The heartbreaker
Came within 1.1084 points of the Grand Championship at Kickin' It Route 66 Barbecue Challenge (Mar 27, 2026).
Crossed Rifles BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 52 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2020 and 2026. They have won 1 Grand Championship, at the Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championships (2023), and finished Reserve Grand Champion 5 times. They are ranked #447 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #178 (1,016 pts) | #224 (906 pts) | #210 (976 pts) | #184 (966 pts) | #272 (731 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #506 (365 pts) | #461 (495 pts) | #653 (290 pts) | #447 (465 pts) | #589 (285 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #79 (1,652 pts) | #142 (1,257 pts) | #76 (1,622 pts) | #79 (1,542 pts) | #172 (1,142 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #127 (1,334 pts) | #155 (1,189 pts) | #127 (1,411 pts) | #141 (1,229 pts) | #155 (1,189 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #471 (450 pts) | #406 (580 pts) | #619 (355 pts) | #602 (330 pts) | #700 (260 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #1076 (100 pts) | #1286 (60 pts) | #1269 (70 pts) | #1231 (70 pts) | #813 (175 pts) |
| 2020 ↗ | Master | #738 (110 pts) | #896 (60 pts) | #448 (260 pts) | #442 (260 pts) | #883 (60 pts) |
The teams rated closest to Crossed Rifles BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
These two have cooked 4 of the same contests — Porterhouse BBQ ahead 3–1 — 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, 37 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careersTheir last contest in the data was back in 2018, 8 years before Crossed Rifles BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careersCareers of much the same size, 59 contests to 52, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careersTheir rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 82 contests, alongside a 49% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Compare careersThey were already cooking in 2013, 7 years before Crossed Rifles BBQ's first contest.
⚔ Head-to-head| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 24 | 10 | 14 | 42% | ⚔ compare |
| CHICKEN FRIED BBQ | 23 | 8 | 15 | 35% | ⚔ compare |
| JANKY LEG BBQ | 22 | 6 | 16 | 27% | ⚔ compare |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 22 | 5 | 17 | 23% | ⚔ compare |
| LA PASADITA | 21 | 13 | 8 | 62% | ⚔ compare |
| RAZORRACKS | 21 | 7 | 14 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | 21 | 7 | 14 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| TRIPLE H BBQ | 21 | 3 | 18 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| Kith n' Kin | 20 | 9 | 11 | 45% | ⚔ compare |
| MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | 19 | 9 | 10 | 47% | ⚔ compare |
| THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE | 19 | 9 | 10 | 47% | ⚔ compare |
| Can Country Outlaw BBQ | 18 | 8 | 10 | 44% | ⚔ compare |
| SmokinGhost BBQ | 18 | 8 | 10 | 44% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | 17 | 7 | 10 | 41% | ⚔ compare |
| Heavy Smoke BBQ | 17 | 7 | 10 | 41% | ⚔ compare |
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 47 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 180 🔥 | 161.7140 | 171.91 | top 42% |
| Pork Ribs | 47 | 18 | 2 | 7 | 179.4400 | 165.0972 | 172.80 | top 34% |
| Pork | 45 | 20 | 2 | 7 | 180 🔥 | 154.2628 | 172.70 | top 33% |
| Brisket | 46 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 178.8572 | 159.3828 | 169.93 | top 42% |
