Bowmans Butt & BBQ

Bowmans Butt & BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 74 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2018 and 2026. They have won 7 Grand Championships, most recently at the Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1 (2024), and finished Reserve Grand Champion 7 times. They are ranked #305 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “Bowman's Butt & BBQ”.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#305

of 6,477 rated · rankings

Rating

1723

peak 1735 · rated over 67 contests4 invitational or side-series contests not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Sep 21, 2018

latest Aug 21, 2026 · 7.9 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#112

Master 2023 · every season

Grand champs

7 reserve · wins it all 9% of the time

Category wins

54 podiums

Overall top-10s

72% of 74 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 33%

overall standings

Best overall

708.5372 / 720

Master · Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1

Perfect 180s

2 🔥

Current form

685.03 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 679.67 (+5.36)

Walk rate

86%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

180 🔥

Brisket · Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1

Consistency

±36.44

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 171.62 · weakest Brisket (169.11)

Road miles

14,647

across 74 mapped stops · furthest 982 mi

Schedule strength

83%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1609)

Purse competed for

$483K

listed at 60 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

7 🏅

won from 62 state-championship entries

Master avg

679.67 / 720

41 Master contests · 1 GC

Backyard avg

337.82 / 360

18 Backyard contests · 3 GCs

Backyard (3-meat) avg

504.43 / 540

10 Backyard (3-meat) contests · 2 GCs

Backyard (4-meat) avg

647.33 / 720

1 Backyard (4-meat) contest · 1 GC

These overall scores sit on different scales (Master out of 720, Backyard out of 360, Backyard (3-meat) out of 540, Backyard (4-meat) out of 720), 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 (19 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

The heartbreaker

0.0576 points from the title

Came within 0.0576 points of the Grand Championship at Zom-B-Q (BBQ Wythe US) (Oct 25, 2019).

Among the elite

#305 of 6,477 rated teams

In the top 5% of every rated team in the data

A power rating of 1723 puts them #305 of 6,477 rated teams — the top 5% of the field.

rating 1723
peak 1735
67 rated contests

Perfect scores on the board

2 perfect 180s

2 perfect 180s in the data — every judge at the table handing back a nine, across 2 different meats.

Pork ×1
Brisket ×1

Against the odds

25-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings

The ratings favoured the top seed the other 75 times in 100

Their Grand Championship at Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1 (May 3, 2024) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 25-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN.

Giant slayer

94 teams beaten in one weekend

Took the Grand Championship over a 94-team field at Second Annual KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Competition.

Nov 13, 2020

Happy hunting ground

1× Grand Championship here

Smoke in the Grove is their spot: 1 Grand Championship in 2 visits.

2 visits
best finish 1st
average top 6%

Multi-meat days

5 contests with 2+ category wins

They've won two or more meats on the same day 5 times — the best of them 3 category wins at Bands & BBQ at the Point (Sep 13, 2019).

Chicken 1st
Pork Ribs 1st
Pork 1st

Show 12 more storylines

They almost always walk

86% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 64 of 74 contests

A top-10 category call in 86% of their 74 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

708.5372 career-best overall

98.4% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 708.5372 at Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1 — 98.4% of a perfect 720.

Master
May 3, 2024

State champions

7 state championships won

They've taken 7 state championships from 62 entries at contests carrying the title.

62 state-championship entries

The one to beat

7× one call ahead of them

WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ has finished one call ahead of Bowmans Butt & BBQ 7 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2021 4 Grand Championships

2021 was the year it came together: 20 contests, 4 Grand Championships and 5 category wins, at an average finish in the top 21%.

20 contests
17 overall top-10s
5 category wins
average top 21%

A tough matchup

16–6 behind in the head-to-head

Under the Radar ahead in 73% of their meetings

Under the Radar has come out ahead in 16 of their 22 shared contests.

The drought

20 contests since the last title

Their last Grand Championship came at Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1 on May 3, 2024 — 20 contests and 2.4 years ago.

last GC May 3, 2024
2.4 years ago

A strong matchup

19–2 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 90% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of BIG DOG BBQ VA in 19 of their 21 shared contests.

