Smoke n' Things

Smoke n' Things is a competition barbecue team with 15 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2019. Their best overall finish is 11th of 36 at the McLouth BBQ Blowout 23rd Annual (2014). They are ranked #2742 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “SMOKE N THINGS” and “Smoke-N-Things”.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#2,742

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1513

peak 1521 · rated over 15 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

May 10, 2013

latest Apr 26, 2019 · 6 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#1091

Master 2014 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

3 podiums

Overall top-10s

0% of 15 contests

Avg finish

top 52%

overall standings

Best overall

667.4400 / 720

Master · McLouth BBQ Blowout 24th Annual (JUDGES FULL)

Perfect 180s

Current form

649.82 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 654.06 (-4.24)

Walk rate

67%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

177.1544

Brisket · McLouth BBQ Blowout 25th Anniversary (Judges full)

Consistency

±11.26

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 166.01 · weakest Chicken (160.24)

Road miles

992

across 15 mapped stops · furthest 145 mi

Schedule strength

31%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1542)

Purse competed for

$4,800

listed at 1 contest — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 1 state-championship entry

Master avg

654.06 / 720

15 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (10 found in their record)

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

They almost always walk

67% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 10 of 15 contests

A top-10 category call in 67% of their 15 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

667.4400 career-best overall

92.7% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 667.4400 at McLouth BBQ Blowout 24th Annual (JUDGES FULL) — 92.7% of a perfect 720.

Master
Jun 5, 2015

Their season

2013 their best year

2013 was the year it came together: 3 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 40%.

3 contests
0 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 40%

A tough matchup

8–0 behind in the head-to-head

913 BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

913 BBQ has come out ahead in 8 of their 8 shared contests.

The weak link

−5.8 points behind their best meat

Chicken is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 5.77 points below their pork ribs, and turns into a call 7% of the time against 27%.

Chicken avg 160.24
Pork Ribs avg 166.01
1 call in 15 entries

A strong matchup

6–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of JUST FOR FUN in 6 of their 6 shared contests.

Pork Ribs nemesis

6 of 7 shared pork ribs entries lost

TRUEBUD BBQ ahead 86% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, TRUEBUD BBQ has out-cooked them in 6 of 7 shared pork ribs entries.

Show 3 more storylines

A June team

Top 44% average finish in June

Something about June: average finish in the top 44% across 3 contests, versus top 52% the rest of the year.

3 June contests
top 52% the rest of the year

The metronome

±1.56% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.56% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 90.8% of a perfect score
15 contests

A standing appointment

7 years running at one contest

They've cooked Sertoma 48 BBQ every year from 2013 to 2019 — the contest they never miss.

7 visits in all
best finish 17th

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	#2057 (85 pts)	#2286 (60 pts)	#1785 (125 pts)	#2095 (90 pts)	#2030 (100 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1385 (198 pts)	#1126 (298 pts)	#1637 (168 pts)	#1175 (293 pts)	#1015 (343 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1233 (228 pts)	#1243 (243 pts)	#959 (363 pts)	#1101 (303 pts)	#1281 (228 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1091 (278 pts)	#1422 (208 pts)	#874 (418 pts)	#847 (433 pts)	#915 (368 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Smoke n' Things, each with one reason worth a look.

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

RUB N TUG BBQ

#2,740 of the rated field

1513 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1526

0–2 in 2 shared contests (0% to Smoke n' Things)

2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team Smoke n' Things has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 13 contests
last seen Oct 9, 2015

⚔ Head-to-head

Broken Toe BBQ

#2,761 of the rated field

1512 power rating

Contests: 5
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 20%
Peak: 1522

1–2 in 3 shared contests (33% to Smoke n' Things)

Their last contest in the data was back in 2015, 4 years before Smoke n' Things's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 5 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

JUST SMOKIN' AROUND

#2,763 of the rated field

1512 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1515

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 16 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 16 contests
last seen Mar 31, 2017

⚔ Compare careers

EXPOSED BONE BBQ

#2,727 of the rated field

1513 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 7%
Peak: 1513

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

rated over 14 contests
last seen Jun 23, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

3 RIVERS BBQ

#2,743 of the rated field

1513 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1520

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

rated over 17 contests
last seen Jul 10, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

BRAZEN BARREL BBQ

#2,738 of the rated field

1513 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1521

They turned up 10 years after Smoke n' Things did, first appearing in 2023.

rated over 13 contests
last seen Jul 10, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
MAD HOGS AND AN ENGLISHMAN	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
99 PROBLEMS SMOKIN AINT 1	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare
BLACK EYE BBQ	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
913 BBQ	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
PASSIONS OF THE PIT	7	4	3	57%	⚔ compare
T'S SMOKIN PIT	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
TRUEBUD BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
777 BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
JUST FOR FUN	6	6	0	100%	⚔ compare
PORK 'N MINDY	6	5	1	83%	⚔ compare
BAYOU STYLE BBQ	6	4	2	67%	⚔ compare
Evening Wood	6	4	2	67%	⚔ compare
Rub Me Tender Rub Me Sweet	6	4	2	67%	⚔ compare
PIG NEWTON	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare
Hole 'Nother Level	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	15	1	0	1	175.4400	138.1144	160.24	top 63%
Pork Ribs	15	4	0	0	173.1428	155.9428	166.01	top 43%
Pork	15	7	0	1	174.8800	152.4800	165.04	top 44%
Brisket	15	3	1	1	177.1544	145.7140	162.77	top 47%

