Hickory Hangover AL
Rating
1759
peak 1779
Contests
90
in the data
First seen
latest 2026-04-03
Best ToY finish
#25
Backyard 2025
Grand champs
9
10 reserve
Category wins
20
57 podiums
Overall top-10s
59
of 90 contests
Avg finish
top 26%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
5 🔥
Current form
418.03 ▼
last 5 vs career avg 420.46 (-2.44)
Walk rate
86%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
14
best run (overall)
Consistency
±119.43
std dev of overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 170.94 · weakest Brisket (168.24)
Road miles
12581
mi across 89 mapped stops · furthest 624 mi
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
REDBONES BBQ has finished one call ahead of Hickory Hangover 7 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q has landed one call behind them 6 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
Sweet Cheeks BBQ has come out ahead in 10 of their 13 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of HELL ON SQUEALS in 31 of their 44 shared contests.
🏕️ Happy hunting ground
WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) is their spot: 1 Grand Championship in 2 visits.
💔 The heartbreaker
Came within 0.0228 points of the Grand Championship at Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) (2021-06-11).
🗡️ Giant slayer
Took the Grand Championship over a 50-team field at The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ (BACKYARD ONLY).
🐣 Announced themselves early
Finished 4 of 23 at their very first tracked contest, Scottsboro BBQ Cook Off Festival(BACKYARD ONLY) ().
Teams like this (closest power rating, AL first)
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 89 | 50 | 8 | 21 | 180.0000 🔥 | 153.7144 | 170.94 | top 33% |
| Pork Ribs | 92 | 66 | 7 | 27 | 178.8800 | 153.6800 | 170.64 | top 31% |
| Pork | 35 | 15 | 5 | 9 | 180.0000 🔥 | 150.8340 | 168.87 | top 34% |
| Brisket | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 177.1428 | 156.5028 | 168.24 | top 46% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL | 62 | 9 | top 25% |
| TN | 8 | 0 | top 36% |
| GA | 5 | 0 | top 10% |
| MS | 4 | 0 | top 27% |
| OK | 2 | 0 | top 21% |
| VA | 2 | 0 | top 80% |
| KS | 1 | 0 | top 3% |
| IN | 1 | 0 | top 32% |
| FL | 1 | 0 | top 11% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 11 | 2 | top 36% |
| Medium (20–39) | 47 | 5 | top 24% |
| Large (40+) | 28 | 2 | top 26% |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2021 (21 contests)
- Cooks mostly in AL (63 of 90 contests)
- Most-entered category: Pork Ribs (92 entries)
- First Grand Championship in the data: Corums Building Center BBQ(BACKYARD ONLY) (2020-03-06)
- Wins it all in 10% of contests
- All-time average overall score: 420.46
- 5 perfect 180s on the books 🔥
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
Category scores over time
Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)
Where they finish (overall)
Best vs average (by meat)
Team of the Year rank by season
Season by season
| Season | Contests | GCs | Category wins | Best overall | Avg overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 344.0000 | 344.00 |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 689.0512 | 689.05 |
| 2025 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 682.7540 | 396.77 |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 671.3712 | 390.97 |
| 2023 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 690.7656 | 475.93 |
| 2022 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 683.9316 | 439.66 |
