Hill Billy BBQ

At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)

Power ranking

#1548

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1561

peak 1600 · rated over 29 contests ⓘ

Best runs

straight top-10s

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-06-14

latest 2025-05-16

Best ToY finish

#379

Master 2016

Grand champs

1 reserve

Category wins

10 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 29 contests

Avg finish

top 45%

overall standings

Best overall

681.6456 / 720

Master · Grill Games

Perfect 180s

Current form

638.11 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 647.23 (-9.12)

Walk rate

62%

contests with a top-10 call

Top-10 streak

best run (overall)

Best single call

178.2972

Chicken · Grill Games

Consistency

±24.14

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 162.81 · weakest Brisket (160.00)

Road miles

10,679

mi across 29 mapped stops · furthest 1783 mi

Schedule strength

39%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1551)

Purse competed for

$29K

listed at 2 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

GCs in 2 state-championship entries

Master avg

647.23 / 720

29 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (11 found in this team's record)

Each card leads with the number that made it a story — read straight out of their results, no editorialising.

They almost always walk

62% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 18 of 29 contests

A top-10 category call in 62% of their 29 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

681.6456 career-best overall

94.7% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 681.6456 at Grill Games — 94.7% of a perfect 720.

Master
2014-08-22

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

A FINE SWINE has finished one call ahead of Hill Billy BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

17–2 behind in the head-to-head

TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI ahead in 89% of their meetings

TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI has come out ahead in 17 of their 19 shared contests.

A strong matchup

13–4 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 76% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of FOX RIVER BBQ in 13 of their 17 shared contests.

The comeback

6 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 6 years, then back at Bloomin' BBQ Music & Food Festival (2025-05-16).

last seen 2019-05-25
back 2025-05-16

Chicken nemesis

13 of 19 shared chicken entries lost

TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI ahead 68% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI has out-cooked them in 13 of 19 shared chicken entries.

Built for the big stage

Top 38% average finish in large fields

Field size changes the story: they average a top 38% finish in large fields against top 55% in small ones.

Large (40+): top 38% (9)
Small (<20 teams): top 55% (4)

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE has landed one call behind them 2 times.

An August team

Top 34% average finish in August

Something about August: average finish in the top 34% across 4 contests, versus top 45% the rest of the year.

4 August contests
top 45% the rest of the year

The long haul

10,679 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 10,679 miles across 29 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 1,783 miles to *BBQ Blues & Brews on the Bay(JUDGES FULL).

29 mapped stops
furthest 1,783 mi

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The nearest teams in the power rankings, with a different reason on each card — six teams on one rating are rarely on it for the same reason. Rating decides who makes the list; where teams tie on it, the ones this team has actually cooked against come first, then teams at a similar point in their own career. KCBS doesn’t publish where a team is from, so nothing here is inferred from geography.

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

Darty-Q

#1554 of the rated field

1561 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 33
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 18%
Peak: 1577

No shared contest yet.

Careers of much the same size, 33 contests to 29, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 28 contests
last seen 2025-05-16

⚔ Head-to-head

MILLER'S BARNYARD BARBEQUE

#1545 of the rated field

1561 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 31
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 16%
Peak: 1563

No shared contest yet.

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 31 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 31 contests
last seen 2019-07-05

⚔ Head-to-head

Smoke Busters

#1552 of the rated field

1561 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 28
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 32%
Peak: 1584

No shared contest yet.

Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 28 contests, alongside a 32% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 26 contests
last seen 2026-05-29

⚔ Head-to-head

TEXAS WARPIG BBQ

#1550 of the rated field

1561 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 38
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1580

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 33 contests
last seen 2025-11-05

⚔ Head-to-head

Blue Ribbon BBQ NC

#1547 of the rated field

1561 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 26
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 31%
Peak: 1591

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 25 contests
last seen 2024-05-17

⚔ Head-to-head

EVIL MONKEY BBQ

#1553 of the rated field

1561 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 34
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 21%
Peak: 1591

No shared contest yet.

Their last contest in the data was back in 2021, 4 years before Hill Billy BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 34 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI	19	2	17	11%	⚔ compare
FOX RIVER BBQ	17	13	4	76%	⚔ compare
5 FINGER BBQ	17	7	10	41%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ	17	5	12	29%	⚔ compare
BIG "E" BBQ	15	5	10	33%	⚔ compare
Freeman Brothers BBQ	14	9	5	64%	⚔ compare
CRASH TEST SMOKERS	14	6	8	43%	⚔ compare
T-MAC SMOKIN	14	5	9	36%	⚔ compare
LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW	13	10	3	77%	⚔ compare
CHEFS GONE GRILLIN	13	9	4	69%	⚔ compare
FAT ANDY'S BBQ	13	8	5	62%	⚔ compare
TOPPGATOR BBQ	12	12	0	100%	⚔ compare
Risky Brisket	12	6	6	50%	⚔ compare
QUAU	12	5	7	42%	⚔ compare
43RD PARALLEL BBQ	11	9	2	82%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	29	8	0	2	178.2972	144.5144	162.81	top 54%
Pork Ribs	29	11	1	2	176.0000	145.1312	162.60	top 41%
Pork	29	12	0	5	175.4628	141.7028	161.82	top 48%
Brisket	29	10	0	1	172.0000	138.2628	160.00	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 state / province

