FIREHOUSE BAR-B-QUE

At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)

Power ranking

#2290

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1527

peak 1554 · rated over 30 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2015-08-21

latest 2019-09-20

Best ToY finish

#376

Master 2018

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

2 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 30 contests

Avg finish

top 59%

overall standings

Best overall

678.3660 / 720

Master · 12th Annual Recovery Fest/7th Annual BBQ State Championship

Perfect 180s

Current form

643.15 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 648.53 (-5.38)

Walk rate

60%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

175.4744

Chicken · 12th Annual Recovery Fest/7th Annual BBQ State Championship

Consistency

±17.44

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 163.71 · weakest Brisket (159.43)

Road miles

3,355

mi across 30 mapped stops · furthest 264 mi

Schedule strength

80%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1604)

Purse competed for

$65K

listed at 7 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

GCs in 10 state-championship entries

Master avg

648.53 / 720

30 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (12 found in this team's record)

Each card leads with the number that made it a story — read straight out of their results, no editorialising.

They almost always walk

60% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 18 of 30 contests

A top-10 category call in 60% of their 30 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

678.3660 career-best overall

94.2% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 678.3660 at 12th Annual Recovery Fest/7th Annual BBQ State Championship — 94.2% of a perfect 720.

Master
2016-09-09

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

HOLY SMOKE BBQ-NC has finished one call ahead of FIREHOUSE BAR-B-QUE 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

23–0 behind in the head-to-head

OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE ahead in 100% of their meetings

OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE has come out ahead in 23 of their 23 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.3 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.28 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 10% of the time against 7%.

Brisket avg 159.43
Chicken avg 163.71
3 calls in 30 entries

A strong matchup

11–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of GRATEFUL 'QUE in 11 of their 11 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

21 of 22 shared chicken entries lost

WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ ahead 95% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ has out-cooked them in 21 of 22 shared chicken entries.

They cook the hard rooms

1604 average field rating faced

A tougher draw than 80% of rated fields

The fields they enter average a 1604 power rating — a tougher draw than 80% of every rated contest in the data.

30 rated contests

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

3N1 Q has landed one call behind them 2 times.

A March team

Top 48% average finish in March

Something about March: average finish in the top 48% across 4 contests, versus top 59% the rest of the year.

4 March contests
top 59% the rest of the year

The long haul

3,355 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 3,355 miles across 30 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 264 miles to Chillin & Grillin in the Glades.

30 mapped stops
furthest 264 mi

The metronome

±2.42% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.42% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 90.1% of a perfect score
30 contests

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The nearest teams in the power rankings, with a different reason on each card — six teams on one rating are rarely on it for the same reason. Rating decides who makes the list; where teams tie on it, the ones this team has actually cooked against come first, then teams at a similar point in their own career. KCBS doesn’t publish where a team is from, so nothing here is inferred from geography.

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

BUTSY-Q

#2283 of the rated field

1527 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 32
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 16%
Peak: 1549

No shared contest yet.

Careers of much the same size, 32 contests to 30, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 27 contests
last seen 2024-10-11

⚔ Head-to-head

MANHATTAN JACK'S BBQ

#2293 of the rated field

1527 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 28
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 43%
Peak: 1579

No shared contest yet.

They've been 1579 at their best, 52 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 24 contests
last seen 2023-05-19

⚔ Head-to-head

TEAM BBQ SHOP LIMBURG

#2296 of the rated field

1527 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 20%
Peak: 1529

No shared contest yet.

20 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 20% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 20 contests
last seen 2021-10-23

⚔ Head-to-head

Great White Smoke

#2300 of the rated field

1526 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 21%
Peak: 1526

No shared contest yet.

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2015.

rated over 16 contests
last seen 2026-07-24

⚔ Head-to-head

BANKIN BABY BBQ

#2282 of the rated field

1527 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1530

No shared contest yet.

Level with FIREHOUSE BAR-B-QUE on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 16 contests
last seen 2019-03-22

⚔ Head-to-head

GOOBY'S BBQ

#2297 of the rated field

1527 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 19%
Peak: 1533

No shared contest yet.

Fewer contests behind them than FIREHOUSE BAR-B-QUE has cooked, 16 to 30, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 16 contests
last seen 2017-04-21

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE	23	0	23	0%	⚔ compare
WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	22	1	21	5%	⚔ compare
BIG DOG BBQ VA	21	11	10	52%	⚔ compare
JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS	21	7	14	33%	⚔ compare
3N1 Q	21	4	17	19%	⚔ compare
APORKALYPSE NOW	20	0	20	0%	⚔ compare
OLD COLONY SMOKEHOUSE	18	5	13	28%	⚔ compare
CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ	18	1	17	6%	⚔ compare
FRED VEGAS SMOKERS	16	2	14	13%	⚔ compare
Serial Griller	15	3	12	20%	⚔ compare
PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ	15	2	13	13%	⚔ compare
ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ	15	1	14	7%	⚔ compare
GRATE SMOKE	14	5	9	36%	⚔ compare
LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER	12	2	10	17%	⚔ compare
3 EYZ BBQ	12	0	12	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	30	2	1	175.4744	145.0972	163.71	top 57%
Pork Ribs	30	10	0	171.9772	143.3828	162.83	top 51%
Pork	30	8	1	175.4172	144.5372	162.56	top 53%
Brisket	30	3	0	171.9656	128.4916	159.43	top 57%

