Giant slayer
39
teams beaten in one weekend
Took the Grand Championship over a 39-team field at Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival.
- 2024-05-31
Blackjack bbq
At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)
Rating
1451
peak 1451 · rated over 11 contests ⓘ
Contests
14
in the data
First seen
2013-08-17
latest 2026-01-30
Best ToY finish
#188
Backyard 2024
Grand champs
1
0 reserve
Category wins
0
2 podiums
Overall top-10s
2
of 14 contests
Avg finish
top 75%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
648.67 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 637.09 (+11.58)
Walk rate
36%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±20.34
std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 161.86 · weakest Brisket (156.70)
Road miles
2,632
mi across 14 mapped stops · furthest 1749 mi
Schedule strength
56%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1571)
Purse competed for
$58K
listed at 7 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
1 🏅
GCs in 8 state-championship entries
Master avg
637.09 / 720
10 Master contests · 0 GCs
Backyard avg
341.68 / 360
1 Backyard contest · 1 GC
Master and Backyard overall scores sit on different scales (Master is 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.
Storylines (8 found in this team's record)
Each card leads with the number that made it a story — read straight out of their results, no editorialising.
State champions
1
state championships won
They've taken 1 state championship from 8 entries at contests carrying the title.
- 8 state-championship entries
Their season
2024
1 Grand Championship
2024 was the year it came together: 3 contests, 1 Grand Championship and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 58%.
- 3 contests
- 1 overall top-10s
- 0 category wins
- average top 58%
A tough matchup
7–1
behind in the head-to-head
SoCal Outlaw BBQ ahead in 88% of their meetings
SoCal Outlaw BBQ has come out ahead in 7 of their 8 shared contests.
The weak link
−5.2
points behind their best meat
Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 5.16 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 0% of the time against 21%.
- Brisket avg 156.70
- Chicken avg 161.86
- 0 calls in 10 entries
A strong matchup
4–1
ahead in the head-to-head
Ahead in 80% of their meetings
They've finished ahead of IN FLAMMA, BULL! in 4 of their 5 shared contests.
The comeback
4 yrs
off the trail, then back
Off the trail for 4 years, then back at 17th Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest (COMPETITORS SERIES) (2021-10-08).
- last seen 2017-09-29
- back 2021-10-08
Chicken nemesis
6 of 8
shared chicken entries lost
SoCal Outlaw BBQ ahead 75% of the time
Even in their strongest meat, SoCal Outlaw BBQ has out-cooked them in 6 of 8 shared chicken entries.
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The nearest teams in the power rankings, with a different reason on each card — six teams on one rating are rarely on it for the same reason. Rating decides who makes the list; where teams tie on it, the ones this team has actually cooked against come first, then teams at a similar point in their own career. KCBS doesn’t publish where a team is from, so nothing here is inferred from geography.
125 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#5466 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 9%
- Peak
- 1504
No shared contest yet.
They've been 1504 at their best, 53 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.
⚔ Head-to-head#5481 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1451
No shared contest yet.
Their last contest in the data was back in 2022, 4 years before Blackjack bbq's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-head#5477 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1451
No shared contest yet.
Careers of much the same size, 12 contests to 14, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Head-to-head#5446 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1452
No shared contest yet.
Level with Blackjack bbq on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Head-to-head#5470 of the rated field
- Contests
- 10
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1451
No shared contest yet.
They turned up 11 years after Blackjack bbq did, first appearing in 2024.
⚔ Head-to-head#5449 of the rated field
- Contests
- 10
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 10%
- Peak
- 1452
No shared contest yet.