| 2021 | 21 | 2 | 5 | 696.5484 | 405.70 |
| 2020 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 660.4456 | 413.64 |
| 2019 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 663.8400 | 400.68 |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-03 | Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL | 17 / 36 (689.0512) | 22 (171.9656) | 6 (175.4172) | 26 (169.1084) | 18 (172.5600) |
| 2025-10-17 | WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL | 1 / 39 (354.2744) | 2 (178.8572) | 6 (175.4172) | — | — |
| 2025-10-10 | Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Scottsboro, AL | 5 / 30 (346.2284) | 5 (175.4056) | 9 (170.8228) | — | — |
| 2025-06-20 | Poosa Q Montgomery, AL | 1 / 42 (356.5716) | 2 (178.8572) | 2 (177.7144) | — | — |
| 2025-05-25 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) Lebanon, TN | 2 / 70 (354.2744) | 6 (176.5600) | 3 (177.7144) | — | — |
| 2025-05-24 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025) Lebanon, TN | 62 / 106 (682.7540) | 39 (174.2628) | 87 (167.4056) | 20 (176.0000) | 86 (165.0856) |
| 2025-04-11 | Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition Gadsden, AL | 18 / 31 (338.2172) | 2 (178.8572) | 28 (159.3600) | — | — |
| 2025-03-21 | Singing River Smoke-O-Rama (BACKYARD ONLY) Athens, AL | 10 / 43 (345.0972) | 2 (178.8572) | 27 (166.2400) | — | — |
| 2024-10-18 | WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL | 2 / 50 (353.1200) | 3 (176.5600) | 3 (176.5600) | — | — |
| 2024-10-11 | Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) Scottsboro, AL | 11 / 38 (343.3828) | 23 (165.0856) | 2 (178.2972) | — | — |
| 2024-10-04 | Poosa Q Montgomery, AL | 13 / 59 (346.2400) | 1 (180.0000) | 38 (166.2400) | — | — |
| 2024-05-25 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL Lebanon, TN | 23 / 47 (343.3828) | 7 (176.5600) | 42 (166.8228) | — | — |
| 2024-05-24 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN Lebanon, TN | 95 / 118 (671.3712) | 42 (174.2856) | 102 (164.5716) | 78 (169.6684) | 98 (162.8456) |
| 2024-03-22 | Singing River Smoke-O-Rama (BACKYARD ONLY) Athens, AL | 28 / 38 (331.3600) | 10 (172.5600) | 34 (158.8000) | — | — |
| 2024-03-15 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship Lebanon, TN | 2 / 93 (347.9656) | 4 (176.5600) | 8 (171.4056) | 13 (169.1084) | — |
| 2024-03-15 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT RIBS) Lebanon, TN | — | — | 37 (168.5372) | — | — |
| 2023-10-27 | Railyard BBQ Brawl 2023 Madison, AL | 11 / 14 (340.4912) | 21 (166.2284) | 5 (174.2628) | — | — |
| 2023-10-20 | The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL | 1 / 50 (355.4172) | 1 (178.8572) | 4 (176.5600) | — | — |
| 2023-10-05 | Poosa Q Montgomery, AL | 29 / 73 (334.7888) | 30 (167.3944) | 32 (167.3944) | — | — |
| 2023-08-11 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) Glencoe, AL | 3 / 35 (517.0856) | 4 (173.7028) | 2 (175.4172) | 11 (167.9656) | — |
| 2023-08-04 | Smoke in the Outfield (BACKYARD) (TEAM REGISTRATION FULL) Madison, AL | 29 / 58 (337.6572) | 48 (159.3600) | 3 (178.2972) | — | — |
| 2023-06-09 | Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL | 4 / 26 (345.6800) | 11 (170.8228) | 2 (174.8572) | — | — |
| 2023-04-07 | Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL | 4 / 39 (686.7888) | 11 (171.9656) | 20 (166.8460) | 2 (176.5600) | 8 (171.4172) |
| 2023-03-17 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship Lebanon, TN | 42 / 80 (674.7084) | 37 (171.9656) | 43 (166.2516) | 63 (164.5256) | 24 (171.9656) |
