The heartbreaker
Came within 0.5596 points of the Grand Championship at Hammond BBQ (Mar 22, 2019).
CAJUN BLAZE is a competition barbecue team with 64 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2025. They have won 12 Grand Championships, most recently at the D'Iberville BBQ Throw Down Festival (2019), and finished Reserve Grand Champion 7 times. They are ranked #81 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings and hold 2 all-time KCBS records.
Where this team sits in the all-time KCBS record book. A gold line is a record they hold outright; the rest are boards they are on.
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 ↗ | Master | #314 (363 pts) | #428 (273 pts) | #413 (293 pts) | #330 (373 pts) | #432 (273 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #283 (1,063 pts) | #371 (863 pts) | #455 (753 pts) | #349 (933 pts) | #368 (883 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #398 (870 pts) | #527 (700 pts) | #437 (835 pts) | #779 (450 pts) | #577 (630 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #228 (1,400 pts) | #252 (1,245 pts) | #404 (950 pts) | #374 (1,010 pts) | #219 (1,395 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #68 (2,181 pts) | #69 (1,981 pts) | #206 (1,417 pts) | #103 (1,771 pts) | #132 (1,726 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #124 (1,913 pts) | #181 (1,493 pts) | #155 (1,608 pts) | #214 (1,348 pts) | #160 (1,668 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #67 (2,242 pts) | #166 (1,552 pts) | #133 (1,707 pts) | #78 (1,932 pts) | #114 (1,852 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #675 (458 pts) | #763 (428 pts) | #711 (468 pts) | #891 (363 pts) | #1123 (258 pts) |
The teams rated closest to CAJUN BLAZE, each with one reason worth a look.
These two have cooked 3 of the same contests — CAJUN BLAZE ahead 2–1 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.
⚔ Head-to-headThis is the highest they've ever been rated, 75 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-headTheir last contest in the data was back in 2022, 3 years before CAJUN BLAZE's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-head283 contests to 64: their number has had years to settle where CAJUN BLAZE's is still finding its level.
⚔ Head-to-headTheir rating is built on 10 Grand Championships in 86 contests, alongside a 77% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Compare careersBoth teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.
⚔ Head-to-head| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAYOU BOOGIE BBQ | 32 | 18 | 14 | 56% | ⚔ compare |
| FIRE DANCER BBQ | 29 | 20 | 9 | 69% | ⚔ compare |
| BOOTYQUE | 26 | 14 | 12 | 54% | ⚔ compare |
| THE BLUE BLOODS | 23 | 14 | 9 | 61% | ⚔ compare |
| GIVE IT TO GOD | 21 | 20 | 1 | 95% | ⚔ compare |
| QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | 21 | 10 | 11 | 48% | ⚔ compare |
| SWIGGIN PIG | 19 | 14 | 5 | 74% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN' SOBER...SOMETIMES | 18 | 18 | 0 | 100% | ⚔ compare |
| RED EYED SMOKERS | 18 | 14 | 4 | 78% | ⚔ compare |
| KILLER HOGS | 18 | 14 | 4 | 78% | ⚔ compare |
| Organizer Portal | 18 | 9 | 9 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| COCHON 225 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 82% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKE ON THIS | 17 | 12 | 5 | 71% | ⚔ compare |
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 17 | 7 | 10 | 41% | ⚔ compare |
| CUZ'S CUSTOM COOKING | 15 | 14 | 1 | 93% | ⚔ compare |
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 64 | 32 | 4 | 15 | 180 🔥 | 158.2400 | 172.03 | top 32% |
| Pork Ribs | 64 | 30 | 5 | 11 | 178.8572 | 158.2284 | 170.87 | top 33% |
| Pork | 64 | 36 | 5 | 12 | 180 🔥 | 154.7656 | 171.28 | top 32% |
| Brisket | 64 | 37 | 4 | 17 | 180 🔥 | 155.9428 | 171.76 | top 29% |
“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) | 3 | 1 | top 28% |
