BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG

BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG is a competition barbecue team with 78 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2025. They have won 5 Grand Championships, most recently at the Back to Mayberry BBQ (2015), and finished Reserve Grand Champion 4 times. They are ranked #291 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#291

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1726

peak 1763 · rated over 77 contests1 invitational or side-series contest not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Jun 21, 2013

latest Aug 22, 2025 · 12.2 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#41

Master 2014 · every season

Grand champs

4 reserve · wins it all 6% of the time

Category wins

52 podiums

Overall top-10s

58% of 78 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s · 2 straight GCs

Avg finish

top 29%

overall standings

Best overall

700.5716 / 720

Master · 4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs

Perfect 180s

1 🔥

Current form

646.21 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 672.03 (-25.82)

Walk rate

86%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

180 🔥

Brisket · Med City BBQ & Musicfest

Consistency

±21.54

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Brisket

avg 169.89 · weakest Pork (166.81)

Road miles

12,461

across 78 mapped stops · furthest 627 mi

Schedule strength

63%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1579)

Purse competed for

$106K

listed at 12 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 14 state-championship entries

Master avg

672.03 / 720

78 Master contests · 5 GCs

Storylines (18 found in their record)

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

The heartbreaker

1.7260 points from the title

Came within 1.7260 points of the Grand Championship at 7th Annual Smokin' In The Bogs (Sep 1, 2017).

Among the elite

#291 of 6,491 rated teams

In the top 4% of every rated team in the data

A power rating of 1726 puts them #291 of 6,491 rated teams — the top 4% of the field.

rating 1726
peak 1763
77 rated contests

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 brisket.

Brisket ×1

Against the odds

19-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings

The ratings favoured the top seed the other 81 times in 100

Their Grand Championship at Back to Mayberry BBQ (Jul 3, 2015) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 19-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ.

Giant slayer

47 teams beaten in one weekend

Took the Grand Championship over a 47-team field at Ak-Sar-Ben's River City Rodeo & Stock Show.

Sep 26, 2014

Happy hunting ground

1× Grand Championship here

Back to Mayberry BBQ is their spot: 1 Grand Championship in 2 visits.

2 visits
best finish 1st
average top 8%

A multi-meat day

1 contest with 2+ category wins

They've won two or more meats on the same day 1 time — the best of them 2 category wins at Smokin' in the Bogs (Sep 3, 2021).

Chicken 1st
Pork 1st

Show 11 more storylines

They almost always walk

86% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 67 of 78 contests

A top-10 category call in 86% of their 78 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

700.5716 career-best overall

97.3% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 700.5716 at 4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs — 97.3% of a perfect 720.

Master
Aug 29, 2014

The one to beat

4× one call ahead of them

LUCKY'S Q has finished one call ahead of BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG 4 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2014 4 Grand Championships

2014 was the year it came together: 16 contests, 4 Grand Championships and 5 category wins, at an average finish in the top 18%.

16 contests
11 overall top-10s
5 category wins
average top 18%

The drought

48 contests since the last title

Their last Grand Championship came at Back to Mayberry BBQ on Jul 3, 2015 — 48 contests and 11.3 years ago.

last GC Jul 3, 2015
11.3 years ago

A strong matchup

25–10 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 71% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of TRUE SMOKE BBQ in 25 of their 35 shared contests.

The comeback

2.2 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2.2 years, then back at Cruisin' and BBQin' (Aug 22, 2025).

last seen Jun 2, 2023
back Aug 22, 2025

Brisket nemesis

33 of 44 shared brisket entries lost

LUCKY'S Q ahead 75% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, LUCKY'S Q has out-cooked them in 33 of 44 shared brisket entries.

Looking over their shoulder

4× one call behind them

SPITFIRE has landed one call behind them 4 times.

The long haul

12,461 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 12,461 miles across 78 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 627 miles to 2015 Colorado Rockies Championship.

78 mapped stops
furthest 627 mi

A standing appointment

6 years running at one contest

They've cooked BBQ'Loo & Blues Too! every year from 2014 to 2019 — the contest they never miss.

