The heartbreaker
Came within 0.5600 points of the Grand Championship at Bring'n Home the Bacon II (BACKYARD) (Oct 15, 2023).
Sugar Shack is a competition barbecue team with 66 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2021 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 42 at the Iowa State BBQ Championship (2026), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion twice. They are ranked #1180 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
These overall scores sit on different scales (Master out of 720, Backyard out of 360), so they're kept separate — averaging them together would be misleading.
This team cooks the Backyard series — its own boards, records and Team of the Year are here.
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #171 (1,047 pts) | #256 (807 pts) | #102 (1,413 pts) | #139 (1,102 pts) | #195 (932 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #310 (697 pts) | #292 (772 pts) | #308 (842 pts) | #300 (772 pts) | #334 (707 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Backyard | #373 (60 pts) | #377 (60 pts) | #299 (130 pts) | — | — |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #310 (716 pts) | #224 (991 pts) | #226 (1,026 pts) | #255 (871 pts) | #305 (761 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Backyard | — | #97 (643 pts) | #40 (1,057 pts) | — | — |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #771 (180 pts) | #925 (150 pts) | #449 (547 pts) | #695 (235 pts) | #718 (230 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Backyard | — | #55 (795 pts) | #69 (734 pts) | — | — |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #1309 (60 pts) | #1341 (60 pts) | #706 (289 pts) | #1348 (60 pts) | #1139 (110 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Backyard | — | #59 (644 pts) | #45 (749 pts) | — | — |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | — | — | #626 (279 pts) | — | — |
The teams rated closest to Sugar Shack, each with one reason worth a look.
42 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team Sugar Shack has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-headThey've been 1645 at their best, 58 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.
⚔ Compare careersCareers of much the same size, 56 contests to 66, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careers67 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 16% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careersThey were already cooking in 2013, 8 years before Sugar Shack's first contest.
⚔ Compare careersTheir last contest in the data was back in 2019, 7 years before Sugar Shack's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Racks BBQ | 30 | 11 | 19 | 37% | ⚔ compare |
| HOT DADDY'S BBQ | 29 | 4 | 25 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | 26 | 4 | 22 | 15% | ⚔ compare |
| Wrecking Crew BBQ | 25 | 9 | 16 | 36% | ⚔ compare |
| Big Ten Bones | 25 | 8 | 17 | 32% | ⚔ compare |
| LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | 25 | 7 | 17 | 28% | ⚔ compare |
| Sensuous BBQ | 25 | 4 | 21 | 16% | ⚔ compare |
| NECTAR OF THE HOGS | 24 | 4 | 20 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| Good Grefe! | 23 | 14 | 9 | 61% | ⚔ compare |
| UGLY BABY BBQ | 23 | 11 | 12 | 48% | ⚔ compare |
| DAWGS BBQ | 22 | 6 | 15 | 27% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKEY GQ | 22 | 6 | 16 | 27% | ⚔ compare |
| Son of a Boar BBQ | 22 | 6 | 16 | 27% | ⚔ compare |
| WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | 22 | 5 | 17 | 23% | ⚔ compare |
| Lucky Shoes BBQ | 21 | 14 | 7 | 67% | ⚔ compare |
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 54 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 179.4400 | 157.0972 | 168.18 | top 54% |
| Pork Ribs | 63 | 26 | 1 | 11 | 178.8572 | 150.2516 | 168.49 | top 44% |
| Pork | 32 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 178.8572 | 157.6456 | 169.52 | top 49% |
| Brisket | 32 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 175.4172 | 154.8116 | 167.22 | top 51% |
“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.
