GRILLIN' GANGSTERS

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

Power ranking

#6340

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1387

peak 1387 · rated over 18 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-05-17

latest 2019-05-17

Best ToY finish

#1955

Master 2019

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

0 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 18 contests

Avg finish

top 85%

overall standings

Best overall

663.8972 / 720

Master · * Hog Happnin'

Perfect 180s

Current form

626.54 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 634.96 (-8.41)

Walk rate

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

171.4056

Brisket · * Hog Happnin'

Consistency

±14.48

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 162.15 · weakest Brisket (154.01)

Road miles

1,408

mi across 18 mapped stops · furthest 129 mi

Schedule strength

48%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1562)

Purse competed for

$17K

listed at 1 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

GCs in 1 state-championship entries

Master avg

634.96 / 720

18 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (9 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.

High-water mark

663.8972 career-best overall

92.2% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 663.8972 at * Hog Happnin' — 92.2% of a perfect 720.

Master
2015-11-06

A tough matchup

14–0 behind in the head-to-head

ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE ahead in 100% of their meetings

ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE has come out ahead in 14 of their 14 shared contests.

The weak link

−8.1 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 8.14 points below their pork, and turns into a call 0% of the time against 6%.

Brisket avg 154.01
Pork avg 162.15
0 calls in 18 entries

A strong matchup

6–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 86% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of JERRY'S TENDER BUTT BBQ in 6 of their 7 shared contests.

Pork nemesis

13 of 14 shared pork entries lost

ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE ahead 93% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE has out-cooked them in 13 of 14 shared pork entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

PORK-N-BONES has landed one call behind them 2 times.

A November team

Top 75% average finish in November

Something about November: average finish in the top 75% across 3 contests, versus top 85% the rest of the year.

3 November contests
top 85% the rest of the year

The metronome

±2.01% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.01% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 88.2% of a perfect score
18 contests

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked Hog Happnin' every year from 2013 to 2016 — the contest they never miss.

4 visits in all
best finish 30th

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.

CAUGHT BY THE FIRE

#6339 of the rated field

1387 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 27
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1387

1–5 in 6 shared contests (17% to GRILLIN' GANGSTERS)

These two have cooked 6 of the same contests — CAUGHT BY THE FIRE ahead 5–1 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 27 contests
last seen 2021-06-25

⚔ Head-to-head

HOKIE POKIE Q

#6341 of the rated field

1387 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 23
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 4%
Peak: 1387

No shared contest yet.

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 23 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 23 contests
last seen 2026-04-11

⚔ Head-to-head

Smoke Shack

#6342 of the rated field

1387 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 10
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1387

No shared contest yet.

Fewer contests behind them than GRILLIN' GANGSTERS has cooked, 10 to 18, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 10 contests
last seen 2019-11-22

⚔ Head-to-head

CRITTER COOKER'S

#6346 of the rated field

1386 ▼ 1 power rating

Contests: 23
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1504

4–3 in 7 shared contests (57% to GRILLIN' GANGSTERS)

23 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 21 contests
last seen 2021-06-11

⚔ Head-to-head

2 GUYS AND A CHICK

#6343 of the rated field

1387 ▼ 1 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1387

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 18 contests
last seen 2021-09-24

⚔ Head-to-head

Black Tie BBQ

#6338 of the rated field

1389 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1389

No shared contest yet.

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.

rated over 19 contests
last seen 2023-03-03

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
ROCKY TOP BARBEQUE	14	0	14	0%	⚔ compare
SAUCED! BBQ TEAM	12	0	12	0%	⚔ compare
HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS	11	3	8	27%	⚔ compare
SWIGGIN PIG	11	0	11	0%	⚔ compare
SMOKE THIS	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
CONTAGIOUS Q	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
FIREHOUSE SMOKERS TN	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
SUE E PIGG	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
SMOKE ON THIS	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
BAYOU POKER SMOKERS	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
OLD PLANTATION BBQ	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
WILD BUNCH BUTT BURNERS	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
JERRY'S TENDER BUTT BBQ	7	6	1	86%	⚔ compare
CRITTER COOKER'S	7	4	3	57%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	18	0	169.7028	150.2172	160.03	top 79%
Pork Ribs	18	0	169.6684	138.8000	158.76	top 72%
Pork	18	1	170.2856	148.4912	162.15	top 68%
Brisket	18	0	171.4056	138.2056	154.01	top 82%

“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
TN	7	top 85%
NC	7	top 79%
GA	4	top 94%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass	4	38	top 86%	2019-05-17
Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival	4	49	top 94%	2017-08-04
Hog Happnin'	4	30	top 73%	2016-11-04
Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass	2	37	top 84%	2016-05-20

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

On the trail 6 yrs 2013-05-17 → 2019-05-17

Busiest season 2014 4 contests

Contests a season 2.6 across 7 seasons in the data

Cooks most in TN 7 of 18 contests · 3 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 8 4 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 18 entries · 0 wins · 0 calls

Strongest meat Pork averages 162.15 · weakest Brisket (154.01)

