A tough matchup
4–0
behind in the head-to-head
COOL HAND QUE ahead in 100% of their meetings
COOL HAND QUE has come out ahead in 4 of their 4 shared contests.
Smokin J's BBQ
At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)
Rating
1400
peak 1400 · rated over 14 contests ⓘ
Contests
20
in the data
First seen
2014-10-17
latest 2023-05-12
Best ToY finish
#1255
Master 2023
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
1
2 podiums
Overall top-10s
0
of 20 contests
Avg finish
top 83%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
617.25 ▼
last 5 Master vs avg 626.81 (-9.56)
Walk rate
10%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±28.91
std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 159.20 · weakest Brisket (152.63)
Road miles
11,877
mi across 20 mapped stops · furthest 2466 mi
Schedule strength
42%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1555)
Purse competed for
$71K
listed at 8 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
GCs in 8 state-championship entries
Master avg
626.81 / 720
12 Master contests · 0 GCs
Backyard avg
309.93 / 360
2 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.
This team cooks the Backyard series — its own boards, records and Team of the Year are here.
Storylines (7 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.
The weak link
−6.6
points behind their best meat
Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 6.57 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 0% of the time against 7%.
- Brisket avg 152.63
- Chicken avg 159.20
- 0 calls in 12 entries
The comeback
2.1 yrs
off the trail, then back
Off the trail for 2.1 years, then back at The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival (2019-10-11).
- last seen 2017-08-25
- back 2019-10-11
Chicken nemesis
4 of 4
shared chicken entries lost
HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ ahead 100% of the time
Even in their strongest meat, HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ has out-cooked them in 4 of 4 shared chicken entries.
Going the wrong way
-34
rating points in a year
The rating has slipped 34 points across 5 contests since 2022-05-13 — from 1434 down to 1400.
- 5 contests since 2022-05-13
- now 1400
Looking over their shoulder
2×
one call behind them
Nine Echo has landed one call behind them 2 times.
The long haul
11,877
road miles between contests
Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 11,877 miles across 20 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 2,466 miles to Break Up Shake Up BBQ Contest (ONE MEAT CHICKEN).
- 20 mapped stops
- furthest 2,466 mi
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.
#6282 of the rated field
- Contests
- 13
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1401
No shared contest yet.
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 13 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-head#6284 of the rated field
- Contests
- 22
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 9%
- Peak
- 1400
No shared contest yet.
Careers of much the same size, 22 contests to 20, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Head-to-head#6281 of the rated field
- Contests
- 48
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 2%
- Peak
- 1401
No shared contest yet.
48 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 2% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Head-to-head#6291 of the rated field
- Contests
- 15
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1399
No shared contest yet.
Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 4 years before Smokin J's BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-head#6279 of the rated field
- Contests
- 17
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1402
No shared contest yet.
Level with Smokin J's BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Head-to-head#6289 of the rated field
- Contests
- 18
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1399
No shared contest yet.
They turned up 8 years after Smokin J's BBQ did, first appearing in 2022.
⚔ Head-to-headBy meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 175.4056 | 138.2400 | 159.20 | top 68% |
| Pork Ribs | 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 177.7144 | 142.3200 | 158.93 | top 73% |
| Pork | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 169.1428 | 146.8000 | 157.87 | top 84% |
| Brisket | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 165.1088 | 139.4172 | 152.63 | top 81% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GA | 4 | 0 | top 84% |
| MN | 3 | 0 | top 89% |
| NJ | 2 | 0 | top 97% |
| OK | 2 | 0 | top 71% |
| KS | 1 | 0 | top 70% |
| NY | 1 | 0 | top 83% |
| TN | 1 | 0 | top 69% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium (20–39) | 7 | 0 | top 91% |
| Large (40+) | 7 | 0 | top 75% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) | 2 | 29 | 0 | top 97% | 2023-04-22 |
| The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival | 2 | 26 | 0 | top 100% | 2021-10-08 |
The story so far (18 numbers that describe this team)
On the trail
8.6 yrs
2014-10-17 → 2023-05-12
Busiest season
2023
6 contests
Contests a season
2.5
across 8 seasons in the data
Cooks most in
MN
6 of 20 contests · 8 states/provinces in all
Contests visited
12
2 of them cooked more than once
Most-entered meat
Pork Ribs
17 entries · 1 win · 1 calls
Strongest meat
Chicken
averages 159.20 · weakest Brisket (152.63)
Walk rate
10%
a top-10 call in 2 of 20 contests
Overall top-10 rate
