OWENSBORO PORK PULLERS

OWENSBORO PORK PULLERS is a competition barbecue team with 42 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2014 and 2025. Their best overall finish is 4th of 16 at the Smoke on the Ohio (2021). They are ranked #2933 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#2,933

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1507

peak 1527 · rated over 42 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Sep 26, 2014

latest Sep 19, 2025 · 11 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#165

Master 2021 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

6 podiums

Overall top-10s

10% of 42 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 65%

overall standings

Best overall

686.1944 / 720

Master · Grillin and Chillin BBQ

Perfect 180s

Current form

670.27 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 658.67 (+11.59)

Walk rate

52%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.8572

Pork Ribs · Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship

Consistency

±17.76

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 166.87 · weakest Brisket (162.49)

Road miles

4,279

across 42 mapped stops · furthest 262 mi

Schedule strength

76%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1597)

Purse competed for

$203K

listed at 22 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 22 state-championship entries

Master avg

658.67 / 720

42 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (13 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

High-water mark

686.1944 career-best overall

95.3% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 686.1944 at Grillin and Chillin BBQ — 95.3% of a perfect 720.

Master
Sep 17, 2021

The one to beat

3× one call ahead of them

Z SMOKE has finished one call ahead of OWENSBORO PORK PULLERS 3 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2021 their best year

2021 was the year it came together: 10 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 45%.

10 contests
3 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 45%

A tough matchup

29–1 behind in the head-to-head

BLUE CHIP BBQ ahead in 97% of their meetings

BLUE CHIP BBQ has come out ahead in 29 of their 30 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.4 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.38 points below their pork, and turns into a call 10% of the time against 26%.

Brisket avg 162.49
Pork avg 166.87
4 calls in 42 entries

A strong matchup

11–2 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 85% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ in 11 of their 13 shared contests.

The comeback

2.4 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2.4 years, then back at Smoke N for the Kids (Aug 17, 2024).

last seen Apr 8, 2022
back Aug 17, 2024

Show 6 more storylines

Pork nemesis

22 of 30 shared pork entries lost

BLUE CHIP BBQ ahead 73% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, BLUE CHIP BBQ has out-cooked them in 22 of 30 shared pork entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

GE-QUE has landed one call behind them 2 times.

A July team

Top 54% average finish in July

Something about July: average finish in the top 54% across 3 contests, versus top 65% the rest of the year.

3 July contests
top 65% the rest of the year

The long haul

4,279 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 4,279 miles across 42 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 262 miles to TN River BBQ Battle & Music Fest.

42 mapped stops
furthest 262 mi

The metronome

±2.47% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.47% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 91.5% of a perfect score
42 contests

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked Smokin' For Garrett every year from 2018 to 2021 — the contest they never miss.

4 visits in all
best finish 12th

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
2025 ↗	Master	#1148 (60 pts)	#1221 (60 pts)	#1293 (60 pts)	#1190 (60 pts)	#1190 (60 pts)
2024 ↗	Master	#1539 (52 pts)	#1577 (52 pts)	#1118 (112 pts)	#1056 (102 pts)	#1539 (52 pts)
2022 ↗	Master	#1309 (60 pts)	#1341 (60 pts)	#1404 (60 pts)	#839 (185 pts)	#1333 (60 pts)
2021 ↗	Master	#165 (1,110 pts)	#206 (920 pts)	#122 (1,340 pts)	#109 (1,390 pts)	#171 (1,040 pts)
2020 ↗	Master	#271 (415 pts)	#224 (550 pts)	#167 (680 pts)	#288 (425 pts)	#272 (435 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#605 (538 pts)	#528 (658 pts)	#423 (808 pts)	#527 (653 pts)	#601 (568 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to OWENSBORO PORK PULLERS, each with one reason worth a look.

117 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.

JOHNSON'S BREW N BBQ

#2,940 of the rated field

1507 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 5%
Peak: 1514

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to OWENSBORO PORK PULLERS)

One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team OWENSBORO PORK PULLERS has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 18 contests
last seen Apr 6, 2020

⚔ Head-to-head

BURNIN' SANDS BBQ

#2,931 of the rated field

1507 power rating

Contests: 41
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 15%
Peak: 1515

Careers of much the same size, 41 contests to 42, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 40 contests
last seen Mar 13, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Frank's BBQ Trading Post

#2,926 of the rated field

1507 power rating

Contests: 53
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 9%
Peak: 1552

They've been 1552 at their best, 45 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 52 contests
last seen Jul 24, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