| Medium (20–39) | 31 | 4 | top 22% |
| Large (40+) | 30 | 7 | top 22% |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +16.7 | Hammond BBQ | Mar 21, 2014 |
| +16 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | Mar 1, 2013 |
| +15.2 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) | Sep 18, 2015 |
| +14.6 | Country Pleasin Grillin & Chillin BBQ Classic | Nov 7, 2014 |
| +14.2 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | Mar 7, 2014 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -12.7 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) | Oct 11, 2013 |
| -12.5 | Bonifay All American Smoker Competition | Oct 2, 2020 |
| -10.4 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship | Sep 26, 2014 |
| -8.4 | VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition | Oct 25, 2024 |
| -4.7 | VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition | Oct 24, 2025 |
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | top 19% | 97.5% | 95.9% |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 48% | 94.6% | 94.6% |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 61% | 94.4% | 94.4% |
| 2019 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 71% | top 35% | 97.8% | 94% |
| 2018 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 80% | top 10% | 97.4% | 95.8% |
| 2017 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 67% | top 21% | 96.8% | 95.1% |
| 2016 | 12 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 92% | top 17% | 98.4% | 95.7% |
| 2015 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 91% | top 18% | 99.3% | 95.7% |
| 2014 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 91% | top 20% | 97.6% | 95.3% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 75% | top 32% | 97.1% | 94.3% |
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 24, 2025 | VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition 🏅 Vidalia, LA | 12 / 33 (687.3140) | 16 (169.6684) | 20 (167.9656) | 4 (175.4172) | 6 (174.2628) |
| Oct 10, 2025 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) unrated Lynchburg, TN | 4 / 90 (701.6684) | 10 (177.7028) | 18 (176) | 3 (180) | 56 (167.9656) |
| Sep 12, 2025 | Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Classic Cookoff 🏅 Waller, TX | 15 / 92 (682.8344) | 24 (170.2628) | 23 (172.5944) | 43 (168) | 9 (171.9772) |
| Oct 25, 2024 | VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition 🏅 Vidalia, LA | 15 / 31 (681.0056) | 18 (167.3828) | 17 (170.8344) | 20 (168.5256) | 5 (174.2628) |
| Oct 2, 2020 | Bonifay All American Smoker Competition 🏅 Bonifay, FL | 11 / 18 (679.8972) | 12 (170.2744) | 7 (171.9772) | 7 (172.5600) | 14 (165.0856) |
| Dec 6, 2019 | COTR BBQ 🏅 Demopolis, AL | 2 / 25 (685.0744) | 6 (169.6684) | 8 (169.1200) | 3 (173.7144) | 5 (172.5716) |
| Oct 25, 2019 | 31st Annual Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational Barbecue (JUDGES FULL) (COMPETITORS SERIES) unrated Lynchburg, TN | 76 / 97 (659.8628) | 90 (158.2400) | 46 (171.4056) | 16 (174.2744) | 90 (155.9428) |
| Aug 24, 2019 | Smokin on the Rez BBQ and Music Festival (DAY 2) 🏅 Brandon, MS | 7 / 28 (674.1372) | 8 (169.6800) | 17 (163.9428) | 5 (170.8228) | 10 (169.6916) |
| Aug 23, 2019 | Smokin on the Rez BBQ and Music Festival (DAY 1) 🏅 Brandon, MS | 10 / 29 (665.5312) | 16 (168.5372) | 5 (171.4056) | 27 (154.7656) | 6 (170.8228) |
| Mar 22, 2019 | Hammond BBQ 🏅 Hammond, LA | 2 / 48 (692.5032) | 3 (176.5716) | 18 (168.5372) | 4 (173.1316) | 9 (174.2628) |
| Feb 22, 2019 | D'Iberville BBQ Throw Down Festival 🏅 Diberville, MS | 1 / 16 (704.0344) | 3 (172.5828) | 2 (172.5716) | 1 (179.4400) | 1 (179.4400) |
| Feb 8, 2019 | KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Championship 🏅 unrated Little Rock, AR | 84 / 92 (658.6856) | 75 (166.2400) | 39 (168.5256) | 81 (162.2400) | 83 (161.6800) |
| Nov 30, 2018 | Christmas on the River Demoplis, AL | 1 / 29 (695.3600) | 3 (176.5716) | 6 (173.7028) | 12 (170.8228) | 3 (174.2628) |