6 visits in all
best finish 2nd

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	#926 (118 pts)	#1062 (103 pts)	#933 (148 pts)	#1069 (98 pts)	#802 (168 pts)
2023 ↗	Master	#880 (139 pts)	#1579 (59 pts)	#856 (204 pts)	#1278 (64 pts)	#721 (229 pts)
2022 ↗	Master	#798 (185 pts)	#1034 (125 pts)	#1306 (85 pts)	#996 (135 pts)	#784 (210 pts)
2021 ↗	Master	#225 (848 pts)	#178 (1,038 pts)	#312 (668 pts)	#252 (778 pts)	#360 (568 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#995 (263 pts)	#1331 (178 pts)	#958 (308 pts)	#929 (318 pts)	#772 (423 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1175 (210 pts)	#1949 (70 pts)	#1433 (165 pts)	#1610 (120 pts)	#1100 (260 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#200 (1,476 pts)	#260 (1,226 pts)	#90 (1,851 pts)	#421 (906 pts)	#266 (1,281 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#291 (1,193 pts)	#482 (838 pts)	#354 (1,048 pts)	#443 (928 pts)	#269 (1,243 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#139 (1,833 pts)	#124 (1,673 pts)	#264 (1,243 pts)	#228 (1,298 pts)	#48 (2,138 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#41 (2,424 pts)	#40 (2,262 pts)	#85 (1,918 pts)	#57 (2,048 pts)	#88 (1,969 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#465 (659 pts)	#484 (664 pts)	#746 (444 pts)	#439 (734 pts)	#427 (739 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG, each with one reason worth a look.

WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY

#293 of the rated field

1726 power rating

Contests: 53
GCs: 4
Top-10s: 66%
Peak: 1740

3–1 in 4 shared contests (75% to BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG)

These two have cooked 4 of the same contests — BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG ahead 3–1 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 51 contests
last seen Jun 26, 2015

⚔ Head-to-head

BAD HABIT BBQ

#292 of the rated field

1726 power rating

Contests: 62
GCs: 3
Top-10s: 53%
Peak: 1734

Careers of much the same size, 62 contests to 78, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 61 contests
last seen Sep 13, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

Eggspert BBQ

#298 of the rated field

1725 ▼ 1 power rating

Contests: 80
GCs: 4
Top-10s: 55%
Peak: 1735

5–2 in 7 shared contests (71% to BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG)

Their rating is built on 4 Grand Championships in 80 contests, alongside a 55% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 77 contests
last seen Aug 15, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA

#289 of the rated field

1727 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 80
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 26%
Peak: 1729

1–2 in 3 shared contests (33% to BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG)

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 72 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 72 contests
last seen Sep 30, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE

#295 of the rated field

1725 ▼ 1 power rating

Contests: 147
GCs: 12
Top-10s: 42%
Peak: 1798

3–4 in 7 shared contests (43% to BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG)

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.

rated over 123 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

Capt. Blue BBQ

#287 of the rated field

1727 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 86
GCs: 7
Top-10s: 69%
Peak: 1746

Level with BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 84 contests
last seen Oct 16, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
LUCKY'S Q	44	9	35	20%	⚔ compare
SPITFIRE	37	16	21	43%	⚔ compare
Hogline	37	16	21	43%	⚔ compare
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN	37	12	25	32%	⚔ compare
TRUE SMOKE BBQ	35	25	10	71%	⚔ compare
WOODWARD BARBEQUE	33	24	9	73%	⚔ compare
DRY 2 DA BONE	27	9	18	33%	⚔ compare
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ	27	3	24	11%	⚔ compare
IOWA WILD HOGS BBQ	26	13	13	50%	⚔ compare
SMOKEHOUSE 72	24	18	6	75%	⚔ compare
CROIX VALLEY SAUCES	23	17	6	74%	⚔ compare
NECTAR OF THE HOGS	22	15	7	68%	⚔ compare
GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA	22	6	16	27%	⚔ compare
MYASSIS SMOKIN	21	19	2	90%	⚔ compare
BLACK DOG BBQ IA	20	18	2	90%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	78	33	4	14	177.1544	157.1200	169.87	top 36%
Pork Ribs	78	38	5	12	178.2972	151.3256	167.59	top 37%
Pork	77	27	3	9	177.7028	146.1712	166.81	top 44%
Brisket	78	44	5	17	180 🔥	159.3828	169.89	top 29%

