RJ'S BACKYARD COOKERS

RJ'S BACKYARD COOKERS is a competition barbecue team with 18 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2016 and 2022. Their best overall finish is 8th of 46 at the Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge (2019). They are ranked #3332 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#3,332

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1497

peak 1497 · rated over 18 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Jun 17, 2016

latest Jun 17, 2022 · 6 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#735

Master 2019 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

1 podium

Overall top-10s

6% of 18 contests

Avg finish

top 63%

overall standings

Best overall

686.2172 / 720

Master · Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge

Perfect 180s

Current form

660.95 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 648.88 (+12.07)

Walk rate

39%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

174.3428

Pork Ribs · Knights of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off

Consistency

±18.23

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 166.50 · weakest Brisket (158.77)

Road miles

353

across 18 mapped stops · furthest 49 mi

Schedule strength

63%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1580)

Purse competed for

$22K

listed at 4 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 6 state-championship entries

Master avg

648.88 / 720

18 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (7 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

686.2172 career-best overall

95.3% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 686.2172 at Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge — 95.3% of a perfect 720.

Master
Jun 7, 2019

Their season

2019 their best year

2019 was the year it came together: 5 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 51%.

5 contests
1 overall top-10
0 category wins
average top 51%

A tough matchup

12–1 behind in the head-to-head

HIGH i QUE ahead in 92% of their meetings

HIGH i QUE has come out ahead in 12 of their 13 shared contests.

The weak link

−7.7 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 7.74 points below their pork ribs, and turns into a call 0% of the time against 28%.

Brisket avg 158.77
Pork Ribs avg 166.50
0 calls in 18 entries

A strong matchup

6–2 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 75% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of RUB THAT MEAT BBQ in 6 of their 8 shared contests.

The comeback

3 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 3 years, then back at Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off "4 Life" (Jun 17, 2022).

last seen Jun 14, 2019
back Jun 17, 2022

Pork Ribs nemesis

9 of 13 shared pork ribs entries lost

HIGH i QUE ahead 69% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, HIGH i QUE has out-cooked them in 9 of 13 shared pork ribs entries.

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	#1216 (84 pts)	#1275 (79 pts)	#1009 (149 pts)	#1610 (59 pts)	#1297 (69 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#735 (410 pts)	#773 (425 pts)	#559 (620 pts)	#792 (405 pts)	#787 (410 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#751 (437 pts)	#676 (537 pts)	#754 (477 pts)	#786 (442 pts)	#786 (437 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#996 (339 pts)	#1037 (354 pts)	#709 (564 pts)	#1112 (314 pts)	#1070 (319 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1775 (120 pts)	#2029 (115 pts)	#1045 (335 pts)	#1840 (125 pts)	#2015 (115 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to RJ'S BACKYARD COOKERS, each with one reason worth a look.

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

Evening Wood

#3,317 of the rated field

1498 power rating

Contests: 26
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 4%
Peak: 1553

2–1 in 3 shared contests (67% to RJ'S BACKYARD COOKERS)

These two have cooked 3 of the same contests — RJ'S BACKYARD COOKERS ahead 2–1 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 26 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

WANNA B A PITMASTER

#3,341 of the rated field

1497 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 17%
Peak: 1508

Careers of much the same size, 18 contests to 18, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 18 contests
last seen Aug 20, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

82'S BBQ CREW

#3,331 of the rated field

1497 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1507

Their last contest in the data was back in 2017, 5 years before RJ'S BACKYARD COOKERS's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 16 contests

⚔ Compare careers

Click & Q

#3,321 of the rated field

1498 power rating

Contests: 21
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 57%
Peak: 1512

Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 21 contests, alongside a 57% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 21 contests
last seen Sep 12, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

TROPICAL HEAT BBQ

#3,325 of the rated field

1497 power rating

Contests: 29
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 7%
Peak: 1543

They've been 1543 at their best, 46 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 29 contests
last seen Mar 30, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

BEAN CAN BBQ

#3,320 of the rated field

1498 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1507

Level with RJ'S BACKYARD COOKERS on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 11 contests
last seen Jun 22, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
HIGH i QUE	13	1	12	8%	⚔ compare
913 BBQ	10	1	9	10%	⚔ compare
RUB THAT MEAT BBQ	8	6	2	75%	⚔ compare
SLAPS BBQ	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
AMERICAN FIRE BBQ	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
Fergolicious BBQ	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
2 DRUNK 2 QUE	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
MAN MEAT BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
BLACK EYE BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
Fat&Dumb BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
Wildhouse BBQ	6	3	3	50%	⚔ compare
3 PIGS SMOKIN	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare
GRINDERS BBQ KANSAS CITY	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' SAUCED	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	18	2	0	0	174.2628	145.6228	163.06	top 60%
Pork Ribs	18	5	1	1	174.3428	146.8228	166.50	top 43%
Pork	18	1	0	0	171.9772	149.6916	160.55	top 69%
Brisket	18	0	0	0	169.7256	141.0856	158.77	top 64%

“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)	9	0	top 62%
Large (40+)	9	0	top 63%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
KS	17	0	top 63%
MO	1	0	top 62%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off "4 Life"	4	13	top 56%	Jun 17, 2022
Sertoma 48 BBQ	3	24	top 66%	Apr 26, 2019
Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge	2	8	top 41%	Jun 7, 2019
Hog Wild West BBQ Contest	2	14	top 60%	Sep 7, 2018

More numbers

Busiest season 2018 6 contests

Contests a season 3.6 across 5 seasons in the data

Most contests held in KS 17 of 18 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 11 4 of them more than once

