They almost always walk
66%
of contests with a top-10 call
A call in 31 of 47 contests
A top-10 category call in 66% of their 47 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.
SMOKE INFUSION
SMOKE INFUSION is a competition barbecue team with 47 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 3rd of 19 at the Madison Magazine BBQ Festival (2016). They are ranked #1165 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1589
peak 1589 · rated over 44 contests
Contests
47
in the data
First seen
May 3, 2013
latest Sep 11, 2026 · 13.4 years on the trail
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
3
12 podiums
Overall top-10s
7
15% of 47 contests
Avg finish
top 50%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
671.44 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 654.08 (+17.36)
Walk rate
66%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±16.21
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 166.30 · weakest Pork Ribs (162.49)
Road miles
3,147
across 47 mapped stops · furthest 121 mi
Schedule strength
74%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1593)
Purse competed for
$113K
listed at 16 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 15 state-championship entries
Master avg
654.08 / 720
44 Master contests · 0 GCs
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 ↗ | Master | #692 (173 pts) | #875 (123 pts) | #723 (223 pts) | #743 (163 pts) | #809 (133 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #710 (189 pts) | #613 (304 pts) | #798 (209 pts) | #902 (134 pts) | #580 (294 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #723 (200 pts) | #709 (240 pts) | #695 (265 pts) | #752 (205 pts) | #820 (170 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #555 (318 pts) | #654 (273 pts) | #368 (687 pts) | #707 (228 pts) | #443 (453 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #982 (121 pts) | #1033 (126 pts) | #694 (299 pts) | #1287 (76 pts) | #964 (136 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #603 (540 pts) | #484 (700 pts) | #485 (715 pts) | #690 (485 pts) | #654 (520 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #671 (508 pts) | #282 (1,133 pts) | #859 (403 pts) | #502 (728 pts) | #635 (578 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #763 (495 pts) | #590 (680 pts) | #899 (435 pts) | #772 (520 pts) | #667 (595 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #666 (579 pts) | #887 (419 pts) | #378 (1,009 pts) | #588 (689 pts) | #952 (369 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #706 (503 pts) | #950 (358 pts) | #788 (463 pts) | #907 (398 pts) | #696 (533 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #833 (405 pts) | #838 (430 pts) | #715 (525 pts) | #862 (425 pts) | #897 (380 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #1036 (276 pts) | #1218 (231 pts) | #1173 (251 pts) | #1016 (306 pts) | #1061 (276 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to SMOKE INFUSION, each with one reason worth a look.
36 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#1,162 of the rated field
- Contests
- 58
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 16%
- Peak
- 1614
Their last contest in the data was back in 2022, 4 years before SMOKE INFUSION's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#1,168 of the rated field
- Contests
- 31
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 52%
- Peak
- 1596
Fewer contests behind them than SMOKE INFUSION has cooked, 31 to 47, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.
⚔ Compare careers#1,160 of the rated field
- Contests
- 71
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 24%
- Peak
- 1634
They've been 1634 at their best, 45 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.
⚔ Compare careers#1,159 of the rated field
- Contests
- 25
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 16%
- Peak
- 1590
25 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 16% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careers#1,171 of the rated field
- Contests
- 27
- GCs
- 2
- Top-10s
- 33%
- Peak
- 1606
Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.
