Go Ham BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 30 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2018 and 2025. They have won 5 Grand Championships, most recently at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue Steak Cook-Off (2024), and finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #1376 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
These overall scores sit on different scales (Master out of 720, Backyard out of 360, Backyard (3-meat) out of 540), 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.
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | — | — | #1088 (104 pts) | — | — |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #1148 (60 pts) | #1221 (60 pts) | #1293 (60 pts) | #1190 (60 pts) | #1190 (60 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Backyard | #356 (81 pts) | #240 (181 pts) | #426 (56 pts) | — | — |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #1182 (60 pts) | #1242 (60 pts) | #1317 (60 pts) | #1231 (60 pts) | #1204 (60 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Backyard | — | #190 (244 pts) | #221 (179 pts) | — | — |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #1255 (60 pts) | #1319 (60 pts) | #1320 (90 pts) | #1287 (60 pts) | #1296 (60 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Backyard | — | #164 (222 pts) | #117 (367 pts) | — | — |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #945 (135 pts) | #702 (260 pts) | #855 (205 pts) | #890 (175 pts) | #1230 (85 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Backyard | — | #154 (172 pts) | #103 (272 pts) | — | — |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #1206 (68 pts) | #936 (133 pts) | #1174 (98 pts) | #1512 (58 pts) | #1182 (78 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #1471 (120 pts) | #1593 (120 pts) | #1575 (120 pts) | #1578 (120 pts) | #1536 (120 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #1524 (120 pts) | #1598 (120 pts) | #1421 (170 pts) | #1610 (120 pts) | #1330 (180 pts) |
The teams rated closest to Go Ham BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
30 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team Go Ham BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-headThis is the highest they've ever been rated, 17 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-headCareers of much the same size, 33 contests to 30, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Head-to-headTheir rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 36 contests, alongside a 44% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Head-to-headLevel with Go Ham BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Head-to-headTheir last contest in the data was back in 2019, 6 years before Go Ham BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | 12 | 5 | 7 | 42% | ⚔ compare |
| UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | 12 | 5 | 7 | 42% | ⚔ compare |
| Sons of a Brisket | 11 | 5 | 6 | 45% | ⚔ compare |
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 11 | 4 | 7 | 36% | ⚔ compare |
| PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | 10 | 4 | 6 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
| SLAPS BBQ | 10 | 2 | 8 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 10 | 1 | 8 | 10% | ⚔ compare |
| ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | 9 | 5 | 4 | 56% | ⚔ compare |
| Bears Backyard Q | 9 | 4 | 5 | 44% | ⚔ compare |
| Heavy Smoke BBQ | 9 | 3 | 6 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | 9 | 2 | 7 | 22% | ⚔ compare |
| AMERICAN FIRE BBQ | 8 | 2 | 5 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| LOVE 2 Q | 8 | 2 | 6 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| Notch 9 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 71% | ⚔ compare |
| GRILLAS | 7 | 5 | 2 | 71% | ⚔ compare |
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 22 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 177.7144 | 149.7488 | 165.88 | top 47% |
| Pork Ribs | 24 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 177.7372 | 138.7888 | 166.16 | top 45% |
| Pork | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 174.8572 | 153.0628 | 164.17 | top 65% |
| Brisket | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 171.9772 | 155.3600 | 164.82 | top 55% |
“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.
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 4 | 2 | top 20% |
| Medium (20–39) | 10 | 3 | top 43% |
| Large (40+) | 10 | 0 | top 59% |
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue Steak Cook-Off | 2 | 1 | 2 | top 10% | Mar 22, 2024 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | 2 | 199 | 0 | top 63% | Nov 5, 2025 |
| Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest | 2 | 10 | 0 | top 59% | Apr 25, 2025 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest | 2 | 14 | 0 | top 60% | Mar 22, 2024 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +20 | West Bottoms BBQ Contest | Sep 28, 2019 |
| +18.9 | Grillin and Chillin | Jun 26, 2020 |
| +15.4 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Steak Cook-Off | Mar 25, 2022 |
| +14.5 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Steak Cook-Off | Mar 22, 2024 |
| +14.4 | Camp High Hopes Rib Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) | Jun 19, 2021 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -12 | Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest | Apr 25, 2025 |
