Good Grief BBQ

Good Grief BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 19 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2025. Their best overall finish is 5th of 21 at the Smoke on the River (2014). They are ranked #1897 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#1,897

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1544

peak 1563 · rated over 18 contests1 invitational or side-series contest not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Apr 26, 2013

latest Sep 12, 2025 · 12.4 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#891

Master 2015 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

6 podiums

Overall top-10s

11% of 19 contests

Avg finish

top 45%

overall standings

Best overall

675.9772 / 720

Master · Smoke on the River

Perfect 180s

1 🔥

Current form

654.09 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 658.75 (-4.65)

Walk rate

68%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

180 🔥

Pork · Smoke on the River

Consistency

±11.50

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 168.65 · weakest Brisket (159.13)

Road miles

3,175

across 19 mapped stops · furthest 317 mi

Schedule strength

35%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1547)

Purse competed for

$24K

listed at 3 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 3 state-championship entries

Master avg

658.75 / 720

19 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (11 found in their record)

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

Perfect scores on the board

1 perfect 180

1 perfect 180 in the data — every judge at the table handing back a nine, all in pork.

Pork ×1

They almost always walk

68% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 13 of 19 contests

A top-10 category call in 68% of their 19 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

675.9772 career-best overall

93.9% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 675.9772 at Smoke on the River — 93.9% of a perfect 720.

Master
Sep 5, 2014

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

PENNY STREET PORKERS has finished one call ahead of Good Grief BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

9–0 behind in the head-to-head

SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ has come out ahead in 9 of their 9 shared contests.

The weak link

−9.5 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 9.52 points below their pork, and turns into a call 0% of the time against 42%.

Brisket avg 159.13
Pork avg 168.65
0 calls in 19 entries

A strong matchup

7–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of Rockin Rotary Roasters in 7 of their 7 shared contests.

Show 4 more storylines

The comeback

4.1 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 4.1 years, then back at Bands and BBQ at the Point (Sep 12, 2025).

last seen Aug 20, 2021
back Sep 12, 2025

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS has landed one call behind them 2 times.

The long haul

3,175 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 3,175 miles across 19 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 317 miles to Bands and BBQ at the Point.

19 mapped stops
furthest 317 mi

The metronome

±1.60% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.60% 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
19 contests

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
2019 ↗	Master	#1920 (65 pts)	#1276 (185 pts)	#2026 (60 pts)	#1283 (185 pts)	#2010 (60 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1206 (200 pts)	#1104 (260 pts)	#910 (365 pts)	#1140 (245 pts)	#1586 (120 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#2212 (60 pts)	#2286 (60 pts)	#2032 (105 pts)	#1985 (110 pts)	#2266 (60 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#932 (357 pts)	#861 (437 pts)	#1053 (332 pts)	#687 (587 pts)	#1044 (327 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#891 (365 pts)	#1099 (290 pts)	#773 (480 pts)	#668 (565 pts)	#1198 (245 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#992 (316 pts)	#1472 (196 pts)	#986 (351 pts)	#731 (521 pts)	#1513 (181 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#913 (324 pts)	#639 (509 pts)	#1015 (304 pts)	#872 (374 pts)	#1004 (299 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Good Grief BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

SMOKING BAD BBQ TEAM

#1,895 of the rated field

1544 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 59%
Peak: 1569

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Good Grief BBQ)

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

rated over 16 contests
last seen Sep 14, 2019

⚔ Head-to-head

RIB CAGE BBQ

#1,896 of the rated field

1544 power rating

Contests: 21
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 19%
Peak: 1545

0–2 in 2 shared contests (0% to Good Grief BBQ)

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 21 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 21 contests
last seen Sep 15, 2018

⚔ Head-to-head

FAT HEAD'S BREWERY & SMOKEHOUSE

#1,892 of the rated field

1544 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 14%
Peak: 1556

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Good Grief BBQ)

Careers of much the same size, 22 contests to 19, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 22 contests
last seen Apr 28, 2023

