SMOKEY BEAR'S BBQ NEBRASKA

At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)

Power ranking

#1425

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1569

peak 1569 · rated over 22 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2015-05-08

latest 2018-10-26

Best ToY finish

#555

Master 2017

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

8 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 22 contests

Avg finish

top 49%

overall standings

Best overall

694.2400 / 720

Master · Table Rock Boats and Bones

Perfect 180s

1 🔥

Current form

665.50 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 660.15 (+5.34)

Walk rate

64%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

180.0000 🔥

Pork Ribs · Table Rock Boats and Bones

Consistency

±16.68

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 168.42 · weakest Pork Ribs (161.98)

Road miles

2,511

mi across 22 mapped stops · furthest 353 mi

Schedule strength

71%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1589)

Master avg

660.15 / 720

22 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (12 found in this team's record)

Each card leads with the number that made it a story — read straight out of their results, no editorialising.

Perfect scores on the board

1 perfect 180s

1 perfect 180 in the data — every judge at the table handing back a nine, all in pork ribs.

Pork Ribs ×1

They almost always walk

64% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 14 of 22 contests

A top-10 category call in 64% of their 22 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

694.2400 career-best overall

96.4% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 694.2400 at Table Rock Boats and Bones — 96.4% of a perfect 720.

Master
2016-09-17

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ has finished one call ahead of SMOKEY BEAR'S BBQ NEBRASKA 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

11–0 behind in the head-to-head

PORKY BUTTS BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

PORKY BUTTS BBQ has come out ahead in 11 of their 11 shared contests.

The weak link

−6.4 points behind their best meat

Pork Ribs is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 6.45 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 14% of the time against 32%.

Pork Ribs avg 161.98
Chicken avg 168.42
3 calls in 22 entries

A strong matchup

10–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of SPICE YOUR LIFE RUB YOUR MEAT in 10 of their 10 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

9 of 13 shared chicken entries lost

WHEN PIGS DIE ahead 69% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, WHEN PIGS DIE has out-cooked them in 9 of 13 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

3× one call behind them

ALWAYS SMOK'D has landed one call behind them 3 times.

A July team

Top 40% average finish in July

Something about July: average finish in the top 40% across 3 contests, versus top 49% the rest of the year.

3 July contests
top 49% the rest of the year

The metronome

±2.32% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.32% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 91.7% of a perfect score
22 contests

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked *BBQ in the Bluffs every year from 2015 to 2018 — the contest they never miss.

4 visits in all
best finish 14th

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The nearest teams in the power rankings, with a different reason on each card — six teams on one rating are rarely on it for the same reason. Rating decides who makes the list; where teams tie on it, the ones this team has actually cooked against come first, then teams at a similar point in their own career. KCBS doesn’t publish where a team is from, so nothing here is inferred from geography.

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

YELLOW JACKET BBQ

#1418 of the rated field

1569 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 21%
Peak: 1569

2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to SMOKEY BEAR'S BBQ NEBRASKA)

2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team SMOKEY BEAR'S BBQ NEBRASKA has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 19 contests
last seen 2019-10-04

⚔ Head-to-head

BOB'S BBQ

#1424 of the rated field

1569 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 31%
Peak: 1569

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to SMOKEY BEAR'S BBQ NEBRASKA)

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 16 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 16 contests
last seen 2022-03-18

⚔ Head-to-head

PARK AVENUE PORK

#1414 of the rated field

1569 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 46
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 24%
Peak: 1602

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to SMOKEY BEAR'S BBQ NEBRASKA)

A longer road to the same neighbourhood — 46 contests to 22.

rated over 42 contests
last seen 2025-11-05

⚔ Head-to-head

LIBERTY BBQ

#1419 of the rated field

1569 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 23
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 30%
Peak: 1589

No shared contest yet.

23 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 30% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 23 contests
last seen 2022-10-28

⚔ Head-to-head

SMOKIN' HOT PIGGIES

#1429 of the rated field

1569 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 23
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 22%
Peak: 1572

No shared contest yet.

Level with SMOKEY BEAR'S BBQ NEBRASKA on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 23 contests
last seen 2021-07-09

⚔ Head-to-head

PLUM SUPERIOR BBQ

#1428 of the rated field

1569 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 32%
Peak: 1570

No shared contest yet.

