High-water mark
671.8740
career-best overall
93.3% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 671.8740 at Best Dam BBQ — 93.3% of a perfect 720.
- Master
- May 23, 2025
The Smokin' B.A.R.
The Smokin' B.A.R. is a competition barbecue team with 12 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 11th of 26 at The Best Dam Barbeque (2021). They are ranked #4812 of 6,485 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1467
peak 1467 · rated over 12 contests
Contests
12
in the data
First seen
May 24, 2013
latest May 23, 2026 · 13 years on the trail
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
0
0 podiums
Overall top-10s
0
0% of 12 contests
Avg finish
top 70%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
656.07 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 652.25 (+3.82)
Walk rate
33%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±14.64
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 169.51 · weakest Brisket (156.85)
Road miles
395
across 12 mapped stops · furthest 111 mi
Schedule strength
55%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1570)
Purse competed for
$58K
listed at 6 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 7 state-championship entries
Master avg
652.25 / 720
12 Master contests · 0 GCs
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #861 (118 pts) | #651 (243 pts) | #1003 (118 pts) | #883 (118 pts) | #880 (118 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #1065 (84 pts) | #815 (179 pts) | #1154 (104 pts) | #1414 (59 pts) | #1469 (54 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #1480 (58 pts) | #1124 (93 pts) | #1571 (58 pts) | #1491 (58 pts) | #1480 (58 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #1182 (77 pts) | #1232 (82 pts) | #1312 (92 pts) | #1070 (117 pts) | #1612 (52 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #912 (121 pts) | #820 (176 pts) | #1244 (76 pts) | #693 (226 pts) | #1124 (91 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to The Smokin' B.A.R., each with one reason worth a look.
137 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#4,824 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 8%
- Peak
- 1467
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 12 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careers#4,823 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 8%
- Peak
- 1467
Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 7 years before The Smokin' B.A.R.'s most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#4,817 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1503
Careers of much the same size, 12 contests to 12, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careers#4,825 of the rated field
- Contests
- 13
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1511
13 contests and no Grand Championship yet.
⚔ Compare careers#4,801 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1467
Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.
⚔ Compare careers#4,829 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1466
Level with The Smokin' B.A.R. on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| Rhythm n QUE | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| STEVE'S PIG PIKINS BBQ | 7 | 6 | 1 | 86% | ⚔ compare |
| GIRLS CAN GRILL | 7 | 2 | 5 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| All About Smokin Q | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| Vegas Grillbillies | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| Porterhouse BBQ | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| Meat Candy Q | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| STEVO'S BBQ TEAM | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| Bad Boyz BBQ | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| BIG POPPA SMOKERS | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| Rollin Smoke Barbeque | 5 | 5 | 0 | 100% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 178.8572 | 162.8116 | 169.51 | top 44% |
| Pork Ribs | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 169.7028 | 155.9316 | 162.17 | top 64% |
| Pork | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 168.5372 | 149.7140 | 161.45 | top 76% |
