The heartbreaker
2.8684
points from the title
Came within 2.8684 points of the Grand Championship at Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues (2024-08-16).
Butts-N-Racks BBQ
At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)
Rating
1618
peak 1618 · rated over 26 contests ⓘ
Contests
31
in the data
First seen
2014-08-15
latest 2026-08-21
Best ToY finish
#381
Master 2026
Grand champs
0
1 reserve
Category wins
4
14 podiums
Overall top-10s
11
of 31 contests
Avg finish
top 46%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
2 🔥
Current form
686.19 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 677.40 (+8.79)
Walk rate
65%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
2
and counting
Consistency
±16.85
std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 170.03 · weakest Pork (168.48)
Road miles
2,960
mi across 31 mapped stops · furthest 203 mi
Schedule strength
76%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1597)
Purse competed for
$208K
listed at 24 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
GCs in 24 state-championship entries
Master avg
677.40 / 720
30 Master contests · 0 GCs
Storylines (14 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.
Perfect scores on the board
2
perfect 180s
2 perfect 180s in the data — every judge at the table handing back a nine, across 2 different meats.
- Chicken ×1
- Brisket ×1
Happy hunting ground
Top 14%
average finish here
Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues is their spot: an average finish in the top 14% across 2 visits.
- 2 visits
- best finish 2nd
- average top 14%
They almost always walk
65%
of contests with a top-10 call
A call in 20 of 31 contests
A top-10 category call in 65% of their 31 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.
High-water mark
702.8000
career-best overall
97.6% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 702.8000 at Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues — 97.6% of a perfect 720.
- Master
- 2024-08-16
The one to beat
4×
one call ahead of them
WeQ4U has finished one call ahead of Butts-N-Racks BBQ 4 times — their closest competition in the data.
Their season
2024
their best year
2024 was the year it came together: 3 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 19%.
- 3 contests
- 2 overall top-10s
- 0 category wins
- average top 19%
A tough matchup
20–3
behind in the head-to-head
BLUE CHIP BBQ ahead in 87% of their meetings
BLUE CHIP BBQ has come out ahead in 20 of their 23 shared contests.
A strong matchup
11–1
ahead in the head-to-head
Ahead in 92% of their meetings
They've finished ahead of LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ in 11 of their 12 shared contests.
The comeback
3.9 yrs
off the trail, then back
Off the trail for 3.9 years, then back at Fire on the Mountain (2019-07-26).
- last seen 2015-09-04
- back 2019-07-26
Chicken nemesis
18 of 21
shared chicken entries lost
WeQ4U ahead 86% of the time
Even in their strongest meat, WeQ4U has out-cooked them in 18 of 21 shared chicken entries.
Looking over their shoulder
2×
one call behind them
HIGH ON THE HAWG has landed one call behind them 2 times.
A September team
Top 35%
average finish in September
Something about September: average finish in the top 35% across 8 contests, versus top 46% the rest of the year.
- 8 September contests
- top 46% the rest of the year
The metronome
±2.34%
swing around their own average
Their overall lands within ±2.34% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.
- averages 94.1% of a perfect score
- 31 contests
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.
#882 of the rated field
- Contests
- 41
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 27%
- Peak
- 1628
1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to Butts-N-Racks BBQ)
One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team Butts-N-Racks BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-head#878 of the rated field
- Contests
- 28
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 43%
- Peak
- 1618
No shared contest yet.
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 27 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-head#880 of the rated field
- Contests
- 22
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 36%
- Peak
- 1618
No shared contest yet.
Their last contest in the data was back in 2020, 6 years before Butts-N-Racks BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-head#879 of the rated field
- Contests
- 38
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 39%
- Peak
- 1636
No shared contest yet.
