Big Butts BBQ NJ
Rating
1527
peak 1557 · rated over 38 contests
Best runs
4
straight top-10s
Contests
40
in the data
First seen
2019-04-26
latest 2026-07-11
Best ToY finish
#607
Master 2025
Grand champs
0
2 reserve
Category wins
2
7 podiums
Overall top-10s
13
of 40 contests
Avg finish
top 52%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
335.83 ▼
last 5 Backyard vs avg 342.35 (-6.52)
Walk rate
65%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
4
best run (overall)
Consistency
±47.66
std dev of Backyard overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 166.50 · weakest Brisket (155.32)
Road miles
7792
mi across 40 mapped stops · furthest 757 mi
Schedule strength
48%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1543)
Purse competed for
$269K
listed at 37 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
GCs in 35 state-championship entries
Master avg
640.54 / 720
16 Master contests · 0 GCs
Backyard avg
342.35 / 360
22 Backyard contests · 0 GCs
Master and Backyard overall scores sit on different scales (Master is out of 720, Backyard out of 360), so they're kept separate — averaging them together would be misleading.
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
Backwooder BBQ has finished one call ahead of Big Butts BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
Capt. Blue BBQ has landed one call behind them 3 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit has come out ahead in 23 of their 27 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of BIG BOB'S SMOKIN QUE in 17 of their 23 shared contests.
🏕️ Happy hunting ground
Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) is their spot: an average finish in the top 18% across 2 visits.
💔 The heartbreaker
Came within 1.6568 points of the Grand Championship at K.S. Que (BACKYARD ONLY) (2024-07-06).
😤 Chicken nemesis
Even in their strongest meat, Brewski's BBQ Competition Team has out-cooked them in 15 of 18 shared chicken entries.
📅 A April team
Something about April: average finish in the top 36% across 7 contests, versus top 52% the rest of the year.
Teams like this (closest power rating, NJ first)
Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit | 27 | 3 | 23 | 11% | ⚔ compare |
| BIG BOB'S SMOKIN QUE | 23 | 17 | 5 | 74% | ⚔ compare |
| Capt. Blue BBQ | 22 | 8 | 14 | 36% | ⚔ compare |
| CHUNKY BBQ | 21 | 5 | 15 | 24% | ⚔ compare |
| Second Helping BBQ -PA | 19 | 14 | 5 | 74% | ⚔ compare |
| BOGGS HOG BBQ | 18 | 2 | 16 | 11% | ⚔ compare |
| Brewski's BBQ Competition Team | 18 | 2 | 16 | 11% | ⚔ compare |
| TRUCKERS CHOICE BBQ | 17 | 15 | 2 | 88% | ⚔ compare |
| Sauce Em & Toss Em BBQ | 17 | 7 | 10 | 41% | ⚔ compare |
| Weber's Backyard BBQ | 17 | 1 | 16 | 6% | ⚔ compare |
| Oldman's Backyard B B QUE | 16 | 8 | 8 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | 15 | 8 | 6 | 53% | ⚔ compare |
| DIG'N N PIG'N | 15 | 4 | 9 | 27% | ⚔ compare |
| 4 BOXERS Q | 14 | 11 | 3 | 79% | ⚔ compare |
| POPPA Q-BBQ | 14 | 9 | 5 | 64% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 38 | 16 | 2 | 5 | 178.8800 | 147.9772 | 166.50 | top 43% |
| Pork Ribs | 40 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 176.5600 | 134.2172 | 161.84 | top 47% |
| Pork | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 175.4056 | 144.4800 | 157.39 | top 74% |
| Brisket | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 169.1428 | 135.9772 | 155.32 | top 79% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NJ | 17 | 0 | top 39% |
| PA | 11 | 0 | top 41% |
| NC | 4 | 0 | top 98% |
| GA | 3 | 0 | top 73% |
| VA | 2 | 0 | top 85% |
| IL | 1 | 0 | top 97% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 3 | 0 | top 49% |
| Medium (20–39) | 23 | 0 | top 52% |
| Large (40+) | 12 | 0 | top 54% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey State Barbecue Championship | 4 | 2 | 0 | top 44% | 2026-07-11 |
| New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2) | 4 | 6 | 0 | top 29% | 2024-04-20 |
| Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 2) | 3 | 8 | 0 | top 35% | 2024-05-18 |
| Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) | 2 | 25 | 0 | top 86% | 2025-10-25 |
| Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) | 2 | 4 | 0 | top 18% | 2024-10-19 |
| K.S. Que (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2 | 2 | 0 | top 32% | 2024-07-06 |
