HELLBENT BBQ

HELLBENT BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 14 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2017 and 2023. Their best overall finish is 3rd of 18 at the Ayr Charity BBQ (2018). They are ranked #2374 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#2,374

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1524

peak 1549 · rated over 14 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Mar 31, 2017

latest May 27, 2023 · 6.2 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#633

Master 2018 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

4 podiums

Overall top-10s

36% of 14 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 48%

overall standings

Best overall

657.1200 / 720

Master · Drayton Kinsmen Smoke and Sounds Festival

Perfect 180s

Current form

627.87 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 639.72 (-11.85)

Walk rate

86%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

177.7372

Brisket · The Ironman

Consistency

±11.70

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 164.06 · weakest Pork Ribs (157.73)

Road miles

2,046

across 14 mapped stops · furthest 275 mi

Schedule strength

32%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1542)

Purse competed for

$12K

listed at 2 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 1 state-championship entry

Master avg

639.72 / 720

14 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (11 found in their record)

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

Happy hunting ground

Top 16% average finish here

Oinktoberfest is their spot: an average finish in the top 16% across 2 visits.

2 visits
best finish 7th
average top 16%

They almost always walk

86% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 12 of 14 contests

A top-10 category call in 86% of their 14 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

DELIVERING SMOKE BBQ has finished one call ahead of HELLBENT BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2018 their best year

2018 was the year it came together: 4 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 38%.

4 contests
2 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 38%

A tough matchup

7–0 behind in the head-to-head

SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS ahead in 100% of their meetings

SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS has come out ahead in 7 of their 7 shared contests.

The weak link

−6.3 points behind their best meat

Pork Ribs is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 6.33 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 29% of the time against 29%.

Pork Ribs avg 157.73
Chicken avg 164.06
4 calls in 14 entries

A strong matchup

5–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 83% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of SKARA OLD SCHOOL BBQ in 5 of their 6 shared contests.

Show 4 more storylines

The comeback

2 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2 years, then back at Jack 9 Memorial (Sep 11, 2021).

last seen Sep 21, 2019
back Sep 11, 2021

Chicken nemesis

6 of 7 shared chicken entries lost

SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS ahead 86% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS has out-cooked them in 6 of 7 shared chicken entries.

A September team

Top 38% average finish in September

Something about September: average finish in the top 38% across 3 contests, versus top 48% the rest of the year.

3 September contests
top 48% the rest of the year

The metronome

±1.64% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.64% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 89.0% of a perfect score
14 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
2021 ↗	Master	#1072 (101 pts)	#872 (156 pts)	#1194 (91 pts)	#910 (136 pts)	#930 (126 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#1179 (198 pts)	#787 (418 pts)	#1181 (218 pts)	#1331 (178 pts)	#1214 (203 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#633 (537 pts)	#720 (497 pts)	#861 (402 pts)	#837 (407 pts)	#669 (547 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#658 (584 pts)	#933 (414 pts)	#589 (684 pts)	#749 (544 pts)	#483 (839 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

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

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

ALLEGHENY MOUNTAIN BBQ

#2,379 of the rated field

1524 power rating

Contests: 6
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 17%
Peak: 1524

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to HELLBENT BBQ)

One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team HELLBENT BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 6 contests
last seen Apr 7, 2023

⚔ Head-to-head

THE GRILLER B’S

#2,364 of the rated field

1524 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 43%
Peak: 1568

They've been 1568 at their best, 43 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 14 contests
last seen Oct 6, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

WILL AND THE THRILLS

#2,376 of the rated field

1524 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 23%
Peak: 1533

Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 4 years before HELLBENT BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 13 contests

⚔ Compare careers

BIG O'S BBQ

#2,368 of the rated field

1524 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 26%
Peak: 1550

Careers of much the same size, 19 contests to 14, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 16 contests
last seen Nov 5, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

Charface

#2,362 of the rated field

1525 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1537

12 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

TOO BAD YOU'RE MY COUSIN

#2,366 of the rated field

1524 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1535

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

rated over 17 contests
last seen May 25, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
MEAN MOE'S BBQ	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
TRANQUIL CARNIVORES	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
BEHIND BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
SKARA OLD SCHOOL BBQ	6	5	1	83%	⚔ compare
BBQ Blokes	6	4	2	67%	⚔ compare
Cousin's Catering and BBQ	6	3	3	50%	⚔ compare
McLay Brothers BBQ	6	3	3	50%	⚔ compare
Q'N CANUCKS	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare
DELIVERING SMOKE BBQ	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare
SIBLING RIVALRY	5	4	1	80%	⚔ compare
WHISKEY'N'CLEAVERS	5	4	1	80%	⚔ compare
JACK9 BBQ	5	3	2	60%	⚔ compare
DBQ	5	3	2	60%	⚔ compare
HASHTAG BBQ	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	14	4	0	1	173.7372	153.0972	164.06	top 50%
Pork Ribs	14	4	0	1	172.0344	146.2744	157.73	top 58%
Pork	14	5	0	0	167.4056	145.0400	158.45	top 60%
Brisket	14	7	1	2	177.7372	142.7772	159.49	top 48%