Their last contest in the data was back in 2015, 3 years before SMOKEY BEAR'S BBQ NEBRASKA's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 19 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
HELPING U BBQ	14	4	10	29%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ	13	7	6	54%	⚔ compare
WHEN PIGS DIE	13	3	10	23%	⚔ compare
DIRT ROAD BBQ	11	1	10	9%	⚔ compare
PORKY BUTTS BBQ	11	0	11	0%	⚔ compare
SPICE YOUR LIFE RUB YOUR MEAT	10	10	0	100%	⚔ compare
SPITFIRE	10	3	7	30%	⚔ compare
TATTOO BOB'S BAR-B-Q	10	2	8	20%	⚔ compare
ALWAYS SMOK'D	9	9	0	100%	⚔ compare
KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ	9	4	5	44%	⚔ compare
WOODWARD BARBEQUE	9	3	6	33%	⚔ compare
BLAIR'S BIGFOOT BBQ	8	8	0	100%	⚔ compare
ELWOOD BBQ	8	6	2	75%	⚔ compare
TEAM BREW & QUE	8	6	2	75%	⚔ compare
YOU GONNA LIKE IT	8	5	3	63%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	22	7	1	2	177.1544	158.8000	168.42	top 42%
Pork Ribs	22	3	1	1	180.0000 🔥	144.5604	161.98	top 58%
Pork	22	8	0	3	177.7028	153.6460	166.56	top 45%
Brisket	22	6	0	2	172.5600	150.7884	163.20	top 50%

“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	Avg finish
NE	12	top 41%
MO	5	top 55%
IA	4	top 63%
KS	1	top 52%

By contest size

Field	Contests	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	1	top 22%
Medium (20–39)	11	top 55%
Large (40+)	10	top 44%

Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
*BBQ in the Bluffs	4	14	top 63%	2018-05-11
Table Rock Boats and Bones	2	6	top 29%	2017-09-16
RiverFest Red White and Que	2	17	top 42%	2016-07-15

The story so far (15 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 3.5 yrs 2015-05-08 → 2018-10-26

Busiest season 2017 7 contests

Contests a season 5.5 across 4 seasons in the data

Cooks most in NE 12 of 22 contests · 4 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 17 3 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 22 entries · 1 win · 7 calls

Strongest meat Chicken averages 168.42 · weakest Pork Ribs (161.98)

Walk rate 64% a top-10 call in 14 of 22 contests

Overall top-10 rate 23% 5 of 22 contests

Master average 660.15 out of 720 · 22 contests · 0 GCs

Perfect 180s 1 every judge at the table handing back a nine

Opponents faced 369 440–402 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 2,511 22 mapped stops · furthest 353 mi

Schedule strength 1589 average field rating faced — tougher than 71% of rated contests

Power rating 1569 peak 1569 · #1425 of 6,413 rated

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

2015
May 8 First tracked contest BBQ in the Bluffs
May 29 First call 4th Annual Valley Veterans BBQ Competition
May 29 First overall top-10 4th Annual Valley Veterans BBQ Competition
May 29 First overall past 90% of a perfect score648.4804 4th Annual Valley Veterans BBQ Competition
2016
Sep 9 10th tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Sep 17 First category win (Pork Ribs) Table Rock Boats and Bones
Sep 17 First perfect 180 (Pork Ribs) Table Rock Boats and Bones
Sep 17 Career-best overall score694.2400 Table Rock Boats and Bones
2018
Oct 26 Peak power rating (1569) *Border War Barbeque
Oct 26 Most recent contest *Border War Barbeque

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+15.5	Table Rock Boats and Bones	2016-09-17
+11.9	Aksarben Stock Show & Rodeo	2015-09-25
+11.1	26th Annual State BBQ Championship of Nebraska	2018-08-10
+10.7	Septemberfest BBQ & Rib-eye Steak Cookoff Challenge	2017-09-02
+9.6	6th Annual Valley Veterans BBQ Competition	2017-05-19

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-11.2	*BBQ in the Bluffs	2018-05-11
-8.5	Omaha Steaks Nebraska BBQ Championship Day -2	2017-08-05
-7.1	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2016-09-09
-5.2	BBQ in the Bluffs	2015-05-08
-5.2	Table Rock and Ribs (GC receives Golden Ticket to the World Food Championship)	2015-05-22

Category scores over time

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Team of the Year rank by season

