ULTIMATE TAILGATERS BBQ GA
Rating
1493
peak 1525 · rated over 31 contests
Contests
33
in the data
First seen
2019-05-10
latest 2026-07-09
Best ToY finish
#181
Master 2021
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
3
8 podiums
Overall top-10s
2
of 33 contests
Avg finish
top 59%
overall standings
Best overall
693.6344
Competitor Series · Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION)
Perfect 180s
2 🔥
Current form
673.57 ▼
last 5 Master vs avg 674.41 (-0.84)
Walk rate
61%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±11.37
std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork Ribs
avg 169.56 · weakest Pork (167.17)
Road miles
3027
mi across 31 mapped stops · furthest 223 mi
Schedule strength
69%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1565)
Purse competed for
$524K
listed at 22 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
GCs in 27 state-championship entries
Master avg
674.41 / 720
28 Master contests · 0 GCs
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
ELITE BBQ SMOKERS has finished one call ahead of ULTIMATE TAILGATERS BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
SMOKE SHOW MAFIA has landed one call behind them 2 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
Smoke Central BBQ has come out ahead in 25 of their 26 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of HOLT BROTHERS BBQ in 8 of their 10 shared contests.
😤 Pork Ribs nemesis
Even in their strongest meat, Smoke Central BBQ has out-cooked them in 20 of 26 shared pork ribs entries.
📅 A July team
Something about July: average finish in the top 45% across 8 contests, versus top 59% the rest of the year.
Teams like this (closest power rating, GA first)
Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | 28 | 9 | 19 | 32% | ⚔ compare |
| Smoke Central BBQ | 26 | 1 | 25 | 4% | ⚔ compare |
| MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | 25 | 4 | 21 | 16% | ⚔ compare |
| HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | 23 | 6 | 17 | 26% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN SKULLIES | 23 | 4 | 19 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | 22 | 4 | 18 | 18% | ⚔ compare |
| ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | 17 | 0 | 17 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| BARREL FEVER BBQ | 16 | 8 | 8 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| QMEISTERS | 15 | 8 | 7 | 53% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | 15 | 5 | 10 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| Bald Hawg BBQ | 15 | 5 | 10 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKE SHOW MAFIA | 15 | 4 | 11 | 27% | ⚔ compare |
| SWIG-N-PIG | 14 | 2 | 12 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| PIG ON FIRE | 13 | 7 | 6 | 54% | ⚔ compare |
| FALLOUT BBQ | 13 | 3 | 10 | 23% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 34 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 180.0000 🔥 | 153.1888 | 168.54 | top 60% |
| Pork Ribs | 32 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 180.0000 🔥 | 152.4800 | 169.56 | top 47% |
| Pork | 31 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 178.8572 | 154.7656 | 167.17 | top 60% |
| Brisket | 31 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 177.7144 | 158.2056 | 168.94 | top 51% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GA | 16 | 0 | top 64% |
| SC | 13 | 0 | top 53% |
| AL | 1 | 0 | top 90% |
| NC | 1 | 0 | top 32% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 1 | 0 | top 32% |
| Medium (20–39) | 12 | 0 | top 67% |
| Large (40+) | 18 | 0 | top 56% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Festival of Discovery | 5 | 23 | 0 | top 48% | 2026-07-09 |
| Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) | 3 | 12 | 0 | top 71% | 2025-10-16 |
| Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off | 3 | 8 | 0 | top 37% | 2025-05-09 |
| SC Festival of Discovery | 2 | 26 | 0 | top 43% | 2021-07-09 |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2021 (11 contests)
- Cooks mostly in GA (16 of 33 contests)
- Most-entered category: Chicken (34 entries)
- Average Master overall score: 674.41 / 720
- 2 perfect 180s on the books 🔥
Milestones
- 🚩 — First tracked contest · BARRGH-B-Q on the Beach Pirateland - One Meat Ribs Challenge
- 📣 — First call · BARRGH-B-Q on the Beach Pirateland - One Meat Ribs Challenge
- 🔥 2021-05-22 — First perfect 180 (Pork Ribs) · GA - BBQ Shoot Out Day 2
- 🎖️ 2023-10-20 — 25th tracked contest · Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION)