Careers of much the same size, 38 contests to 31, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Head-to-head#876 of the rated field
- Contests
- 18
- GCs
- 3
- Top-10s
- 67%
- Peak
- 1625
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Butts-N-Racks BBQ)
Their rating is built on 3 Grand Championships in 18 contests, alongside a 67% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Head-to-head#889 of the rated field
- Contests
- 110
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 42%
- Peak
- 1673
3–3 in 6 shared contests (50% to Butts-N-Racks BBQ)
Level with Butts-N-Racks BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Head-to-headFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE CHIP BBQ | 23 | 3 | 20 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| WeQ4U | 21 | 3 | 18 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. | 20 | 7 | 13 | 35% | ⚔ compare |
| ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | 20 | 4 | 16 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| Shiggin aint easy | 19 | 6 | 13 | 32% | ⚔ compare |
| HIGH ON THE HAWG | 16 | 10 | 6 | 63% | ⚔ compare |
| BBQ Maestros | 16 | 10 | 6 | 63% | ⚔ compare |
| HOT COLE'S BBQ | 16 | 4 | 12 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | 15 | 9 | 6 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| WE WILL ROCK QUE | 15 | 4 | 11 | 27% | ⚔ compare |
| LOCAL YOKELS BBQ | 14 | 1 | 13 | 7% | ⚔ compare |
| HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS, KY | 13 | 9 | 4 | 69% | ⚔ compare |
| SmokinGhost BBQ | 13 | 3 | 10 | 23% | ⚔ compare |
| LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | 12 | 11 | 1 | 92% | ⚔ compare |
| BooyaQ | 12 | 5 | 7 | 42% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 30 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 180.0000 🔥 | 154.2172 | 170.03 | top 50% |
| Pork Ribs | 31 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 179.4400 | 149.0972 | 169.63 | top 45% |
| Pork | 30 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 177.7028 | 151.9084 | 168.48 | top 52% |
| Brisket | 30 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 180.0000 🔥 | 145.6684 | 169.38 | top 43% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| IN | 13 | 0 | top 43% |
| KY | 9 | 0 | top 38% |
| OH | 4 | 0 | top 44% |
| TN | 4 | 0 | top 78% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 1 | 0 | top 28% |
| Medium (20–39) | 16 | 0 | top 37% |
| Large (40+) | 13 | 0 | top 59% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bands & BBQ at the Point | 3 | 7 | 0 | top 38% | 2024-09-13 |
| Buckeye BBQ Classic | 2 | 10 | 0 | top 53% | 2026-07-17 |
| 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) | 2 | 68 | 0 | top 81% | 2025-05-25 |
| Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues | 2 | 2 | 0 | top 14% | 2024-08-16 |
| Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues Festival | 2 | 27 | 0 | top 75% | 2022-08-19 |
| Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off | 2 | 9 | 0 | top 50% | 2021-10-15 |
| Smokin' in the Hills | 2 | 6 | 0 | top 35% | 2021-09-24 |
| Fire on the Mountain | 2 | 4 | 0 | top 30% | 2020-07-24 |
The story so far (19 numbers that describe this team)
On the trail
12 yrs
2014-08-15 → 2026-08-21
Busiest season
2026
5 contests
Contests a season
3.1
across 10 seasons in the data
Cooks most in
IN
13 of 31 contests · 4 states/provinces in all
Contests visited
21
8 of them cooked more than once
Most-entered meat
Pork Ribs
31 entries · 2 wins · 13 calls
Strongest meat
Chicken
averages 170.03 · weakest Pork (168.48)
Walk rate
65%
a top-10 call in 20 of 31 contests
Overall top-10 rate
35%
11 of 31 contests
Best top-10 run
2
straight contests — and still running
Master average
677.40
out of 720 · 30 contests · 0 GCs
Perfect 180s
2
every judge at the table handing back a nine
Opponents faced
533
643–790 across every shared overall standing
Road miles
2,960
31 mapped stops · furthest 203 mi
Schedule strength
1597
average field rating faced — tougher than 76% of rated contests
Purse competed for
$207,900
