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
Big Time BBQ Buddies is a competition barbecue team with 12 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2022. Their best overall finish is 8th of 34 at the 4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs (2014). They are ranked #2211 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1531
peak 1540 · rated over 12 contests
Contests
12
in the data
First seen
May 31, 2013
latest May 13, 2022 · 9 years on the trail
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
2
4 podiums
Overall top-10s
3
25% of 12 contests
Best top-10 run
2
straight overall top-10s
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
Consistency
±12.45
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 168.76 · weakest Brisket (160.13)
Road miles
1,163
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 🏅
won from 2 state-championship entries
Master avg
656.10 / 720
12 Master contests · 0 GCs
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to Big Time BBQ Buddies, each with one reason worth a look.
82 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#2,201 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 17%
- Peak
- 1531
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 12 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careers#2,215 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 8%
- Peak
- 1542
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.
⚔ Compare careers#2,214 of the rated field
- Contests
- 10
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 10%
- Peak
- 1539
Careers of much the same size, 10 contests to 12, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careers#2,216 of the rated field
- Contests
- 15
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 47%
- Peak
- 1564
15 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 47% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careers#2,202 of the rated field
- Contests
- 10
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 80%
- Peak
- 1531
They turned up 11 years after Big Time BBQ Buddies did, first appearing in 2024.
⚔ Compare careers#2,212 of the rated field
- Contests
- 9
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 11%
- Peak
- 1540
Level with Big Time BBQ Buddies on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar 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 field size and state
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium (20–39) | 4 | 0 | top 41% |
| Large (40+) | 8 | 0 | top 50% |
Repeat visits (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% | Sep 28, 2018 |
| Smokin in Steele | 2 | 27 | 0 | top 68% | May 30, 2014 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2016
2 contests
Contests a season
1.5
across 8 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
MN
6 of 12 contests · 3 states in all
Contests visited
9
2 of them more than once
Opponents faced
320
finished ahead 310 times, behind 286
Longest layoff
2.8 yrs
Aug 9, 2019 → May 13, 2022
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20221 milestone
- Most recent contest Minnesota in May (Masters)
20191 milestone
- Peak power rating (1540) 16th Annual UP IN SMOKE BBQ Bash
20181 milestone
- 10th tracked contest Up in Smoke BBQ Bash
20152 milestones
- First category win (Chicken) 5th Annual Smokin In the Bogs
- Career-best single call (Chicken)176.5600 5th Annual Smokin In the Bogs
20142 milestones
- First overall top-10 4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs
- Career-best overall score679.4288 4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs
20133 milestones
- 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
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +12.2 | Minnesota in May | May 15, 2015 |
| +10.9 | 4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs | Aug 29, 2014 |
| +10.4 | 16th Annual UP IN SMOKE BBQ Bash | Aug 9, 2019 |
| +8.7 | Up in Smoke BBQ Bash | Jul 21, 2017 |
| +7.4 | Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship | Mar 4, 2016 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -9.1 | Minnesota in May (Masters) | May 13, 2022 |
| -8.3 | Smokin in Steele | May 30, 2014 |
| -1.1 | Minnesota in May | May 13, 2016 |
| -0.9 | 5th Annual Smokin In the Bogs | Sep 4, 2015 |
| -0.4 | Smokin' in Steele | May 31, 2013 |
Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 13, 2022 | Minnesota in May (Masters) 🏅 Cambridge, MN | 49 / 59 (650.2288) | 44 (162.2400) | 50 (158.2288) | 43 (164.0228) | 30 (165.7372) |
| Aug 9, 2019 | 16th Annual UP IN SMOKE BBQ Bash 🏅 Mason City, IA | 10 / 38 (668.5376) | 1 (176) | 24 (161.1432) | 30 (159.9772) | 6 (171.4172) |
| Sep 28, 2018 | Up in Smoke BBQ Bash Mason City, IA | 16 / 29 (639.9316) | 5 (166.8688) | 17 (157.1428) | 24 (157.0972) | 16 (158.8228) |
| Jul 21, 2017 | Up in Smoke BBQ Bash Mason City, IA | 15 / 49 (663.3372) | 25 (165.1316) | 29 (163.4056) | 7 (173.1200) | 28 (161.6800) |
| May 13, 2016 | Minnesota in May Falcon Heights, MN | 38 / 71 (647.8856) | 35 (163.9544) | 50 (158.8572) | 6 (174.2856) | 63 (150.7884) |
| Mar 4, 2016 | Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship Isle, MN | 18 / 59 (662.8224) | 14 (168.5828) | 27 (163.3940) | 16 (167.9884) | 22 (162.8572) |
| Sep 4, 2015 | 5th Annual Smokin In the Bogs Warrens, WI | 16 / 27 (651.4060) | 1 (176.5600) | 13 (162.8916) | 23 (157.1200) | 19 (154.8344) |
| May 15, 2015 | Minnesota in May St. Paul, MN | 10 / 60 (673.0740) | 6 (174.2972) | 5 (170.2628) | 29 (166.2512) | 34 (162.2628) |
| Aug 29, 2014 | 4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs Warrens, WI | 8 / 34 (679.4288) | 14 (166.2972) | 10 (170.2744) | 2 (176.5600) | 14 (166.2972) |
| May 30, 2014 | Smokin in Steele Owatonna, MN | 55 / 67 (639.9544) | 61 (156.5600) | 28 (167.3828) | 49 (161.7144) | 51 (154.2972) |
| Jul 26, 2013 | Up in Smoke BBQ Bash Mason City, IA | 36 / 66 (650.2628) | 5 (173.1428) | 47 (158.8916) | 46 (160.5484) | 45 (157.6800) |
| May 31, 2013 | Smokin' in Steele Owatonna, MN | 27 / 51 (646.2854) | 3 (175.4286) | 40 (150.2856) | 19 (165.7142) | 34 (154.8570) |