High-water mark
679.9200
career-best overall
94.4% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 679.9200 at McLouth BBQ Blowout 34th Annual — 94.4% of a perfect 720.
- Master
- Jun 6, 2025
Smoke Til We're Broke
Smoke Til We're Broke is a competition barbecue team with 23 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2025. Their best overall finish is 14th of 28 at the McLouth BBQ Blowout 34th Annual (2025). They are ranked #5758 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1444
peak 1505 · rated over 21 contests
Contests
23
in the data
First seen
Sep 27, 2013
latest Nov 5, 2025 · 12.1 years on the trail
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
0
0 podiums
Overall top-10s
0
0% of 23 contests
Avg finish
top 70%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
665.04 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 643.59 (+21.45)
Walk rate
17%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±20.16
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 164.74 · weakest Brisket (158.01)
Road miles
1,974
across 23 mapped stops · furthest 781 mi
Schedule strength
39%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1552)
Purse competed for
$194K
listed at 11 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 16 state-championship entries
Master avg
643.59 / 720
21 Master contests · 0 GCs
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #657 (228 pts) | #680 (258 pts) | #683 (273 pts) | #744 (198 pts) | #682 (223 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #878 (120 pts) | #977 (120 pts) | #1021 (120 pts) | #938 (120 pts) | #922 (120 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #856 (150 pts) | #912 (155 pts) | #1118 (120 pts) | #730 (215 pts) | #815 (180 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #1687 (53 pts) | #1684 (53 pts) | #1723 (53 pts) | #1622 (58 pts) | #1259 (78 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #1471 (120 pts) | #1593 (120 pts) | #1575 (120 pts) | #1578 (120 pts) | #1536 (120 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #1524 (120 pts) | #1598 (120 pts) | #1614 (120 pts) | #1610 (120 pts) | #1586 (120 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #1890 (115 pts) | #1493 (180 pts) | #1970 (115 pts) | #1799 (120 pts) | #1741 (130 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #1775 (120 pts) | #1388 (215 pts) | #1884 (120 pts) | #1872 (120 pts) | #1839 (120 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #2158 (60 pts) | #2209 (60 pts) | #2209 (60 pts) | #2225 (60 pts) | #2214 (60 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #1672 (146 pts) | #1746 (146 pts) | #1726 (146 pts) | #1477 (196 pts) | #1542 (176 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #1970 (75 pts) | #1859 (110 pts) | #1437 (180 pts) | #2080 (75 pts) | #2034 (75 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to Smoke Til We're Broke, each with one reason worth a look.
80 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#5,754 of the rated field
- Contests
- 23
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 4%
- Peak
- 1444
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 23 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careers#5,759 of the rated field
- Contests
- 25
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 8%
- Peak
- 1502
Their last contest in the data was back in 2022, 3 years before Smoke Til We're Broke's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#5,768 of the rated field
- Contests
- 26
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 4%
- Peak
- 1504
Careers of much the same size, 26 contests to 23, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careers#5,767 of the rated field
- Contests
- 27
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 7%
- Peak
- 1443
27 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 7% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careers#5,761 of the rated field
- Contests
- 16
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1444
Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.
⚔ Compare careers#5,773 of the rated field
- Contests
- 15
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1505
Level with Smoke Til We're Broke 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fat&Dumb BBQ | 10 | 2 | 8 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| F.O.M.S.B. | 10 | 2 | 8 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| 913 BBQ | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| KC Rib doctor | 9 | 6 | 3 | 67% | ⚔ compare |
| IHC BBQ | 9 | 2 | 7 | 22% | ⚔ compare |
| PIG NEWTON | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| This Little Piggy Got Smoked | 8 | 3 | 5 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| Just Smoked Your Butt | 8 | 3 | 5 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| Griswold Grillers | 8 | 3 | 5 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| Big D & The Briquettes | 8 | 2 | 6 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| T'S SMOKIN PIT | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| SLAPS BBQ | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN IN THE BUSHES | 7 | 7 | 0 | 100% | ⚔ compare |
| SMF | 7 | 6 | 1 | 86% | ⚔ compare |
| POKER SMOKERS | 7 | 6 | 1 | 86% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 174.2628 | 150.8344 | 164.74 | top 56% |
| Pork Ribs | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 174.2628 | 143.3716 | 160.29 | top 67% |
| Pork | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 172 | 143.9656 | 160.55 | top 70% |
| Brisket | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 170.8344 | 141.0744 | 158.01 | top 66% |
“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 73% |
| Large (40+) | 15 | 0 | top 69% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship | 5 | 41 | 0 | top 65% | Sep 27, 2019 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | 2 | 230 | 0 | top 65% | Nov 5, 2025 |
| Smoke on the Water | 2 | 20 | 0 | top 66% | Oct 10, 2025 |
| Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship Barbeque | 2 | 41 | 0 | top 55% | Sep 21, 2018 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2025
4 contests
Contests a season
