BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ

BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 43 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2016 and 2022. Their best overall finish is 4th of 30 at the Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (2017). They are ranked #3065 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#3,065

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1504

peak 1537 · rated over 41 contests1 invitational or side-series contest not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Mar 4, 2016

latest Oct 14, 2022 · 6.6 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#186

Master 2020 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

4 podiums

Overall top-10s

12% of 43 contests

Avg finish

top 59%

overall standings

Best overall

687.3716 / 720

Master · Ottumwa 4th Annual Smoketoberfest

Perfect 180s

Current form

670.52 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 658.37 (+12.16)

Walk rate

63%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.8572

Pork · Rose Festival 21st Annual KCBS BBQ Contest

Consistency

±15.57

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 166.88 · weakest Brisket (162.79)

Road miles

7,456

across 43 mapped stops · furthest 510 mi

Schedule strength

70%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1588)

Purse competed for

$154K

listed at 18 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 26 state-championship entries

Master avg

658.37 / 720

41 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (12 found in their record)

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

They almost always walk

63% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 27 of 43 contests

A top-10 category call in 63% of their 43 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

687.3716 career-best overall

95.5% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 687.3716 at Ottumwa 4th Annual Smoketoberfest — 95.5% of a perfect 720.

Master
Sep 24, 2021

The one to beat

3× one call ahead of them

TEAM CRAWFORD has finished one call ahead of BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ 3 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2018 their best year

2018 was the year it came together: 6 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 49%.

6 contests
0 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 49%

A tough matchup

28–0 behind in the head-to-head

SHIGGIN & GRINNIN ahead in 100% of their meetings

SHIGGIN & GRINNIN has come out ahead in 28 of their 28 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.1 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.08 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 24% of the time against 26%.

Brisket avg 162.79
Chicken avg 166.88
10 calls in 41 entries

A strong matchup

12–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of SCHWEBS BBQ in 12 of their 12 shared contests.

Show 5 more storylines

Chicken nemesis

23 of 29 shared chicken entries lost

SHIGGIN & GRINNIN ahead 79% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, SHIGGIN & GRINNIN has out-cooked them in 23 of 29 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

RUB MY RACK has landed one call behind them 2 times.

A July team

Top 49% average finish in July

Something about July: average finish in the top 49% across 7 contests, versus top 59% the rest of the year.

7 July contests
top 59% the rest of the year

The long haul

7,456 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 7,456 miles across 43 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 510 miles to Firelake BBQ Cook Off Day 1.

43 mapped stops
furthest 510 mi

The metronome

±2.15% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.15% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 91.4% of a perfect score
43 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
2022 ↗	Master	#735 (227 pts)	#700 (262 pts)	#933 (177 pts)	#521 (412 pts)	#598 (337 pts)
2021 ↗	Master	#261 (753 pts)	#196 (963 pts)	#293 (713 pts)	#245 (793 pts)	#243 (793 pts)
2020 ↗	Master	#186 (631 pts)	#207 (596 pts)	#221 (541 pts)	#113 (911 pts)	#94 (991 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#545 (606 pts)	#473 (721 pts)	#468 (736 pts)	#462 (751 pts)	#629 (536 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#700 (480 pts)	#630 (590 pts)	#579 (645 pts)	#757 (465 pts)	#632 (580 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#668 (575 pts)	#647 (620 pts)	#691 (580 pts)	#476 (820 pts)	#846 (455 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1775 (120 pts)	#1736 (145 pts)	#1884 (120 pts)	#1505 (195 pts)	#1839 (120 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

WE'RE BURNIN DAYLIGHT BBQ

#3,044 of the rated field

1504 power rating

Contests: 43
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 12%
Peak: 1552

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ)

One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 43 contests
last seen Jul 1, 2022

⚔ Head-to-head

Unknown Smokers

#3,064 of the rated field

1504 power rating

Contests: 30
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 33%
Peak: 1532

0–4 in 4 shared contests (0% to BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ)

Fewer contests behind them than BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ has cooked, 30 to 43, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 29 contests
last seen Aug 15, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

BURNT WOOD BBQ

#3,073 of the rated field

1504 power rating

Contests: 21
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 10%
Peak: 1522

3–5 in 8 shared contests (38% to BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ)

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

rated over 21 contests
last seen May 1, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

WILD SHOOTERS BBQ

#3,055 of the rated field

1504 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1512

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ)

Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 3 years before BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 15 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

Bailey Acres BBQ

#3,054 of the rated field

1504 power rating

Contests: 8
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1526

0–2 in 2 shared contests (0% to BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ)