Where	Contests	Avg finish
WI	23	top 35%
WY	3	top 81%
OR	2	top 81%
TN	1	top 97%

By contest size

Field	Contests	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	4	top 55%
Medium (20–39)	16	top 47%
Large (40+)	9	top 38%

Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
BBQ, Blues & Brews on the Bay	2	25	top 81%	2019-05-25
Grillin' in Grafton	2	11	top 38%	2016-07-01
BBQ 4 ASTOP	2	5	top 22%	2016-05-20
Puckaway Pigfest	2	9	top 36%	2015-09-11
Best of the West BBQ Fest	2	16	top 72%	2015-08-28
Grill Games	2	2	top 22%	2015-08-28
Pig in the Park	2	5	top 37%	2014-06-20

The story so far (18 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 11.9 yrs 2013-06-14 → 2025-05-16

Busiest season 2016 9 contests

Contests a season 4.1 across 7 seasons in the data

Cooks most in WI 23 of 29 contests · 4 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 22 7 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 29 entries · 0 wins · 8 calls

Strongest meat Chicken averages 162.81 · weakest Brisket (160.00)

Walk rate 62% a top-10 call in 18 of 29 contests

Overall top-10 rate 38% 11 of 29 contests

Best top-10 run 3 straight contests

Master average 647.23 out of 720 · 29 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 387 573–422 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 10,679 29 mapped stops · furthest 1,783 mi

Schedule strength 1551 average field rating faced — tougher than 39% of rated contests

Purse competed for $28,560 listed at 2 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships 0 from 2 state-championship entries

Longest layoff 6 yrs 2019-05-25 → 2025-05-16

Power rating 1561 peak 1600 · #1548 of 6,413 rated

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

2013
Jun 14 First tracked contest Pig in the Park
2014
Jun 13 First call Hog and Steer Barbecue Competition & Festival
Jun 13 First overall top-10 Hog and Steer Barbecue Competition & Festival
Jun 13 First overall podium Hog and Steer Barbecue Competition & Festival
Jun 13 First overall past 90% of a perfect score659.9772 Hog and Steer Barbecue Competition & Festival
Aug 22 First Reserve Championship Grill Games
Aug 22 Career-best overall score681.6456 Grill Games
2015
May 16 10th tracked contest Madison Magazine BBQ Festival
Aug 28 Career-best single call (Chicken)178.2972 Grill Games
2016
Jul 29 First category win (Pork Ribs) Birdies Barnyard BBQ
Jul 29 25th tracked contest Birdies Barnyard BBQ
Aug 26 Peak power rating (1600) 5th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque
2025
May 16 Most recent contest Bloomin' BBQ Music & Food Festival

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+15.3	Grill Games	2014-08-22
+14.6	Hog and Steer Barbecue Competition & Festival	2014-06-13
+12.2	Pig in the Park	2014-06-20
+12.1	Madison Magazine BBQ Festival	2015-05-16
+11.8	Birdies Barnyard BBQ	2016-07-29

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-15.3	*BBQ Blues & Brews on the Bay(JUDGES FULL)	2018-05-26
-15.3	Best of the West BBQ Fest	2013-09-06
-13.5	Bloomin' BBQ Music & Food Festival	2025-05-16
-9.6	BBQ, Blues & Brews on the Bay	2019-05-25
-9.5	Best of the West BBQ Fest	2014-09-05

Category scores over time

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Team of the Year rank by season

