BBQ Pit Bros IA
Rating
1678
peak 1682 · rated over 55 contests
Best runs
7
straight top-10s
Contests
59
in the data
First seen
2021-06-19
latest 2026-08-14
Best ToY finish
#17
Backyard 2025
Grand champs
3
4 reserve
Category wins
10
27 podiums
Overall top-10s
28
of 59 contests
Avg finish
top 40%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
1 🔥
Current form
342.02 ▲
last 5 Backyard vs avg 337.31 (+4.71)
Walk rate
64%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
7
best run (overall)
Consistency
±12.88
std dev of Backyard overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 170.02 · weakest Brisket (165.11)
Road miles
10241
mi across 59 mapped stops · furthest 580 mi
Schedule strength
77%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1575)
Purse competed for
$306K
listed at 51 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
GCs in 36 state-championship entries
Master avg
675.64 / 720
21 Master contests · 0 GCs
Backyard avg
337.31 / 360
34 Backyard contests · 3 GCs
Master and Backyard overall scores sit on different scales (Master is out of 720, Backyard out of 360), so they're kept separate — averaging them together would be misleading.
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
Too Sauced BBQ has finished one call ahead of BBQ Pit Bros 4 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
East Bow Que has landed one call behind them 3 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
HOT DADDY'S BBQ has come out ahead in 21 of their 22 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of Bucknutz BBQ in 17 of their 24 shared contests.
🏕️ Happy hunting ground
Tri-City BBQ Fest is their spot: an average finish in the top 7% across 2 visits.
💔 The heartbreaker
Came within 0.6056 points of the Grand Championship at Tri-City BBQ Fest (2025-09-19).
😤 Chicken nemesis
Even in their strongest meat, HOT DADDY'S BBQ has out-cooked them in 17 of 23 shared chicken entries.
📅 A September team
Something about September: average finish in the top 22% across 4 contests, versus top 40% the rest of the year.
🃏 Against the odds
Their Grand Championship at Rock Island BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) (2024-10-11) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 32-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, Breaking Slabs BBQ.
Teams like this (closest power rating, IA first)
Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEAM CRAWFORD | 29 | 14 | 14 | 48% | ⚔ compare |
| Bucknutz BBQ | 24 | 17 | 7 | 71% | ⚔ compare |
| HOT DADDY'S BBQ | 22 | 1 | 21 | 5% | ⚔ compare |
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 21 | 10 | 10 | 48% | ⚔ compare |
| Big Racks BBQ | 21 | 8 | 13 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| DAWGS BBQ | 18 | 7 | 11 | 39% | ⚔ compare |
| Bramble BBQ | 18 | 6 | 12 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| Rudes BBQ | 17 | 8 | 9 | 47% | ⚔ compare |
| Too Sauced BBQ | 17 | 5 | 12 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | 17 | 3 | 12 | 18% | ⚔ compare |
| Low Eye Que | 16 | 9 | 7 | 56% | ⚔ compare |
| Smokin Suckers | 16 | 8 | 8 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | 16 | 8 | 6 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| Ambition Que | 15 | 10 | 5 | 67% | ⚔ compare |
| Chester's Twisted Que | 15 | 9 | 6 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 56 | 29 | 3 | 13 | 180.0000 🔥 | 147.9888 | 170.02 | top 40% |
