CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ

CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 28 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2017 and 2019. Their best overall finish is 7th of 39 at the Grill Games (2017). They are ranked #3484 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#3,484

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1493

peak 1526 · rated over 28 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Apr 7, 2017

latest Oct 18, 2019 · 2.5 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#393

Master 2017 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

0 podiums

Overall top-10s

11% of 28 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 62%

overall standings

Best overall

676.4800 / 720

Master · Hog Capital Challenge (JUDGES FULL)

Perfect 180s

Current form

633.96 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 645.81 (-11.85)

Walk rate

46%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176.5600

Brisket · Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1

Consistency

±15.36

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Brisket

avg 164.34 · weakest Pork Ribs (158.85)

Road miles

3,216

across 28 mapped stops · furthest 294 mi

Schedule strength

72%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1591)

Purse competed for

$7,000

listed at 1 contest — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 1 state-championship entry

Master avg

645.81 / 720

28 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (10 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

676.4800 career-best overall

94.0% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 676.4800 at Hog Capital Challenge (JUDGES FULL) — 94.0% of a perfect 720.

Master
Jun 16, 2017

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

D.F.G.'S BBQ has finished one call ahead of CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

21–1 behind in the head-to-head

BIG "E" BBQ ahead in 95% of their meetings

BIG "E" BBQ has come out ahead in 21 of their 22 shared contests.

The weak link

−5.5 points behind their best meat

Pork Ribs is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 5.48 points below their brisket, and turns into a call 7% of the time against 36%.

Pork Ribs avg 158.85
Brisket avg 164.34
2 calls in 28 entries

A strong matchup

8–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of BIG DADDY OOWEE SMOKIN BONES BBQ in 8 of their 8 shared contests.

Brisket nemesis

14 of 22 shared brisket entries lost

BIG "E" BBQ ahead 64% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, BIG "E" BBQ has out-cooked them in 14 of 22 shared brisket entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

SMOKE FREAKS has landed one call behind them 2 times.

Show 3 more storylines

A June team

Top 51% average finish in June

Something about June: average finish in the top 51% across 8 contests, versus top 62% the rest of the year.

8 June contests
top 62% the rest of the year

The long haul

3,216 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 3,216 miles across 28 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 294 miles to CCS Fest.

28 mapped stops
furthest 294 mi

The metronome

±2.13% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.13% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 89.7% of a perfect score
28 contests

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
2017 ↗	Master	#393 (947 pts)	#406 (929 pts)	#479 (817 pts)	#417 (912 pts)	#269 (1,267 pts)

Teams like this (closest power rating)

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

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

Rub Runners

#3,473 of the rated field

1494 power rating

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

1–1 in 2 shared contests (50% to CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ)

2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 13 contests
last seen May 6, 2022

⚔ Head-to-head

Lynnwood Barbecue Co.

#3,491 of the rated field

1493 power rating

Contests: 5
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 20%
Peak: 1504

2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ)

Fewer contests behind them than CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ has cooked, 5 to 28, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 5 contests
last seen Jun 15, 2018

⚔ Head-to-head

Barking Pig BBQ

#3,499 of the rated field

1493 power rating

Contests: 34
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 9%
Peak: 1552

They've been 1552 at their best, 59 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 30 contests
last seen Jul 17, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

FLAME THROWER BBQ CO.

#3,482 of the rated field

1493 power rating

Contests: 25
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1518

25 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 8% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 25 contests
last seen May 31, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

Whistle Pig BBQ

#3,490 of the rated field

1493 power rating

Contests: 33
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 24%
Peak: 1529

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

rated over 33 contests
last seen Aug 28, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

JUSTCUZ BBQ

#3,478 of the rated field

1493 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 16%
Peak: 1514

Fewer contests behind them than CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ has cooked, 19 to 28, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 18 contests
last seen May 6, 2022

