Casual Smokers KS
Rating
1541
peak 1547 · rated over 38 contests
Best runs
4
straight top-10s
Contests
43
in the data
First seen
2019-01-18
latest 2026-04-17
Best ToY finish
#189
Master 2024
Grand champs
1
0 reserve
Category wins
3
9 podiums
Overall top-10s
9
of 43 contests
Avg finish
top 56%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
1 🔥
Current form
682.19 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 670.03 (+12.16)
Walk rate
49%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
4
best run (overall)
Consistency
±20.32
std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork
avg 168.07 · weakest Pork Ribs (165.84)
Road miles
8361
mi across 43 mapped stops · furthest 1325 mi
Schedule strength
69%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1564)
Purse competed for
$611K
listed at 36 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
1 🏅
GCs in 32 state-championship entries
Master avg
670.03 / 720
35 Master contests · 1 GC
Backyard avg
322.44 / 360
3 Backyard contests · 0 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
MAN MEAT BBQ has finished one call ahead of Casual Smokers 2 times — their closest competition in the data.
⚔️ A tough matchup
PARTS 'R' SMOKIN has come out ahead in 16 of their 20 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of Bad Influence BBQ - MO in 6 of their 8 shared contests.
🗡️ Giant slayer
Took the Grand Championship over a 32-team field at 36th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out.
😤 Pork nemesis
Even in their strongest meat, PARTS 'R' SMOKIN has out-cooked them in 17 of 20 shared pork entries.
📅 A March team
Something about March: average finish in the top 46% across 3 contests, versus top 56% the rest of the year.
🃏 Against the odds
Their Grand Championship at 36th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out (2024-09-20) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 19-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, Damn Fine Beef & Swine.
🔁 The comeback
Off the trail for 1.9 years, then back at Laurie Hillbilly BBQ (2021-08-06).
Teams like this (closest power rating, KS first)
Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 20 | 6 | 14 | 30% | ⚔ compare |
| PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | 20 | 4 | 16 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| TEAM CRAWFORD | 18 | 5 | 13 | 28% | ⚔ compare |
| WOOD HOOK BBQ | 16 | 5 | 11 | 31% | ⚔ compare |
| LOVE 2 Q | 16 | 5 | 11 | 31% | ⚔ compare |
| Kermit's Ex | 15 | 4 | 11 | 27% | ⚔ compare |
| TAILGATE GUYS BBQ | 14 | 7 | 7 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| Damn Fine Beef & Swine | 14 | 3 | 11 | 21% | ⚔ compare |
| Heavy Smoke BBQ | 14 | 3 | 11 | 21% | ⚔ compare |
| Fergolicious BBQ | 14 | 2 | 12 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | 13 | 2 | 11 | 15% | ⚔ compare |
| WHEN PIGS DIE | 13 | 2 | 11 | 15% | ⚔ compare |
| JANKY LEG BBQ | 13 | 0 | 13 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| SLAPS BBQ | 13 | 0 | 13 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| Smoked & Furious | 12 | 4 | 8 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 39 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 180.0000 🔥 | 155.4056 | 167.45 | top 59% |
| Pork Ribs | 39 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 177.7144 | 141.7028 | 165.84 | top 58% |
| Pork | 35 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 177.7028 | 153.0628 | 168.07 | top 52% |
| Brisket | 35 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 178.8800 | 148.5256 | 168.00 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| KS | 11 | 0 | top 43% |
| MO | 11 | 1 | top 63% |
| IA | 6 | 0 | top 49% |
| TN | 2 | 0 | top 75% |
| CA | 2 | 0 | top 77% |
| AR | 1 | 0 | top 59% |
| AL | 1 | 0 | top 100% |
| GA | 1 | 0 | top 17% |
