The heartbreaker
Came within 1.6572 points of the Grand Championship at Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) (Oct 25, 2013).
A Boy & His BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 39 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2025. They have won 2 Grand Championships, most recently at the Minnesota in May (2014), and finished Reserve Grand Champion 3 times. They are ranked #485 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #691 (526 pts) | #531 (736 pts) | #579 (671 pts) | #802 (461 pts) | #861 (416 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #114 (1,943 pts) | #179 (1,498 pts) | #58 (1,998 pts) | #186 (1,445 pts) | #123 (1,798 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #136 (1,701 pts) | #263 (1,081 pts) | #128 (1,616 pts) | #219 (1,221 pts) | #110 (1,786 pts) |
The teams rated closest to A Boy & His BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
These two have cooked 4 of the same contests — honours even — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.
⚔ Head-to-headCareers of much the same size, 45 contests to 39, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careersThis is the highest they've ever been rated, 32 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-headTheir rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 82 contests, alongside a 48% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Head-to-headBoth teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.
⚔ Head-to-headTheir last contest in the data was back in 2018, 7 years before A Boy & His BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-head| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 22 | 3 | 19 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| WOODWARD BARBEQUE | 17 | 11 | 6 | 65% | ⚔ compare |
| SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | 17 | 8 | 9 | 47% | ⚔ compare |
| TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | 17 | 5 | 12 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 16 | 6 | 10 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| QUAU | 16 | 5 | 11 | 31% | ⚔ compare |
| Pig Skin BBQ | 16 | 3 | 13 | 19% | ⚔ compare |
| BIG T'Z Q CRU | 16 | 3 | 13 | 19% | ⚔ compare |
| LUCKY'S Q | 15 | 2 | 13 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| Theslabs.com | 14 | 11 | 3 | 79% | ⚔ compare |
| SPITFIRE | 13 | 6 | 7 | 46% | ⚔ compare |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 13 | 3 | 10 | 23% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKERS PURGATORY | 12 | 9 | 3 | 75% | ⚔ compare |
| PITMASTERIQ BBQ | 12 | 6 | 6 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| T-MAC SMOKIN | 12 | 4 | 8 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 39 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 178.2972 | 154.2972 | 168.43 | top 35% |
| Pork Ribs | 39 | 19 | 3 | 7 | 177.7372 | 157.0744 | 169.95 | top 27% |
| Pork | 39 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 175.4172 | 155.4284 | 166.12 | top 43% |
| Brisket | 39 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 180 🔥 | 146.2400 | 169.70 | top 25% |
“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.
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 1 | 0 | top 44% |
| Medium (20–39) | 10 | 0 | top 32% |
| Large (40+) | 28 | 2 | top 22% |
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off | 3 | 6 | 0 | top 20% | Sep 25, 2015 |
| Up In Smoke On The Square | 2 | 1 | 1 | top 5% | Aug 22, 2014 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | 2 | 251 | 0 | top 62% | Nov 5, 2025 |
| Lynch Livestock Pig Stampede | 2 | 3 | 0 | top 38% | Aug 1, 2014 |
| Up in Smoke BBQ Bash | 2 | 3 | 0 | top 13% | Jul 25, 2014 |
| Central Iowa Expo BBQ, Cruise & Brew | 2 | 10 | 0 | top 35% | Apr 26, 2014 |
