Pop's Smoke on the Hill

Pop's Smoke on the Hill is a competition barbecue team with 28 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2014 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 3rd of 37 at The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival (2020). They are ranked #2158 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#2,158

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1532

peak 1532 · rated over 24 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Apr 4, 2014

latest Apr 17, 2026 · 12 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#904

Master 2014 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

7 podiums

Overall top-10s

25% of 28 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s, still running

Avg finish

top 53%

overall standings

Best overall

698.2400 / 720

Master · The Downtown BBQ Showdown

Perfect 180s

1 🔥

Current form

686.67 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 660.82 (+25.85)

Walk rate

50%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

180 🔥

Pork · Smoketember Fest

Consistency

±28.47

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 166.34 · weakest Brisket (161.99)

Road miles

4,261

across 28 mapped stops · furthest 628 mi

Schedule strength

51%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1566)

Purse competed for

$169K

listed at 13 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 15 state-championship entries

Master avg

660.82 / 720

21 Master contests · 0 GCs

Backyard avg

312.26 / 360

2 Backyard contests · 0 GCs

Backyard (4-meat) avg

658.21 / 720

1 Backyard (4-meat) contest · 0 GCs

These overall scores sit on different scales (Master out of 720, Backyard out of 360, 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 (11 found in their record)

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

Perfect scores on the board

1 perfect 180

1 perfect 180 in the data — every judge at the table handing back a nine, all in pork.

Pork ×1

High-water mark

698.2400 career-best overall

97.0% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 698.2400 at The Downtown BBQ Showdown — 97.0% of a perfect 720.

Master
Apr 17, 2026

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

MAYA JANE BBQ CO. has finished one call ahead of Pop's Smoke on the Hill 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2022 their best year

2022 was the year it came together: 3 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 39%.

3 contests
1 overall top-10
0 category wins
average top 39%

A tough matchup

10–3 behind in the head-to-head

YES, DEAR BBQ ahead in 77% of their meetings

YES, DEAR BBQ has come out ahead in 10 of their 13 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.3 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.34 points below their pork ribs, and turns into a call 18% of the time against 32%.

Brisket avg 161.99
Pork Ribs avg 166.34
4 calls in 22 entries

A strong matchup

8–2 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 80% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of K & E's Little Smokers in 8 of their 10 shared contests.

Show 4 more storylines

The comeback

1.7 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 1.7 years, then back at The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival (Oct 11, 2019).

last seen Jan 26, 2018
back Oct 11, 2019

Pork Ribs nemesis

9 of 13 shared pork ribs entries lost

YES, DEAR BBQ ahead 69% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, YES, DEAR BBQ has out-cooked them in 9 of 13 shared pork ribs entries.

An October team

Top 42% average finish in October

Something about October: average finish in the top 42% across 6 contests, versus top 53% the rest of the year.

6 October contests
top 53% the rest of the year

The long haul

4,261 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 4,261 miles across 28 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 628 miles to MD State BBQ Bash, Presented by Mars Super Markets.

28 mapped stops
furthest 628 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
2021 ↗	Master	#1170 (76 pts)	#1104 (106 pts)	#1577 (56 pts)	#848 (156 pts)	#1165 (81 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#904 (362 pts)	#882 (407 pts)	#774 (472 pts)	#932 (382 pts)	#873 (392 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Pop's Smoke on the Hill, each with one reason worth a look.

85 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.

FIRE & SPICE

#2,166 of the rated field

1532 power rating

Contests: 26
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 38%
Peak: 1621

They've been 1621 at their best, 89 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 26 contests
last seen Jun 25, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

LONGBONE BBQ

#2,160 of the rated field

1532 power rating

Contests: 27
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 15%
Peak: 1544

Their last contest in the data was back in 2017, 9 years before Pop's Smoke on the Hill's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 27 contests

⚔ Compare careers

Pork Bombin BBQ

#2,156 of the rated field

1532 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 15%
Peak: 1536

Careers of much the same size, 20 contests to 28, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 20 contests
last seen Sep 18, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

SMOKING ACES BBQ SWEDEN

#2,174 of the rated field

1532 power rating

Contests: 21
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 29%
Peak: 1544

21 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 29% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 20 contests
last seen Aug 22, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

BEND OF THE RIVER BBQ

#2,148 of the rated field

1533 power rating

Contests: 33
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 24%
Peak: 1580

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2014.

rated over 33 contests
last seen May 31, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