⚔ Compare careers#1,170 of the rated field
- Contests
- 27
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 19%
- Peak
- 1589
Level with SMOKE INFUSION on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI | 34 | 5 | 29 | 15% | ⚔ compare |
| T-MAC SMOKIN | 31 | 4 | 27 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| CHEFS GONE GRILLIN | 30 | 15 | 15 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| Freeman Brothers BBQ | 30 | 13 | 17 | 43% | ⚔ compare |
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 30 | 1 | 29 | 3% | ⚔ compare |
| Second Hand Smoke SLV | 29 | 13 | 16 | 45% | ⚔ compare |
| CRASH TEST SMOKERS | 27 | 11 | 16 | 41% | ⚔ compare |
| LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | 26 | 12 | 14 | 46% | ⚔ compare |
| SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | 25 | 0 | 25 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| BIG "E" BBQ | 24 | 3 | 21 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| Littles BBQ Co | 22 | 10 | 12 | 45% | ⚔ compare |
| WICKED SMOKE BBQ | 22 | 5 | 17 | 23% | ⚔ compare |
| THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | 21 | 5 | 16 | 24% | ⚔ compare |
| Smokin Highwaymen | 20 | 6 | 14 | 30% | ⚔ compare |
| FOX RIVER BBQ | 19 | 10 | 9 | 53% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 44 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 174.2744 | 147.3712 | 166.30 | top 42% |
| Pork Ribs | 47 | 15 | 2 | 7 | 176 | 145.6916 | 162.49 | top 50% |
| Pork | 44 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 176.5600 | 145.1200 | 162.49 | top 55% |
| Brisket | 44 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 176.5600 | 153.1084 | 162.96 | top 50% |
“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) | 1 | 0 | top 16% |
| Medium (20–39) | 21 | 0 | top 46% |
| Large (40+) | 22 | 0 | top 54% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puckaway Pigfest | 4 | 5 | 0 | top 38% | Sep 11, 2026 |
| The Masters In May (DAY 2) | 3 | 22 | 0 | top 58% | May 5, 2018 |
| 11th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque (Day 2) | 2 | 12 | 0 | top 60% | Aug 25, 2023 |
| 8th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) | 2 | 8 | 0 | top 44% | Aug 24, 2019 |
| Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-off | 2 | 20 | 0 | top 49% | Oct 19, 2018 |
| 7th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) | 2 | 12 | 0 | top 60% | Aug 24, 2018 |
| Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2 | 2 | 15 | 0 | top 54% | Jul 14, 2018 |
| Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1 | 2 | 41 | 0 | top 75% | Jul 13, 2018 |
| 6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) | 2 | 27 | 0 | top 70% | Aug 25, 2017 |
| Puckaway Pigfest | 2 | 12 | 0 | top 47% | Sep 9, 2016 |
| Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay | 2 | 24 | 0 | top 47% | Jul 10, 2015 |
| The Masters in May | 2 | 14 | 0 | top 58% | May 2, 2014 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2018
7 contests
Contests a season
3.9
across 12 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
WI
47 of 47 contests
Contests visited
29
12 of them more than once
Most-entered meat
Pork Ribs
47 entries · 2 wins · 15 calls
Opponents faced
416
finished ahead 875 times, behind 869
Longest layoff
2.9 yrs
Oct 18, 2019 → Aug 26, 2022
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20264 milestones
- Career-best overall score693.6800 Puckaway Pigfest
- Career-best single call (Pork)176.5600 Puckaway Pigfest
- Peak power rating (1589) Puckaway Pigfest
- Most recent contest Puckaway Pigfest
20181 milestone
- 25th tracked contest Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1
20153 milestones
- First category win (Brisket) 4th Annual Deaths Door Barbecue
- First overall podium 4th Annual Deaths Door Barbecue
- 10th tracked contest Puckaway Pigfest
20134 milestones
- First tracked contest The Masters in May
- First call The Masters in May
- First overall top-10 Death's Door Barbecue
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score655.3828 Death's Door Barbecue
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +14.3 | 4th Annual Deaths Door Barbecue | Aug 28, 2015 |
| +12.5 | Madison Magazine BBQ Festival | May 13, 2016 |
| +11.3 | The Masters In May | May 1, 2015 |
| +9.8 | Puckaway Pigfest | Sep 11, 2026 |
