Rusty Pig BBQ IL
Rating
1709
peak 1709
Contests
82
in the data
First seen
2019-04-26
latest 2025-11-05
Best ToY finish
#73
Master 2021
Grand champs
2
5 reserve
Category wins
10
44 podiums
Overall top-10s
35
of 82 contests
Avg finish
top 36%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
6 🔥
Current form
692.27 ▲
last 5 vs career avg 670.52 (+21.76)
Walk rate
73%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
4
best run (overall)
Consistency
±59.01
std dev of overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Brisket
avg 170.70 · weakest Pork (168.71)
Road miles
15431
mi across 82 mapped stops · furthest 448 mi
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
JANKY LEG BBQ has finished one call ahead of Rusty Pig BBQ 3 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
Risky Brisket has landed one call behind them 3 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
Heavy Smoke BBQ has come out ahead in 33 of their 45 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of HEFTY LEFTY BBQ in 23 of their 32 shared contests.
🏕️ Happy hunting ground
Smoke N for the Kids is their spot: 1 Grand Championship in 2 visits.
💔 The heartbreaker
Finished level on points with the champion at 43rd Annual Kennett Jaycees BBQ Cook Off (2025-05-09) — the Grand Championship went to the KCBS tiebreaker.
🃏 Against the odds
Their Grand Championship at Smoke N for the Kids (2024-08-17) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 17-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, JANKY LEG BBQ.
🐣 Announced themselves early
Finished 5 of 39 at their very first tracked contest, BBQ, Bikes and Blues (2019-04-26).
Teams like this (closest power rating, IL first)
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 80 | 29 | 4 | 10 | 180.0000 🔥 | 156.4912 | 170.62 | top 43% |
| Pork Ribs | 81 | 27 | 3 | 6 | 180.0000 🔥 | 153.6572 | 168.90 | top 42% |
| Pork | 78 | 31 | 2 | 16 | 180.0000 🔥 | 20.0000 | 168.71 | top 40% |
| Brisket | 78 | 36 | 1 | 12 | 179.4400 | 153.1200 | 170.70 | top 34% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| IL | 38 | 1 | top 33% |
| MO | 11 | 1 | top 39% |
| WI | 11 | 0 | top 31% |
| KS | 7 | 0 | top 25% |
| IN | 6 | 0 | top 47% |
| AL | 2 | 0 | top 68% |
| TN | 2 | 0 | top 66% |
| MI | 1 | 0 | top 42% |
| AR | 1 | 0 | top 33% |
| IA | 1 | 0 | top 74% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 1 | 0 | top 16% |
| Medium (20–39) | 42 | 2 | top 33% |
| Large (40+) | 37 | 0 | top 41% |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2024 (13 contests)
- Cooks mostly in IL (39 of 82 contests)
- Most-entered category: Pork Ribs (81 entries)
- First Grand Championship in the data: Kennett Jaycees Show Me State BBQ Cook Off (2023-05-05)
- Wins it all in 2% of contests
- All-time average overall score: 670.52
- 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 706.2516 | 692.01 |
| 2024 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 707.4288 | 660.46 |
| 2023 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 698.7884 | 684.48 |
| 2022 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 696.5144 | 655.16 |
| 2021 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 695.4060 | 682.30 |
| 2020 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 682.2172 | 665.73 |