They cook the hard rooms

1609 average field rating faced

A tougher draw than 83% of rated fields

The fields they enter average a 1609 power rating — a tougher draw than 83% of every rated contest in the data.

67 rated contests

Looking over their shoulder

4× one call behind them

Optimus Swine has landed one call behind them 4 times.

A July team

Top 21% average finish in July

Something about July: average finish in the top 21% across 10 contests, versus top 33% the rest of the year.

10 July contests
top 33% the rest of the year

The long haul

14,647 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 14,647 miles across 74 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 982 miles to 3rd Annual KCBS World Invitational - Ancillary.

74 mapped stops
furthest 982 mi

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Year	Series	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2026 ↗	Master	#244 (775 pts)	#211 (935 pts)	#334 (690 pts)	#260 (775 pts)	#311 (645 pts)
2025 ↗	Master	#300 (736 pts)	#237 (941 pts)	#373 (696 pts)	#397 (556 pts)	#380 (581 pts)
2024 ↗	Master	#119 (1,364 pts)	#136 (1,284 pts)	#158 (1,229 pts)	#198 (1,034 pts)	#159 (1,184 pts)
2023 ↗	Master	#112 (1,403 pts)	#143 (1,233 pts)	#86 (1,543 pts)	#115 (1,368 pts)	#85 (1,548 pts)
2022 ↗	Backyard	—	#106 (418 pts)	#142 (268 pts)	—	—
2022 ↗	Master	#189 (1,084 pts)	#76 (1,589 pts)	#141 (1,319 pts)	#185 (1,094 pts)	#243 (949 pts)
2021 ↗	Backyard	—	#6 (1,274 pts)	#4 (1,298 pts)	—	—
2020 ↗	Backyard	—	#19 (595 pts)	#10 (785 pts)	—	—
2019 ↗	Master	#1955 (60 pts)	#2049 (60 pts)	#2026 (60 pts)	#2029 (60 pts)	—

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Bowmans Butt & BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ

#306 of the rated field

1723 power rating

Contests: 210
GCs: 5
Top-10s: 47%
Peak: 1759

15–4 in 19 shared contests (79% to Bowmans Butt & BBQ)

These two have cooked 19 of the same contests — Bowmans Butt & BBQ ahead 15–4 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 197 contests
last seen Sep 18, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

RURAL ROUTE BBQ

#307 of the rated field

1723 power rating

Contests: 58
GCs: 4
Top-10s: 59%
Peak: 1739

Their last contest in the data was back in 2022, 4 years before Bowmans Butt & BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 56 contests

⚔ Compare careers

BooyaQ

#296 of the rated field

1725 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 66
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 48%
Peak: 1728

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to Bowmans Butt & BBQ)

Careers of much the same size, 66 contests to 74, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 63 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

TWO OLD MEN AND A GRILL

#298 of the rated field

1724 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 63
GCs: 3
Top-10s: 46%
Peak: 1727

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Bowmans Butt & BBQ)

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 63 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 63 contests
last seen May 24, 2019

⚔ Head-to-head

Sailor Nicks BBQ

#311 of the rated field

1722 ▼ 1 power rating

Contests: 55
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 51%
Peak: 1722

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to Bowmans Butt & BBQ)

Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 55 contests, alongside a 51% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 51 contests
last seen Sep 11, 2026
on a 7-contest top-10 run

⚔ Head-to-head

Mispillion Meat Works

#302 of the rated field

1724 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 54
GCs: 8
Top-10s: 69%
Peak: 1743

6–3 in 9 shared contests (67% to Bowmans Butt & BBQ)

