On the rise
+28
rating points in a year
Their power rating has climbed 28 points across 5 contests since Sep 1, 2017 — from 1495 up to 1522.
- 5 contests since Sep 1, 2017
- now 1522
LIVESPARKS
LIVESPARKS is a competition barbecue team with 11 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2015 and 2018. Their best overall finish is 5th of 66 at the Racing for the BBQ (2018). They are ranked #2446 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1522
peak 1522 · rated over 11 contests
Contests
11
in the data
First seen
Jul 3, 2015
latest Jul 27, 2018 · 3.1 years on the trail
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
2
4 podiums
Overall top-10s
1
9% of 11 contests
Avg finish
top 54%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
669.95 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 658.93 (+11.02)
Walk rate
73%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±15.89
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork
avg 168.96 · weakest Brisket (160.58)
Road miles
256
across 11 mapped stops
Schedule strength
55%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1570)
Master avg
658.93 / 720
11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #902 (335 pts) | #916 (355 pts) | #1173 (240 pts) | #708 (515 pts) | #1225 (220 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #869 (415 pts) | #750 (530 pts) | #776 (520 pts) | #821 (490 pts) | #954 (375 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #2910 (55 pts) | #1822 (130 pts) | #2928 (55 pts) | #2326 (60 pts) | #2921 (55 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #1871 (112 pts) | #1111 (287 pts) | #1408 (197 pts) | #1071 (312 pts) | #1940 (112 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to LIVESPARKS, each with one reason worth a look.
98 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#2,434 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1523
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to LIVESPARKS)
One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team LIVESPARKS has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-head#2,432 of the rated field
- Contests
- 39
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 13%
- Peak
- 1545
0–2 in 2 shared contests (0% to LIVESPARKS)
39 contests to 11: their number has had years to settle where LIVESPARKS's is still finding its level.
⚔ Head-to-head#2,449 of the rated field
- Contests
- 131
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 30%
- Peak
- 1703
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to LIVESPARKS)
They've been 1703 at their best, 181 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.
⚔ Head-to-head#2,448 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 36%
- Peak
- 1526
Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 11 contests, alongside a 36% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Compare careers#2,455 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1522
Level with LIVESPARKS on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careers#2,429 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 18%
- Peak
- 1523
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 11 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sons of a Brisket | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| DIRT ROAD BBQ | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | 7 | 3 | 4 | 43% | ⚔ compare |
| SLAPS BBQ | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| GETTIN' SAUCED | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| LOVE 2 Q | 6 | 3 | 3 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| S&S BBQ | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| NICKLE BOYS BBQ | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
| KCQ | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
| BURNT FINGER BBQ | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
| THUMP & STRUM BBQ | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| 99 PROBLEMS SMOKIN AINT 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOOTH SMOKE | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 11 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 176.5944 | 155.9428 | 167.30 | top 45% |
| Pork Ribs | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 176.5600 | 142.2172 | 162.09 | top 54% |
| Pork | 11 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 179.4400 | 158.8228 | 168.96 | top 42% |
| Brisket | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 173.1200 | 146.7544 | 160.58 | top 57% |
“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) | 4 | 0 | top 70% |
| Large (40+) | 7 | 0 | top 45% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Racing for the BBQ | 2 | 5 | 0 | top 42% | Jul 27, 2018 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2017
5 contests
Contests a season
2.8
across 4 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
MO
10 of 11 contests · 2 states in all
Contests visited
10
1 of them more than once
Opponents faced
639
finished ahead 415 times, behind 465
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20186 milestones
- 10th tracked contest The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake
- First overall top-10 Racing for the BBQ
- Career-best overall score683.3716 Racing for the BBQ
- Career-best single call (Pork)179.4400 Racing for the BBQ
- Peak power rating (1522) Racing for the BBQ
- Most recent contest Racing for the BBQ
20172 milestones
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score654.7660 Smokin On Big Creek BBQ Contest Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL)
- First category win (Pork Ribs) 2017 Greenbriar Blaze Off and Senior Q
20152 milestones
- First tracked contest Liberty 4th Fest BBQ Contest
- First call Liberty 4th Fest BBQ Contest
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +15 | Racing for the BBQ | Jul 27, 2018 |
| +12.9 | Smokin' On The Summit | Jun 2, 2017 |
| +4.9 | 2017 Greenbriar Blaze Off and Senior Q | Oct 20, 2017 |
| +4.6 | Smokin On Big Creek BBQ Contest Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL) | Mar 31, 2017 |
| +4.1 | The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake | Apr 13, 2018 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -11.2 | Liberty 4th Fest BBQ Contest | Jul 3, 2015 |
| -6.4 | Racing for the BBQ | Jul 24, 2015 |
| -5.8 | 2016 Smokin in the Wood BBQ Competition | May 13, 2016 |
| -0.1 | 22nd Annual Platte City BBQ Cook Off at Basswood Resort | May 19, 2017 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 67% | top 35% | 94.9% | 93.2% |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 60% | top 48% | 94.8% | 92.2% |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 83% | 88.5% | 88.5% |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 84% | 88.9% | 88.8% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 27, 2018 | Racing for the BBQ Lee's Summit, MO | 5 / 66 (683.3716) | 6 (172.5600) | 20 (166.2744) | 1 (179.4400) | 20 (165.0972) |
| Apr 13, 2018 | The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake Smithville, MO | 24 / 51 (666.7316) | 42 (159.3600) | 25 (167.9772) | 8 (173.7028) | 22 (165.6916) |
| Mar 23, 2018 | Smokin On Big Creek Pleasant Hill, MO | 20 / 39 (662.7316) | 13 (170.2744) | 18 (167.9772) | 22 (165.6800) | 27 (158.8000) |
| Oct 20, 2017 | 2017 Greenbriar Blaze Off and Senior Q Independence, MO | 13 / 25 (682.7888) | 5 (176.5944) | 1 (176.5600) | 5 (176.5600) | 23 (153.0744) |
| Sep 1, 2017 | 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 239 / 407 (654.1256) | 347 (155.9428) | 327 (155.9428) | 136 (169.1200) | 42 (173.1200) |
| Jun 2, 2017 | Smokin' On The Summit Lee's Summit, MO | 12 / 65 (673.6000) | 6 (174.2628) | 24 (165.0972) | 42 (162.2400) | 10 (172) |
| May 19, 2017 | 22nd Annual Platte City BBQ Cook Off at Basswood Resort Platte City, MO | 36 / 59 (654.7312) | 32 (167.3828) | 51 (157.6800) | 44 (162.8228) | 25 (166.8456) |
| Mar 31, 2017 | Smokin On Big Creek BBQ Contest Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL) Pleasant Hill, MO | 29 / 59 (654.7660) | 41 (160.5716) | 26 (165.1316) | 10 (171.4056) | 36 (157.6572) |
| May 13, 2016 | 2016 Smokin in the Wood BBQ Competition Greenwood, MO | 25 / 30 (636.9600) | 10 (170.8228) | 30 (143.9200) | 24 (164.5372) | 25 (157.6800) |
| Jul 24, 2015 | Racing for the BBQ Lees Summit, MO | 48 / 63 (640.3656) | 54 (157.6456) | 9 (174.2628) | 58 (158.8228) | 56 (149.6344) |
| Jul 3, 2015 | Liberty 4th Fest BBQ Contest Liberty, MO | 25 / 27 (638.1032) | 3 (174.8572) | 27 (142.2172) | 2 (174.2744) | 26 (146.7544) |