SMOKING STUDS BBQ

SMOKING STUDS BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 42 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2016 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 8th of 27 at the Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge (2021). They are ranked #6163 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#6,163

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1424

peak 1424 · rated over 42 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Jun 3, 2016

latest Sep 18, 2026 · 10.3 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#359

Master 2020 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

3 podiums

Overall top-10s

2% of 42 contests

Avg finish

top 75%

overall standings

Best overall

682.8004 / 720

Master · Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1

Perfect 180s

Current form

669.39 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 655.64 (+13.75)

Walk rate

38%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

179.4400

Pork Ribs · South Carolina Festival of Discovery

Consistency

±18.78

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 165.92 · weakest Brisket (161.10)

Road miles

3,559

across 42 mapped stops · furthest 221 mi

Schedule strength

78%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1601)

Purse competed for

$367K

listed at 32 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 33 state-championship entries

Master avg

655.64 / 720

42 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (10 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

682.8004 career-best overall

94.8% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 682.8004 at Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1 — 94.8% of a perfect 720.

Master
May 3, 2024

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

PIG ON FIRE has finished one call ahead of SMOKING STUDS BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

34–3 behind in the head-to-head

MUTTLEY CREW BBQ ahead in 92% of their meetings

MUTTLEY CREW BBQ has come out ahead in 34 of their 37 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.8 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.82 points below their pork ribs, and turns into a call 12% of the time against 14%.

Brisket avg 161.10
Pork Ribs avg 165.92
5 calls in 42 entries

A strong matchup

11–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 92% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of 2 GUYS AND A CHICK in 11 of their 12 shared contests.

Pork Ribs nemesis

26 of 37 shared pork ribs entries lost

MUTTLEY CREW BBQ ahead 70% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, MUTTLEY CREW BBQ has out-cooked them in 26 of 37 shared pork ribs entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

MUTTLEY CREW BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

Show 3 more storylines

A July team

Top 67% average finish in July

Something about July: average finish in the top 67% across 6 contests, versus top 75% the rest of the year.

6 July contests
top 75% the rest of the year

The long haul

3,559 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 3,559 miles across 42 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 221 miles to Atlanta BBQ Store Classic.

42 mapped stops
furthest 221 mi

A standing appointment

5 years running at one contest

They've cooked South Carolina Festival of Discovery every year from 2022 to 2026 — the contest they never miss.

5 visits in all
best finish 42nd

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
2026 ↗	Master	#488 (340 pts)	#509 (380 pts)	#493 (420 pts)	#483 (380 pts)	#485 (370 pts)
2025 ↗	Master	#643 (232 pts)	#760 (202 pts)	#783 (217 pts)	#613 (277 pts)	#540 (342 pts)
2024 ↗	Master	#517 (363 pts)	#509 (403 pts)	#333 (763 pts)	#499 (403 pts)	#378 (603 pts)
2023 ↗	Master	#504 (373 pts)	#480 (448 pts)	#601 (358 pts)	#430 (488 pts)	#525 (363 pts)
2022 ↗	Master	#718 (235 pts)	#675 (280 pts)	#680 (315 pts)	#748 (235 pts)	#745 (235 pts)
2021 ↗	Master	#563 (296 pts)	#454 (431 pts)	#431 (486 pts)	#661 (241 pts)	#621 (276 pts)
2020 ↗	Master	#359 (307 pts)	#284 (432 pts)	#331 (377 pts)	#289 (422 pts)	#392 (302 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#852 (336 pts)	#930 (311 pts)	#818 (391 pts)	#836 (376 pts)	#878 (346 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1338 (174 pts)	#1397 (174 pts)	#1279 (204 pts)	#1064 (279 pts)	#1395 (174 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1392 (180 pts)	#1493 (180 pts)	#1259 (250 pts)	#1142 (295 pts)	#993 (355 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1959 (116 pts)	#1761 (141 pts)	#1812 (131 pts)	#1835 (126 pts)	#2056 (111 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

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

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

MEL'S BBQ

#6,161 of the rated field

1424 power rating

Contests: 29
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 3%
Peak: 1501

They've been 1501 at their best, 78 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 29 contests
last seen May 31, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

ROLL THE BONES BBQ

#6,162 of the rated field

1424 power rating

Contests: 28
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1424

Their last contest in the data was back in 2023, 3 years before SMOKING STUDS BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 28 contests