| Pork Ribs | 57 | 30 | 4 | 11 | 178.8572 | 147.9660 | 169.19 | top 40% |
| Pork | 26 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 178.8572 | 155.4288 | 169.89 | top 50% |
| Brisket | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 174.2628 | 143.4172 | 165.11 | top 61% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| IA | 28 | 2 | top 44% |
| MO | 10 | 1 | top 26% |
| MN | 5 | 0 | top 24% |
| TN | 4 | 0 | top 53% |
| NE | 3 | 0 | top 67% |
| KS | 2 | 0 | top 39% |
| AR | 1 | 0 | top 24% |
| OK | 1 | 0 | top 30% |
| IL | 1 | 0 | top 39% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 14 | 2 | top 31% |
| Medium (20–39) | 24 | 1 | top 43% |
| Large (40+) | 17 | 0 | top 43% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camp High Hopes Rib Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) | 5 | 1 | 1 | top 38% | 2025-06-20 |
| Iowa State BBQ Championship | 5 | 14 | 0 | top 58% | 2026-04-03 |
| Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) | 4 | 3 | 0 | top 26% | 2024-10-26 |
| Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 2) | 3 | 1 | 1 | top 20% | 2025-07-12 |
| Minnesota in May | 3 | 5 | 0 | top 25% | 2026-05-08 |
| SJV Winter Rub | 3 | 19 | 0 | top 67% | 2026-01-30 |
| Art of the Que (Backyard 2) | 3 | 3 | 0 | top 30% | 2025-06-27 |
| Shenandoah ShenDig | 2 | 6 | 0 | top 47% | 2026-07-17 |
| Tri-City BBQ Fest | 2 | 2 | 0 | top 7% | 2025-09-19 |
| 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) | 2 | 18 | 0 | top 53% | 2025-05-25 |
| King of the Corn | 2 | 25 | 0 | top 83% | 2024-05-17 |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2025 (22 contests)
- Cooks mostly in IA (29 of 59 contests)
- Most-entered category: Pork Ribs (57 entries)
- First Grand Championship in the data: Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (2024-07-12)
- Wins it all in 5% of contests
- Average Master overall score: 675.64 / 720
- Average Backyard overall score: 337.31 / 360
- 1 perfect 180 on the books 🔥
Milestones
- 🚩 2021-06-19 — First tracked contest · Camp High Hopes Rib Fest (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 📣 2022-06-17 — First call · Camp High Hopes Rib Fest (Backyard)
- 🏆 2024-07-12 — First Grand Championship · Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 🔥 2024-10-11 — First perfect 180 (Chicken) · Rock Island BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 🎖️ 2024-10-25 — 25th tracked contest · Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD)
- 🎖️ 2026-03-13 — 50th tracked contest · University of Arkansas Animal Science Boots, Brews, and BBQ Contest
- ⭐ 2026-07-17 — Career-best overall score (697.6572) · Shenandoah ShenDig
- 📈 2026-07-17 — Peak power rating (1682) · Shenandoah ShenDig
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +17.5 | Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2024-07-12 |
| +16.3 | Rock Island BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2024-10-11 |
| +16.1 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) | 2024-10-26 |
| +14.7 | Tri City BBQ Fest | 2024-09-20 |
| +13 | Camp High Hopes Rib Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2024-06-21 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -15.5 | SmokeHouse Barbeque Showdown (OPEN FORMAT) (REGISTRATION FULL) | 2026-05-01 |
| -14 | Iowa State BBQ Championship (Backyard) | 2022-04-01 |
| -10.8 | Shenandoah "ShenDig" Barbeque Championship | 2022-07-29 |
| -10.4 | King of the Corn | 2023-05-19 |