“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	Avg finish
VA	22	top 58%
NC	4	top 58%
WV	2	top 59%
PA	1	top 61%
DE	1	top 88%

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	14	0	top 56%
Large (40+)	16	0	top 62%

Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Kings of Q BBQ Cook-off and Festival	2	8	0	top 33%	2019-05-17
BBQ Gives Back	2	33	0	top 55%	2018-03-23

The story so far (16 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 4.1 yrs 2015-08-21 → 2019-09-20

Busiest season 2018 11 contests

Contests a season 6 across 5 seasons in the data

Cooks most in VA 22 of 30 contests · 5 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 28 2 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 30 entries · 0 wins · 2 calls

Strongest meat Chicken averages 163.71 · weakest Brisket (159.43)

Walk rate 60% a top-10 call in 18 of 30 contests

Overall top-10 rate 7% 2 of 30 contests

Master average 648.53 out of 720 · 30 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 440 539–727 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 3,355 30 mapped stops · furthest 264 mi

Schedule strength 1604 average field rating faced — tougher than 80% of rated contests

Purse competed for $64,500 listed at 7 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships 0 from 10 state-championship entries

Power rating 1527 peak 1554 · #2290 of 6,413 rated

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

2015
Aug 21 First tracked contest VA BBQ Championships
2016
May 13 First call BBQ Jamboree
Sep 9 First overall top-10 12th Annual Recovery Fest/7th Annual BBQ State Championship
Sep 9 First overall podium 12th Annual Recovery Fest/7th Annual BBQ State Championship
Sep 9 First overall past 90% of a perfect score678.3660 12th Annual Recovery Fest/7th Annual BBQ State Championship
Sep 9 Career-best overall score678.3660 12th Annual Recovery Fest/7th Annual BBQ State Championship
Sep 9 Career-best single call (Chicken)175.4744 12th Annual Recovery Fest/7th Annual BBQ State Championship
2017
May 12 10th tracked contest *BBQ Jamboree-Day 1(JUDGES FULL)
2019
Mar 23 25th tracked contest BBQ Gives Back-IV (DAY 2)
May 17 Peak power rating (1554) Kings of Q BBQ Cook-off and Festival
Sep 20 Most recent contest Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+16.7	12th Annual Recovery Fest/7th Annual BBQ State Championship	2016-09-09
+12.2	BBQ Jamboree Double Day 2	2018-05-12
+11.6	Kings of Q BBQ cook off and Festival	2018-05-18
+10	Pickin N Pullin BBQ competition	2018-04-27
+10	13th Annual Recovery Fest/8th Annual BBQ State Championship	2017-09-08

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12.8	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic	2019-09-20
-9.3	Boo B Que By the Sea	2015-10-30
-9.2	Chillin & Grillin in the Glades	2019-07-19
-7.5	VA BBQ Championships	2015-08-21
-6.9	*BBQ Jamboree- Day 2(JUDGES FULL)	2017-05-12

Category scores over time

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Team of the Year rank by season