They turned up 5 years after BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ did, first appearing in 2021.

rated over 8 contests
last seen Aug 29, 2025

⚔ Head-to-head

HellYeah BBQ

#3,072 of the rated field

1504 power rating

Contests: 5
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1507

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ)

Level with BERGEY BOYS BLAZING BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 5 contests
last seen Aug 22, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN	28	0	28	0%	⚔ compare
Hogline	27	4	23	15%	⚔ compare
LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY	25	4	21	16%	⚔ compare
HOT DADDY'S BBQ	25	3	22	12%	⚔ compare
LUCKY'S Q	22	1	21	5%	⚔ compare
MACHETE BOYS BBQ	21	9	12	43%	⚔ compare
WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ	21	1	20	5%	⚔ compare
Phoenix BBQ	20	5	15	25%	⚔ compare
CROIX VALLEY SAUCES	19	6	13	32%	⚔ compare
ACES HIGH BBQ	19	3	16	16%	⚔ compare
SPITFIRE	19	0	19	0%	⚔ compare
SMOKE IN THE EYE	18	6	12	33%	⚔ compare
TEAM CRAWFORD	18	6	12	33%	⚔ compare
BAMBQ	18	5	13	28%	⚔ compare
DRY 2 DA BONE	17	2	15	12%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	42	11	0	0	176	153.0972	166.88	top 52%
Pork Ribs	42	8	0	0	174.8916	140.5144	163.12	top 58%
Pork	42	17	1	3	178.8572	148.5144	165.03	top 51%
Brisket	41	10	0	1	174.8456	144.5144	162.79	top 55%

“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	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	1	top 75%
Medium (20–39)	19	top 57%
Large (40+)	22	top 60%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
IA	18	top 60%
MN	11	top 49%
WI	9	top 75%
SD	1	top 37%
MO	1	top 61%
OK	1	top 28%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Smokin In Steele	3	16	top 51%	Jun 1, 2018
Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition	2	10	top 46%	Jun 18, 2021
Bring'n Home the Bacon - Day 2	2	27	top 74%	Jun 12, 2021
Bring'n Home the Bacon - Day 1	2	33	top 83%	Jun 11, 2021
Minnesota in May	2	36	top 63%	May 7, 2021
BBQ'Loo & Blues Too!	2	22	top 61%	Jul 19, 2019
Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship	2	34	top 69%	Mar 2, 2018

More numbers

Busiest season 2021 9 contests

Contests a season 5.4 across 8 seasons in the data

Most contests held in IA 18 of 43 contests · 6 states in all

Contests visited 34 7 of them more than once

Opponents faced 721 finished ahead 754 times, behind 1,220

Longest layoff 1 yrs Feb 27, 2015 → Mar 4, 2016

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

20223 milestones

Jun 17 First category win (Pork) Rose Festival 21st Annual KCBS BBQ Contest
Jun 17 Career-best single call (Pork)178.8572 Rose Festival 21st Annual KCBS BBQ Contest
Oct 14 Most recent contest King of the Corn

20211 milestone

Sep 24 Career-best overall score687.3716 Ottumwa 4th Annual Smoketoberfest

20201 milestone

Jul 17 25th tracked contest Real Squeal BBQ Smoke Off

20191 milestone

Jun 14 Peak power rating (1537) Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition

20181 milestone

Mar 2 10th tracked contest Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship

20172 milestones

Apr 29 First overall past 90% of a perfect score663.9200 Central Iowa Expo BBQ & Cruise (DAY 2)
Jul 21 First overall top-10 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

20161 milestone

Mar 4 First call Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship

20151 milestone

Feb 27 First tracked contest Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship (Competitor's Series)

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+16.5	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Jul 21, 2017
+14.1	Ottumwa 4th Annual Smoketoberfest	Sep 24, 2021
+12.9	Real Squeal BBQ Smokeoff	Jul 16, 2021
+12.1	Firelake BBQ Cook Off Day 1	Mar 22, 2019
+11.5	11th Annual Big Island BBQ	Aug 24, 2018

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12.2	Bring'n Home the Bacon	Jun 21, 2019
-10.6	Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1	Oct 16, 2020
-9.9	Bring'n Home the Bacon - Day 1	Jun 11, 2021
-9.8	Rotary Rockn Ribs	Jun 23, 2017
-7.8	Minnesota in May	May 10, 2019

Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — 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	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2022	3	0	1	67%	top 67%	93.3%	92.3%
2021	9	2	0	67%	top 57%	95.5%	92.2%
2020	9	0	0	56%	top 65%	92.6%	91%
2019	7	2	0	71%	top 58%	94%	91.4%
2018	6	0	0	67%	top 49%	93.5%	91.9%
2017	6	1	0	67%	top 58%	94.6%	90.8%
2016	2	0	0	50%	top 69%	89.5%	88.5%
2015	1	0	0	0%	—	—	—

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Oct 14, 2022	King of the Corn 🏅 Ottumwa, IA	21 / 36 (671.8972)	9 (173.1084)	31 (161.1200)	23 (167.9772)	11 (169.6916)
Jun 17, 2022	Rose Festival 21st Annual KCBS BBQ Contest 🏅 State Center, IA	19 / 32 (667.9088)	28 (162.8344)	28 (161.6688)	1 (178.8572)	17 (164.5484)
Apr 1, 2022	Iowa State BBQ Championship 🏅 Altoona, IA	40 / 48 (653.5196)	41 (163.3712)	34 (164.5256)	44 (154.2056)	15 (171.4172)
Sep 24, 2021	Ottumwa 4th Annual Smoketoberfest 🏅 Ottumwa, IA	7 / 35 (687.3716)	15 (171.9656)	6 (171.9888)	5 (175.4172)	16 (168)
Sep 17, 2021	Tri City BBQ Fest 🏅 Denison, IA	15 / 20 (671.9200)	15 (165.6800)	10 (166.2972)	6 (173.7028)	14 (166.2400)
Jul 30, 2021	5th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest 🏅 Emmetsburg, IA	31 / 35 (648.4112)	16 (170.8456)	20 (165.6800)	35 (150.2172)	23 (161.6684)
Jul 16, 2021	Real Squeal BBQ Smokeoff 🏅 Cedar Rapids, IA	6 / 26 (681.0860)	6 (175.4172)	12 (168.5716)	2 (176)	19 (161.0972)
Jun 18, 2021	Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition 🏅 State Center, IA	19 / 32 (660.4688)	9 (170.8572)	18 (164.5716)	27 (154.2056)	8 (170.8344)
Jun 12, 2021	Bring'n Home the Bacon - Day 2 🏅 West Salem, WI	30 / 45 (656.4572)	32 (165.1428)	25 (163.9428)	34 (160.5256)	19 (166.8460)
Jun 11, 2021	Bring'n Home the Bacon - Day 1 🏅 West Salem, WI	43 / 52 (644.4340)	35 (163.9540)	24 (166.2744)	25 (167.4172)	50 (146.7884)
Jun 4, 2021	Original SD BBQ Championship 🏅 Huron, SD	18 / 49 (670.7884)	15 (169.1200)	32 (162.8456)	27 (166.2628)	6 (172.5600)
May 7, 2021	Minnesota in May 🏅 Cambridge, MN	38 / 60 (656.4916)	4 (176)	30 (164)	45 (161.0972)	52 (155.3944)
Oct 17, 2020	Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 West Salem, WI	27 / 33 (663.8284)	19 (170.8228)	23 (166.2400)	6 (174.2972)	32 (152.4684)
Oct 16, 2020	Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 🏅 West Salem, WI	33 / 40 (644.3884)	36 (156.5256)	33 (157.6572)	36 (157.0856)	9 (173.1200)
Oct 2, 2020	Ottumwa Smoketoberfest 🏅 Ottumwa, IA	51 / 66 (648.4344)	54 (161.6688)	43 (162.2972)	53 (162.8112)	45 (161.6572)
Sep 4, 2020	Smokin in the Bogs 🏅 Warrens, WI	11 / 28 (666.2288)	16 (164.5600)	13 (162.8572)	4 (174.2744)	10 (164.5372)
Aug 28, 2020	Minnesota in Mayaugust 🏅 Cambridge, MN	24 / 45 (666.7316)	17 (169.6916)	24 (165.1200)	29 (163.9428)	17 (167.9772)
Jul 25, 2020	4th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest 🏅 Emmetsburg, IA	14 / 30 (664.5140)	22 (163.9656)	26 (161.7144)	7 (169.6684)	5 (169.1656)
Jul 17, 2020	Real Squeal BBQ Smoke Off 🏅 Marion, IA	18 / 36 (653.0400)	32 (153.0972)	28 (156.5372)	10 (168.5600)	2 (174.8456)
Jun 26, 2020	Back to Mayberry Day 1 🏅 Rodney, IA	47 / 53 (643.2224)	50 (157.0512)	43 (160.5372)	35 (163.9656)	37 (161.6684)
Apr 6, 2020	Socially Distanced Smoking - Brisket presented by The BBQ League unrated washington, MO	67 / 109 (161.6912)	—	—	—	—
