ACES HIGH BBQ MN
Rating
1614
peak 1642
Contests
56
in the data
First seen
2019-04-12
latest 2026-05-08
Best ToY finish
#155
Master 2025
Grand champs
0
2 reserve
Category wins
6
22 podiums
Overall top-10s
15
of 56 contests
Avg finish
top 38%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
3 🔥
Current form
680.83 ▲
last 5 vs career avg 677.18 (+3.65)
Walk rate
82%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
4
best run (overall)
Consistency
±9.47
std dev of overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 171.55 · weakest Brisket (168.31)
Road miles
12311
mi across 56 mapped stops · furthest 505 mi
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY has finished one call ahead of ACES HIGH BBQ 4 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN has come out ahead in 38 of their 43 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of SIX BUTT BBQ in 28 of their 37 shared contests.
🏕️ Happy hunting ground
American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest is their spot: an average finish in the top 20% across 2 visits.
💔 The heartbreaker
Came within 0.5828 points of the Grand Championship at The Great Wisconsin Tune Up BBQ Contest (2019-04-26).
📅 A September team
Something about September: average finish in the top 29% across 11 contests, versus top 38% the rest of the year.
Teams like this (closest power rating, MN first)
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 56 | 24 | 1 | 5 | 180.0000 🔥 | 163.3828 | 171.55 | top 35% |
| Pork Ribs | 56 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 177.7144 | 152.5028 | 168.37 | top 41% |
| Pork | 56 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 180.0000 🔥 | 157.7028 | 168.94 | top 45% |
| Brisket | 56 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 178.8572 | 156.5144 | 168.31 | top 40% |
“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 state / province
| Where | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| MN | 18 | 0 | top 41% |
| WI | 18 | 0 | top 40% |
| KS | 7 | 0 | top 23% |
| IA | 7 | 0 | top 50% |
| ND | 2 | 0 | top 40% |
| MO | 2 | 0 | top 24% |
| SD | 1 | 0 | top 22% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 1 | 0 | top 63% |
| Medium (20–39) | 28 | 0 | top 43% |
| Large (40+) | 27 | 0 | top 32% |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2025 (13 contests)
- Cooks mostly in MN (18 of 56 contests)
- Most-entered category: Chicken (56 entries)
- All-time average overall score: 677.18
- 3 perfect 180s on the books 🔥
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
Category scores over time
Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)
Where they finish (overall)
Best vs average (by meat)
Team of the Year rank by season
Season by season
| Season | Contests | GCs | Category wins | Best overall | Avg overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 681.6112 | 677.04 |
| 2025 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 694.2516 | 679.73 |
| 2024 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 693.6228 | 682.95 |
| 2023 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 681.6348 | 675.99 |
| 2022 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 699.9656 | 677.77 |
| 2021 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 684.5148 | 671.32 |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 679.3488 | 673.06 |
| 2019 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 695.3712 | 678.92 |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-08 | Minnesota in May St. Peter, MN | 59 / 77 (673.0052) | 61 (167.9656) | 19 (172.5484) | 61 (166.2284) | 56 (166.2628) |