| Aug 25, 2018 | Smokin on the Rez BBQ and Music Festival (DAY 2) Brandon, MS | 3 / 28 (686.8000) | 2 (177.7028) | 1 (174.8572) | 14 (166.8228) | 12 (167.4172) |
| Aug 24, 2018 | Smokin on the Rez BBQ and Music Festival (DAY 1) Brandon, MS | 3 / 28 (682.7312) | 16 (168.5256) | 1 (175.4172) | 13 (167.3828) | 5 (171.4056) |
| Mar 23, 2018 | Hammond BBQ Hammond, LA | 10 / 48 (682.1368) | 13 (173.1200) | 15 (170.8228) | 15 (168.5256) | 16 (169.6684) |
| Mar 2, 2018 | Sonny's Smokin Showdown (INVITATIONAL ONLY) unrated Orlando, FL | 3 / 49 (701.0972) | 11 (174.8456) | 35 (169.6800) | 9 (177.7144) | 3 (178.8572) |
| Nov 8, 2017 | World Barbecue Championship Orange Beach, AL | 30 / 93 (677.0172) | 31 (170.8228) | 21 (171.9772) | 49 (166.8344) | 46 (167.3828) |
| Oct 27, 2017 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) Lynchburg, TN | 33 / 95 (684.4684) | 41 (171.9772) | 47 (169.6684) | 61 (166.8228) | 11 (176) |
| Sep 16, 2017 | Smokin on the Rez BBQ and Music Festival (DAY2) (JUDGES LIST FULL) Ridgeland, MS | 3 / 17 (690.7656) | 2 (177.7028) | 13 (165.6800) | 3 (174.2628) | 3 (173.1200) |
| Sep 15, 2017 | Smokin on the Rez BBQ and Music Festival (DAY 1) (JUDGES LIST FULL) Ridgeland, MS | 2 / 22 (687.3256) | 1 (175.4056) | 4 (169.6916) | 8 (169.6684) | 2 (172.5600) |
| Apr 28, 2017 | Southaven Springfest Southaven, MS | 4 / 33 (688.0112) | 8 (172.5484) | 16 (167.4400) | 10 (172) | 2 (176.0228) |
| Mar 24, 2017 | Hammond BBQ Hammond, LA | 4 / 55 (689.0972) | 22 (170.8572) | 18 (170.2744) | 10 (173.7028) | 3 (174.2628) |
| Mar 18, 2017 | Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2 Tupelo, MS | 2 / 45 (697.0860) | 2 (177.7144) | 6 (173.1316) | 8 (171.9772) | 9 (174.2628) |
| Mar 17, 2017 | Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 Tupelo, MS | 28 / 68 (677.0400) | 33 (169.1200) | 34 (166.8228) | 42 (166.2400) | 12 (174.8572) |
| Feb 24, 2017 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Daphne, AL | 9 / 28 (674.1940) | 11 (171.9656) | 9 (171.4400) | 14 (165.1200) | 14 (165.6684) |
| Dec 2, 2016 | Christmas on the River Demopolis, AL | 10 / 34 (681.6000) | 19 (167.9656) | 4 (174.2744) | 12 (170.8228) | 18 (168.5372) |
| Nov 11, 2016 | World Barbecue Championship Orange Beach, AL | 1 / 89 (697.0740) | 5 (177.1428) | 6 (176.5600) | 6 (175.4056) | 45 (167.9656) |
| Oct 21, 2016 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) Lynchburg, TN | 47 / 96 (672.4452) | 32 (171.4056) | 83 (158.2284) | 34 (169.6912) | 25 (173.1200) |
| Oct 7, 2016 | Downtown BBQ Throwdown Hattiesburg, MS | 8 / 26 (663.2916) | 11 (163.9428) | 14 (161.1088) | 4 (171.9656) | 8 (166.2744) |
| Jul 1, 2016 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Marietta, GA | 12 / 30 (687.8740) | 2 (177.7028) | 14 (171.9772) | 23 (167.3828) | 18 (170.8112) |
| Jun 17, 2016 | The Desoto Shrine Club 8th Annual BBQ Cook Off Hernando, MS | 1 / 41 (701.1544) | 21 (168.5256) | 3 (177.1772) | 5 (176.5716) | 1 (178.8800) |
| May 20, 2016 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Southhaven, MS | 5 / 29 (692.5028) | 3 (178.8572) | 27 (159.3828) | 4 (174.2628) | 1 (180) |
| May 6, 2016 | George County Firefighters Association BBQ Challenge Lucedale, MS | 3 / 27 (690.7540) | 2 (175.4056) | 9 (170.8228) | 6 (172.5484) | 8 (171.9772) |
| Apr 8, 2016 | 'Que at the View Gulfport, MS | 4 / 43 (688.5028) | 9 (171.4056) | 14 (169.6800) | 4 (172.5600) | 4 (174.8572) |
| Mar 25, 2016 | Hamond BBQ Hammond, LA | 9 / 58 (686.8116) | 4 (176.5828) | 49 (161.6916) | 7 (174.2628) | 7 (174.2744) |
| Mar 19, 2016 | Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2 Tupelo, MS | 1 / 61 (708.5372) | 4 (177.7028) | 9 (175.4172) | 4 (178.8572) | 3 (176.5600) |
| Mar 18, 2016 | Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 Tupelo, MS | 1 / 95 (700.5260) | 1 (180) | 12 (173.1432) | 11 (175.4172) | 22 (171.9656) |