“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)	2	0	top 37%
Medium (20–39)	48	3	top 27%
Large (40+)	28	2	top 32%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
IA	34	1	top 27%
MN	20	2	top 30%
WI	15	1	top 25%
NE	4	1	top 33%
MO	2	0	top 61%
CO	2	0	top 45%
IL	1	0	top 37%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
BBQ'Loo & Blues Too!	6	2	0	top 28%	Jul 19, 2019
Up in Smoke BBQ Bash	5	3	0	top 23%	Sep 28, 2018
Smokin' in the Bogs	4	3	0	top 43%	Sep 2, 2022
KTD Smokin' Gobbler Cook-off	3	7	0	top 34%	Jul 16, 2021
Back to Mayberry BBQ	2	1	1	top 8%	Jul 1, 2016
Smokin in Steele	2	9	0	top 29%	Jun 2, 2023
Tri City BBQ Fest	2	3	0	top 17%	Sep 17, 2021
Central Iowa Expo BBQ	2	6	0	top 36%	Apr 25, 2015
Back to Back to the Park BBQ (Day 2)	2	7	0	top 32%	Oct 18, 2014
Lynch Livestock Pig Stampede	2	3	0	top 21%	Aug 1, 2014
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2	3	0	top 31%	Jul 25, 2014
Central Iowa Expo BBQ, Cruise & Brew	2	6	0	top 14%	Apr 26, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2014 16 contests · 4 GCs

Contests a season 6.5 across 12 seasons in the data

Most contests held in IA 34 of 78 contests · 7 states in all

Contests visited 56 12 of them more than once

First title Aug 8, 2014 Med City BBQ & Musicfest

Opponents faced 1,441 finished ahead 2,417 times, behind 1,167

Longest layoff 2.2 yrs Jun 2, 2023 → Aug 22, 2025

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

20251 milestone

Aug 22 Most recent contest Cruisin' and BBQin'

20211 milestone

Sep 3 First multi-meat day Smokin' in the Bogs

20181 milestone

Jun 22 Peak power rating (1763) Rotary Rockn Ribs

20171 milestone

Jun 23 50th tracked contest Rotary Rockn Ribs

20153 milestones

Apr 24 25th tracked contest Central Iowa Expo BBQ
Jul 3 5th Grand Championship Back to Mayberry BBQ
Jul 24 10th category win Up in Smoke BBQ Bash

20147 milestones

Apr 26 10th tracked contest Central Iowa Expo BBQ, Cruise & Brew
Jul 18 First category win (Pork) BBQ'Loo & Blues Too!
Jul 18 First Reserve Championship BBQ'Loo & Blues Too!
Aug 8 First Grand Championship Med City BBQ & Musicfest
Aug 8 First perfect 180 (Brisket) Med City BBQ & Musicfest
Aug 29 Career-best overall score700.5716 4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs
Sep 26 Biggest field won (47 teams) Ak-Sar-Ben's River City Rodeo & Stock Show

20135 milestones

Jun 21 First tracked contest Iowa State BBQ Championship
Jun 21 First call Iowa State BBQ Championship
Jun 21 First overall past 90% of a perfect score669.1428 Iowa State BBQ Championship
Jul 12 First overall top-10 The Madelia Blazin' Barbeque Blast
Jul 19 First overall podium Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+14.4	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Jul 19, 2013
+13.3	Central Iowa Expo BBQ, Cruise & Brew	Apr 25, 2014
+13.1	Lynch Livestock Pig Stampede	Aug 16, 2013
+13.1	BBQ'Loo & Blues Too!	Jul 18, 2014
+12.8	Central Iowa Expo BBQ, Cruise & Brew	Apr 26, 2014

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-17.4	Smokin' in the Bogs	Sep 2, 2022
-9.6	16th Annual UP IN SMOKE BBQ Bash	Aug 9, 2019
-8.3	11th Annual Big Island BBQ	Aug 24, 2018
-8.1	24th Annual State BBQ Championship of Nebraska	Aug 5, 2016
-7	Smokin in the Bogs	Aug 30, 2019