| 2026-05-01 | ND BBQ Championship Fargo, ND | 31 / 71 (676.5140) | 3 (178.8572) | 57 (162.2628) | 29 (170.2512) | 38 (165.1428) |
| 2026-04-10 | Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT) Osage City, KS | 63 / 101 (681.6112) | 24 (176.0000) | 78 (167.3828) | 81 (166.2400) | 36 (171.9884) |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest Kansas City, KS | 58 / 401 (694.2516) | 11 (178.8572) | 25 (176.5716) | 278 (165.7028) | 90 (173.1200) |
| 2025-10-03 | ND BBQ Championship Fargo, ND | 17 / 46 (678.7540) | 19 (169.6684) | 4 (174.2628) | 37 (160.5256) | 3 (174.2972) |
| 2025-09-26 | Rollin Smoke at Rustic Timbers BBQ Bash Egg Harbor, WI | 10 / 16 (668.9828) | 10 (168.5372) | 2 (174.8572) | 11 (162.7884) | 12 (162.8000) |
| 2025-09-05 | Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI | 4 / 35 (693.6228) | 18 (169.6684) | 1 (177.7144) | 1 (176.5600) | 15 (169.6800) |
| 2025-08-22 | MN Masters BBQ Pierz, MN | 19 / 26 (665.5772) | 18 (166.2400) | 6 (171.9772) | 22 (165.0856) | 17 (162.2744) |
| 2025-07-25 | 9th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest Emmetsburg, IA | 26 / 31 (667.3376) | 7 (171.9888) | 23 (163.9888) | 28 (162.2400) | 11 (169.1200) |
| 2025-07-11 | KTD Smokn' Gobbler Worthington, MN | 11 / 26 (673.5772) | 22 (163.3828) | 8 (169.6800) | 14 (168.5372) | 5 (171.9772) |
| 2025-06-14 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 21 / 36 (678.1716) | 31 (166.2400) | 5 (175.4172) | 19 (167.9772) | 15 (168.5372) |
| 2025-06-13 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 7 / 36 (684.4800) | 2 (176.5600) | 2 (175.4172) | 25 (166.8228) | 25 (165.6800) |
| 2025-05-30 | Smokin' in Steele Owatonna, MN | 12 / 28 (687.3372) | 13 (171.9888) | 15 (170.8228) | 11 (171.9772) | 9 (172.5484) |
| 2025-05-09 | Minnesota in May St. Peter, MN | 9 / 58 (691.9772) | 21 (172.0000) | 10 (173.1316) | 15 (174.8456) | 16 (172.0000) |
| 2025-04-04 | Iowa State BBQ Championship Altoona, IA | 37 / 49 (663.3028) | 24 (169.6800) | 45 (157.6572) | 10 (173.7028) | 38 (162.2628) |
| 2025-02-21 | Fire on Ice BBQ Championship Onamia, MN | 6 / 42 (689.1204) | 9 (174.2628) | 6 (173.1316) | 27 (166.8344) | 3 (174.8916) |
| 2024-09-06 | Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI | 12 / 37 (674.7428) | 19 (168.5372) | 14 (166.2516) | 8 (170.8456) | 15 (169.1084) |
| 2024-07-12 | KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-off Worthington, MN | 12 / 34 (680.4916) | 10 (174.2972) | 31 (158.2172) | 2 (178.8572) | 14 (169.1200) |
| 2024-04-05 | Smoke in the Spring Osage City, KS | 19 / 97 (693.6228) | 8 (177.7028) | 45 (170.8344) | 29 (173.1084) | 37 (171.9772) |
| 2023-09-08 | Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI | 3 / 28 (678.7656) | 2 (174.2972) | 16 (161.0972) | 10 (167.9656) | 2 (175.4056) |
| 2023-08-25 | 11th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque (Day 2) Washington Island, WI | 17 / 28 (675.8860) | 17 (169.6916) | 17 (167.9772) | 10 (171.9772) | 16 (166.2400) |
| 2023-08-24 | 11th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque (Day 1) Washington Island, WI | 12 / 27 (681.6348) | 5 (175.4288) | 13 (167.3944) | 16 (168.5372) | 11 (170.2744) |
| 2023-07-28 | 7th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest Emmetsburg, IA | 30 / 32 (665.0060) | 28 (165.1200) | 32 (158.2172) | 9 (174.2744) | 21 (167.3944) |