At Ease

#2,938 of the rated field

1507 power rating

Contests: 27
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 4%
Peak: 1507

27 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 4% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 27 contests
last seen Aug 28, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

RUB WON OUT

#2,916 of the rated field

1508 power rating

Contests: 25
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 4%
Peak: 1541

Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 6 years before OWENSBORO PORK PULLERS's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 24 contests

⚔ Compare careers

BLUE EYED BBQ

#2,945 of the rated field

1507 power rating

Contests: 83
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1526

Level with OWENSBORO PORK PULLERS on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 82 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
BLUE CHIP BBQ	30	1	29	3%	⚔ compare
WeQ4U	27	4	23	15%	⚔ compare
SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS	26	1	25	4%	⚔ compare
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN	23	0	23	0%	⚔ compare
HOBBIE BAR-B-Q	22	9	13	41%	⚔ compare
CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO.	22	1	21	5%	⚔ compare
LOCAL YOKELS BBQ	20	2	18	10%	⚔ compare
THUNDER HOG BBQ	19	2	17	11%	⚔ compare
JANKY LEG BBQ	18	1	17	6%	⚔ compare
Z SMOKE	17	8	9	47%	⚔ compare
FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE	17	5	12	29%	⚔ compare
WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS	17	1	16	6%	⚔ compare
One2BBQ	17	1	16	6%	⚔ compare
Kentucky Kookers	16	7	9	44%	⚔ compare
SON SEEKERS BBQ	15	1	14	7%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	42	9	0	1	174.8456	151.3484	165.18	top 60%
Pork Ribs	42	10	1	4	178.8572	149.6228	164.13	top 57%
Pork	42	11	0	1	176.5600	142.2172	166.87	top 53%
Brisket	42	4	0	0	172.5484	146.7544	162.49	top 64%

“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	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	3	top 47%
Medium (20–39)	22	top 65%
Large (40+)	17	top 67%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
IN	16	top 60%
KY	14	top 68%
TN	7	top 64%
IL	5	top 71%

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Smokin' For Garrett	4	12	top 65%	Oct 22, 2021
Big Blue Barbecue	2	19	top 77%	Aug 13, 2021
Covid-Que Relief (Day 2)	2	33	top 67%	Jun 20, 2020
Grilling & Chillin BBQ	2	23	top 65%	Sep 21, 2018
Smokin For Garrett	2	22	top 74%	Jun 2, 2017
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2	22	top 86%	May 12, 2017
Grillin N Chillin BBQ	2	26	top 81%	Sep 25, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2021 10 contests

Contests a season 3.8 across 11 seasons in the data

Most contests held in IN 16 of 42 contests · 4 states in all

Contests visited 33 7 of them more than once

Opponents faced 645 finished ahead 590 times, behind 1,126

Longest layoff 2.4 yrs Apr 8, 2022 → Aug 17, 2024

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

20251 milestone

Sep 19 Most recent contest Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard

20212 milestones

Sep 17 Career-best overall score686.1944 Grillin and Chillin BBQ
Oct 22 Peak power rating (1527) Smokin' For Garrett

20201 milestone

Jun 20 25th tracked contest Covid-Que Relief (Day 2)

20193 milestones

Mar 8 First category win (Pork Ribs) Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship
Mar 8 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)178.8572 Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship
Aug 16 First overall top-10 Evansville BBQ

20171 milestone

Mar 10 10th tracked contest Smoke on the Shores

20152 milestones

Jun 12 First overall past 90% of a perfect score662.7428 Smokin' On The River
Sep 18 First call Nebo Fall Festival BBQ

20141 milestone

Sep 26 First tracked contest Grillin N Chillin BBQ

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+14.5	Harvest On the Fire At the Winery	Jul 9, 2021
+10.8	Hoosier BBQ Classic Day 1	Jun 18, 2021
+10.5	Smoke on the Ohio	Sep 10, 2021
+9.8	Hoosier BBQ Classic Day 2	Jun 19, 2021
+9.5	Grillin and Chillin BBQ	Sep 17, 2021

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12.4	Grillin N Chillin BBQ	Sep 26, 2014
-11.2	Smoke N for the Kids	Aug 17, 2024
-9.2	Smokin For Garrett	Apr 27, 2018
-8.6	Wabash Ribber Fest	Apr 24, 2015
-7.7	Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-off	Oct 20, 2017

