Nards Backyard BBQ

Nards Backyard BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 26 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 8th of 28 at the Squealin' on the Square (2013). They are ranked #5774 of 6,485 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “NARD'S BACKYARD BBQ”.

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At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#5,774

of 6,485 rated · rankings

Rating

1443

peak 1504 · rated over 26 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Jul 11, 2013

latest Jul 9, 2026 · 13 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#999

Master 2013 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

2 podiums

Overall top-10s

4% of 26 contests

Avg finish

top 68%

overall standings

Best overall

675.3600 / 720

Master · South Carolina Festival of Discovery

Perfect 180s

Current form

646.35 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 643.71 (+2.63)

Walk rate

27%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

177.1772

Pork · South Carolina Festival of Discovery

Consistency

±14.30

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 164.25 · weakest Brisket (154.58)

Road miles

1,340

across 26 mapped stops · furthest 91 mi

Schedule strength

44%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1557)

Purse competed for

$100K

listed at 6 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 7 state-championship entries

Master avg

643.71 / 720

26 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (11 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

675.3600 career-best overall

93.8% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 675.3600 at South Carolina Festival of Discovery — 93.8% of a perfect 720.

Master
Jul 10, 2025

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

Bald Hawg BBQ has finished one call ahead of Nards Backyard BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2013 their best year

2013 was the year it came together: 4 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 51%.

4 contests
1 overall top-10
0 category wins
average top 51%

A tough matchup

19–0 behind in the head-to-head

MIDNIGHT BURN ahead in 100% of their meetings

MIDNIGHT BURN has come out ahead in 19 of their 19 shared contests.

The weak link

−9.7 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 9.66 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 8% of the time against 8%.

Brisket avg 154.58
Chicken avg 164.25
2 calls in 26 entries

A strong matchup

17–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of THE SMOKIN' GRILL in 17 of their 17 shared contests.

The comeback

2 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2 years, then back at South Carolina Festival of Discovery (Jul 10, 2025).

last seen Jul 6, 2023
back Jul 10, 2025

Show 4 more storylines

Chicken nemesis

16 of 19 shared chicken entries lost

MIDNIGHT BURN ahead 84% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, MIDNIGHT BURN has out-cooked them in 16 of 19 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

SWEET DADDYS SMOKEHOUSE has landed one call behind them 2 times.

The metronome

±1.99% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.99% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 89.4% of a perfect score
26 contests

A standing appointment

7 years running at one contest

They've cooked SC Festival of Discovery every year from 2013 to 2019 — the contest they never miss.

7 visits in all
best finish 36th

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
2018 ↗	Master	#1686 (117 pts)	#1558 (127 pts)	#1604 (122 pts)	#1772 (112 pts)	#1557 (127 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1229 (230 pts)	#1240 (255 pts)	#1423 (200 pts)	#1267 (245 pts)	#1161 (275 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1674 (140 pts)	#1649 (165 pts)	#1621 (170 pts)	#1664 (165 pts)	#1686 (150 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1300 (217 pts)	#1382 (217 pts)	#1234 (252 pts)	#1187 (272 pts)	#1363 (217 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#999 (289 pts)	#1035 (299 pts)	#773 (429 pts)	#988 (319 pts)	#1036 (289 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Nards Backyard BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

WYOMING BS BBQ

#5,763 of the rated field

1444 power rating

Contests: 27
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 7%
Peak: 1444

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 27 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 27 contests
last seen Aug 16, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

SMOKIN IN THE BOARDROOM

#5,766 of the rated field

1444 power rating

Contests: 25
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1502

Their last contest in the data was back in 2022, 4 years before Nards Backyard BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 25 contests

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PB&J SMOKIN OLD MEN

#5,790 of the rated field

1443 power rating

Contests: 24
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1511

Careers of much the same size, 24 contests to 26, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 24 contests
last seen Sep 12, 2019

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SMOKIN CHUCKS WAGON

#5,777 of the rated field

1443 power rating

Contests: 31
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1443

31 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 6% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 31 contests
last seen Apr 8, 2022