0%
0 of 20 contests
Master average
626.81
out of 720 · 12 contests · 0 GCs
Backyard average
309.93
out of 360 · 2 contests · 0 GCs
Opponents faced
591
140–639 across every shared overall standing
Road miles
11,877
20 mapped stops · furthest 2,466 mi
Schedule strength
1555
average field rating faced — tougher than 42% of rated contests
Purse competed for
$71,100
listed at 8 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0
from 8 state-championship entries
Longest layoff
2.1 yrs
2017-08-25 → 2019-10-11
Power rating
1400
peak 1400 · #6283 of 6,413 rated
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
- 2014
- First tracked contest Foothills Country Fair BBQ Bash
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score662.2512 Mid-South Barbecue Festival
- Career-best overall score662.2512 Mid-South Barbecue Festival
- Peak power rating (1496) Mid-South Barbecue Festival
- 2021
- 10th tracked contest The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival
- 2023
- First call Break Up Shake Up BBQ Contest (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- First category win (Pork Ribs) Break Up Shake Up BBQ Contest (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)177.7144 Break Up Shake Up BBQ Contest (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Most recent contest Minnesota in May
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +2.5 | *Bixby BBQ'N Blues Festival | 2016-05-06 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -11.4 | The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival | 2019-10-11 |
| -10.8 | Chillin & Grillin | 2016-04-08 |
| -10.6 | The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival | 2021-10-08 |
| -9.8 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 1) | 2023-04-21 |
| -9.2 | Minnesota in May (Backyard) | 2022-05-13 |
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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33% | top 95% | 87.9% | 83.2% |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 88% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 81% | 91.3% | 89.5% |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 73% | 91.4% | 91.4% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 100% | 90.5% | 90.5% |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 77% | 87.9% | 85.5% |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 71% | 88.3% | 85.6% |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 69% | 92% | 92% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-05-12 | Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN | 54 / 59 (633.0856) | 26 (170.8228) | 41 (164.0228) | 55 (158.8228) | 58 (139.4172) |
| 2023-05-12 | Minnesota in May (One Meat Ribs) St. Peter, MN | — | — | 30 (163.4284) | — | — |
| 2023-04-29 | Break Up Shake Up BBQ Contest (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Palmer, AK | — | 3 (175.4056) | — | — | — |
| 2023-04-29 | Break Up Shake Up BBQ Contest (ONE MEAT RIBS) Palmer, AK | — | — | 1 (177.7144) | — | — |
| 2023-04-22 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) 🏅 Blairstown, NJ | 29 / 30 (593.0628) | 30 (138.2400) | 30 (142.8228) | 27 (159.4172) | 27 (152.5828) |
| 2023-04-21 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 1) 🏅 Blairstown, NJ | 35 / 36 (570.7544) | 36 (141.0972) | 36 (142.3200) | 34 (146.8000) | 35 (140.5372) |
| 2022-08-05 | B-Dale BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) Roseville, MN | 18 / 21 (308.4800) | 19 (146.8228) | 13 (161.6572) | — | — |
| 2022-05-13 | Minnesota in May (Backyard) Cambridge, MN | 34 / 38 (311.3828) | 33 (153.6800) | 28 (157.7028) | — | — |
| 2022-05-13 | Minnesota in May (One Meat Ribs) Cambridge, MN | — | — | 29 (157.6684) | — | — |
| 2022-05-13 | Minnesota in May (Masters) 🏅 Cambridge, MN | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021-10-08 | The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival 🏅 Lyons, GA | 26 / 26 (631.7828) | 22 (163.3944) | 26 (153.6800) | 21 (163.3828) | 24 (151.3256) |
| 2021-03-05 | Sip & Swine BBQ Festival 🏅 Lawrenceville, GA | 51 / 81 (657.5544) | 56 (163.9428) | 47 (165.1200) | 61 (163.3828) | 48 (165.1088) |
| 2020-07-31 | Hawgin On Lanier 🏅 Cumming, GA | 40 / 55 (658.1488) | 20 (172.0116) | 42 (162.2400) | 46 (164.5256) | 48 (159.3716) |
| 2019-10-11 | The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival 🏅 Lyons, GA | 27 / 27 (651.8400) | 26 (163.9428) | 27 (156.5144) | 13 (169.1428) | 24 (162.2400) |
| 2017-08-25 | *East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival Paola, KS | 40 / 57 (632.9944) | 29 (161.0972) | 15 (169.1200) | 51 (154.2628) | 52 (148.5144) |
| 2017-05-19 | *Salt City BBQ Festival Syracuse, NY | 34 / 41 (598.0800) | 36 (147.3600) | 27 (150.8000) | 32 (151.3828) | 24 (148.5372) |
| 2016-05-06 | *Bixby BBQ'N Blues Festival Bixby, OK | 40 / 83 (635.8060) | 18 (170.8228) | 45 (161.0972) | 70 (150.8116) | 52 (153.0744) |
| 2016-04-08 | Chillin & Grillin Sand Springs, OK | 40 / 43 (596.3428) | 41 (145.0856) | 40 (148.5144) | 40 (154.8000) | 35 (147.9428) |
| 2014-10-17 | Mid-South Barbecue Festival Mount Pleasant, TN | 24 / 35 (662.2512) | 12 (174.2856) | 19 (167.3828) | 34 (157.7028) | 22 (162.8800) |
| 2014-07-25 | Foothills Country Fair BBQ Bash Cleveland, TN | — | — | — | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #1255 (60 pts) | #1319 (60 pts) | #1118 (120 pts) | #1287 (60 pts) | #1296 (60 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Backyard | — | #316 (76 pts) | #283 (106 pts) | — | — |