TAILGATE GUYS BBQ MO
Rating
1473
peak 1514
Contests
60
in the data
First seen
2019-04-26
latest 2026-04-17
Best ToY finish
#260
Master 2022
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
7
13 podiums
Overall top-10s
6
of 60 contests
Avg finish
top 62%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
3 🔥
Current form
684.72 ▲
last 5 vs career avg 668.73 (+15.99)
Walk rate
43%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±28.11
std dev of overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 169.73 · weakest Brisket (166.12)
Road miles
3479
mi across 60 mapped stops · furthest 168 mi
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
BUILDERS BBQ has finished one call ahead of TAILGATE GUYS BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
Scratch that Itch BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
GETTIN' BASTED has come out ahead in 38 of their 39 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of MY 3 SONS BARBEQUE MO in 12 of their 17 shared contests.
📅 A April team
Something about April: average finish in the top 49% across 4 contests, versus top 62% the rest of the year.
Teams like this (closest power rating, MO first)
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 52 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 180.0000 🔥 | 154.2056 | 169.73 | top 54% |
| Pork Ribs | 55 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 178.8800 | 150.2056 | 167.37 | top 58% |
| Pork | 51 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 180.0000 🔥 | 157.0744 | 168.59 | top 53% |
| Brisket | 51 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 177.7600 | 151.3372 | 166.12 | top 59% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MO | 40 | 0 | top 64% |
| KS | 8 | 0 | top 48% |
| OK | 2 | 0 | top 73% |
| AR | 1 | 0 | top 70% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 3 | 0 | top 50% |
| Medium (20–39) | 37 | 0 | top 66% |
| Large (40+) | 11 | 0 | top 52% |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2022 (12 contests)
- Cooks mostly in MO (45 of 60 contests)
- Most-entered category: Pork Ribs (55 entries)
- All-time average overall score: 668.73
- 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 671.9088 | 671.91 |
| 2025 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 690.7884 | 683.52 |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 673.0288 | 667.78 |
| 2023 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 704.5256 | 679.65 |
| 2022 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 695.9772 | 671.70 |
| 2021 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 677.0972 | 644.51 |
| 2020 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 686.2744 | 666.01 |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 673.0288 | 659.87 |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-17 | Tom Brigham Memorial BBQ Iola, KS | 21 / 27 (671.9088) | 25 (165.1200) | 8 (173.7144) | 10 (173.1200) | 24 (159.9544) |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest Kansas City, KS | 98 / 401 (689.0976) | 73 (174.8688) | 130 (171.9772) | 220 (168.5488) | 84 (173.7028) |
| 2025-10-03 | Rock Lane Presents Grills Gone Wild Branson, MO | 8 / 11 (689.0400) | 9 (171.9772) | 2 (177.7028) | 5 (173.1316) | 10 (166.2284) |
| 2025-09-26 | Smokin on the Route Miami, OK | 18 / 20 (685.6228) | 17 (169.6916) | 12 (172.5600) | 8 (173.7028) | 17 (169.6684) |
| 2025-08-15 | BBQ & Fly-In on the River Excelsior Springs, MO | 26 / 62 (687.9084) | 27 (173.1200) | 21 (171.9656) | 38 (169.1200) | 19 (173.7028) |
| 2025-07-19 | Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest and Car Show (Day 2) Osceola, MO | 22 / 28 (683.3144) | 16 (173.1200) | 9 (174.2744) | 18 (170.8344) | 26 (165.0856) |
| 2025-07-18 | Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest and Car Show (Day 1) Osceola, MO | 15 / 32 (690.7884) | 26 (167.3828) | 8 (175.4172) | 18 (171.4056) | 1 (176.5828) |
| 2025-05-16 | Tom Brigham Memorial BBQ Iola, KS | 19 / 27 (670.7316) | 22 (163.3944) | 21 (165.6800) | 20 (163.9428) | 4 (177.7144) |
| 2025-03-29 | Kickin' It Route 66 Barbecue Challenge (Day 2) St. Robert, MO | 18 / 25 (673.5540) | 15 (170.8344) | 20 (167.9656) | 14 (170.8228) | 17 (163.9312) |
| 2025-03-28 | Kickin' It Route 66 Barbecue Challenge (Day 1) St. Robert, MO | 19 / 27 (681.6228) | 17 (170.8228) | 13 (173.7028) | 15 (172.0000) | 23 (165.0972) |
