BBQ Maestros IN
Rating
1617
peak 1617
Contests
68
in the data
First seen
2019-05-04
latest 2026-06-26
Best ToY finish
#35
Master 2026
Grand champs
0
2 reserve
Category wins
7
16 podiums
Overall top-10s
13
of 68 contests
Avg finish
top 50%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
2 🔥
Current form
693.76 ▲
last 5 vs career avg 666.53 (+27.22)
Walk rate
56%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
4
and counting
Consistency
±69.29
std dev of overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 169.88 · weakest Pork (167.82)
Road miles
13535
mi across 68 mapped stops · furthest 542 mi
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
SmokinGhost BBQ has finished one call ahead of BBQ Maestros 4 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
Buckeye Blue Smoke BBQ has landed one call behind them 3 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN has come out ahead in 31 of their 32 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ in 16 of their 19 shared contests.
🏕️ Happy hunting ground
GLBBQA Spring Fling is their spot: an average finish in the top 18% across 2 visits.
💔 The heartbreaker
Finished level on points with the champion at GLBBQA Spring Fling (2025-04-18) — the Grand Championship went to the KCBS tiebreaker.
📅 A April team
Something about April: average finish in the top 34% across 7 contests, versus top 50% the rest of the year.
📈 Riding a hot streak
Currently on a 4-contest overall top-10 run.
Teams like this (closest power rating, IN first)
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 60 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 178.8572 | 157.0972 | 169.88 | top 51% |
| Pork Ribs | 64 | 25 | 3 | 7 | 180.0000 🔥 | 151.3716 | 168.60 | top 46% |
| Pork | 60 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 178.2972 | 142.8000 | 167.82 | top 53% |
| Brisket | 59 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 180.0000 🔥 | 158.2288 | 169.02 | top 45% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| IN | 22 | 0 | top 58% |
| OH | 7 | 0 | top 43% |
| MI | 7 | 0 | top 40% |
| TN | 5 | 0 | top 63% |
| KS | 5 | 0 | top 40% |
| IL | 5 | 0 | top 66% |
| KY | 4 | 0 | top 49% |
| PA | 2 | 0 | top 43% |
| MN | 1 | 0 | top 5% |
| AR | 1 | 0 | top 5% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 2 | 0 | top 54% |
| Medium (20–39) | 30 | 0 | top 53% |
| Large (40+) | 27 | 0 | top 47% |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2026 (15 contests)
- Cooks mostly in IN (23 of 68 contests)
- Most-entered category: Pork Ribs (64 entries)
- All-time average overall score: 666.53
- 2 perfect 180s on the books 🔥
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
Category scores over time
Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)
Where they finish (overall)
Best vs average (by meat)
Season by season
| Season | Contests | GCs | Category wins | Best overall | Avg overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 703.3828 | 690.06 |
| 2025 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 704.5256 | 684.14 |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 685.6340 | 678.03 |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 689.6228 | 673.26 |
| 2022 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 682.2056 | 667.52 |
| 2021 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 677.0400 | 590.09 |