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 10 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-headFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SoCal Outlaw BBQ | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| Meat Candy Q | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| LADY OF Q | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKE HOUND BBQ | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| Porterhouse BBQ | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| The Brisket Brothers | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| Burnin and Lootin | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| ONE PIT WONDER | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| IN FLAMMA, BULL! | 5 | 4 | 1 | 80% | ⚔ compare |
| AJ’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ | 5 | 4 | 1 | 80% | ⚔ compare |
| Fire Breathin' Bros | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
| RACK CITY BBQ | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 14 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 171.9884 | 146.3088 | 161.86 | top 67% |
| Pork Ribs | 14 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 171.4172 | 139.3712 | 159.20 | top 71% |
| Pork | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 169.7144 | 149.6456 | 159.89 | top 75% |
| 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 state / province
| Where | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA | 10 | 1 | top 70% |
| KS | 3 | 0 | top 88% |
| AZ | 1 | 0 | top 89% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 2 | 0 | top 69% |
| Medium (20–39) | 11 | 1 | top 75% |
| Large (40+) | 1 | 0 | top 88% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBQ, Boots & Brew | 2 | 19 | 0 | top 80% | 2025-04-11 |
The story so far (20 numbers that describe this team)
On the trail
12.5 yrs
2013-08-17 → 2026-01-30
Busiest season
2025
3 contests
Contests a season
1.4
across 10 seasons in the data
Cooks most in
CA
10 of 14 contests · 3 states/provinces in all
Contests visited
13
1 of them cooked more than once
Most-entered meat
Chicken
14 entries · 0 wins · 3 calls
Strongest meat
Chicken
averages 161.86 · weakest Brisket (156.70)
Walk rate
36%
a top-10 call in 5 of 14 contests
Overall top-10 rate
14%
2 of 14 contests
Wins it all
7%
1 Grand Championship · 0 reserve
First title
2024-05-31
Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival
Master average
637.09
out of 720 · 10 contests · 0 GCs
Backyard average
341.68
out of 360 · 1 contest · 1 GC
Opponents faced
268
113–317 across every shared overall standing
Road miles
2,632
14 mapped stops · furthest 1,749 mi
Schedule strength
1571
average field rating faced — tougher than 56% of rated contests
Purse competed for
$58,200
listed at 7 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
1
from 8 state-championship entries
Longest layoff
4 yrs
2017-09-29 → 2021-10-08
Power rating
1451
peak 1451 · #5462 of 6,413 rated
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
- 2013
- First tracked contest BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway
- First call BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway
- Career-best single call (Chicken)171.9884 BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway
- Peak power rating (1492) BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway
- 2022
- First overall top-10 The 18th Annual Burnt Offering BBQ Contest (COMPETITORS SERIES)
- 2024
- First overall podium Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival
- First Grand Championship Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival
- First state championship Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score341.6800 Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival
- Biggest field won (39 teams) Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival
- 10th tracked contest 20th Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest
- 2026
- Career-best overall score658.2060 The Golden State Battle VIII
- Most recent contest The Golden State Battle VIII
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +19.1 | Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival | 2024-05-31 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -12.1 | Smokin' Hot Cars & BBQ at the Allen County Fair | 2014-07-25 |
| -8.3 | BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway | 2013-08-17 |
| -8 | 21st Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest | 2025-09-12 |
| -7.9 | Rim County BBQ Classic and Testicle Festival | 2017-09-29 |
| -7.5 | 20th Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest | 2024-06-28 |
Category scores over time
Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)
Where they finish (overall)
Best vs average (by meat)
How entries end (by meat)
Team of the Year rank by season
Season by season
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 88% | 91.4% | 91.4% |
| 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 | 100% | top 75% | — | — |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | top 80% | — | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 58% | — | — |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-30 | The Golden State Battle VIII 🏅 Riverside, CA | 36 / 41 (658.2060) | 35 (161.0972) | 35 (163.3944) | 25 (169.7144) | 30 (164.0000) |
| 2025-09-12 | 21st Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest 🏅 Riverside, CA | 31 / 35 (654.2284) | 29 (167.4056) | 31 (162.2400) | 30 (164.5828) | 32 (160.0000) |
| 2025-05-30 | 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) |
| 2025-04-11 | BBQ, Boots & Brew 🏅 Perris, CA | 19 / 26 (645.4972) | 21 (163.9428) | 18 (161.6800) | 19 (160.5144) | 20 (159.3600) |
| 2024-06-28 | 20th Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest 🏅 Riverside, CA | 29 / 35 (642.1260) | 30 (165.0972) | 33 (155.3944) | 27 (165.1316) | 30 (156.5028) |
| 2024-05-31 | Horsetown Brew n' Que Festival 🏅 Norco, CA | 1 / 39 (341.6800) | 3 (170.2628) | 3 (171.4172) | — | — |
| 2024-04-12 | BBQ Boots & Brew 🏅 Perris, CA | 34 / 39 (644.4688) | 30 (164.0000) | 32 (158.8572) | 36 (159.9544) | 34 (161.6572) |
| 2023-10-20 | 19th Annual Burnt Offering BBQ Contest (COMPETITOR SERIES) unrated Riverside, CA | 15 / 20 (653.5884) | 12 (164.0000) | 17 (155.9428) | 9 (164.5256) | — |
| 2022-10-07 | The 18th Annual Burnt Offering BBQ Contest (COMPETITORS SERIES) 🏅 unrated Riverside, CA | 8 / 10 (615.2800) | 6 (157.1200) | 5 (156.5600) | 5 (157.7028) | — |
| 2021-10-08 | 17th Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest (COMPETITORS SERIES) unrated Riverside, CA | 11 / 19 (631.9540) | 12 (156.5484) | 9 (160.0228) | 15 (155.4056) | — |
| 2017-09-29 | 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) |
| 2016-09-09 | *Derby BBQ Festival Derby, KS | 32 / 38 (643.9320) | 20 (166.8800) | 33 (155.3948) | 34 (157.1200) | 27 (164.5372) |
| 2014-07-25 | 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) |
| 2013-08-17 | 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) |
Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)
Team of the Year standings (rank per category by season — year links to the full board on kcbs.us)
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #927 (60 pts) | #1010 (60 pts) | #1051 (60 pts) | #970 (60 pts) | #950 (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) |