Level with Bowmans Butt & BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 49 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
Optimus Swine	47	23	24	49%	⚔ compare
WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	44	16	27	36%	⚔ compare
Gold-N-Blue Barbecue	40	19	20	48%	⚔ compare
MUTTLEY CREW BBQ	35	18	17	51%	⚔ compare
Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit	34	14	20	41%	⚔ compare
Off The Rack BBQ	33	13	20	39%	⚔ compare
LEM'S MEAT VARNISH	32	18	13	56%	⚔ compare
CHUNKY BBQ	32	16	15	50%	⚔ compare
Dogpatch Q	31	20	10	65%	⚔ compare
Uncle Dubby's Backyard BBQ	31	20	10	65%	⚔ compare
D’Qued Barbeque	31	15	16	48%	⚔ compare
POOR BOYS BBQ	28	14	14	50%	⚔ compare
Ham Squad	26	15	10	58%	⚔ compare
Country Boys BBQ	25	18	7	72%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN SKULLIES	25	12	12	48%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	70	53	6	19	178.8572	158.2284	171.62	top 30%
Pork Ribs	70	49	10	20	178.8572	145.6800	169.85	top 35%
Pork	54	28	3	9	180 🔥	147.8972	169.14	top 45%
Brisket	41	19	3	6	180 🔥	146.2056	169.11	top 48%

“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
Small (<20 teams)	24	2	top 40%
Medium (20–39)	34	1	top 29%
Large (40+)	12	4	top 31%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
VA	35	2	top 32%
WV	12	1	top 38%
NC	10	1	top 40%
MD	4	0	top 20%
KS	3	1	top 33%
PA	2	1	top 6%
OK	1	0	top 12%
SC	1	0	top 12%
KY	1	1	top 4%
NJ	1	0	top 100%

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
BBQ Gives Back (Day 2)	4	1	1	top 31%	Mar 28, 2026
Chillin & Grillin in the Glades	3	5	0	top 42%	Jul 17, 2026
Smoke on the Mountain	3	2	0	top 8%	Jul 25, 2025
Smoke in the Grove	2	1	1	top 6%	Jul 30, 2021
Revolutionary BBQ Brawl	2	4	0	top 35%	Apr 24, 2026
Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge	2	15	0	top 54%	Sep 19, 2025
Devils Backbone BBQ Championship (Day 2)	2	4	0	top 41%	Jun 7, 2025
Forks of the Buffalo BBQ Throwdown (Day 2)	2	5	0	top 53%	Sep 9, 2023
Revolutionary BBQ Brawl - Battle on the James (Day 2)	2	7	0	top 39%	Apr 29, 2023
Smoke on the Mountain BBQ Championship 2022	2	3	0	top 23%	Jul 21, 2022
Almost Heaven BBQ Bash	2	5	0	top 29%	Jun 17, 2022

More numbers

Busiest season 2021 20 contests · 4 GCs

Contests a season 7.4 across 10 seasons in the data

Most contests held in VA 35 of 74 contests · 10 states in all

Contests visited 55 11 of them more than once

First title Sep 13, 2019 Bands & BBQ at the Point

Opponents faced 1,184 finished ahead 2,233 times, behind 999

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

20261 milestone

Aug 21 Most recent contest Stoney Creek BBQ Cookoff

20251 milestone

Sep 26 Peak power rating (1735) Fire in the Foothills

20241 milestone

May 3 Career-best overall score708.5372 Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1

20232 milestones

Jun 2 First perfect 180 (Pork) Covington Cork & Pork Festival
Sep 9 50th tracked contest Forks of the Buffalo BBQ Throwdown (Day 2)

20213 milestones

Mar 27 10th category win BBQ Gives Back (Day 2)
Jul 30 25th tracked contest Smoke in the Grove
Jul 30 5th Grand Championship Smoke in the Grove

20202 milestones

Aug 7 10th tracked contest BBQ WYTHE US DAY 1
Nov 13 Biggest field won (94 teams) Second Annual KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Competition

20199 milestones

Jun 7 First call Almost Heaven BBQ Bash
Jun 7 First overall top-10 Almost Heaven BBQ Bash
Aug 9 First category win (Pork Ribs) Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show
Aug 9 First overall podium Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show
Aug 9 First Reserve Championship Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show
Aug 9 First overall past 90% of a perfect score513.6572 Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show
Sep 13 First Grand Championship Bands & BBQ at the Point
Sep 13 First state championship Bands & BBQ at the Point
Sep 13 First multi-meat day Bands & BBQ at the Point

20171 milestone

Sep 22 First tracked contest Butts and Beans BBQ Challenge

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+18.8	Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show	Aug 9, 2019
+18.2	Bands & BBQ at the Point	Sep 13, 2019
+15.6	BBQ Gives Back (Day 2)	Mar 27, 2021
+15	BBQ Gives Back (Day 1)	Mar 26, 2021
+14.8	Zom-B-Q (BBQ Wythe US)	Oct 25, 2019