| 2020 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 675.9768 | 661.33 |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 647.7944 | 636.10 |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-26 | Grizzly BBQ Brawl Wellington, OH | 4 / 39 (697.1200) | 22 (168.5140) | 8 (173.7488) | 5 (176.5600) | 1 (178.2972) |
| 2026-06-13 | York County BBQ Festival (Day 2) Delta, PA | 8 / 13 (686.7540) | 8 (171.4172) | 4 (173.7028) | 3 (175.4056) | 11 (166.2284) |
| 2026-06-12 | York County BBQ Festival (Day 1) Delta, PA | 6 / 25 (693.6112) | 17 (170.8228) | 5 (175.4056) | 14 (170.8228) | 3 (176.5600) |
| 2026-05-29 | Covington World's Oldest Barbeque Contest Covington, TN | 9 / 25 (701.6800) | 10 (176.5944) | 9 (175.4172) | 12 (174.2628) | 10 (175.4056) |
| 2026-05-24 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Master Series Invitational and the Backyard Series Invitational (Sunday, May 24, 2026) Lebanon, TN | 52 / 82 (689.6112) | 35 (175.4056) | 60 (171.4172) | 41 (173.1200) | 61 (169.6684) |
| 2026-05-23 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Wells Cup, Cocktail Ancillary, Dessert Ancillary (Saturday, May 23, 2026) Lebanon, TN | 93 / 117 (676.4572) | 72 (171.4172) | 62 (171.4172) | 85 (167.3944) | 96 (166.2284) |
| 2026-05-22 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: World Chicken Finals (Friday, May 22, 2026) Lebanon, TN | — | 24 (175.4172) | — | — | — |
| 2026-05-22 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: World Rib Finals (Friday, May 22, 2026) Lebanon, TN | — | — | 15 (176.5600) | — | — |
| 2026-05-08 | Minnesota in May St. Peter, MN | 4 / 77 (695.9544) | 13 (176.0000) | 9 (174.8572) | 13 (174.2744) | 30 (170.8228) |
| 2026-05-08 | Minnesota in May (ONE MEAT RIBS) St. Peter, MN | — | — | 7 (171.9772) | — | — |
| 2026-05-01 | Smoke in the Mitten Westland, MI | 22 / 34 (665.0400) | 14 (170.2628) | 28 (162.2400) | 29 (162.8344) | 12 (169.7028) |
| 2026-05-01 | Smoke in the Mitten (ONE MEAT RIBS) Westland, MI | — | — | 22 (160.5600) | — | — |
| 2026-04-17 | GLBBQA Spring Fling Coldwater, MI | 16 / 48 (688.5488) | 21 (173.1544) | 24 (170.2628) | 25 (170.8572) | 13 (174.2744) |
| 2026-04-10 | Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT) Osage City, KS | 29 / 101 (692.5028) | 35 (174.8572) | 43 (172.5600) | 62 (169.6684) | 12 (175.4172) |
| 2026-03-13 | University of Arkansas Animal Science Boots, Brews, and BBQ Contest Fayetteville, AR | 2 / 37 (703.3828) | 22 (173.1084) | 7 (176.5716) | 9 (177.7028) | 4 (176.0000) |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest Kansas City, KS | 67 / 401 (692.5600) | 81 (174.2972) | 91 (174.2628) | 17 (178.2972) | 240 (165.7028) |
| 2025-09-19 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard Murphysboro, IL | 43 / 56 (679.3144) | 18 (175.4172) | 47 (166.2400) | 52 (163.9544) | 20 (173.7028) |
| 2025-09-12 | Bands and BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY | 21 / 29 (669.0284) | 4 (174.8456) | 16 (170.8228) | 24 (161.0972) | 20 (162.2628) |
| 2025-09-05 | Grizzly BBQ Brawl Wellington, OH | 14 / 42 (683.9540) | 8 (176.5600) | 28 (166.8228) | 16 (171.9884) | 16 (168.5828) |
| 2025-08-15 | Madison Ribberfest Madison, IN | 8 / 45 (694.2856) | 13 (174.8456) | 7 (174.3088) | 15 (174.2628) | 15 (170.8684) |
| 2025-08-01 | All American BBQ Throwdown Westland, MI | 8 / 43 (692.5372) | 5 (175.4400) | 4 (176.0116) | 20 (170.8228) | 15 (170.2628) |