Season by season

Season	Contests	Top-10s	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2019	7	0	57%	top 64%	92.8%	90.1%
2018	11	1	64%	top 51%	93.7%	91.2%
2017	6	0	67%	top 62%	92.4%	89.6%
2016	4	1	75%	top 53%	94.2%	90.1%
2015	2	0	0%	top 85%	87%	85.1%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2019-09-20	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic 🏅 Salisbury, NC	53 / 56 (618.0344)	14 (169.6800)	51 (157.0744)	33 (162.7884)	56 (128.4916)
2019-09-06	15th annual Recovery Fest/ 10th annual State BBQ Championship (JUDGES FULL) 🏅 Richmond, VA	20 / 31 (646.1712)	24 (159.4172)	9 (165.1200)	19 (163.9656)	20 (157.6684)
2019-07-19	Chillin & Grillin in the Glades 🏅 Wise, VA	26 / 27 (634.0916)	26 (157.6572)	26 (158.8116)	24 (157.0856)	22 (160.5372)
2019-06-21	8th Annual Covington Cork & Pork Festival 🏅 Covington, VA	21 / 32 (653.5316)	19 (162.8344)	10 (166.2400)	15 (165.1088)	21 (159.3484)
2019-05-17	Kings of Q BBQ Cook-off and Festival 🏅 Ayden, NC	16 / 36 (663.9200)	22 (166.8456)	14 (164.5256)	8 (168.5372)	18 (164.0116)
2019-03-23	BBQ Gives Back-IV (DAY 2) 🏅 Urbanna, VA	22 / 52 (667.8972)	31 (167.3944)	21 (167.9772)	4 (173.1428)	33 (159.3828)
2019-03-22	BBQ Gives Back-III (Day 1) 🏅 Urbanna, VA	26 / 63 (659.8972)	43 (162.8344)	35 (160.5600)	16 (167.3828)	12 (169.1200)
2018-11-02	*Currituck Heritage Festival Currituck, NC	18 / 25 (641.5316)	13 (165.0972)	10 (167.3944)	24 (154.2628)	17 (154.7772)
2018-09-07	*14th Annual Recovery Fest/8th Annual BBQ State Championship 🏅 Richmond, VA	17 / 29 (656.9712)	8 (171.4056)	24 (155.9428)	18 (163.3828)	12 (166.2400)
2018-08-31	*West Virginia BBQ Festival (JUDGES FULL) Ranson, WV	28 / 40 (635.7712)	32 (158.2400)	28 (158.8228)	24 (162.7884)	30 (155.9200)
2018-07-27	Smoke in the Grove Spring Grove, PA	33 / 54 (642.1260)	34 (157.6688)	32 (161.0972)	18 (164.5600)	36 (158.8000)
2018-06-22	*Covington Cork & Pork Festival Covington, VA	18 / 27 (655.2688)	22 (159.9544)	9 (167.9772)	27 (155.9200)	9 (171.4172)
2018-06-15	Almost Heaven BBQ Bash Weston, WV	28 / 59 (656.4688)	36 (163.3944)	23 (164.0116)	40 (159.9428)	18 (169.1200)
2018-05-18	Kings of Q BBQ cook off and Festival Ayden, NC	8 / 38 (674.8228)	18 (167.4400)	14 (167.9772)	9 (169.7028)	6 (169.7028)
2018-05-12	BBQ Jamboree Double Day 2 Fredericksburg, VA	12 / 38 (674.7428)	33 (162.2400)	23 (165.1200)	3 (175.4172)	6 (171.9656)
2018-05-11	BBQ Jamboree Double Day 1 Fredericksburg, VA	26 / 45 (661.6576)	31 (165.6916)	24 (165.1088)	27 (164.5600)	19 (166.2972)
2018-04-27	Pickin N Pullin BBQ competition Lenexa, VA	13 / 45 (667.3944)	13 (170.2628)	7 (171.4516)	19 (165.7028)	31 (159.9772)
2018-03-23	BBQ Gives Back Urbanna, VA	33 / 75 (655.8744)	24 (168.0000)	45 (159.9544)	6 (171.9656)	55 (155.9544)
2017-10-06	Que & Cruz Louisa, VA	16 / 28 (640.9488)	17 (161.0972)	16 (159.3944)	10 (162.2400)	14 (158.2172)
2017-09-08	13th Annual Recovery Fest/8th Annual BBQ State Championship 🏅 Richmond, VA	12 / 35 (665.6344)	17 (165.7028)	9 (169.6800)	17 (163.4172)	12 (166.8344)
2017-05-12	*BBQ Jamboree-Day 1(JUDGES FULL) Fredericksburg, VA	39 / 54 (639.8404)	54 (145.0972)	29 (163.3944)	12 (168.5372)	22 (162.8116)
2017-05-12	*BBQ Jamboree- Day 2(JUDGES FULL) Fredericksburg, VA	38 / 43 (635.2684)	40 (158.2400)	26 (159.9428)	41 (150.2628)	17 (166.8228)
2017-04-28	4th Annual Pickin N Pullin BBQ competition Lanexa, VA	26 / 46 (642.8116)	11 (169.1772)	6 (170.2744)	42 (149.7144)	33 (153.6456)
2017-03-24	BBQ Gives Back Urbanna, VA	42 / 64 (645.6344)	25 (169.7028)	5 (171.9772)	46 (157.6800)	54 (146.2744)
2016-09-09	12th Annual Recovery Fest/7th Annual BBQ State Championship 🏅 Richmond, VA	3 / 25 (678.3660)	2 (175.4744)	6 (168.5716)	4 (172.6172)	12 (161.7028)
2016-08-12	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Richmond, VA	22 / 28 (636.4800)	22 (158.8456)	26 (150.2744)	7 (169.1316)	19 (158.2284)
2016-07-15	Smoke on the mountain/VA state BBQ championship Galax, VA	19 / 25 (634.1144)	12 (165.1084)	16 (160.5144)	21 (154.8116)	19 (153.6800)
2016-05-13	BBQ Jamboree Fredericksburg, VA	32 / 72 (644.9716)	55 (156.5256)	8 (171.9772)	47 (158.2516)	39 (158.2172)
2015-10-30	Boo B Que By the Sea Rehobeth Beach, DE	52 / 59 (599.3144)	13 (165.7028)	51 (150.2400)	55 (144.5372)	56 (138.8344)
2015-08-21	VA BBQ Championships Hampton, VA	38 / 46 (626.1940)	18 (164.6056)	43 (143.3828)	34 (159.4056)	28 (158.8000)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)

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
2019 ↗	Master	#641 (510 pts)	#669 (510 pts)	#541 (640 pts)	#440 (780 pts)	#604 (565 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#376 (906 pts)	#428 (846 pts)	#383 (927 pts)	#304 (1069 pts)	#305 (1061 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#989 (343 pts)	#1105 (313 pts)	#1010 (363 pts)	#920 (413 pts)	#913 (408 pts)