The heartbreaker
2.8800
points from the title
Came within 2.8800 points of the Grand Championship at Q'n With Kia-Kia-Kia (Jun 16, 2017).
UTAH BBQ COMPANY
UTAH BBQ COMPANY is a competition barbecue team with 47 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2016 and 2025. They have won 2 Grand Championships, most recently at the Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival (2020), and finished Reserve Grand Champion 4 times. They are ranked #324 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1719
peak 1719 · rated over 44 contests3 invitational or side-series contests not counted
Contests
47
in the data
First seen
Mar 25, 2016
latest Jul 18, 2025 · 9.3 years on the trail
Grand champs
2
4 reserve · wins it all 4% of the time
Category wins
10
26 podiums
Overall top-10s
27
57% of 47 contests
Best top-10 run
5
straight overall top-10s
Avg finish
top 31%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
4 🔥
Current form
680.49 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 676.70 (+3.79)
Walk rate
81%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±24.11
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 170.46 · weakest Pork (166.51)
Road miles
26,333
across 47 mapped stops · furthest 1,445 mi
Schedule strength
69%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1588)
Purse competed for
$189K
listed at 13 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
1 🏅
won from 19 state-championship entries
Master avg
676.70 / 720
47 Master contests · 2 GCs
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 | #663 (226 pts) | #762 (201 pts) | #994 (126 pts) | #864 (146 pts) | #826 (156 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #1125 (105 pts) | #1341 (60 pts) | #1090 (125 pts) | #1331 (65 pts) | #1103 (115 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #870 (136 pts) | #895 (146 pts) | #965 (136 pts) | #848 (156 pts) | #930 (126 pts) |
| 2020 ↗ | Master | #141 (792 pts) | #213 (577 pts) | #133 (802 pts) | #162 (707 pts) | #115 (897 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #331 (1,025 pts) | #422 (860 pts) | #301 (1,065 pts) | #225 (1,270 pts) | #319 (1,035 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #130 (1,795 pts) | #145 (1,605 pts) | #138 (1,670 pts) | #191 (1,420 pts) | #168 (1,535 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #218 (1,461 pts) | #189 (1,436 pts) | #341 (1,081 pts) | #334 (1,091 pts) | #261 (1,276 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to UTAH BBQ COMPANY, each with one reason worth a look.
#326 of the rated field
- Contests
- 78
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 27%
- Peak
- 1729
3–3 in 6 shared contests (50% to UTAH BBQ COMPANY)
These two have cooked 6 of the same contests — honours even — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.
⚔ Head-to-head#322 of the rated field
- Contests
- 135
- GCs
- 4
- Top-10s
- 38%
- Peak
- 1720
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to UTAH BBQ COMPANY)
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 126 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-head#325 of the rated field
- Contests
- 161
- GCs
- 19
- Top-10s
- 58%
- Peak
- 1880
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to UTAH BBQ COMPANY)
161 contests to 47: their number has had years to settle where UTAH BBQ COMPANY's is still finding its level.
⚔ Head-to-head#323 of the rated field
- Contests
- 227
- GCs
- 26
- Top-10s
- 65%
- Peak
- 1903
1–3 in 4 shared contests (25% to UTAH BBQ COMPANY)
Their rating is built on 26 Grand Championships in 227 contests, alongside a 65% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Head-to-head#321 of the rated field
- Contests
- 41
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 59%
- Peak
- 1720
Their last contest in the data was back in 2018, 7 years before UTAH BBQ COMPANY's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#328 of the rated field
- Contests
- 117
- GCs
- 4
- Top-10s
- 49%
- Peak
- 1804
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to UTAH BBQ COMPANY)