Season by season

Season	Contests	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2018	4	1	1	75%	top 51%	94.4%	92.1%
2017	7	1	0	71%	top 43%	94.3%	92.7%
2016	5	1	1	40%	top 50%	96.4%	91.5%
2015	6	2	0	67%	top 52%	93.8%	90.4%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2018-10-26	*Border War Barbeque Osawatomie, KS	29 / 56 (675.9428)	32 (166.8456)	12 (173.7144)	8 (176.0000)	41 (159.3828)
2018-09-28	*Smoking in the Golden Valley Clinton, MO	11 / 25 (659.8284)	7 (167.3712)	16 (158.7884)	11 (162.8344)	6 (170.8344)
2018-08-10	26th Annual State BBQ Championship of Nebraska Arlington, NE	7 / 30 (679.9316)	1 (177.1544)	26 (159.9544)	8 (173.7144)	10 (169.1084)
2018-05-11	*BBQ in the Bluffs Council Bluffs, IA	33 / 39 (635.3488)	29 (163.9884)	31 (158.2516)	33 (156.0000)	32 (157.1088)
2017-09-16	Table Rock Boats and Bones Kimberling, MO	21 / 47 (676.4340)	33 (167.3712)	35 (163.3944)	4 (177.7028)	23 (167.9656)
2017-09-02	Septemberfest BBQ & Rib-eye Steak Cookoff Challenge Omaha, NE	6 / 29 (678.7656)	12 (167.9656)	14 (163.3944)	3 (176.0000)	3 (171.4056)
2017-08-05	Omaha Steaks Nebraska BBQ Championship Day -2 Omaha, NE	45 / 50 (646.0800)	36 (165.6800)	37 (164.5256)	47 (153.6460)	37 (162.2284)
2017-08-04	Omaha Steaks Nebraska BBQ Championship Day -1 Omaha, NE	20 / 54 (667.9084)	17 (170.2628)	13 (169.1200)	10 (172.5600)	43 (155.9656)
2017-07-21	Riverfest Community Festival Bellevue, NE	17 / 46 (662.7428)	12 (170.2628)	31 (159.3828)	23 (164.5372)	13 (168.5600)
2017-05-19	6th Annual Valley Veterans BBQ Competition Valley, NE	12 / 47 (675.9432)	19 (167.4060)	28 (161.7028)	5 (174.2744)	5 (172.5600)
2017-05-12	BBQ in the Bluffs Council Bluffs, IA	19 / 39 (666.2400)	19 (169.6912)	32 (150.8232)	2 (177.1428)	12 (168.5828)
2016-09-17	Table Rock Boats and Bones Kimberling City, MO	6 / 43 (694.2400)	7 (175.4172)	1 (180.0000)	26 (166.2628)	12 (172.5600)
2016-09-09	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Kansas City, MO	27 / 30 (639.9884)	17 (166.2856)	14 (167.4744)	29 (153.7028)	29 (152.5256)
2016-08-05	24th Annual State BBQ Championship of Nebraska Omaha, NE	41 / 70 (643.8972)	55 (158.8000)	55 (154.2516)	42 (160.5600)	15 (170.2856)
2016-07-15	RiverFest Red White and Que Bellevue, NE	21 / 45 (657.1084)	23 (162.8456)	15 (168.0000)	26 (163.9772)	23 (162.2856)
2016-05-13	BBQ in the Bluffs Council Bluffs, IA	14 / 33 (657.6340)	2 (176.5828)	31 (150.8228)	26 (159.3828)	4 (170.8456)
2015-09-25	Aksarben Stock Show & Rodeo Omaha, NE	4 / 18 (675.4632)	12 (163.4172)	6 (166.8800)	2 (173.1316)	3 (172.0344)
2015-09-05	Septemberfest BBQ & Rib-Eye Steak Cookoff Challenge Omaha, NE	18 / 31 (658.2060)	7 (171.4400)	24 (161.0856)	12 (167.4172)	22 (158.2632)
2015-07-17	RiverFest Red White and Que Bellevue, NE	17 / 45 (653.7032)	6 (172.0228)	17 (165.1316)	23 (163.4400)	34 (153.1088)
2015-05-29	4th Annual Valley Veterans BBQ Competition Valley, NE	10 / 28 (648.4804)	7 (166.8572)	6 (164.0000)	14 (165.0972)	19 (152.5260)
2015-05-22	Table Rock and Ribs (GC receives Golden Ticket to the World Food Championship) Kimberling City, MO	21 / 26 (643.2912)	15 (170.2628)	21 (158.2628)	17 (163.9772)	23 (150.7884)
2015-05-08	BBQ in the Bluffs Council Bluffs, IA	25 / 33 (626.2292)	13 (167.4172)	31 (144.5604)	21 (162.8688)	26 (151.3828)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)

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
2018 ↗	Master	#813 (400 pts)	#665 (555 pts)	#970 (335 pts)	#738 (485 pts)	#813 (415 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#555 (709 pts)	#622 (644 pts)	#762 (529 pts)	#306 (1149 pts)	#477 (849 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#775 (483 pts)	#627 (648 pts)	#656 (623 pts)	#1175 (293 pts)	#707 (568 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#573 (641 pts)	#479 (821 pts)	#634 (616 pts)	#550 (711 pts)	#678 (551 pts)