| 2023-03-17 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (One Meat Ribs) Lebanon, TN | — | — | 27 (169.1316) | — | — |
| 2023-03-03 | Sip & Swine BBQ Festival Lawrenceville, GA | 8 / 65 (690.7656) | 26 (170.8228) | 9 (176.5600) | 16 (173.1200) | 22 (170.2628) |
| 2022-11-12 | 4th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL Gadsden, AL | 2 / 49 (350.8344) | 9 (176.5600) | 4 (174.2744) | — | — |
| 2022-11-11 | 4th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN Gadsden, AL | 46 / 91 (678.1600) | 22 (174.2628) | 50 (168.5372) | 75 (164.5256) | 31 (170.8344) |
| 2022-10-28 | Railyard BBQ Brawl Madison, AL | 5 / 10 (338.2284) | 13 (164.5256) | 4 (173.7028) | — | — |
| 2022-10-21 | Barbecue With A View (BACKYARD ONLY) Vicksburg, MS | 3 / 28 (344.5944) | 10 (171.4056) | 3 (173.1888) | — | — |
| 2022-10-07 | Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE ONLY) Scottsboro, AL | 5 / 38 (348.5256) | 3 (175.4056) | 8 (173.1200) | — | — |
| 2022-09-16 | Mission Q (Backyard Only) Tuscumbia, AL | 1 / 18 (355.4288) | 1 (180.0000) | 6 (175.4288) | — | — |
| 2022-09-08 | Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ Huntsville, AL | 3 / 35 (342.2400) | 1 (173.1200) | 9 (169.1200) | — | — |
| 2022-08-12 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD ONLY) Glencoe, AL | 1 / 35 (530.8228) | 4 (174.8456) | 9 (167.9888) | 1 (180.0000) | — |
| 2022-08-05 | Back to School Bash (BACKYARD ONLY) Madison, AL | 4 / 21 (511.9084) | 4 (173.1200) | 7 (170.8228) | 7 (167.9656) | — |
| 2022-06-10 | Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL | 1 / 23 (350.2628) | 3 (174.2628) | 1 (176.0000) | — | — |
| 2022-05-05 | Poosa Q Montgomery, AL | 24 / 72 (332.4800) | 36 (160.5144) | 9 (171.9656) | — | — |
| 2022-04-22 | Smoke on the Water BBQ Festival (Backyard) Florence, AL | 7 / 34 (511.3600) | 17 (167.3828) | 10 (170.2628) | 2 (173.7144) | — |
| 2022-04-08 | Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL | 6 / 34 (343.9428) | 8 (173.1200) | 10 (170.8228) | — | — |
| 2022-03-18 | Smoke on The Shores Lebanon, TN | 18 / 63 (683.9316) | 36 (169.1200) | 7 (174.2744) | 25 (170.8228) | 20 (169.7144) |
| 2022-03-12 | Foley BBQ & Blues Cook Off (BACKYARD ONLY) Foley, AL | 8 / 26 (501.6340) | 21 (155.9428) | 3 (173.7028) | 4 (171.9884) | — |
| 2022-03-04 | Sip & Swine BBQ Festival Lawrenceville, GA | 3 / 73 (510.2056) | 8 (170.8228) | 3 (176.5600) | 19 (162.8228) | — |
| 2021-12-02 | Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship Demopolis, AL | 2 / 19 (347.3828) | 7 (169.6800) | 1 (177.7028) | — | — |
| 2021-11-19 | Mission Q (Backyard Only) Tuscumbia, AL | 3 / 14 (347.3944) | 1 (178.8572) | 7 (168.5372) | — | — |
| 2021-11-12 | 3rd Annual KCBS World Invitational - Backyard Shawnee, OK | 12 / 33 (339.3712) | 16 (169.1084) | 5 (170.2628) | — | — |
| 2021-11-11 | 3rd Annual KCBS World Invitational - Open Shawnee, OK | 6 / 111 (696.5484) | 37 (171.9884) | 6 (176.0116) | 55 (171.4056) | 8 (177.1428) |
| 2021-11-11 | 3rd Annual KCBS World Invitational - Ancillary Shawnee, OK | — | — | — | 12 (171.4284) | — |
| 2021-10-22 | Railyard BBQ Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) Madison, AL | 1 / 30 (347.4172) | 1 (178.8800) | 9 (168.5372) | — | — |
| 2021-10-16 | Zom-B-Q-Rufus Teague Galax, VA | 11 / 15 (339.3716) | 11 (169.6800) | 10 (169.6916) | — | — |
| 2021-10-15 | Nightmare Before Zom-B-Q-Rufus Teague Galax, VA | 13 / 15 (333.6344) | 13 (166.2400) | 10 (167.3944) | 9 (164.5140) | — |