- ⭐ 2023-10-20 — Career-best overall score (693.6344) · Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION)
- 📈 2025-05-09 — Peak power rating (1525) · Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +12.6 | Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off | 2025-05-09 |
| +9.4 | South Carolina Festival of Discovery | 2022-07-07 |
| +8.5 | Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Zooland | 2021-07-16 |
| +7.2 | South Carolina Festival of Discovery | 2023-07-06 |
| +6.6 | South Carolina Festival of Discovery | 2024-07-11 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -11.2 | Poosa Q | 2025-06-20 |
| -10.4 | Royal Oak Invitational Only (COMPETITOR SERIES) | 2022-10-21 |
| -8.3 | Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que & Music Festival | 2019-05-24 |
| -8.1 | Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Dorchester Shrine Club | 2021-03-19 |
| -8 | Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) | 2025-10-16 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | — | — | — |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 77% | 92.8% | 92.5% |
| 2025 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% | top 66% | 96% | 94.2% |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 62% | 95.7% | 95.7% |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67% | top 45% | 94.5% | 93.7% |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33% | top 65% | 95.2% | 93.3% |
| 2021 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 82% | top 54% | 95.3% | 94.4% |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 62% | 95.9% | 93.4% |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33% | top 62% | 92% | 91.2% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-09 | South Carolina Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC | 60 / 75 (664.3884) | 32 (173.1084) | 67 (161.6572) | 66 (159.9428) | 40 (169.6800) |
| 2026-05-08 | 20th Annual Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off 🏅 Waynesboro, GA | 31 / 42 (667.8516) | 31 (165.6800) | 28 (165.0856) | 30 (167.3944) | 20 (169.6916) |
| 2025-10-16 | Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) Roswell, GA | 34 / 36 (675.2684) | 33 (166.2400) | 24 (171.9656) | 27 (168.5372) | 27 (168.5256) |
| 2025-07-10 | South Carolina Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC | 40 / 66 (675.8512) | 23 (171.9656) | 55 (160.5144) | 23 (171.9656) | 28 (171.4056) |
| 2025-06-20 | Poosa Q 🏅 Montgomery, AL | 38 / 42 (668.4000) | 36 (167.3828) | 7 (175.4288) | 42 (154.7656) | 21 (170.8228) |
| 2025-05-09 | Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off 🏅 Waynesboro, GA | 8 / 42 (691.3832) | 6 (177.1544) | 10 (171.9772) | 10 (171.9772) | 15 (170.2744) |
| 2024-10-17 | Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) Roswell, GA | 28 / 33 (674.7660) | 12 (175.4172) | 31 (165.1088) | 20 (170.8344) | 29 (163.4056) |
| 2024-07-11 | South Carolina Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC | 29 / 76 (689.0516) | 43 (170.8344) | 42 (169.6916) | 39 (170.8112) | 3 (177.7144) |
| 2023-10-20 | Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) Roswell, GA | 12 / 35 (693.6344) | 13 (174.2744) | 8 (175.4172) | 25 (170.8228) | 15 (173.1200) |
| 2023-07-06 | South Carolina Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC | 28 / 76 (680.4572) | 46 (166.2400) | 5 (177.7028) | 55 (162.2516) | 11 (174.2628) |
| 2023-05-12 | 17th Annual Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off 🏅 Waynesboro, GA | 25 / 40 (669.5312) | 32 (162.8000) | 17 (170.8228) | 28 (165.0856) | 14 (170.8228) |
| 2022-10-21 | Royal Oak Invitational Only (COMPETITOR SERIES) Roswell, GA | 34 / 35 (663.2456) | 28 (168.5372) | 24 (169.6800) | 35 (161.0856) | 31 (163.9428) |
| 2022-10-14 | Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que Music Festival 🏅 Grovetown, GA | 37 / 51 (666.1028) | 1 (180.0000) | 50 (152.4800) | 45 (163.9428) | 23 (169.6800) |
| 2022-07-07 | South Carolina Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC | 23 / 92 (685.6000) | 28 (170.8228) | 30 (171.9772) | 20 (171.9772) | 30 (170.8228) |
| 2021-09-04 | Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que Day 2 🏅 Augusta, GA | 23 / 43 (686.1828) | 36 (168.5372) | 4 (178.2972) | 29 (168.5256) | 27 (170.8228) |
| 2021-08-27 | Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Myrtle Beach Travel Park 🏅 Myrtle Beach, SC | 15 / 22 (664.3884) | 18 (163.3712) | 14 (167.3944) | 6 (170.8228) | 15 (162.8000) |