| Chubby Hubby BBQ Bash | 2 | 2 | 0 | top 15% | Feb 16, 2013 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +15.1 | Up In Smoke on the Square | Aug 23, 2013 |
| +14.6 | Chubby Hubby BBQ Bash | Feb 16, 2013 |
| +12.9 | Blue Springs Barbeque Blaze-Off | Sep 6, 2013 |
| +11.5 | Smokin On Big Creek - Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief | Apr 4, 2014 |
| +11.4 | Septemberfest BBQ & Ribeye Steak Cookoff Challenge | Aug 31, 2013 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -9.7 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | Nov 5, 2025 |
| -7.9 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) | Aug 2, 2013 |
| -6.5 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | Oct 30, 2024 |
| -6.1 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | Sep 27, 2023 |
| -3.8 | Lynch Livestock Pig Stampede | Aug 16, 2013 |
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 67% | 92.4% | 92.4% |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 57% | 93.3% | 93.3% |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 55% | 93.1% | 93.1% |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 25% | 93% | 93% |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 60% | top 30% | 95.6% | 93.4% |
| 2014 | 14 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 86% | top 20% | 96.7% | 94.2% |
| 2013 | 16 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 94% | top 22% | 96.5% | 93.4% |
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2025 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 268 / 401 (665.5544) | 285 (166.2400) | 108 (173.1200) | 369 (156.5144) | 153 (169.6800) |
| Oct 30, 2024 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 251 / 444 (671.9088) | 401 (156.5372) | 291 (166.2516) | 214 (169.1200) | 4 (180) |
| Sep 27, 2023 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 267 / 487 (670.1484) | 440 (155.9428) | 54 (175.4172) | 277 (166.8228) | 110 (171.9656) |
| Oct 29, 2016 | 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 141 / 557 (669.6800) | 212 (166.8572) | 225 (166.8456) | 261 (165.1200) | 92 (170.8572) |
| Oct 3, 2015 | 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO | 125 / 606 (671.9432) | 163 (169.1200) | 439 (157.1432) | 74 (172.5600) | 56 (173.1200) |
| Sep 25, 2015 | Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off Murphysboro, IL | 6 / 55 (687.9776) | 3 (176.5600) | 8 (173.7260) | 24 (167.4172) | 13 (170.2744) |
| Aug 28, 2015 | Back to Back to the Park BBQ Marshalltown, IA | 7 / 16 (669.5772) | 3 (172.5600) | 6 (167.3944) | 9 (167.3828) | 10 (162.2400) |
| May 29, 2015 | Smokin' in Steel Owatonna, MN | 20 / 60 (665.6456) | 7 (171.9772) | 3 (172) | 19 (166.3084) | 43 (155.3600) |
| Apr 3, 2015 | Smokin On Big Creek BBQ Contest Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief (Judges Full) Pleasant Hill, MO | 29 / 71 (667.8856) | 47 (162.8228) | 24 (166.2744) | 13 (172.5600) | 26 (166.2284) |
| Oct 2, 2014 | 35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO | 43 / 165 (679.9772) | 49 (171.4516) | 69 (169.1200) | 57 (169.7028) | 61 (169.7028) |
| Oct 2, 2014 | 35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO | 104 / 552 (673.1544) | 61 (173.7144) | 164 (168.5600) | 362 (160) | 82 (170.8800) |
| Sep 18, 2014 | Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off Murphysboro, IL | 17 / 57 (674.1600) | 43 (162.2400) | 9 (173.1200) | 34 (163.3828) | 4 (175.4172) |
| Aug 22, 2014 | Up In Smoke On The Square Lincoln, IL | 4 / 50 (675.3940) | 25 (163.4056) | 1 (177.1772) | 2 (174.8572) | 28 (159.9540) |
| Aug 1, 2014 | Lynch Livestock Pig Stampede Waucoma, IA | 3 / 21 (687.9544) | 2 (178.2972) | 4 (177.1544) | 12 (165.6800) | 6 (166.8228) |
