FAT BEAR BBQ

FAT BEAR BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 17 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 8th of 28 at the Smoke on the Falls (2017). They are ranked #5491 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#5,491

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1451

peak 1451 · rated over 17 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Apr 12, 2013

latest Apr 3, 2026 · 13 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#1020

Master 2026 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

4 podiums

Overall top-10s

6% of 17 contests

Avg finish

top 75%

overall standings

Best overall

682.7888 / 720

Master · Smoke on the Falls

Perfect 180s

Current form

646.07 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 651.09 (-5.02)

Walk rate

47%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

177.1544

Pork · Smoke on the Falls

Consistency

±13.70

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 168.22 · weakest Brisket (156.68)

Road miles

377

across 17 mapped stops · furthest 71 mi

Schedule strength

54%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1569)

Purse competed for

$56K

listed at 5 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 7 state-championship entries

Master avg

651.09 / 720

17 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (9 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

682.7888 career-best overall

94.8% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 682.7888 at Smoke on the Falls — 94.8% of a perfect 720.

Master
Apr 7, 2017

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

HI TECH REDNECK has finished one call ahead of FAT BEAR BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2014 their best year

2014 was the year it came together: 3 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 2 category wins, at an average finish in the top 62%.

3 contests
0 overall top-10s
2 category wins
average top 62%

A tough matchup

14–0 behind in the head-to-head

Organizer Portal ahead in 100% of their meetings

Organizer Portal has come out ahead in 14 of their 14 shared contests.

The weak link

−11.5 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 11.54 points below their pork, and turns into a call 0% of the time against 35%.

Brisket avg 156.68
Pork avg 168.22
0 calls in 17 entries

The comeback

2 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2 years, then back at Smoke on the Falls (Apr 3, 2026).

last seen Apr 12, 2024
back Apr 3, 2026

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON has landed one call behind them 2 times.

Show 2 more storylines

The metronome

±1.90% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.90% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 90.4% of a perfect score
17 contests

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked Smoke on the Falls every year from 2017 to 2020 — the contest they never miss.

9 visits in all
best finish 8th

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	#1020 (60 pts)	#1093 (60 pts)	#1125 (70 pts)	#994 (85 pts)	#1051 (60 pts)
2024 ↗	Master	#1499 (56 pts)	#1539 (56 pts)	#1014 (121 pts)	#905 (131 pts)	#1504 (56 pts)
2023 ↗	Master	#1255 (60 pts)	#1319 (60 pts)	#1432 (60 pts)	#1287 (60 pts)	#1296 (60 pts)
2022 ↗	Master	#1601 (59 pts)	#1610 (59 pts)	#1656 (59 pts)	#795 (209 pts)	#1612 (59 pts)
2021 ↗	Master	#1236 (60 pts)	#1252 (70 pts)	#1309 (60 pts)	#717 (210 pts)	#1245 (60 pts)
2020 ↗	Master	#1117 (53 pts)	#1121 (53 pts)	#908 (63 pts)	#1100 (58 pts)	#812 (88 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#1955 (60 pts)	#2538 (55 pts)	#2538 (55 pts)	#1761 (105 pts)	#2529 (55 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1954 (60 pts)	#2012 (60 pts)	#1996 (60 pts)	#1569 (125 pts)	#1990 (60 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1272 (213 pts)	#1686 (143 pts)	#1229 (263 pts)	#1019 (353 pts)	#1524 (178 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#2140 (80 pts)	#2318 (65 pts)	#1462 (200 pts)	#1212 (275 pts)	#2921 (55 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#2713 (59 pts)	#2134 (74 pts)	#2128 (74 pts)	#2127 (79 pts)	#2741 (59 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1219 (235 pts)	#1363 (220 pts)	#891 (410 pts)	#792 (470 pts)	#1353 (220 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#1607 (138 pts)	#1164 (248 pts)	#1812 (123 pts)	#1236 (223 pts)	#1763 (123 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to FAT BEAR BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

JT'S SMOKE SHACK

#5,500 of the rated field

1451 power rating

Contests: 25
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 12%
Peak: 1525

1–5 in 7 shared contests (14% to FAT BEAR BBQ)