| +9.4 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2 | Jul 15, 2017 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -11.1 | The Masters in May | May 2, 2014 |
| -8.6 | Master In May-The Classic | May 6, 2017 |
| -6.3 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1 | Jul 13, 2018 |
| -5.8 | The Masters In May (also Big Green Egg challenge) | May 5, 2017 |
| -5.2 | 11th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque (Day 1) | Aug 24, 2023 |
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 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | top 22% | 96.3% | 96.3% |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 55% | 93.6% | 92.8% |
| 2024 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33% | top 46% | 92.5% | 92.1% |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 50% | top 52% | 94.7% | 93.3% |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 42% | 92% | 92% |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 67% | top 50% | 98.1% | 92.2% |
| 2018 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 63% | 93.2% | 90.3% |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14% | top 62% | 92.7% | 89.7% |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100% | top 35% | 92.4% | 91.6% |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 50% | top 32% | 92.9% | 90.5% |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% | top 57% | 91.5% | 88.2% |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | top 29% | 91% | 89.6% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 11, 2026 | Puckaway Pigfest 🏅 Montello, WI | 5 / 23 (693.6800) | 10 (169.7028) | 3 (174.2972) | 6 (176.5600) | 9 (173.1200) |
| Sep 5, 2025 | Puckaway Pigfest 🏅 Montello, WI | 18 / 35 (674.1600) | 22 (165.6800) | 10 (171.4172) | 28 (160.5028) | 4 (176.5600) |
| Aug 22, 2025 | Brighton Barbeque Bash 🏅 Oshkosh, WI | 17 / 29 (662.7428) | 3 (174.2744) | 21 (162.8000) | 21 (165.1084) | 19 (160.5600) |
| Sep 6, 2024 | Puckaway Pigfest 🏅 Montello, WI | 16 / 37 (666.1600) | 16 (169.6916) | 17 (165.7028) | 20 (165.6800) | 20 (165.0856) |
| Jul 20, 2024 | BBCubed - Brighton Barbeque Bash (ONE MEAT RIBS) Oshkosh, WI | — | — | 13 (163.3712) | — | — |
| Jul 19, 2024 | BBCubed - Brighton Barbeque Bash 🏅 Oshkosh, WI | 18 / 37 (660.4684) | 10 (173.1084) | 28 (158.2400) | 13 (167.3944) | 20 (161.7256) |
| Sep 8, 2023 | Puckaway Pigfest 🏅 Montello, WI | 10 / 28 (670.2060) | 16 (163.9888) | 1 (173.1544) | 14 (162.8000) | 9 (170.2628) |
| Aug 25, 2023 | 11th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque (Day 2) 🏅 Washington Island, WI | 12 / 28 (681.6344) | 20 (168.5372) | 3 (176) | 26 (161.6572) | 4 (175.4400) |
| Aug 25, 2023 | 11th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque (ONE MEAT RIBS) Washington Island, WI | — | — | 12 (166.8228) | — | — |
| Aug 24, 2023 | 11th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque (Day 1) 🏅 Washington Island, WI | 21 / 27 (662.7088) | 16 (169.6684) | 21 (160.5260) | 22 (163.3944) | 13 (169.1200) |
| Aug 26, 2022 | 10th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque 🏅 Washington Island, WI | 11 / 26 (662.7204) | 10 (168.5372) | 10 (166.8460) | 20 (161.6572) | 9 (165.6800) |
| Aug 26, 2022 | 10th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque (ONE MEAT RIBS) Washington Island, WI | — | — | 5 (163.9428) | — | — |
| Oct 18, 2019 | Best of the Midwest 🏅 Union Grove, WI | 20 / 52 (655.8740) | 10 (168.5372) | 42 (153.1200) | 13 (169.6684) | 20 (164.5484) |
| Aug 24, 2019 | 8th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) 🏅 Washington Island, WI | 18 / 29 (669.0632) | 15 (168.5488) | 5 (173.1316) | 23 (162.2628) | 18 (165.1200) |
| Aug 23, 2019 | 8th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 1) 🏅 Washington Island, WI | 8 / 30 (176.5600) | 5 (173.1200) | 18 (163.9428) | 21 (161.1200) | 18 (162.8456) |
| May 4, 2019 | Masters in May Day 2 🏅 Bancroft, WI | 18 / 40 (666.7540) | 15 (168) | 7 (173.1200) | 34 (157.6684) | 13 (167.9656) |
| May 3, 2019 | Masters In May Day 1 🏅 Bancroft, WI | 30 / 42 (649.5084) | 32 (159.3600) | 17 (167.9772) | 28 (162.8228) | 29 (159.3484) |
| Apr 26, 2019 | The Great Wisconsin Tune Up BBQ Contest 🏅 Manawa, WI | 14 / 26 (635.2344) | 13 (163.3828) | 11 (159.9660) | 14 (158.2172) | 20 (153.6684) |
| Oct 19, 2018 | Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-off Union Grove, WI | 25 / 42 (638.7200) | 18 (163.9428) | 39 (145.6916) | 3 (173.1428) | 31 (155.9428) |