| 2019 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 686.1712 | 656.99 |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest Kansas City, KS | 53 / 158 (691.3484) | 81 (171.9884) | 98 (170.8228) | 96 (169.6800) | 6 (178.8572) |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest Kansas City, KS | 19 / 401 (699.9428) | 23 (177.7028) | 69 (174.8572) | 101 (174.2628) | 89 (173.1200) |
| 2025-10-03 | La Belle MO Show Me BBQ Showdown La Belle, MO | 24 / 39 (687.3368) | 30 (169.6684) | 18 (173.7144) | 17 (172.5484) | 15 (171.4056) |
| 2025-09-12 | Smoke on the Ohio Mt. Vernon, IN | 5 / 27 (697.6684) | 2 (180.0000) | 6 (173.1200) | 3 (179.4400) | 13 (165.1084) |
| 2025-09-05 | Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI | 10 / 35 (685.0744) | 14 (172.5600) | 13 (169.1316) | 23 (166.8228) | 6 (176.5600) |
| 2025-08-16 | Smoke N for the Kids Troy, IL | 6 / 32 (698.2056) | 2 (178.8572) | 17 (171.9772) | 19 (173.1084) | 12 (174.2628) |
| 2025-07-26 | Code 3 Spices - Smokin' on Main Collinsville, IL | 21 / 32 (684.4684) | 12 (175.4056) | 25 (169.7144) | 18 (171.9772) | 24 (167.3712) |
| 2025-07-11 | Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off Cameron, MO | 8 / 36 (693.6112) | 17 (171.9656) | 15 (173.1200) | 15 (171.9656) | 3 (176.5600) |
| 2025-06-27 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown Eureka, IL | 8 / 26 (688.4568) | 5 (175.4056) | 19 (168.5372) | 13 (171.4056) | 9 (173.1084) |
| 2025-06-06 | Hoosier BBQ Classic Franklin, IN | 6 / 30 (691.3484) | 1 (177.7028) | 6 (172.5600) | 23 (164.5256) | 3 (176.5600) |
| 2025-05-09 | 43rd Annual Kennett Jaycees BBQ Cook Off Kennett, MO | 2 / 27 (706.2516) | 4 (177.7144) | 4 (173.1316) | 3 (177.7028) | 3 (177.7028) |
| 2025-04-25 | Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest Sugar Creek, MO | 26 / 40 (680.4224) | 39 (156.4912) | 24 (170.8112) | 3 (178.8572) | 7 (174.2628) |
| 2024-10-30 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest Kansas City, KS | 16 / 169 (697.6572) | 1 (180.0000) | 78 (171.4172) | 38 (174.2744) | 74 (171.9656) |
| 2024-10-30 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest Kansas City, KS | 7 / 444 (701.0856) | 269 (167.3712) | 1 (180.0000) | 8 (178.2972) | 35 (175.4172) |
| 2024-09-20 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard Murphysboro, IL | 16 / 58 (691.9316) | 19 (175.4172) | 15 (173.1316) | 5 (176.5600) | 31 (166.8228) |
| 2024-09-13 | Smoke on the Ohio Mt. Vernon, IN | 8 / 28 (692.4912) | 8 (173.1084) | 14 (166.8344) | 2 (180.0000) | 7 (172.5484) |
| 2024-09-06 | Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI | 4 / 37 (685.0284) | 5 (175.4056) | 4 (173.1200) | 12 (168.5256) | 16 (167.9772) |
| 2024-08-17 | Smoke N for the Kids Troy, IL | 1 / 27 (707.4288) | 1 (180.0000) | 2 (177.7372) | 12 (173.1316) | 4 (176.5600) |
| 2024-07-27 | Code 3 Spices - Smokin' on Main Collinsville, IL | 15 / 34 (683.3028) | 7 (177.7028) | 13 (170.8228) | 28 (159.3600) | 3 (175.4172) |
| 2024-07-19 | BBCubed - Brighton Barbeque Bash Oshkosh, WI | 15 / 37 (664.5028) | 15 (170.8456) | 10 (170.8572) | 8 (169.6800) | 31 (153.1200) |
| 2024-06-14 | Morris Rhythm & BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Morris, IL | 19 / 40 (329.0972) | 24 (162.8000) | 18 (166.2972) | — | — |
| 2024-06-08 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 16 / 37 (686.2056) | 20 (172.5484) | 16 (172.5600) | 31 (163.9544) | 4 (177.1428) |