These two have cooked 7 of the same contests — JT'S SMOKE SHACK ahead 5–1 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 25 contests
last seen Jun 5, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

Secondhand Smoke

#5,505 of the rated field

1451 power rating

Contests: 49
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 12%
Peak: 1451

1–2 in 3 shared contests (33% to FAT BEAR BBQ)

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 46 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 46 contests
last seen Sep 11, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

Big Alz BBQ

#5,488 of the rated field

1451 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1451

Careers of much the same size, 18 contests to 17, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 17 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

92 - BBQ

#5,503 of the rated field

1451 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1510

16 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 6% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 16 contests
last seen Jul 19, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

PPF BBQ

#5,494 of the rated field

1451 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 7%
Peak: 1451

They turned up 7 years after FAT BEAR BBQ did, first appearing in 2020.

rated over 15 contests
last seen May 17, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

SHIRTS ON FIRE BBQ

#5,485 of the rated field

1451 power rating

Contests: 23
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1451

Level with FAT BEAR BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 23 contests
last seen Mar 20, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
Organizer Portal	14	0	14	0%	⚔ compare
JIGGY PIGGY	12	0	12	0%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON	11	8	3	73%	⚔ compare
South Pork	10	1	9	10%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN BUTT CREW	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
Circle W Meats	8	5	3	63%	⚔ compare
The Specialists	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
Rub'd -N- Smoke	7	7	0	100%	⚔ compare
SMOKE OF THE SHOALS	7	4	3	57%	⚔ compare
Pork Life	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
JT'S SMOKE SHACK	7	1	5	14%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
CHOOCHOO BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
DANG GOOD BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
LEE LA Q	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	17	1	0	0	172.5714	154.8000	163.52	top 75%
Pork Ribs	17	3	1	1	175.4172	145.6344	162.67	top 65%
Pork	17	6	3	3	177.1544	150.2172	168.22	top 42%
Brisket	17	0	0	0	169.1200	146.1944	156.68	top 82%

“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 77%
Large (40+)	1	0	top 55%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
AL	16	0	top 76%
GA	1	0	top 59%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Smoke on the Falls	9	8	0	top 78%	Apr 3, 2026

More numbers

Busiest season 2014 3 contests

Contests a season 1.3 across 13 seasons in the data

Most contests held in AL 16 of 17 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 9 1 of them more than once

Opponents faced 434 finished ahead 257 times, behind 614

Longest layoff 2 yrs Apr 12, 2024 → Apr 3, 2026

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

20261 milestone

Apr 3 Most recent contest Smoke on the Falls

20181 milestone

Apr 13 10th tracked contest Smoke on the Falls

20173 milestones

Apr 7 First overall top-10 Smoke on the Falls
Apr 7 Career-best overall score682.7888 Smoke on the Falls
Apr 7 Career-best single call (Pork)177.1544 Smoke on the Falls

20141 milestone

Apr 11 First category win (Pork) Smoke on the Falls Noccalula BBQ Fest

20134 milestones

Apr 12 First tracked contest Smoke on the Falls
Apr 12 First call Smoke on the Falls
Apr 12 Peak power rating (1494) Smoke on the Falls
Jun 7 First overall past 90% of a perfect score653.1420 Covered Bridge 'Que (GBC Qualifier)

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+13.2	Smoke on the Falls	Apr 7, 2017
+2.4	Smoke on the Falls	Apr 8, 2022
+0.6	Cotton Pickin' BBQ Cookoff	May 16, 2014
+0.5	20th Annual Decatur Jaycee's Riverfest	Sep 19, 2014

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-9.7	Smoke on the Falls	Apr 12, 2024
-8.6	Smoke on the Falls	Apr 3, 2026
-7.1	Barber Q Battle (PRO/MASTER AND BACKYARD)	May 19, 2017
-6.9	Smoke on the Falls	Apr 7, 2023
-5.8	Smoke on the Falls	Apr 10, 2015