| 2023-07-14 | KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-off Worthington, MN | 13 / 39 (675.3716) | 7 (173.1544) | 10 (170.8344) | 13 (169.7028) | 29 (161.6800) |
| 2023-05-12 | Minnesota in May St. Peter, MN | 17 / 59 (679.3028) | 12 (174.2628) | 18 (170.8344) | 37 (165.6800) | 22 (168.5256) |
| 2022-09-29 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - INVITATIONAL CONTEST Kansas City, KS | 12 / 249 (699.9656) | 2 (180.0000) | 116 (171.4056) | 33 (176.5600) | 77 (172.0000) |
| 2022-09-29 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST Kansas City, KS | 125 / 505 (681.6800) | 22 (177.7372) | 235 (167.4172) | 114 (172.5600) | 274 (163.9656) |
| 2022-09-09 | Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI | 15 / 38 (678.1600) | 7 (174.2628) | 20 (166.8344) | 23 (166.2400) | 12 (170.8228) |
| 2022-08-26 | 10th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque Washington Island, WI | 6 / 26 (671.8744) | 6 (171.9772) | 7 (168.5372) | 10 (169.6800) | 15 (161.6800) |
| 2022-07-29 | 6th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest Emmetsburg, IA | 4 / 32 (685.0860) | 7 (173.1544) | 4 (171.9772) | 10 (171.9772) | 14 (167.9772) |
| 2022-07-15 | KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-off Worthington, MN | 18 / 40 (669.5544) | 7 (174.2744) | 29 (162.8116) | 28 (165.0856) | 18 (167.3828) |
| 2022-06-11 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 25 / 37 (666.6972) | 30 (166.2400) | 23 (165.0856) | 20 (168.5372) | 17 (166.8344) |
| 2022-06-10 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) West Salem, WI | 15 / 39 (675.3144) | 8 (171.4172) | 28 (161.6572) | 14 (171.9772) | 10 (170.2628) |
| 2022-06-03 | Smokin in Steele (Master & Backyard Contest) Owatonna, MN | 17 / 33 (671.3256) | 20 (167.4172) | 11 (170.2744) | 14 (170.2512) | 20 (163.3828) |
| 2022-05-13 | Minnesota in May (Masters) Cambridge, MN | 24 / 59 (673.6344) | 11 (170.8572) | 28 (166.8344) | 29 (168.5256) | 23 (167.4172) |
| 2022-04-01 | Iowa State BBQ Championship Altoona, IA | 16 / 48 (682.1940) | 16 (172.5484) | 39 (161.6800) | 1 (180.0000) | 22 (167.9656) |
| 2021-09-24 | Ottumwa 4th Annual Smoketoberfest Ottumwa, IA | 15 / 35 (678.7772) | 4 (175.4400) | 2 (174.2744) | 30 (161.6800) | 18 (167.3828) |
| 2021-09-10 | Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI | 17 / 30 (650.1028) | 6 (171.9772) | 22 (152.5028) | 12 (164.5372) | 15 (161.0856) |
| 2021-08-20 | 13th Annual Big Island BBQ Albert Lea, MN | 19 / 35 (672.4456) | 10 (173.1200) | 13 (168.5256) | 19 (166.8572) | 20 (163.9428) |
| 2021-07-16 | KTD Smokin' Gobbler Cook-off Worthington, MN | 26 / 33 (664.4572) | 19 (167.9772) | 30 (161.6800) | 2 (176.0000) | 29 (158.8000) |
| 2021-06-11 | Bring'n Home the Bacon - Day 1 West Salem, WI | 23 / 52 (665.5656) | 36 (163.9428) | 7 (169.7144) | 20 (169.1084) | 28 (162.8000) |
| 2021-06-04 | Original SD BBQ Championship Huron, SD | 11 / 49 (677.6456) | 5 (174.8572) | 21 (168.5256) | 24 (166.8572) | 20 (167.4056) |
| 2021-05-07 | Minnesota in May Cambridge, MN | 10 / 60 (677.0512) | 13 (171.4172) | 12 (169.6912) | 30 (165.1200) | 10 (170.8228) |
| 2021-03-26 | Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge St. Roberts, MO | 18 / 52 (684.5148) | 35 (166.2744) | 37 (166.2516) | 12 (173.1316) | 2 (178.8572) |
| 2020-10-17 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 West Salem, WI | 16 / 33 (675.9200) | 13 (173.1200) | 17 (167.4400) | 29 (163.3828) | 8 (171.9772) |
| 2020-10-16 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 West Salem, WI | 25 / 40 (663.3600) | 24 (164.5256) | 12 (166.8572) | 35 (157.7028) | 4 (174.2744) |
