Smokey and the Brisket

Smokey and the Brisket is a competition barbecue team with 15 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2016 and 2025. Their best overall finish is 9th of 61 at the East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival (2016). They are ranked #2355 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#2,355

of 6,477 rated · rankings

Rating

1525

peak 1529 · rated over 15 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Aug 26, 2016

latest Aug 22, 2025 · 9 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#1055

Master 2019 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

3 podiums

Overall top-10s

7% of 15 contests

Avg finish

top 53%

overall standings

Best overall

677.1084 / 720

Master · East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival

Perfect 180s

Current form

661.41 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 657.94 (+3.48)

Walk rate

47%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.8572

Chicken · Border War Barbeque

Consistency

±24.42

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 167.54 · weakest Brisket (163.10)

Road miles

3,758

across 15 mapped stops · furthest 1,469 mi

Schedule strength

63%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1580)

Purse competed for

$86K

listed at 5 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 6 state-championship entries

Master avg

657.94 / 720

15 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (9 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

677.1084 career-best overall

94.0% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 677.1084 at East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival — 94.0% of a perfect 720.

Master
Aug 26, 2016

A tough matchup

9–0 behind in the head-to-head

GETTIN' SAUCED ahead in 100% of their meetings

GETTIN' SAUCED has come out ahead in 9 of their 9 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.4 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.43 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 7% of the time against 33%.

Brisket avg 163.10
Chicken avg 167.54
1 call in 15 entries

A strong matchup

9–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of Royal Smoke in 9 of their 9 shared contests.

The comeback

2.9 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2.9 years, then back at East Central State BBQ Cook-Off-Paola Roots Festival (Aug 26, 2022).

last seen Oct 18, 2019
back Aug 26, 2022

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

PARTS 'R' SMOKIN has landed one call behind them 2 times.

An August team

Top 43% average finish in August

Something about August: average finish in the top 43% across 7 contests, versus top 53% the rest of the year.

7 August contests
top 53% the rest of the year

Show 2 more storylines

The long haul

3,758 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 3,758 miles across 15 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 1,469 miles to San Francisco BBQ Festival BBQ Competition.

15 mapped stops
furthest 1,469 mi

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked East Central State BBQ Cook-Off-Paola Roots Festival every year from 2016 to 2019 — the contest they never miss.

5 visits in all
best finish 9th

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	#1055 (240 pts)	#924 (315 pts)	#1126 (240 pts)	#1130 (235 pts)	#1086 (250 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1266 (180 pts)	#1117 (255 pts)	#1298 (195 pts)	#1011 (300 pts)	#1253 (210 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1187 (247 pts)	#642 (622 pts)	#1376 (217 pts)	#1141 (297 pts)	#1305 (232 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1644 (145 pts)	#1249 (260 pts)	#2349 (60 pts)	#2236 (75 pts)	#1484 (185 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Smokey and the Brisket, each with one reason worth a look.

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

2 BROTHERS BBQ

#2,360 of the rated field

1525 power rating

Contests: 8
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1525

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Smokey and the Brisket)

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

rated over 5 contests
last seen Sep 29, 2022

⚔ Head-to-head

PEQUEA PULLERS

#2,348 of the rated field

1525 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 7%
Peak: 1525

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 15 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Aug 24, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

BIG O'S BBQ

#2,367 of the rated field

1524 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 26%
Peak: 1550

Careers of much the same size, 19 contests to 15, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 16 contests
last seen Nov 5, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

THE GRILLER B’S

#2,363 of the rated field

1524 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 43%
Peak: 1568

14 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 43% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 14 contests
last seen Oct 6, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

SMOKIN BONZ BBQ COMPANY

#2,345 of the rated field

1525 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 24%
Peak: 1525

Their last contest in the data was back in 2018, 7 years before Smokey and the Brisket's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 17 contests

⚔ Compare careers

TOO BAD YOU'RE MY COUSIN

#2,365 of the rated field

1524 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1535

Level with Smokey and the Brisket on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 17 contests
last seen May 25, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
Pork Pullers	11	4	7	36%	⚔ compare
PARTS 'R' SMOKIN	10	5	5	50%	⚔ compare
Royal Smoke	9	9	0	100%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' SAUCED	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
MAN MEAT BBQ	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare
HIGH i QUE	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
Double Stack BBQ	7	7	0	100%	⚔ compare
Beer Belly BBQ	7	6	1	86%	⚔ compare
BALDIN' SMOKIN' BANDITOS	7	4	3	57%	⚔ compare
Big Wigs BBQ	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
B & C SMOKERS	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
BULL CREEK BBQ	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
AMERICAN FIRE BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
SLAPS BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
DUNN UP BBQ	6	6	0	100%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	15	5	2	3	178.8572	149.1428	167.54	top 40%
Pork Ribs	15	1	0	0	171.9772	138.8456	163.78	top 54%
Pork	15	1	0	0	174.2972	146.8340	163.52	top 57%
Brisket	15	1	0	0	173.1428	142.8228	163.10	top 52%