| -8.9 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | Oct 30, 2024 |
| -6.9 | Apple Blossom BBQ Made with Uncommon Character | May 3, 2019 |
| -6.3 | Smoke In the Springs | Apr 12, 2019 |
| -6.2 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest | Mar 22, 2024 |
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | top 33% | 93.5% | 93.5% |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | — | — | — |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 70% | 94.2% | 92.8% |
| 2024 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 25% | top 50% | 100% | 94.5% |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25% | top 57% | 94.9% | 93.7% |
| 2022 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 40% | top 27% | 96.2% | 94.6% |
| 2021 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 100% | top 37% | 95.7% | 94.3% |
| 2020 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 33% | top 34% | 93.6% | 91.3% |
| 2019 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 50% | top 50% | 96.2% | 90.5% |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33% | top 58% | 91.2% | 90.7% |
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2, 2026 | Gladfest Smokefest (ONE MEAT RIBS) Gladstone, MO | — | 13 (165.6800) | 13 (163.3828) | — | — |
| Nov 5, 2025 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nov 5, 2025 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 199 / 401 (678.1712) | 189 (170.8228) | 221 (168.5256) | 241 (167.4172) | 124 (171.4056) |
| Apr 25, 2025 | Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest 🏅 Sugar Creek, MO | 36 / 40 (658.6396) | 36 (161.0856) | 34 (167.3828) | 37 (161.6456) | 23 (168.5256) |
| Oct 30, 2024 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Oct 30, 2024 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 341 / 444 (651.8968) | 421 (150.8344) | 345 (163.3828) | 200 (169.6912) | 195 (167.9884) |
| Mar 22, 2024 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest Kansas City, MO | 20 / 31 (334.8232) | 5 (175.4516) | 25 (159.3716) | — | — |
| Mar 22, 2024 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Steak Cook-Off Kansas City, MO | 1 / 10 (180) | — | — | — | — |
| Aug 12, 2023 | 5th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL unrated Mayetta, KS | 21 / 29 (340.4912) | 12 (175.4056) | 25 (165.0856) | — | — |
| Aug 11, 2023 | 5th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN unrated Mayetta, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jul 22, 2023 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 2) 🏅 Osceola, MO | 11 / 28 (512.4800) | 9 (173.1200) | 9 (170.8344) | 11 (168.5256) | — |
| Apr 21, 2023 | Smokin in the Creek BBQ 🏅 Sugar Creek, MO | 31 / 51 (660.4684) | 34 (162.2856) | 19 (170.8344) | 38 (163.9428) | 33 (163.4056) |
| Oct 28, 2022 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship 🏅 Oak Grove, MO | 5 / 40 (342.2516) | 11 (166.8344) | 1 (175.4172) | — | — |
| Oct 28, 2022 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (One Meat Ribs) Oak Grove, MO | — | — | 15 (172.5600) | — | — |
| Apr 22, 2022 | Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest (JUDGE'S FULL) 🏅 Sugar Creek, MO | 10 / 35 (689.0628) | 2 (177.7144) | 18 (168.5256) | 6 (174.8572) | 20 (167.9656) |
| Mar 25, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest Kansas City, MO | 14 / 25 (329.6456) | 13 (167.4056) | 15 (162.2400) | — | — |
| Mar 25, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Steak Cook-Off Kansas City, MO | 1 / 11 (173.1544) | — | — | — | — |
| Jul 16, 2021 | Cameron Elks BBQ Cook Off Day 1 🏅 Cameron, MO | 23 / 33 (668.4572) | 10 (172.5600) | 17 (170.8228) | 27 (161.6916) | 21 (163.3828) |
| Jun 19, 2021 | Camp High Hopes Rib Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) Sioux City, IA | 1 / 22 (344.5944) | 5 (166.8572) | 1 (177.7372) | — | — |
| Nov 13, 2020 | Second Annual KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Competition 🏅 unrated Mayetta, KS | 18 / 94 (337.0628) | 20 (167.3828) | 12 (169.6800) | — | — |
| Jun 26, 2020 | Grillin and Chillin 🏅 Chillicothe, MO | 1 / 34 (336.0116) | 1 (177.1544) | 5 (158.8572) | — | — |
| Apr 6, 2020 | Socially Distanced Smoking - Brisket presented by The BBQ League unrated washington, MO | 88 / 109 (156.5828) | — | — | — | — |
| Sep 28, 2019 | West Bottoms BBQ Contest 🏅 Kansas City, MO | 1 / 29 (346.2628) | 1 (177.1428) | 1 (169.1200) | — | — |
| Sep 27, 2019 | Kincaid Fair Backyard BBQ (BACKYARD ONLY) Kincaid, KS | 2 / 7 (319.4400) | 5 (151.9884) | 1 (167.4516) | — | — |
| May 3, 2019 | Apple Blossom BBQ Made with Uncommon Character 🏅 St. Joseph, MO | 33 / 39 (635.8288) | 36 (153.1200) | 25 (162.8000) | 27 (162.8344) | 30 (157.0744) |
| Apr 12, 2019 | Smoke In the Springs 🏅 Osage City, KS | 85 / 104 (638.1144) | 89 (159.3944) | 86 (158.8344) | 66 (164.5256) | 82 (155.3600) |
| Sep 29, 2018 | Kincaid Fair Smoke Off (BACKYARD ONLY) Kincaid, KS | — | 2 (149.7488) | 4 (138.7888) | — | — |
| Aug 17, 2018 | BBQ and Fly In on the River (JUDGES FULL) Excelsior Springs, MO | 33 / 57 (656.9828) | 38 (162.2284) | 25 (165.1200) | 46 (157.6572) | 13 (171.9772) |
| Jul 6, 2018 | Johnson County BBQ Challenge (JUDGES FULL) Warrensburg, MO | 27 / 47 (649.5540) | 28 (165.0856) | 15 (170.2972) | 44 (153.0628) | 27 (161.1084) |
| — | Dadfest BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) Kansas City, MO | 4 / 12 (336.5828) | — | 2 (170.8572) | — | — |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.