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	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2025	1	0	0	0%	top 79%	94%	94%
2024	1	0	0	0%	top 93%	90.6%	90.6%
2022	1	0	0	100%	top 79%	92.4%	92.4%
2021	10	3	0	70%	top 45%	95.3%	93.7%
2020	6	0	0	50%	top 64%	95%	92.4%
2019	6	1	1	83%	top 62%	92.8%	91.5%
2018	3	0	0	0%	top 82%	90.9%	87.5%
2017	5	0	0	20%	top 78%	90.9%	90.2%
2016	3	0	0	100%	top 63%	92.8%	91.3%
2015	5	0	0	40%	top 69%	92.2%	90.4%
2014	1	0	0	0%	top 93%	85.9%	85.9%

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Sep 19, 2025	Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard 🏅 Murphysboro, IL	44 / 56 (676.4456)	42 (169.1084)	38 (169.6800)	50 (165.6800)	27 (171.9772)
Aug 17, 2024	Smoke N for the Kids 🏅 Troy, IL	25 / 27 (652.4456)	27 (157.6800)	13 (169.7144)	15 (171.9656)	26 (153.0856)
Apr 8, 2022	CCSFEST 🏅 Indianapolis, IN	33 / 42 (664.9368)	39 (163.9428)	33 (165.0856)	5 (175.4056)	37 (160.5028)
Oct 22, 2021	Smokin' For Garrett 🏅 Boonville, IN	12 / 27 (671.3028)	7 (171.9656)	9 (167.4172)	8 (172.5600)	21 (159.3600)
Sep 17, 2021	Grillin and Chillin BBQ 🏅 Owensboro, KY	9 / 31 (686.1944)	13 (169.1200)	15 (168.5372)	5 (176.5600)	13 (171.9772)
Sep 10, 2021	Smoke on the Ohio 🏅 Mt. Vernon, IN	4 / 16 (681.6000)	8 (166.8344)	3 (170.8228)	2 (174.2744)	6 (169.6684)
Sep 3, 2021	Smithfield Classic in Nashville 🏅 Nashville, TN	41 / 50 (673.0516)	17 (172.5600)	41 (167.3944)	45 (165.1200)	34 (167.9772)
Aug 13, 2021	Big Blue Barbecue 🏅 Shelbyville, IN	19 / 30 (663.8516)	25 (162.8116)	23 (163.3828)	13 (169.6800)	13 (167.9772)
Jul 9, 2021	Harvest On the Fire At the Winery 🏅 Marshall, IL	9 / 38 (682.2172)	19 (168.5716)	2 (175.4172)	23 (165.6800)	7 (172.5484)
Jun 19, 2021	Hoosier BBQ Classic Day 2 🏅 Franklin, IN	15 / 37 (678.7424)	31 (165.6912)	15 (170.2628)	15 (171.9656)	14 (170.8228)
Jun 18, 2021	Hoosier BBQ Classic Day 1 🏅 Franklin, IN	18 / 51 (677.1084)	45 (159.3828)	8 (172)	4 (175.4400)	18 (170.2856)
May 14, 2021	Obion County Barbeque Cook Off 🏅 Union City, TN	15 / 31 (657.0288)	19 (163.3828)	17 (163.9888)	10 (168.5716)	19 (161.0856)
Mar 19, 2021	Smoke on The Shores BBQ Championship 🏅 Lebanon, TN	31 / 57 (675.9544)	43 (161.7144)	10 (174.8572)	12 (173.7028)	38 (165.6800)
Oct 23, 2020	Smokin For Garrett Boonville, IN	23 / 41 (658.1716)	20 (165.7144)	32 (158.8228)	20 (167.3944)	20 (166.2400)
Sep 25, 2020	TN River BBQ Battle & Music Fest 🏅 Savannah, TN	22 / 47 (683.9544)	10 (174.2972)	19 (170.8572)	30 (166.8228)	21 (171.9772)
Aug 14, 2020	Big Blue Barbecue 🏅 Shelbyville, IN	45 / 50 (653.0056)	45 (160.5716)	2 (176.5828)	49 (155.3600)	43 (160.4912)
Jul 24, 2020	Fire on the Mountain 🏅 Leburn, KY	18 / 30 (667.3140)	8 (170.8344)	8 (171.4284)	30 (158.2056)	18 (166.8456)
Jun 20, 2020	Covid-Que Relief (Day 2) Franklin, IN	54 / 63 (658.1712)	54 (163.4056)	47 (161.6684)	33 (167.9888)	39 (165.1084)
Jun 19, 2020	Covid-Que Relief (Day 1) Franklin, IN	33 / 69 (669.0400)	28 (168.5256)	25 (167.4172)	16 (171.9772)	50 (161.1200)
Sep 20, 2019	Grillin & Chillin BBQ 🏅 Owensboro, KY	15 / 34 (667.8396)	8 (172)	14 (168.5372)	4 (174.8456)	28 (152.4568)
Aug 16, 2019	Evansville BBQ 🏅 Evansville, IN	8 / 19 (660.9944)	9 (164.5256)	13 (159.3716)	5 (171.9772)	8 (165.1200)
Jul 26, 2019	Effingham -Jam 🏅 Effingham, IL	20 / 26 (654.7660)	20 (158.8344)	9 (166.8344)	16 (165.6916)	13 (163.4056)
