The one to beat
BLOWIN' SMOKE NWA has finished one call ahead of BELLA-CUE BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.
BELLA-CUE BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 7 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2014 and 2017. Their best overall finish is 22nd of 38 at the Bikes, Blues and BBQ (2017). They are ranked #4878 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
The teams rated closest to BELLA-CUE BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
128 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 BELLA-CUE BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-headThey've been 1510 at their best, 44 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.
⚔ Compare careersCareers of much the same size, 7 contests to 7, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careersLevel with BELLA-CUE BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careersCareers of much the same size, 7 contests to 7, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careersCareers of much the same size, 7 contests to 7, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careers| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIG BUTTS NEED RUBBIN TOO | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| INDIAN TERRITORY SMOKE | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| BUFFALO'S BBQ | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 164.5600 | 151.4516 | 158.60 | top 83% |
| Pork Ribs | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 160.5716 | 137.6456 | 152.54 | top 79% |
| Pork | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 172 | 20 | 143.10 | top 63% |
| Brisket | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 169.7256 | 129.6344 | 153.68 | top 67% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium (20–39) | 3 | 0 | top 81% |
| Large (40+) | 4 | 0 | top 77% |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +2.4 | Chillin & Grillin | Apr 8, 2016 |
| +2.1 | Bikes Blues and BBQ | Sep 23, 2016 |
| +1.8 | Bikes, Blues and BBQ | Sep 22, 2017 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -14.2 | Bikes Blues & BBQ | Sep 26, 2014 |
| -11.6 | Firelake BBQ Cook Off | Mar 25, 2016 |
| -8 | Grand Lake BBQ & Festival | May 20, 2016 |
| -7.3 | Smoke on the Border Gravette Chambers of Commerce | Apr 1, 2017 |
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 71% | 89.3% | 88.5% |
| 2016 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 77% | 91.4% | 87.8% |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 100% | 62.8% | 62.8% |
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 2017 | Bikes, Blues and BBQ Fayetteville, AR | 22 / 38 (642.8684) | 20 (164.5600) | 26 (157.7028) | 31 (150.8800) | 7 (169.7256) |
| Apr 1, 2017 | Smoke on the Border Gravette Chambers of Commerce Gravette, AR | 31 / 37 (631.8056) | 34 (153.0972) | 26 (159.3828) | 6 (172) | 31 (147.3256) |
| Sep 23, 2016 | Bikes Blues and BBQ Fayetteville, AR | 25 / 43 (646.1940) | 33 (161.1428) | 26 (157.6684) | 20 (165.1544) | 21 (162.2284) |
| May 20, 2016 | Grand Lake BBQ & Festival Langley, OK | 44 / 46 (627.3372) | 44 (159.4056) | 45 (152.5716) | 42 (159.3828) | 38 (155.9772) |
| Apr 8, 2016 | Chillin & Grillin Sand Springs, OK | 24 / 43 (657.7488) | 37 (158.2972) | 27 (160.5716) | 14 (171.4400) | 16 (167.4400) |
| Mar 25, 2016 | Firelake BBQ Cook Off Shawnee, OK | 65 / 66 (596.9600) | 51 (162.2628) | 65 (142.2172) | 50 (162.8456) | 66 (129.6344) |
| Sep 26, 2014 | Bikes Blues & BBQ Fayetteville, AR | 30 / 30 (452.5144) | 30 (151.4516) | 29 (137.6456) | 30 (20) | 29 (143.4172) |