| UT | 1 | 0 | top 67% |
| NV | 1 | 0 | top 86% |
| AZ | 1 | 0 | top 46% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 5 | 0 | top 61% |
| Medium (20–39) | 19 | 1 | top 58% |
| Large (40+) | 14 | 0 | top 52% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smokin on the Osage (Day 2) | 4 | 18 | 0 | top 85% | 2023-07-22 |
| Tri City BBQ Fest | 3 | 4 | 0 | top 67% | 2024-09-20 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | 3 | 66 | 0 | top 45% | 2023-09-27 |
| Tom Brigham Memorial BBQ | 2 | 8 | 0 | top 39% | 2026-04-17 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | 2 | 34 | 0 | top 23% | 2025-11-05 |
| 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) | 2 | 54 | 0 | top 75% | 2025-05-25 |
| Smokin on The Harbor (JUDGING FULL) | 2 | 14 | 0 | top 75% | 2022-08-05 |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2025 (11 contests)
- Cooks mostly in KS (14 of 43 contests)
- Most-entered category: Chicken (39 entries)
- First Grand Championship in the data: 36th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out (2024-09-20)
- Wins it all in 2% of contests
- Average Master overall score: 670.03 / 720
- Average Backyard overall score: 322.44 / 360
- 1 perfect 180 on the books 🔥
Milestones
- 🚩 2019-01-18 — First tracked contest · Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge
- 📣 2019-01-18 — First call · Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge
- 🎖️ 2024-07-19 — 25th tracked contest · Shenandoah ShenDig BBQ
- 🏆 2024-09-20 — First Grand Championship · 36th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out
- ⭐ 2024-09-20 — Career-best overall score (703.9428) · 36th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out
- 🔥 2025-09-19 — First perfect 180 (Chicken) · 37th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out
- 📈 2025-11-05 — Peak power rating (1547) · American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +17.9 | 36th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out | 2024-09-20 |
| +14.7 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | 2025-11-05 |
| +14.3 | Sip & Swine BBQ Festival | 2024-03-01 |
| +14 | Shenandoah ShenDig | 2025-07-18 |
| +13.9 | 37th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out | 2025-09-19 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -13.9 | Central AL BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2024-09-27 |
| -13.3 | The Smithfield Guinea Pig (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL) | 2019-02-15 |
| -12.7 | Tri City BBQ Fest | 2024-09-20 |
| -11.3 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 2) | 2022-07-23 |
| -10.1 | The Best Dam Barbeque | 2019-05-24 |
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 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 54% | 95.4% | 95.1% |
| 2025 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 45% | top 48% | 96.9% | 95.3% |
| 2024 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 70% | top 41% | 97.8% | 93.7% |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20% | top 72% | 93.6% | 92.2% |
| 2022 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33% | top 70% | 92.1% | 90.5% |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 67% | top 56% | 91.8% | 89.1% |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33% | top 70% | 92.6% | 90.7% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-17 | Tom Brigham Memorial BBQ 🏅 Iola, KS | 13 / 27 (683.3256) | 21 (168.5372) | 12 (170.8228) | 17 (170.8228) | 3 (173.1428) |
| 2026-03-13 | University of Arkansas Animal Science Boots, Brews, and BBQ Contest 🏅 Fayetteville, AR | 22 / 37 (686.7772) | 31 (167.3828) | 20 (170.8572) | 19 (171.9772) | 3 (176.5600) |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest Kansas City, KS | 144 / 158 (662.6740) | 145 (162.2400) | 123 (168.5256) | 122 (167.9656) | 136 (163.9428) |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 34 / 401 (697.1200) | 135 (173.1084) | 101 (173.1316) | 135 (172.0000) | 8 (178.8800) |
