YARD LOBSTER BBQ

YARD LOBSTER BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 22 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2020. Their best overall finish is 18th of 33 at the Newport Beach Barbecue Competition (2016). They are ranked #5154 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#5,154

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1459

peak 1502 · rated over 22 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Aug 16, 2013

latest Feb 21, 2020 · 6.5 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#856

Master 2020 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

2 podiums

Overall top-10s

0% of 22 contests

Avg finish

top 67%

overall standings

Best overall

674.2404 / 720

Master · Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons

Perfect 180s

Current form

643.32 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 651.29 (-7.97)

Walk rate

32%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176.5600

Pork Ribs · Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons

Consistency

±15.04

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 167.21 · weakest Brisket (158.43)

Road miles

4,375

across 22 mapped stops · furthest 1,742 mi

Schedule strength

56%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1571)

Purse competed for

$21K

listed at 2 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 1 state-championship entry

Master avg

651.29 / 720

22 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (11 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

High-water mark

674.2404 career-best overall

93.6% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 674.2404 at Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons — 93.6% of a perfect 720.

Master
Aug 7, 2015

The one to beat

3× one call ahead of them

Porterhouse BBQ has finished one call ahead of YARD LOBSTER BBQ 3 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2015 their best year

2015 was the year it came together: 5 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 47%.

5 contests
0 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 47%

A tough matchup

22–0 behind in the head-to-head

LADY OF Q ahead in 100% of their meetings

LADY OF Q has come out ahead in 22 of their 22 shared contests.

The weak link

−8.8 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 8.77 points below their pork ribs, and turns into a call 5% of the time against 23%.

Brisket avg 158.43
Pork Ribs avg 167.21
1 call in 22 entries

A strong matchup

9–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 90% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of 7 SINS BBQ in 9 of their 10 shared contests.

Pork Ribs nemesis

13 of 19 shared pork ribs entries lost

COOL GRILLING ahead 68% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, COOL GRILLING has out-cooked them in 13 of 19 shared pork ribs entries.

Show 4 more storylines

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

All About Smokin Q has landed one call behind them 2 times.

A May team

Top 51% average finish in May

Something about May: average finish in the top 51% across 3 contests, versus top 67% the rest of the year.

3 May contests
top 67% the rest of the year

The long haul

4,375 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 4,375 miles across 22 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 1,742 miles to Certified BBQ Judging Class - Cancelled.

22 mapped stops
furthest 1,742 mi

The metronome

±2.09% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.09% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 90.5% of a perfect score
22 contests

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
2020 ↗	Master	#856 (60 pts)	#896 (60 pts)	#913 (60 pts)	#899 (60 pts)	#883 (60 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#1955 (60 pts)	#2049 (60 pts)	#2026 (60 pts)	#2029 (60 pts)	#2010 (60 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1524 (120 pts)	#1598 (120 pts)	#1298 (195 pts)	#1342 (180 pts)	#1280 (195 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1163 (255 pts)	#1189 (275 pts)	#867 (450 pts)	#1038 (345 pts)	#1122 (295 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#877 (398 pts)	#903 (408 pts)	#615 (663 pts)	#895 (433 pts)	#953 (368 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to YARD LOBSTER BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

D. BLACKS SMOKIN' QUE

#5,141 of the rated field

1460 power rating

Contests: 9
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1460

2–3 in 5 shared contests (40% to YARD LOBSTER BBQ)

These two have cooked 5 of the same contests — D. BLACKS SMOKIN' QUE ahead 3–2 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 9 contests
last seen Feb 19, 2016

⚔ Head-to-head

Racer's BBQ

#5,168 of the rated field

1459 power rating

Contests: 6
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 17%
Peak: 1501

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to YARD LOBSTER BBQ)

They've been 1501 at their best, 42 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 6 contests
last seen Mar 29, 2019

⚔ Head-to-head

SACRED SMOKE BBQ

#5,159 of the rated field

1459 power rating

Contests: 6
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1459

1–2 in 3 shared contests (33% to YARD LOBSTER BBQ)

Fewer contests behind them than YARD LOBSTER BBQ has cooked, 6 to 22, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 6 contests
last seen Feb 15, 2019

