GALLOWAY'S HELLFIRE BBQ

GALLOWAY'S HELLFIRE BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 14 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2014 and 2018. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 25 at the Finger Lakes Fire & Smoke (2015), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #2615 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#2,615

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1516

peak 1538 · rated over 14 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

May 24, 2014

latest May 18, 2018 · 4 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#649

Master 2015 · every season

Grand champs

1 reserve

Category wins

6 podiums

Overall top-10s

21% of 14 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 51%

overall standings

Best overall

654.7544 / 720

Master · Finger Lakes Fire & Smoke

Perfect 180s

Current form

619.41 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 628.68 (-9.27)

Walk rate

57%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.8572

Pork · Roc City Rib Fest

Consistency

±18.63

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 159.53 · weakest Brisket (155.04)

Road miles

1,826

across 14 mapped stops · furthest 289 mi

Schedule strength

20%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1527)

Master avg

628.68 / 720

14 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (8 found in their record)

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

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

BIG BELLY BBQ has finished one call ahead of GALLOWAY'S HELLFIRE BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2015 their best year

2015 was the year it came together: 8 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 3 category wins, at an average finish in the top 39%.

8 contests
3 overall top-10s
3 category wins
average top 39%

A tough matchup

10–1 behind in the head-to-head

GOOD SMOKE BBQ ahead in 91% of their meetings

GOOD SMOKE BBQ has come out ahead in 10 of their 11 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.5 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.49 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 21% of the time against 29%.

Brisket avg 155.04
Chicken avg 159.53
3 calls in 14 entries

A strong matchup

6–2 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 75% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of THE GOOD CUE CREW in 6 of their 8 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

8 of 9 shared chicken entries lost

RED VALLEY BBQ ahead 89% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, RED VALLEY BBQ has out-cooked them in 8 of 9 shared chicken entries.

An August team

Top 27% average finish in August

Something about August: average finish in the top 27% across 3 contests, versus top 51% the rest of the year.

3 August contests
top 51% the rest of the year

Show 1 more storyline

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked Salt City BBQ Festival every year from 2015 to 2018 — the contest they never miss.

4 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
2018 ↗	Master	#1818 (89 pts)	#2500 (59 pts)	#1067 (284 pts)	#2495 (59 pts)	#2488 (59 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#649 (566 pts)	#697 (541 pts)	#701 (541 pts)	#763 (486 pts)	#686 (546 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#2084 (75 pts)	#2167 (75 pts)	#2161 (75 pts)	#1174 (275 pts)	#2148 (75 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to GALLOWAY'S HELLFIRE BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

Bull-B-Que

#2,610 of the rated field

1516 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1526

Careers of much the same size, 15 contests to 14, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Jul 24, 2026

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Rubbin Butts Bone In

#2,618 of the rated field

1516 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1518

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 15 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Jun 27, 2025

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RedHog BBQ

#2,624 of the rated field

1516 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 25%
Peak: 1516

16 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 25% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 16 contests
last seen Sep 11, 2026
on a 3-contest top-10 run

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CHOKIN ON SMOKE

#2,632 of the rated field

1515 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1530

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

rated over 12 contests
last seen Jul 26, 2019

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Scratch that Itch BBQ

#2,607 of the rated field

1516 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 5%
Peak: 1516

They turned up 8 years after GALLOWAY'S HELLFIRE BBQ did, first appearing in 2022.

rated over 17 contests
last seen Sep 13, 2024

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Pink Ring BBQ

#2,626 of the rated field

1516 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 27%
Peak: 1519

Careers of much the same size, 11 contests to 14, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 11 contests
last seen Sep 23, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
KISS MY BBQ	11	3	8	27%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN BOYS AND HOT GRILLS	11	2	9	18%	⚔ compare
GOOD SMOKE BBQ	11	1	10	9%	⚔ compare
SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS	10	2	8	20%	⚔ compare
THREE DOGS BBQ	10	2	8	20%	⚔ compare
RED VALLEY BBQ	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
THE GOOD CUE CREW	8	6	2	75%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN' AIN'T EASY	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
Sweet Heat BBQ	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
BEHIND BBQ	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
TEAM EATAPEDIA	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare
TRANQUIL CARNIVORES	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
Priorville	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
Big Pappa's Smokin' BBQ	6	4	2	67%	⚔ compare
JACK9 BBQ	6	4	2	67%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	14	4	1	2	175.4400	147.9656	159.53	top 52%
Pork Ribs	14	3	2	2	170.8800	143.9316	158.52	top 47%
Pork	14	2	0	1	178.8572	139.3144	155.59	top 60%
Brisket	14	3	1	1	168.6172	135.4172	155.04	top 53%

“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)	6	0	top 45%
Large (40+)	8	0	top 55%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
NY	12	top 51%
ON	1	top 14%
DE	1	top 78%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Salt City BBQ Festival	4	14	0	top 71%	May 18, 2018
Roc City Rib Fest	2	37	0	top 64%	May 23, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2015 8 contests

