InTheRedZoneBBQ

InTheRedZoneBBQ is a competition barbecue team with 22 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2018 and 2025. Their best overall finish is 8th of 29 at the WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest (2022). They are ranked #1377 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “In The Red Zone BBQ”.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#1,377

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1574

peak 1574 · rated over 17 contests5 invitational or side-series contests not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Feb 23, 2018

latest Nov 5, 2025 · 7.7 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#354

Master 2021 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

2 podiums

Overall top-10s

9% of 22 contests

Avg finish

top 44%

overall standings

Best overall

691.9200 / 720

Master · American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest

Perfect 180s

Current form

678.40 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 674.87 (+3.53)

Walk rate

45%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.8572

Pork Ribs · American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest

Consistency

±12.45

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 170.83 · weakest Brisket (165.57)

Road miles

1,419

across 22 mapped stops · furthest 146 mi

Schedule strength

83%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1610)

Purse competed for

$480K

listed at 16 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 16 state-championship entries

Master avg

674.87 / 720

22 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

691.9200 career-best overall

96.1% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 691.9200 at American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest — 96.1% of a perfect 720.

Master
Nov 5, 2025

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ has finished one call ahead of InTheRedZoneBBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

18–0 behind in the head-to-head

GETTIN' BASTED ahead in 100% of their meetings

GETTIN' BASTED has come out ahead in 18 of their 18 shared contests.

The weak link

−5.3 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 5.27 points below their pork ribs, and turns into a call 14% of the time against 23%.

Brisket avg 165.57
Pork Ribs avg 170.83
3 calls in 22 entries

A strong matchup

8–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of MY 3 SONS BARBEQUE MO in 8 of their 8 shared contests.

Pork Ribs nemesis

13 of 18 shared pork ribs entries lost

GETTIN' BASTED ahead 72% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, GETTIN' BASTED has out-cooked them in 13 of 18 shared pork ribs entries.

They cook the hard rooms

1610 average field rating faced

A tougher draw than 83% of rated fields

The fields they enter average a 1610 power rating — a tougher draw than 83% of every rated contest in the data.

17 rated contests

Show 2 more storylines

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

LUCKY'S Q has landed one call behind them 2 times.

The metronome

±1.73% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.73% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 93.7% of a perfect score
22 contests

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	#875 (120 pts)	#960 (120 pts)	#1020 (120 pts)	#935 (120 pts)	#920 (120 pts)
2023 ↗	Master	#938 (120 pts)	#1011 (120 pts)	#843 (210 pts)	#989 (120 pts)	#989 (120 pts)
2022 ↗	Master	#466 (454 pts)	#574 (374 pts)	#562 (419 pts)	#370 (644 pts)	#495 (454 pts)
2021 ↗	Master	#354 (535 pts)	#434 (455 pts)	#311 (670 pts)	#297 (685 pts)	#390 (520 pts)
2020 ↗	Master	#484 (211 pts)	#576 (176 pts)	#508 (226 pts)	#375 (311 pts)	#549 (191 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#1955 (60 pts)	#2049 (60 pts)	#1740 (110 pts)	#1786 (100 pts)	#2010 (60 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

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

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

Go Ham BBQ

#1,376 of the rated field

1574 power rating

Contests: 24
GCs: 5
Top-10s: 38%
Peak: 1594

2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to InTheRedZoneBBQ)

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

rated over 20 contests
last seen Nov 5, 2025

⚔ Head-to-head

BUCKY'S BADASS BBQ

#1,370 of the rated field

1574 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 25%
Peak: 1587

1–1 in 2 shared contests (50% to InTheRedZoneBBQ)

Their last contest in the data was back in 2020, 5 years before InTheRedZoneBBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 20 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

Barton BBQ

#1,369 of the rated field

1574 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1574

3–4 in 7 shared contests (43% to InTheRedZoneBBQ)

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 12 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Apr 10, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

ShowMeMoSmoke

#1,372 of the rated field

1574 power rating

Contests: 33
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 15%
Peak: 1592

3–3 in 6 shared contests (50% to InTheRedZoneBBQ)

A longer road to the same neighbourhood — 33 contests to 22.

rated over 30 contests
last seen Sep 30, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