listed at 24 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0
from 24 state-championship entries
Longest layoff
3.9 yrs
2015-09-04 → 2019-07-26
Power rating
1618
peak 1618 · #881 of 6,413 rated
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
- 2014
- First tracked contest Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues Festival
- 2015
- First call Homecoming 2015 BBQ Cookoff
- First overall top-10 Homecoming 2015 BBQ Cookoff
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score678.2400 Homecoming 2015 BBQ Cookoff
- 2020
- First category win (Pork Ribs) Big Blue Barbecue
- 2021
- 10th tracked contest Smokin' in the Hills
- 2023
- First perfect 180 (Brisket) Madison Ribberfest BBQ Blues
- 2024
- First overall podium Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues
- First Reserve Championship Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues
- Career-best overall score702.8000 Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues
- 2025
- 25th tracked contest Madison Ribberfest
- 2026
- Peak power rating (1618) City of Madison BBQ Party (formerly Madison Ribberfest)
- Most recent contest City of Madison BBQ Party (formerly Madison Ribberfest)
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +16.4 | Fire on the Mountain | 2019-07-26 |
| +15.1 | Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues | 2024-08-16 |
| +11.5 | Homecoming 2015 BBQ Cookoff | 2015-09-04 |
| +10.9 | Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off | 2019-10-18 |
| +9.7 | Hoosier BBQ Classic #2 | 2023-06-10 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -11.2 | Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues Festival | 2014-08-15 |
| -7.5 | Buckeye BBQ Classic | 2025-07-18 |
| -3.5 | Madison Ribberfest | 2025-08-15 |
| -2.8 | Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off | 2021-10-15 |
| -2.1 | Bands & BBQ at the Point | 2023-09-08 |
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 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 60% | top 51% | 96.7% | 95.3% |
| 2025 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 20% | top 65% | 95.1% | 93.8% |
| 2024 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 100% | top 19% | 97.6% | 96.4% |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 75% | top 40% | 95.9% | 94.4% |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33% | top 54% | 94.7% | 94% |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 67% | top 45% | 94.5% | 94% |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 100% | top 47% | 93.6% | 93.4% |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 100% | top 29% | 95.4% | 94.5% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | top 28% | 94.2% | 94.2% |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 90% | 83.5% | 83.5% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-21 | City of Madison BBQ Party (formerly Madison Ribberfest) 🏅 Madison, IN | 7 / 39 (695.9660) | 3 (176.5600) | 5 (177.7144) | 27 (165.0972) | 5 (176.5944) |
| 2026-07-17 | Buckeye BBQ Classic 🏅 Hillsboro, OH | 10 / 30 (689.6340) | 7 (175.4056) | 17 (171.4516) | 14 (171.9656) | 12 (170.8112) |
| 2026-05-24 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Master Series Invitational and the Backyard Series Invitational (Sunday, May 24, 2026) unrated Lebanon, TN | 49 / 82 (691.3372) | 80 (165.0856) | 4 (178.8572) | 69 (168.5372) | 8 (178.8572) |
| 2026-05-23 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Wells Cup, Cocktail Ancillary, Dessert Ancillary (Saturday, May 23, 2026) unrated Lebanon, TN | 107 / 117 (668.9940) | 105 (167.3712) | 61 (171.4400) | 107 (162.8000) | 82 (167.3828) |
| 2026-05-22 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: World Rib Finals (Friday, May 22, 2026) unrated Lebanon, TN | — | — | 46 (173.1200) | — | — |
| 2025-09-12 | Bands and BBQ at the Point 🏅 Carrollton, KY | 8 / 29 (685.0284) | 13 (170.8228) | 1 (179.4400) | 23 (161.6456) | 6 (173.1200) |
| 2025-08-15 | Madison Ribberfest 🏅 Madison, IN | 27 / 45 (672.9596) | 21 (171.9656) | 36 (161.6572) | 32 (167.3712) | 12 (171.9656) |
