High-water mark
695.9428
career-best overall
96.7% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 695.9428 at 34th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out — 96.7% of a perfect 720.
- Master
- Sep 16, 2022
RICK'S RACKS
RICK'S RACKS is a competition barbecue team with 22 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2015 and 2025. They have won 2 Grand Championships, most recently at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest (2022). They are ranked #1300 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1580
peak 1580 · rated over 17 contests1 invitational or side-series contest not counted
Contests
22
in the data
First seen
Apr 10, 2015
latest Jul 11, 2025 · 10.3 years on the trail
Grand champs
2
0 reserve · wins it all 9% of the time
Category wins
2
5 podiums
Overall top-10s
8
36% of 22 contests
Best top-10 run
4
straight overall top-10s, still running
Avg finish
top 40%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
682.56 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 672.50 (+10.05)
Walk rate
50%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±14.86
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 169.30 · weakest Brisket (165.38)
Road miles
328
across 21 mapped stops · furthest 44 mi
Schedule strength
56%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1571)
Purse competed for
$91K
listed at 13 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 7 state-championship entries
Master avg
672.50 / 720
12 Master contests · 0 GCs
Backyard avg
339.97 / 360
5 Backyard contests · 2 GCs
These overall scores sit on different scales (Master out of 720, Backyard out of 360), so they're kept separate — averaging them together would be misleading.
This team cooks the Backyard series — its own boards, records and Team of the Year are here.
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 ↗ | Backyard | #172 (282 pts) | #183 (272 pts) | #180 (292 pts) | — | — |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | — | — | #1197 (92 pts) | — | — |
| 2023 ↗ | Backyard | — | #307 (85 pts) | #271 (125 pts) | — | — |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #864 (146 pts) | #739 (226 pts) | #1115 (121 pts) | #1079 (116 pts) | #1103 (111 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Backyard | — | #163 (225 pts) | #190 (200 pts) | — | — |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #618 (298 pts) | #606 (333 pts) | #734 (268 pts) | #573 (353 pts) | #830 (183 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #1236 (60 pts) | #1286 (60 pts) | #1309 (60 pts) | #1091 (105 pts) | #1245 (60 pts) |
| 2020 ↗ | Master | #767 (97 pts) | #612 (162 pts) | #538 (209 pts) | #678 (127 pts) | #1092 (57 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #1849 (75 pts) | #1558 (125 pts) | #1516 (130 pts) | #2029 (60 pts) | #1775 (95 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #1175 (210 pts) | #1495 (145 pts) | #1329 (185 pts) | #1754 (115 pts) | #1035 (285 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #1645 (135 pts) | #1745 (130 pts) | #1822 (120 pts) | #1281 (240 pts) | #1678 (145 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #1511 (175 pts) | #1649 (165 pts) | #1208 (270 pts) | #1697 (160 pts) | #1611 (165 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to RICK'S RACKS, each with one reason worth a look.
37 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#1,293 of the rated field
- Contests
- 16
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 44%
- Peak
- 1585
Their last contest in the data was back in 2017, 8 years before RICK'S RACKS's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#1,301 of the rated field
- Contests
- 21
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 38%
- Peak
- 1598
Careers of much the same size, 21 contests to 22, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careers#1,304 of the rated field
- Contests
- 20
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 30%
- Peak
- 1579
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 20 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careers#1,303 of the rated field
- Contests
- 14
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 29%
- Peak
- 1579
14 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 29% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careers#1,294 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 67%
- Peak
- 1583
Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2015.
⚔ Compare careers#1,299 of the rated field
- Contests
- 9
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 56%
- Peak
- 1580
Level with RICK'S RACKS on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRILLAS | 8 | 4 | 4 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| SLAPS BBQ | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON | 7 | 5 | 2 | 71% | ⚔ compare |
| ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | 7 | 3 | 4 | 43% | ⚔ compare |
| S&S BBQ | 6 | 5 | 1 | 83% | ⚔ compare |
| MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | 6 | 2 | 4 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY | 6 | 2 | 4 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| DIRT ROAD BBQ | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS | 5 | 4 | 1 | 80% | ⚔ compare |
| T'S SMOKIN PIT | 5 | 4 | 1 | 80% | ⚔ compare |
| PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| Wabash BBQ | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN GUNS BBQ | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 17 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 177.7028 | 159.3828 | 169.30 | top 39% |
| Pork Ribs | 20 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 176.5600 | 163.3944 | 169.24 | top 41% |
| Pork | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 177.7028 | 159.4400 | 169.17 | top 40% |
| Brisket | 13 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 177.1428 | 154.8228 | 165.38 | top 51% |
“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) | 3 | 1 | top 50% |
| Medium (20–39) | 9 | 1 | top 29% |
| Large (40+) | 7 | 0 | top 50% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off | 3 | 6 | 0 | top 45% | Jul 11, 2025 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest | 2 | 1 | 1 | top 24% | Mar 24, 2023 |
| The Best Damn BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake | 2 | 29 | 0 | top 54% | Apr 7, 2017 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2023
4 contests
Contests a season
2
across 11 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
MO
20 of 22 contests · 2 states in all
Contests visited
15