| 2025-08-01 | All American BBQ Throwdown (ONE MEAT RIBS) Westland, MI | — | — | 20 (168.5256) | — | — |
| 2025-07-18 | Buckeye BBQ Classic Hillsboro, OH | 16 / 40 (683.3256) | 3 (177.7372) | 22 (169.6800) | 28 (165.0856) | 15 (170.8228) |
| 2025-06-06 | Hoosier BBQ Classic Franklin, IN | 15 / 30 (677.6572) | 24 (163.9544) | 17 (167.3828) | 6 (175.4172) | 14 (170.9028) |
| 2025-05-09 | Smoke in the Mitten Westland, MI | 18 / 26 (673.5884) | 20 (165.6684) | 13 (169.6800) | 20 (166.2400) | 8 (172.0000) |
| 2025-04-18 | GLBBQA Spring Fling Charlotte, MI | 2 / 56 (704.5256) | 1 (178.8572) | 31 (168.5256) | 4 (177.7028) | 1 (179.4400) |
| 2025-03-14 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship Lebanon, TN | 68 / 100 (674.7544) | 73 (169.1200) | 95 (155.9544) | 39 (173.1200) | 11 (176.5600) |
| 2024-09-13 | Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY | 14 / 31 (676.4568) | 26 (162.2284) | 8 (172.0000) | 16 (167.9656) | 5 (174.2628) |
| 2024-09-06 | Grizzly BBQ Brawl Wadsworth, OH | 13 / 30 (679.8968) | 19 (168.0000) | 8 (173.1200) | 21 (163.9312) | 3 (174.8456) |
| 2024-08-16 | Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues Madison, IN | 17 / 49 (685.6340) | 39 (166.2628) | 6 (175.4172) | 17 (173.1428) | 19 (170.8112) |
| 2024-08-02 | All American BBQ Throwdown Westland, MI | 21 / 40 (669.6116) | 34 (165.7028) | 22 (166.2400) | 18 (169.6916) | 16 (167.9772) |
| 2024-06-07 | Hoosier BBQ Classic Franklin, IN | 14 / 38 (683.8972) | 21 (169.6800) | 13 (170.8344) | 8 (174.2628) | 20 (169.1200) |
| 2024-05-03 | Smoke in the Mitten BBQ Competition Westland, MI | 10 / 26 (675.8856) | 7 (174.2972) | 8 (169.6800) | 17 (165.0856) | 13 (166.8228) |
| 2024-04-26 | Marietta River City BBQ Marietta, OH | 6 / 13 (681.0172) | 6 (170.8228) | 1 (177.7144) | 7 (165.0856) | 7 (167.3944) |
| 2024-03-15 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship Lebanon, TN | 64 / 93 (671.8628) | 45 (171.9656) | 30 (171.4172) | 76 (163.3828) | 69 (165.0972) |
| 2023-09-27 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023-09-27 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest Kansas City, KS | 330 / 487 (656.9712) | 420 (158.2400) | 334 (164.5256) | 276 (166.8228) | 236 (167.3828) |
| 2023-09-08 | Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY | 9 / 33 (683.3828) | 19 (169.6916) | 9 (172.0228) | 14 (171.4056) | 11 (170.2628) |
| 2023-08-18 | Madison Ribberfest BBQ Blues Madison, IN | 11 / 41 (689.6228) | 16 (172.5600) | 1 (180.0000) | 29 (165.0856) | 11 (171.9772) |
| 2023-07-14 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown Eureka, IL | 15 / 25 (663.2800) | 15 (167.4172) | 2 (170.2628) | 20 (159.3600) | 14 (166.2400) |
| 2023-06-10 | Hoosier BBQ Classic #2 Franklin, IN | 18 / 28 (676.4916) | 27 (161.6688) | 2 (174.8800) | 18 (169.1200) | 9 (170.8228) |
| 2023-06-09 | Hoosier BBQ Classic #1 Franklin, IN | 17 / 38 (675.9200) | 13 (173.7028) | 14 (170.8344) | 15 (170.8228) | 30 (160.5600) |
| 2023-05-19 | Rocking BBQ Warsaw Warsaw, IN | 25 / 35 (667.3256) | 24 (167.4056) | 9 (172.0228) | 27 (165.0856) | 26 (162.8116) |
| 2023-04-28 | Marietta River City BBQ Marietta, OH | 12 / 42 (673.0628) | 33 (159.9428) | 1 (176.5600) | 12 (168.5600) | 13 (168.0000) |