ONE PIT WONDER

#2,170 of the rated field

1532 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 33%
Peak: 1549

Level with Pop's Smoke on the Hill on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 17 contests
last seen Sep 18, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
YES, DEAR BBQ	13	3	10	23%	⚔ compare
MAYA JANE BBQ CO.	11	3	8	27%	⚔ compare
K & E's Little Smokers	10	8	2	80%	⚔ compare
SMOKE SHOW MAFIA	9	3	6	33%	⚔ compare
Quenut BBQ	8	6	2	75%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS	8	6	2	75%	⚔ compare
QMEISTERS	8	5	3	63%	⚔ compare
ELITE BBQ SMOKERS	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare
Uncle Kenny's Take-Away	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare
Mad Dog BBQ	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
PeachCoast BBQ	7	7	0	100%	⚔ compare
COOL HAND QUE	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
Smoke Central BBQ	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
Backwoods BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	24	6	3	177.7144	148.5028	164.76	top 53%
Pork Ribs	25	8	1	175.4288	142.8572	166.34	top 43%
Pork	22	6	2	180 🔥	152.5256	166.11	top 51%
Brisket	22	4	1	177.7028	135.4056	161.99	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 field size and state

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	16	0	top 53%
Large (40+)	8	0	top 53%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
GA	12	top 44%
FL	6	top 51%
VA	4	top 70%
SC	1	top 91%
MD	1	top 65%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival	6	3	top 42%	Oct 3, 2025
The Downtown BBQ Showdown	2	8	top 47%	Apr 17, 2026
Smoketember Fest	2	15	top 59%	Sep 15, 2023

More numbers

Busiest season 2014 6 contests

Contests a season 2.3 across 12 seasons in the data

Most contests held in GA 14 of 28 contests · 5 states in all

Contests visited 17 3 of them more than once

Most-entered meat Pork Ribs 25 entries · 0 wins · 8 calls

Opponents faced 534 finished ahead 431 times, behind 476

Longest layoff 1.7 yrs Jan 26, 2018 → Oct 11, 2019

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

20263 milestones

Apr 17 Career-best overall score698.2400 The Downtown BBQ Showdown
Apr 17 Peak power rating (1532) The Downtown BBQ Showdown
Apr 17 Most recent contest The Downtown BBQ Showdown

20251 milestone

Mar 21 25th tracked contest Okefenokee Smoke (formerly Swamptown Showdown)

20221 milestone

Sep 16 First perfect 180 (Pork) Smoketember Fest

20191 milestone

Oct 11 First overall podium The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival

20163 milestones

Mar 11 First overall past 90% of a perfect score663.3372 Flames on the Flint (GBC Qualifier)
Jun 10 First overall top-10 Fitzgerald Pig Pickin
Jul 29 10th tracked contest Smoke on the Shrine Lake & Bluesgrass Festival

20142 milestones

Apr 4 First tracked contest Rockahock's Pickin' and Pullin' Festival
May 16 First call Chesapeake Jubilee

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+17.4	The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival	Oct 9, 2020
+16.1	The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival	Oct 11, 2019
+14.6	Okefenokee Smoke (formerly Swamptown Showdown)	Mar 21, 2025
+12.5	The Downtown BBQ Showdown	Apr 17, 2026
+9.5	Southern Sunshine BBQ Fest	Jan 7, 2022

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-9.4	Smoke on the Shrine Lake & Bluesgrass Festival	Jul 29, 2016
-9.4	Covington Cork & Pork Festival	Jun 27, 2014
-9	Grills Gone Wild	Feb 9, 2024
-8	The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival (GBC Qualifier)	Oct 7, 2016
-6.5	The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival	Oct 8, 2021

