They almost always walk
75%
of contests with a top-10 call
A call in 9 of 12 contests
A top-10 category call in 75% of their 12 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.
Big Time BBQ Buddies
At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)
Rating
1531
peak 1540 · rated over 12 contests ⓘ
Contests
12
in the data
First seen
2013-05-31
latest 2022-05-13
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
2
4 podiums
Overall top-10s
3
of 12 contests
Avg finish
top 47%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
653.98 ▼
last 5 Master vs avg 656.10 (-2.11)
Walk rate
75%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
2
best run (overall)
Consistency
±12.45
std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 168.76 · weakest Brisket (160.13)
Road miles
1,163
mi across 12 mapped stops · furthest 150 mi
Schedule strength
37%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1549)
Purse competed for
$21K
listed at 2 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
GCs in 2 state-championship entries
Master avg
656.10 / 720
12 Master contests · 0 GCs
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.
High-water mark
679.4288
career-best overall
94.4% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 679.4288 at 4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs — 94.4% of a perfect 720.
- Master
- 2014-08-29
A tough matchup
10–0
behind in the head-to-head
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN ahead in 100% of their meetings
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN has come out ahead in 10 of their 10 shared contests.
The weak link
−8.6
points behind their best meat
Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 8.63 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 8% of the time against 50%.
- Brisket avg 160.13
- Chicken avg 168.76
- 1 calls in 12 entries
A strong matchup
4–0
ahead in the head-to-head
Ahead in 100% of their meetings
They've finished ahead of Subtle Smoke in 4 of their 4 shared contests.
The comeback
2.8 yrs
off the trail, then back
Off the trail for 2.8 years, then back at Minnesota in May (Masters) (2022-05-13).
- last seen 2019-08-09
- back 2022-05-13
The metronome
±1.73%
swing around their own average
Their overall lands within ±1.73% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.
- averages 91.1% of a perfect score
- 12 contests
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.
76 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#2186 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 8%
- Peak
- 1542
No shared contest yet.
Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 3 years before Big Time BBQ Buddies's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-head#2195 of the rated field
- Contests
- 10
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 10%
- Peak
- 1539
No shared contest yet.
Careers of much the same size, 10 contests to 12, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Head-to-head#2188 of the rated field
- Contests
- 15
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 13%
- Peak
- 1537
No shared contest yet.
15 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 13% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Head-to-head#2184 of the rated field
- Contests
- 9
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 11%
- Peak
- 1541
No shared contest yet.
Level with Big Time BBQ Buddies on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Head-to-head#2183 of the rated field
- Contests
- 20
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 55%
- Peak
- 1531
No shared contest yet.
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 20 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-head#2190 of the rated field
- Contests
- 7
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 29%
- Peak
- 1531
No shared contest yet.
They turned up 6 years after Big Time BBQ Buddies did, first appearing in 2019.
⚔ Head-to-headFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hogline | 11 | 2 | 9 | 18% | ⚔ compare |
| SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| BLACK DOG BBQ IA | 7 | 4 | 3 | 57% | ⚔ compare |
| BIG CITY BBQ | 7 | 4 | 3 | 57% | ⚔ compare |
| CROIX VALLEY SAUCES | 7 | 3 | 4 | 43% | ⚔ compare |
| BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | 7 | 2 | 5 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| LUCKY'S Q | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| DRY 2 DA BONE | 6 | 3 | 3 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| TRUE SMOKE BBQ | 6 | 2 | 4 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKE IN THE EYE | 6 | 2 | 4 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| MYASSIS SMOKIN | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| The Q Crew | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| GRUMPY OLD MEN BBQ | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| MONKEYS' UNCLES BBQ | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 12 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 176.5600 | 156.5600 | 168.76 | top 31% |
| Pork Ribs | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 170.2744 | 150.2856 | 161.85 | top 55% |
| Pork | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 176.5600 | 157.0972 | 165.37 | top 50% |
| Brisket | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 171.4172 | 150.7884 | 160.13 | top 57% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MN | 6 | 0 | top 53% |
| IA | 4 | 0 | top 42% |
| WI | 2 | 0 | top 41% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium (20–39) | 4 | 0 | top 41% |
| Large (40+) | 8 | 0 | top 50% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Up in Smoke BBQ Bash | 3 | 15 | 0 | top 47% | 2018-09-28 |
| Smokin in Steele | 2 | 27 | 0 | top 68% | 2014-05-30 |
The story so far (18 numbers that describe this team)
On the trail
9 yrs
2013-05-31 → 2022-05-13
Busiest season
2016
2 contests
Contests a season
1.5
across 8 seasons in the data
Cooks most in
MN
6 of 12 contests · 3 states/provinces in all
Contests visited
9
2 of them cooked more than once
Most-entered meat
Chicken
12 entries · 2 wins · 6 calls
Strongest meat
Chicken
averages 168.76 · weakest Brisket (160.13)
Walk rate
75%
a top-10 call in 9 of 12 contests
Overall top-10 rate
25%
3 of 12 contests
Best top-10 run
2
straight contests
Master average
656.10
out of 720 · 12 contests · 0 GCs
Opponents faced
321
310–286 across every shared overall standing
Road miles
1,163
12 mapped stops · furthest 150 mi
Schedule strength
1549
average field rating faced — tougher than 37% of rated contests
Purse competed for
$21,025
listed at 2 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0
from 2 state-championship entries
Longest layoff
2.8 yrs
2019-08-09 → 2022-05-13
Power rating
1531
peak 1540 · #2191 of 6,413 rated
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
- 2013
- First tracked contest Smokin' in Steele
- First call Smokin' in Steele
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score650.2628 Up in Smoke BBQ Bash
- 2014
- First overall top-10 4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs
- Career-best overall score679.4288 4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs
- 2015
- First category win (Chicken) 5th Annual Smokin In the Bogs
- Career-best single call (Chicken)176.5600 5th Annual Smokin In the Bogs
- 2018
- 10th tracked contest *Up in Smoke BBQ Bash
- 2019
- Peak power rating (1540) 16th Annual UP IN SMOKE BBQ Bash
- 2022
- Most recent contest Minnesota in May (Masters)
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +12.2 | Minnesota in May | 2015-05-15 |
| +10.8 | 4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs | 2014-08-29 |
| +10.4 | 16th Annual UP IN SMOKE BBQ Bash | 2019-08-09 |
| +8.7 | *Up in Smoke BBQ Bash | 2017-07-21 |
| +7.4 | Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship | 2016-03-04 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -9 | Minnesota in May (Masters) | 2022-05-13 |
| -8.3 | Smokin in Steele | 2014-05-30 |
| -1.1 | Minnesota in May | 2016-05-13 |
| -0.9 | 5th Annual Smokin In the Bogs | 2015-09-04 |
| -0.4 | Smokin' in Steele | 2013-05-31 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 83% | 90.3% | 90.3% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100% | top 26% | 92.9% | 92.9% |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 55% | 88.9% | 88.9% |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 31% | 92.1% | 92.1% |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 42% | 92.1% | 91% |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100% | top 38% | 93.5% | 92% |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% | top 53% | 94.4% | 91.6% |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 54% | 90.3% | 90% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-05-13 | Minnesota in May (Masters) 🏅 Cambridge, MN | 49 / 59 (650.2288) | 44 (162.2400) | 50 (158.2288) | 43 (164.0228) | 30 (165.7372) |
| 2019-08-09 | 16th Annual UP IN SMOKE BBQ Bash 🏅 Mason City, IA | 10 / 38 (668.5376) | 1 (176.0000) | 24 (161.1432) | 30 (159.9772) | 6 (171.4172) |
| 2018-09-28 | *Up in Smoke BBQ Bash Mason City, IA | 16 / 29 (639.9316) | 5 (166.8688) | 17 (157.1428) | 24 (157.0972) | 16 (158.8228) |
| 2017-07-21 | *Up in Smoke BBQ Bash Mason City, IA | 15 / 49 (663.3372) | 25 (165.1316) | 29 (163.4056) | 7 (173.1200) | 28 (161.6800) |
| 2016-05-13 | Minnesota in May Falcon Heights, MN | 38 / 71 (647.8856) | 35 (163.9544) | 50 (158.8572) | 6 (174.2856) | 63 (150.7884) |
| 2016-03-04 | Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship Isle, MN | 18 / 59 (662.8224) | 14 (168.5828) | 27 (163.3940) | 16 (167.9884) | 22 (162.8572) |
| 2015-09-04 | 5th Annual Smokin In the Bogs Warrens, WI | 16 / 27 (651.4060) | 1 (176.5600) | 13 (162.8916) | 23 (157.1200) | 19 (154.8344) |
| 2015-05-15 | Minnesota in May St. Paul, MN | 10 / 60 (673.0740) | 6 (174.2972) | 5 (170.2628) | 29 (166.2512) | 34 (162.2628) |
| 2014-08-29 | 4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs Warrens, WI | 8 / 34 (679.4288) | 14 (166.2972) | 10 (170.2744) | 2 (176.5600) | 14 (166.2972) |
| 2014-05-30 | Smokin in Steele Owatonna, MN | 55 / 67 (639.9544) | 61 (156.5600) | 28 (167.3828) | 49 (161.7144) | 51 (154.2972) |
| 2013-07-26 | Up in Smoke BBQ Bash Mason City, IA | 36 / 66 (650.2628) | 5 (173.1428) | 47 (158.8916) | 46 (160.5484) | 45 (157.6800) |
| 2013-05-31 | Smokin' in Steele Owatonna, MN | 27 / 51 (646.2854) | 3 (175.4286) | 40 (150.2856) | 19 (165.7142) | 34 (154.8570) |