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)
2025	1	0	1	0	100%	top 56%	94.6%	94.6%
2023	1	0	1	0	100%	top 31%	93.4%	93.4%
2022	2	0	1	0	100%	top 55%	95%	82.8%
2021	5	0	4	3	100%	top 23%	96.2%	94.8%
2020	1	0	0	0	0%	top 40%	93%	93%
2019	4	0	0	0	50%	top 47%	93.2%	92.3%
2018	7	0	3	0	86%	top 32%	95%	93%
2017	10	0	7	4	80%	top 27%	95.8%	93.6%
2016	8	0	5	0	100%	top 28%	96%	93.6%
2015	15	1	8	5	73%	top 30%	95.6%	93.3%
2014	16	4	11	5	100%	top 18%	97.3%	94.6%
2013	8	0	4	0	88%	top 32%	93.6%	92.6%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Aug 22, 2025	Cruisin' and BBQin' 🏅 Hampton, IA	10 / 18 (681.0744)	13 (170.2744)	7 (171.4172)	14 (165.1200)	5 (174.2628)
Jun 2, 2023	Smokin in Steele 🏅 Owatonna, MN	9 / 29 (672.5144)	24 (161.1200)	4 (171.9888)	23 (161.7028)	3 (177.7028)
Oct 14, 2022	King of the Corn 🏅 Ottumwa, IA	5 / 36 (683.9084)	12 (172.5600)	20 (166.8228)	10 (172.5600)	4 (171.9656)
Sep 2, 2022	Smokin' in the Bogs 🏅 Warrens, WI	22 / 23 (508.4912)	9 (168.5256)	5 (169.7028)	—	9 (170.2628)
Sep 24, 2021	Ottumwa 4th Annual Smoketoberfest 🏅 Ottumwa, IA	9 / 35 (685.0396)	5 (175.4172)	24 (165.1084)	11 (171.4056)	7 (173.1084)
Sep 17, 2021	Tri City BBQ Fest 🏅 Denison, IA	4 / 20 (692.5028)	1 (176.5716)	8 (168.5600)	8 (173.1084)	9 (174.2628)
Sep 3, 2021	Smokin' in the Bogs 🏅 Warrens, WI	3 / 25 (681.6572)	1 (177.1544)	10 (167.3828)	1 (176.5828)	14 (160.5372)
Jul 30, 2021	5th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest 🏅 Emmetsburg, IA	13 / 35 (668.5372)	8 (173.1544)	16 (166.8572)	25 (162.8456)	15 (165.6800)
Jul 16, 2021	KTD Smokin' Gobbler Cook-off 🏅 Worthington, MN	7 / 33 (685.6916)	8 (174.2628)	3 (174.8916)	6 (174.8572)	26 (161.6800)
Oct 16, 2020	Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 🏅 West Salem, WI	16 / 40 (669.6224)	14 (169.1084)	25 (162.8228)	22 (168.5484)	16 (169.1428)
Aug 30, 2019	Smokin in the Bogs 🏅 Warrens, WI	17 / 38 (665.6456)	20 (167.9656)	15 (167.4288)	21 (165.7028)	20 (164.5484)
Aug 23, 2019	Big Island BBQ 🏅 Alberta Lea, MN	21 / 50 (667.9084)	29 (166.2284)	6 (173.1428)	42 (159.9772)	11 (168.5600)
Aug 9, 2019	16th Annual UP IN SMOKE BBQ Bash 🏅 Mason City, IA	23 / 38 (652.9824)	32 (159.9656)	30 (157.6456)	18 (165.7028)	11 (169.6684)
Jul 19, 2019	BBQ'Loo & Blues Too! 🏅 Waterloo, IA	14 / 33 (670.7428)	30 (161.0856)	22 (163.3944)	7 (172)	7 (174.2628)
Oct 5, 2018	SMOKEToBERFEST Ottumwa, IA	19 / 40 (656.5028)	30 (157.1200)	8 (170.8228)	27 (161.1200)	13 (167.4400)
Sep 28, 2018	Up in Smoke BBQ Bash Mason City, IA	3 / 29 (671.3256)	3 (169.6800)	3 (167.4172)	20 (159.9428)	3 (174.2856)
Sep 14, 2018	KTD Smokin ' Gobbler Cook-Off Worthington, MN	11 / 25 (674.7196)	14 (166.8228)	12 (167.9656)	17 (165.6684)	2 (174.2628)
Aug 31, 2018	Smokin in the Bogs Warrens, WI	5 / 25 (674.7888)	20 (159.3944)	7 (168.5372)	3 (171.9772)	3 (174.8800)
