Perfect scores on the board
2
perfect 180s
2 perfect 180s in the data — every judge at the table handing back a nine, across 2 different meats.
- Pork Ribs ×1
- Brisket ×1
HIGH DESERT HOLY SMOKE BBQ
HIGH DESERT HOLY SMOKE BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 47 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2026. They have won 1 Grand Championship, at the Bliss Brews & Que (2013). They are ranked #1302 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “High Desert Holy SmokeBBQ”.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1579
peak 1579 · rated over 46 contests1 invitational or side-series contest not counted
Contests
47
in the data
First seen
Mar 15, 2013
latest Aug 21, 2026 · 13.4 years on the trail
Grand champs
1
0 reserve · wins it all 2% of the time
Category wins
9
15 podiums
Overall top-10s
10
21% of 47 contests
Best top-10 run
2
straight overall top-10s
Avg finish
top 50%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
2 🔥
Current form
682.41 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 661.45 (+20.96)
Walk rate
62%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±18.56
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 166.39 · weakest Brisket (164.24)
Road miles
17,536
across 47 mapped stops · furthest 1,098 mi
Schedule strength
52%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1568)
Purse competed for
$261K
listed at 22 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 23 state-championship entries
Master avg
661.45 / 720
47 Master contests · 1 GC
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #263 (736 pts) | #373 (571 pts) | #321 (731 pts) | #286 (716 pts) | #185 (951 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #390 (539 pts) | #373 (624 pts) | #645 (294 pts) | #482 (414 pts) | #338 (689 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #627 (264 pts) | #617 (304 pts) | #798 (209 pts) | #739 (214 pts) | #424 (514 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #1209 (70 pts) | #1282 (70 pts) | #1368 (75 pts) | #1082 (115 pts) | #1249 (70 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #578 (332 pts) | #613 (327 pts) | #662 (327 pts) | #653 (297 pts) | #545 (387 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #607 (260 pts) | #787 (190 pts) | #559 (350 pts) | #756 (190 pts) | #457 (430 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #1316 (177 pts) | #1237 (212 pts) | #1416 (172 pts) | #1334 (182 pts) | #1329 (182 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #1096 (285 pts) | #946 (405 pts) | #952 (400 pts) | #1200 (270 pts) | #1199 (260 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #626 (618 pts) | #528 (768 pts) | #570 (723 pts) | #629 (638 pts) | #685 (583 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #716 (494 pts) | #749 (494 pts) | #689 (554 pts) | #713 (529 pts) | #1008 (329 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #620 (599 pts) | #609 (634 pts) | #659 (579 pts) | #547 (709 pts) | #603 (609 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #656 (473 pts) | #1052 (293 pts) | #866 (368 pts) | #715 (468 pts) | #724 (453 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to HIGH DESERT HOLY SMOKE BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
39 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#1,301 of the rated field
- Contests
- 21
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 38%
- Peak
- 1598
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to HIGH DESERT HOLY SMOKE BBQ)
One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team HIGH DESERT HOLY SMOKE BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-head#1,303 of the rated field
- Contests
- 14
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 29%
- Peak
- 1579
1–5 in 6 shared contests (17% to HIGH DESERT HOLY SMOKE BBQ)
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 12 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-head#1,298 of the rated field
- Contests
- 44
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 23%
- Peak
- 1586
Careers of much the same size, 44 contests to 47, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careers#1,306 of the rated field
- Contests
- 44
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 18%
- