The BBQ Mavens

The BBQ Mavens is a competition barbecue team with 23 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2017 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 13th of 55 at the Kelley Wilson BBQ (KWBBQ) (2021). They are ranked #4662 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#4,662

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1470

peak 1470 · rated over 17 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Sep 1, 2017

latest Sep 30, 2026 · 9.1 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#807

Master 2022 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

0 podiums

Overall top-10s

0% of 23 contests

Avg finish

top 67%

overall standings

Best overall

675.9660 / 720

Master · American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest

Perfect 180s

Current form

657.83 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 640.04 (+17.79)

Walk rate

13%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176.5600

Chicken · American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest

Consistency

±38.62

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 164.74 · weakest Brisket (150.89)

Road miles

317

across 23 mapped stops · furthest 33 mi

Schedule strength

63%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1580)

Purse competed for

$463K

listed at 14 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 11 state-championship entries

Master avg

640.04 / 720

17 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (9 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

675.9660 career-best overall

93.9% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 675.9660 at American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest — 93.9% of a perfect 720.

Master
Sep 30, 2026

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

POWER I BBQ has finished one call ahead of The BBQ Mavens 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2019 their best year

2019 was the year it came together: 3 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 53%.

3 contests
0 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 53%

A tough matchup

17–0 behind in the head-to-head

SLAPS BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

SLAPS BBQ has come out ahead in 17 of their 17 shared contests.

The weak link

−13.8 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 13.85 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 0% of the time against 6%.

Brisket avg 150.89
Chicken avg 164.74
0 calls in 17 entries

A strong matchup

8–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 89% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of Smoke & Beer BBQ in 8 of their 9 shared contests.

The comeback

1.7 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 1.7 years, then back at Kelley Wilson BBQ (KWBBQ) (Jun 4, 2021).

last seen Sep 12, 2019
back Jun 4, 2021

Show 2 more storylines

Chicken nemesis

13 of 17 shared chicken entries lost

SLAPS BBQ ahead 76% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, SLAPS BBQ has out-cooked them in 13 of 17 shared chicken entries.

Boom or bust

±14.93% swing around their own average

Their overall swings ±14.93% of a perfect score around its own average — when it lands they're dangerous, and when it doesn't the weekend is gone by lunch.

averages 85.5% of a perfect score
best 93.9%

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 ↗	Master	#1065 (60 pts)	#1141 (60 pts)	#1203 (60 pts)	#1111 (60 pts)	#1102 (60 pts)
2025 ↗	Master	#1148 (60 pts)	#1221 (60 pts)	#834 (187 pts)	#1190 (60 pts)	#1190 (60 pts)
2024 ↗	Master	#1182 (60 pts)	#1242 (60 pts)	#1317 (60 pts)	#1231 (60 pts)	#1204 (60 pts)
2023 ↗	Master	#1255 (60 pts)	#1319 (60 pts)	#1432 (60 pts)	#1287 (60 pts)	#1296 (60 pts)
2022 ↗	Master	#807 (180 pts)	#734 (245 pts)	#912 (180 pts)	#764 (225 pts)	#801 (200 pts)
2021 ↗	Master	#917 (120 pts)	#1114 (105 pts)	#1269 (70 pts)	#855 (155 pts)	#1170 (80 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#1113 (220 pts)	#1030 (265 pts)	#1197 (210 pts)	#1301 (180 pts)	#1176 (215 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1954 (60 pts)	#2012 (60 pts)	#1996 (60 pts)	#2030 (60 pts)	#1990 (60 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to The BBQ Mavens, each with one reason worth a look.

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

Outhouse BBQ

#4,671 of the rated field

1470 power rating

Contests: 30
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 3%
Peak: 1470

3–6 in 9 shared contests (33% to The BBQ Mavens)

These two have cooked 9 of the same contests — Outhouse BBQ ahead 6–3 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 30 contests
last seen Sep 30, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

MUTTLEY'S BBQ

#4,673 of the rated field

1469 power rating

Contests: 5
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1469

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to The BBQ Mavens)

Their last contest in the data was back in 2017, 9 years before The BBQ Mavens's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 5 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

SMALLEYWOOD BBQ

#4,655 of the rated field

1470 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1470

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 17 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 17 contests
last seen Jun 21, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

Stammtischgriller

#4,678 of the rated field

1469 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 50%
Peak: 1469

Fewer contests behind them than The BBQ Mavens has cooked, 16 to 23, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 16 contests
last seen May 2, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

SMOKIN' S'WINE

#4,644 of the rated field

1470 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1515

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

rated over 16 contests
last seen Aug 18, 2017

⚔ Compare careers

PURPLE SHADOW

#4,647 of the rated field

1470 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1534

Level with The BBQ Mavens on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 19 contests
last seen Oct 16, 2020

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SLAPS BBQ	17	0	17	0%	⚔ compare
Sons of a Brisket	15	1	14	7%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' SAUCED	15	1	14	7%	⚔ compare
LOVE 2 Q	15	0	15	0%	⚔ compare
KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON	14	1	13	7%	⚔ compare
ALL FORKED UP FOR Q	14	0	14	0%	⚔ compare
S&S BBQ	13	1	12	8%	⚔ compare
ROADKILL BBQ	12	2	10	17%	⚔ compare
913 BBQ	12	0	12	0%	⚔ compare
AMERICAN FIRE BBQ	12	0	12	0%	⚔ compare
HI-TECH SMOKERS	11	6	5	55%	⚔ compare
Theslabs.com	11	4	7	36%	⚔ compare
BURNT FINGER BBQ	11	1	10	9%	⚔ compare
IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ	11	1	10	9%	⚔ compare
HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB	11	0	11	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	17	1	176.5600	145.6228	164.74	top 54%
Pork Ribs	18	1	172.5484	142.8000	161.52	top 63%
Pork	17	1	174.8572	147.9656	162.90	top 61%
Brisket	17	0	171.4172	20	150.89	top 67%

“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)	1	0	top 71%
Large (40+)	16	0	top 66%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
KS	9	0	top 73%
MO	8	0	top 60%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest	4	186	top 56%	Sep 30, 2026
American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest	2	300	top 80%	Nov 5, 2025
The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake	2	28	top 74%	Apr 12, 2019

More numbers

Busiest season 2022 4 contests

Contests a season 2.6 across 9 seasons in the data

Most contests held in KS 14 of 23 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 12 3 of them more than once

Most-entered meat Pork Ribs 18 entries · 0 wins · 1 call

Opponents faced 1,720 finished ahead 1,123 times, behind 3,281

Longest layoff 1.7 yrs Sep 12, 2019 → Jun 4, 2021

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

20262 milestones

Sep 30 Career-best overall score675.9660 American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest
Sep 30 Most recent contest American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides

20231 milestone

Sep 27 Career-best single call (Chicken)176.5600 American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest

20211 milestone

Sep 16 10th tracked contest American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST

20191 milestone

May 31 First call Kelly Wilson BBQ (KWBBQ)

20181 milestone

Aug 17 First overall past 90% of a perfect score651.8632 BBQ and Fly In on the River (JUDGES FULL)

20172 milestones

Sep 1 First tracked contest 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)
Sep 1 Peak power rating (1490) 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+12	Kelley Wilson BBQ (KWBBQ)	Jun 4, 2021
+9.6	Kelly Wilson BBQ (KWBBQ)	May 31, 2019
+4.5	The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake	Apr 12, 2019
+2.2	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest	Sep 30, 2026
+1.8	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest	Sep 27, 2023

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-11.3	The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake	Apr 13, 2018
-11.2	39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)	Sep 15, 2018
-10.3	38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)	Sep 1, 2017
-9.3	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest	Nov 5, 2025
-7.4	40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST	Sep 12, 2019