| 2022-10-01 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - SIDES Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022-09-29 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST Kansas City, KS | 238 / 505 (669.6568) | 185 (169.7028) | 242 (167.4172) | 128 (171.9884) | 346 (160.5484) |
| 2022-09-09 | Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY | 16 / 32 (675.9320) | 4 (176.5716) | 5 (174.8572) | 26 (159.3944) | 17 (165.1088) |
| 2022-08-19 | Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues Festival Madison, IN | 31 / 45 (661.0284) | 15 (172.5484) | 3 (175.4172) | 44 (142.8000) | 18 (170.2628) |
| 2022-07-15 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown Eureka, IL | 15 / 25 (671.2568) | 20 (160.4912) | 8 (171.9656) | 7 (171.4172) | 14 (167.3828) |
| 2022-06-18 | Hoosier BBQ Classic Day 2 Franklin, IN | 20 / 27 (661.6116) | 8 (173.7144) | 26 (158.8116) | 15 (169.1200) | 25 (159.9656) |
| 2022-06-17 | Hoosier BBQ Classic Day 1 Franklin, IN | 34 / 42 (660.9484) | 21 (171.9656) | 34 (162.2400) | 38 (160.5144) | 29 (166.2284) |
| 2022-04-29 | Smoke on the Water Liberty, IN | 4 / 25 (682.2056) | 6 (172.0000) | 2 (174.2628) | 9 (166.2744) | 6 (169.6684) |
| 2022-04-08 | CCSFEST Indianapolis, IN | 35 / 42 (657.5432) | 25 (170.8344) | 34 (161.0972) | 27 (167.3828) | 38 (158.2288) |
| 2021-10-22 | Smokin' For Garrett Boonville, IN | 17 / 27 (662.1256) | 12 (168.5372) | 25 (153.0744) | 16 (166.2512) | 4 (174.2628) |
| 2021-09-16 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST Kansas City, KS | 188 / 467 (146.8228) | 208 (167.4172) | 251 (165.7028) | 82 (171.4400) | 68 (172.5484) |
| 2021-08-13 | Big Blue Barbecue Shelbyville, IN | 14 / 30 (677.0400) | 7 (174.8456) | 30 (151.3716) | 2 (175.4056) | 5 (175.4172) |
| 2021-07-09 | Harvest On the Fire At the Winery Marshall, IL | 23 / 38 (660.4688) | 33 (161.6916) | 19 (166.2856) | 8 (171.9656) | 31 (160.5260) |
| 2021-06-19 | Hoosier BBQ Classic Day 2 Franklin, IN | 31 / 37 (665.5428) | 26 (168.5372) | 36 (154.7772) | 35 (162.2284) | 1 (180.0000) |
| 2021-06-18 | Hoosier BBQ Classic Day 1 Franklin, IN | 43 / 51 (651.8628) | 18 (171.4284) | 41 (161.6800) | 49 (155.3600) | 40 (163.3944) |
| 2021-05-01 | Smoke on the Water Liberty, IN | 17 / 27 (666.7772) | 10 (169.6800) | 9 (169.1544) | 5 (167.3828) | 24 (158.2400) |
| 2020-09-12 | Rockin' BBQ 2 Just Another BBQ Day 2 Warsaw, IN | 24 / 26 (648.9488) | 26 (159.9544) | 26 (157.6572) | 17 (167.3828) | 19 (163.9544) |
| 2020-09-11 | Rockin' BBQ 2 Just Another BBQ Day 1 Warsaw, IN | 21 / 36 (663.2912) | 25 (165.6800) | 22 (165.1200) | 28 (162.7884) | 8 (169.7028) |
| 2020-09-11 | Rockin' BBQ 2 Just Another BBQ - One Meat Companion Contest Warsaw, IN | — | — | 27 (159.3828) | — | — |
| 2020-08-14 | Big Blue Barbecue Shelbyville, IN | 19 / 50 (675.9768) | 34 (165.7256) | 15 (169.7028) | 22 (170.2512) | 26 (170.2972) |
| 2020-07-10 | Harvest On the Fire At the Winery Marshall, IL | 38 / 53 (657.0864) | 33 (166.2860) | 37 (161.1316) | 30 (166.8344) | 41 (162.8344) |
| 2019-07-12 | Ohio Veterans Barbecue Cook-Off Kettering, OH | 32 / 33 (624.4000) | 33 (157.0972) | 31 (151.9772) | 32 (151.9428) | 22 (163.3828) |
| 2019-05-04 | Smoke on the Water Liberty, IN | 19 / 26 (647.7944) | 19 (164.5256) | 15 (165.0972) | 22 (151.9316) | 15 (166.2400) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #35 (1412 pts) | #90 (937 pts) | #41 (1367 pts) | #50 (1123 pts) | #26 (1442 pts) |