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 7 | 0 | top 42% |
| Medium (20–39) | 21 | 0 | top 54% |
| Large (40+) | 26 | 0 | top 49% |
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State BBQ Championship | 5 | 2 | 0 | top 38% | Apr 3, 2026 |
| Minnesota in May | 4 | 6 | 0 | top 55% | May 8, 2026 |
| MN Masters BBQ | 3 | 7 | 0 | top 54% | Aug 28, 2026 |
| ND BBQ Championship | 3 | 18 | 0 | top 38% | May 1, 2026 |
| Boomer Backyard BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) | 3 | 3 | 0 | top 42% | Aug 19, 2023 |
| SD BBQ Shootout @ Huset's Speedway | 2 | 4 | 0 | top 30% | Sep 4, 2026 |
| KTD Smokn' Gobbler | 2 | 20 | 0 | top 78% | Jul 10, 2026 |
| Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD) | 2 | 28 | 0 | top 81% | Jun 13, 2026 |
| Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) | 2 | 21 | 0 | top 66% | Jun 12, 2026 |
| Original SD BBQ Championships | 2 | 17 | 0 | top 41% | Jun 5, 2026 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | 2 | 204 | 0 | top 60% | Nov 5, 2025 |
| KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-off | 2 | 20 | 0 | top 65% | Jul 12, 2024 |
| Bring'n Home the Bacon II (BACKYARD) | 2 | 2 | 0 | top 30% | Oct 15, 2023 |
| B-Dale BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2 | 13 | 0 | top 67% | Aug 5, 2022 |
| Minnesota in May (Backyard) | 2 | 4 | 0 | top 14% | May 13, 2022 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +17.7 | Iowa State BBQ Championship | Apr 3, 2026 |
| +14.9 | Bring'n Home the Bacon II (BACKYARD) | Oct 15, 2023 |
| +14.8 | Minnesota in May | May 8, 2026 |
| +14.7 | SD BBQ Shootout @ Huset's Speedway | Sep 4, 2026 |
| +13.7 | Minnesota in May (Backyard) | May 13, 2022 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -14.2 | Minnesota in May | May 9, 2025 |
| -13 | Minnesota in May | May 10, 2024 |
| -11.4 | KTD Smokn' Gobbler | Jul 11, 2025 |
| -10.8 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD) | Jun 8, 2024 |
| -9.1 | Bring'n Home the Bacon II Day 2 (BACKYARD) | Oct 16, 2021 |
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 64% | top 41% | 97.6% | 95% |
| 2025 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30% | top 59% | 94.8% | 93.1% |
| 2024 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 55% | top 62% | 95.2% | 93.3% |
| 2023 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 83% | top 39% | 96.8% | 93.6% |
| 2022 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 45% | top 51% | 95.2% | 92.4% |
| 2021 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 63% | top 50% | 94.4% | 91.4% |
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2026 | Tri City BBQ Fest 🏅 Denison, IA | 9 / 26 (691.3600) | 7 (174.2744) | 3 (177.7144) | 14 (173.7028) | 18 (165.6684) |
| Sep 4, 2026 | SD BBQ Shootout @ Huset's Speedway 🏅 Brandon, SD | 4 / 31 (697.7028) | 7 (174.8800) | 11 (174.8456) | 6 (176.5600) | 17 (171.4172) |
| Aug 28, 2026 | MN Masters BBQ 🏅 Pierz, MN | 13 / 22 (673.0404) | 20 (164.5372) | 12 (170.2744) | 14 (168.5372) | 8 (169.6916) |
| Jul 24, 2026 | 10th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest 🏅 Emmetsburg, IA | 5 / 17 (702.8116) | 13 (175.4172) | 2 (176.5600) | 3 (178.8572) | 9 (171.9772) |
| Jul 10, 2026 | KTD Smokn' Gobbler 🏅 Worthington, MN | 20 / 33 (673.0860) | 7 (173.1084) | — | 3 (174.8916) | 26 (161.6916) |
| Jun 13, 2026 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD) 🏅 West Salem, WI | 28 / 37 (672.5376) | 22 (171.4172) | 33 (161.6800) | 20 (169.1660) | 16 (170.2744) |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) 🏅 West Salem, WI | 32 / 40 (662.6968) | 29 (167.3712) | 20 (167.3944) | 29 (163.4056) | 26 (164.5256) |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (ONE MEAT RIBS) West Salem, WI | — | — | 14 (171.4288) | — | — |
| Jun 5, 2026 | Original SD BBQ Championships 🏅 Huron, SD | 22 / 48 (679.3488) | 28 (168.5372) | 23 (170.2744) | 27 (170.2628) | 21 (170.2744) |
| Jun 5, 2026 | Original SD BBQ Championships (ONE MEAT RIBS) Huron, SD | — | — | 5 (173.1200) | — | — |