⚔ Compare careers

IBEW SMOKIN' SPARKYS

#6,164 of the rated field

1423 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1504

Fewer contests behind them than SMOKING STUDS BBQ has cooked, 15 to 42, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Sep 16, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

POP POP'S RIBS

#6,159 of the rated field

1424 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1424

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

rated over 11 contests
last seen Jul 11, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Oncue BBQ Team

#6,165 of the rated field

1423 power rating

Contests: 9
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1423

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 9 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 9 contests
last seen Apr 5, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

Partycrowd BBQ

#6,167 of the rated field

1423 power rating

Contests: 9
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1423

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 9 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 9 contests
last seen Apr 6, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
MUTTLEY CREW BBQ	37	3	34	8%	⚔ compare
MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ	34	1	33	3%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN SKULLIES	33	1	32	3%	⚔ compare
JL Smokers	28	6	22	21%	⚔ compare
REDNECK SCIENTIFIC	27	1	26	4%	⚔ compare
WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	25	0	25	0%	⚔ compare
ELITE BBQ SMOKERS	24	2	22	8%	⚔ compare
HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY	23	3	20	13%	⚔ compare
HOLT BROTHERS BBQ	19	10	9	53%	⚔ compare
SPEAKS FOR ITSELF BBQ	19	3	16	16%	⚔ compare
PIG ON FIRE	18	5	13	28%	⚔ compare
HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ	18	1	17	6%	⚔ compare
TWISTED PAIR BBQ	18	1	17	6%	⚔ compare
SMOKE N BREW	17	2	15	12%	⚔ compare
BUD WISER'S BBQ	16	9	7	56%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	42	6	0	177.1428	137.1200	164.04	top 68%
Pork Ribs	42	6	1	179.4400	145.0400	165.92	top 56%
Pork	42	5	0	175.4400	148.5372	164.57	top 65%
Brisket	42	5	2	176.5600	127.2688	161.10	top 69%

“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)	1	top 84%
Medium (20–39)	22	top 76%
Large (40+)	19	top 73%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
NC	31	top 76%
SC	10	top 72%
GA	1	top 86%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge	6	8	top 71%	Sep 18, 2026
South Carolina Festival of Discovery	5	42	top 64%	Jul 9, 2026
Jiggy With The Piggy	4	37	top 81%	May 13, 2022
Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic	4	26	top 73%	Sep 20, 2019
Pigs & Pedals	3	33	top 85%	Aug 2, 2019
Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 2	2	22	top 88%	May 4, 2024
Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1	2	20	top 61%	May 3, 2024
Bone Suckin' Sauce Peak City Pig Fest	2	15	top 55%	Apr 12, 2024

More numbers

Busiest season 2024 5 contests

Contests a season 3.8 across 11 seasons in the data

Most contests held in NC 31 of 42 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 22 8 of them more than once

Opponents faced 546 finished ahead 470 times, behind 1,395

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

20261 milestone

Sep 18 Most recent contest Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge

20242 milestones

May 3 Career-best overall score682.8004 Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1
Jul 11 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)179.4400 South Carolina Festival of Discovery

20231 milestone

Apr 14 25th tracked contest Bone Suckin' Sauce Peak City Pig Fest

20211 milestone

Sep 24 First overall top-10 Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge

20191 milestone

May 17 10th tracked contest Stills and Grills Fest

20172 milestones

May 5 First call Jiggy With the Piggy
Sep 15 First overall past 90% of a perfect score659.8968 Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic

20162 milestones

Jun 3 First tracked contest Hog Happenin' BBQ & Bike Fest
Jun 3 Peak power rating (1488) Hog Happenin' BBQ & Bike Fest

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+14.3	Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge	Sep 24, 2021
+7.3	Smokin' in the Pines	Mar 28, 2025
+5.9	Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge	Sep 22, 2023
+5.7	Bone Suckin' Sauce Peak City Pig Fest	Apr 12, 2024
+5.4	Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1	May 3, 2024

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12	Hog Happenin' BBQ & Bike Fest	Jun 3, 2016
-7.3	Jiggy With the Piggy	May 4, 2018
-7.1	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic	Sep 14, 2018
-6.9	Mission Farm's King of the Farm	Mar 18, 2022
-6.8	Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge	Sep 11, 2020

Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — 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)
2026	4	0	25%	top 71%	93.9%	92.9%
2025	4	0	25%	top 72%	94.1%	93.1%
2024	5	0	100%	top 66%	94.8%	93.9%
2023	5	0	40%	top 69%	93.6%	92.7%
2022	4	0	0%	top 79%	92%	91%
2021	3	1	100%	top 66%	94.8%	92.3%
2020	4	0	25%	top 88%	91.3%	90.4%
2019	5	0	0%	top 79%	90%	88.7%
2018	3	0	33%	top 88%	88.5%	88%
2017	3	0	67%	top 71%	91.7%	88.5%
2016	2	0	0%	top 85%	87.7%	85.9%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Sep 18, 2026	Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge 🏅 Rutherford College, NC	24 / 29 (663.3260)	21 (166.8228)	20 (167.4288)	27 (162.8344)	19 (166.2400)
Aug 7, 2026	Battle of the Blue Ridge 🏅 Swannanoa, NC	32 / 41 (663.3488)	35 (161.7144)	30 (166.8228)	22 (168.5484)	23 (166.2632)
Jul 9, 2026	South Carolina Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC	50 / 75 (675.8968)	70 (159.9428)	29 (170.8456)	12 (175.4400)	42 (169.6684)
May 15, 2026	Speed & Feed BBQ Festival at Darlington Raceway 🏅 Darlington, SC	15 / 26 (673.6344)	10 (171.9772)	14 (172.5600)	22 (161.7144)	16 (167.3828)
Nov 14, 2025	Atlanta BBQ Store Classic 🏅 Cumming, GA	48 / 56 (670.7428)	54 (159.9428)	14 (175.4172)	40 (169.7028)	48 (165.6800)
Sep 19, 2025	Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge 🏅 Rutherford College, NC	30 / 36 (658.1604)	32 (163.9888)	25 (165.0972)	18 (170.8344)	32 (158.2400)
Jul 10, 2025	South Carolina Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC	42 / 66 (674.2516)	37 (167.3944)	32 (170.2628)	39 (167.9772)	39 (168.6172)
Mar 28, 2025	Smokin' in the Pines 🏅 Carthage, NC	12 / 22 (677.6116)	18 (166.2516)	15 (167.3828)	10 (170.8344)	3 (173.1428)
Sep 20, 2024	Pigmaster BBQ Challenge 🏅 Rutherford College, NC	27 / 33 (668.4804)	30 (161.6572)	4 (175.4288)	31 (158.2744)	15 (173.1200)
Jul 11, 2024	South Carolina Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC	49 / 76 (677.0628)	65 (162.8000)	3 (179.4400)	51 (168)	53 (166.8228)
May 4, 2024	Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 2 🏅 Kannapolis, NC	28 / 35 (679.9316)	8 (177.1428)	8 (174.2744)	31 (165.7144)	30 (162.8000)
May 3, 2024	Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1 🏅 Kannapolis, NC	20 / 45 (682.8004)	28 (167.9772)	21 (169.6916)	28 (168.5716)	4 (176.5600)
Apr 12, 2024	Bone Suckin' Sauce Peak City Pig Fest 🏅 Apex, NC	15 / 25 (673.5656)	21 (162.7884)	18 (165.0972)	6 (173.7028)	6 (171.9772)
Sep 22, 2023	Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge 🏅 Rutherford College, NC	19 / 33 (673.6000)	24 (170.2628)	14 (170.8344)	25 (162.8344)	18 (169.6684)
Jul 6, 2023	South Carolina Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC	48 / 76 (666.1944)	44 (166.2856)	38 (168.5488)	40 (166.2628)	48 (165.0972)
May 6, 2023	Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 2 🏅 Kannapolis, NC	22 / 23 (664.9832)	17 (169.6800)	22 (161.6572)	14 (170.8344)	22 (162.8116)
May 5, 2023	Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1 🏅 Kannapolis, NC	27 / 35 (665.0060)	9 (175.4172)	27 (166.2516)	32 (159.9428)	27 (163.3944)
Apr 14, 2023	Bone Suckin' Sauce Peak City Pig Fest 🏅 Apex, NC	16 / 32 (668.4572)	18 (167.9772)	24 (160.5144)	4 (174.8456)	19 (165.1200)
Sep 23, 2022	Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge 🏅 Connelly Springs, NC	26 / 32 (658.2400)	23 (165.1428)	11 (169.7144)	26 (162.8572)	25 (160.5256)
Jul 7, 2022	South Carolina Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC	55 / 92 (662.1600)	30 (169.7144)	35 (170.8228)	73 (159.9540)	59 (161.6688)