| 2025-10-24 | 1st Annual Boost & BBQ 🏅 Odessa, MO | 19 / 25 (681.0400) | 16 (169.6684) | 17 (170.2744) | 10 (173.7144) | 16 (167.3828) |
| 2025-09-19 | 37th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out 🏅 Kearney, MO | 4 / 30 (691.9200) | 1 (180.0000) | 24 (162.2400) | 5 (175.4172) | 6 (174.2628) |
| 2025-07-18 | Shenandoah ShenDig 🏅 Shenandoah, IA | 5 / 30 (697.0628) | 13 (171.9772) | 5 (176.5600) | 15 (171.9656) | 3 (176.5600) |
| 2025-05-25 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) Lebanon, TN | 54 / 70 (682.1716) | 32 (174.2744) | 58 (167.3944) | 28 (174.2628) | 63 (166.2400) |
| 2025-05-24 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025) Lebanon, TN | 78 / 106 (678.1716) | 84 (168.5372) | 79 (168.5372) | 18 (176.0116) | 88 (165.0856) |
| 2025-05-23 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational Chicken (Friday, May 23, 2025) Lebanon, TN | — | 31 (169.7260) | — | — | — |
| 2025-05-23 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational Ribs (Friday, May 23, 2025) Lebanon, TN | — | — | 19 (172.5600) | — | — |
| 2025-05-16 | Tom Brigham Memorial BBQ 🏅 Iola, KS | 8 / 27 (697.6572) | 16 (170.8228) | 5 (174.2744) | 3 (176.0000) | 7 (176.5600) |
| 2024-10-30 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 167 / 444 (681.0628) | 247 (168.5256) | 269 (167.4172) | 52 (175.4516) | 168 (169.6684) |
| 2024-09-27 | Central AL BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Clanton, AL | 18 / 18 (306.1944) | 17 (156.5372) | 18 (149.6572) | — | — |
| 2024-09-20 | 36th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out 🏅 Kearney, MO | 1 / 32 (703.9428) | 4 (176.5600) | 4 (177.7144) | 3 (177.7028) | 10 (171.9656) |
| 2024-09-20 | Tri City BBQ Fest 🏅 Denison, IA | 29 / 30 (645.0520) | 24 (163.4288) | 22 (163.4172) | 23 (164.5716) | 27 (153.6344) |
| 2024-08-09 | Smoke on the Bricks 🏅 Baldwin City, KS | 11 / 46 (690.8228) | 8 (174.2628) | 8 (175.4172) | 11 (174.2628) | 22 (166.8800) |
| 2024-07-19 | Shenandoah ShenDig BBQ 🏅 Shenandoah, IA | 15 / 36 (682.2284) | 29 (165.0856) | 7 (175.4172) | 19 (169.1656) | 8 (172.5600) |
| 2024-06-21 | Camp High Hopes Rib Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) Sioux City, IA | 6 / 17 (334.2972) | 9 (165.1428) | 6 (169.1544) | — | — |
| 2024-06-14 | 10th Annual K of C BBQ Smoke Off 4-Life 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 10 / 34 (689.0628) | 5 (176.5600) | 7 (175.4172) | 22 (166.2628) | 13 (170.8228) |
| 2024-05-17 | Give Local First - Charity BBQ Festival 🏅 West Plains, MO | 5 / 17 (681.1204) | 6 (170.8572) | 7 (168.5716) | 1 (177.1544) | 10 (164.5372) |
| 2024-03-01 | Sip & Swine BBQ Festival 🏅 Lawrenceville, GA | 10 / 59 (692.4912) | 21 (173.1084) | 20 (170.8228) | 8 (174.8572) | 15 (173.7028) |
| 2023-09-27 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023-09-27 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 280 / 487 (667.9656) | 238 (168.5600) | 329 (164.5600) | 163 (170.8572) | 309 (163.9884) |
| 2023-09-15 | Tri City BBQ Fest 🏅 Denison, IA | 28 / 32 (645.5772) | 31 (158.8000) | 27 (160.5028) | 23 (164.5372) | 24 (161.7372) |
| 2023-07-22 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 2) 🏅 Osceola, MO | 18 / 28 (674.2172) | 4 (177.1544) | 19 (167.3944) | 25 (161.6800) | 19 (167.9884) |
| 2023-07-21 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 1) 🏅 Osceola, MO | 25 / 31 (668.4112) | 23 (169.1200) | 14 (171.9656) | 22 (166.8228) | 27 (160.5028) |
| 2022-10-01 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - SIDES Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022-09-29 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 313 / 505 (659.3376) | 351 (163.3944) | 204 (168.5832) | 389 (160.5372) | 221 (166.8228) |
