SWEET BELLY'S BBQ VA
Rating
1577
peak 1582 · rated over 42 contests
Best runs
3
straight top-10s
Contests
51
in the data
First seen
2019-04-19
latest 2026-07-25
Best ToY finish
#227
Master 2024
Grand champs
1
3 reserve
Category wins
5
18 podiums
Overall top-10s
13
of 51 contests
Avg finish
top 47%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
2 🔥
Current form
687.46 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 673.45 (+14.01)
Walk rate
63%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
3
best run (overall)
Consistency
±29.36
std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork
avg 170.82 · weakest Brisket (168.79)
Road miles
5204
mi across 51 mapped stops · furthest 559 mi
Schedule strength
76%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1574)
Purse competed for
$295K
listed at 30 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
1 🏅
GCs in 36 state-championship entries
Master avg
673.45 / 720
41 Master contests · 1 GC
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA has finished one call ahead of SWEET BELLY'S BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
Oink N' Doink BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ has come out ahead in 27 of their 37 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE in 16 of their 19 shared contests.
💔 The heartbreaker
Came within 2.2628 points of the Grand Championship at Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle (2026-06-26).
😤 Pork nemesis
Even in their strongest meat, OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE has out-cooked them in 22 of 35 shared pork entries.
📅 A October team
Something about October: average finish in the top 15% across 3 contests, versus top 47% the rest of the year.
🃏 Against the odds
Their Grand Championship at MD State BBQ Bash (2024-10-11) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 26-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, Weber's Backyard BBQ.
🔁 The comeback
Off the trail for 1.8 years, then back at Interstate BBQ Festival - Day 1 (2021-04-16).
Teams like this (closest power rating, VA first)
Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | 37 | 10 | 27 | 27% | ⚔ compare |
| OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | 35 | 8 | 27 | 23% | ⚔ compare |
| 3 EYZ BBQ | 29 | 9 | 20 | 31% | ⚔ compare |
| GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | 27 | 16 | 11 | 59% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKECRAFT - MD | 26 | 8 | 18 | 31% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | 25 | 7 | 18 | 28% | ⚔ compare |
| BLUE EYED BBQ | 23 | 14 | 9 | 61% | ⚔ compare |
| BLUE & GRAY BBQ | 23 | 12 | 11 | 52% | ⚔ compare |
| Mispillion Meat Works | 23 | 5 | 18 | 22% | ⚔ compare |
| Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit | 23 | 5 | 18 | 22% | ⚔ compare |
| Capt. Blue BBQ | 22 | 5 | 16 | 23% | ⚔ compare |
| Optimus Swine | 21 | 2 | 18 | 10% | ⚔ compare |
| Top Gun Barbecue | 20 | 8 | 12 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
| SOUTH BOWIE SMOKE | 19 | 16 | 3 | 84% | ⚔ compare |
| Leaning Jowler BBQ | 19 | 5 | 14 | 26% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 45 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 180.0000 🔥 | 154.7772 | 169.30 | top 53% |
| Pork Ribs | 45 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 178.8572 | 153.6228 | 168.79 | top 50% |
| Pork | 42 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 178.8572 | 149.6340 | 170.82 | top 42% |
| Brisket | 42 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 178.8572 | 151.3484 | 168.79 | top 44% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| VA | 12 | 0 | top 42% |
| PA | 11 | 0 | top 44% |
| MD | 7 | 1 | top 36% |
| DC | 5 | 0 | top 55% |
| TN | 5 | 0 | top 63% |
| DE | 2 | 0 | top 64% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium (20–39) | 22 | 1 | top 42% |
| Large (40+) | 20 | 0 | top 52% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) | 8 | 6 | 0 | top 48% | 2026-03-28 |
| Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) | 6 | 11 | 0 | top 51% | 2026-07-25 |
| Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle | 4 | 2 | 0 | top 53% | 2026-06-26 |
| Smoke in the Grove (Day 2) | 3 | 9 | 0 | top 37% | 2022-07-30 |
| BBQ Jamboree | 3 | 4 | 0 | top 36% | 2021-06-11 |
| 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) | 2 | 60 | 0 | top 81% | 2025-05-25 |
| Smoke on the Rail (Day 2) | 2 | 2 | 0 | top 34% | 2023-07-29 |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2025 (11 contests)
- Cooks mostly in VA (16 of 51 contests)
- Most-entered category: Chicken (45 entries)
- First Grand Championship in the data: MD State BBQ Bash (2024-10-11)
- Wins it all in 2% of contests
- Average Master overall score: 673.45 / 720
- 2 perfect 180s on the books 🔥
Milestones
- 🚩 2019-04-19 — First tracked contest · Interstate BBQ Festival
- 📣 2019-04-19 — First call · Interstate BBQ Festival
- 🎖️ 2024-03-23 — 25th tracked contest · BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard)
- 🔥 2024-05-25 — First perfect 180 (Chicken) · 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL
- 🏆 2024-10-11 — First Grand Championship · MD State BBQ Bash
- ⭐ 2026-06-26 — Career-best overall score (701.1200) · Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle
- 📈 2026-06-26 — Peak power rating (1582) · Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle
- 🎖️ 2026-07-24 — 50th tracked contest · Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1)
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +17 | Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle | 2026-06-26 |
| +16.9 | Smoke on the Rail (Day 2) | 2023-07-29 |
| +14.9 | BBQ Jamboree | 2021-06-11 |
| +14.4 | MD State BBQ Bash | 2024-10-11 |
| +13.6 | Pickin N Pullin BBQ competition | 2019-04-26 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -14.6 | "The First State" BBQ Bash | 2024-09-27 |
| -11.6 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) (Masters and Backyard) | 2025-03-21 |
| -8.4 | Interstate BBQ Festival - Day 1 | 2021-04-16 |
| -8.3 | BBQ Jamboree (Day 2) | 2019-05-04 |
| -8.2 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard) | 2025-03-22 |
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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 75% | top 37% | 97.4% | 95.5% |
| 2025 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36% | top 59% | 95.6% | 94.1% |
| 2024 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 70% | top 52% | 96.6% | 92% |
| 2023 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 63% | top 40% | 97.1% | 94.8% |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 67% | top 43% | 96.5% | 94% |
| 2021 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 80% | top 38% | 95.2% | 93.4% |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 67% | top 46% | 95.4% | 92.2% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-25 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 18 / 39 (685.6000) | 1 (180.0000) | 33 (165.0972) | 23 (170.8228) | 24 (169.6800) |
| 2026-07-24 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 26 / 43 (675.8740) | 13 (175.4056) | 14 (171.4172) | 35 (165.0856) | 33 (163.9656) |
| 2026-06-27 | Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle (ONE MEAT RIBS) Washington, DC | — | — | 20 (169.1200) | — | — |
| 2026-06-26 | Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle 🏅 Washington, DC | 2 / 31 (701.1200) | 5 (177.1428) | 3 (178.8572) | 19 (171.4172) | 9 (173.7028) |
| 2026-03-28 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 6 / 36 (695.9432) | 20 (174.2744) | 19 (170.8344) | 8 (175.4172) | 5 (175.4172) |
| 2026-03-27 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 22 / 40 (678.7432) | 20 (171.9772) | 25 (167.4060) | 10 (174.2744) | 29 (165.0856) |
| 2026-03-27 | BBQ Gives Back (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Urbanna, VA | — | 4 (175.4172) | — | — | — |
| 2026-03-27 | BBQ Gives Back (ONE MEAT RIBS) Urbanna, VA | — | — | 4 (175.4288) | — | — |
