8 (170.8344) |
| 2023-06-09 | Hoosier BBQ Classic #1 Franklin, IN | 6 / 38 (689.6572) | 17 (171.9656) | 1 (178.8572) | 10 (172.5600) | 23 (166.2744) |
| 2022-09-23 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard Murphysboro, IL | 6 / 46 (698.2856) | 15 (174.8456) | 19 (172.5600) | 16 (173.1200) | 3 (177.7600) |
| 2022-09-16 | Reuniting After War (R.A.W.) BBQ Competition Bowling Green, KY | 2 / 24 (705.7144) | 2 (178.8572) | 2 (176.0000) | 4 (175.4516) | 4 (175.4056) |
| 2022-09-09 | Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY | 1 / 32 (698.8460) | 5 (176.5600) | 14 (171.4400) | 6 (174.2860) | 3 (176.5600) |
| 2022-08-19 | Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues Festival Madison, IN | 20 / 45 (678.7428) | 24 (169.1200) | 16 (169.6800) | 20 (169.6800) | 17 (170.2628) |
| 2022-07-08 | Harvest on Fire at the Winery Marshall, IL | 11 / 28 (685.6000) | 13 (173.1316) | 21 (166.2400) | 13 (170.8228) | 7 (175.4056) |
| 2022-06-18 | Hoosier BBQ Classic Day 2 Franklin, IN | 2 / 27 (694.7884) | 14 (172.5484) | 2 (176.0000) | 11 (170.8228) | 4 (175.4172) |
| 2022-06-17 | Hoosier BBQ Classic Day 1 Franklin, IN | 23 / 42 (678.1828) | 23 (171.4172) | 13 (170.8228) | 29 (165.0856) | 15 (170.8572) |
| 2022-06-17 | Hoosier BBQ Classic (One Meat Ribs) Franklin, IN | — | — | 20 (162.8228) | — | — |
| 2022-06-10 | Bourbon Capital BBQ Challenge & Distillers' Row Invitational New Haven, KY | 13 / 17 (675.9660) | 7 (174.2628) | 14 (167.9772) | 10 (168.0344) | 12 (165.6916) |
| 2022-05-14 | 8th Annual Rockin' BBQ (Day 2) Warsaw, IN | 9 / 25 (684.4456) | 10 (174.2628) | 5 (173.1200) | 13 (169.6800) | 13 (167.3828) |
| 2022-05-13 | 8th Annual Rockin' BBQ (Day 1) Warsaw, IN | 4 / 36 (687.8968) | 17 (171.4056) | 6 (173.1084) | 9 (172.5484) | 12 (170.8344) |
| 2022-05-13 | 8th Annual Rockin' BBQ (One Meat Ribs) Warsaw, IN | — | — | 3 (176.0000) | — | — |
| 2022-04-29 | Smoke on the Water Liberty, IN | 9 / 25 (674.1140) | 11 (168.5256) | 9 (168.5256) | 12 (162.8000) | 3 (174.2628) |
| 2022-04-08 | CCSFEST Indianapolis, IN | 28 / 42 (670.7660) | 34 (168.5256) | 27 (167.9772) | 14 (172.5600) | 35 (161.7032) |
| 2021-10-22 | Smokin' For Garrett Boonville, IN | 5 / 27 (678.7772) | 18 (164.5372) | 15 (165.1316) | 2 (173.7028) | 2 (175.4056) |
| 2021-09-16 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-INVITATIONAL CONTEST Kansas City, KS | 17 / 185 (697.0628) | 10 (178.8572) | 130 (167.3828) | 18 (176.5600) | 44 (174.2628) |
| 2021-09-16 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST Kansas City, KS | 72 / 467 (679.9544) | 296 (162.8344) | 194 (167.9772) | 42 (174.2628) | 32 (174.8800) |
| 2021-09-10 | Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY | 6 / 28 (682.7312) | 4 (171.9656) | 12 (168.5372) | 11 (169.1200) | 7 (173.1084) |
| 2021-09-04 | Destination Outlets Labor Day BBQ Championship Jeffersonville, OH | 2 / 15 (701.1544) | 2 (177.1544) | 6 (169.1200) | 2 (176.5600) | 2 (178.3200) |
| 2021-08-20 | Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues Festival Madison, IN | 2 / 43 (694.8228) | 2 (177.7372) | 3 (174.8572) | 11 (174.2628) | 17 (167.9656) |
| 2021-08-13 | Big Blue Barbecue Shelbyville, IN | 2 / 30 (697.6800) | 5 (174.8572) | 2 (178.2972) | 3 (174.8572) | 11 (169.6684) |
| 2021-07-23 | Effingham -Jam Effingham, IL | 15 / 29 (673.6228) | 12 (169.6800) | 13 (167.3944) | 13 (168.5484) | 10 (168.0000) |
| 2021-07-09 | Harvest On the Fire At the Winery Marshall, IL | 4 / 38 (685.6800) | 4 (174.8572) | 9 (170.2856) | 33 (162.8000) | 1 (177.7372) |
| 2021-06-19 | Hoosier BBQ Classic Day 2 Franklin, IN | 4 / 37 (687.3828) | 10 (173.1200) | 4 (173.1428) | 9 (173.1544) | 20 (167.9656) |
| 2021-06-18 | Hoosier BBQ Classic Day 1 Franklin, IN | 19 / 51 (675.9428) | 31 (168.5828) | 30 (165.6800) | 31 (167.3828) | 7 (174.2972) |
| 2021-05-15 | Rockin' BBQ - Day 2 Warsaw, IN | 1 / 39 (695.3712) | 1 (180.0000) | 8 (170.8228) | 3 (175.4056) | 14 (169.1428) |
| 2021-05-14 | Rockin' BBQ - Day 1 Warsaw, IN | 9 / 41 (683.3256) | 2 (177.7028) | 12 (169.1200) | 24 (166.8228) | 21 (169.6800) |
