YARD LOBSTER BBQ

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

Power ranking

#5125

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1459

peak 1502 · rated over 22 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-08-16

latest 2020-02-21

Best ToY finish

#856

Master 2020

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

2 podiums

Overall top-10s

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

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 167.21 · weakest Brisket (158.43)

Road miles

4,375

mi across 22 mapped stops · furthest 1742 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 🏅

GCs in 1 state-championship entries

Master avg

651.29 / 720

22 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (11 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.

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
2015-08-07

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 calls 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.

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

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.

121 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

#5112 of the rated field

1460 ▲ 0 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 2016-02-19

⚔ Head-to-head

SACRED SMOKE BBQ

#5126 of the rated field

1459 ▼ 0 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 2019-02-15

⚔ Head-to-head

AM & PM SMOKERS

#5137 of the rated field

1459 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1519

No shared contest yet.

They've been 1519 at their best, 60 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 18 contests
last seen 2025-09-19

⚔ Head-to-head

BIG BELLY BBQ

#5134 of the rated field

1459 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 32
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 9%
Peak: 1532

No shared contest yet.

32 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 9% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 31 contests
last seen 2022-09-23

⚔ Head-to-head

2 FAT BOYS & A GRILL

#5117 of the rated field

1460 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1502

No shared contest yet.

Their last contest in the data was back in 2016, 4 years before YARD LOBSTER BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 13 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

Brother In-Law BBQ

#5140 of the rated field

1459 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 17%
Peak: 1517

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 12 contests
last seen 2026-03-27

⚔ Head-to-head

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
SMOKIN' HART'S	16	1	15	6%	⚔ compare
Porterhouse BBQ	16	0	16	0%	⚔ compare
BIG POPPA SMOKERS	15	0	15	0%	⚔ compare
JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE	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 state / province

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

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	5	0	top 70%
Large (40+)	17	0	top 66%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
West Coast BBQ Classic	2	22	0	top 57%	2017-05-12
Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons	2	18	0	top 49%	2016-08-05

The story so far (17 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 6.5 yrs 2013-08-16 → 2020-02-21

Busiest season 2016 6 contests

Contests a season 2.8 across 8 seasons in the data

Cooks most in CA 21 of 22 contests · 2 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 20 2 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 22 entries · 0 wins · 0 calls

Strongest meat Pork Ribs averages 167.21 · weakest Brisket (158.43)

Walk rate 32% a top-10 call in 7 of 22 contests

Overall top-10 rate 0% 0 of 22 contests

Master average 651.29 out of 720 · 22 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 351 399–746 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 4,375 22 mapped stops · furthest 1,742 mi

Schedule strength 1571 average field rating faced — tougher than 56% of rated contests

Purse competed for $21,200 listed at 2 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships 0 from 1 state-championship entries

Longest layoff 1 yrs 2019-02-15 → 2020-02-21

Power rating 1459 peak 1502 · #5125 of 6,413 rated

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

2013
Aug 16 First tracked contest Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons
2014
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
2015
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
2016
Apr 1 10th tracked contest 5th Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship
2020
Feb 21 Most recent contest The Tyson Guinea Pig, Matt Dalton Memorial

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+8.8	Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons	2015-08-07
+6.4	West Coast BBQ Classic	2015-05-08
+4.9	The Pig (Guinea Pig) Competitor's Series	2015-02-20
+3.8	6th Annual Santa Anita Winners Circle BBQ Championship	2017-03-31
+3.1	* Newport Beach Barbecue Competition	2016-06-24

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-8.9	The Smithfield Guinea Pig (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL)	2019-02-15
-7.5	The Pig(Guinea Pig)	2016-02-19
-7.2	The Smithfield Guinea Pig (JUDGES FULL)	2018-02-23
-7	Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Day 1	2014-08-08
-6.5	Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Day 2	2014-08-09

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	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
2020-02-21	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)
2019-02-15	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)
2018-08-17	Turf & Surf BBQ Championship Del Mar, CA	40 / 51 (613.6000)	43 (153.6684)	10 (169.7144)	36 (157.1200)	49 (133.0972)
2018-02-23	The Smithfield Guinea Pig (JUDGES FULL) Coachella, CA	42 / 47 (663.8744)	46 (150.8000)	35 (166.8344)	13 (173.1200)	10 (173.1200)
2017-05-12	West Coast BBQ Classic Long Beach, CA	22 / 40 (653.6800)	29 (160.0000)	20 (165.7028)	7 (172.5600)	27 (155.4172)
2017-03-31	6th Annual Santa Anita Winners Circle BBQ Championship Arcadia, CA	38 / 77 (665.1888)	18 (173.7372)	17 (172.0000)	68 (155.4516)	41 (164.0000)
2017-02-17	The Smithfield Guinea Pig Indio, CA	43 / 49 (647.3260)	28 (167.3828)	9 (173.1544)	45 (158.2400)	48 (148.5488)
2017-01-27	*Newport Beach Winter Q Newport, CA	34 / 56 (658.2744)	48 (154.2744)	13 (172.0228)	37 (163.4172)	14 (168.5600)
2016-10-07	Dana Point State BBQ Championship Dana Point, CA	56 / 75 (637.5656)	74 (145.0856)	29 (165.6800)	27 (168.0000)	47 (158.8000)
2016-08-05	Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Huntington Beach, CA	24 / 36 (646.7316)	22 (165.1428)	17 (166.8344)	25 (161.6572)	27 (153.0972)
2016-06-24	* Newport Beach Barbecue Competition Newport, CA	18 / 33 (670.2400)	23 (165.7372)	12 (170.2972)	13 (170.8228)	23 (163.3828)
2016-05-13	West Coast BBQ Classic Long Beach, CA	26 / 44 (658.1944)	20 (169.1316)	2 (173.7028)	22 (166.2972)	42 (149.0628)
2016-04-01	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)
2016-02-19	The Pig(Guinea Pig) Indio, CA	41 / 48 (639.2800)	46 (156.4912)	38 (160.5716)	34 (163.9772)	38 (158.2400)
2015-08-07	Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Huntington Beach, CA	18 / 58 (674.2404)	27 (168.0116)	2 (176.5600)	33 (163.4288)	31 (166.2400)
2015-05-08	West Coast BBQ Classic Long Beach, CA	23 / 57 (670.7656)	20 (170.8228)	13 (170.2628)	33 (164.5484)	27 (165.1316)
2015-03-20	4th Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship Arcadia, CA	52 / 100 (666.2400)	51 (168.0000)	34 (168.5600)	47 (167.4172)	62 (162.2628)
2015-02-20	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)
2015-01-17	Certified BBQ Judging Class - Cancelled Hartselle, AL	24 / 36 (646.7316)	22 (165.1428)	17 (166.8344)	25 (161.6572)	27 (153.0972)
2014-08-09	Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Day 2 Huntington Beach, CA	31 / 38 (659.3828)	36 (158.2856)	7 (172.5716)	18 (169.1084)	31 (159.4172)
2014-08-08	Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Day 1 Huntington Beach, CA	32 / 39 (652.4916)	26 (167.4516)	29 (162.8344)	36 (158.2628)	27 (163.9428)
2013-08-16	Ribs, Pigs & Watermelons Huntington State Beach, CA	40 / 63 (622.2516)	23 (165.7372)	47 (152.5256)	39 (155.4516)	43 (148.5372)

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
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)