Opponents faced 375 finished ahead 279 times, behind 465

Longest layoff 3 yrs Jun 14, 2019 → Jun 17, 2022

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

20221 milestone

Jun 17 Most recent contest Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off "4 Life"

20193 milestones

Jun 7 First overall top-10 Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge
Jun 7 Career-best overall score686.2172 Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge
Jun 7 Peak power rating (1499) Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge

20181 milestone

Jun 15 10th tracked contest Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off 4 Life

20171 milestone

Jun 16 First overall past 90% of a perfect score654.7428 Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off 4 Life (JUDGES FULL)

20164 milestones

Jun 17 First tracked contest Knights of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off
Jun 17 First call Knights of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off
Jun 17 First category win (Pork Ribs) Knights of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off
Jun 17 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)174.3428 Knights of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+14.7	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge	Jun 7, 2019
+7.7	14th Annual Cookin on the Kaw	Oct 13, 2017
+7.3	Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off 4 Life (JUDGES FULL)	Jun 16, 2017
+2.8	Qlathe BBQ Championship	Mar 15, 2019
+1.8	Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off 4 Life	Jun 15, 2018

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12.4	Knights of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off	Jun 17, 2016
-9.6	Cookin on the Kaw	Oct 7, 2016
-6.2	15th Annual Cookin on the Kaw BBQ Contest	Oct 12, 2018
-2.6	The Grasshopper '18 (formerly Kansas 10x10) (JUDGES FULL)	May 11, 2018
-2.5	Sertoma 48 BBQ (JUDGESFULL)	May 5, 2017

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	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2022	1	0	0	100%	top 66%	91.3%	91.3%
2019	5	1	0	40%	top 51%	95.3%	91.8%
2018	6	0	0	0%	top 68%	90.9%	89.6%
2017	4	0	0	75%	top 54%	94.5%	91.1%
2016	2	0	1	50%	top 94%	85%	84.9%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jun 17, 2022	Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off "4 Life" 🏅 Kansas City, KS	19 / 29 (657.0744)	20 (165.7028)	8 (173.7372)	24 (159.4172)	22 (158.2172)
Jun 14, 2019	Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off 4 Life 🏅 Kansas City, KS	24 / 38 (659.9204)	23 (165.6916)	22 (164.0344)	19 (166.2516)	20 (163.9428)
Jun 7, 2019	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge 🏅 Kansas City, KS	8 / 46 (686.2172)	7 (174.2628)	17 (171.4172)	10 (171.9772)	16 (168.5600)
May 3, 2019	Apple Blossom BBQ Made with Uncommon Character 🏅 St. Joseph, MO	24 / 39 (652.5032)	23 (163.9772)	4 (172.5600)	38 (152.5488)	26 (163.4172)
Apr 26, 2019	Sertoma 48 BBQ 🏅 Lawrence, KS	24 / 38 (649.0288)	30 (156.0116)	14 (167.4172)	27 (160.5144)	17 (165.0856)
Mar 15, 2019	Qlathe BBQ Championship 🏅 Olathe, KS	32 / 64 (657.7144)	37 (164.5600)	13 (170.8688)	50 (156.5600)	29 (165.7256)
Oct 12, 2018	15th Annual Cookin on the Kaw BBQ Contest Desoto, KS	60 / 69 (634.1832)	49 (165.1200)	58 (157.6916)	50 (164.5716)	67 (146.8000)
Sep 7, 2018	Hog Wild West BBQ Contest Leavenworth, KS	14 / 25 (651.3144)	12 (169.1200)	14 (163.3944)	18 (158.8000)	12 (160)
Jun 15, 2018	Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off 4 Life Kansas City, KS	18 / 32 (654.7888)	11 (169.7372)	18 (165.6800)	29 (157.1316)	21 (162.2400)
Jun 8, 2018	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge Kansas City, KS	30 / 46 (642.7656)	28 (164.5600)	26 (165.1084)	38 (154.8344)	28 (158.2628)
May 11, 2018	The Grasshopper '18 (formerly Kansas 10x10) (JUDGES FULL) De Soto, KS	43 / 56 (647.4060)	54 (152.5372)	17 (170.3200)	43 (163.3944)	46 (161.1544)
May 4, 2018	Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS	27 / 41 (641.5772)	14 (167.4172)	37 (146.8228)	13 (166.2400)	24 (161.0972)
Oct 13, 2017	14th Annual Cookin on the Kaw Desoto, KS	24 / 55 (680.5828)	31 (168.5600)	14 (173.1544)	27 (169.1428)	22 (169.7256)
Sep 8, 2017	Hog Wild West BBQ Contest Leavenworth, KS	16 / 25 (648.5144)	8 (168.5944)	13 (165.6916)	16 (162.8456)	20 (151.3828)
Jun 16, 2017	Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off 4 Life (JUDGES FULL) Kansas City, KS	13 / 34 (654.7428)	19 (159.9772)	7 (170.2628)	17 (162.8000)	15 (161.7028)
May 5, 2017	Sertoma 48 BBQ (JUDGESFULL) Lawrence, KS	30 / 44 (638.7544)	26 (163.3828)	6 (173.1428)	40 (149.6916)	32 (152.5372)
Oct 7, 2016	Cookin on the Kaw DeSoto, KS	54 / 56 (610.8232)	53 (150.3088)	53 (151.3828)	38 (162.2972)	51 (146.8344)
Jun 17, 2016	Knights of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off Kansas City, KS	23 / 25 (611.8740)	24 (145.6228)	1 (174.3428)	22 (150.8228)	24 (141.0856)

RJ'S BACKYARD COOKERS

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 (7 found in their record)

High-water mark

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Pork Ribs nemesis

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)