⚔ Head-to-head

SHIRTS ON FIRE BBQ

#5,169 of the rated field

1459 power rating

Contests: 24
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1459

24 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 24 contests
last seen Sep 30, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

BAM BAMS BBQ

#5,138 of the rated field

1460 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 10%
Peak: 1512

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.

rated over 20 contests
last seen Oct 4, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

BBQ Brothers

#5,149 of the rated field

1460 power rating

Contests: 37
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 27%
Peak: 1523

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

rated over 35 contests
last seen Oct 9, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
LADY OF Q	22	0	22	0%	⚔ compare
COOL GRILLING	19	5	14	26%	⚔ compare
TEAM WOODSHED	18	3	15	17%	⚔ compare
SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ	18	2	16	11%	⚔ compare
NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q	17	7	10	41%	⚔ compare
TWISTED BRISKET BBQ	17	4	13	24%	⚔ compare
RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ	17	0	17	0%	⚔ compare
JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE	16	1	15	6%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN' HART'S	16	1	15	6%	⚔ compare
Porterhouse BBQ	16	0	16	0%	⚔ compare
BIG POPPA SMOKERS	15	0	15	0%	⚔ compare
TOOT & STINKY'S CALI-Q	14	1	13	7%	⚔ compare
HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ	14	0	14	0%	⚔ compare
Sharpe's Woodshed	13	2	11	15%	⚔ compare
Rooftop BBQ	13	1	12	8%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	22	0	0	173.7372	145.0856	162.74	top 65%
Pork Ribs	22	5	2	176.5600	151.3600	167.21	top 42%
Pork	22	1	0	173.1200	151.3828	162.91	top 62%
Brisket	22	1	0	173.1200	133.0972	158.43	top 68%

“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)	5	0	top 70%
Large (40+)	17	0	top 66%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
CA	21	0	top 67%
AL	1	0	top 67%

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
West Coast BBQ Classic	2	22	0	top 57%	May 12, 2017
Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons	2	18	0	top 49%	Aug 5, 2016

More numbers

Busiest season 2016 6 contests

Contests a season 2.8 across 8 seasons in the data

Most contests held in CA 21 of 22 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 20 2 of them more than once

Opponents faced 349 finished ahead 399 times, behind 746

Longest layoff 1 yrs Feb 15, 2019 → Feb 21, 2020

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

20201 milestone

Feb 21 Most recent contest The Tyson Guinea Pig, Matt Dalton Memorial

20161 milestone

Apr 1 10th tracked contest 5th Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship

20153 milestones

Aug 7 Career-best overall score674.2404 Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons
Aug 7 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)176.5600 Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons
Aug 7 Peak power rating (1502) Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons

20142 milestones

Aug 8 First overall past 90% of a perfect score652.4916 Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Day 1
Aug 9 First call Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Day 2

20131 milestone

Aug 16 First tracked contest Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+8.8	Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons	Aug 7, 2015
+6.4	West Coast BBQ Classic	May 8, 2015
+4.9	The Pig (Guinea Pig) Competitor's Series	Feb 20, 2015
+3.9	6th Annual Santa Anita Winners Circle BBQ Championship	Mar 31, 2017
+3.1	Newport Beach Barbecue Competition	Jun 24, 2016

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-9	The Smithfield Guinea Pig (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL)	Feb 15, 2019
-7.5	The Pig (Guinea Pig)	Feb 19, 2016
-7.2	The Smithfield Guinea Pig (JUDGES FULL)	Feb 23, 2018
-7	Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Day 1	Aug 8, 2014
-6.5	Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Day 2	Aug 9, 2014

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	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2020	1	0%	top 84%	90%	90%
2019	1	0%	top 94%	88.5%	88.5%
2018	2	100%	top 84%	92.2%	88.7%
2017	4	50%	top 63%	92.4%	91.1%
2016	6	17%	top 69%	93.1%	90.1%
2015	5	20%	top 47%	93.6%	92%
2014	2	50%	top 82%	91.6%	91.1%
2013	1	0%	top 63%	86.4%	86.4%