| 2021-10-08 | Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE ONLY) Scottsboro, AL | 3 / 31 (342.2972) | 15 (167.4400) | 2 (174.8572) | — | — |
| 2021-09-24 | BBQ Boogie & Blues Calhoun, GA | 3 / 27 (517.1088) | 8 (168.5372) | 2 (175.4288) | 2 (173.1428) | — |
| 2021-09-18 | Downtown Madtown BBQ Showdown - One Meat Rib Contest Madison, AL | — | — | 3 (175.4172) | — | — |
| 2021-08-27 | Great Americana BBQ Festival Franklin, TN | 4 / 25 (511.9316) | 15 (166.2516) | 3 (171.9772) | 4 (173.7028) | — |
| 2021-08-13 | Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ Huntsville, AL | 3 / 49 (333.6456) | 4 (168.5600) | 6 (165.0856) | — | — |
| 2021-08-06 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) Glencoe, AL | 5 / 31 (510.2056) | 7 (170.8456) | 2 (174.2628) | 2 (166.8228) | — |
| 2021-06-11 | Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL | 2 / 31 (347.9772) | 2 (177.7144) | 10 (170.2628) | — | — |
| 2021-06-04 | Kick It In The Sticks (BACKYARD) Butler, AL | 1 / 14 (348.5600) | 6 (169.6800) | 1 (178.8800) | — | — |
| 2021-05-21 | Twin States Barbecue Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) Meridian, MS | 3 / 22 (348.5484) | 1 (180.0000) | 8 (168.5484) | — | — |
| 2021-04-23 | Smoke on the Water Festival(BACKYARD ONLY) Florence, AL | 9 / 29 (341.1200) | 15 (169.1200) | 6 (172.0000) | — | — |
| 2021-04-09 | Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL | 2 / 38 (348.5600) | 2 (175.4056) | 6 (173.1544) | — | — |
| 2021-03-12 | Foley BBQ & Blues Cook Off (BACKYARD ONLY) Foley, AL | 8 / 28 (498.7656) | 11 (168.5372) | 12 (163.9656) | 9 (166.2628) | — |
| 2021-03-05 | Sip & Swine BBQ Festival Lawrenceville, GA | 9 / 81 (508.5144) | 2 (175.4172) | 20 (165.1316) | 12 (167.9656) | — |
| 2020-11-20 | Mission Q (Backyard Only) Tuscumbia, AL | 9 / 21 (336.5600) | 14 (165.1200) | 5 (171.4400) | — | — |
| 2020-11-13 | Second Annual KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Competition Mayetta, KS | 3 / 94 (346.9028) | 4 (175.4400) | 7 (171.4628) | — | — |
| 2020-10-23 | Smokin For Garrett Boonville, IN | 13 / 41 (480.6284) | 17 (153.7144) | 1 (176.0800) | 22 (150.8340) | — |
| 2020-10-09 | Roast-N-Boast Columbus, MS | 8 / 36 (497.7372) | 7 (163.9656) | 5 (170.8800) | 11 (162.8916) | — |
| 2020-10-02 | Bonifay All American Smoker Competition Bonifay, FL | 2 / 18 (346.8800) | 6 (169.1428) | 2 (177.7372) | — | — |
| 2020-09-25 | Southern Sounds BBQ & Bluefest Backyard Contest Semmes, AL | 11 / 23 (329.6228) | 16 (163.3828) | 10 (166.2400) | — | — |
| 2020-09-18 | Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL | 12 / 28 (335.3600) | 11 (169.6800) | 17 (165.6800) | — | — |
| 2020-08-07 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD ONLY) Glencoe, AL | 2 / 21 (517.0744) | 2 (165.7372) | 9 (153.6800) | 1 (180.0000) | — |
| 2020-07-31 | Hawgin On Lanier Cumming, GA | 6 / 55 (511.9084) | 2 (176.5600) | 19 (165.6800) | 6 (169.6684) | — |
| 2020-06-19 | Desoto Shrine Club 12th Annual BBQ Cook-Off Hernando, MS | 29 / 47 (660.4456) | 8 (176.5600) | 43 (162.8000) | 43 (158.8228) | 30 (162.2628) |
| 2020-06-05 | Kick It In The Sticks (BACKYARD ONLY) Butler, AL | 14 / 23 (325.0972) | 12 (162.8000) | 15 (162.2972) | — | — |
| 2020-03-06 | Corums Building Center BBQ(BACKYARD ONLY) Hartselle, AL | 1 / 32 (353.1200) | 1 (175.4172) | 1 (177.7028) | — | — |
| 2020-02-21 | Capital City Cook Off Montgomery, AL | 10 / 25 (335.9428) | 4 (172.5600) | 13 (163.3828) | — | — |
| 2019-12-06 | COTR BBQ Demopolis, AL | 11 / 25 (327.9316) | 14 (160.5256) | 8 (167.4060) | — | — |