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DIXIE MOON

#5,765 of the rated field

1444 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1444

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

rated over 17 contests
last seen Sep 30, 2026

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CALLAWAY CREAMATORS

#5,768 of the rated field

1444 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1444

Level with Nards Backyard BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 16 contests
last seen Oct 12, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
PIG ON FIRE	20	7	13	35%	⚔ compare
MIDNIGHT BURN	19	0	19	0%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKIN' GRILL	17	17	0	100%	⚔ compare
SUE E PIGG	17	3	14	18%	⚔ compare
SWIG-N-PIG	15	2	13	13%	⚔ compare
SWEET DADDYS SMOKEHOUSE	14	10	4	71%	⚔ compare
SMOKE THIS	14	1	13	7%	⚔ compare
PICKIN' PORKERS	13	4	9	31%	⚔ compare
Bald Hawg BBQ	13	0	13	0%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA	13	0	13	0%	⚔ compare
ELITE BBQ SMOKERS	12	2	10	17%	⚔ compare
MUTTLEY CREW BBQ	12	1	11	8%	⚔ compare
Killer B's BBQ	12	0	12	0%	⚔ compare
SAUCED! BBQ TEAM	12	0	12	0%	⚔ compare
BLUE SUEDE QUE	11	11	0	100%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	26	2	1	1	173.7600	154.7884	164.25	top 57%
Pork Ribs	26	3	0	1	174.2744	140.4456	161.58	top 57%
Pork	26	3	0	0	177.1772	149.6800	163.31	top 57%
Brisket	26	2	0	0	166.8228	135.3144	154.58	top 74%

“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	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	2	top 84%
Medium (20–39)	10	top 70%
Large (40+)	14	top 64%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
SC	20	top 66%
NC	5	top 73%
GA	1	top 76%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
SC Festival of Discovery	7	36	top 60%	Jul 12, 2019
Squealin on the Square	6	8	top 65%	Oct 1, 2021
Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show	4	18	top 74%	Aug 11, 2017
South Carolina Festival of Discovery	3	41	top 72%	Jul 9, 2026
Squealin in the Square	2	20	top 83%	Oct 5, 2018
Sooie't Relief BBQ Benefit	2	25	top 70%	Aug 22, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2014 5 contests

Contests a season 2.4 across 11 seasons in the data

Most contests held in SC 20 of 26 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 8 6 of them more than once

Opponents faced 490 finished ahead 461 times, behind 864

Longest layoff 2 yrs Jul 6, 2023 → Jul 10, 2025

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

20261 milestone

Jul 9 Most recent contest South Carolina Festival of Discovery

20253 milestones

Jul 10 25th tracked contest South Carolina Festival of Discovery
Jul 10 Career-best overall score675.3600 South Carolina Festival of Discovery
Jul 10 Career-best single call (Pork)177.1772 South Carolina Festival of Discovery

20191 milestone

Oct 4 First category win (Chicken) Squealin on the Square

20151 milestone

Jul 9 10th tracked contest SC Festival of Discovery (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL)

20135 milestones

Jul 11 First tracked contest SC Festival of Discovery
Aug 9 First overall past 90% of a perfect score657.6000 Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show
Aug 23 First call Sooie't Relief BBQ Benefit
Oct 4 First overall top-10 Squealin' on the Square
Oct 4 Peak power rating (1504) Squealin' on the Square

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+8.3	Squealin' on the Square	Oct 4, 2013
+6	SC Festival of Discovery	Jul 7, 2016
+3.8	Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show	Aug 11, 2017
+3.5	SC Festival of Discovery (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL)	Jul 9, 2015
+2.4	South Carolina Festival of Discovery	Jul 10, 2025

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-8.8	Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show	Aug 7, 2015
-8.7	Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show	Aug 12, 2016
-7.7	Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off (GBC Qualifier)	May 9, 2014
-7.7	Squealin on the Square	Oct 1, 2021
-6.7	Sooie't Relief BBQ Benefit	Aug 22, 2014

