LTS BBQ

LTS BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 13 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2014 and 2021. Their best overall finish is 19th of 23 at the Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition (2018). They are ranked #5940 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “L T S BBQ”.

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At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#5,940

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1437

peak 1437 · rated over 13 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

May 24, 2014

latest Jul 16, 2021 · 7.1 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#842

Master 2020 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

0 podiums

Overall top-10s

0% of 13 contests

Avg finish

top 79%

overall standings

Best overall

653.6116 / 720

Master · Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition

Perfect 180s

Current form

644.47 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 589.48 (+54.98)

Walk rate

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

171.9772

Pork · BBQ'Loo & Blues Too

Consistency

±132.01

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 159.91 · weakest Brisket (151.36)

Road miles

787

across 13 mapped stops · furthest 161 mi

Schedule strength

57%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1572)

Purse competed for

$33K

listed at 4 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 4 state-championship entries

Master avg

589.48 / 720

13 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (6 found in their record)

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

A tough matchup

11–0 behind in the head-to-head

2 CASE BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

2 CASE BBQ has come out ahead in 11 of their 11 shared contests.

The weak link

−8.5 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 8.55 points below their pork, and turns into a call 0% of the time against 8%.

Brisket avg 151.36
Pork avg 159.91
0 calls in 13 entries

Pork nemesis

10 of 11 shared pork entries lost

2 CASE BBQ ahead 91% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, 2 CASE BBQ has out-cooked them in 10 of 11 shared pork entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

SMOKIN BIG DAWGS has landed one call behind them 2 times.

Boom or bust

±18.34% swing around their own average

Their overall swings ±18.34% of a perfect score around its own average — when it lands they're dangerous, and when it doesn't the weekend is gone by lunch.

averages 81.9% of a perfect score
best 90.8%

A standing appointment

6 years running at one contest

They've cooked BBQ'Loo & Blues Too! every year from 2014 to 2019 — the contest they never miss.

6 visits in all
best finish 21st

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
2021 ↗	Master	#1232 (61 pts)	#1532 (56 pts)	#1260 (71 pts)	#1193 (81 pts)	#1566 (51 pts)
2020 ↗	Master	#842 (65 pts)	#851 (80 pts)	#913 (60 pts)	#883 (65 pts)	#744 (115 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#1412 (134 pts)	#1327 (179 pts)	#1309 (179 pts)	#1478 (139 pts)	#1501 (129 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1217 (198 pts)	#1214 (223 pts)	#1268 (208 pts)	#1134 (248 pts)	#1268 (203 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#2199 (63 pts)	#1968 (113 pts)	#2823 (58 pts)	#2814 (58 pts)	#2070 (93 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#2163 (77 pts)	#2342 (62 pts)	#2285 (72 pts)	#1558 (182 pts)	#2892 (57 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to LTS BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

HERE COME THE JUDGE BBQ TEAM

#5,938 of the rated field

1438 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1438

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 13 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 13 contests
last seen Oct 5, 2018

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ATLANTA BBQ CLUB

#5,935 of the rated field

1438 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1438

Their last contest in the data was back in 2018, 3 years before LTS BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 13 contests

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Backwoods Grillin'

#5,941 of the rated field

1437 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1437

Careers of much the same size, 14 contests to 13, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 14 contests
last seen Oct 20, 2017

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Gettin' Piggy With It!

#5,956 of the rated field

1437 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1437

12 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Jun 12, 2026

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Hickswood BBQ

#5,946 of the rated field

1437 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1437

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2014.

rated over 12 contests
last seen May 4, 2024

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SMOKIN CHEESE HEADS

#5,953 of the rated field

1437 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1437

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

rated over 12 contests
last seen Jul 13, 2019

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
2 CASE BBQ	11	0	11	0%	⚔ compare
LUCKY'S Q	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
DRY 2 DA BONE	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN BIG DAWGS	8	6	2	75%	⚔ compare
GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
SMOKEHOUSE 72	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
BAMBQ	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
WOODWARD BARBEQUE	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
TEAM CRAWFORD	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
TRUE SMOKE BBQ	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
MARK'S SMOKIN QUE	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
OLY SMOKES	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
NECTAR OF THE HOGS	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	12	0	169.1084	134.2860	158.69	top 72%
Pork Ribs	12	0	163.9772	136.0228	156.03	top 75%
Pork	12	1	171.9772	146.2628	159.91	top 65%
Brisket	13	0	162.2972	132.0456	151.36	top 76%