⚔ Head-to-head

Great White Smoke

#1,891 of the rated field

1544 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 18%
Peak: 1544

22 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 18% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 18 contests
last seen Oct 15, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

FOUR SCORE AND SEVEN RIBS AGO BBQ

#1,894 of the rated field

1544 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 25%
Peak: 1566

Their last contest in the data was back in 2022, 3 years before Good Grief BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 20 contests

⚔ Compare careers

Lolli Q

#1,886 of the rated field

1544 power rating

Contests: 21
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 10%
Peak: 1550

Level with Good Grief BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 21 contests
last seen Apr 1, 2022

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
OUTLAW HAWGS BBQ	10	1	9	10%	⚔ compare
ST. LOUIS BLACK IRON BBQ	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
BLAZIN' BLUES BBQ	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
Rockin Rotary Roasters	7	7	0	100%	⚔ compare
PENNY STREET PORKERS	7	4	3	57%	⚔ compare
OKLAHOMA JOE'S SERIOUS QUE	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
One2BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
RURAL ROUTE BBQ	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
PINE HILLS BBQ	5	5	0	100%	⚔ compare
Marmic Flaming Pits	5	5	0	100%	⚔ compare
GLAD TO MEAT YOU	5	4	1	80%	⚔ compare
Papa J's Flying Swine	5	4	1	80%	⚔ compare
THUNDER HOG BBQ	5	2	3	40%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	19	8	0	0	176.0116	159.9428	167.00	top 42%
Pork Ribs	19	6	1	2	176.5944	150.8000	163.96	top 48%
Pork	19	8	1	4	180 🔥	151.3716	168.65	top 32%
Brisket	19	0	0	0	174.8800	149.0972	159.13	top 60%

“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
Medium (20–39)	7	0	top 46%
Large (40+)	12	0	top 44%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
MO	12	top 43%
IL	4	top 34%
KY	1	top 90%
IN	1	top 56%
KS	1	top 58%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest	4	12	top 34%	Aug 17, 2018
Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest	2	18	top 60%	Aug 20, 2021
Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest	2	11	top 35%	May 6, 2016
Smoke on the River	2	5	top 30%	Sep 5, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2016 4 contests

Contests a season 2.1 across 9 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MO 12 of 19 contests · 5 states in all

Contests visited 13 4 of them more than once

Opponents faced 1,245 finished ahead 944 times, behind 1,082

Longest layoff 4.1 yrs Aug 20, 2021 → Sep 12, 2025

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

20251 milestone

Sep 12 Most recent contest Bands and BBQ at the Point

20181 milestone

Aug 17 Peak power rating (1563) Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest

20161 milestone

May 6 10th tracked contest Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest

20143 milestones

Sep 5 First category win (Pork) Smoke on the River
Sep 5 First perfect 180 (Pork) Smoke on the River
Sep 5 Career-best overall score675.9772 Smoke on the River

20134 milestones

Apr 26 First tracked contest Wabash Ribber Fest Barbecue Championship
Apr 26 First call Wabash Ribber Fest Barbecue Championship
Apr 26 First overall past 90% of a perfect score651.4286 Wabash Ribber Fest Barbecue Championship
Sep 6 First overall top-10 Smoke On The River

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+10.5	Smoke on the River	Sep 5, 2014
+10.1	22nd Annual Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest	Aug 22, 2014
+9.1	Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest	Aug 21, 2015
+6.6	Smoke On The River	Sep 6, 2013
+6.4	Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest	May 1, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12.7	Bands and BBQ at the Point	Sep 12, 2025
-5.5	Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest	Aug 20, 2021
-3.5	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open	Oct 3, 2015
-2.1	37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)	Oct 29, 2016
-1.3	Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues Festival	Aug 18, 2017