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 97%	83.5%	83.5%
2019	1	0	0	100%	top 74%	88%	88%
2018	1	0	0	0%	top 89%	85.9%	85.9%
2016	9	3	1	67%	top 38%	93.6%	91.7%
2015	8	5	0	75%	top 37%	93%	90.8%
2014	7	3	0	71%	top 36%	94.7%	89.8%
2013	2	0	0	0%	top 78%	86.2%	84.6%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2025-05-16	Bloomin' BBQ Music & Food Festival 🏅 Sevierville, TN	32 / 33 (600.9824)	32 (147.3484)	31 (150.2512)	31 (155.4400)	31 (147.9428)
2019-05-25	BBQ, Blues & Brews on the Bay 🏅 North Bend, OR	25 / 34 (633.7372)	32 (153.7372)	9 (167.4628)	25 (155.4400)	20 (157.0972)
2018-05-26	*BBQ Blues & Brews on the Bay(JUDGES FULL) North Bend, OR	31 / 35 (618.7660)	32 (154.8572)	20 (161.1316)	27 (154.2628)	34 (148.5144)
2016-08-26	5th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque Washington Island, WI	13 / 42 (663.3828)	34 (158.2284)	7 (170.8228)	2 (174.3316)	24 (160.0000)
2016-07-29	Birdies Barnyard BBQ Kohler, WI	3 / 17 (673.6684)	5 (169.7028)	1 (176.0000)	3 (166.8456)	7 (161.1200)
2016-07-09	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-2nd Heat Green Bay, WI	33 / 55 (651.8740)	50 (158.2284)	16 (168.5372)	36 (163.3828)	34 (161.7256)
2016-07-08	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-1st Heat Green Bay, WI	30 / 66 (662.8000)	36 (165.6800)	17 (166.2972)	8 (172.0228)	48 (158.8000)
2016-07-01	Grillin' in Grafton Grafton, WI	12 / 29 (653.0056)	5 (169.6916)	2 (167.4172)	15 (161.1084)	24 (154.7884)
2016-06-17	Hog and Steer Barbecue Competition and Festival Oconomowoc, WI	10 / 18 (652.4456)	13 (162.2400)	16 (154.2400)	2 (170.2628)	10 (165.7028)
2016-05-20	BBQ 4 ASTOP Fond du Lac, WI	5 / 28 (670.8112)	17 (163.9884)	5 (167.3828)	3 (175.4628)	11 (163.9772)
2016-04-30	Masters in May- The Classic Appleton, WI	20 / 58 (661.5996)	40 (161.6340)	12 (170.8228)	24 (163.4400)	24 (165.7028)
2016-04-29	Masters in May Appleton, WI	25 / 59 (652.4572)	13 (168.5600)	22 (165.6800)	34 (159.9544)	38 (158.2628)
2015-09-11	Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI	9 / 33 (647.3372)	19 (156.5144)	10 (162.2744)	8 (163.4400)	9 (165.1084)
2015-08-28	Best of the West BBQ Fest Sheridan, WY	16 / 25 (623.9776)	13 (165.0972)	11 (163.9888)	19 (149.1428)	23 (145.7488)
2015-08-28	Grill Games Kenosha, WI	19 / 49 (650.1824)	2 (178.2972)	35 (152.5600)	32 (158.7884)	22 (160.5368)
2015-07-31	Badger Brews & Que Manitowoc, WI	9 / 30 (662.1712)	4 (171.4056)	7 (166.2628)	25 (155.3828)	5 (169.1200)
2015-07-10	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay Green Bay, WI	33 / 80 (653.0056)	32 (163.9312)	41 (160.5716)	37 (162.2628)	22 (166.2400)
2015-06-12	3rd Annual Hog & Steer Barbecue Competition and Festival Oconomowoc, WI	8 / 17 (669.5540)	4 (174.2628)	13 (158.2172)	6 (166.8112)	5 (170.2628)
2015-05-29	BBQ 4 ASTOP Fond du Lac, WI	6 / 23 (660.5256)	8 (170.2628)	5 (165.6800)	20 (154.8800)	5 (169.7028)
2015-05-16	Madison Magazine BBQ Festival Madison, WI	6 / 29 (665.6688)	2 (173.1428)	12 (164.5372)	10 (165.6916)	13 (162.2972)
2014-09-05	Best of the West BBQ Fest Sheridan, WY	20 / 25 (575.9080)	19 (144.5144)	20 (145.1312)	20 (141.7028)	21 (144.5596)
2014-09-05	Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI	18 / 40 (652.5376)	15 (166.8688)	17 (161.6916)	22 (161.0972)	18 (162.8800)
2014-08-22	Grill Games Kenosha, WI	2 / 47 (681.6456)	20 (166.8456)	7 (169.6800)	5 (173.1200)	7 (172.0000)
2014-07-11	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Madison, WI	17 / 29 (643.2912)	22 (159.4056)	17 (160.5372)	10 (165.6684)	15 (157.6800)
2014-06-27	Grillin' in Grafton Grafton, WI	11 / 32 (650.7312)	24 (155.3484)	4 (168.5600)	18 (158.8228)	4 (168.0000)
2014-06-20	Pig in the Park Whitewater, WI	5 / 26 (659.9544)	7 (167.9772)	12 (159.3944)	2 (169.1428)	8 (163.4400)
2014-06-13	Hog and Steer Barbecue Competition & Festival Oconomowoc, WI	3 / 22 (659.9772)	15 (161.1200)	8 (160.5372)	4 (167.4172)	2 (170.9028)
2013-09-06	Best of the West BBQ Fest Sheridan, WY	15 / 15 (597.0856)	15 (150.8572)	12 (153.7028)	14 (154.2628)	14 (138.2628)
2013-06-14	Pig in the Park Whitewater, WI	16 / 29 (620.5716)	13 (161.7144)	12 (156.0002)	21 (153.1426)	18 (149.7144)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)

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
2016 ↗	Master	#379 (1017 pts)	#439 (902 pts)	#235 (1357 pts)	#215 (1392 pts)	#534 (757 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#516 (733 pts)	#396 (948 pts)	#561 (688 pts)	#683 (558 pts)	#461 (813 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#745 (466 pts)	#1158 (281 pts)	#950 (376 pts)	#899 (406 pts)	#895 (381 pts)