| -6.4 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025) | 2025-05-24 |
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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 82% | top 37% | 96.9% | 95.4% |
| 2025 | 22 | 1 | 13 | 3 | 73% | top 33% | 98.6% | 94.9% |
| 2024 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 64% | top 34% | 98.4% | 95.1% |
| 2023 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 38% | top 52% | 93.3% | 90.3% |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33% | top 82% | 88.8% | 86.6% |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 64% | 85.7% | 85.7% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-14 | BBQ & Fly-In on the River 🏅 Excelsior Springs, MO | 44 / 83 (683.3256) | 24 (175.4056) | 34 (173.1200) | 64 (165.1200) | 44 (169.6800) |
| 2026-07-17 | Shenandoah ShenDig 🏅 Shenandoah, IA | 6 / 28 (697.6572) | 15 (172.5484) | 6 (176.5600) | 5 (176.5716) | 10 (171.9772) |
| 2026-07-17 | Shenandoah ShenDig (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Shenandoah, IA | — | 1 (178.2972) | — | — | — |
| 2026-07-10 | Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off (MASTERS and BACKYARD 1) 🏅 Cameron, MO | 8 / 37 (694.8116) | 9 (175.4172) | 10 (176.5600) | 10 (173.7144) | 17 (169.1200) |
| 2026-06-26 | Rib Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) Sioux City, IA | 5 / 19 (343.4400) | 5 (171.4400) | 5 (172.0000) | — | — |
| 2026-06-19 | Rose Festival's 25th Annual KCBS BBQ Competition 🏅 State Center, IA | 9 / 20 (687.9660) | 8 (176.0116) | 10 (171.4172) | 12 (168.5600) | 5 (171.9772) |
| 2026-05-08 | Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN | 5 / 77 (695.3712) | 28 (173.1084) | 1 (178.8572) | 16 (174.2628) | 38 (169.1428) |
| 2026-05-01 | SmokeHouse Barbeque Showdown (OPEN FORMAT) (REGISTRATION FULL) 🏅 Cambridge, IA | 14 / 17 (676.4344) | 16 (170.8228) | 15 (169.6916) | 23 (166.2284) | 12 (169.6916) |
| 2026-04-03 | Iowa State BBQ Championship 🏅 Altoona, IA | 14 / 42 (683.3024) | 36 (167.3712) | 2 (177.7028) | 32 (166.2628) | 11 (171.9656) |
| 2026-03-13 | University of Arkansas Animal Science Boots, Brews, and BBQ Contest 🏅 Fayetteville, AR | 9 / 37 (695.3368) | 4 (178.8572) | 17 (173.1084) | 26 (169.1084) | 7 (174.2628) |
| 2026-01-30 | SJV Winter Rub 🏅 Omaha, NE | 23 / 38 (670.7544) | 2 (176.5600) | 34 (161.6572) | 26 (166.8228) | 20 (165.7144) |
| 2025-10-17 | Happy Basset 5th Annual BBQ Competition 🏅 Topeka, KS | 5 / 23 (695.9200) | 9 (173.1200) | 2 (178.8572) | 7 (175.4172) | 17 (168.5256) |
| 2025-10-10 | Stover Rock Island Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Stover, MO | 2 / 13 (351.9656) | 6 (174.2628) | 1 (177.7028) | 1 (177.7028) | — |
| 2025-09-26 | Smokin on the Route 🏅 Miami, OK | 6 / 20 (332.4800) | 6 (163.9428) | 6 (168.5372) | — | — |
| 2025-09-19 | Tri-City BBQ Fest 🏅 Denison, IA | 2 / 26 (338.8344) | 2 (170.8572) | 3 (167.9772) | — | — |
| 2025-09-05 | Buds Blues and BBQ 🏅 Columbia, MO | 4 / 9 (343.3828) | 4 (173.7028) | 4 (169.6800) | — | — |
| 2025-09-05 | Buds Blues and BBQ (ONE MEAT RIBS) 🏅 Columbia, MO | — | — | 3 (173.1200) | — | — |
| 2025-08-22 | Up in Smoke on the Square (BACKYARD ONLY) Lincoln, IL | 12 / 31 (343.3944) | 3 (177.1544) | 17 (166.2400) | — | — |
| 2025-08-16 | Boomer Backyard BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) Canton, MN | 3 / 17 (345.1088) | 2 (175.4172) | 5 (169.6916) | — | — |