| Aug 24, 2018 | 7th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) Washington Island, WI | 20 / 27 (645.4972) | 8 (171.9772) | 25 (152.4800) | 20 (159.3828) | 15 (161.6572) |
| Aug 23, 2018 | 7th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 1) Washington Island, WI | 12 / 26 (671.3488) | 2 (174.2744) | 25 (151.9200) | 5 (172) | 5 (173.1544) |
| Jul 14, 2018 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2 Green Bay, WI | 38 / 49 (646.1368) | 7 (173.1200) | 47 (150.2056) | 30 (163.4056) | 38 (159.4056) |
| Jul 13, 2018 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1 Green Bay, WI | 43 / 54 (630.2860) | 9 (169.7144) | 46 (151.9544) | 50 (153.1772) | 43 (155.4400) |
| May 5, 2018 | The Masters In May (DAY 2) Appleton, WI | 33 / 54 (658.1712) | 9 (171.9884) | 41 (161.1200) | 36 (160.5028) | 29 (164.5600) |
| May 4, 2018 | The Masters In May ( DAY 1) Appleton, WI | 22 / 54 (658.8000) | 5 (173.1428) | 26 (162.8344) | 32 (160.5600) | 35 (162.2628) |
| Oct 20, 2017 | Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-off Union Grove, WI | 20 / 52 (653.0056) | 13 (165.6800) | 28 (159.9772) | 12 (168.5256) | 31 (158.8228) |
| Aug 25, 2017 | 6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) Washington Island, WI | 28 / 39 (646.1484) | 30 (157.0856) | 30 (159.3600) | 18 (166.2744) | 17 (163.4284) |
| Aug 24, 2017 | 6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 1) Washington Island, WI | 27 / 40 (643.8972) | 25 (165.1084) | 26 (159.4060) | 31 (155.9656) | 17 (163.4172) |
| Jul 15, 2017 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2 Green Bay, WI | 15 / 49 (667.3488) | 23 (166.2628) | 22 (166.2400) | 27 (163.9772) | 8 (170.8688) |
| Jul 14, 2017 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1 Green Bay, WI | 41 / 58 (637.1200) | 11 (169.1200) | 43 (154.2400) | 52 (152) | 30 (161.7600) |
| May 6, 2017 | Master In May-The Classic Appleton, WI | 42 / 50 (630.7084) | 11 (172.5600) | 41 (154.8116) | 47 (150.2284) | 42 (153.1084) |
| May 5, 2017 | The Masters In May (also Big Green Egg challenge) Appleton, WI | 41 / 56 (644.4572) | 15 (169.6800) | 28 (163.4172) | 52 (154.2400) | 40 (157.1200) |
| Sep 9, 2016 | Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI | 12 / 37 (663.9312) | 18 (162.8228) | 1 (173.7600) | 3 (173.1084) | 29 (154.2400) |
| Aug 26, 2016 | 5th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque Washington Island, WI | 24 / 42 (650.6972) | 22 (166.2400) | 33 (154.2172) | 6 (170.8572) | 26 (159.3828) |
| May 13, 2016 | Madison Magazine BBQ Festival Sauk City, WI | 3 / 19 (665.1084) | 9 (162.8456) | 3 (172.5600) | 6 (169.1200) | 9 (160.5828) |
| Apr 30, 2016 | Masters in May- The Classic Appleton, WI | 17 / 58 (662.8688) | 28 (166.2284) | 4 (172.0460) | 38 (160) | 26 (164.5944) |
| Apr 29, 2016 | Masters in May Appleton, WI | 23 / 59 (654.1484) | 50 (158.2056) | 3 (173.1200) | 32 (160.5484) | 26 (162.2744) |
| Sep 11, 2015 | Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI | 20 / 33 (622.2172) | 24 (153.7144) | 23 (153.0972) | 24 (151.4056) | 11 (164) |
| Aug 28, 2015 | 4th Annual Deaths Door Barbecue Washington Island, WI | 3 / 35 (669.0740) | 8 (170.2628) | 22 (157.1084) | 6 (168) | 1 (173.7028) |
| Jul 10, 2015 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay Green Bay, WI | 30 / 80 (655.8512) | 47 (161.6456) | 25 (165.6800) | 27 (163.9772) | 26 (164.5484) |
| May 1, 2015 | The Masters In May Appleton, WI | 12 / 57 (660) | 21 (163.3828) | 2 (172.5828) | 17 (165.7144) | 37 (158.3200) |
| Aug 22, 2014 | Deaths Door Barbecue Washington Island, WI | 14 / 27 (658.7428) | 12 (169.1428) | 11 (161.1316) | 6 (171.9772) | 23 (156.4912) |
| Jul 11, 2014 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay Green Bay, WI | 24 / 42 (622.7884) | 34 (147.3712) | 12 (164.5716) | 41 (145.1200) | 11 (165.7256) |
| Jun 13, 2014 | Hog and Steer Barbecue Competition & Festival Oconomowoc, WI | 7 / 22 (648.4800) | 5 (170.2744) | 5 (163.9772) | 11 (161.1200) | 15 (153.1084) |
| May 2, 2014 | The Masters in May Fremont, WI | 54 / 62 (611.2916) | 50 (152.5256) | 52 (149.1316) | 45 (153.6800) | 42 (155.9544) |
| Aug 23, 2013 | Death's Door Barbecue Washington Island, WI | 8 / 28 (655.3828) | 18 (162.2628) | 5 (164.5828) | 4 (166.2744) | 12 (162.2628) |
| May 3, 2013 | The Masters in May Fremont, WI | 14 / 48 (635.4284) | 11 (162.2856) | 34 (151.4286) | 19 (158.8570) | 9 (162.8572) |