Perfect scores on the board
1
perfect 180s
1 perfect 180 in the data — every judge at the table handing back a nine, all in brisket.
- Brisket ×1
When Pigs Fly Family BBQ
At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)
Rating
1585
peak 1591 · rated over 10 contests ⓘ
Best runs
8
straight top-10s · 2 straight GCs
Contests
14
in the data
First seen
2025-01-24
latest 2026-05-24
Best ToY finish
#43
Backyard 2026
Grand champs
2
0 reserve
Category wins
6
16 podiums
Overall top-10s
8
of 14 contests
Avg finish
top 30%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
1 🔥
Current form
333.41 ▼
last 5 Backyard vs avg 337.32 (-3.91)
Walk rate
64%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
8
best run (overall)
Consistency
±7.98
std dev of Backyard overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork
avg 171.98 · weakest Chicken (165.72)
Road miles
1,514
mi across 14 mapped stops · furthest 628 mi
Schedule strength
45%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1558)
Purse competed for
$145K
listed at 10 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
2 🏅
GCs in 10 state-championship entries
Master avg
679.30 / 720
2 Master contests · 0 GCs
Backyard avg
337.32 / 360
10 Backyard contests · 2 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.
This team cooks the Backyard series — its own boards, records and Team of the Year are here.
Storylines (16 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.
On the rise
+39
rating points in a year
Their power rating has climbed 39 points across 7 contests since 2025-11-21 — from 1546 up to 1585.
- 7 contests since 2025-11-21
- now 1585
Signature meat
33%
brisket entries won
3 wins from 9 entries
When brisket is on the table, watch out — they've won it in 33% of their entries (3 of 9).
- best 180.0000
- average 171.85
- 6 calls
Happy hunting ground
1×
Grand Championships here
Torry Island BBQ Showdown is their spot: 1 Grand Championship in 2 visits.
- 2 visits
- best finish 1st
- average top 11%
A multi-meat day
1
contests with 2+ category wins
They've won two or more meats on the same day 1 time — the best of them 2 category wins at Back Porch Jam at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds (2025-03-14).
- Chicken 1st
- Brisket 1st
They almost always walk
64%
of contests with a top-10 call
A call in 9 of 14 contests
A top-10 category call in 64% of their 14 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.
High-water mark
680.9940
career-best overall
94.6% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 680.9940 at Pitmasters in Paradise — 94.6% of a perfect 720.
- Master
- 2026-04-25
State champions
2
state championships won
They've taken 2 state championships from 10 entries at contests carrying the title.
- 10 state-championship entries
The one to beat
2×
one call ahead of them
KEEPIN IT SMOKIN BBQ has finished one call ahead of When Pigs Fly Family BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.
Their season
2025
2 Grand Championships
2025 was the year it came together: 4 contests, 2 Grand Championships and 4 category wins, at an average finish in the top 20%.
- 4 contests
- 3 overall top-10s
- 4 category wins
- average top 20%
A tough matchup
5–1
behind in the head-to-head
Dogpatch Q ahead in 83% of their meetings
Dogpatch Q has come out ahead in 5 of their 6 shared contests.
The weak link
−6.3
points behind their best meat
Chicken is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 6.26 points below their pork, and turns into a call 54% of the time against 56%.
- Chicken avg 165.72
- Pork avg 171.98
- 7 calls in 13 entries
A strong matchup
8–0
ahead in the head-to-head
Ahead in 100% of their meetings
They've finished ahead of Stewey Magoos BBQ in 8 of their 8 shared contests.
Pork nemesis
4 of 6
shared pork entries lost
FRED VEGAS SMOKERS ahead 67% of the time
Even in their strongest meat, FRED VEGAS SMOKERS has out-cooked them in 4 of 6 shared pork entries.
A March team
Top 12%
average finish in March
Something about March: average finish in the top 12% across 4 contests, versus top 30% the rest of the year.
- 4 March contests
- top 30% the rest of the year
The metronome
±2.04%
swing around their own average
Their overall lands within ±2.04% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.
- averages 93.8% of a perfect score
- 14 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.
30 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#1211 of the rated field
- Contests
- 13
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 46%
- Peak
- 1585
No shared contest yet.
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 12 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-head#1206 of the rated field
- Contests
- 21
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 52%
- Peak
- 1585
No shared contest yet.
A longer road to the same neighbourhood — 21 contests to 14.