| Jul 25, 2014 | Up in Smoke BBQ Bash Mason City, IA | 3 / 52 (692.5144) | 20 (170.8228) | 5 (172.5716) | 3 (174.8572) | 7 (174.2628) |
| Jun 20, 2014 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Lexington, KY | 13 / 28 (661.0400) | 15 (167.4056) | 13 (167.3944) | 24 (158.2400) | 7 (168) |
| May 30, 2014 | Smokin in Steele Owatonna, MN | 8 / 67 (686.2060) | 29 (168.5488) | 4 (175.4056) | 34 (165.6916) | 4 (176.5600) |
| May 16, 2014 | Minnesota in May Falcon Heights, MN | 1 / 58 (696.0228) | 7 (170.2628) | 1 (177.7372) | 1 (174.8800) | 2 (173.1428) |
| Apr 26, 2014 | Central Iowa Expo BBQ, Cruise & Brew Boone, IA | 10 / 39 (683.3832) | 9 (174.2972) | 20 (168.5488) | 11 (169.7144) | 12 (170.8228) |
| Apr 25, 2014 | Central Iowa Expo BBQ, Cruise & Brew Boone, IA | 20 / 45 (667.4172) | 6 (174.8800) | 11 (167.9772) | 34 (161.7028) | 26 (162.8572) |
| Apr 4, 2014 | Smokin On Big Creek - Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief Pleasant Hill, MO | 3 / 75 (688.5600) | 9 (174.2628) | 2 (177.1544) | 31 (165.1772) | 8 (171.9656) |
| Mar 21, 2014 | Hammond BBQ Hammond, LA | 17 / 61 (675.3028) | 18 (170.8228) | 15 (169.6800) | 52 (158.2400) | 7 (176.5600) |
| Mar 14, 2014 | NKC MO State Championship BBQ 🏅 N. Kansas City, MO | 9 / 61 (657.6228) | 4 (169.7144) | 33 (158.2628) | 34 (158.8228) | 5 (170.8228) |
| Oct 31, 2013 | Riverside Resort Casino USA Barbecue Championship Laughlin, NV | 11 / 85 (676.4912) | 15 (172.5600) | 13 (172) | 52 (159.9656) | 10 (171.9656) |
| Oct 25, 2013 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) unrated Lynchburg, TN | 2 / 97 (691.4628) | 32 (168) | 7 (175.4400) | 24 (168.5828) | 1 (179.4400) |
| Oct 3, 2013 | 34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO | 45 / 535 (669.6340) | 343 (157.6800) | 8 (176.5600) | 129 (166.8456) | 78 (168.5484) |
| Sep 19, 2013 | Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-off Murphysboro, IL | 14 / 76 (675.3372) | 6 (173.7144) | 19 (167.3828) | 53 (158.2400) | 5 (176) |
| Sep 6, 2013 | Blue Springs Barbeque Blaze-Off Blue Springs, MO | 2 / 72 (694.8116) | 18 (170.8344) | 12 (170.8456) | 5 (175.4172) | 1 (177.7144) |
| Aug 31, 2013 | Septemberfest BBQ & Ribeye Steak Cookoff Challenge Omaha, NE | 4 / 32 (693.6568) | 6 (174.8456) | 2 (177.7144) | 14 (167.9884) | 5 (173.1084) |
| Aug 23, 2013 | Up In Smoke on the Square Lincoln, IL | 1 / 46 (689.6916) | 20 (166.2744) | 1 (177.7144) | 10 (171.4172) | 4 (174.2856) |
| Aug 16, 2013 | Lynch Livestock Pig Stampede Waucoma, IA | 13 / 21 (629.0856) | 17 (154.2972) | 6 (165.7028) | 7 (162.8456) | 19 (146.2400) |
| Aug 2, 2013 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Rockford, IL | 23 / 30 (656.4000) | 2 (173.7028) | 28 (157.0744) | 15 (167.3828) | 24 (158.2400) |
| Jul 26, 2013 | Up in Smoke BBQ Bash Mason City, IA | 14 / 66 (671.8856) | 31 (166.2284) | 8 (171.9772) | 24 (166.2744) | 17 (167.4056) |
| Jul 12, 2013 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Woodbury, MN | 7 / 29 (669.0512) | 8 (169.1312) | 17 (162.8116) | 17 (162.8228) | 1 (174.2856) |
| Apr 19, 2013 | Smoke Over Veishea Ames, IA | 10 / 36 (670.8568) | 12 (168.5716) | 3 (169.7140) | 16 (164) | 8 (168.5712) |
| Apr 5, 2013 | Smokin' On Big Creek Pleasant Hill, MO | 25 / 74 (658.8568) | 23 (166.8572) | 45 (159.4284) | 31 (166.8570) | 23 (165.7142) |
| Mar 15, 2013 | NKC MO State BBQ Championship N. Kansas City, MO | 12 / 79 (657.7142) | 22 (163.4288) | 10 (169.1428) | 49 (155.4284) | 9 (169.7142) |
| Feb 16, 2013 | Chubby Hubby BBQ Bash Mesa, AZ | 2 / 31 (686.8570) | 8 (169.7142) | 15 (165.7142) | 3 (172.5714) | 1 (178.8572) |
| Feb 15, 2013 | Chubby Hubby BBQ Bash Mesa, AZ | 7 / 29 (662.8568) | 11 (164) | 5 (170.8570) | 9 (167.4284) | 13 (160.5714) |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.