| 2024-10-30 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024-10-30 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest Kansas City, KS | 249 / 444 (671.9312) | 39 (177.1428) | 240 (168.5600) | 216 (169.1084) | 361 (157.1200) |
| 2024-07-20 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 2) Osceola, MO | 31 / 33 (667.8744) | 32 (163.3944) | 26 (169.6800) | 17 (173.7144) | 32 (161.0856) |
| 2024-07-19 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 1) Osceola, MO | 35 / 37 (654.6972) | 37 (154.2056) | 30 (166.2516) | 25 (170.2628) | 32 (163.9772) |
| 2024-07-19 | Smokin on the Osage (ONE MEAT RIBS) Osceola, MO | — | — | 12 (167.3828) | — | — |
| 2024-05-17 | Give Local First - Charity BBQ Festival West Plains, MO | 7 / 17 (673.0288) | 8 (166.2400) | 9 (165.0972) | 3 (175.4288) | 7 (166.2628) |
| 2024-03-23 | Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (Day 2) St. Robert, MO | 32 / 34 (671.3832) | 27 (169.6800) | 21 (170.8344) | 4 (178.2972) | 34 (152.5716) |
| 2024-03-23 | Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (ONE MEAT RIBS) St. Robert, MO | — | — | 12 (166.8572) | — | — |
| 2023-10-28 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) Oak Grove, MO | 32 / 40 (672.4920) | 16 (176.5600) | 11 (174.2744) | 28 (166.8344) | 38 (154.8232) |
| 2023-10-28 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Oak Grove, MO | — | 15 (170.8344) | — | — | — |
| 2023-10-27 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) Oak Grove, MO | 36 / 47 (675.3256) | 38 (167.3828) | 13 (174.2744) | 36 (166.2400) | 35 (167.4284) |
| 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 | 177 / 487 (679.4284) | 114 (173.1772) | 346 (163.3828) | 307 (165.1084) | 14 (177.7600) |
| 2023-09-09 | 7th Annual Smoke on the Trails Gardner, KS | 22 / 38 (671.9428) | 22 (170.8228) | 28 (163.9772) | 21 (168.0000) | 17 (169.1428) |
| 2023-08-04 | Que' For a Cause Tahlequah, OK | 20 / 36 (683.9544) | 5 (176.5600) | 13 (170.8572) | 28 (165.6800) | 23 (170.8572) |
| 2023-07-22 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 2) Osceola, MO | 24 / 28 (666.1716) | 22 (170.2972) | 22 (166.2400) | 3 (178.2972) | 27 (151.3372) |
| 2023-07-22 | Smokin on the Osage (ONE MEAT RIBS) Osceola, MO | — | — | 25 (150.2056) | — | — |
| 2023-07-21 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 1) Osceola, MO | 14 / 31 (683.3484) | 1 (180.0000) | 18 (170.2744) | 17 (170.8228) | 25 (162.2512) |
| 2023-06-09 | Ozarks BBQ Fest Springfield, MO | 3 / 30 (704.5256) | 12 (171.9656) | 7 (176.0000) | 1 (180.0000) | 5 (176.5600) |
| 2022-10-29 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship Day 2 Oak Grove, MO | 17 / 32 (687.4060) | 9 (175.4172) | 29 (169.1200) | 17 (169.7144) | 11 (173.1544) |
| 2022-10-28 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship Oak Grove, MO | 31 / 40 (669.0400) | 15 (172.0000) | 22 (169.1200) | 35 (160.5372) | 29 (167.3828) |
| 2022-10-28 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (One Meat Ribs) Oak Grove, MO | — | — | 31 (164.5716) | — | — |
| 2022-10-01 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - SIDES Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022-09-29 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST Kansas City, KS | 225 / 505 (671.4516) | 245 (167.4400) | 224 (168.0000) | 207 (168.5944) | 201 (167.4172) |
| 2022-08-05 | Smokin on The Harbor (JUDGING FULL) Warsaw, MO | 6 / 25 (695.9772) | 1 (179.4400) | 13 (170.2628) | 1 (179.4400) | 19 (166.8344) |
| 2022-07-23 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 2) Osceola, MO | 13 / 26 (682.3316) | 3 (177.7144) | 1 (178.8800) | 16 (167.4400) | 21 (158.2972) |
| 2022-07-22 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 1) Osceola, MO | 24 / 28 (654.2288) | 5 (174.8572) | 22 (161.1200) | 26 (161.1088) | 26 (157.1428) |
| 2022-07-01 | Lowell's Smokin' In the Ozarks-Arkansas State Challenge Lowell, AR | 21 / 30 (682.1712) | 14 (171.9772) | 19 (169.6684) | 22 (166.8228) | 8 (173.7028) |
| 2022-04-22 | Ozarks BBQ Fest Springfield, MO | 11 / 31 (677.6000) | 2 (180.0000) | 19 (165.1316) | 9 (169.6684) | 18 (162.8000) |
| 2022-03-26 | Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge - Day 2 St. Robert, MO | 34 / 39 (647.8400) | 28 (165.6800) | 38 (157.0744) | 37 (157.0856) | 20 (168.0000) |