“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) | 1 | 0 | top 12% |
| Medium (20–39) | 13 | 0 | top 25% |
| Large (40+) | 32 | 1 | top 35% |
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest | 3 | 18 | 0 | top 40% | Sep 27, 2023 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | 3 | 78 | 0 | top 31% | Sep 27, 2023 |
| Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship | 2 | 39 | 0 | top 39% | Mar 20, 2026 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | 2 | 170 | 0 | top 40% | Nov 5, 2025 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest | 2 | 9 | 0 | top 40% | Nov 5, 2025 |
| Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) | 2 | 11 | 0 | top 33% | Oct 16, 2025 |
| Cedar Fest BBQ Cookoff | 2 | 4 | 0 | top 11% | Mar 28, 2025 |
| Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) | 2 | 2 | 0 | top 5% | Oct 26, 2024 |
| Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Classic Cookoff | 2 | 10 | 0 | top 21% | Sep 13, 2024 |
| Beat the Heat BBQ & Brews | 2 | 2 | 0 | top 38% | Aug 11, 2023 |
| Smokin on the Osage (Day 2) | 2 | 3 | 0 | top 26% | Jul 22, 2023 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +18 | Saracen Casino Smoke on the Water | Oct 21, 2022 |
| +16 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 1) | Jul 21, 2023 |
| +14.9 | Hog Wild BBQ Cookoff | Apr 28, 2023 |
| +14.4 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) | Oct 25, 2024 |
| +13.3 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) | Oct 26, 2024 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -10.8 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) | Jun 12, 2026 |
| -9.2 | Smoke in the Spring | Apr 11, 2025 |
| -8.9 | Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off (MASTERS and BACKYARD 1) | Jul 10, 2026 |
| -5.3 | Smoke on the Water | Sep 20, 2024 |
| -3.9 | Poosa Q | May 5, 2022 |
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 50% | top 33% | 98.1% | 95.8% |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 43% | top 32% | 97.3% | 95.7% |
| 2024 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 73% | top 33% | 98.2% | 95.8% |
| 2023 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 82% | top 29% | 99.1% | 95.7% |
| 2022 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29% | top 38% | 97.2% | 94.4% |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67% | top 20% | 96.7% | 94.3% |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 28% | 94% | 94% |
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2026 | Kora Kares for Kids 🏅 Hiram, ME | 23 / 51 (686.1828) | 20 (173.1200) | 40 (165.0972) | 8 (176) | 19 (171.9656) |
| Jul 10, 2026 | Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off (MASTERS and BACKYARD 1) 🏅 Cameron, MO | 18 / 37 (685.6112) | 21 (169.6800) | 14 (176) | 13 (173.1200) | 22 (166.8112) |
| Jun 19, 2026 | Rose Festival's 25th Annual KCBS BBQ Competition 🏅 State Center, IA | 3 / 20 (697.0860) | 2 (180) | 8 (172.0004) | 2 (177.7144) | 14 (167.3712) |
| Jun 13, 2026 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD) 🏅 West Salem, WI | 2 / 37 (701.6800) | 11 (174.8456) | 2 (177.7028) | 14 (171.4172) | 3 (177.7144) |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) 🏅 West Salem, WI | 29 / 40 (664.9940) | 23 (168.5256) | 24 (166.8572) | 18 (169.1200) | 34 (160.4912) |
| Mar 27, 2026 | Kickin' It Route 66 Barbecue Challenge 🏅 St. Robert, MO | 2 / 26 (706.2744) | 5 (177.1428) | 1 (177.7144) | 5 (177.1544) | 13 (174.2628) |
| Mar 20, 2026 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship 🏅 Lebanon, TN | 48 / 125 (688.4912) | 36 (174.8456) | 66 (169.6800) | 36 (174.2972) | 73 (169.6684) |
| Mar 20, 2026 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Lebanon, TN | — | 41 (169.1084) | — | — | — |
| Nov 5, 2025 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 170 / 401 (681.5880) | 227 (169.1084) | 115 (172.5600) | 133 (172.5484) | 218 (167.3712) |
| Nov 5, 2025 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest unrated Kansas City, KS | 9 / 158 (700.5256) | 45 (175.4056) | 101 (170.2628) | 15 (177.1428) | 9 (177.7144) |
| Nov 5, 2025 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Oct 16, 2025 | Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) unrated Roswell, GA | 12 / 36 (698.8000) | 19 (176.5600) | 17 (172.5600) | 1 (180) | 21 (169.6800) |
| Apr 11, 2025 | Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS | 57 / 92 (677.6000) | 74 (165.6684) | 29 (173.1200) | 53 (168.5372) | 41 (170.2744) |
| Mar 28, 2025 | Cedar Fest BBQ Cookoff 🏅 Cedar Park, TX | 6 / 48 (687.8968) | 11 (171.9656) | 15 (170.8228) | 1 (179.4400) | 20 (165.6684) |
| Mar 14, 2025 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship 🏅 Lebanon, TN | 39 / 100 (687.9200) | 11 (177.1544) | 47 (170.8228) | 25 (174.8572) | 73 (165.0856) |
| Nov 15, 2024 | Atlanta BBQ Store Classic 🏅 Cuming, GA | 23 / 58 (686.2056) | 6 (177.7028) | 30 (170.8572) | 39 (166.8228) | 21 (170.8228) |
| Oct 30, 2024 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 170 / 444 (681.0396) | 218 (169.6800) | 106 (173.7028) | 261 (166.8456) | 138 (170.8112) |
| Oct 30, 2024 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest unrated Kansas City, KS | 124 / 169 (677.0740) | 124 (168.5372) | 68 (172.5828) | 121 (168.5484) | 127 (167.4056) |
| Oct 30, 2024 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Oct 26, 2024 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) 🏅 Oak Grove, MO | 3 / 56 (695.9316) | 6 (176.5716) | 2 (177.7144) | 34 (169.6800) | 14 (171.9656) |
| Oct 25, 2024 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) 🏅 Oak Grove, MO | 2 / 53 (703.3944) | 27 (172.5484) | 11 (175.4172) | 2 (180) | 5 (175.4288) |
| Oct 17, 2024 | Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) unrated Roswell, GA | 11 / 33 (697.0740) | 21 (172.5484) | 16 (173.7028) | 4 (177.7028) | 14 (173.1200) |
| Sep 27, 2024 | TN River BBQ Fest 🏅 Saltillo, TN | 2 / 17 (698.2400) | 2 (177.7028) | 1 (175.4056) | 8 (170.2744) | 3 (174.8572) |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Smoke on the Water 🏅 Pine Bluff, AR | 25 / 42 (673.0972) | 33 (164.0344) | 21 (169.1200) | 6 (174.2744) | 27 (165.6684) |
| Sep 13, 2024 | Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Classic Cookoff 🏅 Waller, TX | 10 / 67 (685.7144) | 31 (168) | 7 (175.4172) | 8 (174.8572) | 22 (167.4400) |
| Aug 16, 2024 | Sugar Creek Casino's Sweet & Smoky BBQ Competition 🏅 Hinton, OK | 3 / 25 (707.3828) | 7 (177.7028) | 6 (176.5600) | 2 (180) | 14 (173.1200) |
| May 25, 2024 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL unrated Lebanon, TN | 46 / 81 (691.3256) | 16 (177.7028) | 6 (178.8572) | 78 (165.0972) | 61 (169.6684) |
| May 24, 2024 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN unrated Lebanon, TN | 97 / 118 (668.9940) | 89 (169.6684) | 93 (166.8228) | 46 (173.1200) | 108 (159.3828) |
| May 3, 2024 | Hog Wild BBQ & Family Fest 🏅 Brookhaven, MS | 6 / 25 (696.5488) | 6 (176) | 7 (173.7144) | 5 (176) | 11 (170.8344) |