“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)	5	0	top 59%
Large (40+)	10	0	top 49%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
KS	14	0	top 51%
CA	1	0	top 82%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
East Central State BBQ Cook-Off-Paola Roots Festival	5	9	0	top 36%	Aug 26, 2022
Border War Barbeque	3	18	0	top 53%	Oct 26, 2018

More numbers

Busiest season 2019 3 contests

Contests a season 2.1 across 7 seasons in the data

Most contests held in KS 14 of 15 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 9 2 of them more than once

Opponents faced 741 finished ahead 445 times, behind 643

Longest layoff 2.9 yrs Oct 18, 2019 → Aug 26, 2022

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

20251 milestone

Aug 22 Most recent contest East Central State BBQ Cookoff

20192 milestones

Aug 23 10th tracked contest East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival
Aug 23 Peak power rating (1529) East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival

20172 milestones

Mar 24 First category win (Chicken) Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges
Oct 27 Career-best single call (Chicken)178.8572 Border War Barbeque

20165 milestones

Aug 26 First tracked contest East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival
Aug 26 First call East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival
Aug 26 First overall top-10 East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival
Aug 26 First overall past 90% of a perfect score677.1084 East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival
Aug 26 Career-best overall score677.1084 East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+12.8	East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival	Aug 26, 2016
+8.5	East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival	Aug 23, 2019
+7.6	Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges	Mar 24, 2017
+5.9	Border War Barbeque	Oct 21, 2016
+5	East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival	Aug 24, 2018

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-8.8	San Francisco BBQ Festival BBQ Competition	Oct 21, 2016
-8.6	Derby BBQ Festival	Jun 8, 2018
-5.7	40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST	Sep 12, 2019
-2.1	East Central State BBQ Cookoff	Aug 22, 2025
-0.9	Border War Barbeque	Oct 27, 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 67%	91.2%	91.2%
2024	1	0	0	0%	top 55%	93%	93%
2022	1	0	0	0%	top 53%	90.9%	90.9%
2019	3	0	0	33%	top 51%	93.8%	92.6%
2018	3	0	0	67%	top 58%	94%	91.3%
2017	3	0	2	67%	top 49%	94%	92.3%
2016	3	1	0	67%	top 48%	94%	89%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Aug 22, 2025	East Central State BBQ Cookoff 🏅 Paola, KS	18 / 27 (656.3884)	15 (170.8228)	15 (167.3828)	22 (157.0972)	22 (161.0856)
Aug 23, 2024	East Central Kansas State BBQ Championship 🏅 Paola, KS	23 / 42 (669.6344)	18 (170.3088)	24 (167.3828)	34 (161.6800)	16 (170.2628)
Aug 26, 2022	East Central State BBQ Cook-Off-Paola Roots Festival 🏅 Paola, KS	24 / 45 (654.2744)	23 (166.8800)	19 (168.0116)	27 (166.2628)	34 (153.1200)
Oct 18, 2019	Harper County Bullseye BBQ 🏅 Harper, KS	15 / 25 (675.3828)	11 (171.9772)	11 (168.5716)	14 (167.4284)	15 (167.4056)
Sep 12, 2019	40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS	283 / 468 (651.3940)	316 (161.1428)	86 (171.4284)	399 (153.0972)	200 (165.7256)
Aug 23, 2019	East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival 🏅 Paola, KS	21 / 66 (674.2172)	10 (172.5944)	46 (161.6572)	23 (169.7028)	19 (170.2628)
Oct 26, 2018	Border War Barbeque Osawatomie, KS	28 / 56 (677.0512)	10 (172.5828)	22 (171.4172)	38 (162.8000)	21 (170.2512)
Aug 24, 2018	East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival Paola, KS	27 / 67 (659.9088)	40 (157.6800)	38 (163.3944)	8 (174.2972)	23 (164.5372)
Jun 8, 2018	Derby BBQ Festival Derby, KS	33 / 40 (634.7544)	27 (161.1316)	39 (147.3372)	20 (165.6912)	28 (160.5944)
Oct 27, 2017	Border War Barbeque Osawatomie, KS	29 / 46 (661.0172)	1 (178.8572)	30 (165.0856)	20 (169.1200)	39 (147.9544)
Aug 25, 2017	East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival Paola, KS	24 / 57 (655.9200)	35 (158.2744)	24 (164.5256)	12 (171.4172)	29 (161.7028)
Mar 24, 2017	Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges Spring Hill, KS	11 / 27 (676.5028)	1 (177.7028)	17 (165.1200)	18 (165.1200)	13 (168.5600)
Oct 21, 2016	San Francisco BBQ Festival BBQ Competition San Francisco, CA	31 / 38 (577.6452)	31 (149.1428)	38 (138.8456)	30 (146.8340)	29 (142.8228)
Oct 21, 2016	Border War Barbeque Osawatomie, KS	18 / 38 (667.8856)	12 (169.6800)	7 (171.9772)	31 (157.0856)	14 (169.1428)
Aug 26, 2016	East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival Paola, KS	9 / 61 (677.1084)	2 (174.2628)	26 (164.5600)	22 (165.1428)	5 (173.1428)

Smokey and the Brisket

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 (9 found in their record)

High-water mark

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Looking over their shoulder

An August team

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 — 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)