| Brisket | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 166.8344 | 136.4912 | 156.85 | 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) | 10 | 0 | top 68% |
| Large (40+) | 2 | 0 | top 84% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Dam BBQ | 3 | 19 | 0 | top 68% | May 23, 2026 |
| Best Dam Barbeque | 2 | 20 | 0 | top 82% | May 24, 2024 |
| Best Dam Barbecue | 2 | 19 | 0 | top 61% | May 27, 2016 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2025
3 contests
Contests a season
1.3
across 9 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
NV
11 of 12 contests · 2 states in all
Contests visited
8
3 of them more than once
Opponents faced
248
finished ahead 127 times, behind 325
Longest layoff
4 yrs
May 26, 2017 → May 28, 2021
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20262 milestones
- Career-best single call (Chicken)178.8572 Best Dam BBQ
- Most recent contest Best Dam BBQ
20252 milestones
- 10th tracked contest Best Dam BBQ
- Career-best overall score671.8740 Best Dam BBQ
20151 milestone
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score652.4800 Best Dam Barbecue
20133 milestones
- First tracked contest 9th Annual Best Dam Barbecue Challenge
- First call 9th Annual Best Dam Barbecue Challenge
- Peak power rating (1497) 9th Annual Best Dam Barbecue Challenge
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +5.4 | The Best Dam Barbeque | May 28, 2021 |
| +2.4 | Best Dam Barbecue | May 27, 2016 |
| +1.8 | Best Dam BBQ | May 26, 2017 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -9 | Best Dam Barbeque | May 24, 2024 |
| -8 | Smokin in Mesquite BBQ Championship | Aug 31, 2013 |
| -6.9 | BBQ Jackpot | Nov 21, 2025 |
| -4.7 | Best Dam BBQ | May 23, 2026 |
| -3.9 | Best Dam Barbecue | May 22, 2015 |
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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 79% | 91.4% | 91.4% |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33% | top 77% | 93.3% | 91.9% |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 91% | 88.5% | 88.5% |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 74% | 92.3% | 92.3% |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 42% | 92.1% | 92.1% |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 59% | 91.3% | 91.3% |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 53% | 91% | 91% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 68% | 90.6% | 90.6% |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 72% | 88.5% | 87.1% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | Best Dam BBQ 🏅 Boulder City, NV | 26 / 33 (658.1032) | 5 (178.8572) | 30 (158.2172) | 30 (158.2056) | 26 (162.8232) |
| Nov 21, 2025 | BBQ Jackpot 🏅 Las Vegas, NV | 77 / 90 (662.1600) | 63 (167.3828) | 75 (163.9772) | 75 (163.9656) | 65 (166.8344) |
| May 23, 2025 | Best Dam BBQ 🏅 Boulder City, NV | 19 / 29 (671.8740) | 5 (175.4172) | 15 (169.7028) | 24 (165.6684) | 25 (161.0856) |
| Mar 28, 2025 | Q's & Brews 🏅 Lake Havasu, AZ | 21 / 26 (651.2688) | 23 (162.8116) | 21 (158.8228) | 14 (168.5372) | 19 (161.0972) |
| May 24, 2024 | Best Dam Barbeque 🏅 Boulder City, NV | 30 / 33 (636.9372) | 18 (169.1200) | 26 (162.2744) | 27 (162.7884) | 31 (142.7544) |
| May 26, 2023 | Best Dam Barbeque 🏅 Boulder City, NV | 20 / 27 (664.3768) | 19 (168.5372) | 17 (166.2284) | — | 25 (156.5028) |
| May 28, 2021 | The Best Dam Barbeque 🏅 Boulder City, NV | 11 / 26 (663.2800) | 5 (171.9884) | 20 (155.9316) | — | 17 (158.2172) |
| May 26, 2017 | Best Dam BBQ Boulder City, NV | 22 / 37 (657.5884) | 17 (170.8456) | 15 (169.1544) | 32 (158.2172) | 24 (159.3712) |
| May 27, 2016 | Best Dam Barbecue Boulder City, NV | 19 / 36 (655.3716) | 19 (166.3088) | 13 (165.1200) | 16 (168.0116) | 26 (155.9312) |
| May 22, 2015 | Best Dam Barbecue Boulder City, NV | 26 / 38 (652.4800) | 20 (167.4400) | 23 (161.7144) | 24 (165.1200) | 26 (158.2056) |
| Aug 31, 2013 | Smokin in Mesquite BBQ Championship Mesquite, NV | 44 / 54 (616.3996) | 12 (167.9656) | 26 (157.7144) | 42 (154.2284) | 51 (136.4912) |
| May 24, 2013 | 9th Annual Best Dam Barbecue Challenge Boulder City, NV | 22 / 35 (637.1430) | 6 (167.4286) | 22 (157.1432) | 33 (149.7140) | 16 (162.8572) |