RJ'S BACKYARD COOKERS

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

Power ranking

#3319

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1497

peak 1497 · rated over 18 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2016-06-17

latest 2022-06-17

Best ToY finish

#735

Master 2019

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

1 podiums

Overall top-10s

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

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 166.50 · weakest Brisket (158.77)

Road miles

353

mi across 18 mapped stops · furthest 49 mi

Schedule strength

63%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1579)

Purse competed for

$22K

listed at 4 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

GCs in 6 state-championship entries

Master avg

648.88 / 720

18 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (7 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

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
2019-06-07

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-10s
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" (2022-06-17).

last seen 2019-06-14
back 2022-06-17

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.

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.

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

WANNA B A PITMASTER

#3325 of the rated field

1497 ▼ 0 power rating

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

No shared contest yet.

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 2021-08-20

⚔ Head-to-head

82'S BBQ CREW

#3324 of the rated field

1497 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1506

No shared contest yet.

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

⚔ Head-to-head

Traditions BBQ

#3300 of the rated field

1498 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 7%
Peak: 1503

No shared contest yet.

14 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 7% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 14 contests
last seen 2023-06-09

⚔ Head-to-head

TROPICAL HEAT BBQ

#3317 of the rated field

1497 ▲ 0 power rating

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

No shared contest yet.

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 2019-03-30

⚔ Head-to-head

CHILLIN N GRILLIN BBQ COMPANY

#3304 of the rated field

1498 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 18%
Peak: 1506

No shared contest yet.

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 2019-09-21

⚔ Head-to-head

BEAN CAN BBQ

#3311 of the rated field

1497 ▲ 0 power rating

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

No shared contest yet.

Their last contest in the data was back in 2018, 4 years before RJ'S BACKYARD COOKERS's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 11 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

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 state / province

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

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	9	0	top 62%
Large (40+)	9	0	top 63%

Contest-by-contest record (recurring 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%	2022-06-17
Sertoma 48 BBQ	3	24	top 66%	2019-04-26
Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge	2	8	top 41%	2019-06-07
Hog Wild West BBQ Contest	2	14	top 60%	2018-09-07

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

On the trail 6 yrs 2016-06-17 → 2022-06-17

Busiest season 2018 6 contests

Contests a season 3.6 across 5 seasons in the data

Cooks most in KS 17 of 18 contests · 2 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 11 4 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 18 entries · 0 wins · 2 calls

Strongest meat Pork Ribs averages 166.50 · weakest Brisket (158.77)

Walk rate 39% a top-10 call in 7 of 18 contests

Overall top-10 rate 6% 1 of 18 contests

Master average 648.88 out of 720 · 18 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 379 279–465 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 353 18 mapped stops · furthest 49 mi

Schedule strength 1579 average field rating faced — tougher than 63% of rated contests

Purse competed for $21,900 listed at 4 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships 0 from 6 state-championship entries

Longest layoff 3 yrs 2019-06-14 → 2022-06-17

Power rating 1497 peak 1497 · #3319 of 6,413 rated

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

2016
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
2017
Jun 16 First overall past 90% of a perfect score654.7428 *Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off 4 Life(JUDGES FULL)
2018
Jun 15 10th tracked contest *Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off 4 Life
2019
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
2022
Jun 17 Most recent contest Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off "4 Life"

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+14.8	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge	2019-06-07
+7.7	14th Annual Cookin on the Kaw	2017-10-13
+7.3	*Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off 4 Life(JUDGES FULL)	2017-06-16
+2.8	Qlathe BBQ Championship	2019-03-15
+1.8	*Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off 4 Life	2018-06-15

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12.4	Knights of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off	2016-06-17
-9.7	Cookin on the Kaw	2016-10-07
-6.2	*15th Annual Cookin on the Kaw BBQ Contest	2018-10-12
-2.6	*The Grasshopper '18 (formerly Kansas 10x10)(JUDGES FULL)	2018-05-11
-2.5	*Sertoma 48 BBQ(JUDGESFULL)	2017-05-05

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	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
2022-06-17	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)
2019-06-14	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)
2019-06-07	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge 🏅 Kansas City, KS	8 / 46 (686.2172)	7 (174.2628)	17 (171.4172)	10 (171.9772)	16 (168.5600)
2019-05-03	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)
2019-04-26	Sertoma 48 BBQ 🏅 Lawrence, KS	24 / 38 (649.0288)	30 (156.0116)	14 (167.4172)	27 (160.5144)	17 (165.0856)
2019-03-15	Qlathe BBQ Championship 🏅 Olathe, KS	32 / 64 (657.7144)	37 (164.5600)	13 (170.8688)	50 (156.5600)	29 (165.7256)
2018-10-12	*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)
2018-09-07	Hog Wild West BBQ Contest Leavenworth, KS	14 / 25 (651.3144)	12 (169.1200)	14 (163.3944)	18 (158.8000)	12 (160.0000)
2018-06-15	*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)
2018-06-08	*Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge Kansas City, KS	30 / 46 (642.7656)	28 (164.5600)	26 (165.1084)	38 (154.8344)	28 (158.2628)
2018-05-11	*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)
2018-05-04	*Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS	27 / 41 (641.5772)	14 (167.4172)	37 (146.8228)	13 (166.2400)	24 (161.0972)
2017-10-13	14th Annual Cookin on the Kaw Desoto, KS	24 / 55 (680.5828)	31 (168.5600)	14 (173.1544)	27 (169.1428)	22 (169.7256)
2017-09-08	Hog Wild West BBQ Contest Leavenworth, KS	16 / 25 (648.5144)	8 (168.5944)	13 (165.6916)	16 (162.8456)	20 (151.3828)
2017-06-16	*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)
2017-05-05	*Sertoma 48 BBQ(JUDGESFULL) Lawrence, KS	30 / 44 (638.7544)	26 (163.3828)	6 (173.1428)	40 (149.6916)	32 (152.5372)
2016-10-07	Cookin on the Kaw DeSoto, KS	54 / 56 (610.8232)	53 (150.3088)	53 (151.3828)	38 (162.2972)	51 (146.8344)
2016-06-17	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)

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
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)