| 2025-10-10 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) Lynchburg, TN | 28 / 90 (691.3484) | 21 (175.4172) | 55 (170.2744) | 56 (170.8112) | 15 (174.8456) |
| 2025-09-26 | First State BBQ Bash 🏅 Milford, DE | 7 / 25 (687.3604) | 22 (160.5144) | 11 (170.8344) | 2 (177.1544) | 2 (178.8572) |
| 2025-09-26 | First State BBQ Bash (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Milford, DE | — | 8 (167.4060) | — | — | — |
| 2025-09-26 | First State BBQ Bash (ONE MEAT RIBS) Milford, DE | — | — | 11 (163.9544) | — | — |
| 2025-07-26 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 16 / 27 (669.0172) | 8 (173.1200) | 16 (166.8572) | 9 (174.2628) | 23 (154.7772) |
| 2025-07-25 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 11 / 30 (688.4568) | 24 (167.3828) | 12 (170.8112) | 11 (174.8456) | 7 (175.4172) |
| 2025-05-25 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) Lebanon, TN | 60 / 70 (678.1716) | 61 (168.5372) | 27 (173.1316) | 39 (171.9772) | 64 (164.5256) |
| 2025-05-24 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025) Lebanon, TN | 80 / 106 (677.5884) | 97 (165.6800) | 59 (170.8344) | 77 (168.5256) | 44 (172.5484) |
| 2025-03-22 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 31 / 43 (674.7200) | 37 (166.2400) | 41 (163.3828) | 20 (171.9772) | 13 (173.1200) |
| 2025-03-21 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) (Masters and Backyard) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 38 / 45 (666.7432) | 39 (162.8116) | 24 (170.2744) | 18 (172.5600) | 39 (161.0972) |
| 2025-03-21 | BBQ Gives Back (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Urbanna, VA | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024-10-11 | MD State BBQ Bash 🏅 Bel Air, MD | 1 / 26 (695.3600) | 3 (177.1544) | 8 (173.1200) | 8 (171.9656) | 3 (173.1200) |
| 2024-09-27 | "The First State" BBQ Bash 🏅 Milford, DE | 26 / 26 (507.9204) | 22 (162.8116) | — | 6 (175.4172) | 11 (169.6916) |
| 2024-07-27 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 17 / 32 (679.8860) | 17 (170.8344) | 9 (173.1316) | 19 (169.6800) | 22 (166.2400) |
| 2024-07-26 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 18 / 35 (667.2800) | 19 (167.3944) | 20 (166.2628) | 25 (162.8000) | 6 (170.8228) |
| 2024-06-22 | Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle 🏅 Washington, DC | 29 / 36 (668.9596) | 26 (170.8228) | 34 (156.4912) | 22 (170.8228) | 17 (170.8228) |
| 2024-05-25 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL Lebanon, TN | 53 / 81 (688.4916) | 1 (180.0000) | 26 (174.2860) | 40 (173.1200) | 80 (161.0856) |
| 2024-05-24 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN Lebanon, TN | 67 / 118 (682.1716) | 61 (173.1200) | 57 (170.8344) | 62 (170.8228) | 80 (167.3944) |
| 2024-03-23 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 19 / 42 (682.7544) | 37 (165.0856) | 18 (170.2628) | 14 (173.1316) | 5 (174.2744) |
| 2024-03-22 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) (Masters and Backyard) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 7 / 45 (689.0744) | 12 (173.1200) | 1 (177.7144) | 29 (165.6800) | 9 (172.5600) |
| 2024-03-22 | BBQ Gives Back (One Meat Chicken) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023-10-13 | Maryland State BBQ Bash 🏅 Bel Air, MD | 2 / 23 (694.7656) | 7 (174.2628) | 10 (170.8228) | 2 (173.1200) | 2 (176.5600) |
| 2023-07-29 | Smoke on the Rail (Day 2) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 2 / 40 (699.3600) | 7 (176.5600) | 24 (167.3828) | 3 (176.5600) | 2 (178.8572) |
| 2023-07-28 | Smoke on the Rail (Day 1) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 32 / 51 (664.4228) | 40 (165.0972) | 26 (168.5372) | 4 (174.8456) | 45 (155.9428) |
| 2023-06-24 | Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle 🏅 Washington, DC | 20 / 29 (673.5772) | 28 (154.7888) | 9 (173.1084) | 4 (176.5600) | 15 (169.1200) |
| 2023-06-24 | Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Washington, DC | — | 24 (154.7772) | — | — | — |