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-15.4	City of Welch Coalfields Cook-off	Jun 11, 2021
-12.9	New Jersey KnoQ-out CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES	Apr 27, 2019
-11.4	BBQ Gives Back (Day 1)	Mar 27, 2026
-11.4	BBQ Gives Back (Day 2)	Mar 28, 2026
-9	Fire in the Foothills BBQ Festival	Aug 30, 2024

Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — 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)
2026	5	0	3	0	80%	top 40%	96.3%	95.1%
2025	10	0	6	2	70%	top 34%	96.7%	95.4%
2024	7	1	6	3	100%	top 27%	98.4%	96.3%
2023	10	0	7	3	100%	top 44%	96.3%	95.2%
2022	8	0	6	1	100%	top 46%	96.1%	94.9%
2021	20	4	17	5	95%	top 21%	96.5%	94.6%
2020	6	1	4	3	83%	top 28%	98.9%	92.1%
2019	5	1	4	5	80%	top 31%	95.1%	85.5%
2018	2	0	0	0	0%	top 89%	86.3%	86.3%
2017	1	0	0	0	0%	—	—	—

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Aug 21, 2026	Stoney Creek BBQ Cookoff 🏅 Edinburg, VA	4 / 26 (690.7888)	9 (173.1200)	8 (171.9888)	9 (176)	15 (169.6800)
Jul 17, 2026	Chillin & Grillin in the Glades 🏅 Wise, VA	5 / 35 (693.0512)	6 (176.5600)	4 (175.4172)	13 (171.9656)	18 (169.1084)
Apr 24, 2026	Revolutionary BBQ Brawl 🏅 Williamsburg, VA	10 / 20 (680.4340)	3 (176.5600)	12 (168.5372)	13 (167.9656)	14 (167.3712)
Mar 28, 2026	BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) 🏅 Urbanna, VA	22 / 36 (682.1484)	12 (176.5600)	31 (166.2400)	18 (171.9656)	29 (167.3828)
Mar 27, 2026	BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) 🏅 Urbanna, VA	23 / 40 (678.7200)	17 (173.1084)	35 (162.8116)	2 (177.7028)	27 (165.0972)
Nov 5, 2025	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS	—	—	—	—	—
Nov 5, 2025	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS	139 / 401 (684.4800)	41 (176.5600)	234 (167.9656)	167 (171.4172)	185 (168.5372)
Nov 5, 2025	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest unrated Kansas City, KS	101 / 158 (681.6228)	110 (169.6916)	62 (173.7144)	135 (165.1084)	48 (173.1084)
Sep 26, 2025	Fire in the Foothills 🏅 King, NC	5 / 25 (688.4916)	5 (174.2744)	10 (171.9772)	10 (170.2744)	6 (171.9656)
Sep 19, 2025	Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge 🏅 Rutherford College, NC	15 / 36 (681.6000)	6 (173.1200)	12 (170.8344)	21 (168.5372)	18 (169.1084)
Jul 25, 2025	Smoke on the Mountain 🏅 Galax, VA	2 / 37 (693.0740)	9 (173.7028)	8 (173.7028)	12 (170.8228)	9 (174.8456)
Jun 7, 2025	Devils Backbone BBQ Championship (Day 2) 🏅 Roseland, VA	4 / 18 (695.9316)	7 (174.2628)	1 (177.7144)	12 (169.6800)	3 (174.2744)
Jun 6, 2025	Devils Backbone BBQ Championship (Day 1) 🏅 Roseland, VA	9 / 15 (686.7772)	2 (176.5600)	12 (167.3828)	6 (173.1544)	11 (169.6800)
Apr 25, 2025	Revolutionary BBQ Brawl (Day 1) 🏅 Williamsburg, VA	4 / 20 (684.4456)	3 (176.5600)	1 (177.7028)	13 (167.3828)	18 (162.8000)
