The heartbreaker
3.4284
points from the title
Came within 3.4284 points of the Grand Championship at 901 Hot Wing Festival (COMPETITOR SERIES) (JUDGING FULL) (Nov 2, 2024).
901Q
901Q is a competition barbecue team with 49 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2026. They have won 1 Grand Championship, at the Third Annual Bull Moose BBQ Contest (2013), and finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #1490 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings and hold 1 all-time KCBS record. Also listed in KCBS results as “901 Q” and “901-Q”.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1565
peak 1573 · rated over 46 contests2 invitational or side-series contests not counted
Contests
49
in the data
First seen
Mar 15, 2013
latest Sep 18, 2026 · 13.5 years on the trail
Grand champs
1
1 reserve · wins it all 2% of the time
Category wins
2
13 podiums
Overall top-10s
12
24% of 49 contests
Best top-10 run
2
straight overall top-10s
Avg finish
top 47%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
2 🔥
Current form
666.39 ▼
last 5 Master vs avg 669.04 (-2.65)
Walk rate
59%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±13.90
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork
avg 168.00 · weakest Brisket (165.01)
Road miles
14,631
across 49 mapped stops · furthest 682 mi
Schedule strength
51%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1566)
Purse competed for
$223K
listed at 22 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 22 state-championship entries
Master avg
669.04 / 720
36 Master contests · 1 GC
Backyard avg
332.53 / 360
11 Backyard contests · 0 GCs
These overall scores sit on different scales (Master out of 720, Backyard out of 360), so they're kept separate — averaging them together would be misleading.
This team cooks the Backyard series — its own boards, records and Team of the Year are here.
Holds 1 KCBS record (on 3 all-time boards)
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Backyard | #154 (288 pts) | #152 (298 pts) | #184 (238 pts) | — | — |
| 2025 ↗ | Backyard | #351 (75 pts) | #309 (115 pts) | #380 (60 pts) | — | — |
| 2024 ↗ | Backyard | #160 (358 pts) | #110 (563 pts) | #195 (258 pts) | — | — |
| 2023 ↗ | Backyard | — | #247 (135 pts) | #229 (165 pts) | — | — |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #1202 (88 pts) | #1279 (78 pts) | #1297 (88 pts) | #1231 (93 pts) | #1183 (98 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #1076 (100 pts) | #1252 (70 pts) | #971 (135 pts) | #1173 (85 pts) | #1245 (60 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #2004 (96 pts) | #2039 (101 pts) | #1815 (121 pts) | #2034 (101 pts) | #2106 (86 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #1281 (210 pts) | #1235 (245 pts) | #1128 (285 pts) | #1505 (180 pts) | #1198 (245 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #907 (361 pts) | #1158 (281 pts) | #880 (416 pts) | #1122 (291 pts) | #952 (351 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #226 (1,296 pts) | #277 (1,036 pts) | #173 (1,401 pts) | #266 (1,081 pts) | #220 (1,266 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to 901Q, each with one reason worth a look.
31 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#1,488 of the rated field
- Contests
- 39
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 28%
- Peak
- 1591
Their last contest in the data was back in 2021, 5 years before 901Q's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#1,491 of the rated field
- Contests
- 29
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 17%
- Peak
- 1593
Fewer contests behind them than 901Q has cooked, 29 to 49, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.
