Q/TANG CLAN

Q/TANG CLAN is a competition barbecue team with 14 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2019. Their best overall finish is 17th of 36 at the National Western BBQ Throwdown (2016). They are ranked #3602 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “Q'TANG CLAN”.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#3,602

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1491

peak 1506 · rated over 14 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Jun 14, 2013

latest Jun 14, 2019 · 6 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#1666

Master 2017 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

0 podiums

Overall top-10s

0% of 14 contests

Avg finish

top 60%

overall standings

Best overall

660.4916 / 720

Master · 26th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge

Perfect 180s

Current form

643.66 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 641.84 (+1.81)

Walk rate

21%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

171.4172

Chicken · 26th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge

Consistency

±13.88

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Brisket

avg 161.09 · weakest Pork Ribs (158.97)

Road miles

6,152

across 14 mapped stops · furthest 741 mi

Schedule strength

41%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1554)

Purse competed for

$16K

listed at 1 contest — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 1 state-championship entry

Master avg

641.84 / 720

14 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (7 found in their record)

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

A tough matchup

9–1 behind in the head-to-head

Backdraft BBQ ahead in 90% of their meetings

Backdraft BBQ has come out ahead in 9 of their 10 shared contests.

A strong matchup

7–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of CARNIVORES in 7 of their 7 shared contests.

Brisket nemesis

8 of 10 shared brisket entries lost

Backdraft BBQ ahead 80% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, Backdraft BBQ has out-cooked them in 8 of 10 shared brisket entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

PORKY'S PIT CREW has landed one call behind them 2 times.

A June team

Top 43% average finish in June

Something about June: average finish in the top 43% across 7 contests, versus top 60% the rest of the year.

7 June contests
top 60% the rest of the year

The long haul

6,152 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 6,152 miles across 14 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 741 miles to Minnesota in May.

14 mapped stops
furthest 741 mi

The metronome

±1.93% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.93% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 89.1% of a perfect score
14 contests

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
2017 ↗	Master	#1666 (130 pts)	#1945 (115 pts)	#1970 (115 pts)	#1536 (175 pts)	#1623 (155 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1775 (120 pts)	#1736 (145 pts)	#1884 (120 pts)	#1613 (175 pts)	#1839 (120 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#2158 (60 pts)	#2209 (60 pts)	#2209 (60 pts)	#2225 (60 pts)	#2214 (60 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#2084 (75 pts)	#2167 (75 pts)	#2161 (75 pts)	#2172 (75 pts)	#2148 (75 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Q/TANG CLAN, each with one reason worth a look.

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

THE ORIGINAL SMOKE TROTTERS

#3,624 of the rated field

1491 power rating

Contests: 5
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1491

4–0 in 4 shared contests (100% to Q/TANG CLAN)

These two have cooked 4 of the same contests — Q/TANG CLAN ahead 4–0 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 5 contests
last seen Jun 16, 2022

⚔ Head-to-head

DOWNHOME COOKIN & BBQ

#3,619 of the rated field

1491 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1514

Careers of much the same size, 15 contests to 14, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Oct 13, 2017

⚔ Compare careers

BUILDERS BBQ

#3,595 of the rated field

1491 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1526

They've been 1526 at their best, 35 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 13 contests
last seen Mar 24, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

HAWG HEAVEN

#3,631 of the rated field

1491 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1506

12 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Sep 27, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

FLAMIN' M&M

#3,610 of the rated field

1491 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1509

They turned up 5 years after Q/TANG CLAN did, first appearing in 2018.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Oct 29, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

BURNIN BENJAMINS

#3,618 of the rated field

1491 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1509

Level with Q/TANG CLAN on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 17 contests
last seen Jun 26, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
Backdraft BBQ	10	1	9	10%	⚔ compare
Q LIVE CREW	8	5	3	63%	⚔ compare
PORKY'S PIT CREW	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN TRIGGERS	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
PORKY BUTTS BBQ	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
CARNIVORES	7	7	0	100%	⚔ compare
1 2 BBQ	7	7	0	100%	⚔ compare
CLARENCE	7	7	0	100%	⚔ compare
Lost Weekend Grill	7	5	2	71%	⚔ compare
SHB Customs	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
Pig Floyd	6	6	0	100%	⚔ compare
SMOKE JUMPERS	6	6	0	100%	⚔ compare
WILDWOOD SMOKEHOUSE	6	6	0	100%	⚔ compare
LOS NERDS	6	4	2	67%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	14	0	171.4172	153.1200	160.71	top 62%
Pork Ribs	14	2	170.3200	139.9772	158.97	top 59%
Pork	14	0	170.8228	143.3256	161.07	top 56%
Brisket	14	1	170.3200	155.4172	161.09	top 50%