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	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2026	1	0	0	0%	top 69%	93.8%	93.8%
2025	1	0	0	100%	top 62%	93.8%	93.8%
2023	1	0	0	0%	top 84%	87.5%	87.5%
2021	1	0	0	0%	top 88%	87.9%	87.9%
2019	2	0	1	50%	top 76%	88.1%	87%
2018	2	0	0	0%	top 76%	88.2%	87.4%
2017	3	0	0	33%	top 68%	91.4%	89.4%
2016	3	0	0	0%	top 69%	90.7%	89.2%
2015	3	0	0	33%	top 66%	91%	90.2%
2014	5	0	0	20%	top 69%	90%	88.9%
2013	4	1	0	50%	top 51%	92%	90.4%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jul 9, 2026	South Carolina Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC	52 / 75 (675.2800)	43 (170.8228)	38 (169.6800)	32 (170.8344)	55 (163.9428)
Jul 10, 2025	South Carolina Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC	41 / 66 (675.3600)	30 (170.2744)	41 (168.5484)	4 (177.1772)	53 (159.3600)
Jul 6, 2023	South Carolina Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC	64 / 76 (630.1488)	27 (171.4400)	69 (153.6572)	59 (161.1316)	72 (143.9200)
Oct 1, 2021	Squealin on the Square 🏅 Laurens, SC	15 / 17 (632.9140)	16 (159.3600)	13 (156.5256)	16 (158.8228)	15 (158.2056)
Oct 4, 2019	Squealin on the Square 🏅 Laurens, SC	15 / 19 (618.0456)	1 (173.7600)	18 (140.4456)	14 (155.3600)	17 (148.4800)
Jul 12, 2019	SC Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC	60 / 83 (634.6744)	37 (165.1200)	55 (159.9544)	24 (169.1200)	76 (140.4800)
Oct 5, 2018	Squealin in the Square Laurens, SC	24 / 27 (624.4456)	22 (159.4056)	23 (156.5372)	26 (149.6800)	22 (158.8228)
Jul 12, 2018	SC Festival Of Discovery Greenwood, SC	57 / 89 (634.7088)	28 (168.5600)	72 (150.2744)	33 (167.3944)	72 (148.4800)
Oct 6, 2017	Squealin in the Square (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) Laurens, SC	20 / 26 (647.8628)	13 (167.3944)	22 (153.6800)	11 (165.1428)	19 (161.6456)
Aug 11, 2017	Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show Franklin, NC	18 / 34 (658.1256)	20 (165.7028)	22 (162.8116)	24 (162.7884)	10 (166.8228)
Jul 6, 2017	SC Festival of Discovery (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) Greenwood, SC	66 / 89 (624.9944)	44 (165.1772)	80 (149.0744)	51 (162.8228)	74 (147.9200)
Sep 30, 2016	Squealin' on the Square Laurens, SC	19 / 26 (638.3432)	14 (165.1656)	23 (150.2744)	14 (165.7028)	17 (157.2004)
Aug 12, 2016	Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show Franklin, NC	31 / 34 (634.7544)	34 (154.7884)	15 (169.7144)	30 (158.2744)	29 (151.9772)
Jul 7, 2016	SC Festival of Discovery Greenwood, SC	36 / 82 (652.9832)	17 (168.5488)	24 (166.2516)	38 (163.4172)	55 (154.7656)
Oct 2, 2015	Squealin' on the Square Laurens, SC	15 / 25 (646.9140)	18 (156.0456)	10 (166.8456)	16 (164.0344)	16 (159.9884)
Aug 7, 2015	Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show Franklin, NC	32 / 36 (646.7200)	35 (158.2400)	18 (168)	35 (161.6340)	34 (158.8460)
Jul 9, 2015	SC Festival of Discovery (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL) Greenwood, SC	43 / 90 (655.2568)	37 (167.4056)	32 (165.1200)	54 (161.0856)	44 (161.6456)
Oct 3, 2014	Squealin' on the Square Laurens, SC	15 / 25 (647.8512)	15 (163.9772)	5 (169.7028)	6 (167.9656)	21 (146.2056)
Aug 22, 2014	Sooie't Relief BBQ Benefit Greer, SC	29 / 37 (640.4572)	27 (162.8344)	16 (166.8800)	28 (163.3828)	35 (147.3600)
Jul 10, 2014	SC Festival of Discovery Greenwood, SC	55 / 86 (639.8288)	59 (159.3944)	28 (165.6800)	77 (151.3372)	31 (163.4172)
Jun 13, 2014	Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival Tryon, NC	49 / 73 (646.1712)	41 (164.5256)	53 (158.8460)	33 (166.2512)	55 (156.5484)
May 9, 2014	Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off (GBC Qualifier) 🏅 Waynesboro, GA	32 / 42 (626.0688)	27 (163.3828)	18 (161.6916)	14 (165.6800)	37 (135.3144)
Oct 4, 2013	Squealin' on the Square Laurens, SC	8 / 28 (662.2516)	19 (160)	2 (174.2744)	10 (165.6800)	8 (162.2972)
Aug 23, 2013	Sooie't Relief BBQ Benefit Greer, SC	25 / 41 (641.5888)	10 (167.9772)	26 (159.9772)	15 (166.2628)	36 (147.3716)
Aug 9, 2013	Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show Franklin, NC	31 / 49 (657.6000)	43 (157.1200)	21 (169.1200)	26 (166.2628)	24 (165.0972)
Jul 11, 2013	SC Festival of Discovery Greenwood, SC	40 / 78 (643.2344)	35 (163.9772)	18 (167.3944)	43 (158.8000)	61 (153.0628)

Nards Backyard BBQ

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 (11 found in their record)

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

The metronome

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)