⚔ Compare careers#1,489 of the rated field
- Contests
- 18
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 17%
- Peak
- 1566
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 18 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careers#1,493 of the rated field
- Contests
- 18
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 28%
- Peak
- 1568
Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 18 contests, alongside a 28% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Compare careers#1,494 of the rated field
- Contests
- 15
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 20%
- Peak
- 1583
Level with 901Q on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careers#1,487 of the rated field
- Contests
- 9
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 33%
- Peak
- 1565
They turned up 10 years after 901Q did, first appearing in 2023.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organizer Portal | 18 | 1 | 17 | 6% | ⚔ compare |
| FIRE DANCER BBQ | 16 | 2 | 14 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| RAZORRACKS | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| K & K KOOKERS | 13 | 10 | 3 | 77% | ⚔ compare |
| SWINE CRUE | 13 | 7 | 6 | 54% | ⚔ compare |
| KILLER HOGS | 12 | 4 | 8 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | 12 | 1 | 11 | 8% | ⚔ compare |
| HOGG LEGG SMOKERS | 9 | 7 | 2 | 78% | ⚔ compare |
| DAD'S GRILLIN CREW | 9 | 3 | 6 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| Q-BONES BBQ | 9 | 2 | 7 | 22% | ⚔ compare |
| GIVE IT TO GOD | 9 | 2 | 7 | 22% | ⚔ compare |
| SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | 9 | 1 | 8 | 11% | ⚔ compare |
| Poppa Pig | 9 | 1 | 8 | 11% | ⚔ compare |
| WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| KINNEY'S KOUNTRY KOOKERS | 8 | 5 | 3 | 63% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 47 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 178.8800 | 154.8456 | 167.70 | top 50% |
| Pork Ribs | 48 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 177.1772 | 154.8456 | 167.49 | top 43% |
| Pork | 36 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 180 🔥 | 154.2056 | 168.00 | top 48% |
| Brisket | 36 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 180 🔥 | 142.2288 | 165.01 | top 53% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 4 | 0 | top 59% |
| Medium (20–39) | 23 | 1 | top 46% |
| Large (40+) | 21 | 0 | top 46% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tri City BBQ Fest | 2 | 4 | 0 | top 18% | Sep 18, 2026 |
| Minnesota in May | 2 | 9 | 0 | top 27% | May 9, 2025 |
| Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) | 2 | 21 | 0 | top 52% | Jun 7, 2024 |
| Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship | 2 | 42 | 0 | top 64% | Mar 17, 2023 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2013
10 contests · 1 GC
Contests a season
3.5
across 14 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
TN
23 of 49 contests · 10 states in all
Contests visited
44
4 of them more than once
Most-entered meat
Pork Ribs
48 entries · 1 win · 16 calls
First title
Apr 5, 2013
Third Annual Bull Moose BBQ Contest
Opponents faced
1,240
finished ahead 1,150 times, behind 1,030
Longest layoff
1 yrs
Jun 3, 2016 → Jun 16, 2017
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20261 milestone
- Most recent contest Tri City BBQ Fest
20241 milestone
