On the rise
+41
rating points in a year
Their power rating has climbed 41 points across 6 contests since Aug 31, 2018 — from 1491 up to 1531.
- 6 contests since Aug 31, 2018
- now 1531
TAILGATERS BBQ
TAILGATERS BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 17 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2014 and 2019. Their best overall finish is 10th of 34 at the Stillwater Elks Lodge Blazathon (2019). They are ranked #2198 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1531
peak 1531 · rated over 17 contests
Contests
17
in the data
First seen
Aug 30, 2014
latest Aug 30, 2019 · 5 years on the trail
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
1
2 podiums
Overall top-10s
1
6% of 17 contests
Avg finish
top 54%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
672.72 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 644.75 (+27.97)
Walk rate
53%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±40.51
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork Ribs
avg 163.85 · weakest Brisket (155.78)
Road miles
3,759
across 17 mapped stops · furthest 415 mi
Schedule strength
42%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1555)
Purse competed for
$35K
listed at 4 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 5 state-championship entries
Master avg
644.75 / 720
17 Master contests · 0 GCs
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #621 (527 pts) | #751 (447 pts) | #692 (492 pts) | #894 (342 pts) | #308 (1,017 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #1368 (160 pts) | #1401 (170 pts) | #1123 (255 pts) | #1519 (135 pts) | #1511 (140 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #1095 (286 pts) | #1208 (266 pts) | #1068 (331 pts) | #922 (411 pts) | #1372 (211 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #1409 (194 pts) | #854 (444 pts) | #1576 (179 pts) | #1312 (244 pts) | #1327 (234 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #1354 (185 pts) | #1520 (175 pts) | #1266 (240 pts) | #1537 (175 pts) | #1245 (235 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to TAILGATERS BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
81 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#2,199 of the rated field
- Contests
- 10
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 10%
- Peak
- 1535
1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to TAILGATERS BBQ)
One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team TAILGATERS BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-head#2,188 of the rated field
- Contests
- 6
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 17%
- Peak
- 1532
1–2 in 3 shared contests (33% to TAILGATERS BBQ)
Fewer contests behind them than TAILGATERS BBQ has cooked, 6 to 17, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.
⚔ Head-to-head#2,195 of the rated field
- Contests
- 15
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 33%
- Peak
- 1541
Their last contest in the data was back in 2016, 3 years before TAILGATERS BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#2,184 of the rated field
- Contests
- 21
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 29%
- Peak
- 1544
21 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 29% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careers#2,204 of the rated field
- Contests
- 20
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 55%
- Peak
- 1531
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 20 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careers#2,193 of the rated field
- Contests
- 13
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 69%
- Peak
- 1532
6 straight overall top-10s says this rating is a moving target.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas-car-b-que | 9 | 1 | 8 | 11% | ⚔ compare |
| KISS MY RACK | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| BOOMERANG BBQ | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| BUTCHER BBQ | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| BUCKSHOT BBQ - TX | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| BUTLER'S BACKDRAFT BBQ | 7 | 2 | 5 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| FAT BOYS BBQ - TEMPLE, TX | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| BarrelHead Cookers | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| HONKY-TONK SMOKERS | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| Three Hog Night Smokers | 6 | 2 | 4 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| Big Daddy G's BBQ | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| Texas Smoke Whisperer | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| LA PASADITA | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| Rollin' Smoke BBQ Texas | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| TINY E BBQ | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 17 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 172 | 151.9428 | 163.57 | top 51% |
| Pork Ribs | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 174.2972 | 141.0628 | 163.85 | top 47% |
| Pork | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 167.9772 | 147.9200 | 161.55 | top 57% |
| Brisket | 17 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 176 | 20 | 155.78 | top 46% |
“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 60% |
| Large (40+) | 11 | 0 | top 50% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship | 3 | 17 | 0 | top 41% | Aug 24, 2018 |
| Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival | 2 | 21 | 0 | top 37% | Aug 30, 2019 |
| Shotgun Fred BBQ Showdown | 2 | 21 | 0 | top 59% | Feb 15, 2019 |
| Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | 2 | 21 | 0 | top 75% | Mar 11, 2016 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2019
5 contests
Contests a season
2.8
across 6 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
TX
14 of 17 contests · 3 states in all
Contests visited
12
4 of them more than once
Opponents faced
511
finished ahead 394 times, behind 410
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20196 milestones
- First overall top-10 Stillwater Elks Lodge Blazathon
- Career-best single call (Brisket)176 Stillwater Elks Lodge Blazathon
- First category win (Brisket) Smokin Hot Cars & BBQ
- Career-best overall score678.7540 Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival
- Peak power rating (1531) Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival
- Most recent contest Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival
20171 milestone
- 10th tracked contest Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship
20162 milestones
- First call Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score654.2856 Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship
20141 milestone
- First tracked contest City of Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +12 | Raider Red Meat BBQ & Ribeye Championship | Aug 23, 2019 |
| +11.4 | Stillwater Elks Lodge Blazathon | Apr 5, 2019 |
| +10.5 | Smokin Hot Cars & BBQ | Jul 26, 2019 |
| +9.3 | Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship | Aug 24, 2018 |
| +7.1 | Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival | Aug 31, 2018 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -13.4 | Bynum School's Best of the Basin | Apr 22, 2016 |
| -7.5 | Firelake BBQ Cook Off | Mar 27, 2015 |
| -5.7 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | Mar 13, 2015 |
| -4.9 | City of Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival | Aug 30, 2014 |
| -4 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | Mar 11, 2016 |
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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 80% | top 37% | 94.3% | 93.4% |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 35% | 93.4% | 92.8% |
| 2017 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67% | top 53% | 91.6% | 89.8% |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67% | top 73% | 90.9% | 82.9% |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 71% | 89.3% | 88% |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 68% | 87.4% | 87.4% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2019 | Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival 🏅 Bedford, TX | 21 / 58 (678.7540) | 29 (167.9772) | 14 (170.8456) | 37 (165.0856) | 4 (174.8456) |
| Aug 23, 2019 | Raider Red Meat BBQ & Ribeye Championship 🏅 Lubbock, TX | 12 / 62 (674.7768) | 16 (170.2856) | 15 (168) | 26 (165.6684) | 11 (170.8228) |
| Jul 26, 2019 | Smokin Hot Cars & BBQ 🏅 Iola, KS | 15 / 41 (675.9544) | 12 (169.7028) | 19 (167.4172) | 27 (163.4172) | 1 (175.4172) |
| Apr 5, 2019 | Stillwater Elks Lodge Blazathon 🏅 Stillwater, OK | 10 / 34 (675.3484) | 20 (165.0856) | 13 (168.5828) | 16 (165.6800) | 5 (176) |
| Feb 15, 2019 | Shotgun Fred BBQ Showdown 🏅 Huntsville, TX | 21 / 33 (658.7540) | 22 (163.4056) | 25 (162.8112) | 25 (158.2516) | 4 (174.2856) |
| Aug 31, 2018 | Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival Bedford, TX | 28 / 74 (663.9772) | 44 (163.3712) | 8 (174.2972) | 54 (160.5828) | 32 (165.7260) |
| Aug 24, 2018 | Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship Lubbock, TX | 17 / 54 (672.4224) | 15 (169.6800) | 17 (169.6800) | 22 (165.6684) | 21 (167.3940) |
| Aug 25, 2017 | Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship Lubbock, TX | 18 / 44 (659.8744) | 17 (169.7028) | 21 (166.2744) | 14 (166.2400) | 29 (157.6572) |
| Aug 11, 2017 | Q'ing to Cure Childhood Cancer BBQ Cookoff Conroe, TX | 13 / 26 (636.9940) | 18 (151.9428) | 11 (165.6684) | 10 (162.8228) | 16 (156.5600) |
| Mar 10, 2017 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour White Settlement, TX | 20 / 30 (642.7200) | 20 (158.8572) | 10 (164.5256) | 6 (167.9772) | 26 (151.3600) |
| Aug 26, 2016 | Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship Lubbock, TX | 36 / 72 (654.2856) | 45 (159.4056) | 42 (161.7600) | 35 (164.5600) | 20 (168.5600) |
| Apr 22, 2016 | Bynum School's Best of the Basin Midland, TX | 45 / 46 (499.3140) | 8 (170.8228) | 24 (158.2628) | 36 (150.2284) | 45 (20) |
| Mar 11, 2016 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Fort Worth, TX | 21 / 29 (637.6228) | 3 (172) | 29 (141.0628) | 11 (165.7144) | 18 (158.8456) |
| Mar 27, 2015 | Firelake BBQ Cook Off Shawnee, OK | 43 / 52 (640.4688) | 47 (151.9428) | 16 (170.8572) | 41 (161.1544) | 44 (156.5144) |
| Mar 13, 2015 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Fort Worth, TX | 23 / 30 (617.4972) | 25 (154.2284) | 21 (154.2516) | 27 (147.9200) | 15 (161.0972) |
| Feb 26, 2015 | Shotgun Fred BBQ Showdown Huntsville, TX | 33 / 61 (642.9144) | 34 (160.5944) | 33 (162.8572) | 44 (155.4628) | 23 (164) |
| Aug 30, 2014 | City of Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival Bedford, TX | 52 / 76 (629.0508) | 37 (161.6684) | 49 (158.2856) | 45 (159.9884) | 59 (149.1084) |