Backdraft BBQ CO

Power ranking

#1026

of 2982 rated · rankings

Rating

1535

peak 1605

Contests

in the data

First seen

2018-12-28

latest 2025-08-01

Best ToY finish

#36

Master 2015

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

29 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 86 contests

Avg finish

top 46%

overall standings

Best overall

692.5260

Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival

Perfect 180s

Current form

673.04 ▲

last 5 vs career avg 668.76 (+4.29)

Walk rate

65%

contests with a top-10 call

Top-10 streak

best run (overall)

Best single call

179.4400

Chicken · San Luis Valley Beat the Heat BBQ

Consistency

±40.64

std dev of overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 170.22 · weakest Brisket (164.90)

Road miles

30298

mi across 86 mapped stops · furthest 1408 mi

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines

🎯 The one to beat

4 LEGS UP BBQ has finished one call ahead of Backdraft BBQ 3 times — their closest competition in the data.

👀 Looking over their shoulder

#MIDNIGHT SMOKERS has landed one call behind them 2 times.

⚔️ A tough matchup

B-S BBQ OUTLAWS has come out ahead in 24 of their 30 shared contests.

⚔️ A strong matchup

They've finished ahead of SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ in 20 of their 25 shared contests.

📅 A January team

Something about January: average finish in the top 34% across 4 contests, versus top 46% the rest of the year.

Teams like this (closest power rating, CO first)

HIGH DESERT HOLY SMOKE BBQ #1044 · 1533 · CO Cool Beans BBQ #1069 · 1531 · CO Florida Boy's BBQ #1076 · 1531 · CO PORKY'S PIT CREW #1132 · 1526 · CO Meat Machine BBQ #905 · 1543 · CO ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ #1204 · 1522 · CO

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	80	22	2	6	179.4400	151.3940	170.08	top 45%
Pork Ribs	86	41	4	18	178.2972	153.6572	170.22	top 35%
Pork	79	16	1	3	176.5600	147.3716	166.97	top 51%
Brisket	78	14	0	2	175.4400	143.9316	164.90	top 53%

“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
CO	18	1	top 31%
KS	12	0	top 46%
OK	10	0	top 52%
MI	9	0	top 70%
IL	7	0	top 58%
WY	6	0	top 33%
SD	4	0	top 60%
OH	3	0	top 49%
AZ	3	0	top 53%
IN	2	0	top 51%
NE	2	0	top 25%
UT	2	0	top 27%
TX	1	0	top 17%
NY	1	0	top 33%

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	1	0	top 53%
Medium (20–39)	36	1	top 48%
Large (40+)	43	0	top 44%

The story so far

Busiest season: 2021 (22 contests)
Cooks mostly in CO (18 of 86 contests)
Most-entered category: Pork Ribs (86 entries)
First Grand Championship in the data: Leadville BBQ and Brew Fest (2019-06-21)
Wins it all in 1% of contests
All-time average overall score: 668.76

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
2025	4	0	0	683.9660	674.89
2024	5	0	0	683.9200	595.79
2023	6	0	0	678.7772	663.06
2022	13	0	1	691.9428	667.33
2021	22	0	2	691.9544	675.16
2020	15	0	1	692.5260	676.47
2019	20	1	3	691.3712	676.36
2018	1	0	0	651.8056	651.81