- First Reserve Championship 901 Hot Wing Festival (COMPETITOR SERIES) (JUDGING FULL)
20211 milestone
- Peak power rating (1573) Smithfield Classic in Nashville
20201 milestone
- 25th tracked contest Swinging Bridge BBQ Festival
201310 milestones
- First tracked contest Don't Be Cruel BBQ Duel
- First call Third Annual Bull Moose BBQ Contest
- First category win (Pork) Third Annual Bull Moose BBQ Contest
- First overall top-10 Third Annual Bull Moose BBQ Contest
- First overall podium Third Annual Bull Moose BBQ Contest
- First Grand Championship Third Annual Bull Moose BBQ Contest
- First perfect 180 (Pork) Third Annual Bull Moose BBQ Contest
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score700.5712 Third Annual Bull Moose BBQ Contest
- Career-best overall score700.5712 Third Annual Bull Moose BBQ Contest
- 10th tracked contest 34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +16.2 | Third Annual Bull Moose BBQ Contest | Apr 5, 2013 |
| +12.6 | Lewisburg Rotary Club BBQ Cook-off | May 24, 2013 |
| +12.6 | Minnesota in May | May 10, 2024 |
| +12.5 | Benton County Fair BBQ Contest | Aug 23, 2013 |
| +11.4 | Foley BBQ & Blues Cook-Off (BACKYARD ONLY) | Mar 13, 2026 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -11.3 | Bring'n Home the Bacon II (MASTER & BACKYARD) | Oct 13, 2023 |
| -11 | Smoke on the Mountain BBQ Championship 2022 | Jul 21, 2022 |
| -9.1 | Foothills Country Fair BBQ Bash | Jul 26, 2013 |
| -8.3 | Smoke on The Shores | Mar 18, 2022 |
| -5.9 | 37th Annual Kennett Jaycee's | May 4, 2018 |
Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — 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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 75% | top 38% | 94.9% | 93.6% |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33% | top 44% | 93% | 93% |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 50% | top 26% | 96.8% | 93.4% |
| 2023 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33% | top 77% | 93.6% | 91.7% |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 76% | 91.6% | 90.4% |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75% | top 42% | 95.6% | 94.4% |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 49% | 95.6% | 92.9% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 53% | 92.7% | 92.7% |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 68% | 91.1% | 91% |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 53% | 93.9% | 93.4% |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | top 53% | 94.5% | 92.4% |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% | top 40% | 94.9% | 93.6% |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 67% | top 35% | 93.9% | 93.1% |
| 2013 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 70% | top 35% | 97.3% | 93.3% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2026 | Tri City BBQ Fest 🏅 Denison, IA | 4 / 26 (331.9540) | 4 (166.2512) | 6 (165.7028) | — | — |
| Aug 15, 2026 | Boomer Backyard BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) Canton, MN | 13 / 18 (336.5028) | 11 (170.2628) | 16 (166.2400) | — | — |
| May 29, 2026 | Spring into Summer Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) Owatonna, MN | 13 / 25 (338.2400) | 5 (177.1544) | 19 (161.0856) | — | — |
| Mar 13, 2026 | Foley BBQ & Blues Cook-Off (BACKYARD ONLY) Foley, AL | 4 / 30 (341.7028) | 8 (168.5600) | 4 (173.1428) | 16 (162.2516) | — |
| May 30, 2025 | Covington World's Oldest Barbeque Festival 🏅 Covington, TN | 12 / 25 (669.5544) | 17 (159.3716) | 12 (168.5372) | 10 (170.8228) | 10 (170.8228) |
| May 30, 2025 | Smokin' in Steele 🏅 Owatonna, MN | 13 / 28 (334.8800) | 13 (165.7256) | 11 (169.1544) | — | — |
| May 9, 2025 | Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN | 22 / 58 (334.8228) | 14 (173.1428) | 28 (161.6800) | — | — |
| Nov 2, 2024 | 901 Hot Wing Festival (COMPETITOR SERIES) (JUDGING FULL) unrated Memphis, TN | 2 / 15 (174.2744) | — | — | — | — |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Tri City BBQ Fest 🏅 Denison, IA | 6 / 30 (327.4284) | 2 (172.5828) | 8 (154.8456) | — | — |
| Jun 7, 2024 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) 🏅 West Salem, WI | 23 / 41 (326.7656) | 22 (163.9428) | 22 (162.8228) | — | — |
| May 10, 2024 | Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN | 9 / 58 (342.2744) | 2 (178.8800) | 27 (163.3944) | — | — |
| Nov 11, 2023 | Biloxi Blues & BBQ Festival 🏅 Biloxi, MS | 16 / 19 (672.4344) | 17 (166.2400) | 14 (169.6916) | 11 (170.8228) | 16 (165.6800) |
| Oct 13, 2023 | Bring'n Home the Bacon II (MASTER & BACKYARD) 🏅 West Salem, WI | 25 / 21 (321.0972) | 21 (164.5372) | 26 (156.5600) | — | — |
| Aug 25, 2023 | TN River BBQ Fest 🏅 Saltillo, TN | 18 / 23 (667.8856) | 16 (170.8456) | 15 (164.5488) | 20 (164.5256) | 9 (167.9656) |
| Jun 9, 2023 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) 🏅 West Salem, WI | 21 / 43 (322.1828) | 24 (159.3484) | 14 (162.8344) | — | — |
| Mar 17, 2023 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship 🏅 Lebanon, TN | 44 / 80 (673.5884) | 71 (162.8228) | 30 (169.1200) | 14 (174.2628) | 46 (167.3828) |
| Mar 17, 2023 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (One Meat Ribs) Lebanon, TN | — | — | 7 (174.8456) | — | — |
| Jul 21, 2022 | Smoke on the Mountain BBQ Championship 2022 🏅 Galax, VA | 21 / 25 (648.4688) | 14 (168.5600) | 11 (171.4400) | 18 (166.2400) | 24 (142.2288) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | Smokin' For Down Syndrome 🏅 Collierville, TN | 18 / 28 (659.2916) | 20 (165.1200) | 18 (163.3944) | 17 (166.2516) | 16 (164.5256) |
| Mar 18, 2022 | Smoke on The Shores 🏅 Lebanon, TN | 51 / 63 (645.4856) | 45 (165.6800) | 42 (165.0972) | 58 (154.2056) | 51 (160.5028) |
| Sep 3, 2021 | Smithfield Classic in Nashville 🏅 Nashville, TN | 17 / 50 (688.5260) | 23 (170.8344) | 10 (174.2972) | 20 (172.5600) | 25 (170.8344) |
| Jun 18, 2021 | DeSoto Shrine Club 13th Annual BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Nesbit, MS | 12 / 48 (686.7428) | 12 (173.1200) | 8 (175.4056) | 25 (166.2400) | 17 (171.9772) |
| Jun 4, 2021 | Covington TN's World's Oldest BBQ Cooking Contest 🏅 Covington, TN | 12 / 34 (685.0400) | 7 (174.8456) | 13 (169.6800) | 13 (169.6800) | 10 (170.8344) |
| Mar 19, 2021 | Smoke on The Shores BBQ Championship 🏅 Lebanon, TN | 42 / 57 (657.5660) | 42 (162.8116) | 47 (160.5488) | 29 (167.9656) | 35 (166.2400) |
| Jun 26, 2020 | Swinging Bridge BBQ Festival 🏅 Byram, MS | 19 / 31 (648.9712) | 12 (165.7028) | 4 (169.1316) | 16 (165.6684) | 30 (148.4684) |
| Jun 19, 2020 | Desoto Shrine Club 12th Annual BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Hernando, MS | 17 / 47 (688.5028) | 24 (169.1200) | 31 (169.1200) | — | 2 (180) |