| 2025-07-18 | Buckeye BBQ Classic 🏅 Hillsboro, OH | 29 / 40 (669.5772) | 23 (169.1200) | 31 (164.5372) | 23 (167.3712) | 21 (168.5488) |
| 2025-05-25 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) unrated Lebanon, TN | 69 / 70 (667.2572) | 65 (167.3828) | 69 (163.9544) | 37 (171.9772) | 66 (163.9428) |
| 2025-05-24 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025) unrated Lebanon, TN | 68 / 106 (680.9940) | 101 (163.9312) | 55 (171.9772) | 58 (170.8228) | 23 (174.2628) |
| 2024-09-13 | Bands & BBQ at the Point 🏅 Carrollton, KY | 7 / 31 (690.7540) | 3 (176.0000) | 24 (161.6456) | 2 (177.7028) | 4 (175.4056) |
| 2024-08-16 | Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues 🏅 Madison, IN | 2 / 49 (702.8000) | 9 (174.2628) | 2 (177.7144) | 11 (175.4172) | 7 (175.4056) |
| 2024-06-07 | Hoosier BBQ Classic 🏅 Franklin, IN | 11 / 38 (689.0744) | 9 (175.4056) | 5 (175.4288) | 25 (169.6800) | 22 (168.5600) |
| 2023-09-08 | Bands & BBQ at the Point 🏅 Carrollton, KY | 16 / 33 (677.5884) | 1 (180.0000) | 25 (163.3828) | 29 (162.2400) | 5 (171.9656) |
| 2023-08-18 | Madison Ribberfest BBQ Blues 🏅 Madison, IN | 10 / 41 (690.2056) | 22 (171.4056) | 31 (162.2400) | 5 (176.5600) | 1 (180.0000) |
| 2023-06-10 | Hoosier BBQ Classic #2 🏅 Franklin, IN | 9 / 28 (683.9432) | 16 (170.8344) | 9 (171.4516) | 9 (173.1200) | 16 (168.5372) |
| 2023-06-09 | Hoosier BBQ Classic #1 🏅 Franklin, IN | 21 / 38 (667.9200) | 21 (170.8572) | 25 (165.7028) | 16 (170.2628) | 29 (161.0972) |
| 2022-08-19 | Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues Festival 🏅 Madison, IN | 27 / 45 (666.6624) | 26 (168.5140) | 27 (167.3828) | 28 (165.0856) | 26 (165.6800) |
| 2022-06-18 | Hoosier BBQ Classic Day 2 🏅 Franklin, IN | 15 / 27 (682.1828) | 12 (173.1200) | 10 (172.5600) | 19 (168.5256) | 16 (167.9772) |
| 2022-06-17 | Hoosier BBQ Classic Day 1 🏅 Franklin, IN | 20 / 42 (681.0284) | 15 (173.1084) | 22 (167.9888) | 13 (171.9656) | 26 (167.9656) |
| 2021-10-15 | Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Munfordville, KY | 19 / 27 (680.4800) | 19 (167.9656) | 12 (171.4172) | 11 (172.5716) | 20 (168.5256) |
| 2021-09-24 | Smokin' in the Hills 🏅 Hillsboro, OH | 6 / 26 (675.9316) | 7 (173.1084) | 10 (163.9888) | 2 (177.1544) | 11 (161.6800) |
| 2021-09-10 | Bands & BBQ at the Point 🏅 Carrollton, KY | 12 / 28 (673.6920) | 16 (164.5488) | 14 (168.0232) | 14 (167.4172) | 6 (173.7028) |
| 2020-09-18 | Smokin in the Hills 🏅 Hillsboro, OH | 19 / 41 (670.2056) | 34 (161.6684) | 8 (170.8572) | 21 (165.6800) | 7 (172.0000) |
| 2020-08-14 | Big Blue Barbecue 🏅 Shelbyville, IN | 25 / 50 (672.5828) | 42 (163.3944) | 1 (177.7600) | 47 (158.8228) | 19 (172.6056) |
| 2020-07-24 | Fire on the Mountain 🏅 Leburn, KY | 13 / 30 (674.2400) | 25 (159.4056) | 3 (174.2744) | 13 (169.7144) | 9 (170.8456) |
| 2019-10-18 | Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Munfordville, KY | 9 / 31 (686.7312) | 3 (177.7028) | 21 (167.3712) | 2 (174.2628) | 20 (167.3944) |
| 2019-09-20 | Grillin & Chillin BBQ 🏅 Owensboro, KY | 14 / 34 (673.0512) | 10 (171.9656) | 17 (167.3828) | 16 (164.0000) | 9 (169.7028) |
| 2019-07-26 | Fire on the Mountain 🏅 Leburn, KY | 4 / 25 (682.1480) | 7 (173.1084) | 4 (173.1200) | 13 (168.5484) | 12 (167.3712) |
| 2015-09-04 | Homecoming 2015 BBQ Cookoff Vernon, IN | 5 / 18 (678.2400) | 3 (172.5944) | 2 (175.4400) | 9 (166.2628) | 11 (163.9428) |
| 2014-08-15 | Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues Festival Madison, IN | 54 / 60 (600.8912) | 54 (154.2172) | 55 (149.0972) | 54 (151.9084) | 54 (145.6684) |
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 | #381 (415 pts) | #359 (515 pts) | #325 (610 pts) | #519 (290 pts) | #326 (520 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #484 (390 pts) | #535 (385 pts) | #454 (520 pts) | #571 (315 pts) | #433 (505 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #387 (551 pts) | #423 (521 pts) | #470 (506 pts) | #463 (446 pts) | #478 (446 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #697 (455 pts) | #662 (520 pts) | #841 (375 pts) | #707 (470 pts) | #893 (340 pts) |