Feb 28, 2025	Mission Farms - King of the Farm 🏅 Iron Station, NC	9 / 26 (683.3028)	2 (175.4056)	24 (163.9428)	10 (173.1200)	11 (170.8344)
Oct 26, 2024	Zom-B-Q (Day 2) 🏅 Roseland, VA	7 / 11 (688.4800)	3 (176.5600)	6 (170.8228)	11 (164.5372)	2 (176.5600)
Oct 25, 2024	Nightmare before Zom-B-Q (Day 1) 🏅 Roseland, VA	4 / 13 (693.0512)	9 (171.9656)	5 (172.5600)	2 (173.1200)	4 (175.4056)
Aug 30, 2024	Fire in the Foothills BBQ Festival 🏅 King, NC	14 / 28 (678.7888)	10 (173.7144)	7 (171.9772)	18 (166.8456)	18 (166.2516)
Jul 26, 2024	Smoke on the Mountain 🏅 Galax, VA	2 / 32 (705.0972)	4 (178.8572)	4 (176.5600)	15 (173.1200)	4 (176.5600)
Jun 14, 2024	Almost Heaven BBQ Bash 🏅 Buckhannon, WV	7 / 30 (683.3372)	1 (175.4172)	9 (172.5600)	13 (169.1200)	20 (166.2400)
May 3, 2024	Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1 🏅 Kannapolis, NC	1 / 45 (708.5372)	10 (175.4056)	1 (177.7144)	11 (175.4172)	1 (180)
Apr 19, 2024	Revolutionary BBQ Brawl (Day 1) 🏅 Williamsburg, VA	3 / 25 (694.2516)	4 (174.8456)	10 (171.9772)	2 (178.2972)	15 (169.1316)
Oct 28, 2023	Zom-B-Q (Day 2) 🏅 Galax, VA	9 / 17 (692.5028)	15 (170.2512)	3 (176.0116)	9 (170.8344)	7 (175.4056)
Oct 27, 2023	Nightmare before Zom-B-Q (Day 1) 🏅 Galax, VA	11 / 19 (683.3368)	15 (165.1428)	2 (178.8572)	15 (168.5256)	8 (170.8112)
Sep 9, 2023	Forks of the Buffalo BBQ Throwdown (Day 2) 🏅 Mannington, WV	7 / 11 (689.6344)	10 (169.6684)	5 (172.5716)	10 (168.5372)	2 (178.8572)
Sep 8, 2023	Forks of the Buffalo BBQ Throwdown (Day 1) 🏅 Mannington, WV	5 / 12 (687.3712)	9 (168.5484)	5 (172.5600)	9 (167.4056)	1 (178.8572)
Jul 21, 2023	Smoke on the Mountain 🏅 Galax, VA	5 / 38 (693.6456)	8 (176.5600)	24 (165.1200)	4 (178.8572)	12 (173.1084)
Jul 14, 2023	Chillin & Grillin in the Glades 🏅 Wise, VA	20 / 36 (678.1828)	11 (173.1200)	14 (170.2744)	9 (173.7028)	32 (161.0856)
Jun 2, 2023	Covington Cork & Pork Festival 🏅 Covington, VA	3 / 27 (693.0628)	20 (163.3828)	6 (170.8228)	1 (180)	1 (178.8572)
Apr 29, 2023	Revolutionary BBQ Brawl - Battle on the James (Day 2) 🏅 Williamsburg, VA	8 / 19 (683.3600)	8 (172.5600)	6 (175.4400)	16 (165.6800)	7 (169.6800)
Apr 28, 2023	Revolutionary BBQ Brawl - Battle on the James (Day 1) 🏅 Williamsburg, VA	7 / 20 (685.6228)	7 (176)	4 (174.2744)	9 (171.4056)	15 (163.9428)
Feb 24, 2023	Mission Farm's King of the Farm 🏅 Iron Station, NC	22 / 33 (670.6856)	7 (174.2628)	28 (163.9428)	24 (166.2400)	25 (166.2400)
Sep 30, 2022	Vista BBQ Competition 🏅 Altavista, VA	8 / 17 (684.4568)	1 (177.7028)	11 (167.9656)	8 (171.9656)	9 (166.8228)
Sep 23, 2022	Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge 🏅 Connelly Springs, NC	21 / 32 (673.6000)	3 (176.5600)	23 (163.4060)	28 (161.6568)	9 (171.9772)
Jul 21, 2022	Smoke on the Mountain BBQ Championship 2022 🏅 Galax, VA	7 / 25 (691.3484)	4 (175.4056)	2 (176.5600)	3 (177.7028)	16 (161.6800)