| 2021-08-20 | Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - BARRGH-B-Q on the Beach Pirateland 🏅 Myrtle Beach, SC | 18 / 26 (675.2684) | 14 (170.8344) | 19 (167.3944) | 18 (169.6684) | 16 (167.3712) |
| 2021-07-16 | Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Zooland 🏅 Asheboro, NC | 6 / 19 (685.6232) | 14 (168.5488) | 14 (163.9544) | 1 (178.8572) | 4 (174.2628) |
| 2021-07-09 | SC Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC | 26 / 81 (682.1368) | 40 (168.5256) | 23 (170.8228) | 33 (168.5256) | 13 (174.2628) |
| 2021-06-11 | Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Roebuck 🏅 Roebuck, SC | 12 / 28 (682.7544) | 6 (175.4172) | 21 (165.6800) | 14 (169.6800) | 11 (171.9772) |
| 2021-05-22 | GA - BBQ Shoot Out Day 2 🏅 Evans, GA | 13 / 21 (685.0516) | 20 (162.8116) | 1 (180.0000) | 9 (171.4172) | 10 (170.8228) |
| 2021-05-21 | GA - BBQ Shoot Out Day 1 🏅 Evans, GA | 14 / 21 (675.8628) | 16 (168.5372) | 14 (166.2516) | 16 (165.6684) | 2 (175.4056) |
| 2021-05-14 | Boss Hog State Championship Cook-OFF 🏅 Waynesboro, GA | 16 / 42 (678.7428) | 12 (171.9772) | 8 (173.7028) | 21 (166.2400) | 22 (166.8228) |
| 2021-04-16 | Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Pine Ridge 🏅 Roebuck, SC | 12 / 27 (685.6228) | 7 (175.4400) | 8 (173.1200) | 9 (170.8344) | 23 (166.2284) |
| 2021-03-19 | Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Dorchester Shrine Club 🏅 Summerville, SC | 21 / 26 (672.9944) | 16 (170.8344) | 10 (171.9888) | 14 (168.5256) | 24 (161.6456) |
| 2020-09-05 | Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que & Music Festival 🏅 Augusta, GA | 26 / 54 (690.2060) | 35 (171.9888) | 3 (178.8572) | 32 (169.6800) | 32 (169.6800) |
| 2020-09-04 | Practice for Cash 🏅 Augusta, GA | 38 / 46 (650.6052) | 42 (160.4796) | 7 (171.9772) | 38 (159.9428) | 43 (158.2056) |
| 2020-08-14 | Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Aiken 🏅 Aiken, SC | 19 / 34 (675.8972) | 17 (169.1316) | 3 (176.5600) | 30 (162.8228) | 20 (167.3828) |
| 2019-07-12 | SC Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC | 44 / 83 (655.7940) | 58 (160.5372) | 46 (162.8000) | 49 (163.9312) | 23 (168.5256) |
| 2019-05-24 | Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que & Music Festival 🏅 Evans, GA | 57 / 72 (652.3888) | 63 (161.0972) | 48 (165.6916) | 52 (162.8000) | 54 (162.8000) |
| 2019-05-10 | Boss Hog State Championship Cook-OFF 🏅 Waynesboro, GA | 23 / 42 (662.1028) | 3 (174.2744) | 25 (161.0972) | 26 (162.7884) | 28 (163.9428) |
| BARRGH-B-Q on the Beach Pirateland - One Meat Chicken Challenge Myrtle Beach, SC | — | 13 (164.5372) | — | — | — | |
| BARRGH-B-Q on the Beach Pirateland - One Meat Ribs Challenge Myrtle Beach, SC | — | — | 5 (170.8344) | — | — |
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 ↗ | Master | #715 (120 pts) | #772 (120 pts) | #841 (120 pts) | #744 (120 pts) | #685 (145 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #591 (275 pts) | #610 (305 pts) | #582 (360 pts) | #631 (265 pts) | #640 (250 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #1182 (60 pts) | #1242 (60 pts) | #1317 (60 pts) | #1231 (60 pts) | #701 (235 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #938 (120 pts) | #1011 (120 pts) | #693 (285 pts) | #989 (120 pts) | #688 (245 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #954 (130 pts) | #593 (345 pts) | #1107 (120 pts) | #973 (145 pts) | #986 (130 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #181 (1030 pts) | #167 (1094 pts) | #97 (1454 pts) | #135 (1230 pts) | #136 (1194 pts) |
| 2020 ↗ | Master | #655 (120 pts) | #696 (120 pts) | #313 (400 pts) | #706 (120 pts) | #681 (120 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #1201 (190 pts) | #873 (355 pts) | #1287 (180 pts) | #1307 (180 pts) | #1250 (190 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #754 (434 pts) | #781 (439 pts) | #956 (344 pts) | #1023 (299 pts) | #474 (779 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #396 (936 pts) | #589 (686 pts) | #507 (781 pts) | #590 (681 pts) | #392 (971 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #680 (564 pts) | #535 (764 pts) | #823 (479 pts) | #691 (584 pts) | #695 (574 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #541 (700 pts) | #537 (730 pts) | #907 (390 pts) | #443 (865 pts) | #462 (810 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #575 (652 pts) | #514 (747 pts) | #530 (742 pts) | #549 (707 pts) | #818 (432 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #1431 (158 pts) | #1178 (243 pts) | #1080 (283 pts) | #1664 (143 pts) | #1642 (138 pts) |