“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)	6	0	top 46%
Large (40+)	9	0	top 56%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
KS	12	0	top 52%
MO	3	0	top 54%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Sertoma 48 BBQ	7	17	0	top 56%	Apr 26, 2019
Laurie Hillbilly BBQ	3	17	0	top 54%	Jul 31, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2015 3 contests

Contests a season 2.1 across 7 seasons in the data

Most contests held in KS 12 of 15 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 7 2 of them more than once

Opponents faced 338 finished ahead 302 times, behind 327

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

20191 milestone

Apr 26 Most recent contest Sertoma 48 BBQ

20171 milestone

May 5 Peak power rating (1521) Sertoma 48 BBQ (JUDGESFULL)

20163 milestones

May 6 10th tracked contest Sertoma 48 BBQ
Jun 3 First category win (Brisket) McLouth BBQ Blowout 25th Anniversary (Judges full)
Jun 3 Career-best single call (Brisket)177.1544 McLouth BBQ Blowout 25th Anniversary (Judges full)

20151 milestone

Jun 5 Career-best overall score667.4400 McLouth BBQ Blowout 24th Annual (JUDGES FULL)

20133 milestones

May 10 First tracked contest Sertoma 48 BBQ
May 10 First call Sertoma 48 BBQ
May 31 First overall past 90% of a perfect score662.2862 McLouth BBQ Blowout 22nd Annual

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+7.6	McLouth BBQ Blowout 22nd Annual	May 31, 2013
+6.9	McLouth BBQ Blowout 23rd Annual	Jun 6, 2014
+6.1	Laurie Hillbilly BBQ	Aug 2, 2013
+5.1	Sertoma 48 BBQ	May 6, 2016
+3.2	Sertoma 48 BBQ (JUDGESFULL)	May 5, 2017

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-6.3	Sertoma 48 BBQ	May 4, 2018
-4.1	Laurie Hillbilly BBQ	Aug 1, 2014
-3.5	Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest	Jul 14, 2017
-2.1	Laurie Hillbilly BBQ	Jul 31, 2015
-1.6	Sertoma 48 BBQ	May 8, 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	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2019	1	0	0%	top 55%	91%	91%
2018	1	0	0%	top 76%	87%	87%
2017	2	0	50%	top 58%	90.9%	90.8%
2016	2	1	100%	top 46%	92.4%	92%
2015	3	0	67%	top 57%	92.7%	91.7%
2014	3	0	67%	top 51%	92%	90.5%
2013	3	0	100%	top 40%	92%	90.8%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Apr 26, 2019	Sertoma 48 BBQ 🏅 Lawrence, KS	21 / 38 (655.2800)	16 (167.9772)	19 (166.2284)	36 (152.4800)	11 (168.5944)
May 4, 2018	Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS	31 / 41 (626.6168)	27 (161.1084)	31 (155.9428)	30 (157.0512)	30 (152.5144)
Jul 14, 2017	Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest Mayetta, KS	41 / 58 (652.4688)	24 (168.5372)	51 (156.5600)	52 (155.9200)	10 (171.4516)
May 5, 2017	Sertoma 48 BBQ (JUDGESFULL) Lawrence, KS	20 / 44 (654.7772)	37 (153.6800)	12 (169.7144)	19 (168)	17 (163.3828)
Jun 3, 2016	McLouth BBQ Blowout 25th Anniversary (Judges full) McLouth, KS	17 / 33 (659.9544)	24 (160.5484)	15 (169.1544)	29 (153.0972)	1 (177.1544)
May 6, 2016	Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS	17 / 42 (665.1428)	3 (175.4400)	25 (164.5828)	3 (174.8800)	35 (150.2400)
Jul 31, 2015	Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Laurie, MO	24 / 38 (666.2060)	31 (163.4172)	14 (170.2744)	25 (165.0972)	20 (167.4172)
Jun 5, 2015	McLouth BBQ Blowout 24th Annual (JUDGES FULL) McLouth, KS	16 / 33 (667.4400)	12 (169.1544)	8 (171.4400)	17 (164.5600)	20 (162.2856)
May 8, 2015	Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS	27 / 45 (647.3832)	35 (159.9888)	18 (165.7028)	9 (169.1544)	34 (152.5372)
Aug 1, 2014	Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Laurie, MO	31 / 47 (648.4000)	47 (138.1144)	7 (173.1428)	9 (171.4400)	20 (165.7028)
Jun 6, 2014	McLouth BBQ Blowout 23rd Annual McLouth, KS	11 / 36 (662.3200)	29 (151.4172)	7 (170.8572)	8 (167.9884)	5 (172.0572)
May 9, 2014	Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS	31 / 54 (643.8172)	53 (150.2172)	29 (161.6916)	16 (166.8228)	23 (165.0856)
Aug 2, 2013	Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Laurie, MO	17 / 51 (661.6000)	35 (160.5256)	6 (171.4172)	9 (169.7028)	29 (159.9544)
May 31, 2013	McLouth BBQ Blowout 22nd Annual McLouth, KS	11 / 37 (662.2862)	20 (160.5716)	18 (163.4288)	6 (170.8572)	13 (167.4286)
May 10, 2013	Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS	28 / 49 (637.1424)	19 (162.8570)	24 (160)	9 (168.5714)	42 (145.7140)

Smoke n' Things

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 (10 found in their record)

They almost always walk

High-water mark

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Pork Ribs nemesis

A June team

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)