Giant slayer
39
teams beaten in one weekend
Took the Grand Championship over a 39-team field at Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival.
- May 31, 2024
Blackjack bbq
Blackjack bbq is a competition barbecue team with 15 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2026. They have won 1 Grand Championship, at the Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival (2024). They are ranked #5013 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “Black Jack BBQ”.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1463
peak 1463 · rated over 12 contests3 invitational or side-series contests not counted
Contests
15
in the data
First seen
Aug 17, 2013
latest Sep 18, 2026 · 13.1 years on the trail
Grand champs
1
0 reserve · wins it all 7% of the time
Category wins
1
3 podiums
Overall top-10s
3
20% of 15 contests
Avg finish
top 72%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
648.67 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 637.09 (+11.58)
Walk rate
33%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±20.34
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 160.93 · weakest Brisket (156.70)
Road miles
2,632
across 15 mapped stops · furthest 1,749 mi
Schedule strength
57%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1573)
Purse competed for
$68K
listed at 8 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
1 🏅
won from 9 state-championship entries
Master avg
637.09 / 720
10 Master contests · 0 GCs
Backyard avg
331.95 / 360
2 Backyard contests · 1 GC
These overall scores sit on different scales (Master out of 720, Backyard out of 360), 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.
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 ↗ | Backyard | #234 (141 pts) | #254 (121 pts) | #170 (261 pts) | — | — |
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #1065 (60 pts) | #1141 (60 pts) | #1203 (60 pts) | #1111 (60 pts) | #1102 (60 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #657 (228 pts) | #731 (223 pts) | #728 (248 pts) | #676 (238 pts) | #724 (203 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Backyard | #188 (259 pts) | #221 (209 pts) | #230 (209 pts) | — | — |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #878 (120 pts) | #977 (120 pts) | #1021 (120 pts) | #938 (120 pts) | #922 (120 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to Blackjack bbq, each with one reason worth a look.
129 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#5,026 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 17%
- Peak
- 1462
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 12 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careers#5,009 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1463
Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 7 years before Blackjack bbq's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#5,007 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1463
Careers of much the same size, 11 contests to 15, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careers#4,999 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 9%
- Peak
- 1463
Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.
⚔ Compare careers#4,995 of the rated field
- Contests
- 14
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1463
14 contests and no Grand Championship yet.
⚔ Compare careers#5,030 of the rated field
- Contests
- 10
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 10%
- Peak
- 1462
Level with Blackjack bbq on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | 8 | 2 | 6 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| LADY OF Q | 8 | 2 | 6 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKE HOUND BBQ | 8 | 2 | 6 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| Porterhouse BBQ | 8 | 2 | 6 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| Meat Candy Q | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| SoCal Outlaw BBQ | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| The Brisket Brothers | 7 | 2 | 5 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| ONE PIT WONDER | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| Burnin and Lootin | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| IN FLAMMA, BULL! | 6 | 5 | 1 | 83% | ⚔ compare |
| Fire Breathin' Bros | 6 | 3 | 3 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| STEVO'S BBQ TEAM | 6 | 1 | 4 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| B' Mackin BBQ | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 15 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 171.9884 | 146.3088 | 160.93 | top 64% |
| Pork Ribs | 15 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 174.2972 | 139.3712 | 160.21 | top 66% |
| Pork | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 165.1316 | 149.6456 | 158.66 | top 82% |
| Brisket | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 164.5372 | 147.3372 | 156.70 | top 83% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 2 | 0 | top 69% |
| Medium (20–39) | 12 | 1 | top 71% |
| Large (40+) | 1 | 0 | top 88% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBQ, Boots & Brew | 2 | 19 | 0 | top 80% | Apr 11, 2025 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2025
3 contests
Contests a season
1.5
across 10 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
CA
11 of 15 contests · 3 states in all
Contests visited
14
1 of them more than once
First title