Pittie Q

#1,380 of the rated field

1573 power rating

Contests: 36
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 44%
Peak: 1574

2–1 in 3 shared contests (67% to InTheRedZoneBBQ)

Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 36 contests, alongside a 44% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 33 contests
last seen Aug 28, 2026
on a 3-contest top-10 run

⚔ Head-to-head

THE SMOKING SECTION - NY

#1,368 of the rated field

1574 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 29%
Peak: 1574

They were already cooking in 2013, 5 years before InTheRedZoneBBQ's first contest.

rated over 17 contests
last seen Apr 6, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
TRIPLE H BBQ	19	3	16	16%	⚔ compare
Heavy Smoke BBQ	18	5	13	28%	⚔ compare
SMOKE THIS BBQ MO	18	5	13	28%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' BASTED	18	0	18	0%	⚔ compare
ALL FORKED UP FOR Q	17	8	9	47%	⚔ compare
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ	17	1	16	6%	⚔ compare
MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS	16	5	11	31%	⚔ compare
JANKY LEG BBQ	16	2	14	13%	⚔ compare
SLAPS BBQ	16	2	14	13%	⚔ compare
PARTS 'R' SMOKIN	15	8	7	53%	⚔ compare
MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ	15	7	8	47%	⚔ compare
SmokinGhost BBQ	15	6	9	40%	⚔ compare
MAN MEAT BBQ	15	4	11	27%	⚔ compare
LOVE 2 Q	14	6	8	43%	⚔ compare
Can Country Outlaw BBQ	14	4	10	29%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	22	1	0	175.4056	155.3828	168.05	top 56%
Pork Ribs	22	5	0	178.8572	159.3600	170.83	top 37%
Pork	22	5	2	177.1544	158.7884	170.42	top 40%
Brisket	22	3	0	174.2744	149.0168	165.57	top 55%

“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)	7	0	top 52%
Large (40+)	15	0	top 41%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
MO	11	top 42%
KS	10	top 42%
IL	1	top 95%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest	3	44	top 45%	Sep 27, 2023
American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest	3	65	top 43%	Sep 27, 2023
American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest	2	133	top 42%	Nov 5, 2025
American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest	2	48	top 35%	Nov 5, 2025
WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest	2	8	top 29%	Apr 22, 2022
Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge	2	8	top 26%	Mar 26, 2021

More numbers

Busiest season 2021 6 contests

Contests a season 2.8 across 8 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MO 11 of 22 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 14 6 of them more than once

Opponents faced 1,139 finished ahead 2,076 times, behind 1,644

Longest layoff 1.3 yrs Apr 12, 2019 → Aug 14, 2020

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

20252 milestones

Nov 5 Career-best overall score691.9200 American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest
Nov 5 Most recent contest American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest

20231 milestone

Sep 27 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)178.8572 American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest

20221 milestone

Sep 29 Peak power rating (1574) American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST

20211 milestone

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

20201 milestone

Sep 11 First overall top-10 Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge

20183 milestones

Feb 23 First tracked contest Polar Bear BBQ Challenge
Feb 23 First call Polar Bear BBQ Challenge
Feb 23 First overall past 90% of a perfect score654.6168 Polar Bear BBQ Challenge

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+13.8	Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge	Mar 26, 2021
+11.4	WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest	Apr 22, 2022
+10.2	WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest	Apr 23, 2021
+9.7	Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge	Sep 11, 2020
+9.6	American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST	Sep 16, 2021

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12.6	A Celebration of Our Heroes	Sep 3, 2021
-7	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest	Sep 27, 2023
-0.1	Polar Bear BBQ Challenge	Feb 23, 2018

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	Top-10s	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2025	2	0	0%	top 32%	96.1%	95.6%
2024	2	0	0%	top 45%	95.5%	94.7%
2023	2	0	50%	top 63%	94.9%	92.7%
2022	5	1	40%	top 45%	94.3%	93.6%
2021	6	0	50%	top 39%	95.7%	93.9%
2020	2	1	100%	top 37%	95.4%	95.1%
2019	1	0	0%	top 56%	90.5%	90.5%
2018	2	0	100%	top 54%	92.8%	91.9%