⚔ Head-to-head#1207 of the rated field
- Contests
- 22
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 41%
- Peak
- 1598
No shared contest yet.
Their last contest in the data was back in 2016, 10 years before When Pigs Fly Family BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-head#1208 of the rated field
- Contests
- 26
- GCs
- 3
- Top-10s
- 50%
- Peak
- 1585
No shared contest yet.
Their rating is built on 3 Grand Championships in 26 contests, alongside a 50% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Head-to-head#1209 of the rated field
- Contests
- 27
- GCs
- 2
- Top-10s
- 33%
- Peak
- 1602
No shared contest yet.
They were already cooking in 2013, 12 years before When Pigs Fly Family BBQ's first contest.
⚔ Head-to-head#1205 of the rated field
- Contests
- 40
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 18%
- Peak
- 1616
No shared contest yet.
Level with When Pigs Fly Family BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Head-to-headFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Going Yard BBQ | 9 | 7 | 1 | 78% | ⚔ compare |
| Bourbon & Blues BBQ | 9 | 5 | 4 | 56% | ⚔ compare |
| Kings BBQ Team | 9 | 3 | 6 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| Stewey Magoos BBQ | 8 | 8 | 0 | 100% | ⚔ compare |
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 8 | 3 | 5 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| Tillman's BBQ | 8 | 2 | 4 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| K & E's Little Smokers | 7 | 5 | 1 | 71% | ⚔ compare |
| WHEN PIGS DIE | 7 | 5 | 2 | 71% | ⚔ compare |
| Accutech BBQ | 7 | 4 | 2 | 57% | ⚔ compare |
| BrewsCue | 7 | 3 | 3 | 43% | ⚔ compare |
| FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | 7 | 2 | 5 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| Bearded Monkeys Twisted Q | 6 | 6 | 0 | 100% | ⚔ compare |
| Cold Beer BBQ | 6 | 5 | 1 | 83% | ⚔ compare |
| PIPKIN CREEK BBQ CO. | 6 | 4 | 2 | 67% | ⚔ compare |
| KEEPIN IT SMOKIN BBQ | 6 | 2 | 4 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 13 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 177.1544 | 157.0628 | 165.72 | top 41% |
| Pork Ribs | 13 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 178.2972 | 163.3828 | 170.92 | top 30% |
| Pork | 9 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 177.7144 | 162.8228 | 171.98 | top 21% |
| Brisket | 9 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 180.0000 🔥 | 165.0856 | 171.85 | top 24% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| FL | 10 | 2 | top 23% |
| TN | 2 | 0 | top 67% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 2 | 1 | top 13% |
| Medium (20–39) | 6 | 1 | top 23% |
| Large (40+) | 4 | 0 | top 50% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torry Island BBQ Showdown | 2 | 1 | 1 | top 11% | 2026-03-20 |
| Lakeland Pig Festival | 2 | 7 | 0 | top 33% | 2026-01-22 |
The story so far (21 numbers that describe this team)
On the trail
1.3 yrs
2025-01-24 → 2026-05-24
Busiest season
2026
10 contests
Contests a season
7
across 2 seasons in the data
Cooks most in
FL
10 of 14 contests · 2 states/provinces in all
Contests visited
10
2 of them cooked more than once
Most-entered meat
Chicken
13 entries · 1 win · 7 calls
Strongest meat
Pork
averages 171.98 · weakest Chicken (165.72)
Walk rate
64%
a top-10 call in 9 of 14 contests
Overall top-10 rate
57%
8 of 14 contests
Wins it all
14%
2 Grand Championships · 0 reserve
First title
2025-03-14
Back Porch Jam at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds
Best top-10 run
8
straight contests
Master average
679.30
out of 720 · 2 contests · 0 GCs
Backyard average
337.32
out of 360 · 10 contests · 2 GCs
Perfect 180s
1
every judge at the table handing back a nine
Opponents faced
390
454–299 across every shared overall standing
Road miles
1,514
14 mapped stops · furthest 628 mi
Schedule strength
1558
average field rating faced — tougher than 45% of rated contests
Purse competed for
$144,550
listed at 10 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
2
from 10 state-championship entries
Power rating
1585
peak 1591 · #1210 of 6,413 rated
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
- 2025
- First tracked contest Lakeland Pig Festival
- First call Lakeland Pig Festival