Level with UTAH BBQ COMPANY on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Head-to-headFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIG POPPA SMOKERS | 20 | 5 | 15 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| Backdraft BBQ | 17 | 11 | 6 | 65% | ⚔ compare |
| CROOKED PIGS | 17 | 10 | 7 | 59% | ⚔ compare |
| B-S BBQ OUTLAWS | 15 | 4 | 11 | 27% | ⚔ compare |
| COW TIPPIN BBQ | 14 | 8 | 6 | 57% | ⚔ compare |
| LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | 14 | 7 | 7 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| Rooftop BBQ | 14 | 7 | 7 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| Burnin and Lootin | 14 | 2 | 12 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| G AND L BBQ | 13 | 13 | 0 | 100% | ⚔ compare |
| GIRLS CAN GRILL | 13 | 8 | 5 | 62% | ⚔ compare |
| GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE | 13 | 6 | 7 | 46% | ⚔ compare |
| TEAM AMERICA | 13 | 5 | 8 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | 13 | 3 | 10 | 23% | ⚔ compare |
| 4 LEGS UP BBQ | 13 | 3 | 10 | 23% | ⚔ compare |
| Vegas Grillbillies | 12 | 10 | 2 | 83% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 47 | 23 | 1 | 6 | 180 🔥 | 159.3484 | 170.46 | top 38% |
| Pork Ribs | 47 | 23 | 4 | 6 | 180 🔥 | 159.4060 | 170.10 | top 33% |
| Pork | 46 | 23 | 4 | 8 | 180 🔥 | 20 | 166.51 | top 39% |
| Brisket | 47 | 27 | 1 | 6 | 177.1544 | 157.1084 | 169.70 | top 33% |
“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) | 5 | 0 | top 41% |
| Medium (20–39) | 22 | 1 | top 23% |
| Large (40+) | 20 | 1 | top 37% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge | 3 | 2 | 0 | top 33% | Jan 14, 2022 |
| Wild West BBQ Shoot Out | 3 | 8 | 0 | top 37% | Aug 23, 2019 |
| 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) | 2 | 5 | 0 | top 32% | Sep 1, 2017 |
| Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | 2 | 3 | 0 | top 17% | Apr 7, 2017 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2017
11 contests
Contests a season
5.9
across 8 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
UT
11 of 47 contests · 12 states in all
Contests visited
41
4 of them more than once
First title
Jul 15, 2016
Griller's Cup
Opponents faced
1,538
finished ahead 2,125 times, behind 1,095
Longest layoff
3.5 yrs
Jan 14, 2022 → Jul 18, 2025
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20253 milestones
- Career-best overall score702.8228 Blaze of 47
- Peak power rating (1719) Blaze of 47
- Most recent contest Blaze of 47
20203 milestones
- First state championship Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival
- 10th category win Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival
- Biggest field won (42 teams) Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival
20181 milestone
- 25th tracked contest Traeger NorUt State Championship
20173 milestones
- First category win (Pork Ribs) BBQ Blues & Brews on the Bay (JUDGES FULL)
- First perfect 180 (Pork Ribs) BBQ Blues & Brews on the Bay (JUDGES FULL)
- First multi-meat day Q'n With Kia-Kia-Kia
20168 milestones
- First tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First call Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First overall top-10 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score674.2400 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First overall podium Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First Grand Championship Griller's Cup
- First Reserve Championship Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge
- 10th tracked contest 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +17.2 | Griller's Cup | Jul 15, 2016 |
| +15.3 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | Apr 8, 2016 |
| +15 | Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge | Sep 9, 2016 |
| +14.1 | Smokin In Mesquite BBQ Championship | May 6, 2016 |
| +13.2 | 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) | Sep 1, 2017 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -19.4 | Western Legends Roundup BBQ Cook Off | Aug 16, 2019 |
| -10.4 | Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge | Jan 17, 2020 |