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2025-08-01	All American BBQ Throwdown Westland, MI	31 / 43 (660.4456)	35 (164.5372)	35 (164.5944)	31 (165.0856)	29 (166.2284)
2025-05-16	11th Annual Rockin' BBQ Warsaw, IN	20 / 34 (678.1484)	18 (170.8344)	6 (175.4056)	27 (165.0856)	20 (166.8228)
2025-05-09	Smoke in the Mitten Westland, MI	9 / 26 (683.9660)	12 (171.4516)	14 (167.3944)	8 (171.9772)	5 (173.1428)
2025-04-18	GLBBQA Spring Fling Charlotte, MI	36 / 56 (677.0168)	29 (170.8228)	8 (175.4056)	14 (174.2628)	51 (156.5256)
2024-09-06	Grizzly BBQ Brawl Wadsworth, OH	21 / 30 (665.6460)	22 (165.6916)	20 (164.5372)	18 (168.0000)	18 (167.4172)
2024-07-19	The Buckeye BBQ Classic Hillsboro, OH	19 / 33 (663.8748)	23 (165.1088)	24 (161.1088)	17 (168.5372)	16 (169.1200)
2024-06-14	Squeal on the Eel Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Logansport, IN	12 / 28 (326.2056)	12 (166.2628)	13 (159.9428)	—	—
2024-05-03	Smoke in the Mitten BBQ Competition Westland, MI	24 / 26 (639.2800)	24 (166.2972)	11 (169.1084)	24 (155.9544)	26 (147.9200)
2024-04-19	GLBBQA Spring Fling Charlotte, MI	25 / 62 (683.9200)	8 (177.1428)	12 (173.1200)	25 (172.5484)	49 (161.1088)
2023-09-21	Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard Murphysboro, IL	22 / 50 (678.7772)	32 (163.3944)	4 (177.1428)	17 (171.4172)	28 (166.8228)
2023-08-04	All American BBQ Throwdown Westland, MI	37 / 44 (647.3832)	24 (168.0000)	18 (169.1316)	32 (161.7144)	42 (148.5372)
2023-06-01	Original SD BBQ Championships (One Meat Ribs) Huron, SD	—	—	23 (153.6572)	—	—
2023-05-05	Smoke in the Mitten BBQ Competition Westland, MI	23 / 25 (648.4456)	17 (170.2628)	24 (160.0000)	24 (154.2172)	20 (163.9656)
2023-04-28	Marietta River City BBQ Marietta, OH	8 / 42 (677.6228)	19 (168.0000)	7 (174.2628)	24 (163.3828)	5 (171.9772)
2023-04-28	Marietta River City BBQ (ONE MEAT RIBS) Marietta, OH	—	—	10 (168.0000)	—	—
2022-10-22	Meat Scream BBQ Competition-Day 2 Westminster, CO	19 / 31 (667.8860)	24 (162.8116)	9 (171.4056)	23 (166.2516)	16 (167.4172)
2022-10-21	Meat Scream BBQ Competition-Day 1 Westminster, CO	15 / 32 (671.9088)	20 (167.3944)	13 (167.9772)	1 (176.0116)	24 (160.5256)
2022-09-23	Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard Murphysboro, IL	19 / 46 (686.7884)	26 (170.8456)	27 (169.1200)	22 (171.9656)	7 (174.8572)
2022-08-05	All American BBQ Throwdown Westland, MI	41 / 50 (634.7428)	19 (169.6912)	32 (164.5600)	46 (156.5600)	47 (143.9316)
2022-08-05	All American BBQ Throwdown - One Meat Ribs Westland, MI	—	—	36 (156.0000)	—	—
2022-07-22	EffingHAM-JAM Effingham, IL	19 / 25 (663.2912)	8 (173.1200)	3 (174.2972)	19 (165.0856)	22 (150.7884)
2022-07-15	Bordertown BBQ Brawl Sault Ste Marie, MI	20 / 30 (661.7372)	17 (169.1312)	5 (172.5716)	12 (170.9144)	29 (149.1200)
2022-06-25	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown (Day Two) Belvidere, IL	22 / 32 (671.2568)	23 (169.6684)	25 (164.5256)	10 (170.8228)	23 (166.2400)
2022-06-24	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown (Day One) Belvidere, IL	31 / 36 (655.2568)	30 (162.8112)	11 (171.9772)	13 (170.8228)	34 (149.6456)
2022-06-24	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown - One Meat ribs Belvidere, IL	—	—	16 (163.9656)	—	—
2022-05-06	Route 66 Smoke Out Dwight, IL	18 / 33 (669.0172)	11 (171.9772)	10 (167.4172)	17 (169.1200)	26 (160.5028)
2022-04-29	Red, White, Blue BBQ Competition Topeka, KS	13 / 77 (691.9428)	17 (174.2628)	8 (176.0000)	25 (171.4172)	21 (170.2628)
2022-01-14	Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge Bullhead City, AZ	30 / 59 (666.7544)	16 (170.8572)	10 (171.4172)	41 (162.2400)	33 (162.2400)
2021-10-02	Smoke & Soul Fest - Day 2 Casper, WY	14 / 26 (674.7084)	23 (161.6456)	14 (167.9656)	2 (175.4172)	10 (169.6800)
