LIVESPARKS

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

Power ranking

#2420

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1522

peak 1522 · rated over 11 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2015-07-03

latest 2018-07-27

Best ToY finish

#869

Master 2017

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

4 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 11 contests

Avg finish

top 54%

overall standings

Best overall

683.3716 / 720

Master · *Racing for the BBQ

Perfect 180s

Current form

669.95 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 658.93 (+11.02)

Walk rate

73%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

179.4400

Pork · *Racing for the BBQ

Consistency

±15.89

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 168.96 · weakest Brisket (160.58)

Road miles

256

mi 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

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (9 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.

On the rise

+28 rating points in a year

Their power rating has climbed 28 points across 5 contests since 2017-09-01 — from 1495 up to 1522.

5 contests since 2017-09-01
now 1522

They almost always walk

73% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 8 of 11 contests

A top-10 category call in 73% of their 11 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

683.3716 career-best overall

94.9% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 683.3716 at *Racing for the BBQ — 94.9% of a perfect 720.

Master
2018-07-27

Their season

2018 their best year

2018 was the year it came together: 3 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 1 category win, at an average finish in the top 35%.

3 contests
1 overall top-10s
1 category wins
average top 35%

A tough matchup

8–0 behind in the head-to-head

DIRT ROAD BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

DIRT ROAD BBQ has come out ahead in 8 of their 8 shared contests.

The weak link

−8.4 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 8.39 points below their pork, and turns into a call 9% of the time against 45%.

Brisket avg 160.58
Pork avg 168.96
1 calls in 11 entries

A strong matchup

4–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of PETE'S PIG PIT POSSE in 4 of their 4 shared contests.

Pork nemesis

6 of 8 shared pork entries lost

Sons of a Brisket ahead 75% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, Sons of a Brisket has out-cooked them in 6 of 8 shared pork entries.

The metronome

±2.21% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.21% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 91.5% of a perfect score
11 contests

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.

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

Summa Dat Que

#2410 of the rated field

1523 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 39
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1545

0–2 in 2 shared contests (0% to LIVESPARKS)

2 contests 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.

rated over 34 contests
last seen 2026-08-21

⚔ Head-to-head

GUYS IN A TRUCK BBQ

#2418 of the rated field

1522 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 36%
Peak: 1526

No shared contest yet.

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 11 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 11 contests
last seen 2025-06-13

⚔ Head-to-head

SLADES BBQ

#2423 of the rated field

1522 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 18%
Peak: 1522

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 11 contests
last seen 2017-09-22

⚔ Head-to-head

Brisket Brothers

#2407 of the rated field

1523 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 18%
Peak: 1526

No shared contest yet.

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2015.

rated over 11 contests
last seen 2017-02-04

⚔ Head-to-head

THE PIG EASY!

#2412 of the rated field

1523 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 10
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 10%
Peak: 1523

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 10 contests
last seen 2021-08-13

⚔ Head-to-head

JUNIORS UP IN SMOKE

#2427 of the rated field

1522 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 18%
Peak: 1531

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 10 contests
last seen 2017-08-25

⚔ Head-to-head

Familiar 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 state / province

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
MO	10	0	top 54%
KS	1	0	top 59%

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	4	0	top 70%
Large (40+)	7	0	top 45%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
*Racing for the BBQ	2	5	0	top 42%	2018-07-27

The story so far (14 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 3.1 yrs 2015-07-03 → 2018-07-27

Busiest season 2017 5 contests

Contests a season 2.8 across 4 seasons in the data

Cooks most in MO 10 of 11 contests · 2 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 10 1 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 11 entries · 0 wins · 5 calls

Strongest meat Pork averages 168.96 · weakest Brisket (160.58)

Walk rate 73% a top-10 call in 8 of 11 contests

Overall top-10 rate 9% 1 of 11 contests

Master average 658.93 out of 720 · 11 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 642 415–465 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 256 11 mapped stops

Schedule strength 1570 average field rating faced — tougher than 55% of rated contests

Power rating 1522 peak 1522 · #2420 of 6,413 rated

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

2015
Jul 3 First tracked contest Liberty 4th Fest BBQ Contest
Jul 3 First call Liberty 4th Fest BBQ Contest
2017
Mar 31 First overall past 90% of a perfect score654.7660 Smokin On Big Creek BBQ Contest Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief(TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL)
Oct 20 First category win (Pork Ribs) 2017 Greenbriar Blaze Off and Senior Q
2018
Apr 13 10th tracked contest The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake
Jul 27 First overall top-10 *Racing for the BBQ
Jul 27 Career-best overall score683.3716 *Racing for the BBQ
Jul 27 Career-best single call (Pork)179.4400 *Racing for the BBQ
Jul 27 Peak power rating (1522) *Racing for the BBQ
Jul 27 Most recent contest *Racing for the BBQ

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+15.1	*Racing for the BBQ	2018-07-27
+12.9	Smokin' On The Summit	2017-06-02
+4.9	2017 Greenbriar Blaze Off and Senior Q	2017-10-20
+4.5	Smokin On Big Creek BBQ Contest Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief(TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL)	2017-03-31
+4.2	The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake	2018-04-13

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-11.2	Liberty 4th Fest BBQ Contest	2015-07-03
-6.4	Racing for the BBQ	2015-07-24
-5.9	2016 Smokin in the Wood BBQ Competition	2016-05-13
-0.1	22nd Annual Platte City BBQ Cook Off at Basswood Resort	2017-05-19

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	3	1	1	67%	top 35%	94.9%	93.2%
2017	5	0	1	60%	top 48%	94.8%	92.2%
2016	1	0	0	100%	top 83%	88.5%	88.5%
2015	2	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
2018-07-27	*Racing for the BBQ Lee's Summit, MO	5 / 66 (683.3716)	6 (172.5600)	20 (166.2744)	1 (179.4400)	20 (165.0972)
2018-04-13	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)
2018-03-23	*Smokin On Big Creek Pleasant Hill, MO	20 / 39 (662.7316)	13 (170.2744)	18 (167.9772)	22 (165.6800)	27 (158.8000)
2017-10-20	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)
2017-09-01	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)
2017-06-02	Smokin' On The Summit Lee's Summit, MO	12 / 65 (673.6000)	6 (174.2628)	24 (165.0972)	42 (162.2400)	10 (172.0000)
2017-05-19	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)
2017-03-31	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)
2016-05-13	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)
2015-07-24	Racing for the BBQ Lees Summit, MO	48 / 63 (640.3656)	54 (157.6456)	9 (174.2628)	58 (158.8228)	56 (149.6344)
2015-07-03	Liberty 4th Fest BBQ Contest Liberty, MO	25 / 27 (638.1032)	3 (174.8572)	27 (142.2172)	2 (174.2744)	26 (146.7544)

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	#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)