Walk rate 6% a top-10 call in 1 of 18 contests

Overall top-10 rate 0% 0 of 18 contests

Master average 634.96 out of 720 · 18 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 398 146–791 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 1,408 18 mapped stops · furthest 129 mi

Schedule strength 1562 average field rating faced — tougher than 48% of rated contests

Purse competed for $16,600 listed at 1 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships 0 from 1 state-championship entries

Power rating 1387 peak 1387 · #6340 of 6,413 rated

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

2013
May 17 First tracked contest Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass
May 17 Peak power rating (1492) Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass
Jul 26 First call WNC Barbeque Festival
2014
Oct 31 First overall past 90% of a perfect score651.8056 Hog Happnin'
2015
Nov 6 10th tracked contest * Hog Happnin'
Nov 6 Career-best overall score663.8972 * Hog Happnin'
Nov 6 Career-best single call (Brisket)171.4056 * Hog Happnin'
2019
May 17 Most recent contest Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+6	* Hog Happnin'	2015-11-06

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12.8	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier)	2013-08-02
-10.7	Hog Happnin'	2013-11-01
-8.4	Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass	2013-05-17
-8.3	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier)	2016-08-05
-8.2	WNC BBQ Festival	2014-07-25

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	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2019	1	0%	top 91%	86%	86%
2018	2	0%	top 91%	87.8%	87%
2017	2	0%	top 93%	88%	87.5%
2016	3	0%	top 89%	89.6%	88.9%
2015	2	0%	top 68%	92.2%	91.6%
2014	4	0%	top 80%	90.5%	88.3%
2013	4	25%	top 87%	89.5%	87.3%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2019-05-17	Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass 🏅 Sevierville, TN	39 / 43 (619.2456)	38 (158.2516)	25 (164.0000)	31 (158.7884)	41 (138.2056)
2018-08-10	Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show Franklin, NC	48 / 51 (632.3884)	46 (158.2628)	47 (154.8228)	38 (163.3828)	43 (155.9200)
2018-05-18	Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass Sevierville, TN	38 / 43 (620.8912)	40 (150.2172)	33 (158.8228)	39 (155.3600)	35 (156.4912)
2017-08-04	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival Dillard, GA	55 / 57 (633.4856)	49 (163.3828)	43 (162.8228)	55 (156.5028)	55 (150.7772)
2017-05-19	Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass Sevierville, TN	44 / 49 (626.6976)	47 (150.8116)	43 (155.3944)	13 (170.2744)	46 (150.2172)
2016-11-04	Hog Happnin' Shelby, NC	46 / 56 (642.7084)	37 (162.2744)	20 (166.8572)	30 (167.3712)	56 (146.2056)
2016-08-05	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier) Dillard, GA	54 / 56 (632.9828)	48 (160.5372)	50 (158.8228)	53 (160.5600)	55 (153.0628)
2016-05-20	Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass Sevierville, TN	41 / 46 (645.4624)	42 (155.9084)	20 (169.6684)	39 (162.8228)	42 (157.0628)
2015-11-06	* Hog Happnin' Shelby, NC	30 / 60 (663.8972)	36 (165.0972)	24 (166.2744)	44 (161.1200)	15 (171.4056)
2015-05-15	Sevierville Bloomin' BBQ and Bluegrass Festival Sevierville, TN	38 / 44 (654.7660)	24 (169.7028)	23 (167.9772)	25 (168.5372)	44 (148.5488)
2014-10-31	Hog Happnin' Shelby, NC	41 / 61 (651.8056)	42 (163.3828)	47 (158.8000)	23 (167.9656)	43 (161.6572)
2014-08-01	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier) Dillard, GA	49 / 56 (634.6856)	29 (168.5944)	54 (144.4916)	34 (165.1084)	45 (156.4912)
2014-07-25	WNC BBQ Festival Maggie Valley, NC	41 / 46 (611.2800)	37 (159.3944)	45 (138.8000)	45 (149.0740)	26 (164.0116)
2014-05-16	Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass Sevierville, TN	42 / 56 (643.9312)	34 (165.7144)	24 (165.1200)	31 (166.8456)	53 (146.2512)
2013-11-01	Hog Happnin' Shelby, NC	69 / 75 (615.2800)	69 (151.3944)	52 (160.5372)	69 (156.4912)	68 (146.8572)
2013-08-02	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier) Dillard, GA	59 / 61 (614.6508)	48 (161.6800)	48 (157.0968)	61 (148.4912)	60 (147.3828)
2013-07-26	WNC Barbeque Festival Maggie Valley, NC	38 / 48 (640.4800)	47 (155.9428)	44 (156.0000)	9 (169.7028)	34 (158.8344)
2013-05-17	Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass Sevierville, TN	37 / 47 (644.5712)	39 (160.0002)	42 (151.4284)	18 (170.2856)	26 (162.8570)

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	#1955 (60 pts)	#2049 (60 pts)	#2026 (60 pts)	#2029 (60 pts)	#2010 (60 pts)