Aug 24, 2018	11th Annual Big Island BBQ Alberta Lea, MN	27 / 49 (657.0628)	21 (169.1200)	15 (167.4172)	42 (152.5600)	16 (167.9656)
Jul 20, 2018	BBQ 'Loo & Blues TOO! Waterloo, IA	17 / 42 (671.3600)	20 (167.4172)	26 (163.9772)	21 (166.2628)	8 (173.7028)
Jun 22, 2018	Rotary Rockn Ribs LaCrosse, WI	4 / 41 (683.9428)	23 (167.9772)	7 (173.1428)	13 (167.3828)	2 (175.4400)
Sep 8, 2017	Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI	7 / 31 (666.2168)	7 (170.8684)	6 (165.7028)	15 (163.9656)	11 (165.6800)
Sep 1, 2017	7th Annual Smokin' In The Bogs Warrens, WI	2 / 29 (680.4912)	3 (174.2628)	1 (175.4516)	9 (167.9656)	14 (162.8112)
Aug 25, 2017	10th Annual Big Island BBQ Albert Lea, MN	9 / 56 (682.8000)	23 (170.2744)	1 (177.7028)	21 (166.8456)	21 (167.9772)
Aug 5, 2017	Omaha Steaks Nebraska BBQ Championship Day -2 Omaha, NE	31 / 50 (669.0628)	14 (173.1428)	25 (167.9772)	41 (161.1200)	26 (166.8228)
Aug 4, 2017	Omaha Steaks Nebraska BBQ Championship Day -1 Omaha, NE	4 / 54 (689.6460)	21 (169.6684)	4 (172.5716)	19 (169.6916)	1 (177.7144)
Jul 21, 2017	Up in Smoke BBQ Bash Mason City, IA	18 / 49 (661.1316)	13 (168.5716)	19 (166.8228)	41 (157.7028)	16 (168.0344)
Jul 14, 2017	BBQ 'Loo & Blues TOO! Waterloo, IA	10 / 33 (664.9940)	11 (169.1200)	1 (178.2972)	29 (146.1712)	5 (171.4056)
Jun 23, 2017	Rotary Rockn Ribs LaCrosse, WI	5 / 37 (674.8000)	25 (165.1200)	3 (173.1428)	11 (165.6800)	6 (170.8572)
Jun 10, 2017	Mankato Cookout Day 2 Mankato, MN	10 / 33 (680.4452)	13 (172.5484)	8 (172.5600)	12 (170.8228)	23 (164.5140)
Jun 9, 2017	Mankato Cookout Day 1 and (BACKYARD) Mankato, MN	17 / 35 (666.7424)	9 (172.5828)	20 (164.5140)	26 (163.3828)	19 (166.2628)
Sep 16, 2016	KTD Smokin ' Gobbler Cook-Off Worthington, MN	11 / 29 (669.0396)	27 (160.5828)	5 (170.8228)	10 (169.6684)	11 (167.9656)
Sep 2, 2016	6th Annual Smokin' In the Bogs Warrens, WI	3 / 32 (675.3600)	10 (166.8688)	10 (166.8228)	4 (173.1428)	8 (168.5256)
Aug 5, 2016	24th Annual State BBQ Championship of Nebraska Omaha, NE	42 / 70 (643.3368)	48 (159.9656)	10 (170.8456)	57 (153.1428)	40 (159.3828)
Jul 22, 2016	Up in Smoke BBQ Bash Mason City, IA	10 / 47 (682.8228)	7 (176)	20 (168.5600)	28 (165.7028)	10 (172.5600)
Jul 15, 2016	BBQ'Loo & Blues Too Waterloo, IA	11 / 32 (666.7316)	20 (165.6800)	21 (160.5260)	14 (166.8228)	4 (173.7028)
Jul 1, 2016	Back to Mayberry BBQ Whiting, IA	4 / 35 (691.3944)	14 (171.4056)	3 (173.1200)	8 (172.5716)	7 (174.2972)
Jun 11, 2016	Mankato Cookout Day 2 and ( Back Yard) Mankato, MN	7 / 32 (681.6000)	16 (169.6800)	16 (169.1200)	20 (165.0856)	2 (177.7144)
Jun 10, 2016	Mankato Cookout Day 1 Mankato, MN	9 / 33 (682.2060)	11 (173.7028)	16 (168.5488)	12 (168.5372)	9 (171.4172)
