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.
Each card leads with the number that made it a story — read straight out of their results, no editorialising.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 75 times in 100
Their Grand Championship at American Royal World Series of Barbecue Steak Cook-Off (2022-03-25) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 25-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, Happy Grillmore.
Took the Grand Championship over a 34-team field at Grillin and Chillin.
American Royal World Series of Barbecue Steak Cook-Off is their spot: 2 Grand Championships in 2 visits.
They've won two or more meats on the same day 1 time — the best of them 2 category wins at West Bottoms BBQ Contest (2019-09-28).
95.7% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 689.0628 at Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest (JUDGE'S FULL) — 95.7% of a perfect 720.
They've taken 2 state championships from 13 entries at contests carrying the title.
Smoke 'n Magic has finished one call ahead of Go Ham BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.
2022 was the year it came together: 5 contests, 1 Grand Championship and 1 category win, at an average finish in the top 27%.
GETTIN' BASTED ahead in 80% of their meetings
GETTIN' BASTED has come out ahead in 8 of their 10 shared contests.
Ahead in 100% of their meetings
They've finished ahead of HI-TECH SMOKERS in 6 of their 6 shared contests.
GETTIN' BASTED ahead 82% of the time
Even in their strongest meat, GETTIN' BASTED has out-cooked them in 9 of 11 shared pork ribs entries.
Finished 4 of 12 at their very first tracked contest, Dadfest BBQ Cookoff(BACKYARD ONLY) ().
Field size changes the story: they average a top 20% finish in small fields against top 59% in large ones.
Breaking Slabs BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.
Their overall swings ±10.86% of a perfect score around its own average — when it lands they're dangerous, and when it doesn't the weekend is gone by lunch.
Something about March: average finish in the top 35% across 4 contests, versus top 46% the rest of the year.
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.
32 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, 12 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-headTheir last contest in the data was back in 2018, 7 years before Go Ham BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-headCareers of much the same size, 30 contests to 29, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Head-to-headTheir rating is built on 2 Grand Championships in 33 contests, alongside a 24% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Head-to-headThey were already cooking in 2013, 5 years before Go Ham BBQ's first contest.
⚔ Head-to-head| 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 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 177.7144 | 149.7488 | 165.88 | top 45% |
| Pork Ribs | 23 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 177.7372 | 138.7888 | 166.28 | top 44% |
| Pork | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 174.8572 | 153.0628 | 164.17 | top 65% |
| Brisket | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 171.9772 | 155.3600 | 164.07 | top 58% |
“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.
| Where | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| MO | 17 | 4 | top 45% |
| KS | 6 | 0 | top 55% |
| IA | 1 | 1 | top 5% |
| 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% | 2024-03-22 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | 2 | 199 | 0 | top 63% | 2025-11-05 |
| Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest | 2 | 10 | 0 | top 59% | 2025-04-25 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest | 2 | 14 | 0 | top 60% | 2024-03-22 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +20.1 | West Bottoms BBQ Contest | 2019-09-28 |
| +18.9 | Grillin and Chillin | 2020-06-26 |
| +15.3 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Steak Cook-Off | 2022-03-25 |
| +14.8 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Steak Cook-Off | 2024-03-22 |
| +14.4 | Camp High Hopes Rib Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2021-06-19 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -12 | Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest | 2025-04-25 |
| -8.9 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | 2024-10-30 |
| -6.9 | Apple Blossom BBQ Made with Uncommon Character | 2019-05-03 |
| -6.3 | Smoke In the Springs | 2019-04-12 |
| -6.1 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest | 2024-03-22 |
| 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% |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 70% | 94.2% | 92.8% |
| 2024 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 25% | top 50% | 93% | 91.8% |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25% | top 57% | 142.4% | 109.6% |
| 2022 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 40% | top 27% | 95.7% | 94.1% |
| 2021 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 100% | top 37% | 95.7% | 94.3% |
| 2020 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 33% | top 34% | 93.6% | 93.5% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025-11-05 | 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) |
| 2025-04-25 | 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) |
| 2024-10-30 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024-10-30 | 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) |
| 2024-03-22 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest Kansas City, MO | 20 / 31 (334.8232) | 5 (175.4516) | 25 (159.3716) | — | — |
| 2024-03-22 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Steak Cook-Off Kansas City, MO | 1 / 10 (180.0000) | — | — | — | — |
| 2023-08-12 | 5th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL unrated Mayetta, KS | 21 / 29 (340.4912) | 12 (175.4056) | 25 (165.0856) | — | — |
| 2023-08-11 | 5th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN unrated Mayetta, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023-07-22 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 2) 🏅 Osceola, MO | 11 / 28 (512.4800) | 9 (173.1200) | 9 (170.8344) | 11 (168.5256) | — |
| 2023-04-21 | Smokin in the Creek BBQ 🏅 Sugar Creek, MO | 31 / 51 (660.4684) | 34 (162.2856) | 19 (170.8344) | 38 (163.9428) | 33 (163.4056) |
| 2022-10-28 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship 🏅 Oak Grove, MO | 5 / 40 (342.2516) | 11 (166.8344) | 1 (175.4172) | — | — |
| 2022-10-28 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (One Meat Ribs) Oak Grove, MO | — | — | 15 (172.5600) | — | — |
| 2022-04-22 | 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) |
| 2022-03-25 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest Kansas City, MO | 14 / 25 (329.6456) | 13 (167.4056) | 15 (162.2400) | — | — |
| 2022-03-25 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Steak Cook-Off Kansas City, MO | 1 / 11 (173.1544) | — | — | — | — |
| 2021-07-16 | 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) |
| 2021-06-19 | Camp High Hopes Rib Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) Sioux City, IA | 1 / 22 (344.5944) | 5 (166.8572) | 1 (177.7372) | — | — |
| 2020-11-13 | Second Annual KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Competition 🏅 unrated Mayetta, KS | 18 / 94 (337.0628) | 20 (167.3828) | 12 (169.6800) | — | — |
| 2020-06-26 | Grillin and Chillin 🏅 Chillicothe, MO | 1 / 34 (336.0116) | 1 (177.1544) | 5 (158.8572) | — | — |
| 2020-04-06 | Socially Distanced Smoking - Brisket presented by The BBQ League unrated washington, MO | 88 / 109 (156.5828) | — | — | — | 88 (156.5828) |
| 2019-09-28 | West Bottoms BBQ Contest 🏅 Kansas City, MO | 1 / 29 (346.2628) | 1 (177.1428) | 1 (169.1200) | — | — |
| 2019-09-27 | Kincaid Fair Backyard BBQ (BACKYARD ONLY) Kincaid, KS | 2 / 7 (319.4400) | 5 (151.9884) | 1 (167.4516) | — | — |
| 2019-05-03 | 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) |
| 2019-04-12 | Smoke In the Springs 🏅 Osage City, KS | 85 / 104 (638.1144) | 89 (159.3944) | 86 (158.8344) | 66 (164.5256) | 82 (155.3600) |
| 2018-09-29 | Kincaid Fair Smoke Off(BACKYARD ONLY) Kincaid, KS | — | 2 (149.7488) | 4 (138.7888) | — | — |
| 2018-08-17 | *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) |
| 2018-07-06 | 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) | 4 (165.7256) | 2 (170.8572) | — | — |
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |