HQO

HQO is a competition barbecue team with 15 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2023. Their best overall finish is 14th of 16 at the GMG NorUt State BBQ Championship (2023). They are ranked #6007 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#6,007

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1434

peak 1501 · rated over 14 contests1 invitational or side-series contest not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Apr 5, 2013

latest Jun 9, 2023 · 10.2 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#1275

Master 2016 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

0 podiums

Overall top-10s

0% of 15 contests

Avg finish

top 76%

overall standings

Best overall

672.5028 / 720

Master · GMG NorUt State BBQ Championship

Perfect 180s

Current form

646.66 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 638.97 (+7.68)

Walk rate

60%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

174.8800

Pork · Wild West BBQ Shoot Out

Consistency

±13.05

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 163.64 · weakest Brisket (152.81)

Road miles

5,085

across 15 mapped stops · furthest 1,435 mi

Schedule strength

39%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1551)

Purse competed for

$41K

listed at 2 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 2 state-championship entries

Master avg

638.97 / 720

15 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (14 found in their record)

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

They almost always walk

60% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 9 of 15 contests

A top-10 category call in 60% of their 15 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

672.5028 career-best overall

93.4% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 672.5028 at GMG NorUt State BBQ Championship — 93.4% of a perfect 720.

Master
Jun 9, 2023

The one to beat

4× one call ahead of them

G AND L BBQ has finished one call ahead of HQO 4 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2013 their best year

2013 was the year it came together: 3 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 63%.

3 contests
0 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 63%

A tough matchup

11–0 behind in the head-to-head

GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE ahead in 100% of their meetings

GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE has come out ahead in 11 of their 11 shared contests.

The weak link

−10.8 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 10.83 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 0% of the time against 13%.

Brisket avg 152.81
Chicken avg 163.64
0 calls in 15 entries

A strong matchup

5–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 83% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of RICHARDS ROUNDUP BBQ in 5 of their 6 shared contests.

Show 7 more storylines

The comeback

3.8 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 3.8 years, then back at GMG NorUt State BBQ Championship (Jun 9, 2023).

last seen Aug 23, 2019
back Jun 9, 2023

Chicken nemesis

10 of 11 shared chicken entries lost

GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE ahead 91% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE has out-cooked them in 10 of 11 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

3× one call behind them

SORRY CHARLOTTE BBQ has landed one call behind them 3 times.

An April team

Top 65% average finish in April

Something about April: average finish in the top 65% across 5 contests, versus top 76% the rest of the year.

5 April contests
top 76% the rest of the year

The long haul

5,085 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 5,085 miles across 15 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 1,435 miles to Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY).

15 mapped stops
furthest 1,435 mi

The metronome

±1.81% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.81% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 88.7% of a perfect score
15 contests

A standing appointment

5 years running at one contest

They've cooked Sam's Club National BBQ Tour every year from 2013 to 2017 — 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
2017 ↗	Master	#2898 (54 pts)	#1665 (149 pts)	#2107 (94 pts)	#2883 (54 pts)	#2098 (89 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1275 (226 pts)	#1324 (236 pts)	#916 (416 pts)	#1262 (256 pts)	#1557 (176 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1537 (160 pts)	#1234 (255 pts)	#1606 (160 pts)	#1748 (145 pts)	#1573 (170 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

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

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

Wild Wolves BBQ

#6,012 of the rated field

1434 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1434

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 14 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 14 contests
last seen Sep 26, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

SMOKE, EAT, REPEAT

#6,000 of the rated field

1434 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1434

Careers of much the same size, 17 contests to 15, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 15 contests
last seen May 6, 2022

⚔ Compare careers

Northstar BBQ

#6,002 of the rated field

1434 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1501

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 11, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

MIKE'S MAGIC SMOKE

#6,006 of the rated field

1434 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1434

Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 4 years before HQO's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 17 contests

⚔ Compare careers

COMIN' IN HOT BBQ

#6,016 of the rated field

1434 power rating

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

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

rated over 11 contests
last seen Apr 26, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

Hillcrest Smokers BBQ

#6,009 of the rated field

1434 power rating

Contests: 10
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1434

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 Aug 27, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
HALF BAKED HIPPIES BBQ	13	4	9	31%	⚔ compare
GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE	11	0	11	0%	⚔ compare
G AND L BBQ	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
BIG JOHNSON'S BBQ	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
Whistle Pig BBQ	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
TEAM AMERICA	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
Backdraft BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
RICHARDS ROUNDUP BBQ	6	5	1	83%	⚔ compare
BBQ PIT STOP	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare
Rooftop BBQ	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
CHICKEN BUTT BBQ UTAH	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
PARROTHEAD SMOKERS	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
CROOKED PIGS	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
SORRY CHARLOTTE BBQ	5	5	0	100%	⚔ compare
SMOKE-IN-LAW	5	2	3	40%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	15	2	171.9656	153.7138	163.64	top 62%
Pork Ribs	15	2	173.1428	145.0740	160.18	top 61%
Pork	15	5	174.8800	146.7772	162.35	top 58%
Brisket	15	0	162.9032	131.3944	152.81	top 80%