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	Top-10s	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2026	2	1	50%	top 20%	97%	97%
2025	2	2	100%	top 25%	96.4%	96.3%
2024	2	0	0%	top 68%	93.8%	93.6%
2023	4	0	50%	top 59%	94.8%	93.8%
2022	3	1	100%	top 39%	95.2%	93.9%
2021	1	0	100%	top 77%	92.6%	92.6%
2020	1	1	100%	top 8%	91.7%	91.7%
2019	1	1	100%	top 11%	81.7%	81.7%
2018	1	0	0%	—	—	—
2016	4	1	50%	top 67%	92.6%	91.3%
2015	1	0	0%	—	—	—
2014	6	0	17%	top 69%	86.6%	85.4%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Apr 17, 2026	The Downtown BBQ Showdown 🏅 Lake City, FL	8 / 41 (698.2400)	3 (177.7144)	18 (171.4172)	9 (176)	14 (173.1084)
Apr 17, 2026	The Downtown BBQ Showdown (ONE MEAT RIBS) Lake City, FL	—	—	16 (170.8344)	—	—
Oct 3, 2025	The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival 🏅 Lyons, GA	10 / 32 (693.0744)	24 (168.5256)	6 (175.4288)	4 (177.7028)	18 (171.4172)
Mar 21, 2025	Okefenokee Smoke (formerly Swamptown Showdown) 🏅 Waycross, GA	5 / 26 (694.2172)	3 (177.7144)	19 (168.5372)	14 (171.4056)	3 (176.5600)
Feb 9, 2024	Grills Gone Wild 🏅 Davenport, FL	24 / 28 (672.4572)	21 (168.5372)	14 (173.1200)	26 (163.3828)	19 (167.4172)
Jan 4, 2024	8th Annual Jimmy Jam BBQ Slam & Car Show 🏅 Elkton, FL	22 / 43 (675.3716)	36 (162.2516)	16 (173.7144)	20 (170.8456)	18 (168.5600)
Oct 6, 2023	The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival 🏅 Lyons, GA	11 / 29 (682.7660)	20 (165.1088)	13 (171.4172)	8 (174.2744)	12 (171.9656)
Sep 15, 2023	Smoketember Fest 🏅 Baxley, GA	17 / 25 (677.0172)	22 (165.0972)	7 (173.1200)	17 (167.9656)	9 (170.8344)
Apr 14, 2023	The Downtown BBQ Showdown 🏅 Lake City, FL	24 / 32 (664.4228)	19 (170.8344)	20 (166.2516)	26 (164.5484)	24 (162.7884)
Feb 3, 2023	Budweiser Smoke on the Water 🏅 Winter Haven, FL	26 / 47 (677.6456)	15 (174.2744)	15 (173.1084)	15 (172.5828)	40 (157.6800)
Sep 16, 2022	Smoketember Fest 🏅 Baxley, GA	15 / 30 (685.6000)	14 (170.8228)	7 (173.1316)	2 (180)	22 (161.6456)
Aug 5, 2022	Swine At the Shrine 🏅 Savannah, GA	24 / 49 (683.9200)	32 (168.5600)	31 (170.2744)	32 (167.3828)	5 (177.7028)
Jan 7, 2022	Southern Sunshine BBQ Fest 🏅 Lake Wales, FL	5 / 29 (658.2056)	8 (162.2400)	7 (158.8116)	2 (169.7256)	4 (167.4284)
Oct 8, 2021	The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival 🏅 Lyons, GA	20 / 26 (666.6856)	14 (169.6800)	24 (159.3600)	7 (173.1200)	19 (164.5256)
Oct 9, 2020	The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival 🏅 Lyons, GA	3 / 37 (330.2396)	4 (163.4056)	3 (166.8340)	—	—
Oct 11, 2019	The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival 🏅 Lyons, GA	3 / 27 (294.2744)	3 (151.4172)	6 (142.8572)	—	—
Jan 26, 2018	Lakeland Pig Festival Lakeland, FL	—	—	—	—	—
Oct 7, 2016	The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival (GBC Qualifier) Lyons, GA	23 / 26 (651.2572)	13 (167.3828)	15 (165.6916)	23 (157.6800)	24 (160.5028)
Jul 29, 2016	Smoke on the Shrine Lake & Bluesgrass Festival Summerville, SC	20 / 22 (648.4572)	12 (169.6800)	6 (172.0344)	21 (152.5256)	20 (154.2172)
Jun 10, 2016	Fitzgerald Pig Pickin Fitzgerald, GA	10 / 26 (666.7084)	15 (165.0972)	7 (171.9656)	13 (166.2284)	15 (163.4172)
Mar 11, 2016	Flames on the Flint (GBC Qualifier) Bainbridge, GA	44 / 89 (663.3372)	28 (169.1316)	12 (172.5600)	27 (167.9772)	76 (153.6684)
Oct 9, 2015	The Real Squeal (GBC Qualifier) Lyons, GA	—	—	—	—	—
Oct 10, 2014	The Real Squeal: Lyons Barbeque & Music Festival (GBC & SBBQA Qualifier) Lyons, GA	—	—	—	—	—
Aug 22, 2014	VA BBQ Championships Hampton, VA	27 / 43 (605.6572)	32 (148.5484)	15 (158.8572)	24 (156.5600)	36 (141.6916)
Aug 8, 2014	MD State BBQ Bash, Presented by Mars Super Markets Bel Air, MD	35 / 54 (615.8856)	42 (154.2628)	29 (158.2856)	26 (157.6572)	42 (145.6800)
Jun 27, 2014	Covington Cork & Pork Festival Covington, VA	23 / 26 (623.8288)	22 (155.3944)	20 (156.5488)	25 (153.6344)	20 (158.2512)
May 16, 2014	Chesapeake Jubilee Chesapeake, VA	18 / 32 (610.8004)	10 (160.0116)	19 (155.9888)	13 (159.3944)	27 (135.4056)
Apr 4, 2014	Rockahock's Pickin' and Pullin' Festival Lanexa, VA	29 / 41 (619.9088)	38 (148.5028)	15 (158.2744)	32 (153.7372)	15 (159.3944)

Pop's Smoke on the Hill

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 (4-meat) avg

Storylines (11 found in their record)

Perfect scores on the board

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Pork Ribs nemesis

An October 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)