3 of them more than once
Most-entered meat
Pork Ribs
20 entries · 1 win · 7 calls
Opponents faced
415
finished ahead 426 times, behind 277
Longest layoff
1.8 yrs
Sep 15, 2023 → Jul 11, 2025
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20252 milestones
- Peak power rating (1580) Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off
- Most recent contest Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off
20231 milestone
- Career-best single call (Chicken)177.7028 35th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out
20221 milestone
- Career-best overall score695.9428 34th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out
20201 milestone
- 10th tracked contest Cameron Elks BBQ Cook Off (Day 2)
—7 milestones
- First tracked contest Dadfest BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First call Dadfest BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First category win (Pork Ribs) Dadfest BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First overall top-10 Dadfest BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First overall podium Dadfest BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First Grand Championship Dadfest BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score341.1200 Dadfest BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY)
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +15.6 | 23rd Annual Platte City BBQ Cook Off at Basswood Resort | May 18, 2018 |
| +15 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest | Mar 25, 2022 |
| +12.4 | 34th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out | Sep 16, 2022 |
| +7.6 | 35th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out | Sep 15, 2023 |
| +6.7 | Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off | Jul 11, 2025 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -10.7 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Steak Cook-Off | Mar 25, 2022 |
| -4.1 | The Best Damn BBQ Contest | Apr 10, 2015 |
| -0.8 | Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off (Backyard 2) | Jul 11, 2025 |
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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 100% | top 8% | 94.8% | 94.8% |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 67% | top 41% | 93.6% | 93.5% |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25% | top 42% | 96.2% | 94.4% |
| 2022 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 75% | top 35% | 97.5% | 93.6% |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 37% | 94.1% | 94.1% |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 53% | 94.1% | 94.1% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 41% | 92.9% | 92.9% |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100% | top 11% | 96% | 96% |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 45% | 93.4% | 92.5% |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 47% | 92.5% | 91.7% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 71% | 89.7% | 89.7% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 11, 2025 | Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Cameron, MO | 8 / 36 (337.0972) | 10 (168.5372) | 6 (168.5600) | — | — |
| Jul 11, 2025 | Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off (Backyard 2) Cameron, MO | 6 / 10 (335.9084) | 5 (169.6684) | 7 (166.2400) | — | — |
| Jul 11, 2025 | Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off (ONE MEAT RIBS) Cameron, MO | — | — | 17 (167.3828) | — | — |
| Sep 15, 2023 | 35th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out 🏅 Kearney, MO | 8 / 26 (692.4568) | 3 (177.7028) | 11 (170.8228) | 12 (173.1200) | 13 (170.8112) |
| Jun 9, 2023 | Made for KC BBQ Championship (COMPETITORS SERIES) unrated Kansas City, MO | 23 / 44 (675.8628) | 18 (171.4056) | 33 (167.3828) | 15 (171.9888) | 29 (165.0856) |
| Mar 24, 2023 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest Kansas City, MO | 16 / 37 (334.8572) | 20 (165.1544) | 12 (169.7028) | — | — |
| Mar 24, 2023 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Steak Cook-Off Kansas City, MO | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sep 16, 2022 | 34th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out 🏅 Kearney, MO | 6 / 33 (695.9428) | 3 (177.1544) | 13 (170.8228) | 5 (177.7028) | 18 (170.2628) |
| Jun 3, 2022 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 31st Annual 🏅 McLouth, KS | 11 / 30 (669.0852) | 16 (165.6912) | 8 (171.9772) | 6 (170.8684) | 18 (160.5484) |
| Mar 25, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest Kansas City, MO | 1 / 25 (350.8456) | 3 (176.5828) | 4 (174.2628) | — | — |
| Mar 25, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Steak Cook-Off Kansas City, MO | 9 / 11 (157.1200) | — | — | — | — |
| Mar 19, 2021 | 3rd Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship 🏅 Olathe, KS | 26 / 70 (677.6460) | 36 (167.9772) | 32 (168.5716) | 16 (174.2628) | 34 (166.8344) |
| Jul 18, 2020 | Cameron Elks BBQ Cook Off (Day 2) 🏅 Cameron, MO | 17 / 32 (677.6460) | 7 (175.4288) | 17 (169.6916) | 11 (172.5600) | 28 (159.9656) |
| Jul 18, 2020 | Cameron Elks BBQ Cook Off Single Meat - Rib Contest Cameron, MO | — | — | 12 (167.3944) | — | — |
| Apr 12, 2019 | The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake 🏅 Smithville, MO | 22 / 54 (669.0516) | 12 (170.2972) | 11 (170.2628) | 40 (159.9544) | 18 (168.5372) |
| May 18, 2018 | 23rd Annual Platte City BBQ Cook Off at Basswood Resort Platte City, MO | 4 / 37 (690.8684) | 9 (173.2000) | 5 (174.2628) | 14 (166.2628) | 1 (177.1428) |
| May 19, 2017 | 22nd Annual Platte City BBQ Cook Off at Basswood Resort Platte City, MO | 22 / 59 (672.4916) | 27 (167.9656) | 38 (163.3944) | 8 (172.5828) | 20 (168.5488) |
| Apr 7, 2017 | The Best Damn BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake Smithville, MO | 29 / 54 (659.3716) | 23 (166.8344) | 29 (166.8916) | 20 (170.8228) | 36 (154.8228) |
| Sep 16, 2016 | Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out Kearney, MO | 14 / 35 (666.1716) | 16 (162.8228) | 4 (176.5600) | 17 (166.8344) | 21 (159.9544) |
| Apr 8, 2016 | The Best Damn BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake Smithville, MO | 29 / 53 (653.6456) | 36 (162.2284) | 25 (164) | 39 (159.4400) | 20 (167.9772) |
| Apr 10, 2015 | The Best Damn BBQ Contest Smithville, MO | 37 / 52 (645.6344) | 40 (159.3828) | 32 (164.0004) | 30 (162.8456) | 30 (159.4056) |
| — | Dadfest BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) Kansas City, MO | 1 / 12 (341.1200) | — | 1 (172.5716) | — | — |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.