May 13, 2022	Jiggy With The Piggy 🏅 Kannapolis, NC	37 / 46 (639.7944)	29 (165.6800)	43 (149.6572)	33 (162.8000)	32 (161.6572)
Mar 18, 2022	Mission Farm's King of the Farm 🏅 Iron Station, NC	31 / 33 (659.8628)	18 (168.5600)	23 (169.1316)	30 (160.5256)	29 (161.6456)
Sep 24, 2021	Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge 🏅 Rutherford College, NC	8 / 27 (682.7884)	5 (174.2856)	7 (171.4056)	16 (167.3828)	10 (169.7144)
Jul 16, 2021	Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Zooland 🏅 Asheboro, NC	16 / 19 (659.9088)	4 (173.1200)	4 (173.1544)	17 (156.5144)	16 (157.1200)
Mar 12, 2021	Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Pirateland 🏅 Myrtle Beach, SC	33 / 39 (650.6632)	26 (165.6916)	10 (173.1316)	29 (165.0856)	37 (146.7544)
Sep 11, 2020	Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge 🏅 Connelly Springs, NC	22 / 24 (651.8856)	13 (166.2972)	20 (159.3944)	20 (165.0856)	20 (161.1084)
Aug 28, 2020	Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Roebuck 🏅 Roebuck, SC	28 / 34 (657.6112)	22 (169.6684)	19 (166.8572)	29 (161.6684)	30 (159.4172)
Jun 26, 2020	Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Pineridge 🏅 Roebuck, SC	21 / 25 (655.8400)	9 (170.2628)	15 (166.2400)	17 (164.5256)	24 (154.8116)
Mar 13, 2020	Speed & Feed BBQ Cook-Off & Car Show 🏅 Darlington, SC	27 / 29 (638.7200)	25 (160.5600)	26 (165.6800)	15 (165.6800)	29 (146.8000)
Nov 8, 2019	Polar Pig BBQ Cook-Off (Duel A) 🏅 Concord, NC	41 / 47 (647.9088)	35 (164.5600)	34 (162.2744)	18 (168.5600)	42 (152.5144)
Sep 20, 2019	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic 🏅 Salisbury, NC	39 / 56 (647.2796)	45 (158.8456)	47 (158.2284)	24 (165.1200)	31 (165.0856)
Aug 2, 2019	Pigs & Pedals 🏅 Asheboro, NC	33 / 40 (638.1944)	37 (148.5600)	18 (167.4056)	29 (161.6800)	30 (160.5488)
May 17, 2019	Stills and Grills Fest North Wilkesboro, NC	15 / 21 (624.4800)	20 (137.1200)	11 (165.6684)	15 (161.1316)	13 (160.5600)
May 3, 2019	Jiggy With The Piggy 🏅 Kannapolis, NC	50 / 60 (635.7940)	26 (166.8228)	56 (147.9084)	42 (159.9656)	39 (161.0972)
Sep 14, 2018	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic Salisbury, NC	26 / 29 (627.2572)	28 (148.5028)	19 (162.8344)	7 (170.2856)	27 (145.6344)
Aug 3, 2018	Pigs & Pedals Asheboro, NC	42 / 48 (635.9204)	39 (161.1200)	29 (162.2860)	47 (153.1200)	35 (159.3944)
May 4, 2018	Jiggy With the Piggy Kannapolis, NC	61 / 70 (636.9600)	36 (168.5488)	67 (145.0400)	42 (162.2744)	54 (161.0968)
Sep 15, 2017	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic Salisbury, NC	34 / 63 (659.8968)	57 (157.0740)	23 (170.2744)	57 (157.1084)	3 (175.4400)
Aug 4, 2017	Pigs & Pedals Asheboro, NC	39 / 46 (615.8404)	35 (155.3828)	29 (156.5488)	43 (148.5372)	35 (155.3716)
May 5, 2017	Jiggy With the Piggy Kannapolis, NC	56 / 75 (635.8516)	59 (157.6800)	13 (169.7372)	6 (174.2628)	75 (134.1716)
Sep 16, 2016	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic Salisbury, NC	53 / 68 (631.3032)	61 (154.2400)	43 (159.9888)	33 (162.8344)	55 (154.2400)
Jun 3, 2016	Hog Happenin' BBQ & Bike Fest Lincolnton, NC	24 / 26 (605.5092)	19 (162.2516)	21 (157.7032)	22 (158.2856)	26 (127.2688)

SMOKING STUDS 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

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (10 found in their record)

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Pork Ribs nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

A July team

The long haul

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, averaged over 5 contests — 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)