| 2022-09-16 | Tri City BBQ Fest 🏅 Denison, IA | 4 / 25 (326.8344) | 4 (168.0000) | 6 (158.8344) | — | — |
| 2022-08-05 | Smokin on The Harbor (JUDGING FULL) 🏅 Warsaw, MO | 19 / 25 (663.4512) | 21 (163.4056) | 19 (162.8456) | 18 (166.2856) | 16 (170.9144) |
| 2022-07-23 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 2) 🏅 Osceola, MO | 26 / 26 (637.5884) | 26 (157.1200) | 25 (159.3828) | 7 (172.5600) | 24 (148.5256) |
| 2022-07-22 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 1) 🏅 Osceola, MO | 27 / 28 (642.1600) | 18 (166.8572) | 28 (155.9772) | 28 (153.0628) | 16 (166.2628) |
| 2021-09-16 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 66 / 467 (495.3484) | 194 (167.9656) | 255 (165.6800) | 277 (163.3712) | 92 (170.8800) |
| 2021-08-20 | Smokin on The Harbor 🏅 Warsaw, MO | 14 / 19 (622.2284) | 13 (155.4056) | 19 (141.7028) | 14 (154.2628) | 1 (170.8572) |
| 2021-08-06 | Laurie Hillbilly BBQ 🏅 Laurie, MO | 21 / 26 (661.0628) | 25 (157.6800) | 18 (163.9772) | 17 (169.1428) | 10 (170.2628) |
| 2019-09-12 | 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 309 / 468 (646.7656) | 33 (175.4056) | 370 (156.5600) | 397 (153.1316) | 268 (161.6684) |
| 2019-08-16 | Western Legends Roundup BBQ Cook Off 🏅 Kanab, UT | 12 / 18 (666.8112) | 11 (170.2628) | 17 (159.4056) | 12 (166.2972) | 5 (170.8456) |
| 2019-05-24 | The Best Dam Barbeque 🏅 Boulder City, NV | 25 / 29 (643.9544) | 28 (159.9428) | 29 (151.9544) | 15 (168.5944) | 15 (163.4628) |
| 2019-03-29 | 8th Annual Santa Anita Winners Circle BBQ Championship Day 1 🏅 Arcadia, CA | 43 / 70 (658.1712) | 43 (163.9428) | 59 (155.9200) | 34 (166.3200) | 15 (171.9884) |
| 2019-02-15 | The Smithfield Guinea Pig (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL) Indian Wells, CA | 45 / 49 (637.6456) | 42 (157.1428) | 22 (168.5716) | 46 (155.9656) | 45 (155.9656) |
| 2019-01-18 | Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge 🏅 Bullhead City, AZ | 29 / 63 (663.9428) | 46 (163.9772) | 27 (165.7028) | 46 (159.4056) | 2 (174.8572) |
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 | #588 (187 pts) | #749 (132 pts) | #660 (202 pts) | #621 (182 pts) | #353 (462 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #256 (852 pts) | #254 (887 pts) | #312 (837 pts) | #244 (912 pts) | #233 (987 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #189 (1073 pts) | #238 (963 pts) | #219 (1053 pts) | #183 (1073 pts) | #279 (823 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #730 (204 pts) | #582 (329 pts) | #759 (254 pts) | #794 (184 pts) | #785 (199 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #873 (164 pts) | #838 (199 pts) | #984 (164 pts) | #690 (269 pts) | #780 (214 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #658 (230 pts) | #736 (215 pts) | #553 (355 pts) | #649 (250 pts) | #434 (455 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #754 (402 pts) | #813 (407 pts) | #825 (392 pts) | #729 (452 pts) | #445 (762 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #1954 (60 pts) | #2012 (60 pts) | #1996 (60 pts) | #2030 (60 pts) | #1990 (60 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #1565 (155 pts) | #1697 (140 pts) | #1822 (120 pts) | #1093 (320 pts) | #1623 (155 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #1279 (225 pts) | #1216 (270 pts) | #1256 (255 pts) | #1505 (195 pts) | #1187 (270 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #739 (478 pts) | #638 (603 pts) | #535 (728 pts) | #694 (548 pts) | #807 (453 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #457 (847 pts) | #551 (712 pts) | #443 (887 pts) | #615 (627 pts) | #364 (1022 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #659 (468 pts) | #494 (653 pts) | #593 (558 pts) | #534 (623 pts) | #671 (483 pts) |