| -4.7 | Smoke & Soul Fest-Day 1 | Oct 2, 2020 |
| -3.4 | 7th Annual Show Low BBQ Throw down | May 3, 2019 |
| -2.8 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) | Oct 21, 2016 |
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 12% | 97.6% | 97.6% |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 27% | 93.8% | 93.8% |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% | top 55% | 94.2% | 93.7% |
| 2020 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 71% | top 46% | 97% | 93.9% |
| 2019 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 100% | top 30% | 96.2% | 91.4% |
| 2018 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 88% | top 29% | 96.1% | 94.5% |
| 2017 | 11 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 91% | top 23% | 97.3% | 95.3% |
| 2016 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 70% | top 29% | 96% | 93.7% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 18, 2025 | Blaze of 47 🏅 Salt Lake City, UT | 3 / 26 (702.8228) | 4 (177.1428) | 10 (174.2628) | 8 (175.4172) | 7 (176) |
| Jan 14, 2022 | Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge 🏅 Bullhead City, AZ | 16 / 59 (675.3488) | 39 (165.0856) | 12 (170.8460) | 24 (169.6916) | 14 (169.7256) |
| Oct 8, 2021 | 32nd Annual Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) unrated Lynchburg, TN | 53 / 70 (671.3024) | 33 (170.2628) | 30 (171.9656) | 56 (165.1084) | 60 (163.9656) |
| Aug 20, 2021 | Western Legends BBQ Contest 🏅 Kanab, UT | 9 / 26 (678.2056) | 8 (172.5600) | 9 (167.3828) | 7 (169.1544) | 10 (169.1084) |
| Nov 13, 2020 | Second Annual KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Competition 🏅 unrated Mayetta, KS | 70 / 94 (674.7544) | 84 (163.9656) | 12 (176.5600) | — | 46 (170.8344) |
| Oct 3, 2020 | Smoke & Soul Fest-Day 2 🏅 Casper, WY | 12 / 41 (682.7656) | 32 (165.0856) | 24 (167.4056) | 4 (174.8688) | 3 (175.4056) |
| Oct 2, 2020 | Smoke & Soul Fest-Day 1 🏅 Casper, WY | 24 / 41 (671.8740) | 38 (160.4912) | 23 (165.1200) | 8 (174.8456) | 12 (171.4172) |
| Aug 14, 2020 | Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival 🏅 Kanab, UT | 1 / 42 (698.2748) | 6 (177.1544) | 1 (177.7144) | 27 (167.9772) | 3 (175.4288) |
| Jun 19, 2020 | Traeger NorUt State BBQ Championship 🏅 Riverdale, UT | 12 / 32 (682.7428) | 23 (166.8228) | 7 (175.4288) | 14 (171.9656) | 11 (168.5256) |
| Jan 17, 2020 | Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge 🏅 Bullhead City, AZ | 41 / 59 (647.7368) | 50 (159.3484) | 24 (166.2400) | 41 (161.6456) | 36 (160.5028) |
| Jan 3, 2020 | Red Rock BBQ 🏅 Hurrican, UT | 8 / 15 (673.6344) | 6 (170.8344) | 6 (168.5600) | 11 (166.8228) | 10 (167.4172) |
| Oct 18, 2019 | Meat Scream BBQ Competition 🏅 Westminster, CO | 5 / 46 (686.1712) | 5 (174.2628) | 13 (169.6684) | 7 (170.8344) | 8 (171.4056) |
| Sep 6, 2019 | Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge 🏅 Grand Jct, CO | 7 / 28 (669.6232) | 7 (169.1200) | 9 (166.2516) | 9 (167.4172) | 6 (166.8344) |
| Aug 23, 2019 | Wild West BBQ Shoot Out 🏅 Wendover, NV | 8 / 37 (686.2056) | 16 (169.1200) | 11 (171.4056) | 7 (173.1084) | 12 (172.5716) |
| Aug 16, 2019 | Western Legends Roundup BBQ Cook Off 🏅 Kanab, UT | 17 / 18 (532.5144) | 7 (171.9656) | 5 (170.8572) | 18 (20) | 8 (169.6916) |
| Jun 21, 2019 | Leadville BBQ and Brew Fest 🏅 Leadville, CO | 2 / 26 (676.5260) | 7 (168.5488) | 2 (171.4400) | 9 (165.0856) | 4 (171.4516) |
| May 3, 2019 | 7th Annual Show Low BBQ Throw down 🏅 Show Low, AZ | 21 / 45 (665.0744) | 18 (171.4172) | 28 (161.6916) | 5 (174.8572) | 31 (157.1084) |
| Jan 18, 2019 | Slab-O-Rama Barbeque Challenge 🏅 Bullhead City, AZ | 2 / 63 (692.5256) | 19 (170.2972) | 14 (169.6800) | 1 (177.7028) | 3 (174.8456) |
| Sep 15, 2018 | 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 196 / 467 (666.2056) | 59 (174.2628) | 148 (169.6684) | 350 (158.2744) | 225 (164) |
| Aug 24, 2018 | Wild West BBQ Shoot Out Wendover, NV | 16 / 46 (681.0968) | 16 (171.4056) | 17 (169.7028) | 29 (166.8456) | 9 (173.1428) |