| 2020-08-28 | Minnesota in Mayaugust Cambridge, MN | 18 / 45 (673.6116) | 9 (172.5600) | 13 (169.6916) | 11 (170.8572) | 34 (160.5028) |
| 2020-07-25 | 4th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest Emmetsburg, IA | 2 / 30 (679.3488) | 1 (180.0000) | 23 (163.4172) | 25 (160.5144) | 1 (175.4172) |
| 2019-09-12 | 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- INVITATIONAL CONTEST Kansas City, KS | 20 / 135 (695.3712) | 19 (176.5600) | 66 (170.2628) | 31 (174.2628) | 30 (174.2856) |
| 2019-09-12 | 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST Kansas City, KS | 84 / 468 (679.9200) | 135 (169.6800) | 64 (173.1200) | 92 (171.4172) | 203 (165.7028) |
| 2019-08-23 | Big Island BBQ Alberta Lea, MN | 4 / 50 (683.9316) | 14 (170.8572) | 3 (175.4172) | 6 (174.2628) | 19 (163.3944) |
| 2019-08-16 | SMSU Smokefest MARSHALL, MN | 21 / 46 (668.4344) | 34 (164.5372) | 14 (170.8228) | 37 (159.9544) | 4 (173.1200) |
| 2019-06-21 | Bring'n Home the Bacon West Salem, WI | 9 / 37 (662.7316) | 18 (165.6800) | 13 (163.9772) | 1 (176.5600) | 21 (156.5144) |
| 2019-05-10 | Minnesota in May | 10 / 57 (683.3716) | 24 (169.6800) | 19 (169.1544) | 12 (171.9772) | 8 (172.5600) |
| 2019-04-26 | The Great Wisconsin Tune Up BBQ Contest Manawa, WI | 2 / 26 (675.3484) | 5 (169.1200) | 2 (170.8228) | 6 (164.5600) | 2 (170.8456) |
| 2019-04-12 | The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake Smithville, MO | 7 / 54 (682.2520) | 8 (171.4288) | 4 (173.7144) | 33 (163.3944) | 4 (173.7144) |
Team of the Year standings (rank per category by season — year links to the full board on kcbs.us)
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #494 (180 pts) | #350 (360 pts) | #564 (210 pts) | #533 (180 pts) | #534 (180 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #155 (1311 pts) | #165 (1276 pts) | #58 (1906 pts) | #186 (1146 pts) | #123 (1432 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #534 (339 pts) | #530 (379 pts) | #754 (234 pts) | #441 (474 pts) | #629 (284 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #299 (715 pts) | #258 (870 pts) | #415 (590 pts) | #316 (675 pts) | #321 (685 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #176 (1141 pts) | #103 (1466 pts) | #258 (946 pts) | #183 (1106 pts) | #238 (956 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #247 (783 pts) | #180 (1028 pts) | #220 (938 pts) | #222 (863 pts) | #227 (883 pts) |
| 2020 ↗ | Master | #231 (513 pts) | #204 (608 pts) | #308 (408 pts) | #383 (303 pts) | #164 (703 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #255 (1131 pts) | #407 (816 pts) | #244 (1141 pts) | #316 (991 pts) | #272 (1116 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #348 (975 pts) | #635 (585 pts) | #453 (820 pts) | #453 (810 pts) | #479 (770 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #424 (885 pts) | #614 (650 pts) | #495 (795 pts) | #388 (985 pts) | #369 (1030 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #1148 (265 pts) | #1227 (265 pts) | #1007 (355 pts) | #980 (380 pts) | #1019 (340 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #609 (600 pts) | #566 (685 pts) | #576 (675 pts) | #739 (510 pts) | #742 (495 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #332 (1086 pts) | #368 (1011 pts) | #360 (1016 pts) | #395 (936 pts) | #289 (1196 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #439 (696 pts) | #490 (656 pts) | #359 (856 pts) | #499 (656 pts) | #448 (711 pts) |