“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	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	4	top 51%
Medium (20–39)	4	top 53%
Large (40+)	6	top 42%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
ON	5	top 57%
PA	3	top 61%
NY	2	top 16%
MI	1	top 43%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
The Ironman	3	22	top 61%	Apr 5, 2019
Oinktoberfest	2	7	top 16%	Sep 21, 2019
Ayr Charity BBQ	2	3	top 50%	Jun 21, 2019

More numbers

Busiest season 2017 5 contests

Contests a season 2.8 across 5 seasons in the data

Most contests held in ON 5 of 14 contests · 4 states and provinces in all

Contests visited 10 3 of them more than once

Opponents faced 272 finished ahead 261 times, behind 207

Longest layoff 2 yrs Sep 21, 2019 → Sep 11, 2021

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

20231 milestone

May 27 Most recent contest Jack 9 Memorial

20191 milestone

Apr 5 10th tracked contest The Ironman

20182 milestones

Jun 22 First overall podium Ayr Charity BBQ
Sep 22 Peak power rating (1549) Oinktoberfest

20177 milestones

Mar 31 First tracked contest The Ironman
Mar 31 First call The Ironman
Mar 31 First category win (Brisket) The Ironman
Mar 31 Career-best single call (Brisket)177.7372 The Ironman
Jun 3 First overall top-10 Craze Fest
Jun 9 First overall past 90% of a perfect score657.1200 Drayton Kinsmen Smoke and Sounds Festival
Jun 9 Career-best overall score657.1200 Drayton Kinsmen Smoke and Sounds Festival

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+13.1	Ayr Charity BBQ	Jun 22, 2018
+11.5	Oinktoberfest	Sep 22, 2018
+9.1	Drayton Kinsmen Smoke and Sounds Festival	Jun 9, 2017
+8.8	Oinktoberfest	Sep 21, 2019
+6.6	The Ironman	Mar 31, 2017

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-10.8	Jack 9 Memorial	Sep 11, 2021
-10.3	The Ironman	Apr 5, 2019
-10	Ayr Charity BBQ	Jun 21, 2019
-2	Jack 9 Memorial	May 27, 2023
-1.7	The Ironman	Apr 6, 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	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2023	1	0	0	100%	top 58%	88.3%	88.3%
2021	1	0	0	100%	top 81%	87.6%	87.6%
2019	3	1	0	67%	top 61%	90.7%	88.4%
2018	4	2	0	75%	top 38%	90.9%	90%
2017	5	2	1	100%	top 39%	91.3%	89.6%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
May 27, 2023	Jack 9 Memorial La Salette, ON	11 / 19 (635.8740)	13 (162.8456)	9 (164.5256)	13 (161.7028)	18 (146.8000)
Sep 11, 2021	Jack 9 Memorial Delhi, ON	13 / 16 (630.7204)	6 (166.2400)	15 (149.1088)	8 (160.5372)	9 (154.8344)
Sep 21, 2019	Oinktoberfest 🏅 Clarence, NY	7 / 43 (652.9832)	25 (159.4628)	40 (146.2744)	39 (150.7772)	24 (159.4056)
Jun 21, 2019	Ayr Charity BBQ Ayr Ontario	19 / 23 (630.7428)	5 (171.9772)	15 (157.6684)	23 (147.9428)	19 (153.1544)
Apr 5, 2019	The Ironman Greencastle, PA	35 / 42 (626.0800)	5 (171.9656)	34 (151.3716)	41 (145.0400)	26 (157.7028)
Sep 22, 2018	Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY	8 / 51 (654.8224)	12 (165.6684)	8 (163.4400)	17 (161.7028)	9 (164.0112)
Jul 13, 2018	Niagara Summer Daze BBQ Classic Niagara Falls, ON	14 / 24 (650.1832)	16 (163.9428)	20 (154.2860)	17 (162.8116)	5 (169.1428)
Jun 22, 2018	Ayr Charity BBQ Ayr Ontario	3 / 18 (653.6572)	3 (173.7372)	11 (155.9656)	6 (163.9888)	5 (159.9656)
Apr 6, 2018	The Ironman Greencastle, PA	37 / 60 (634.0456)	28 (165.6800)	42 (154.7772)	39 (158.2400)	40 (155.3484)
Aug 5, 2017	Capital BBQ Festival Ottawa, ON	16 / 42 (633.5428)	21 (160.5372)	7 (162.8228)	6 (167.4056)	34 (142.7772)
Jul 21, 2017	BBQ & BREWS Birch Run, MI	16 / 37 (647.3144)	29 (159.4056)	12 (164.5716)	25 (157.0972)	9 (166.2400)
Jun 9, 2017	Drayton Kinsmen Smoke and Sounds Festival Drayton Ontario	6 / 22 (657.1200)	11 (163.4400)	16 (156.5600)	9 (163.4172)	2 (173.7028)
Jun 3, 2017	Craze Fest Georgina, ON	8 / 17 (641.6456)	14 (158.8228)	2 (172.0344)	10 (158.8000)	13 (151.9884)
Mar 31, 2017	The Ironman Greencastle, PA	22 / 59 (644.4116)	49 (153.0972)	42 (154.7772)	29 (158.8000)	1 (177.7372)

HELLBENT 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 (11 found in their record)

Happy hunting ground

They almost always walk

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Chicken nemesis

A September team

The metronome

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)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 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)