| May 8, 2026 | Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN | 6 / 77 (694.2400) | 62 (167.4056) | 2 (178.8572) | 11 (174.8572) | 19 (173.1200) |
| May 1, 2026 | ND BBQ Championship 🏅 Fargo, ND | 26 / 71 (679.3484) | 8 (175.4056) | 30 (169.1200) | 44 (166.2628) | 26 (168.5600) |
| May 1, 2026 | ND BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT RIBS) Fargo, ND | — | — | 35 (150.2516) | — | — |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Iowa State BBQ Championship 🏅 Altoona, IA | 2 / 42 (697.0972) | 25 (170.8572) | 3 (177.7028) | 8 (174.2744) | 4 (174.2628) |
| Nov 5, 2025 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nov 5, 2025 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 204 / 401 (677.6228) | 116 (173.7028) | 53 (175.4172) | 279 (165.7028) | 296 (162.8000) |
| Oct 3, 2025 | ND BBQ Championship 🏅 Fargo, ND | 18 / 46 (675.9884) | 35 (164.5600) | 15 (170.2856) | 10 (172.5828) | 17 (168.5600) |
| Aug 29, 2025 | SD BBQ Shootout @ Huset's Speedway 🏅 Brandon, SD | 21 / 44 (677.5884) | 13 (173.7028) | 34 (164.5372) | 14 (171.9772) | 23 (167.3712) |
| Aug 22, 2025 | MN Masters BBQ 🏅 Pierz, MN | 20 / 26 (664.4456) | 5 (173.7028) | 14 (168.5372) | 23 (164.5600) | 20 (157.6456) |
| Jul 11, 2025 | KTD Smokn' Gobbler 🏅 Worthington, MN | 25 / 26 (649.4968) | 12 (169.6684) | 24 (160.5028) | 26 (157.6456) | 22 (161.6800) |
| Jun 6, 2025 | Original SD BBQ Championships 🏅 Huron, SD | 17 / 48 (682.8112) | 28 (169.1084) | 6 (175.4400) | 15 (172) | 24 (166.2628) |
| May 9, 2025 | Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN | 54 / 58 (657.6688) | 50 (163.4172) | 50 (165.1088) | 55 (161.1200) | 33 (168.0228) |
| Apr 4, 2025 | Iowa State BBQ Championship 🏅 Altoona, IA | 14 / 49 (679.4056) | 31 (165.7256) | 13 (172.5600) | 13 (172.5600) | 19 (168.5600) |
| Feb 21, 2025 | Fire on Ice BBQ Championship 🏅 Onamia, MN | 27 / 42 (668.5028) | 37 (163.9656) | 18 (168.5600) | 30 (165.1200) | 13 (170.8572) |
| Oct 30, 2024 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 307 / 444 (661.0284) | 326 (163.9312) | 231 (169.1316) | 292 (165.1428) | 312 (162.8228) |
| Sep 27, 2024 | ND BBQ Championship 🏅 Fargo, ND | 18 / 47 (672.4680) | 41 (161.1084) | 4 (172.5828) | 10 (170.2512) | 22 (168.5256) |
| Aug 23, 2024 | MN Masters BBQ 🏅 Pierz, MN | 7 / 27 (685.1200) | 1 (179.4400) | 12 (169.7028) | 8 (172.5944) | 18 (163.3828) |
| Jul 12, 2024 | KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-off 🏅 Worthington, MN | 20 / 34 (672.4916) | 33 (158.8000) | 2 (177.1544) | 29 (163.9772) | 5 (172.5600) |
| Jun 8, 2024 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD) 🏅 West Salem, WI | 32 / 37 (665.0288) | 4 (177.7144) | 35 (157.6456) | 8 (174.8572) | 35 (154.8116) |
| Jun 7, 2024 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) 🏅 West Salem, WI | 21 / 41 (669.5888) | 38 (162.7884) | 22 (165.1316) | 10 (170.8344) | 14 (170.8344) |
| May 25, 2024 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL unrated Lebanon, TN | 25 / 47 (342.2516) | 35 (168.5488) | 11 (173.7028) | — | — |
| May 24, 2024 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN unrated Lebanon, TN | 88 / 118 (677.0632) | 77 (170.8344) | 29 (173.1316) | 80 (169.1200) | 95 (163.9772) |
| May 10, 2024 | Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN | 50 / 58 (663.3028) | 57 (160.5372) | 48 (164.5372) | 35 (169.7028) | 32 (168.5256) |
| May 10, 2024 | Minnesota in May (ONE MEAT RIBS) St. Peter, MN | — | — | 24 (167.9656) | — | — |
| Mar 29, 2024 | Iowa State BBQ Championship 🏅 Altoona, IA | 33 / 42 (665.6456) | 9 (173.7028) | 25 (165.1428) | 33 (165.6800) | 34 (161.1200) |
| Oct 15, 2023 | Bring'n Home the Bacon II (BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 2 / 24 (348.5600) | 7 (173.7028) | 1 (174.8572) | — | — |
| Oct 13, 2023 | Bring'n Home the Bacon II (MASTER & BACKYARD) 🏅 West Salem, WI | 11 / 21 (335.3600) | 15 (166.8228) | 9 (168.5372) | — | — |