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Feb 21, 2020	The Tyson Guinea Pig, Matt Dalton Memorial 🏅 Coachella, CA	42 / 50 (647.9312)	38 (162.8572)	25 (167.4172)	49 (154.2512)	27 (163.4056)
Feb 15, 2019	The Smithfield Guinea Pig (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL) Indian Wells, CA	46 / 49 (637.5084)	41 (158.2400)	47 (151.3600)	37 (162.8000)	37 (165.1084)
Aug 17, 2018	Turf & Surf BBQ Championship Del Mar, CA	40 / 51 (613.6000)	43 (153.6684)	10 (169.7144)	36 (157.1200)	49 (133.0972)
Feb 23, 2018	The Smithfield Guinea Pig (JUDGES FULL) Coachella, CA	42 / 47 (663.8744)	46 (150.8000)	35 (166.8344)	13 (173.1200)	10 (173.1200)
May 12, 2017	West Coast BBQ Classic Long Beach, CA	22 / 40 (653.6800)	29 (160)	20 (165.7028)	7 (172.5600)	27 (155.4172)
Mar 31, 2017	6th Annual Santa Anita Winners Circle BBQ Championship Arcadia, CA	38 / 77 (665.1888)	18 (173.7372)	17 (172)	68 (155.4516)	41 (164)
Feb 17, 2017	The Smithfield Guinea Pig Indio, CA	43 / 49 (647.3260)	28 (167.3828)	9 (173.1544)	45 (158.2400)	48 (148.5488)
Jan 27, 2017	Newport Beach Winter Q Newport, CA	34 / 56 (658.2744)	48 (154.2744)	13 (172.0228)	37 (163.4172)	14 (168.5600)
Oct 7, 2016	Dana Point State BBQ Championship Dana Point, CA	56 / 75 (637.5656)	74 (145.0856)	29 (165.6800)	27 (168)	47 (158.8000)
Aug 5, 2016	Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Huntington Beach, CA	24 / 36 (646.7316)	22 (165.1428)	17 (166.8344)	25 (161.6572)	27 (153.0972)
Jun 24, 2016	Newport Beach Barbecue Competition Newport, CA	18 / 33 (670.2400)	23 (165.7372)	12 (170.2972)	13 (170.8228)	23 (163.3828)
May 13, 2016	West Coast BBQ Classic Long Beach, CA	26 / 44 (658.1944)	20 (169.1316)	2 (173.7028)	22 (166.2972)	42 (149.0628)
Apr 1, 2016	5th Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship Arciadia, CA	54 / 72 (641.6460)	32 (167.4400)	25 (168.0116)	64 (151.3828)	61 (154.8116)
Feb 19, 2016	The Pig (Guinea Pig) Indio, CA	41 / 48 (639.2800)	46 (156.4912)	38 (160.5716)	34 (163.9772)	38 (158.2400)
Aug 7, 2015	Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Huntington Beach, CA	18 / 58 (674.2404)	27 (168.0116)	2 (176.5600)	33 (163.4288)	31 (166.2400)
May 8, 2015	West Coast BBQ Classic Long Beach, CA	23 / 57 (670.7656)	20 (170.8228)	13 (170.2628)	33 (164.5484)	27 (165.1316)
Mar 20, 2015	4th Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship Arcadia, CA	52 / 100 (666.2400)	51 (168)	34 (168.5600)	47 (167.4172)	62 (162.2628)
Feb 20, 2015	The Pig (Guinea Pig) Competitor's Series Rancho Mirage, CA	22 / 49 (655.2912)	23 (166.8228)	24 (165.0856)	17 (165.1428)	35 (158.2400)
Jan 17, 2015	Certified BBQ Judging Class - Cancelled Hartselle, AL	24 / 36 (646.7316)	22 (165.1428)	17 (166.8344)	25 (161.6572)	27 (153.0972)
Aug 9, 2014	Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Day 2 Huntington Beach, CA	31 / 38 (659.3828)	36 (158.2856)	7 (172.5716)	18 (169.1084)	31 (159.4172)
Aug 8, 2014	Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Day 1 Huntington Beach, CA	32 / 39 (652.4916)	26 (167.4516)	29 (162.8344)	36 (158.2628)	27 (163.9428)
Aug 16, 2013	Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Huntington State Beach, CA	40 / 63 (622.2516)	23 (165.7372)	47 (152.5256)	39 (155.4516)	43 (148.5372)

YARD LOBSTER BBQ

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (11 found in their record)

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Pork Ribs nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

A May team

The long haul

The metronome

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

By meat

By field size and state

By contest size

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

More numbers

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

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

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

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)