| Apr 5, 2024 | Cedar Fest BBQ Cookoff 🏅 Cedar Park, TX | 4 / 40 (690.2056) | 6 (171.9656) | 7 (175.4172) | 4 (174.8572) | 9 (167.9656) |
| Oct 27, 2023 | Smoke on the Water - Saracen Casino PB 🏅 Pine Bluff, AR | 24 / 49 (681.0628) | 34 (166.8228) | 22 (171.4172) | 3 (177.7144) | 32 (165.1084) |
| Sep 27, 2023 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sep 27, 2023 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest unrated Kansas City, KS | 168 / 211 (672.9596) | 190 (165.0740) | 53 (174.2744) | 186 (163.9312) | 116 (169.6800) |
| Sep 27, 2023 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 139 / 487 (682.8228) | 130 (173.1200) | 5 (179.4400) | 446 (154.2628) | 28 (176) |
| Sep 8, 2023 | Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Classic Cookoff 🏅 Waller, TX | 26 / 99 (676.4684) | 16 (173.1200) | 6 (176.5600) | 63 (164) | 56 (162.7884) |
| Aug 18, 2023 | Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championships 🏅 Lubbock, TX | 1 / 48 (713.1660) | 3 (178.2972) | 2 (179.4400) | 7 (176.5716) | 4 (178.8572) |
| Aug 11, 2023 | Beat the Heat BBQ & Brews 🏅 Alamosa, CO | 2 / 27 (691.9316) | 1 (176.5600) | 5 (171.9888) | 9 (170.2628) | 7 (173.1200) |
| Jul 22, 2023 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 2) 🏅 Osceola, MO | 12 / 28 (688.4916) | 23 (167.3828) | 10 (172.5600) | 5 (175.4288) | 8 (173.1200) |
| Jul 22, 2023 | Smokin on the Osage (ONE MEAT RIBS) 🏅 Osceola, MO | — | — | 9 (173.1200) | — | — |
| Jul 21, 2023 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 1) 🏅 Osceola, MO | 3 / 31 (695.9200) | 3 (177.7144) | 11 (173.1200) | 15 (171.9656) | 4 (173.1200) |
| Apr 28, 2023 | Hog Wild BBQ Cookoff 🏅 Brandon, MS | 4 / 28 (696.4912) | 16 (172.5484) | 18 (170.8228) | 3 (176.5600) | 3 (176.5600) |
| Oct 21, 2022 | Saracen Casino Smoke on the Water 🏅 Pine Bluff, AR | 3 / 47 (699.9312) | 2 (180) | 3 (179.4400) | 18 (170.8228) | 21 (169.6684) |
| Oct 1, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - SIDES Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sep 29, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 240 / 505 (669.6228) | 326 (164.5256) | 233 (167.4400) | 78 (174.2744) | 291 (163.3828) |
| Sep 29, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - INVITATIONAL CONTEST unrated Kansas City, KS | 78 / 249 (686.7656) | 122 (171.4172) | 158 (169.1200) | 74 (173.1200) | 65 (173.1084) |
| Aug 5, 2022 | Beat the Heat BBQ & Brews 🏅 Alamosa, CO | 24 / 35 (662.1368) | 20 (166.8456) | 20 (166.2400) | 22 (163.9312) | 20 (165.1200) |
| May 5, 2022 | Poosa Q 🏅 Montgomery, AL | 41 / 72 (670.7200) | 61 (162.8000) | 50 (165.6800) | 23 (170.2628) | 21 (171.9772) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | Cedar Fest BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Cedar Park, TX | 8 / 56 (687.9088) | 2 (176.5600) | 27 (166.2516) | 7 (175.4172) | 17 (169.6800) |
| Sep 16, 2021 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 78 / 467 (490.7656) | 295 (162.8344) | 52 (174.2972) | 49 (173.7028) | 269 (162.2400) |
| Sep 16, 2021 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-INVITATIONAL CONTEST 🏅 unrated Kansas City, KS | 18 / 185 (696.5144) | 85 (171.4172) | 36 (175.4172) | 8 (177.7144) | 64 (171.9656) |
| Sep 10, 2021 | Smoke on the Trails 🏅 Gardner, KS | 17 / 53 (685.6228) | 26 (167.3828) | 23 (169.6800) | 23 (172) | 6 (176.5600) |
| Aug 7, 2020 | 15th Annual HANOR Smokin' Red Dirt BBQ 🏅 Enid, OK | 15 / 54 (676.5140) | 40 (161.7140) | 2 (174.8572) | — | 36 (162.2400) |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.