| 2024-06-07 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 30 / 41 (663.2800) | 34 (165.1084) | 38 (155.3716) | 12 (170.8228) | 11 (171.9772) |
| 2024-05-10 | Kennett Jaycees Show-Me State BBQ Cook Off Kennett, MO | 5 / 26 (700.5488) | 10 (174.8456) | 11 (172.5716) | 7 (176.5600) | 2 (176.5716) |
| 2024-04-19 | GLBBQA Spring Fling Charlotte, MI | 26 / 62 (683.4056) | 47 (165.7256) | 19 (171.4400) | 13 (175.4056) | 25 (170.8344) |
| 2023-10-27 | Smoke on the Water - Saracen Casino PB Pine Bluff, AR | 16 / 49 (686.7196) | 29 (168.5256) | 1 (180.0000) | 15 (174.2628) | 36 (163.9312) |
| 2023-10-06 | Smokin' for Garrett Mt. Carmel, IL | 4 / 26 (697.6804) | 5 (174.2744) | 12 (169.1316) | 4 (177.7144) | 3 (176.5600) |
| 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 | 137 / 487 (683.3372) | 247 (168.5372) | 262 (167.9772) | 188 (170.2628) | 22 (176.5600) |
| 2023-09-27 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest Kansas City, KS | 68 / 211 (687.8856) | 164 (167.3828) | 36 (175.4056) | 153 (167.3828) | 12 (177.7144) |
| 2023-09-21 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard Murphysboro, IL | 24 / 50 (678.1944) | 33 (162.8000) | 39 (163.3944) | 3 (177.1544) | 12 (174.8456) |
| 2023-07-14 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown Eureka, IL | 8 / 25 (681.0860) | 13 (169.6800) | 7 (167.4516) | 2 (175.4172) | 10 (168.5372) |
| 2023-06-10 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 12 / 40 (680.4572) | 32 (165.0856) | 22 (168.5372) | 11 (173.1200) | 4 (173.7144) |
| 2023-06-09 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 16 / 43 (676.4340) | 25 (166.2400) | 33 (159.3828) | 2 (177.7028) | 9 (173.1084) |
| 2023-05-05 | Kennett Jaycees Show Me State BBQ Cook Off Kennett, MO | 1 / 26 (698.7884) | 2 (178.8572) | 3 (174.8572) | 11 (173.1084) | 10 (171.9656) |
| 2023-04-28 | WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest (JUDGING FULL) Washington, MO | 18 / 37 (674.1716) | 31 (163.3944) | 21 (165.6800) | 8 (173.1200) | 9 (171.9772) |
| 2022-11-12 | 4th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL Gadsden, AL | 51 / 61 (677.6000) | 56 (163.9544) | 49 (167.4172) | 23 (174.2628) | 35 (171.9656) |
| 2022-11-11 | 4th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN Gadsden, AL | 47 / 91 (677.5656) | 85 (162.8116) | 20 (174.2628) | 18 (175.4056) | 65 (165.0856) |
| 2022-10-14 | Best of the Midwest BBQ Union Grove, WI | 9 / 36 (685.0744) | 20 (168.5256) | 4 (174.8800) | 8 (171.9772) | 12 (169.6916) |
| 2022-09-23 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard Murphysboro, IL | 27 / 46 (680.4688) | 27 (169.6916) | 24 (170.2744) | 33 (167.3828) | 13 (173.1200) |
| 2022-09-16 | Smokin' For Garrett Mt. Carmel, IL | 9 / 27 (687.9084) | 20 (167.4056) | 8 (171.9772) | 5 (176.5600) | 7 (171.9656) |
| 2022-07-22 | EffingHAM-JAM Effingham, IL | 16 / 25 (666.7200) | 23 (159.3828) | 13 (167.3944) | 15 (166.8228) | 6 (173.1200) |
| 2022-07-15 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown Eureka, IL | 9 / 25 (681.6112) | 3 (177.1428) | 16 (165.6684) | 20 (166.2400) | 5 (172.5600) |
| 2022-06-25 | Heritage Days BBQ Showdown (Day Two) Belvidere, IL | 2 / 32 (696.5144) | 7 (175.4056) | 4 (173.7144) | 3 (177.7028) | 13 (169.6916) |
| 2022-06-24 | Heritage Days BBQ Showdown (Day One) Belvidere, IL | 6 / 36 (689.7032) | 12 (170.8344) | 8 (173.7144) | 3 (174.8572) | 15 (170.2972) |