“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)	11	0	top 78%
Large (40+)	2	0	top 84%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
IA	12	0	top 78%
IL	1	0	top 93%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
BBQ'Loo & Blues Too!	6	21	0	top 76%	Jul 19, 2019
Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition	2	19	0	top 75%	Jun 14, 2019

More numbers

Busiest season 2018 3 contests

Contests a season 1.6 across 8 seasons in the data

Most contests held in IA 12 of 13 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 7 2 of them more than once

Most-entered meat Brisket 13 entries · 0 wins · 0 calls

Opponents faced 215 finished ahead 92 times, behind 326

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

20211 milestone

Jul 16 Most recent contest Real Squeal BBQ Smokeoff

20193 milestones

Jun 14 First overall past 90% of a perfect score653.6116 Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition
Jun 14 10th tracked contest Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition
Jun 14 Career-best overall score653.6116 Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition

20162 milestones

Jul 15 First call BBQ'Loo & Blues Too
Jul 15 Career-best single call (Pork)171.9772 BBQ'Loo & Blues Too

20142 milestones

May 24 First tracked contest Smokin' in the Junction
May 24 Peak power rating (1486) Smokin' in the Junction

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

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-14.5	Smokin' in the Junction	May 24, 2014
-10.4	Smoke on the Prairie	Jun 13, 2014
-8.8	BBQ 'Loo & Blues TOO!	Jul 20, 2018
-6.9	Real Squeal BBQ Smokeoff	Jul 16, 2021
-6.6	Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition	Jun 15, 2018

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	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2021	1	0%	top 88%	89.2%	89.2%
2020	1	0%	top 67%	88.8%	88.8%
2019	2	0%	top 75%	90.8%	90.3%
2018	3	0%	top 83%	89.7%	87.4%
2017	1	0%	top 73%	86.4%	86.4%
2016	1	100%	top 66%	89.4%	89.4%
2015	1	0%	top 77%	79.8%	79.8%
2014	3	0%	top 86%	84.9%	62.7%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jul 16, 2021	Real Squeal BBQ Smokeoff 🏅 Cedar Rapids, IA	23 / 26 (642.1716)	24 (164.5372)	21 (162.8572)	19 (161.6800)	25 (153.0972)
Jul 17, 2020	Real Squeal BBQ Smoke Off 🏅 Marion, IA	24 / 36 (639.3716)	21 (161.1772)	27 (157.6916)	24 (158.2056)	14 (162.2972)
Jul 19, 2019	BBQ'Loo & Blues Too! 🏅 Waterloo, IA	27 / 33 (647.2572)	20 (167.3828)	19 (163.9772)	25 (165.0972)	31 (150.8000)
Jun 14, 2019	Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition 🏅 State Center, IA	21 / 31 (653.6116)	17 (167.3944)	18 (162.8572)	20 (163.3828)	22 (159.9772)
Oct 5, 2018	SMOKEToBERFEST Ottumwa, IA	29 / 40 (639.9200)	27 (158.2744)	34 (154.8456)	15 (168.5372)	27 (158.2628)
Jul 20, 2018	BBQ 'Loo & Blues TOO! Waterloo, IA	40 / 42 (600.8456)	42 (139.8624)	32 (158.2288)	29 (161.6800)	40 (141.0744)
Jun 15, 2018	Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition State Center, IA	19 / 23 (646.1256)	14 (169.1084)	17 (163.3944)	19 (156.5028)	18 (157.1200)
Jul 14, 2017	BBQ 'Loo & Blues TOO! Waterloo, IA	24 / 33 (622.1032)	14 (166.8572)	30 (143.9200)	27 (152.4916)	18 (158.8344)
Jul 15, 2016	BBQ'Loo & Blues Too Waterloo, IA	21 / 32 (643.3372)	24 (162.2744)	22 (159.9884)	5 (171.9772)	26 (149.0972)
Jul 17, 2015	BBQ'Loo & Blues Too! Waterloo, IA	30 / 39 (574.9140)	28 (160.5828)	35 (136.0228)	31 (146.2628)	32 (132.0456)
Jul 18, 2014	BBQ'Loo & Blues Too! Waterloo, IA	24 / 37 (611.3604)	29 (152.5144)	23 (157.7372)	22 (154.8228)	25 (146.2860)
Jun 13, 2014	Smoke on the Prairie Brimfield, IL	26 / 28 (603.4744)	28 (134.2860)	24 (150.8572)	20 (158.2856)	19 (160.0456)
May 24, 2014	Smokin' in the Junction West Des Moines, IA	31 / 31 (138.8000)	—	—	—	30 (138.8000)

LTS 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 (6 found in their record)

A tough matchup

The weak link

Pork nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

Boom or bust

A standing appointment

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)

📉 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)