| Dec 4, 2015 | Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ 🏅 Demopolis, AL | 13 / 36 (670.1372) | 5 (174.2628) | 4 (170.8344) | 34 (155.3600) | 14 (169.6800) |
| Oct 23, 2015 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) Lynchburg, TN | 7 / 93 (689.1084) | 52 (167.9772) | 8 (174.8456) | 4 (177.1428) | 37 (169.1428) |
| Oct 9, 2015 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship Bentonville, AR | 31 / 50 (689.0168) | 22 (173.1084) | 44 (167.3828) | 17 (174.2628) | 19 (174.2628) |
| Sep 25, 2015 | Jim Bowie BBQ Throwdown Vidalia, LA | 1 / 45 (714.8572) | 1 (180) | 1 (177.7144) | 3 (177.7028) | 2 (179.4400) |
| Sep 18, 2015 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Southaven, MS | 1 / 30 (701.1200) | 5 (177.1428) | 10 (172.5716) | 1 (180) | 22 (171.4056) |
| Aug 14, 2015 | Stand By Your Grill Fulton, MS | 8 / 57 (691.9200) | 15 (173.1084) | 18 (170.2744) | 7 (174.2628) | 11 (174.2744) |
| May 29, 2015 | Hog Wild BBQ Cookoff and Family Festival Brookhaven, MS | 8 / 31 (666.7884) | 7 (170.8572) | 11 (169.7028) | 22 (156.5256) | 11 (169.7028) |
| May 1, 2015 | George County Firefighters Association BBQ Challenge Lucedale, MS | 2 / 27 (693.0624) | 14 (167.4056) | 3 (177.1428) | 7 (173.1084) | 3 (175.4056) |
| Apr 3, 2015 | 'Que at the View Gulfport, MS | 3 / 40 (686.7772) | 7 (173.1200) | 9 (172) | 27 (166.2400) | 4 (175.4172) |
| Mar 27, 2015 | Smokin Blues & BBQ Hammond, LA | 3 / 56 (695.3828) | 15 (169.7028) | 3 (174.8572) | 10 (173.1200) | 5 (177.7028) |
| Feb 27, 2015 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Daphne, AL | 9 / 30 (683.3828) | 13 (170.8344) | 17 (169.1200) | 19 (167.4056) | 2 (176.0228) |
| Dec 5, 2014 | Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ 🏅 Demopolis, AL | 3 / 29 (686.1828) | 2 (178.8572) | 14 (167.3828) | 3 (174.2628) | 15 (165.6800) |
| Nov 7, 2014 | Country Pleasin Grillin & Chillin BBQ Classic Florence, MS | 1 / 29 (695.3828) | 9 (172.5600) | 2 (177.7028) | 8 (169.6800) | 2 (175.4400) |
| Sep 26, 2014 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship Bentonville, AR | 45 / 50 (671.3032) | 43 (169.6916) | 47 (165.1088) | 25 (171.4056) | 42 (165.0972) |
| Sep 5, 2014 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Southaven, MS | 8 / 30 (686.1944) | 22 (166.8344) | 7 (174.2628) | 11 (170.8228) | 7 (174.2744) |
| Jul 25, 2014 | BBQ Fest Cooking Contest Dyersburg, TN | 1 / 44 (702.8456) | 1 (178.2972) | 8 (173.7028) | 3 (174.2856) | 3 (176.5600) |
| May 9, 2014 | Mississippi Springfest Ashland, MS | 5 / 23 (679.4056) | 15 (163.4400) | 5 (170.8228) | 1 (178.2972) | 13 (166.8456) |
| May 2, 2014 | Battle of Brandon BBQ Challenge Brandon, MS | 10 / 40 (677.0400) | 19 (170.8228) | 15 (166.2744) | 19 (165.6800) | 4 (174.2628) |
| Apr 4, 2014 | 'Que at the View Gulfport, MS | 2 / 36 (687.9544) | 12 (169.1200) | 12 (166.8572) | 1 (180) | 4 (171.9772) |
| Mar 21, 2014 | Hammond BBQ Hammond, LA | 1 / 61 (694.7884) | 3 (175.4056) | 19 (168.5600) | 9 (171.9656) | 2 (178.8572) |
| Mar 7, 2014 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Baton Rouge, LA | 2 / 23 (691.3712) | 8 (170.2628) | 3 (175.4400) | 3 (174.8456) | 4 (170.8228) |
| Feb 28, 2014 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Daphne, AL | 6 / 28 (673.6456) | 20 (164.5372) | 1 (178.8572) | 8 (169.7028) | 19 (160.5484) |
| Oct 11, 2013 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Midwest City, OK | 29 / 30 (657.6344) | 27 (163.9772) | 11 (170.8572) | 24 (162.8572) | 26 (159.9428) |
| Sep 27, 2013 | Jim Bowie BBQ Throwdown Vidalia, LA | 5 / 38 (683.9316) | 6 (171.9888) | 12 (167.3944) | 17 (166.8456) | 1 (177.7028) |
| Mar 22, 2013 | Hammond Blues and BBQ Hammond, LA | 7 / 50 (674.8564) | 4 (173.1428) | 6 (171.9998) | 23 (165.7140) | 24 (163.9998) |
| Mar 1, 2013 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Baton Rouge, LA | 1 / 28 (699.4286) | 4 (171.4286) | 1 (178.8572) | 1 (180) | 5 (169.1428) |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.