| York County BBQ Festival | 2 | 16 | 0 | top 58% | 2023-06-16 |
| Smoke in the Grove (Day 2) | 2 | 21 | 0 | top 46% | 2022-07-30 |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2024 (11 contests)
- Cooks mostly in NJ (19 of 40 contests)
- Most-entered category: Pork Ribs (40 entries)
- Average Master overall score: 640.54 / 720
- Average Backyard overall score: 342.35 / 360
Milestones
- 🚩 2019-04-26 — First tracked contest · BBQ Capital Cook Off
- 📣 2020-09-11 — First call · Swine At the Shrine
- 🎖️ 2023-10-06 — 25th tracked contest · The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival
- ⭐ 2025-07-12 — Career-best overall score (686.8688) · New Jersey State Barbecue Championship
- 📈 2025-07-12 — Peak power rating (1557) · New Jersey State Barbecue Championship
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +16.8 | K.S. Que (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2024-07-06 |
| +14.2 | New Jersey State Barbecue Championship | 2025-07-12 |
| +12.3 | New Jersey KnoQ-out: Day 2-CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES | 2022-04-23 |
| +11.7 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) | 2024-10-19 |
| +10.8 | Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 1) | 2024-05-17 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -14.2 | Route 66 Smoke Out | 2019-05-03 |
| -14.1 | BBQ Capital Cook Off | 2019-04-26 |
| -13.4 | Pigs & Pedals | 2019-08-02 |
| -12.9 | Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic | 2019-09-20 |
| -12.6 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) | 2025-10-25 |
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 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 71% | 88% | 88% |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 67% | top 58% | 95.4% | 92.7% |
| 2024 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 100% | top 27% | 95.4% | 93% |
| 2023 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36% | top 57% | 93.6% | 90.1% |
| 2022 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 86% | top 41% | 137.6% | 102.9% |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | top 56% | 90.2% | 88.3% |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 89% | 92.4% | 92.4% |
| 2019 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 98% | 84.9% | 83.1% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-11 | New Jersey State Barbecue Championship 🏅 North Wildwood, NJ | 44 / 62 (633.4972) | 12 (172.5484) | 19 (170.2744) | 58 (144.4800) | 59 (146.1944) |
| 2025-10-25 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) 🏅 Jackson, NJ | 29 / 32 (653.5432) | 19 (168.5372) | 21 (167.9656) | 29 (163.9544) | 30 (153.0860) |
| 2025-10-24 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 1) 🏅 Jackson, NJ | 25 / 31 (661.0516) | 13 (171.9772) | 10 (171.4172) | 28 (161.6800) | 28 (155.9772) |
| 2025-07-12 | New Jersey State Barbecue Championship 🏅 North Wildwood, NJ | 2 / 63 (686.8688) | 1 (178.2972) | 10 (170.8916) | 16 (168.5372) | 12 (169.1428) |
| 2024-10-19 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) 🏅 Columbia, NJ | 4 / 26 (343.3944) | 13 (166.8344) | 2 (176.5600) | — | — |
| 2024-10-19 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT RIBS) Columbia, NJ | — | — | 7 (168.5488) | — | — |
| 2024-10-18 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 1) 🏅 Columbia, NJ | 6 / 28 (334.2056) | 7 (168.5256) | 6 (165.6800) | — | — |
| 2024-08-23 | New Holland Summer Fest 🏅 New Holland, PA | 10 / 38 (325.0632) | 3 (169.6800) | 11 (155.3832) | — | — |
| 2024-07-13 | New Jersey State Barbecue Championship 🏅 North Wildwood, NJ | 23 / 62 (661.0744) | 4 (178.8800) | 24 (165.0972) | 37 (160.5372) | 41 (156.5600) |
| 2024-07-06 | K.S. Que (BACKYARD ONLY) Kennett Square, PA | 2 / 14 (342.2744) | 6 (171.4172) | 2 (170.8572) | — | — |
| 2024-05-18 | Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 2) 🏅 Morgantown, PA | 12 / 26 (334.2172) | 9 (170.8228) | 16 (163.3944) | — | — |
| 2024-05-17 | Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 1) 🏅 Morgantown, PA | 8 / 37 (340.5028) | 10 (168.5256) | 5 (171.9772) | — | — |
| 2024-04-20 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2) 🏅 Blairstown, NJ | 6 / 27 (334.2516) | 4 (170.2744) | 7 (163.9772) | — | — |