- First perfect 180 (Brisket) Lakeland Pig Festival
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score333.0628 Lakeland Pig Festival
- First category win (Chicken) Back Porch Jam at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds
- First overall top-10 Back Porch Jam at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds
- First overall podium Back Porch Jam at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds
- First Grand Championship Back Porch Jam at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds
- First state championship Back Porch Jam at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds
- First multi-meat day Back Porch Jam at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds
- 2026
- Peak power rating (1591) Torry Island BBQ Showdown
- 10th tracked contest Pitmasters in Paradise
- Career-best overall score680.9940 Pitmasters in Paradise
- Most recent contest 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Master Series Invitational and the Backyard Series Invitational (Sunday, May 24, 2026)
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +16.4 | Back Porch Jam at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds | 2025-03-14 |
| +15.2 | Torry Island BBQ Showdown | 2025-03-21 |
| +14.4 | 10th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam | 2026-01-09 |
| +12.5 | Lakeland Pig Festival | 2026-01-22 |
| +11.9 | Plant City Pig Jam | 2025-11-21 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -6 | Pitmasters in Paradise | 2026-04-25 |
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)
Season by season
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 50% | top 36% | 97.8% | 93.7% |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 100% | top 20% | 95.9% | 94% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-24 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Master Series Invitational and the Backyard Series Invitational (Sunday, May 24, 2026) unrated Lebanon, TN | 47 / 82 (326.7428) | 47 (157.0628) | 32 (169.6800) | — | — |
| 2026-05-23 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Wells Cup, Cocktail Ancillary, Dessert Ancillary (Saturday, May 23, 2026) unrated Lebanon, TN | 90 / 117 (677.6000) | 112 (163.3828) | 81 (168.5372) | 35 (174.8572) | 54 (170.8228) |
| 2026-05-22 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: World Chicken Finals (Friday, May 22, 2026) unrated Lebanon, TN | — | 73 (161.0856) | — | — | — |
| 2026-05-22 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: World Rib Finals (Friday, May 22, 2026) unrated Lebanon, TN | — | — | 66 (168.5372) | — | — |
| 2026-04-25 | Pitmasters in Paradise 🏅 Auburndale, FL | 23 / 35 (680.9940) | 12 (174.2628) | 28 (167.3828) | 14 (174.2628) | 27 (165.0856) |
| 2026-03-20 | Torry Island BBQ Showdown 🏅 Belle Glade, FL | 6 / 34 (336.5484) | 8 (161.1428) | 4 (175.4056) | — | — |
| 2026-03-13 | Jeepin 4 Justice 🏅 Shady Hills, FL | 3 / 15 (325.6000) | 3 (157.0628) | 2 (168.5372) | 2 (166.2400) | 1 (176.5600) |
| 2026-02-20 | Ribs on the Ridge 🏅 Haines City, FL | 9 / 32 (333.0856) | 8 (164.5256) | 7 (168.5600) | 4 (170.8228) | 1 (175.4056) |
| 2026-01-22 | Lakeland Pig Festival 🏅 Lakeland, FL | 7 / 63 (345.0856) | 13 (169.6684) | 7 (175.4172) | 3 (177.1428) | 16 (165.6800) |
| 2026-01-09 | 10th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam 🏅 St. Augustine, FL | 4 / 38 (352.0000) | 5 (173.7028) | 3 (178.2972) | 11 (173.1200) | 9 (169.6916) |
| 2025-11-21 | Plant City Pig Jam 🏅 Plant City, FL | 4 / 31 (345.0972) | 7 (170.8228) | 5 (174.2744) | 1 (177.7144) | 8 (167.3828) |
| 2025-03-21 | Torry Island BBQ Showdown 🏅 Belle Glade, FL | 1 / 26 (335.4288) | 2 (166.2744) | 1 (169.1544) | — | — |
| 2025-03-14 | Back Porch Jam at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds 🏅 Dover, FL | 1 / 15 (340.5372) | 1 (177.1544) | 3 (163.3828) | 2 (162.8228) | 1 (176.0000) |
| 2025-01-24 | Lakeland Pig Festival 🏅 Lakeland, FL | 22 / 40 (333.0628) | 44 (158.2172) | 3 (174.8456) | 17 (170.8228) | 2 (180.0000) |
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 | #43 (882 pts) | #50 (802 pts) | #38 (962 pts) | — | — |
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #726 (130 pts) | #600 (245 pts) | #741 (180 pts) | #666 (175 pts) | #780 (120 pts) |