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
BIG "E" BBQ	22	1	21	5%	⚔ compare
SMOKE FREAKS	21	3	18	14%	⚔ compare
BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO.	21	3	18	14%	⚔ compare
Second Hand Smoke SLV	16	3	13	19%	⚔ compare
LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW	15	2	13	13%	⚔ compare
D.F.G.'S BBQ	14	4	10	29%	⚔ compare
WICKED SMOKE BBQ	14	1	13	7%	⚔ compare
TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI	14	0	14	0%	⚔ compare
CARNIVORE'S PARADISE	13	5	8	38%	⚔ compare
SmokinGhost BBQ	13	4	9	31%	⚔ compare
CHANNABILLY BBQ	13	2	11	15%	⚔ compare
THE REAL SMOKIN ACES	13	1	12	8%	⚔ compare
Carrol Lou's Smokehouse	12	2	10	17%	⚔ compare
Littles BBQ Co	12	2	10	17%	⚔ compare
CRASH TEST SMOKERS	12	2	10	17%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	28	4	171.9656	146.8344	163.46	top 54%
Pork Ribs	28	2	169.1428	148.5028	158.85	top 66%
Pork	28	1	168.5828	148.5716	159.16	top 67%
Brisket	28	10	176.5600	149.6228	164.34	top 44%

“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 55%
Large (40+)	18	0	top 65%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
WI	15	top 63%
IL	11	top 60%
IN	2	top 58%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
RED, WHITE and BAR-B-Q ( DAY 2)	3	35	top 70%	May 26, 2018
Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-off	2	33	top 78%	Oct 19, 2018
Grill Games	2	7	top 42%	Aug 24, 2018
Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2	2	24	top 65%	Jul 14, 2018
Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1	2	40	top 74%	Jul 13, 2018
Hog Capital Challenge	2	8	top 41%	Jun 15, 2018
The Masters In May (DAY 2)	2	23	top 56%	May 5, 2018

More numbers

Busiest season 2018 14 contests

Contests a season 9.3 across 3 seasons in the data

Most contests held in WI 15 of 28 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 20 7 of them more than once

Opponents faced 357 finished ahead 445 times, behind 718

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

20191 milestone

Oct 18 Most recent contest Best of the Midwest

20183 milestones

Jun 22 Career-best single call (Brisket)176.5600 Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1
Jun 22 Peak power rating (1526) Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1
Aug 24 25th tracked contest Grill Games

20176 milestones

Apr 7 First tracked contest CCS Fest
Apr 7 First overall past 90% of a perfect score652.5028 CCS Fest
May 19 First call ASTOPâ€™s BBQ 4 ASTOP
Jun 9 First overall top-10 8th Annual Poor Que
Jun 16 Career-best overall score676.4800 Hog Capital Challenge (JUDGES FULL)
Jul 15 10th tracked contest Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+11.5	Grill Games	Aug 25, 2017
+9.5	8th Annual Poor Que	Jun 9, 2017
+9.2	Hog Capital Challenge (JUDGES FULL)	Jun 16, 2017
+9.1	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1	Jun 22, 2018
+8.6	The Masters In May (DAY 2)	May 5, 2018

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-9.3	Up In smoke on the Square	Jun 2, 2017
-9.1	BBQ 4 ASTOP	May 18, 2018
-7.6	Best of the Midwest	Oct 18, 2019
-7.1	Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-off	Oct 19, 2018
-7	Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-off	Oct 20, 2017

Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — 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	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2019	1	0	0%	top 83%	87.6%	87.6%
2018	14	0	43%	top 65%	92.7%	89.7%
2017	13	3	54%	top 56%	94%	89.9%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Oct 18, 2019	Best of the Midwest 🏅 Union Grove, WI	43 / 52 (630.6284)	24 (163.9772)	47 (150.7656)	47 (153.6456)	29 (162.2400)
Oct 19, 2018	Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-off Union Grove, WI	33 / 42 (620.2968)	28 (158.8112)	31 (153.6572)	30 (158.2056)	36 (149.6228)
Oct 5, 2018	Harbor-Que Winthrop Harbor, IL	19 / 28 (629.4852)	11 (165.6684)	24 (148.5028)	22 (150.7884)	9 (164.5256)
Aug 24, 2018	Grill Games Kenosha, WI	28 / 42 (645.4740)	23 (165.6684)	35 (153.6228)	23 (160.5028)	14 (165.6800)
Jul 14, 2018	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2 Green Bay, WI	40 / 49 (643.9196)	29 (165.7028)	45 (150.8456)	38 (160.5372)	25 (166.8340)
Jul 13, 2018	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1 Green Bay, WI	40 / 54 (635.9088)	51 (146.8344)	29 (163.4172)	26 (162.8000)	32 (162.8572)
Jun 23, 2018	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 2 Belvidere, IL	33 / 44 (647.3488)	23 (170.2744)	35 (158.8000)	43 (148.5716)	12 (169.7028)
Jun 22, 2018	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1 Belvidere, IL	18 / 51 (667.3144)	29 (166.2516)	31 (161.7028)	25 (162.8000)	4 (176.5600)
Jun 15, 2018	Hog Capital Challenge Kewanee, IL	13 / 25 (658.1600)	7 (171.9656)	8 (166.2972)	22 (157.6688)	13 (162.2284)
Jun 8, 2018	Annual Poor Que Montello, WI	12 / 26 (655.9428)	11 (165.1428)	15 (157.1428)	11 (164.5372)	8 (169.1200)
May 26, 2018	RED, WHITE and BAR-B-Q ( DAY 2) Westmont, IL	37 / 60 (654.1604)	41 (165.1088)	31 (163.9772)	30 (166.2744)	39 (158.8000)
May 25, 2018	RED, WHITE and BAR-B-Q ( DAY 1) Westmont, IL	35 / 49 (643.8748)	14 (169.6916)	34 (159.9656)	41 (153.6688)	33 (160.5488)
May 18, 2018	BBQ 4 ASTOP Fond du Lac, WI	23 / 27 (628.3660)	24 (151.3600)	22 (155.9660)	18 (161.0972)	17 (159.9428)
May 5, 2018	The Masters In May (DAY 2) Appleton, WI	23 / 54 (663.3716)	20 (168.5600)	18 (169.1428)	51 (152.5604)	6 (173.1084)
May 4, 2018	The Masters In May ( DAY 1) Appleton, WI	38 / 54 (644.5260)	28 (165.7260)	42 (157.1428)	52 (150.8000)	8 (170.8572)
Oct 20, 2017	Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-off Union Grove, WI	40 / 52 (622.5828)	49 (148.4916)	39 (154.2172)	26 (162.8000)	34 (157.0740)
Oct 13, 2017	CIBR-BBQ Central Illinois Bragging Right BBQ Arthur, IL	21 / 41 (653.5540)	17 (167.9656)	10 (168)	35 (153.6228)	23 (163.9656)
Aug 25, 2017	Grill Games Kenosha, WI	7 / 39 (659.9428)	6 (169.7144)	25 (158.8800)	13 (163.3828)	7 (167.9656)
Jul 15, 2017	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2 Green Bay, WI	24 / 49 (660.6516)	28 (164.0228)	43 (156.6288)	12 (168.5828)	7 (171.4172)
Jul 14, 2017	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1 Green Bay, WI	43 / 58 (631.8060)	20 (165.1316)	45 (153.6572)	50 (154.2172)	40 (158.8000)
Jul 7, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Indianapolis, IN	19 / 30 (670.7540)	26 (161.0968)	21 (165.1200)	16 (168.5256)	5 (176.0116)
Jun 23, 2017	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Belvidere, IL	21 / 42 (653.0748)	24 (161.6572)	25 (162.8688)	19 (163.9544)	17 (164.5944)
Jun 16, 2017	Hog Capital Challenge (JUDGES FULL) Kewanee, IL	8 / 26 (676.4800)	6 (170.8572)	18 (163.9428)	16 (167.3828)	4 (174.2972)
Jun 9, 2017	8th Annual Poor Que Montello, WI	9 / 31 (650.1600)	16 (158.8228)	18 (155.3828)	9 (166.2400)	4 (169.7144)
Jun 2, 2017	Up In smoke on the Square Lincoln, IL	29 / 32 (622.6852)	27 (159.3828)	25 (154.8684)	32 (152.4912)	27 (155.9428)
May 27, 2017	RED, WHITE and BAR-B-Q ( DAY 2) Westmont, IL	45 / 59 (632.5144)	43 (159.9772)	44 (157.6800)	43 (159.4172)	40 (155.4400)
May 19, 2017	ASTOPâ€™s BBQ 4 ASTOP Fond du Lac, WI	21 / 30 (627.3028)	10 (165.7028)	17 (158.2856)	24 (152.5372)	21 (150.7772)
Apr 7, 2017	CCS Fest Indianapolis, IN	24 / 45 (652.5028)	25 (163.4400)	11 (167.4056)	33 (158.8572)	25 (162.8000)

CHOCOLATE CITY BBQ

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Best top-10 run

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 (10 found in their record)

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Brisket nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

A June team

The long haul

The metronome

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

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, averaged over 5 contests — 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)