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)
2026	2	0%	top 59%	93.9%	93.9%
2025	3	33%	top 93%	87.5%	87.5%
2024	2	0%	top 68%	92%	92%
2023	2	0%	top 59%	92.7%	92.7%
2022	4	0%	top 68%	91.2%	90.7%
2021	2	50%	top 32%	93.8%	60.8%
2019	3	33%	top 53%	92.3%	90.4%
2018	4	0%	top 84%	90.5%	82.7%
2017	1	0%	top 92%	84.7%	84.7%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Sep 30, 2026	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS	—	—	—	—	—
Sep 30, 2026	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest Kansas City, KS	212 / 360 (675.9660)	161 (170.8344)	195 (169.6916)	241 (166.8572)	176 (168.5828)
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	371 / 401 (630.0568)	313 (163.9428)	371 (155.9428)	389 (150.1940)	325 (159.9772)
Oct 3, 2025	Gladstone Smokefest (ONE MEAT RIBS) Gladstone, MO	—	—	9 (161.6572)	—	—
Oct 30, 2024	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS	—	—	—	—	—
Oct 30, 2024	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS	300 / 444 (662.2284)	184 (170.8344)	261 (167.9656)	195 (169.7028)	382 (153.7256)
Sep 27, 2023	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS	—	—	—	—	—
Sep 27, 2023	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS	285 / 487 (667.3028)	53 (176.5600)	295 (166.2400)	245 (167.9772)	411 (156.5256)
Oct 1, 2022	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - SIDES Kansas City, KS	—	—	—	—	—
Sep 29, 2022	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS	346 / 505 (653.6112)	410 (159.9544)	244 (167.4056)	284 (166.2284)	356 (160.0228)
Jun 3, 2022	Kelley Wilson Memorial BBQ Competition 🏅 Kansas City, MO	26 / 41 (648.4116)	16 (171.4056)	31 (158.2288)	16 (169.1200)	33 (149.6572)
Apr 22, 2022	Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest (JUDGE'S FULL) 🏅 Sugar Creek, MO	25 / 35 (656.9944)	21 (167.3944)	28 (160.5144)	29 (161.7028)	21 (167.3828)
Sep 16, 2021	American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS	186 / 467 (150.2628)	288 (163.3828)	87 (172.5484)	333 (159.3944)	84 (171.4172)
Jun 4, 2021	Kelley Wilson BBQ (KWBBQ) 🏅 Kansas City, MO	13 / 55 (675.3256)	16 (171.4056)	23 (164.5372)	8 (174.8572)	21 (164.5256)
Sep 12, 2019	40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS	366 / 468 (634.7768)	386 (156.5828)	250 (165.1200)	296 (162.2856)	403 (150.7884)
May 31, 2019	Kelly Wilson BBQ (KWBBQ) 🏅 Kansas City, MO	17 / 56 (664.4228)	9 (173.1084)	19 (166.2516)	30 (161.0972)	22 (163.9656)
Apr 12, 2019	The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake 🏅 Smithville, MO	28 / 54 (654.1144)	28 (166.2628)	39 (160.5144)	39 (160.5028)	21 (166.8344)
Sep 15, 2018	39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	460 / 467 (512.5028)	48 (174.2972)	380 (157.1200)	310 (161.0856)	462 (20)
Aug 17, 2018	BBQ and Fly In on the River (JUDGES FULL) Excelsior Springs, MO	36 / 57 (651.8632)	29 (166.2400)	38 (161.0972)	27 (167.3944)	43 (157.1316)
Jul 27, 2018	Racing for the BBQ Lee's Summit, MO	52 / 66 (614.6856)	50 (151.9772)	53 (142.8000)	35 (162.2628)	34 (157.6456)
Apr 13, 2018	The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake Smithville, MO	49 / 51 (602.1144)	49 (145.6228)	41 (157.7144)	49 (147.9656)	47 (150.8116)
Sep 1, 2017	38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	375 / 407 (609.5888)	379 (150.8000)	359 (151.9772)	288 (160.5944)	368 (146.2172)

The BBQ Mavens

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 (9 found in their record)

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Chicken nemesis

Boom or bust

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)