2021-10-01	Smoke & Soul Fest - Day 1 Casper, WY	7 / 27 (681.6000)	15 (171.4172)	1 (176.5600)	9 (169.6800)	19 (163.9428)
2021-09-24	Praise the Lard Murphysboro BBQ Cook-Off Murphysboro, IL	13 / 39 (682.7312)	7 (174.2628)	6 (173.1200)	6 (173.1200)	28 (162.2284)
2021-09-16	American Royal World Series of Barbecue-INVITATIONAL CONTEST Kansas City, KS	135 / 185 (674.1488)	115 (169.6684)	153 (163.9544)	151 (165.0972)	26 (175.4288)
2021-09-16	American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST Kansas City, KS	145 / 467 (672.4568)	86 (172.5600)	134 (170.2744)	328 (159.9540)	126 (169.6684)
2021-08-27	Hill City Wine Brew and BBQ Fest Hill City, SD	7 / 31 (691.3256)	13 (173.1200)	5 (175.4172)	14 (147.3716)	9 (173.1200)
2021-08-20	Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ Championships & Bluegrass Festival Worland, WY	3 / 30 (691.3256)	5 (174.2628)	2 (175.4172)	13 (167.3828)	5 (174.2628)
2021-08-13	Milliken BBQ Beef N Bean Day Milliken, CO	11 / 42 (672.4340)	12 (171.4056)	27 (161.6800)	12 (167.3828)	7 (171.9656)
2021-08-06	SLV Beat the Heat BBQ Alamosa, CO	17 / 42 (673.5884)	26 (166.8456)	3 (176.5600)	20 (170.8344)	30 (159.3484)
2021-08-01	Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles BBQ Competition-Day 2 Dodge City, KS	20 / 26 (670.1256)	22 (166.2284)	15 (169.6800)	21 (163.9544)	13 (170.2628)
2021-07-30	Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles BBQ Competition-Day 1 Dodge City, KS	16 / 27 (678.1832)	9 (174.2628)	2 (176.5600)	20 (166.8344)	25 (160.5260)
2021-07-30	Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles BBQ Competition - One Meat Rib Contest Dodge City, KS	—	—	11 (166.8344)	—	—
2021-06-19	Central Plains Ribfest Day 2 Holdrege, NE	11 / 36 (686.7888)	14 (172.5600)	13 (173.7260)	13 (170.8228)	15 (169.6800)
2021-06-18	Central Plains Ribfest Day 1 Holdrege, NE	8 / 40 (691.9544)	3 (177.1544)	1 (178.2972)	8 (175.4172)	28 (161.0856)
2021-06-04	Greeley Blues Jam Greeley, CO	8 / 33 (675.3140)	10 (171.9656)	5 (169.1200)	5 (175.4400)	20 (158.7884)
2021-05-07	Wild West BBQ Cook-Off Lamar, CO	15 / 35 (655.8740)	27 (157.1200)	7 (170.8572)	15 (166.8228)	18 (161.0740)
2021-04-23	16th Annual HANOR Smokin' Red Dirt BBQ Enid, OK	23 / 41 (668.9824)	28 (166.8228)	2 (176.5600)	30 (162.2168)	29 (163.3828)
2021-04-09	Smoke in the Spring Osage City, KS	46 / 105 (679.3488)	65 (167.9656)	40 (170.8460)	55 (168.5600)	30 (171.9772)
2021-03-20	Firelake BBQ Cook Off-Day 2 Shawnee, OK	40 / 50 (667.2340)	37 (168.5256)	43 (163.9428)	41 (167.3828)	29 (167.3828)
2021-03-19	Firelake BBQ Cook Off-Day 1 Shawnee, OK	50 / 56 (654.7084)	50 (162.8228)	5 (176.5600)	56 (153.0856)	48 (162.2400)
2021-03-19	Firelake BBQ Cook Off - One Meat Contest Ribs Shawnee, OK	—	—	23 (165.6800)	—	—
2021-01-29	Humble BBQ Cook Off Humble, TX	19 / 113 (660.4340)	15 (169.1084)	14 (170.2744)	44 (158.2512)	29 (162.8000)
2020-11-13	Second Annual KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Competition Mayetta, KS	59 / 94 (682.1252)	78 (166.2284)	57 (169.6684)	43 (171.9656)	28 (174.2628)
2020-10-30	Smoke in the Spring Osage City, KS	43 / 93 (675.8512)	39 (170.8228)	46 (168.5256)	65 (165.6800)	33 (170.8228)
2020-10-24	Firelake BBQ Cook Off-Day 2 Shawnee, OK	18 / 58 (690.7884)	46 (167.9656)	8 (176.5828)	5 (176.5600)	35 (169.6800)
2020-10-23	Firelake BBQ Cook Off-Day 1 Shawnee, OK	22 / 64 (687.9200)	17 (174.2628)	2 (177.1544)	56 (163.3828)	18 (173.1200)
2020-10-03	Smoke & Soul Fest-Day 2 Casper, WY	4 / 41 (690.2400)	9 (173.1200)	8 (172.5484)	3 (176.5600)	21 (168.0116)
2020-10-02	Smoke & Soul Fest-Day 1 Casper, WY	32 / 41 (659.8972)	34 (163.3828)	14 (169.1316)	29 (166.2400)	32 (161.1428)
2020-09-19	The Oklahoma Grand BBQ Championship Day 2 Shawnee, OK	39 / 56 (673.5996)	35 (171.4056)	55 (159.9656)	30 (170.8228)	24 (171.4056)