| 2025-07-12 | Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 2) Miles, IA | 2 / 16 (349.1200) | 2 (179.4400) | 6 (169.6800) | — | — |
| 2025-07-11 | Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 1) Miles, IA | 7 / 18 (341.6572) | 6 (170.8228) | 7 (170.8344) | 4 (174.8456) | — |
| 2025-06-27 | Art of the Que (Backyard 2) Spencer, IA | 3 / 17 (341.6800) | 3 (173.7028) | 6 (167.9772) | — | — |
| 2025-06-27 | Art of the Que (Masters and Backyard 1) 🏅 Spencer, IA | 7 / 15 (336.5372) | 4 (172.5600) | 10 (163.9772) | — | — |
| 2025-06-20 | Camp High Hopes Rib Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) Sioux City, IA | 1 / 20 (354.9144) | 1 (178.3200) | 3 (176.5944) | — | — |
| 2025-05-30 | Smokin' in Steele 🏅 Owatonna, MN | 8 / 28 (339.9884) | 10 (168.5600) | 5 (171.4284) | — | — |
| 2025-05-25 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) Lebanon, TN | 18 / 70 (345.0972) | 24 (171.9656) | 18 (173.1316) | — | — |
| 2025-05-24 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025) Lebanon, TN | 85 / 106 (674.1600) | 88 (168.5256) | 96 (166.2860) | 59 (170.8228) | 70 (168.5256) |
| 2025-05-23 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational Anything Molasses (Friday, May 23, 2025) Lebanon, TN | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025-05-16 | King of the Corn 🏅 Ottumwa, IA | 20 / 33 (678.1828) | 17 (173.7028) | 27 (168.5372) | 24 (165.6800) | 17 (170.2628) |
| 2025-05-09 | Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN | 28 / 58 (330.7540) | 31 (162.7884) | 16 (167.9656) | — | — |
| 2025-04-04 | Iowa State BBQ Championship 🏅 Altoona, IA | 26 / 49 (329.6228) | 26 (165.6684) | 27 (163.9544) | — | — |
| 2025-03-21 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest Kansas City, MO | 4 / 33 (351.4172) | 2 (179.4400) | 11 (171.9772) | — | — |
| 2025-01-24 | SJV Winter Rub 🏅 Omaha, NE | 19 / 32 (663.8632) | 7 (173.7144) | 11 (173.1316) | 27 (160.5144) | 26 (156.5028) |
| 2024-10-26 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) 🏅 Oak Grove, MO | 3 / 56 (346.8228) | 2 (177.7028) | 11 (169.1200) | — | — |
| 2024-10-25 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) 🏅 Oak Grove, MO | 7 / 53 (341.6572) | 6 (173.1316) | 10 (168.5256) | — | — |
| 2024-10-11 | Rock Island BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) Stover, MO | 1 / 10 (354.2628) | 1 (180.0000) | 2 (174.2628) | 1 (178.8572) | — |
| 2024-09-20 | Tri City BBQ Fest 🏅 Denison, IA | 2 / 30 (342.8456) | 4 (170.2856) | 2 (172.5600) | — | — |
| 2024-07-19 | Shenandoah ShenDig BBQ 🏅 Shenandoah, IA | 12 / 36 (685.6916) | 17 (169.7028) | 4 (177.1544) | 8 (174.2972) | 23 (164.5372) |
| 2024-07-12 | Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) Miles, IA | 1 / 11 (353.7144) | 2 (177.1544) | 1 (176.5600) | 1 (178.2972) | — |
| 2024-06-21 | Camp High Hopes Rib Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) Sioux City, IA | 3 / 17 (342.8916) | 3 (170.8916) | 4 (172.0000) | — | — |
| 2024-05-25 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL Lebanon, TN | 28 / 47 (341.0856) | 15 (174.2628) | 41 (166.8228) | — | — |
| 2024-05-24 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN Lebanon, TN | 57 / 118 (683.8972) | 62 (173.1200) | 12 (175.4172) | 72 (169.6800) | 88 (165.6800) |
| 2024-05-17 | King of the Corn 🏅 Ottumwa, IA | 25 / 36 (670.7656) | 31 (166.8456) | 9 (171.9772) | 9 (173.1316) | 32 (158.8112) |