| 2021-05-01 | Smoke on the Water Liberty, IN | 3 / 27 (690.2400) | 1 (177.1428) | 3 (171.9772) | 13 (169.1200) | 6 (172.0000) |
| 2020-08-14 | Big Blue Barbecue Shelbyville, IN | 36 / 50 (662.7200) | 48 (156.5372) | 12 (170.8344) | 30 (167.9656) | 33 (167.3828) |
| 2020-07-24 | Fire on the Mountain Leburn, KY | 22 / 30 (661.6456) | 18 (166.2628) | 20 (165.6800) | 9 (170.8572) | 27 (158.8456) |
| 2020-07-10 | Harvest On the Fire At the Winery Marshall, IL | 23 / 53 (673.0288) | 37 (165.6800) | 26 (166.8344) | 2 (175.4172) | 38 (165.0972) |
| 2020-06-20 | Covid-Que Relief (Day 2) Franklin, IN | 24 / 63 (674.7544) | 27 (170.2628) | 11 (170.2744) | 58 (159.3716) | 4 (174.8456) |
| 2020-06-19 | Covid-Que Relief (Day 1) Franklin, IN | 47 / 69 (660.4572) | 48 (164.5256) | 27 (167.3828) | 30 (168.5600) | 54 (159.9888) |
| 2020-05-29 | Rockin BBQ Warsaw, IN | 14 / 66 (673.0512) | 8 (171.4172) | 30 (165.1084) | 19 (167.9656) | 21 (168.5600) |
| 2019-10-04 | Jim Beam BBQ Classic Springfield, KY | 14 / 42 (677.0056) | 18 (169.6800) | 14 (169.6684) | 16 (167.9772) | 10 (169.6800) |
| 2019-09-27 | New Albany Blues Brews and BBQ Festival New Albany, IN | 11 / 23 (671.9432) | 9 (170.8572) | 7 (169.7028) | 15 (164.5372) | 14 (166.8460) |
| 2019-09-13 | Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY | 14 / 28 (669.5772) | 9 (171.9656) | 12 (167.4172) | 19 (163.9544) | 13 (166.2400) |
| 2019-08-09 | Big Blue Barbecue Shelbyville, IN | 11 / 29 (679.3028) | 2 (176.0000) | 27 (159.3600) | 13 (169.6800) | 7 (174.2628) |
| 2019-07-12 | Harvest On Fire at The Winery Marshall, IL | 9 / 31 (674.1600) | 8 (172.5600) | 14 (166.2400) | 2 (174.8456) | 19 (160.5144) |
| 2019-06-14 | Barbourville BBQ Cookoff & Festival Barbourville, KY | 7 / 30 (687.3252) | 13 (173.1084) | 18 (169.1084) | 7 (174.2628) | 9 (170.8456) |
| 2019-05-10 | Rockin BBQ Warsaw, IN | 16 / 42 (663.3828) | 6 (172.5600) | 14 (169.1544) | 29 (161.1428) | 28 (160.5256) |
| 2019-05-04 | Smoke on the Water Liberty, IN | 7 / 26 (681.6568) | 9 (171.4172) | 11 (167.3828) | 9 (169.6912) | 5 (173.1656) |
| 2019-04-26 | Smokin For Garrett Boonville, IN | 8 / 26 (681.0284) | 2 (175.4056) | 11 (173.7144) | 3 (176.0000) | 22 (155.9084) |
| 2019-04-05 | CCSFest Indianapois, IN | 13 / 40 (675.8860) | 18 (169.1316) | 2 (175.4172) | 36 (160.5028) | 9 (170.8344) |
| 2019-03-22 | PigMania Franklin State Championship BBQ Competition Franklin, IN | 16 / 29 (673.0860) | 12 (170.2628) | 17 (166.2744) | 17 (167.9772) | 12 (168.5716) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #611 (125 pts) | #688 (120 pts) | #504 (245 pts) | #610 (135 pts) | #561 (170 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #265 (811 pts) | #465 (471 pts) | #282 (861 pts) | #293 (736 pts) | #363 (586 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #71 (1748 pts) | #133 (1323 pts) | #72 (1650 pts) | #132 (1313 pts) | #68 (1703 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #29 (2177 pts) | #18 (2185 pts) | #60 (1739 pts) | #65 (1676 pts) | #57 (1736 pts) |
| 2020 ↗ | Master | #254 (440 pts) | #252 (485 pts) | #237 (515 pts) | #179 (670 pts) | #222 (525 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #214 (1283 pts) | #130 (1567 pts) | #200 (1298 pts) | #188 (1332 pts) | #211 (1242 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #263 (1196 pts) | #274 (1166 pts) | #121 (1631 pts) | #216 (1316 pts) | #276 (1143 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #219 (1424 pts) | #263 (1224 pts) | #156 (1604 pts) | #211 (1374 pts) | #138 (1659 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #693 (550 pts) | #568 (710 pts) | #556 (750 pts) | #729 (545 pts) | #667 (595 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #910 (355 pts) | #969 (350 pts) | #515 (760 pts) | #836 (435 pts) | #932 (370 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #670 (549 pts) | #567 (689 pts) | #480 (834 pts) | #665 (574 pts) | #740 (494 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #1092 (258 pts) | #980 (323 pts) | #1080 (283 pts) | #965 (328 pts) | #1405 (178 pts) |