2020-09-18	The Oklahoma Grand BBQ Championship Day 1 Shawnee, OK	31 / 56 (674.1712)	17 (172.5600)	1 (177.7144)	43 (166.2284)	53 (157.6684)
2020-09-11	Ribs, Rod and Rock N Roll Vermillion, SD	26 / 29 (656.4344)	12 (170.2628)	2 (178.2972)	28 (158.2400)	29 (149.6344)
2020-09-05	S.T.A.R Brews & Q Lake City, CO	10 / 19 (676.4800)	8 (170.8456)	5 (172.5716)	12 (167.3828)	13 (165.6800)
2020-08-21	Hill City Wine Brew and BBQ Fest Hill City, SD	23 / 43 (667.3600)	16 (172.5600)	4 (175.4400)	23 (165.6800)	36 (153.6800)
2020-08-14	Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival Kanab, UT	4 / 42 (692.5260)	12 (174.2628)	3 (177.1544)	12 (172.5600)	20 (168.5488)
2020-06-19	Traeger NorUt State BBQ Championship Riverdale, UT	14 / 32 (677.6228)	18 (169.1200)	21 (165.6800)	4 (175.4056)	14 (167.4172)
2020-06-12	Beats, Brews, & BBQ Wagoner, OK	29 / 55 (670.2172)	40 (165.1084)	2 (178.2972)	48 (161.6800)	36 (165.1316)
2020-01-17	Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge Bullhead City, AZ	17 / 59 (671.8740)	15 (172.5484)	2 (175.4172)	16 (169.1084)	45 (154.8000)
2019-10-18	Meat Scream BBQ Competition Westminster, CO	6 / 46 (685.6340)	2 (176.5600)	4 (172.5828)	24 (165.0856)	7 (171.4056)
2019-09-21	Oinktoberfest Clarence, NY	14 / 43 (635.3484)	18 (151.3940)	13 (160.5028)	—	—
2019-09-20	Constitution Week BBQ & Music Festival Grand Lake, CO	6 / 25 (679.3140)	3 (175.4056)	7 (170.2628)	7 (169.6684)	11 (163.9772)
2019-09-12	40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- INVITATIONAL CONTEST Kansas City, KS	78 / 135 (681.6112)	100 (167.9656)	16 (175.4172)	96 (167.4056)	69 (170.8228)
2019-09-12	40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST Kansas City, KS	29 / 468 (688.5600)	45 (174.8456)	257 (164.5600)	32 (174.8572)	44 (174.2972)
2019-09-06	Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge Grand Jct, CO	6 / 28 (671.8860)	6 (169.6800)	7 (167.4288)	16 (161.6572)	3 (173.1200)
2019-08-23	Hill City Wine Brew & BBQ Hill City, SD	23 / 31 (658.7084)	22 (165.6684)	11 (170.8344)	18 (163.9656)	25 (158.2400)
2019-08-16	Pepsi WY State Championship BBQ & Bluegrass Festival Worland, WY	7 / 30 (679.8628)	6 (171.9772)	2 (176.5600)	10 (165.0856)	11 (166.2400)
2019-08-09	Milliken BBQ Beef N Bean Day Milliken, CO	10 / 30 (681.6000)	10 (173.7028)	15 (167.3828)	14 (169.6800)	5 (170.8344)
2019-08-02	San Luis Valley Beat the Heat BBQ Alamosa, CO	9 / 54 (684.5256)	1 (179.4400)	16 (170.2628)	29 (165.7028)	15 (169.1200)
2019-07-26	Dodge City Days Smokin Saddles BBQ Competition Dodge City, KS	11 / 39 (679.9084)	6 (173.7028)	11 (171.4172)	28 (163.9428)	15 (170.8456)
2019-06-21	Leadville BBQ and Brew Fest Leadville, CO	1 / 26 (691.3712)	1 (175.4056)	1 (177.1428)	7 (166.2284)	2 (172.5944)
2019-06-14	26th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge Frisco, CO	15 / 55 (674.1484)	19 (170.2628)	3 (176.5600)	8 (171.4172)	38 (155.9084)
2019-06-07	Buskers, Brews & BBQ Aurora, CO	11 / 38 (675.9084)	11 (170.8228)	3 (175.4400)	24 (161.0856)	5 (168.5600)
2019-05-10	Wild West BBQ Cook-Off Lamar, CO	4 / 28 (681.6456)	3 (176.0000)	3 (173.7028)	5 (171.9656)	17 (159.9772)
2019-04-26	LuLu's Brew & Que Brighton, CO	14 / 40 (675.3256)	5 (176.0000)	21 (166.8228)	16 (167.9772)	17 (164.5256)
2019-04-12	Smoke In the Springs Osage City, KS	49 / 104 (666.7428)	4 (179.4400)	62 (164.5372)	80 (161.0972)	67 (161.6684)
2019-03-23	Firelake BBQ Cook Off Day 2 Shawnee, OK	21 / 62 (682.1484)	5 (177.7028)	6 (175.4172)	49 (163.9428)	41 (165.0856)
2019-03-22	Firelake BBQ Cook Off Day 1 Shawnee, OK	15 / 74 (682.2056)	33 (169.1084)	38 (166.2516)	19 (171.4056)	7 (175.4400)
2019-01-11	National Western BBQ Throwdown Denver, CO	15 / 38 (670.7660)	10 (171.9772)	14 (169.1544)	31 (157.6688)	5 (171.9656)
2018-12-28	Arizona National BBQ Stampede Phoenix, AZ	37 / 47 (651.8056)	35 (165.0972)	39 (158.8000)	33 (165.0856)	30 (162.8228)