| 2024-04-20 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT RIBS) Blairstown, NJ | — | — | 6 (169.7032) | — | — |
| 2024-04-19 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 1) 🏅 Blairstown, NJ | 10 / 29 (327.9316) | 3 (173.1316) | 15 (154.8000) | — | — |
| 2023-10-06 | The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival 🏅 Lyons, GA | 21 / 29 (664.4688) | 18 (167.9772) | 18 (164.5372) | 17 (169.6916) | 21 (162.2628) |
| 2023-07-28 | Smoke on the Rail (Day 1) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 26 / 51 (326.7772) | 27 (163.9544) | 22 (162.8228) | — | — |
| 2023-07-21 | Smoke on the Mountain 🏅 Galax, VA | 33 / 38 (631.8400) | 29 (166.8228) | 38 (144.5032) | 32 (160.4912) | 29 (160.0228) |
| 2023-07-14 | New Jersey State Barbecue Championship 🏅 North Wildwood, NJ | 41 / 64 (637.6004) | 21 (168.5372) | 20 (167.4172) | 60 (147.9544) | 43 (153.6916) |
| 2023-06-30 | K.S. Que (BACKYARD ONLY) Kennett Square, PA | 6 / 12 (337.0744) | 6 (168.5256) | 6 (168.5488) | — | — |
| 2023-06-16 | York County BBQ Festival 🏅 Delta, PA | 16 / 29 (327.9316) | 20 (160.5372) | 11 (167.3944) | — | — |
| 2023-05-19 | Twin Valley Fire and Smoke 🏅 Morgantown, PA | 14 / 37 (327.9544) | 17 (162.2400) | 10 (165.7144) | — | — |
| 2023-05-05 | Jiggy With The Piggy - Day 1 🏅 Kannapolis, NC | 34 / 35 (642.1144) | 23 (168.5372) | 34 (150.7772) | 30 (162.2744) | 30 (160.5256) |
| 2023-04-22 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) 🏅 Blairstown, NJ | 8 / 30 (317.0516) | 8 (157.0856) | 8 (159.9660) | — | — |
| 2023-04-21 | New Jersey KnoQ-out - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 1) 🏅 Blairstown, NJ | 12 / 36 (310.1600) | 11 (158.2172) | 13 (151.9428) | — | — |
| 2023-03-31 | Swampfest 🏅 Waycross, GA | 16 / 28 (668.3884) | 27 (160.5028) | 20 (166.2516) | 6 (175.4056) | 17 (166.2284) |
| 2022-10-22 | Red White & Que: Day 2 - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES 🏅 Jackson, NJ | 10 / 27 (331.9316) | 15 (162.8116) | 7 (169.1200) | — | — |
| 2022-10-21 | Red White & Que: Day 1 - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES 🏅 Jackson, NJ | 15 / 29 (324.5032) | 5 (171.9772) | 19 (152.5260) | — | — |
| 2022-07-30 | Smoke in the Grove (Day 2) 🏅 Spring Grove, PA | 22 / 42 (484.4692) | 23 (163.9660) | 4 (170.2744) | 26 (150.2288) | — |
| 2022-07-29 | Smoke in the Grove (Day 1) 🏅 Spring Grove, PA | 21 / 54 (495.4060) | 10 (173.1316) | 4 (171.4400) | 33 (150.8344) | — |
| 2022-06-17 | York County BBQ Festival 🏅 Delta, PA | 21 / 34 (312.4804) | 18 (161.6916) | 24 (150.7888) | — | — |
| 2022-04-23 | New Jersey KnoQ-out: Day 2-CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES 🏅 Blairstown, NJ | 7 / 41 (329.0744) | 1 (174.2628) | 12 (154.8116) | — | — |
| 2022-04-22 | New Jersey KnoQ-out: Day 1-CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES 🏅 Blairstown, NJ | 12 / 48 (314.2060) | 5 (168.5372) | 16 (145.6688) | — | — |
| 2021-10-22 | Red White & Que: Day 1 CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES Jackson, NJ | 9 / 31 (310.8344) | 18 (147.9772) | 8 (162.8572) | — | — |
| 2021-07-23 | Smoke on the Mountain BBQ Championship 🏅 Galax, VA | 14 / 17 (649.6456) | 3 (173.7256) | 7 (169.1200) | 17 (147.9200) | 13 (158.8800) |
| 2020-09-11 | Swine At the Shrine 🏅 Savannah, GA | 34 / 38 (665.0060) | 17 (173.1200) | 38 (158.2516) | 4 (175.4056) | 38 (158.2288) |
| 2019-09-20 | Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic 🏅 Salisbury, NC | 55 / 56 (609.4512) | 53 (151.9656) | 49 (157.0856) | 56 (147.9084) | 48 (152.4916) |
| 2019-08-02 | Pigs & Pedals 🏅 Asheboro, NC | 40 / 40 (577.5432) | 36 (152.5716) | 40 (134.2172) | 38 (153.1200) | 40 (137.6344) |
| 2019-05-03 | Route 66 Smoke Out 🏅 Dwight, IL | 32 / 33 (611.2456) | 26 (160.5256) | 32 (145.1088) | 33 (147.3828) | 23 (158.2284) |
| 2019-04-26 | BBQ Capital Cook Off 🏅 Lexington, NC | 41 / 43 (595.3140) | 31 (158.2512) | 34 (155.9544) | 43 (145.1312) | 42 (135.9772) |
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 | #894 (60 pts) | #763 (125 pts) | #948 (90 pts) | #929 (60 pts) | #917 (60 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #607 (260 pts) | #634 (285 pts) | #964 (135 pts) | #1037 (105 pts) | #904 (125 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #2473 (58 pts) | #2490 (58 pts) | #2492 (58 pts) | #2489 (58 pts) | #1962 (68 pts) |