May 31, 2024
Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival
Opponents faced
282
finished ahead 141 times, behind 329
Longest layoff
4 yrs
Sep 29, 2017 → Oct 8, 2021
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20264 milestones
- Career-best overall score658.2060 The Golden State Battle VIII
- First category win (Pork Ribs) 22nd Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest
- Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)174.2972 22nd Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest
- Most recent contest 22nd Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest
20245 milestones
- First overall podium Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival
- First Grand Championship Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival
- First state championship Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival
- Biggest field won (39 teams) Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival
- 10th tracked contest 20th Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest
20231 milestone
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score653.5884 19th Annual Burnt Offering BBQ Contest (COMPETITOR SERIES)
20221 milestone
- First overall top-10 The 18th Annual Burnt Offering BBQ Contest (COMPETITORS SERIES)
20133 milestones
- First tracked contest BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway
- First call BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway
- Peak power rating (1492) BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +19.1 | Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival | May 31, 2024 |
| +11.4 | 22nd Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest | Sep 18, 2026 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -12 | Smokin' Hot Cars & BBQ at the Allen County Fair | Jul 25, 2014 |
| -8.3 | BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway | Aug 17, 2013 |
| -8 | 21st Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest | Sep 12, 2025 |
| -7.9 | Rim County BBQ Classic and Testicle Festival | Sep 29, 2017 |
| -7.5 | 20th Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest | Jun 28, 2024 |
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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 50% | top 55% | 91.4% | 90.5% |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 76% | 90.9% | 90% |
| 2024 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 33% | top 58% | 94.9% | 91.2% |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 75% | 90.8% | 90.8% |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | top 80% | 85.5% | 85.5% |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 58% | 87.8% | 87.8% |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 89% | 82.1% | 82.1% |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 84% | 89.4% | 89.4% |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 95% | 84% | 84% |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 84% | 89.3% | 89.3% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2026 | 22nd Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest 🏅 Riverside, CA | 7 / 31 (322.2288) | 9 (147.9316) | 1 (174.2972) | — | — |
| Jan 30, 2026 | The Golden State Battle VIII 🏅 Riverside, CA | 36 / 41 (658.2060) | 35 (161.0972) | 35 (163.3944) | — | 30 (164) |
| Sep 12, 2025 | 21st Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest 🏅 Riverside, CA | 31 / 35 (654.2284) | 29 (167.4056) | 31 (162.2400) | 30 (164.5828) | 32 (160) |
| May 30, 2025 | Horse Town Brew n Que Festival (Day 1) 🏅 Norco, CA | 18 / 27 (643.3144) | 17 (163.4056) | 15 (169.1544) | 16 (163.4172) | 22 (147.3372) |
| Apr 11, 2025 | BBQ, Boots & Brew 🏅 Perris, CA | 19 / 26 (645.4972) | 21 (163.9428) | 18 (161.6800) | 19 (160.5144) | 20 (159.3600) |
| Jun 28, 2024 | 20th Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest 🏅 Riverside, CA | 29 / 35 (642.1260) | 30 (165.0972) | 33 (155.3944) | 27 (165.1316) | 30 (156.5028) |
| May 31, 2024 | Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival 🏅 Norco, CA | 1 / 39 (341.6800) | 3 (170.2628) | 3 (171.4172) | — | — |
| Apr 12, 2024 | BBQ Boots & Brew 🏅 Perris, CA | 34 / 39 (644.4688) | 30 (164) | 32 (158.8572) | 36 (159.9544) | 34 (161.6572) |
| Oct 20, 2023 | 19th Annual Burnt Offering BBQ Contest (COMPETITOR SERIES) unrated Riverside, CA | 15 / 20 (653.5884) | 12 (164) | 17 (155.9428) | — | — |
| Oct 7, 2022 | The 18th Annual Burnt Offering BBQ Contest (COMPETITORS SERIES) 🏅 unrated Riverside, CA | 8 / 10 (615.2800) | 6 (157.1200) | 5 (156.5600) | — | — |
| Oct 8, 2021 | 17th Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest (COMPETITORS SERIES) unrated Riverside, CA | 11 / 19 (631.9540) | 12 (156.5484) | 9 (160.0228) | 15 (155.4056) | — |
| Sep 29, 2017 | Rim County BBQ Classic and Testicle Festival Payson, AZ | 32 / 36 (591.2112) | 32 (147.9772) | 34 (139.3712) | 30 (149.6456) | 27 (154.2172) |
| Sep 9, 2016 | Derby BBQ Festival Derby, KS | 32 / 38 (643.9320) | 20 (166.8800) | 33 (155.3948) | 34 (157.1200) | 27 (164.5372) |
| Jul 25, 2014 | Smokin' Hot Cars & BBQ at the Allen County Fair Iola, KS | 20 / 21 (605.1092) | 21 (146.3088) | 16 (158.2744) | 20 (151.3944) | 20 (149.1316) |
| Aug 17, 2013 | BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway Kansas City, KS | 26 / 31 (642.8228) | 9 (171.9884) | 22 (161.1544) | 25 (159.4056) | 29 (150.2744) |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.