Aug 24, 2019	3rd Annual Halfway to St.Pat's BBQ Contest 🏅 Emmetsburg, IA	9 / 12 (658.8004)	9 (166.8456)	5 (166.8460)	8 (163.9888)	9 (161.1200)
Aug 9, 2019	16th Annual UP IN SMOKE BBQ Bash 🏅 Mason City, IA	21 / 38 (653.6116)	10 (170.8572)	27 (161.0972)	21 (164.5828)	29 (157.0744)
Jul 19, 2019	BBQ'Loo & Blues Too! 🏅 Waterloo, IA	22 / 33 (659.9544)	21 (166.2628)	7 (170.8344)	10 (170.2972)	29 (152.5600)
Jun 21, 2019	Bring'n Home the Bacon 🏅 West Salem, WI	31 / 37 (626.1028)	28 (159.3944)	33 (150.8000)	28 (156.5600)	19 (159.3484)
Jun 14, 2019	Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition 🏅 State Center, IA	10 / 31 (674.8688)	10 (169.7372)	6 (170.8688)	8 (170.8800)	19 (163.3828)
May 10, 2019	Minnesota in May 🏅	36 / 57 (654.8004)	38 (165.0972)	36 (162.2860)	28 (166.3200)	40 (161.0972)
Mar 22, 2019	Firelake BBQ Cook Off Day 1 🏅 Shawnee, OK	21 / 74 (677.0744)	10 (173.1200)	25 (169.1428)	10 (174.2972)	55 (160.5144)
Aug 24, 2018	11th Annual Big Island BBQ Alberta Lea, MN	12 / 49 (673.0512)	10 (173.1200)	7 (171.4056)	9 (170.8228)	31 (157.7028)
Jul 20, 2018	BBQ 'Loo & Blues TOO! Waterloo, IA	23 / 42 (659.3944)	22 (166.8344)	11 (171.4288)	35 (158.2856)	23 (162.8456)
Jun 22, 2018	Rotary Rockn Ribs LaCrosse, WI	31 / 41 (647.8744)	20 (168.5256)	28 (162.2860)	40 (148.5144)	10 (168.5484)
Jun 1, 2018	Smokin In Steele Owatonna, MN	16 / 45 (669.6344)	12 (170.8572)	8 (172)	21 (166.2628)	27 (160.5144)
May 11, 2018	Minnesota in May Falcon Heights, MN	27 / 70 (666.3204)	15 (170.8572)	22 (167.4516)	59 (157.1544)	9 (170.8572)
Mar 2, 2018	Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship Onamia, MN	37 / 57 (654.1944)	27 (165.7256)	54 (152.5032)	31 (166.2972)	15 (169.6684)
Sep 15, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Madison, WI	22 / 30 (661.1088)	20 (166.2972)	23 (164.5488)	6 (171.4400)	29 (158.8228)
Jul 21, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Eagan, MN	4 / 30 (681.1316)	5 (171.4400)	4 (174.8916)	9 (166.8228)	10 (167.9772)
Jun 23, 2017	Rotary Rockn Ribs LaCrosse, WI	33 / 37 (606.6400)	9 (169.1084)	36 (140.5144)	31 (152.5028)	36 (144.5144)
Jun 2, 2017	Smokin In Steele Owatonna, MN	17 / 46 (668.4572)	19 (169.1200)	26 (161.0972)	11 (171.4172)	20 (166.8228)
Apr 29, 2017	Central Iowa Expo BBQ & Cruise (DAY 2) Boone, IA	21 / 35 (663.9200)	24 (165.1656)	29 (159.3832)	2 (175.4172)	24 (163.9540)
Mar 3, 2017	Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship Onamia, MN	34 / 47 (640.4576)	26 (165.1088)	11 (169.1544)	40 (156.5372)	38 (149.6572)
Jun 3, 2016	Smokin in Steele Owatonna, MN	43 / 53 (630.0684)	20 (167.4172)	49 (147.3372)	49 (152.4912)	27 (162.8228)
Mar 4, 2016	Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship Isle, MN	33 / 59 (644.4572)	31 (163.3828)	44 (155.3944)	10 (171.4400)	42 (154.2400)
Feb 27, 2015	Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship (Competitor's Series) Isle, MN	—	30 (158.8228)	31 (155.3716)	25 (158.3200)	—

An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.

BERGEY BOYS BLAZING 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 (12 found in their record)

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

A July 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, averaged over 5 contests — 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)