| 2023-06-24 | Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle (ONE MEAT RIBS) Washington, DC | — | — | 14 (168.5256) | — | — |
| 2023-03-25 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 15 / 46 (689.0516) | 14 (175.4172) | 31 (167.3944) | 20 (171.9772) | 8 (174.2628) |
| 2023-03-24 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) (Masters and Backyard) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 32 / 53 (673.0288) | 26 (171.9888) | 26 (171.9656) | 48 (157.6572) | 15 (171.4172) |
| 2022-07-30 | Smoke in the Grove (Day 2) 🏅 Spring Grove, PA | 9 / 42 (694.7772) | 18 (174.2744) | 5 (175.4288) | 15 (174.2628) | 19 (170.8112) |
| 2022-07-29 | Smoke in the Grove (Day 1) 🏅 Spring Grove, PA | 27 / 54 (659.8400) | 47 (158.8000) | 44 (158.8000) | 12 (171.4056) | 9 (170.8344) |
| 2022-06-25 | Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle 🏅 Washington, DC | 18 / 32 (676.4224) | 17 (170.8112) | 11 (170.8572) | 20 (168.5256) | 19 (166.2284) |
| 2021-08-28 | Dirty Boots BBQ and Meat Contest - Day 2 Boonsboro, MD | 9 / 20 (677.6112) | 13 (169.1084) | 14 (166.8344) | 11 (170.2628) | 8 (171.4056) |
| 2021-08-27 | Dirty Boots BBQ and Meat Contest - Day 1 Boonsboro, MD | 5 / 24 (674.2172) | 3 (175.4400) | 12 (162.2628) | 6 (171.4172) | 12 (165.0972) |
| 2021-07-30 | Smoke in the Grove 🏅 Spring Grove, PA | 22 / 54 (664.4800) | 44 (160.5256) | 23 (167.3944) | 1 (177.7144) | 38 (158.8456) |
| 2021-06-11 | BBQ Jamboree 🏅 Fredericksburg, VA | 4 / 30 (685.6228) | 6 (174.2972) | 18 (162.8000) | 1 (178.8572) | 10 (169.6684) |
| 2021-04-16 | Interstate BBQ Festival - Day 1 🏅 Hagerstown, MD | 32 / 47 (660.4228) | 35 (166.2400) | 18 (169.1544) | 38 (161.0856) | 34 (163.9428) |
| 2019-06-22 | Giant National Capital BBQ Battle 🏅 Washington, DC | 20 / 31 (659.2568) | 18 (163.9544) | 22 (158.7884) | 16 (165.6568) | 11 (170.8572) |
| 2019-06-08 | Beltway BBQ Showdown 🏅 Upper Marlboro, MD | 20 / 37 (638.6284) | 14 (166.2400) | 28 (153.6228) | 12 (167.4172) | 23 (151.3484) |
| 2019-05-04 | BBQ Jamboree (Day 2) 🏅 Fredericksburg, VA | 25 / 33 (655.8172) | 18 (169.6916) | 29 (159.3600) | 6 (173.1428) | 28 (153.6228) |
| 2019-05-03 | BBQ Jamboree (Day 1) 🏅 Fredericksburg, VA | 6 / 34 (683.9088) | 25 (164.5488) | 9 (170.8228) | 6 (173.1200) | 2 (175.4172) |
| 2019-04-26 | Pickin N Pullin BBQ competition 🏅 Lanexa, VA | 4 / 32 (686.8004) | 13 (168.5488) | 5 (173.7144) | 13 (168.5372) | 2 (176.0000) |
| 2019-04-19 | Interstate BBQ Festival 🏅 Hagerstown, MD | 29 / 54 (658.1940) | 39 (161.6800) | 3 (177.1772) | 50 (149.6340) | 15 (169.7028) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #234 (661 pts) | #162 (958 pts) | #214 (835 pts) | #309 (506 pts) | #316 (511 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #403 (520 pts) | #458 (501 pts) | #413 (592 pts) | #331 (675 pts) | #333 (710 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #227 (954 pts) | #199 (1069 pts) | #267 (933 pts) | #266 (829 pts) | #171 (1144 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #302 (707 pts) | #449 (492 pts) | #436 (554 pts) | #219 (957 pts) | #285 (782 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #620 (297 pts) | #720 (252 pts) | #601 (372 pts) | #629 (317 pts) | #614 (322 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #332 (584 pts) | #361 (559 pts) | #529 (374 pts) | #230 (844 pts) | #444 (444 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #499 (665 pts) | #642 (535 pts) | #460 (750 pts) | #466 (750 pts) | #374 (880 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #663 (515 pts) | #766 (445 pts) | #776 (460 pts) | #609 (615 pts) | #485 (765 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #677 (571 pts) | #541 (736 pts) | #855 (456 pts) | #581 (691 pts) | #692 (576 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #764 (488 pts) | #725 (553 pts) | #925 (408 pts) | #589 (688 pts) | #878 (413 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #1858 (114 pts) | #1872 (119 pts) | #1919 (114 pts) | #1946 (114 pts) | #1928 (114 pts) |