Oct 3, 2015	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO	266 / 606 (656.5028)	137 (169.7028)	323 (162.8572)	357 (162.2400)	305 (161.7028)
Oct 2, 2015	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO	145 / 187 (664.4108)	146 (165.0856)	70 (170.2628)	91 (169.1084)	163 (159.9540)
Sep 18, 2015	2015 Colorado Rockies Championship Denver, CO	23 / 35 (678.7312)	30 (170.8228)	10 (173.1200)	34 (162.2284)	15 (172.5600)
Sep 4, 2015	5th Annual Smokin In the Bogs Warrens, WI	3 / 27 (676.5604)	2 (176.5600)	9 (164.5488)	16 (162.8344)	5 (172.6172)
Aug 21, 2015	Smokefest Marshall, MN	17 / 42 (666.7428)	14 (169.7028)	30 (163.3944)	15 (167.3828)	18 (166.2628)
Aug 7, 2015	Med City BBQ & Musicfest Rochester, MN	15 / 47 (666.7656)	19 (169.6800)	27 (160.5372)	9 (169.7028)	13 (166.8456)
Jul 24, 2015	Up in Smoke BBQ Bash Mason City, IA	10 / 54 (677.1088)	31 (166.2628)	20 (166.8344)	24 (166.2744)	1 (177.7372)
Jul 17, 2015	BBQ'Loo & Blues Too! Waterloo, IA	6 / 39 (677.0856)	18 (167.9656)	19 (161.1200)	1 (175.4172)	6 (172.5828)
Jul 10, 2015	Smoke on the Waterfall Redwood Falls, MN	3 / 16 (672.4796)	2 (176.5600)	6 (167.3828)	11 (160.5484)	2 (167.9884)
Jul 3, 2015	Back to Mayberry BBQ Whiting, IA	1 / 25 (688.0688)	3 (170.8456)	1 (176.0344)	8 (168.5828)	3 (172.6060)
May 30, 2015	Rock'N Western Rendezvous Loveland, CO	9 / 38 (670.8460)	17 (167.4172)	9 (169.7260)	30 (156.5256)	1 (177.1772)
May 2, 2015	The Masters In May - The Classic Appleton, WI	14 / 47 (656.9940)	20 (163.9656)	31 (157.6456)	26 (161.0972)	3 (174.2856)
May 1, 2015	The Masters In May Appleton, WI	2 / 57 (679.9312)	2 (173.1200)	19 (161.6912)	12 (167.9772)	1 (177.1428)
Apr 25, 2015	Central Iowa Expo BBQ Boone, IA	24 / 41 (668.4572)	22 (170.2628)	23 (166.8344)	29 (165.6800)	26 (165.6800)
Apr 24, 2015	Central Iowa Expo BBQ Boone, IA	6 / 42 (678.8000)	4 (176.5600)	27 (162.2744)	8 (170.2628)	16 (169.7028)
Oct 18, 2014	Back to Back to the Park BBQ (Day 2) Marshalltown, IA	7 / 27 (682.2744)	10 (172.5600)	18 (164.5944)	11 (168.5600)	3 (176.5600)
Oct 17, 2014	Back to Back to the Park BBQ Marshalltown, IA	13 / 34 (665.0056)	1 (176.5600)	31 (151.3256)	21 (166.8572)	8 (170.2628)
Oct 11, 2014	WinnaVegas Rib Master Classic Sloan, IA	2 / 34 (693.7028)	3 (174.8916)	4 (174.2628)	15 (165.6912)	2 (178.8572)
Sep 26, 2014	Ak-Sar-Ben's River City Rodeo & Stock Show Omaha, NE	1 / 47 (686.8000)	1 (174.8572)	13 (166.8344)	2 (175.4400)	6 (169.6684)
Sep 19, 2014	Tri-City BBQ Fest Denison, IA	3 / 21 (683.3484)	3 (173.1428)	12 (165.6800)	5 (171.9772)	6 (172.5484)
Sep 12, 2014	King Turkey Day Smokin' Gobbler Cook-Off Worthington, MN	1 / 36 (689.1772)	4 (172)	1 (175.4516)	6 (172.5600)	7 (169.1656)
Aug 29, 2014	4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs Warrens, WI	1 / 34 (700.5716)	3 (176)	3 (176.5600)	3 (175.4172)	3 (172.5944)