Apr 26, 2019	Smokin For Garrett 🏅 Boonville, IN	17 / 26 (655.8168)	15 (166.2512)	13 (170.2628)	25 (153.6228)	10 (165.6800)
Apr 5, 2019	Operation Stand Down KY II Annual Smoke off 🏅 Franklin, KY	23 / 28 (651.8288)	12 (167.9888)	24 (157.0972)	22 (163.9428)	21 (162.8000)
Mar 8, 2019	Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship 🏅 Nashville, TN	42 / 67 (663.2800)	21 (170.8572)	1 (178.8572)	64 (155.9200)	62 (157.6456)
Sep 21, 2018	Grilling & Chillin BBQ Owensboro, KY	28 / 37 (635.7716)	35 (151.3484)	32 (153.6460)	12 (168.5372)	22 (162.2400)
Apr 27, 2018	Smokin For Garrett Boonville, IN	36 / 38 (600.9256)	32 (157.6912)	34 (149.6228)	38 (142.2172)	31 (151.3944)
Mar 9, 2018	Smoke on the Shores Nashville, TN	67 / 87 (654.1716)	51 (166.2744)	25 (168.5600)	53 (166.2400)	80 (153.0972)
Oct 20, 2017	Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-off Munfordville, KY	32 / 36 (634.0916)	27 (162.8456)	30 (157.0972)	21 (167.3944)	36 (146.7544)
Sep 22, 2017	Grilling & Chillin BBQ Owensboro, KY	23 / 42 (651.3944)	13 (169.1316)	36 (150.8228)	15 (169.7144)	24 (161.7256)
Jun 2, 2017	Smokin For Garrett Boonville, IN	22 / 31 (654.7084)	18 (167.4056)	28 (151.3600)	17 (167.3828)	13 (168.5600)
May 12, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Bowling Green, KY	28 / 29 (651.8284)	22 (167.9656)	28 (151.3600)	11 (171.4056)	25 (161.0972)
Mar 10, 2017	Smoke on the Shores Nashville, TN	49 / 62 (653.6228)	10 (174.8456)	43 (163.3944)	55 (158.8456)	57 (156.5372)
Sep 23, 2016	Grillin and Chillin Owensboro, KY	18 / 39 (667.8740)	7 (173.1200)	21 (166.2512)	22 (166.8228)	22 (161.6800)
Sep 16, 2016	Nebo Fall Festival and BBQ Competition Nebo, KY	13 / 20 (664.4688)	3 (174.2856)	20 (155.3716)	14 (164.5488)	12 (170.2628)
May 20, 2016	Smokin' for Garrett Boonville, IN	27 / 35 (638.7884)	31 (153.7028)	21 (160.5256)	7 (173.7372)	30 (150.8228)
Sep 25, 2015	Grillin N Chillin BBQ Owensboro, KY	26 / 38 (648.4236)	25 (165.6916)	30 (156.5144)	10 (167.9888)	23 (158.2288)
Sep 18, 2015	Nebo Fall Festival BBQ Nebo, KY	12 / 16 (663.8628)	14 (161.0856)	10 (169.1200)	9 (169.7028)	13 (163.9544)
Jun 19, 2015	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Bowling Green, KY	22 / 29 (659.8512)	11 (171.4056)	22 (163.3828)	19 (166.2512)	21 (158.8116)
Jun 12, 2015	Smokin' On The River Jeffersonville, IN	24 / 59 (662.7428)	40 (159.9428)	27 (165.1084)	16 (170.2972)	22 (167.3944)
Apr 24, 2015	Wabash Ribber Fest Mt. Carmel, IL	39 / 46 (618.0456)	44 (151.9200)	35 (150.8000)	32 (158.8228)	30 (156.5028)
Sep 26, 2014	Grillin N Chillin BBQ Owensboro, KY	40 / 43 (618.6168)	41 (152.4684)	39 (154.2628)	36 (158.2400)	34 (153.6456)

OWENSBORO PORK PULLERS

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Best top-10 run

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (13 found in their record)

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Pork nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

A July team

The long haul

The metronome

A standing appointment

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

By meat

By field size and state

By contest size

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

More numbers

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

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

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)