| Sep 9, 2023 | Bent Brewstillery BBQ (BACKYARD ONLY) Roseville, MN | 4 / 30 (342.8000) | 12 (169.6800) | 4 (173.1200) | — | — |
| Aug 19, 2023 | Boomer Backyard BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) Canton, MN | 7 / 16 (337.6688) | 6 (171.4288) | 8 (166.2400) | — | — |
| Aug 12, 2023 | 5th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL unrated Mayetta, KS | 25 / 29 (337.0856) | 27 (161.0856) | 10 (176) | — | — |
| Aug 11, 2023 | 5th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN unrated Mayetta, KS | 13 / 90 (697.0744) | 19 (175.4172) | 55 (170.8228) | 19 (175.4172) | 12 (175.4172) |
| Jul 14, 2023 | KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-off 🏅 Worthington, MN | 28 / 39 (662.8232) | 25 (168.5828) | 36 (157.1316) | 9 (170.8344) | 16 (166.2744) |
| Jul 14, 2023 | KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-of (ONE MEAT RIBS) Worthington, MN | — | — | 2 (177.1544) | — | — |
| Jun 2, 2023 | Smokin in Steele 🏅 Owatonna, MN | 11 / 29 (329.7256) | 12 (164.5828) | 10 (165.1428) | — | — |
| May 12, 2023 | Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN | 19 / 59 (327.3944) | 22 (162.2860) | 18 (165.1084) | — | — |
| May 12, 2023 | Minnesota in May (One Meat Ribs) St. Peter, MN | — | — | 5 (173.7144) | — | — |
| Mar 31, 2023 | Iowa State BBQ Championship 🏅 Altoona, IA | 13 / 47 (332.5372) | 19 (162.8228) | 8 (169.7144) | — | — |
| Nov 12, 2022 | 4th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL unrated Gadsden, AL | 30 / 49 (334.2288) | 27 (169.1316) | 30 (165.0972) | — | — |
| Aug 20, 2022 | Boomer Backyard BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) Canton, MN | 10 / 15 (322.7888) | 13 (159.4060) | 8 (163.3828) | — | — |
| Aug 5, 2022 | B-Dale BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) Roseville, MN | 15 / 21 (313.7028) | 14 (161.1316) | 17 (152.5712) | — | — |
| Jul 22, 2022 | Fillmore County Fair BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) Preston, MN | 6 / 13 (338.2512) | 1 (176.5828) | 10 (161.6684) | — | — |
| Jul 15, 2022 | Bourbon, Brews & BBQ (BACKYARD) Bancroft, IA | 6 / 14 (342.8800) | 9 (168.5600) | 3 (174.3200) | — | — |
| Jun 3, 2022 | Original SD BBQ Championship 🏅 Huron, SD | 28 / 46 (663.2792) | 28 (166.8228) | 29 (164.5140) | 35 (162.2396) | 15 (169.7028) |
| Jun 2, 2022 | Original SD BBQ Championship (One Meat Ribs) Huron, SD | — | — | 3 (173.1200) | — | — |
| May 13, 2022 | Minnesota in May (Backyard) Cambridge, MN | 4 / 38 (341.7256) | 5 (172.5828) | 6 (169.1428) | — | — |
| May 13, 2022 | Minnesota in May (One Meat Ribs) Cambridge, MN | — | — | 30 (157.6456) | — | — |
| May 13, 2022 | Minnesota in May (Masters) 🏅 Cambridge, MN | — | — | — | — | — |
| Apr 1, 2022 | Iowa State BBQ Championship (Backyard) Altoona, IA | 13 / 27 (335.3596) | 11 (170.8112) | 16 (164.5484) | — | — |
| Oct 16, 2021 | Bring'n Home the Bacon II Day 2 (BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 29 / 36 (318.8228) | 18 (164.0344) | 32 (154.7884) | — | — |
| Oct 15, 2021 | Bring'n Home the Bacon II Day 1 (BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 30 / 40 (318.2172) | 32 (157.0972) | 23 (161.1200) | — | — |
| Aug 22, 2021 | Big Island BBQ Backyard Albert Lea, MN | 7 / 15 (334.8112) | 14 (161.1084) | 3 (173.7028) | — | — |
| Aug 21, 2021 | Boomer Backyard BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) Canton, MN | 3 / 18 (339.9888) | 4 (171.4400) | 3 (168.5488) | — | — |
| Aug 7, 2021 | B-Dale BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) Roseville, MN | 13 / 21 (326.8456) | 17 (158.2628) | 6 (168.5828) | — | — |
| Jun 4, 2021 | The Original SD BBQ Championships - One Meat Standalone Ribs Contest Huron, SD | — | — | 5 (174.9028) | — | — |
| May 7, 2021 | Minnesota in May 🏅 Cambridge, MN | 10 / 60 (335.3944) | 6 (170.2628) | 20 (165.1316) | — | — |
| May 7, 2021 | Minnesota in May - One Meat Contest - Ribs Cambridge, MN | — | — | 16 (168.5600) | — | — |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.