| 2019-11-22 | Mission Q (Backyard Only) Tuscumbia, AL | 4 / 20 (342.2516) | 10 (170.2628) | 3 (171.9888) | — | — |
| 2019-09-13 | RiverFest Decatur, AL | 3 / 37 (343.3944) | 4 (173.7028) | 7 (169.6916) | — | — |
| 2019-09-06 | Fire on the Mountain (BACKYARD ONLY) Arab, AL | 5 / 19 (507.3140) | 14 (162.7884) | 4 (171.4056) | 1 (173.1200) | — |
| 2019-08-23 | Smoking for a Reason(BACKYARD ONLY) Fort Payne, AL | 3 / 11 (507.3716) | 6 (166.8228) | 7 (165.1316) | 1 (175.4172) | — |
| 2019-08-09 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD ONLY) Glencoe, AL | 22 / 26 (483.8628) | 15 (167.9772) | 24 (154.2172) | 20 (161.6684) | — |
| 2019-06-21 | Elkmont Lions Club Smokin Railroad St. BBQ Cook-off (BACKYARD ONLY) Elkmont, AL | 6 / 23 (338.2400) | 9 (170.2628) | 12 (167.9772) | 16 (160.5372) | — |
| 2019-06-07 | Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL | 4 / 25 (345.1200) | 8 (168.5372) | 2 (176.5828) | — | — |
| 2019-05-03 | The Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ Huntsville, AL | 28 / 54 (663.8400) | 19 (169.6800) | 14 (170.8344) | 25 (166.8228) | 39 (156.5028) |
| 2019-04-26 | Smoke on the Water Festival (BACKYARD ONlY) Florence, AL | 8 / 45 (342.2628) | 2 (176.5828) | 20 (165.6800) | 28 (161.0972) | — |
| 2019-04-12 | Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL | 3 / 30 (345.6916) | 12 (170.2744) | 4 (175.4172) | — | — |
| 2019-03-08 | Corums Building Center BBQ(BACKYARD ONLY) Harselle, AL | 2 / 34 (345.6684) | 7 (169.6684) | 1 (176.0000) | — | — |
| 2019-02-22 | Bama Q Capital City Cook-Off Montgomery, AL | 17 / 27 (315.9544) | 15 (157.6800) | 15 (158.2744) | — | — |
| Scottsboro BBQ Cook Off Festival(BACKYARD ONLY) Scottsboro, AL | 4 / 23 (344.0000) | 11 (169.1544) | 1 (174.8456) | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 ↗ | Backyard | #25 (1145 pts) | #15 (1220 pts) | #60 (870 pts) | — | — |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #1148 (60 pts) | #1221 (60 pts) | #1293 (60 pts) | #1111 (85 pts) | #1190 (60 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Backyard | #62 (840 pts) | #29 (1030 pts) | #77 (770 pts) | — | — |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #1182 (60 pts) | #1242 (60 pts) | #1021 (120 pts) | #1231 (60 pts) | #1204 (60 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Backyard | — | #66 (841 pts) | #24 (1166 pts) | — | — |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #408 (485 pts) | #584 (325 pts) | #542 (410 pts) | #433 (485 pts) | #534 (355 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Backyard | — | #7 (1275 pts) | #12 (1239 pts) | — | — |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #657 (270 pts) | #1051 (120 pts) | #633 (340 pts) | #1046 (120 pts) | #727 (240 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Backyard | — | #1 🏆 (1328 pts) | #19 (1165 pts) | — | — |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | — | — | #767 (209 pts) | — | — |
| 2020 ↗ | Backyard | — | #8 (1042 pts) | #2 (1242 pts) | — | — |
| 2020 ↗ | Master | #856 (60 pts) | #622 (155 pts) | #913 (60 pts) | #899 (60 pts) | #883 (60 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Backyard | — | #12 (219 pts) | #7 (359 pts) | — | — |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #1957 (60 pts) | #1858 (90 pts) | #1701 (115 pts) | #2032 (60 pts) | #2012 (60 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #1400 (150 pts) | #1200 (225 pts) | #1298 (195 pts) | #1273 (200 pts) | #1753 (110 pts) |