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 - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS	133 / 401 (685.0284)	160 (171.9656)	133 (171.9772)	87 (174.8572)	236 (166.2284)
Nov 5, 2025	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest unrated Kansas City, KS	48 / 158 (691.9200)	44 (175.4056)	63 (173.7028)	112 (168.5372)	33 (174.2744)
Oct 30, 2024	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS	224 / 444 (675.9200)	170 (171.4400)	350 (162.8000)	160 (170.8344)	125 (170.8456)
Oct 30, 2024	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest unrated Kansas City, KS	66 / 169 (687.8856)	87 (171.9772)	24 (176.5600)	110 (169.6800)	104 (169.6684)
Sep 27, 2023	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest unrated Kansas City, KS	111 / 211 (683.3144)	84 (173.1200)	9 (178.8572)	90 (171.9772)	194 (159.3600)
Sep 27, 2023	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS	359 / 487 (651.2576)	384 (161.6572)	24 (177.7144)	358 (161.6572)	450 (150.2288)
Sep 29, 2022	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS	207 / 505 (673.6000)	240 (167.9772)	214 (168.5372)	124 (172)	257 (165.0856)
Sep 29, 2022	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - INVITATIONAL CONTEST unrated Kansas City, KS	148 / 249 (678.7084)	194 (167.3712)	11 (177.7144)	180 (167.3944)	180 (166.2284)
Apr 22, 2022	WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest 🏅 Washington, MO	8 / 29 (673.6004)	16 (167.3944)	21 (161.6456)	4 (172.5716)	6 (171.9888)
Mar 26, 2022	Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge - Day 2 🏅 St. Robert, MO	21 / 39 (672.9940)	19 (171.9656)	18 (169.1200)	25 (164.5256)	23 (167.3828)
Mar 25, 2022	Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge - Day 1 🏅 St. Robert, MO	16 / 38 (670.7656)	24 (166.2628)	27 (159.3600)	2 (176)	18 (169.1428)
Sep 16, 2021	American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS	65 / 467 (681.0284)	254 (165.0972)	5 (178.8572)	36 (175.4056)	275 (161.6684)
Sep 16, 2021	American Royal World Series of Barbecue-INVITATIONAL CONTEST 🏅 unrated Kansas City, KS	44 / 185 (689.0744)	107 (169.7028)	37 (175.4172)	14 (176.5716)	124 (167.3828)
Sep 3, 2021	A Celebration of Our Heroes 🏅 Madison, IL	19 / 20 (651.8172)	20 (160.5144)	18 (162.8344)	17 (163.3828)	12 (165.0856)
May 1, 2021	Columbia Elks BBQ Cookoff 🏅 Columbia, MO	18 / 39 (679.9200)	18 (171.9656)	17 (170.8228)	13 (173.1544)	29 (163.9772)
Apr 23, 2021	WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest 🏅 Washington, MO	14 / 45 (669.6344)	43 (155.3828)	5 (174.8572)	3 (174.2972)	20 (165.0972)
Mar 26, 2021	Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge 🏅 St. Roberts, MO	11 / 52 (686.7884)	15 (173.7144)	28 (168.5600)	23 (171.4056)	9 (173.1084)
Sep 11, 2020	Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge 🏅 St. Roberts, MO	8 / 26 (686.7656)	12 (171.4172)	6 (173.7028)	6 (173.1200)	18 (168.5256)
Aug 14, 2020	BBQ & Fly in on the River 🏅 Excelsior Springs, MO	24 / 55 (682.7772)	42 (165.6800)	32 (167.9772)	9 (177.1544)	16 (171.9656)
Apr 12, 2019	The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake 🏅 Smithville, MO	30 / 54 (651.2456)	44 (158.2400)	15 (169.1200)	17 (169.6800)	42 (154.2056)
Apr 20, 2018	Main Street BBQ & Blues Fest Washington, MO	16 / 40 (668.4228)	21 (164.5372)	8 (173.1200)	31 (158.7884)	10 (171.9772)
Feb 23, 2018	Polar Bear BBQ Challenge Kingdom City, MO	20 / 29 (654.6168)	8 (174.2744)	18 (165.0856)	19 (166.2400)	26 (149.0168)

An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.

InTheRedZoneBBQ

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

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Pork Ribs nemesis

They cook the hard rooms

Looking over their shoulder

The metronome

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)