| Aug 17, 2018 | Pepsi WY State Championship BBQ & Bluegrass Festival 🏅 Worland, WY | 8 / 30 (683.8856) | 10 (170.8228) | 10 (171.4056) | 3 (175.4172) | 13 (166.2400) |
| Jul 13, 2018 | Happy Grillmore BBQ Competition Draper, UT | 3 / 21 (690.8116) | 7 (169.7144) | 8 (172.5716) | 1 (174.2628) | 2 (174.2628) |
| Jun 29, 2018 | Traeger NorUt State Championship 🏅 Ogden, UT | 5 / 19 (691.9428) | 6 (171.4172) | 5 (171.4172) | 2 (180) | 10 (169.1084) |
| Jun 1, 2018 | Smokin In Steele Owatonna, MN | 14 / 45 (673.0516) | 26 (163.9428) | 37 (159.4060) | 1 (178.8572) | 10 (170.8456) |
| May 4, 2018 | City of Show Low's 6th Annual BBQ Throwdown Show Low, AZ | 19 / 52 (674.7084) | 10 (175.4056) | 13 (173.1200) | 36 (162.2400) | 28 (163.9428) |
| Mar 23, 2018 | 7th Annual Santa Anita Winners Circle BBQ Championship Arcadia, CA | 14 / 78 (679.9312) | 61 (160.5256) | 1 (176.5600) | 26 (168.5256) | 8 (174.3200) |
| Dec 15, 2017 | Down Town Barbecue Throw down (JUDGES FULL) Las Vegas, NV | 7 / 30 (683.8972) | 16 (171.9656) | 8 (170.8344) | 21 (163.9428) | 2 (177.1544) |
| Sep 22, 2017 | Smoke & Soul Fest Casper, WY | 3 / 18 (686.7428) | 12 (165.0856) | 1 (178.8572) | 9 (167.3828) | 1 (175.4172) |
| Sep 15, 2017 | Rock'n Brews & BBQ Festival Boise, ID | 10 / 28 (667.8624) | 17 (163.3828) | 8 (167.9656) | 17 (164.5484) | 8 (171.9656) |
| Sep 1, 2017 | 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 5 / 407 (700.6056) | 3 (180) | 102 (170.8572) | 19 (176.5828) | 40 (173.1656) |
| Aug 31, 2017 | 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL) unrated Kansas City, KS | 82 / 129 (678.1712) | 82 (169.6684) | 68 (170.2744) | 84 (169.1084) | 68 (169.1200) |
| Aug 25, 2017 | Wild West BBQ Shoot Out West Wendover, NV | 11 / 37 (690.8688) | 5 (178.8572) | 14 (172.5944) | 11 (172) | 20 (167.4172) |
| Jun 24, 2017 | Montana BBQ Cook-Off Absarokee, MT | 8 / 35 (687.9196) | 5 (173.1200) | 11 (170.2856) | 9 (172.5484) | 12 (171.9656) |
| Jun 16, 2017 | Q'n With Kia-Kia-Kia Ogden, UT | 2 / 15 (694.8228) | 1 (176.5600) | 4 (170.2628) | 1 (180) | 5 (168) |
| May 27, 2017 | BBQ Blues & Brews on the Bay (JUDGES FULL) North Bend, OR | 5 / 37 (681.6800) | 16 (167.4056) | 1 (180) | 8 (170.8800) | 21 (163.3944) |
| May 5, 2017 | City of Show Low's 5th Annual BBQ Throwdown Show Low, AZ | 3 / 36 (691.9884) | 12 (171.4056) | 5 (172) | 3 (176) | 4 (172.5828) |
| Apr 7, 2017 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Salt Lake City, UT | 7 / 29 (681.6112) | 4 (175.4056) | 9 (168.5372) | 15 (168) | 9 (169.6684) |
| Oct 29, 2016 | 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 262 / 557 (656.9940) | 62 (173.1200) | 293 (164.5256) | 348 (162.2284) | 365 (157.1200) |
| Oct 21, 2016 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) Lynchburg, TN | 65 / 96 (663.8512) | 63 (165.6800) | 71 (163.3944) | 70 (164.5256) | 36 (170.2512) |
| Sep 16, 2016 | Rock'n Brews & BBQ Festival Nampa, ID | 6 / 25 (682.7884) | 10 (170.2628) | 5 (172) | 11 (167.3828) | 4 (173.1428) |
| Sep 9, 2016 | Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge Grand Junction, CO | 2 / 49 (689.0744) | 3 (174.8572) | 21 (166.8344) | 2 (175.4056) | 6 (171.9772) |
| Aug 26, 2016 | Wild West BBQ Shoot Out Wendover, NV | 20 / 37 (656.4912) | 11 (168.5484) | 19 (164.0116) | 30 (157.0856) | 18 (166.8456) |
| Jul 15, 2016 | Griller's Cup Laramie, WY | 1 / 27 (691.3944) | 3 (176) | 7 (172.5600) | 4 (173.1200) | 5 (169.7144) |
| May 6, 2016 | Smokin In Mesquite BBQ Championship Mesquite, NV | 7 / 35 (681.0856) | 3 (177.7372) | 22 (163.9544) | 20 (167.3712) | 8 (172.0228) |
| Apr 22, 2016 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Las Vegas, NV | 12 / 30 (675.3712) | 11 (170.8456) | 3 (174.8800) | 23 (162.8000) | 18 (166.8456) |
| Apr 8, 2016 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Salt Lake City, UT | 3 / 30 (677.6344) | 3 (173.1428) | 7 (168.5372) | 10 (165.6800) | 5 (170.2744) |
| Mar 25, 2016 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Reno, NV | 7 / 29 (674.2400) | 10 (167.3944) | 13 (165.1656) | 6 (171.9772) | 4 (169.7028) |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.