| 2022-03-25 | Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge - Day 1 St. Robert, MO | 31 / 38 (648.9600) | 12 (169.1200) | 28 (158.2172) | 34 (158.2284) | 27 (163.3944) |
| 2021-10-15 | Smokin In the Creek BBQ Contest Sugar Creek, MO | 10 / 27 (677.0972) | 12 (168.5484) | 12 (166.8344) | 6 (174.8572) | 13 (166.8572) |
| 2021-09-16 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST Kansas City, KS | 73 / 467 (492.5600) | 12 (177.1428) | 182 (168.0344) | 355 (157.7600) | 145 (168.5828) |
| 2021-08-20 | Smokin on The Harbor Warsaw, MO | 7 / 19 (653.1772) | 2 (174.8572) | 15 (154.8228) | 10 (160.0228) | 5 (163.4744) |
| 2021-07-24 | Smokin on the Osage - Day 2 Osceola, MO | 17 / 25 (669.6116) | 13 (173.7144) | 21 (161.6800) | 16 (167.9772) | 13 (166.2400) |
| 2021-07-23 | Smokin on the Osage - Day 1 Osceola, MO | 16 / 25 (670.7544) | 20 (166.2628) | 15 (165.6916) | 14 (165.0856) | 6 (173.7144) |
| 2021-04-23 | Ozarks BBQ Fest Springfield, MO | 17 / 37 (673.0284) | 24 (164.5372) | 16 (168.5256) | 13 (170.8456) | 14 (169.1200) |
| 2021-03-27 | Mother Road BBQ Competition Waynesville, MO | 24 / 32 (661.6688) | 30 (155.3944) | 15 (170.2628) | 20 (168.5716) | 20 (167.4400) |
| 2021-03-26 | Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge St. Roberts, MO | 44 / 52 (658.1832) | 50 (154.8116) | 22 (169.6800) | 42 (162.8688) | 16 (170.8228) |
| 2020-09-11 | Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge St. Roberts, MO | 24 / 26 (662.2172) | 23 (165.7028) | 18 (164.5600) | 15 (165.7144) | 21 (166.2400) |
| 2020-08-28 | Nevada Chamber Low and Slow Barbecue cook off Nevada, MO | 32 / 37 (660.0116) | 34 (165.1428) | 36 (156.5944) | 13 (173.1316) | 29 (165.1428) |
| 2020-07-18 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 2) Osceola, MO | 16 / 31 (686.2744) | 12 (175.4172) | 8 (174.8572) | 14 (172.0000) | 25 (164.0000) |
| 2020-07-17 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 1) Osceola, MO | 18 / 29 (675.3712) | 17 (173.1084) | 19 (167.4516) | 19 (166.8228) | 12 (167.9884) |
| 2020-06-19 | Ozarks BBQ Fest Springfield, MO | 21 / 26 (646.1712) | 19 (164.5600) | 25 (154.2400) | 16 (163.9656) | 14 (163.4056) |
| 2019-10-04 | Guts Glory Ram BBQ Showdown Lebanon, MO | 23 / 27 (632.3772) | 20 (161.1200) | 19 (161.6572) | 24 (157.0744) | 23 (152.5256) |
| 2019-09-21 | Bikes Boats & Bones BBQ & Steak Showdown Kimberling City, MO | 20 / 28 (673.0288) | 24 (164.5488) | 16 (167.9772) | 1 (178.8572) | 27 (161.6456) |
| 2019-08-09 | Route 66 BBQ & Steak Showdown Springfiled, MO | 13 / 25 (660.4916) | 14 (165.6800) | 17 (158.2632) | 8 (169.1084) | 11 (167.4400) |
| 2019-07-20 | Smoking on the Osage BBQ contest and Car show Osceola, MO | 13 / 27 (670.7656) | 9 (172.5484) | 16 (163.4172) | 10 (169.1200) | 15 (165.6800) |
| 2019-04-26 | Rock N Ribs BBQ Festival Springfield, MO | 14 / 40 (662.7088) | 25 (160.5144) | 8 (170.2744) | 20 (161.0972) | 8 (170.8228) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #758 (72 pts) | #1076 (52 pts) | #670 (147 pts) | #626 (127 pts) | #1011 (57 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #290 (755 pts) | #305 (740 pts) | #237 (1035 pts) | #254 (885 pts) | #211 (1035 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #486 (384 pts) | #534 (374 pts) | #405 (597 pts) | #349 (644 pts) | #524 (384 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #293 (739 pts) | #187 (1057 pts) | #282 (861 pts) | #230 (924 pts) | #318 (694 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #260 (872 pts) | #84 (1542 pts) | #261 (940 pts) | #233 (972 pts) | #276 (837 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #264 (743 pts) | #232 (853 pts) | #288 (728 pts) | #239 (808 pts) | #215 (918 pts) |
| 2020 ↗ | Master | #301 (377 pts) | #300 (417 pts) | #295 (432 pts) | #247 (512 pts) | #295 (412 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #677 (477 pts) | #761 (437 pts) | #658 (522 pts) | #500 (692 pts) | #687 (492 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #568 (624 pts) | #625 (594 pts) | #433 (839 pts) | #501 (729 pts) | #660 (559 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #1383 (181 pts) | #1545 (176 pts) | #1457 (191 pts) | #1531 (176 pts) | #982 (361 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #2274 (60 pts) | #2353 (60 pts) | #2349 (60 pts) | #2326 (60 pts) | #1749 (135 pts) |