“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)	3	0	top 75%
Large (40+)	11	0	top 56%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
CO	10	0	top 49%
MN	4	0	top 87%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
National Western BBQ Throwdown	3	17	0	top 65%	Jan 6, 2017
Minnesota in May	2	51	0	top 86%	May 13, 2016

More numbers

Busiest season 2017 3 contests

Contests a season 2 across 7 seasons in the data

Most contests held in CO 10 of 14 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 11 2 of them more than once

Opponents faced 353 finished ahead 301 times, behind 426

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

20193 milestones

Jun 14 Career-best overall score660.4916 26th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge
Jun 14 Career-best single call (Chicken)171.4172 26th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge
Jun 14 Most recent contest 26th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge

20171 milestone

Jan 6 10th tracked contest National Western BBQ Throwdown

20151 milestone

Jan 9 First overall past 90% of a perfect score651.8972 National Western BBQ Throwdown

20133 milestones

Jun 14 First tracked contest Colorado Barbecue Challenge
Jun 14 First call Colorado Barbecue Challenge
Jun 14 Peak power rating (1506) Colorado Barbecue Challenge

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+7.7	24th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge	Jun 16, 2017
+6.1	Colorado Barbecue Challenge	Jun 14, 2013
+5.8	26th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge	Jun 14, 2019
+5.2	22nd Colorado BBQ Challenge	Jun 19, 2015
+5	23rd Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge	Jun 17, 2016

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-11.3	Minnesota in May	May 16, 2014
-10.9	Minnesota in May	May 15, 2015
-9.5	Minnesota in May	May 13, 2016
-9	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Jul 21, 2017
-7.4	National Western BBQ Throwdown	Jan 6, 2017

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	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2019	1	0%	top 45%	91.7%	91.7%
2018	1	0%	top 52%	89.5%	89.5%
2017	3	0%	top 71%	91.2%	88.6%
2016	3	33%	top 58%	91.4%	89.9%
2015	3	33%	top 63%	90.5%	89%
2014	2	0%	top 69%	89.7%	87.8%
2013	1	100%	top 29%	88.7%	88.7%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jun 14, 2019	26th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge 🏅 Frisco, CO	25 / 55 (660.4916)	16 (171.4172)	24 (164.5716)	28 (165.0972)	34 (159.4056)
Jun 15, 2018	25th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge Frisco, CO	32 / 62 (644.4228)	44 (155.3600)	28 (162.2628)	32 (163.9428)	18 (162.8572)
Jul 21, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Eagan, MN	27 / 30 (631.9884)	28 (154.8572)	27 (154.2628)	13 (165.1656)	23 (157.7028)
Jun 16, 2017	24th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge Frisco, CO	22 / 59 (656.4116)	28 (165.6800)	34 (159.3600)	25 (166.8344)	19 (164.5372)
Jan 6, 2017	National Western BBQ Throwdown Denver, CO	33 / 38 (624.9712)	34 (153.6456)	23 (162.3200)	37 (143.3256)	12 (165.6800)
Jun 17, 2016	23rd Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge Frisco, CO	26 / 58 (658.1596)	20 (168.5484)	36 (158.8228)	14 (170.8228)	31 (159.9656)
May 13, 2016	Minnesota in May Falcon Heights, MN	59 / 71 (630.8116)	59 (157.6800)	49 (159.4516)	54 (158.2628)	53 (155.4172)
Jan 8, 2016	National Western BBQ Throwdown Denver, CO	17 / 36 (653.1316)	19 (164.5600)	5 (170.3200)	27 (155.9544)	20 (162.2972)
Jun 19, 2015	22nd Colorado BBQ Challenge Frisco, CO	24 / 58 (650.2512)	32 (162.2628)	48 (148.5600)	12 (169.1084)	9 (170.3200)
May 15, 2015	Minnesota in May St. Paul, MN	53 / 60 (620.5944)	53 (153.1200)	46 (156.5716)	54 (154.8684)	49 (156.0344)
Jan 9, 2015	National Western BBQ Throwdown Denver, CO	24 / 40 (651.8972)	18 (167.9772)	28 (159.9884)	21 (163.3828)	24 (160.5488)
Jun 13, 2014	21st Colorado BBQ Challenge Frisco, CO	27 / 55 (646.1480)	40 (157.6684)	26 (161.6796)	18 (167.4056)	29 (159.3944)
May 16, 2014	Minnesota in May Falcon Heights, MN	51 / 58 (617.6800)	39 (158.2512)	57 (139.9772)	36 (161.1428)	37 (158.3088)
Jun 14, 2013	Colorado Barbecue Challenge Frisco, CO	20 / 68 (638.8576)	30 (158.8572)	10 (167.4290)	46 (149.7142)	12 (162.8572)

Q/TANG CLAN

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 (7 found in their record)

A tough matchup

A strong matchup

Brisket nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

A June team

The long haul

The metronome

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)