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	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2026	1	0	0	0%	top 86%	92.2%	92.2%
2024	1	0	0	100%	top 90%	90.7%	90.7%
2023	1	0	0	0%	top 92%	86.3%	86.3%
2022	1	0	0	100%	top 74%	89.2%	89.2%
2021	1	0	0	100%	top 87%	90.3%	90.3%
2020	1	0	0	0%	top 93%	88.2%	88.2%
2019	1	0	0	0%	top 80%	87.4%	87.4%
2018	1	0	0	0%	top 87%	90.5%	90.5%
2017	2	1	1	50%	top 58%	94.8%	93.4%
2016	1	0	1	100%	top 76%	90.9%	90.9%
2015	1	0	0	0%	top 82%	91.3%	91.3%
2014	3	0	2	67%	top 62%	91.9%	91.1%
2013	2	0	0	50%	top 65%	90.7%	90.2%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Apr 3, 2026	Smoke on the Falls 🏅 Gadsden, AL	31 / 36 (663.8172)	28 (168.5372)	23 (169.6800)	20 (170.8228)	35 (154.7772)
Apr 12, 2024	Smoke on the Falls 🏅 Gadsden, AL	28 / 31 (652.9832)	29 (154.8000)	12 (171.4288)	10 (173.1200)	30 (153.6344)
Apr 7, 2023	Smoke on the Falls 🏅 Gadsden, AL	36 / 39 (621.4172)	33 (160.5028)	36 (155.9200)	38 (150.2172)	34 (154.7772)
Apr 8, 2022	Smoke on the Falls 🏅 Gadsden, AL	25 / 34 (642.0800)	28 (161.6572)	33 (155.3828)	4 (176.5600)	31 (148.4800)
Apr 9, 2021	Smoke on the Falls 🏅 Gadsden, AL	33 / 38 (650.0684)	23 (168.5256)	38 (145.6344)	4 (174.2628)	31 (161.6456)
Sep 18, 2020	Smoke on the Falls 🏅 Gadsden, AL	26 / 28 (635.2916)	25 (156.5144)	23 (157.1316)	24 (157.6800)	18 (163.9656)
Apr 12, 2019	Smoke on the Falls 🏅 Gadsden, AL	24 / 30 (628.9488)	26 (157.0972)	30 (151.9200)	15 (165.1200)	26 (154.8116)
Apr 13, 2018	Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL	33 / 38 (651.8856)	33 (162.8112)	28 (163.4400)	12 (169.6916)	34 (155.9428)
May 19, 2017	Barber Q Battle (PRO/MASTER AND BACKYARD) Birmingham, AL	22 / 25 (661.6236)	18 (170.2860)	18 (166.2632)	20 (165.7144)	23 (159.3600)
Apr 7, 2017	Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL	8 / 28 (682.7888)	24 (163.9428)	5 (172.5716)	1 (177.1544)	12 (169.1200)
Apr 8, 2016	Smoke on the Falls Noccalula BBQ Fest Gadsden, AL	19 / 25 (654.1256)	22 (160.4912)	4 (170.8572)	1 (176.5828)	24 (146.1944)
Apr 10, 2015	Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL	28 / 34 (657.5660)	22 (169.1200)	22 (168.5488)	21 (165.6800)	34 (154.2172)
Sep 19, 2014	20th Annual Decatur Jaycee's Riverfest Decatur, AL	41 / 75 (653.0172)	46 (163.3828)	27 (168.0344)	46 (163.9544)	55 (157.6456)
May 16, 2014	Cotton Pickin' BBQ Cookoff Hartselle, AL	15 / 26 (661.5772)	18 (161.6684)	1 (175.4172)	13 (165.1316)	18 (159.3600)
Apr 11, 2014	Smoke on the Falls Noccalula BBQ Fest Gadsden, AL	25 / 34 (653.0284)	30 (162.8572)	29 (158.2284)	1 (175.4400)	28 (156.5028)
Jun 7, 2013	Covered Bridge 'Que (GBC Qualifier) Euharlee, GA	23 / 39 (653.1420)	25 (165.1426)	27 (160.5712)	14 (169.1428)	28 (158.2854)
Apr 12, 2013	Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL	24 / 34 (645.1426)	5 (172.5714)	33 (154.2856)	16 (163.4286)	25 (154.8570)

FAT BEAR BBQ

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

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

Storylines (9 found in their record)

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

The comeback

Looking over their shoulder

The metronome

A standing appointment

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 — 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)