2.1
across 11 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
KS
19 of 23 contests · 4 states in all
Contests visited
14
4 of them more than once
Opponents faced
1,057
finished ahead 722 times, behind 1,383
Longest layoff
2.6 yrs
Oct 11, 2019 → May 13, 2022
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20253 milestones
- Career-best overall score679.9200 McLouth BBQ Blowout 34th Annual
- Career-best single call (Chicken)174.2628 Smoke on the Water
- Most recent contest American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides
20171 milestone
- 10th tracked contest Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship Barbeque
20141 milestone
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score655.4172 Cookin on the Kaw
20133 milestones
- First tracked contest SC Festival of Discovery
- First call Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship
- Peak power rating (1505) Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +6.5 | Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship Barbeque | Sep 22, 2017 |
| +6 | Smoke on the Water | Oct 13, 2023 |
| +5.3 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | Oct 30, 2024 |
| +4.9 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 34th Annual | Jun 6, 2025 |
| +4.8 | Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship | Sep 27, 2013 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -11.9 | Laurie Hillbilly BBQ | Aug 5, 2016 |
| -10.9 | Brew, Blues, & Bar-B-Q | May 5, 2017 |
| -10.3 | Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship | Sep 23, 2016 |
| -7.4 | Bernard BBQ Battle (Formerly Brew,Blues & Bar-B-Q) | May 13, 2022 |
| -6.7 | Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship | Sep 26, 2014 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25% | top 69% | 94.4% | 92.4% |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 64% | 93.7% | 92.3% |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 59% | 93.8% | 92% |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 93% | 85.9% | 85.9% |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 74% | 89% | 87.8% |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 78% | 88.3% | 88.3% |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 67% | 91.3% | 87.8% |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33% | top 83% | 90.6% | 87.6% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 69% | 87.2% | 87.2% |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 64% | 91% | 88.9% |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 36% | 89.9% | 89.9% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2025 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nov 5, 2025 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 310 / 401 (656.9828) | 326 (162.8344) | 223 (168.5256) | 229 (168.5256) | 352 (157.0972) |
| Oct 10, 2025 | Smoke on the Water 🏅 Topeka, KS | 24 / 30 (659.8632) | 13 (174.2628) | 19 (168.5372) | 23 (163.9888) | 28 (153.0744) |
| Jun 6, 2025 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 34th Annual 🏅 McLouth, KS | 14 / 28 (679.9200) | 19 (169.1200) | 10 (174.2628) | 21 (165.7028) | 14 (170.8344) |
| Oct 30, 2024 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 230 / 444 (674.8000) | 224 (169.1544) | 245 (168.5600) | 267 (166.8228) | 149 (170.2628) |
| Mar 15, 2024 | 6th Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship 🏅 Olathe, KS | 44 / 58 (653.6460) | 44 (165.1316) | 44 (163.3944) | 53 (159.9772) | 31 (165.1428) |
| Oct 13, 2023 | Smoke on the Water 🏅 Topeka, KS | 20 / 39 (675.3372) | 24 (168.5372) | 28 (167.3828) | 8 (172) | 20 (167.4172) |
| Jun 2, 2023 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 32nd Annual 🏅 McLouth, KS | 24 / 36 (649.1540) | 19 (165.1200) | 27 (158.3200) | 25 (162.8456) | 18 (162.8684) |
| May 13, 2022 | Bernard BBQ Battle (Formerly Brew,Blues & Bar-B-Q) 🏅 Lansing, KS | 26 / 28 (618.6628) | 26 (150.8344) | 27 (152.5372) | 24 (155.3484) | 20 (159.9428) |
| Oct 11, 2019 | Cookin on the Kaw BBQ Contest (JUDGES FULL) 🏅 DeSoto, KS | 43 / 51 (623.3028) | 41 (158.2972) | 43 (157.1200) | 45 (154.2172) | 43 (153.6684) |
| Sep 27, 2019 | Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship 🏅 Shawnee, KS | 65 / 102 (641.1316) | 49 (165.7028) | 39 (165.1200) | 75 (158.3200) | 82 (151.9888) |
| Sep 21, 2018 | Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship Barbeque 🏅 Shawnee, KS | 79 / 107 (635.8856) | 88 (155.4744) | 91 (153.6228) | 47 (165.6684) | 59 (161.1200) |
| Apr 13, 2018 | The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake Smithville, MO | 42 / 51 (635.3140) | 31 (164) | 47 (152.4912) | 46 (154.8228) | 26 (164) |
| Sep 22, 2017 | Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship Barbeque 🏅 Shawnee, KS | 41 / 112 (657.0516) | 12 (171.9772) | 63 (161.6800) | 76 (160) | 43 (163.3944) |
| May 5, 2017 | Brew, Blues, & Bar-B-Q Lansing, KS | 29 / 30 (607.1428) | 27 (154.7772) | 30 (143.3716) | 24 (158.2284) | 22 (150.7656) |
| Sep 23, 2016 | Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship 🏅 Shawnee, KS | 95 / 111 (619.8288) | 53 (163.3828) | 97 (149.6804) | 80 (160.5256) | 99 (146.2400) |
| Sep 23, 2016 | Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff Murphysboro, IL | 45 / 64 (652.5256) | 50 (161.1200) | 22 (167.4400) | 50 (161.7028) | 36 (162.2628) |
| Aug 5, 2016 | Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Laurie, MO | 47 / 50 (619.2344) | 8 (173.7028) | 49 (149.0744) | 48 (150.2284) | 49 (146.2288) |
| Sep 25, 2015 | Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship 🏅 Shawnee, KS | 77 / 112 (627.9196) | 32 (167.4284) | 73 (160.5256) | 107 (143.9656) | 64 (156) |
| Oct 10, 2014 | Cookin on the Kaw DeSoto, KS | 26 / 46 (655.4172) | 27 (163.9884) | 31 (157.6572) | 15 (169.1772) | 19 (164.5944) |
| Sep 26, 2014 | Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship 🏅 Shawnee, KS | 80 / 112 (624.9596) | 44 (166.2284) | 78 (154.2512) | 58 (163.4056) | 104 (141.0744) |
| Sep 27, 2013 | Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship 🏅 Shawnee, KS | 41 / 114 (647.3372) | 18 (168.5484) | 7 (172.5484) | 79 (156) | 82 (150.2404) |
| Jul 11, 2013 | SC Festival of Discovery Greenwood, SC | — | — | — | — | — |