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
2024 ↗	Backyard	#298 (118 pts)	#311 (118 pts)	#324 (113 pts)	—	—
2023 ↗	Master	#675 (230 pts)	#925 (150 pts)	#486 (493 pts)	#851 (165 pts)	#688 (245 pts)
2022 ↗	Master	#300 (768 pts)	#295 (808 pts)	#158 (1247 pts)	#231 (973 pts)	#333 (718 pts)
2021 ↗	Master	#101 (1452 pts)	#99 (1418 pts)	#13 (2288 pts)	#99 (1477 pts)	#142 (1153 pts)
2020 ↗	Master	#82 (1111 pts)	#81 (1095 pts)	#3 (2243 pts)	#67 (1216 pts)	#149 (781 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#122 (1682 pts)	#28 (2199 pts)	#45 (2057 pts)	#207 (1268 pts)	#97 (1714 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#85 (1978 pts)	#18 (2371 pts)	#35 (2165 pts)	#231 (1249 pts)	#62 (1988 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#143 (1742 pts)	#260 (1226 pts)	#40 (2102 pts)	#87 (1853 pts)	#99 (1842 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#65 (2202 pts)	#68 (1995 pts)	#52 (2045 pts)	#101 (1789 pts)	#135 (1716 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#36 (2371 pts)	#25 (2339 pts)	#13 (2480 pts)	#26 (2298 pts)	#34 (2206 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#177 (1606 pts)	#88 (1916 pts)	#191 (1499 pts)	#166 (1540 pts)	#137 (1703 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#165 (1553 pts)	#85 (1901 pts)	#179 (1391 pts)	#62 (1942 pts)	#105 (1857 pts)