Jul 15, 2022	Chillin & Grillin in the Glades 🏅 Wise, VA	17 / 31 (684.4800)	5 (177.7028)	4 (175.4172)	22 (167.3828)	27 (163.9772)
Jun 17, 2022	Almost Heaven BBQ Bash 🏅 Roanoke, WV	5 / 20 (691.9312)	4 (173.7028)	4 (176.5600)	11 (169.1200)	7 (172.5484)
May 21, 2022	Forks of the Buffalo BBQ Throwdown - Day 2 🏅 Mannington, WV	9 / 13 (680.4456)	11 (166.2284)	7 (174.2744)	11 (168.5256)	8 (171.4172)
May 20, 2022	Forks of the Buffalo BBQ Throwdown - Day 1 🏅 Mannington, WV	4 / 14 (686.2176)	4 (174.2744)	2 (172.5716)	5 (171.9772)	8 (167.3944)
Apr 22, 2022	Downtown BBQ Throwdown 🏅 Ripley, WV	8 / 17 (675.8628)	3 (175.4056)	12 (165.0972)	3 (173.7028)	11 (161.6572)
Dec 11, 2021	River Bar Smoke Out 🏅 Goldsboro, NC	4 / 17 (334.2172)	3 (167.9772)	7 (166.2400)	—	—
Nov 12, 2021	3rd Annual KCBS World Invitational - Backyard unrated Shawnee, OK	4 / 33 (343.9544)	4 (175.4172)	11 (168.5372)	—	—
Nov 11, 2021	3rd Annual KCBS World Invitational - Ancillary unrated Shawnee, OK	—	—	—	—	—
Oct 16, 2021	Zom-B-Q-Rufus Teague 🏅 Galax, VA	7 / 15 (341.6572)	2 (175.4172)	14 (166.2400)	—	—
Oct 15, 2021	Nightmare Before Zom-B-Q-Rufus Teague 🏅 Galax, VA	1 / 15 (345.7028)	8 (170.2628)	2 (175.4400)	—	—
Sep 25, 2021	Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown at Americamps - Day 2 (BACKYARD ONLY) Ashland, VA	11 / 18 (504.4916)	11 (168.5488)	8 (170.2744)	9 (165.6684)	—
Sep 24, 2021	Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown at Americamps - Day 1 (BACKYARD ONLY) Ashland, VA	2 / 19 (506.7656)	11 (167.9656)	2 (170.8228)	6 (167.9772)	—
Aug 28, 2021	Dirty Boots BBQ and Meat Contest - Day 2 Boonsboro, MD	9 / 20 (328.5372)	9 (163.9772)	9 (164.5600)	—	—
Aug 27, 2021	Dirty Boots BBQ and Meat Contest - Day 1 Boonsboro, MD	4 / 24 (347.4284)	3 (176.5600)	8 (170.8684)	—	—
Jul 30, 2021	Smoke in the Grove 🏅 Spring Grove, PA	1 / 54 (343.9428)	9 (169.6800)	1 (174.2628)	7 (166.8460)	—
Jul 23, 2021	Smoke on the Mountain BBQ Championship 🏅 Galax, VA	3 / 17 (343.3712)	2 (172.5484)	3 (170.8228)	—	—
Jun 18, 2021	Almost Heaven BBQ Bash 🏅 Roanoke, WV	6 / 28 (337.6572)	4 (169.1200)	5 (168.5372)	—	—
Jun 11, 2021	City of Welch Coalfields Cook-off 🏅 Welch, WV	13 / 15 (330.2516)	4 (173.1316)	14 (157.1200)	13 (163.9656)	—
May 15, 2021	Smokin' on the Buffalo BBQ Brawl - Day 2 Mannington, WV	2 / 15 (519.3712)	4 (171.9884)	7 (168.5256)	2 (178.8572)	—
May 14, 2021	Smokin' on the Buffalo BBQ Brawl - Day 1 🏅 Mannington, WV	1 / 18 (521.0972)	1 (175.4056)	2 (170.2744)	1 (175.4172)	—
Apr 17, 2021	Interstate BBQ Festival - Day 2 🏅 Hagerstown, MD	4 / 34 (340.5256)	9 (169.6684)	4 (170.8572)	—	—
Apr 16, 2021	Interstate BBQ Festival - Day 1 🏅 Hagerstown, MD	3 / 47 (342.8228)	10 (169.6684)	2 (173.1544)	—	—
Mar 27, 2021	BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) 🏅 Urbanna, VA	1 / 40 (519.4172)	2 (172)	1 (177.7372)	7 (169.6800)	—