| 2022-06-17 | Morris Rhythm & BBQ Festival (Backyard) Morris, IL | 9 / 23 (332.0116) | 7 (170.2972) | 10 (161.7144) | — | — |
| 2022-05-14 | 2nd Annual Obion County Fair BBQ Cook Off - Day 2 Union City, TN | 13 / 23 (684.4800) | 20 (167.3828) | 6 (176.0116) | 18 (163.3712) | 2 (177.7144) |
| 2022-05-13 | 2nd Annual Obion County Fair BBQ Cook Off - Day 1 Union City, TN | 19 / 25 (671.8740) | 10 (171.9772) | 23 (159.9656) | 13 (170.2512) | 16 (169.6800) |
| 2022-05-06 | Route 66 Smoke Out Dwight, IL | 7 / 33 (685.5884) | 6 (175.4056) | 6 (169.6800) | 12 (170.8228) | 10 (169.6800) |
| 2021-10-22 | Best of the Midwest BBQ Union Grove, WI | 2 / 44 (689.6572) | 20 (167.9772) | 7 (172.5716) | 1 (176.5600) | 8 (172.5484) |
| 2021-09-24 | Praise the Lard Murphysboro BBQ Cook-Off Murphysboro, IL | 12 / 39 (682.7312) | 4 (175.4172) | 13 (169.6684) | 28 (163.3828) | 8 (174.2628) |
| 2021-09-03 | A Celebration of Our Heroes Madison, IL | 2 / 20 (695.4060) | 2 (176.5716) | 4 (172.5484) | 10 (169.6916) | 2 (176.5944) |
| 2021-07-23 | Effingham -Jam Effingham, IL | 4 / 29 (679.3368) | 17 (166.8228) | 1 (176.5600) | 20 (165.6684) | 8 (170.2856) |
| 2021-07-17 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown Day 2 Eureka, IL | 3 / 19 (691.8968) | 9 (168.5256) | 2 (176.0000) | 3 (174.2628) | 4 (173.1084) |
| 2021-07-16 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown Day 1 Eureka, IL | 4 / 25 (691.3484) | 6 (172.5600) | 12 (169.1200) | 4 (174.2628) | 2 (175.4056) |
| 2021-07-16 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown - One Meat Rib Contest Eureka, IL | — | — | 8 (163.9656) | — | — |
| 2021-06-26 | Heritage Days BBQ Showdown (Day Two) Belvidere, IL | 16 / 43 (676.5144) | 33 (166.8344) | 5 (173.1544) | 8 (173.1200) | 28 (163.4056) |
| 2021-06-25 | Heritage Days BBQ Showdown (Day one) Belvidere, IL | 12 / 49 (676.4456) | 7 (171.9656) | 47 (153.6572) | 2 (176.5600) | 3 (174.2628) |
| 2021-05-01 | Route 66 Smoke Out Dwight, IL | 9 / 44 (679.3488) | 5 (174.2744) | 15 (167.9772) | 34 (162.2400) | 2 (174.8572) |
| 2021-04-23 | WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO | 30 / 45 (658.6856) | 37 (160.5372) | 21 (168.5372) | 27 (163.9428) | 18 (165.6684) |
| 2021-03-26 | Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge St. Roberts, MO | 19 / 52 (683.8968) | 18 (173.1200) | 35 (166.8228) | 5 (176.5600) | 31 (167.3940) |
| 2020-11-13 | Second Annual KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Competition Mayetta, KS | 63 / 94 (678.1600) | 85 (163.9544) | 32 (173.1200) | 54 (170.2628) | 47 (170.8228) |
| 2020-10-16 | Best of the Midwest BBQ Union Grove, WI | 9 / 50 (679.3716) | 14 (169.6684) | 18 (166.2516) | 3 (177.1544) | 22 (166.2972) |
| 2020-10-02 | Ottumwa Smoketoberfest Ottumwa, IA | 49 / 66 (652.5256) | 25 (170.2628) | 39 (162.8800) | 56 (159.9428) | 51 (159.4400) |
| 2020-09-11 | Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge St. Roberts, MO | 23 / 26 (665.5424) | 17 (169.6684) | 10 (169.7028) | 24 (158.1940) | 19 (167.9772) |
| 2020-07-18 | CIBBQ Red Devil Edition Day 2 Eureka, IL | 2 / 25 (682.2172) | 11 (171.4056) | 5 (171.4632) | 2 (173.1200) | 14 (166.2284) |
| 2020-07-17 | CIBBQ Red Devil Edition Day 1 Eureka, IL | 13 / 30 (674.1712) | 13 (168.5256) | 13 (168.5600) | 2 (175.4172) | 26 (161.6684) |