| Sep 6, 2019 | International Goat Days Championship BBQ Contest-SMOKIN IN THE GOAT PEN 🏅 Millington, TN | 17 / 32 (667.2684) | 19 (167.3828) | 13 (166.2400) | 9 (171.9656) | 19 (161.6800) |
| Sep 7, 2018 | Smokin on the White Batesville, AR | 11 / 17 (655.8856) | 6 (167.9772) | 14 (160.5372) | 3 (168.5600) | 14 (158.8112) |
| May 4, 2018 | 37th Annual Kennett Jaycee's Kennett, MO | 18 / 25 (654.1488) | 15 (167.9772) | 15 (162.2744) | 15 (169.1200) | 21 (154.7772) |
| Jul 28, 2017 | BBQ-Fest Cooking Contest Dyersburg, TN | 16 / 26 (669.0168) | 15 (167.9656) | 11 (170.8228) | 15 (167.4056) | 18 (162.8228) |
| Jun 16, 2017 | Desoto Shrine Club BBQ Cook off Nesbit, MS | 18 / 41 (675.8856) | 26 (168.5372) | 7 (174.2856) | 26 (166.8228) | 21 (166.2400) |
| Jun 3, 2016 | Variety Children's Charity BBQ Bash Memphis, TN | 10 / 25 (680.4572) | 3 (176.5600) | 2 (175.4172) | 12 (167.3828) | 19 (161.0972) |
| Apr 8, 2016 | Sixth Annual Bull Moose Somerville, TN | 17 / 27 (655.9092) | 4 (174.2744) | 24 (155.4060) | 9 (169.6800) | 24 (156.5488) |
| Mar 4, 2016 | Sip & Swine BBQ Festival (GBC Qualifier) Lawrenceville, GA | 33 / 59 (660.4572) | 55 (157.6800) | 15 (170.2628) | 3 (177.7144) | 52 (154.8000) |
| Jun 19, 2015 | Desoto Shrine Club 7th Annual 2015 BBQ Cook Off Hernando, MS | 10 / 37 (683.3832) | 5 (176.0116) | 7 (174.2744) | 25 (163.9656) | 14 (169.1316) |
| Apr 3, 2015 | Fifth Annual Bull Moose Somerville, TN | 22 / 41 (664.4684) | 39 (154.8456) | 13 (170.8228) | 13 (169.1200) | 11 (169.6800) |
| Aug 22, 2014 | Music City BBQ Festival Nashville, TN | 18 / 41 (665.0284) | 21 (166.8456) | 22 (163.9772) | 24 (164.5256) | 14 (169.6800) |
| Jul 25, 2014 | BBQ Fest Cooking Contest Dyersburg, TN | 13 / 44 (670.7656) | 27 (165.6684) | 3 (177.1772) | 29 (162.2400) | 26 (165.6800) |
| Apr 4, 2014 | Fourth Annual Bull Moose Somerville, TN | 10 / 31 (675.8856) | 11 (167.4056) | 18 (165.6916) | 8 (170.8112) | 7 (171.9772) |
| Oct 3, 2013 | 34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO | 44 / 174 (671.9428) | 120 (163.3712) | 59 (167.4172) | 81 (165.7028) | 12 (175.4516) |
| Sep 20, 2013 | Smokin' Aces BBQ Festival Tunica, MS | 28 / 53 (659.8400) | 27 (165.6684) | 3 (175.4172) | 31 (164.5372) | 44 (154.2172) |
| Sep 13, 2013 | International Goat Days Festival BBQ Bash Millington, TN | 9 / 28 (667.2800) | 18 (163.3828) | 4 (171.9772) | 11 (169.1200) | 12 (162.8000) |
| Aug 23, 2013 | Benton County Fair BBQ Contest Ashland, MS | 3 / 20 (686.7656) | 2 (177.7028) | 1 (174.2628) | 16 (166.2400) | 8 (168.5600) |
| Jul 26, 2013 | Foothills Country Fair BBQ Bash Cleveland, TN | 42 / 54 (649.0172) | 52 (155.9428) | 33 (163.9772) | 22 (169.1312) | 40 (159.9660) |
| Jun 7, 2013 | Delta Smoke BBQ Contest (JUDGES FULL) Wynne, AR | 15 / 40 (683.9994) | 12 (171.9998) | 21 (168) | 19 (169.7140) | 8 (174.2856) |
| May 31, 2013 | Variety Children's Charity BBQ Bash Memphis, TN | 12 / 43 (678.8566) | 22 (165.7140) | 8 (173.1428) | 29 (165.7140) | 6 (174.2858) |
| May 24, 2013 | Lewisburg Rotary Club BBQ Cook-off Lewisburg, TN | 5 / 36 (674.2854) | 27 (161.7140) | 17 (164) | 5 (173.1426) | 4 (175.4288) |
| Apr 5, 2013 | Third Annual Bull Moose BBQ Contest Somerville, TN | 1 / 29 (700.5712) | 4 (174.2858) | 5 (173.1428) | 1 (180) | 3 (173.1426) |
| Mar 15, 2013 | Don't Be Cruel BBQ Duel Tupelo, MS | 65 / 100 (642.2856) | 35 (167.4288) | 71 (158.8572) | 42 (163.9998) | 83 (151.9998) |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.