Mar 26, 2021	BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) 🏅 Urbanna, VA	2 / 46 (509.6456)	1 (176.5600)	12 (165.7028)	8 (167.3828)	—
Mar 19, 2021	Rufus Teague BBQ Throwdown - Dorchester Shrine Club 🏅 Summerville, SC	3 / 26 (338.2284)	4 (165.1200)	3 (173.1084)	—	—
Nov 13, 2020	Second Annual KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Competition 🏅 unrated Mayetta, KS	1 / 94 (356)	1 (178.8572)	1 (177.1428)	—	—
Oct 30, 2020	Zom-B-Q 🏅 Wytheville, VA	18 / 33 (467.8172)	14 (162.2400)	17 (153.6344)	17 (151.9428)	—
Oct 29, 2020	The Nightmare Before Zom-B-Q 🏅 Wytheville, VA	13 / 33 (476.9484)	11 (165.6684)	10 (163.3828)	18 (147.8972)	—
Aug 8, 2020	BBQ WYTHE US DAY 2 🏅 Wythe, VA	4 / 17 (342.8000)	11 (165.0972)	1 (177.7028)	—	—
Aug 7, 2020	BBQ WYTHE US DAY 1 🏅 Wythe, VA	8 / 19 (327.8856)	6 (166.2400)	8 (161.6456)	—	—
Jul 24, 2020	Smoke in the Grove 🏅 Spring Grove, PA	6 / 59 (331.9312)	13 (163.3828)	5 (168.5484)	—	—
Oct 25, 2019	Zom-B-Q (BBQ Wythe US) 🏅 Wytheville, VA	2 / 20 (505.0512)	5 (167.4056)	1 (176)	4 (161.6456)	—
Sep 13, 2019	Bands & BBQ at the Point 🏅 Carrollton, KY	1 / 28 (647.3256)	1 (163.9884)	1 (169.7144)	1 (167.4172)	8 (146.2056)
Aug 9, 2019	Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show 🏅 Franklin, NC	2 / 29 (513.6572)	3 (170.8456)	1 (177.7144)	6 (165.0972)	—
Jun 7, 2019	Almost Heaven BBQ Bash 🏅 Roanoke, WV	10 / 31 (303.9084)	6 (158.2284)	10 (145.6800)	—	—
Apr 27, 2019	New Jersey KnoQ-out CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES 🏅 Blairstown, NJ	43 / 43 (463.3140)	28 (159.4284)	41 (146.8000)	27 (157.0856)	—
Sep 21, 2018	Butts and Beans BBQ Challenge Newton, NC	40 / 45 (621.0172)	30 (161.6916)	39 (152.5028)	37 (157.6684)	41 (149.1544)
Mar 10, 2018	White Street Barbeque Experience (BACKYARD ONLY) Wake Forest, NC	—	—	—	—	—
Sep 22, 2017	Butts and Beans BBQ Challenge Newton, NC	—	—	—	—	—

An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.

Bowmans Butt & BBQ

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Best top-10 run

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Backyard avg

Backyard (3-meat) avg

Backyard (4-meat) avg

Storylines (19 found in their record)

The heartbreaker

Among the elite

Perfect scores on the board

Against the odds

Giant slayer

Happy hunting ground

Multi-meat days

They almost always walk

High-water mark

State champions

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The drought

A strong matchup

They cook the hard rooms

Looking over their shoulder

A July team

The long haul

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

By meat

By field size and state

By contest size

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

More numbers

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — 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

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)