| 2020-07-10 | Harvest On the Fire At the Winery Marshall, IL | 37 / 53 (658.1712) | 25 (168.5256) | 15 (168.5944) | 50 (150.7884) | 17 (170.2628) |
| 2020-06-20 | Covid-Que Relief (Day 2) Franklin, IN | 59 / 63 (654.7312) | 50 (165.6684) | 58 (158.2744) | 49 (164.5256) | 35 (166.2628) |
| 2020-06-19 | Covid-Que Relief (Day 1) Franklin, IN | 53 / 69 (653.5996) | 22 (170.8456) | 41 (164.5372) | 65 (153.6340) | 44 (164.5828) |
| 2020-05-29 | Rockin BBQ Warsaw, IN | 28 / 66 (658.7656) | 26 (166.2856) | 57 (155.3716) | 25 (165.6800) | 6 (171.4284) |
| 2019-10-18 | Best of the Midwest Union Grove, WI | 15 / 52 (659.8740) | 28 (163.3712) | 7 (170.2972) | 19 (166.2400) | 32 (159.9656) |
| 2019-10-11 | Central Illinois Bragging Rights(CIBR-BBQ) Arthur, IL | 17 / 43 (671.3144) | 5 (174.8572) | 26 (162.2400) | 38 (158.2172) | 4 (176.0000) |
| 2019-09-20 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook Off Murphysboro, IL | 23 / 54 (670.1024) | 16 (169.6800) | 32 (165.0856) | 37 (165.0740) | 17 (170.2628) |
| 2019-07-19 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown Peoria, IL | 5 / 40 (681.6572) | 7 (170.8344) | 24 (162.2856) | 4 (176.5600) | 8 (171.9772) |
| 2019-07-12 | Harvest On Fire at The Winery Marshall, IL | 22 / 31 (648.3880) | 15 (169.1200) | 22 (161.0856) | 24 (162.8112) | 25 (155.3712) |
| 2019-06-22 | Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 2 Belvidere, IL | 12 / 45 (675.3832) | 11 (170.8344) | 25 (165.0972) | 16 (169.1200) | 13 (170.3316) |
| 2019-06-21 | Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1 Belvidere, IL | 10 / 50 (673.0744) | 23 (166.2400) | 12 (168.5600) | 1 (177.1772) | 31 (161.0972) |
| 2019-06-07 | Blues,Brews & Barbecue Beardstown, IL | 4 / 25 (673.0288) | 3 (176.5600) | 8 (165.0972) | 10 (166.8344) | 8 (164.5372) |
| 2019-05-31 | Up In Smoke on the Square Lincoln, IL | 36 / 36 (510.7316) | 23 (165.0972) | 22 (161.6800) | 36 (20.0000) | 21 (163.9544) |
| 2019-05-03 | Route 66 Smoke Out Dwight, IL | 8 / 33 (677.1200) | 1 (178.2972) | 21 (161.7028) | 5 (172.5828) | 15 (164.5372) |
| 2019-04-26 | BBQ, Bikes and Blues Washington, MO | 5 / 39 (686.1712) | 7 (174.2628) | 20 (166.2400) | 24 (166.2284) | 1 (179.4400) |
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 ↗ | Master | #128 (1439 pts) | #87 (1634 pts) | #202 (1167 pts) | #144 (1324 pts) | #74 (1687 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #93 (1510 pts) | #86 (1530 pts) | #94 (1535 pts) | #92 (1451 pts) | #100 (1470 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #146 (1237 pts) | #220 (957 pts) | #173 (1202 pts) | #71 (1627 pts) | #113 (1362 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #136 (1355 pts) | #181 (1165 pts) | #126 (1385 pts) | #123 (1350 pts) | #110 (1445 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #73 (1718 pts) | #97 (1433 pts) | #71 (1631 pts) | #72 (1623 pts) | #48 (1798 pts) |
| 2020 ↗ | Master | #123 (871 pts) | #153 (756 pts) | #121 (861 pts) | #83 (1096 pts) | #150 (771 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #195 (1334 pts) | #144 (1504 pts) | #348 (929 pts) | #213 (1244 pts) | #182 (1323 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #509 (704 pts) | #419 (864 pts) | #547 (689 pts) | #555 (674 pts) | #393 (899 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #1499 (170 pts) | #1599 (165 pts) | #1144 (295 pts) | #1359 (215 pts) | #1771 (125 pts) |