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — 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 90%	89.4%	89.4%
2021	1	0	0	100%	top 67%	89.9%	89.9%
2019	1	0	0	100%	top 53%	90.3%	90.3%
2018	2	0	1	50%	top 41%	92.9%	92.3%
2017	1	0	0	0%	top 56%	91.5%	91.5%
2016	4	0	0	75%	top 40%	93.6%	92%
2015	4	0	0	50%	top 44%	93.4%	92%
2014	2	1	1	100%	top 22%	93.9%	92.9%
2013	3	1	0	100%	top 41%	91.8%	90.3%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Sep 12, 2025	Bands and BBQ at the Point 🏅 Carrollton, KY	26 / 29 (643.3604)	12 (170.8344)	27 (161.1544)	29 (151.3716)	25 (160)
Aug 20, 2021	Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest 🏅 Cape Girardeau, MO	18 / 27 (647.2912)	18 (161.1316)	8 (168.0228)	22 (156.5028)	19 (161.6340)
Aug 16, 2019	Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest 🏅 Cape Girardeau, MO	24 / 45 (650.1716)	5 (176.0116)	43 (150.8000)	5 (174.2628)	34 (149.0972)
Aug 17, 2018	Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest Cape Girardeau, MO	15 / 44 (669.1084)	10 (171.4056)	1 (176.5944)	13 (170.2628)	32 (150.8456)
Apr 20, 2018	Main Street BBQ & Blues Fest Washington, MO	19 / 40 (660.5260)	12 (170.2628)	21 (163.4288)	12 (169.1544)	27 (157.6800)
Aug 18, 2017	Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues Festival Madison, IN	31 / 55 (658.7428)	33 (165.6684)	16 (169.1660)	15 (170.8572)	45 (153.0512)
Oct 29, 2016	37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	322 / 557 (649.5424)	278 (164.5484)	444 (155.3828)	26 (175.4056)	417 (154.2056)
Sep 23, 2016	Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff Murphysboro, IL	25 / 64 (673.6684)	45 (163.4400)	36 (165.1084)	2 (178.8572)	31 (166.2628)
Aug 19, 2016	Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest Cape Girardeau, MO	15 / 51 (651.9540)	9 (166.8572)	13 (165.6684)	42 (152.5256)	12 (166.9028)
May 6, 2016	Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest Columbia, MO	11 / 32 (673.6456)	6 (174.8572)	18 (163.4284)	4 (175.4172)	20 (159.9428)
Oct 3, 2015	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO	374 / 606 (642.7200)	321 (163.4172)	461 (155.9772)	314 (163.9428)	353 (159.3828)
Oct 2, 2015	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO	108 / 187 (672.6744)	125 (166.9144)	138 (163.4172)	107 (167.4628)	24 (174.8800)
Aug 21, 2015	Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest Cape Girardeau, MO	12 / 58 (662.2744)	15 (166.2972)	12 (166.8572)	5 (171.4400)	26 (157.6800)
May 1, 2015	Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest Columbia, MO	13 / 37 (671.3256)	32 (159.9428)	3 (176)	2 (176.5600)	28 (158.8228)
Sep 5, 2014	Smoke on the River Quincy, IL	5 / 21 (675.9772)	10 (166.3200)	6 (166.8228)	1 (180)	13 (162.8344)
Aug 22, 2014	22nd Annual Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest Cape Girardeau, MO	11 / 52 (662.2628)	31 (160)	6 (171.4172)	3 (173.7372)	30 (157.1084)
Sep 6, 2013	Smoke On The River Quincy, IL	10 / 28 (660.6516)	9 (166.2972)	6 (166.8916)	12 (166.3200)	12 (161.1428)
Aug 23, 2013	Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest Cape Girardeau, MO	28 / 56 (638.8344)	4 (171.4172)	44 (153.1200)	18 (163.4400)	39 (150.8572)
Apr 26, 2013	Wabash Ribber Fest Barbecue Championship Mt. Carmel, IL	13 / 36 (651.4286)	9 (167.4284)	25 (156)	9 (166.8572)	16 (161.1430)

An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.

Good Grief BBQ

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

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 (11 found in their record)

Perfect scores on the board

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Looking over their shoulder

The long haul

The metronome

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 — 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)