Aug 22, 2014	Big Island BBQ Albert Lea, MN	16 / 54 (674.7312)	30 (167.9656)	9 (173.1200)	35 (162.2400)	15 (171.4056)
Aug 8, 2014	Med City BBQ & Musicfest Rochester, MN	1 / 40 (688.4684)	5 (174.2628)	10 (167.3828)	14 (166.8228)	1 (180)
Aug 1, 2014	Lynch Livestock Pig Stampede Waucoma, IA	6 / 21 (678.1944)	10 (167.9772)	5 (175.4172)	2 (173.7144)	9 (161.0856)
Jul 25, 2014	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Des Moines, IA	15 / 29 (666.1256)	8 (171.9656)	21 (162.8000)	16 (162.8228)	10 (168.5372)
Jul 18, 2014	BBQ'Loo & Blues Too! Waterloo, IA	2 / 37 (687.9200)	7 (169.6684)	5 (173.7028)	1 (176.5716)	11 (167.9772)
May 30, 2014	Smokin in Steele Owatonna, MN	18 / 67 (675.3256)	16 (171.4056)	27 (167.4056)	10 (171.9772)	28 (164.5372)
May 16, 2014	Minnesota in May Falcon Heights, MN	16 / 58 (661.0516)	15 (167.3828)	9 (166.8572)	39 (159.4288)	15 (167.3828)
Apr 26, 2014	Central Iowa Expo BBQ, Cruise & Brew Boone, IA	6 / 39 (688.5832)	6 (176)	3 (176.5944)	24 (162.8688)	8 (173.1200)
Apr 25, 2014	Central Iowa Expo BBQ, Cruise & Brew Boone, IA	6 / 45 (678.8116)	3 (176.5944)	35 (155.3944)	2 (177.7028)	15 (169.1200)
Sep 20, 2013	Kings of BBQ 2013 Des Moines, IA	10 / 35 (673.0740)	6 (173.1084)	13 (166.2628)	8 (170.8800)	19 (162.8228)
Aug 30, 2013	3rd Annual Smokin' In The Bogs Warrens, WI	17 / 37 (647.8400)	14 (163.3828)	29 (152.5028)	9 (169.1200)	16 (162.8344)
Aug 16, 2013	Lynch Livestock Pig Stampede Waucoma, IA	3 / 21 (663.4056)	4 (169.7144)	10 (159.4172)	5 (166.2628)	5 (168.0112)
Aug 2, 2013	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Rockford, IL	11 / 30 (671.3140)	6 (171.9656)	14 (166.2628)	7 (170.2628)	19 (162.8228)
Jul 26, 2013	Up in Smoke BBQ Bash Mason City, IA	20 / 66 (668.5032)	13 (170.8228)	37 (162.2744)	22 (167.9888)	15 (167.4172)
Jul 19, 2013	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Des Moines, IA	3 / 28 (673.5996)	12 (166.8112)	2 (174.8572)	17 (163.9540)	7 (167.9772)
Jul 12, 2013	The Madelia Blazin' Barbeque Blast Madelia, MN	10 / 23 (666.7660)	12 (168)	20 (157.6572)	2 (174.8688)	9 (166.2400)
Jun 21, 2013	Iowa State BBQ Championship Marshalltown, IA	13 / 28 (669.1428)	15 (167.4284)	13 (165.7144)	20 (161.7144)	4 (174.2856)

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

BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG

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 (18 found in their record)

The heartbreaker

Among the elite

Perfect scores on the board

Against the odds

Giant slayer

Happy hunting ground

A multi-meat day

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

The drought

A strong matchup

The comeback

Brisket nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

The long haul

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)