| 2024-05-10 | Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN | 11 / 58 (341.6800) | 20 (169.7028) | 9 (171.9772) | 5 (168.5828) | — |
| 2024-05-10 | Minnesota in May (ONE MEAT RIBS) St. Peter, MN | — | — | 36 (163.3944) | — | — |
| 2024-03-29 | Iowa State BBQ Championship 🏅 Altoona, IA | 28 / 42 (331.9544) | 34 (164.5372) | 19 (167.4172) | — | — |
| 2024-01-26 | SJV Winter Rub 🏅 Omaha, NE | 21 / 26 (663.3716) | 13 (170.8344) | 23 (163.4400) | 19 (165.7028) | 20 (163.3944) |
| 2023-10-28 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) 🏅 Oak Grove, MO | 18 / 40 (320.4800) | 18 (157.6800) | 17 (162.8000) | — | — |
| 2023-10-27 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) 🏅 Oak Grove, MO | 19 / 47 (326.2288) | 20 (159.9772) | 13 (166.2516) | — | — |
| 2023-10-13 | Smoke on the Water 🏅 Topeka, KS | 22 / 39 (671.8972) | 29 (166.8112) | 32 (163.9888) | 4 (176.0000) | 23 (165.0972) |
| 2023-07-21 | Shenandoah ShenDig 🏅 Shenandoah, IA | 27 / 37 (639.8856) | 25 (164.5600) | 20 (167.3828) | 24 (164.5256) | 34 (143.4172) |
| 2023-07-07 | Art of the Que 🏅 Spencer, IA | 7 / 28 (332.4912) | 13 (159.9312) | 1 (172.5600) | — | — |
| 2023-06-23 | Camp High Hopes Rib Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) Sioux City, IA | 6 / 15 (325.1200) | 5 (166.2972) | 9 (158.8228) | — | — |
| 2023-05-19 | King of the Corn 🏅 Ottumwa, IA | 43 / 45 (636.4916) | 44 (154.8112) | 17 (169.7144) | 45 (155.4288) | 40 (156.5372) |
| 2023-03-31 | Iowa State BBQ Championship 🏅 Altoona, IA | 20 / 47 (323.3716) | 20 (162.2400) | 20 (161.1316) | — | — |
| 2022-07-29 | Shenandoah "ShenDig" Barbeque Championship 🏅 Shenandoah, IA | 24 / 27 (639.3028) | 24 (159.9656) | 17 (165.6684) | 21 (161.0972) | 21 (152.5716) |
| 2022-06-17 | Camp High Hopes Rib Fest (Backyard) Sioux City, IA | 8 / 13 (319.3944) | 8 (158.8228) | 7 (160.5716) | — | — |
| 2022-04-01 | Iowa State BBQ Championship (Backyard) Altoona, IA | 26 / 27 (296.5148) | 26 (147.9888) | 25 (148.5260) | — | — |
| 2021-06-19 | Camp High Hopes Rib Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) Sioux City, IA | 14 / 22 (308.5604) | 12 (160.5944) | 16 (147.9660) | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Backyard | #186 (169 pts) | #195 (169 pts) | #207 (169 pts) | — | — |
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #97 (1201 pts) | #42 (1618 pts) | #72 (1421 pts) | #149 (931 pts) | #107 (1101 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Backyard | #17 (1199 pts) | #11 (1244 pts) | #30 (1083 pts) | — | — |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #476 (403 pts) | #493 (453 pts) | #371 (700 pts) | #549 (333 pts) | #571 (303 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Backyard | #18 (1185 pts) | #20 (1135 pts) | #28 (1067 pts) | — | — |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #556 (316 pts) | #583 (331 pts) | #399 (601 pts) | #469 (441 pts) | #649 (266 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Backyard | — | #124 (496 pts) | #100 (661 pts) | — | — |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #742 (195 pts) | #834 (180 pts) | #773 (245 pts) | #568 (335 pts) | #800 (190 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Backyard | — | #182 (185 pts) | #191 (195 pts) | — | — |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #1627 (57 pts) | #1636 (57 pts) | #1285 (92 pts) | #1305 (72 pts) | #1287 (72 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Backyard | — | #203 (112 pts) | #236 (92 pts) | — | — |