“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)	2	top 88%
Medium (20–39)	10	top 72%
Large (40+)	3	top 80%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
UT	7	top 72%
NV	4	top 81%
CO	2	top 69%
SD	1	top 87%
TN	1	top 82%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	5	14	top 65%	Apr 7, 2017
Wild West BBQ Shoot Out	2	35	top 95%	Aug 23, 2019
Wild West BBQ Shoot Out	2	16	top 67%	Aug 22, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2016 3 contests

Contests a season 1.9 across 8 seasons in the data

Most contests held in UT 7 of 15 contests · 5 states in all

Contests visited 9 3 of them more than once

Opponents faced 307 finished ahead 127 times, behind 394

Longest layoff 3.8 yrs Aug 23, 2019 → Jun 9, 2023

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

20232 milestones

Jun 9 Career-best overall score672.5028 GMG NorUt State BBQ Championship
Jun 9 Most recent contest GMG NorUt State BBQ Championship

20181 milestone

Aug 24 Career-best single call (Pork)174.8800 Wild West BBQ Shoot Out

20162 milestones

Apr 8 First overall past 90% of a perfect score657.0400 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Aug 26 10th tracked contest Hill City Wine Brew & BBQ

20141 milestone

Apr 11 Peak power rating (1501) Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

20132 milestones

Apr 5 First tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Apr 5 First call Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+5.1	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Apr 8, 2016
+2.6	Wild West BBQ Shoot Out	Aug 23, 2013
+0.4	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Apr 11, 2014

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-9.9	Days of 47 BBQ Rib & Rodeo	Jul 24, 2015
-9.5	Wild West BBQ Shoot Out	Aug 22, 2014
-8.9	Wild West BBQ Shoot Out	Aug 23, 2019
-8.7	Wild West BBQ Shoot Out	Aug 24, 2018
-8.2	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Apr 10, 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	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2023	1	100%	top 88%	93.4%	93.4%
2019	1	0%	top 95%	87.6%	87.6%
2018	1	100%	top 96%	88.2%	88.2%
2017	1	100%	top 86%	89.1%	89.1%
2016	3	67%	top 66%	91.3%	90.1%
2015	3	33%	top 82%	88.9%	87.8%
2014	2	50%	top 69%	88.1%	87.2%
2013	3	67%	top 63%	89.7%	88.3%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jun 9, 2023	GMG NorUt State BBQ Championship 🏅 Ogden, UT	14 / 16 (672.5028)	11 (171.9656)	12 (171.4056)	6 (174.8572)	16 (154.2744)
Aug 23, 2019	Wild West BBQ Shoot Out 🏅 Wendover, NV	35 / 37 (630.6972)	28 (165.6800)	36 (152.5488)	30 (162.2628)	37 (150.2056)
Aug 24, 2018	Wild West BBQ Shoot Out Wendover, NV	44 / 46 (635.3712)	32 (165.1428)	46 (145.0740)	7 (174.8800)	41 (150.2744)
Apr 7, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Salt Lake City, UT	25 / 29 (641.6576)	8 (169.1544)	17 (162.8228)	28 (146.7772)	18 (162.9032)
Sep 9, 2016	Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge Grand Junction, CO	31 / 49 (653.0516)	27 (164.5372)	5 (173.1428)	41 (156.5600)	34 (158.8116)
Aug 26, 2016	Hill City Wine Brew & BBQ Hill City, SD	27 / 31 (636.4228)	24 (162.8228)	14 (167.4056)	27 (159.9772)	29 (146.2172)
Apr 8, 2016	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Salt Lake City, UT	14 / 30 (657.0400)	13 (166.2628)	12 (165.7028)	9 (166.8228)	24 (158.2516)
Sep 11, 2015	Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge Grand Junction, CO	24 / 32 (628.4344)	17 (163.9656)	28 (146.8000)	19 (162.8228)	23 (154.8460)
Jul 24, 2015	Days of 47 BBQ Rib & Rodeo Salt Lake City, UT	15 / 17 (640)	17 (156.5600)	6 (168.5828)	13 (162.8800)	16 (151.9772)
Apr 10, 2015	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Salt Lake City, UT	25 / 30 (627.3488)	16 (164.5484)	24 (154.8344)	24 (154.8456)	24 (153.1204)
Aug 22, 2014	Wild West BBQ Shoot Out Wendover, NV	27 / 31 (621.6232)	9 (169.7144)	21 (157.1544)	29 (147.3828)	29 (147.3716)
Apr 11, 2014	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Salt Lake City, UT	15 / 29 (634.2168)	13 (166.2284)	19 (155.4400)	18 (157.1428)	13 (155.4056)
Oct 25, 2013	Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) unrated Lynchburg, TN	80 / 97 (625.6456)	72 (158.8456)	36 (168)	31 (167.4056)	97 (131.3944)
Aug 23, 2013	Wild West BBQ Shoot Out Wendover, NV	16 / 34 (645.7144)	22 (155.4172)	17 (160.5944)	4 (172.0228)	23 (157.6800)
Apr 5, 2013	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Salt Lake City, UT	17 / 29 (634.8568)	26 (153.7138)	20 (153.1432)	7 (168.5714)	15 (159.4284)

An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.

HQO

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 (14 found in their record)

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

An April team

The long haul

The metronome

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)