Contests a season 2.8 across 5 seasons in the data

Most contests held in NY 12 of 14 contests · 3 states and provinces in all

Contests visited 10 2 of them more than once

Opponents faced 332 finished ahead 303 times, behind 345

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

20181 milestone

May 18 Most recent contest Salt City BBQ Festival

20158 milestones

May 15 First category win (Pork Ribs) Salt City BBQ Festival
Aug 8 First overall top-10 Fatboys Canadian Capital Classic BBQ Competition
Aug 8 First overall podium Fatboys Canadian Capital Classic BBQ Competition
Aug 14 First overall past 90% of a perfect score649.0856 Hudson Valley Ribfest
Sep 4 First Reserve Championship Finger Lakes Fire & Smoke
Sep 4 Career-best overall score654.7544 Finger Lakes Fire & Smoke
Sep 19 10th tracked contest Oinktoberfest
Sep 19 Peak power rating (1538) Oinktoberfest

20143 milestones

May 24 First tracked contest Roc City Rib Fest
May 24 First call Roc City Rib Fest
May 24 Career-best single call (Pork)178.8572 Roc City Rib Fest

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+15.2	Finger Lakes Fire & Smoke	Sep 4, 2015
+14.6	Fatboys Canadian Capital Classic BBQ Competition	Aug 8, 2015
+11.6	Hudson Valley Ribfest	Aug 14, 2015
+6.9	Oinktoberfest	Sep 19, 2015
+5.6	Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que	Jun 19, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-10.6	Salt City BBQ Festival	May 19, 2017
-8.2	Salt City BBQ Festival	May 20, 2016
-6.8	Triple Threat BBQ Beer and Music Festival	Apr 10, 2015
-3.7	Salt City BBQ Festival	May 15, 2015
-3.6	Roc City Rib Fest	May 24, 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)
2018	1	0	1	100%	top 56%	86.2%	86.2%
2017	1	0	0	100%	top 85%	82.7%	82.7%
2016	2	0	0	0%	top 69%	89.4%	86.1%
2015	8	3	3	50%	top 39%	90.9%	88.1%
2014	2	0	0	100%	top 58%	89.7%	88.1%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
May 18, 2018	Salt City BBQ Festival Syracuse, NY	19 / 34 (620.4340)	29 (149.6800)	1 (170.8800)	25 (146.8112)	26 (153.0628)
May 19, 2017	Salt City BBQ Festival Syracuse, NY	35 / 41 (595.2004)	4 (169.1200)	35 (143.9316)	39 (139.3144)	34 (142.8344)
May 28, 2016	Roc City Rib Fest Rochester, NY	31 / 50 (643.9888)	21 (168)	25 (164.5716)	40 (158.2972)	37 (153.1200)
May 20, 2016	Salt City BBQ Festival Syracuse, NY	24 / 32 (595.8400)	16 (155.4172)	12 (158.8112)	28 (146.1944)	30 (135.4172)
Sep 19, 2015	Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY	14 / 52 (641.5888)	39 (153.0972)	18 (163.4400)	14 (163.9544)	13 (161.0972)
Sep 4, 2015	Finger Lakes Fire & Smoke Geneva, NY	2 / 25 (654.7544)	1 (170.2628)	18 (154.2516)	5 (166.2972)	6 (163.9428)
Aug 14, 2015	Hudson Valley Ribfest New Paltz, NY	10 / 57 (649.0856)	2 (175.4400)	20 (161.7028)	46 (147.9428)	9 (164)
Aug 8, 2015	Fatboys Canadian Capital Classic BBQ Competition Ottawa, ON	3 / 22 (629.1660)	4 (163.4628)	11 (147.4060)	16 (149.6800)	1 (168.6172)
Jun 19, 2015	Crossborder Blues, Brews & Que Wilson, NY	18 / 47 (637.6916)	30 (156.5600)	24 (157.7488)	13 (163.3828)	14 (160)
May 23, 2015	Roc City Rib Fest Rochester, NY	37 / 57 (640.4000)	41 (160.5256)	39 (157.0972)	39 (157.0972)	19 (165.6800)
May 15, 2015	Salt City BBQ Festival Syracuse, NY	14 / 21 (614.8000)	17 (148.5484)	1 (170.2744)	20 (139.9772)	11 (156)
Apr 10, 2015	Triple Threat BBQ Beer and Music Festival Harrington, DE	77 / 99 (609.5772)	86 (147.9656)	71 (153.1200)	59 (157.0744)	66 (151.4172)
Aug 8, 2014	Smokin' Eagles International BBQ Festival N. Tonawanda, NY	20 / 39 (645.7144)	23 (164)	9 (166.2972)	18 (163.4172)	28 (152)
May 24, 2014	Roc City Rib Fest Rochester, NY	55 / 86 (623.3260)	69 (151.3828)	63 (149.7144)	2 (178.8572)	79 (143.3716)

GALLOWAY'S HELLFIRE BBQ

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)

The one to beat

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)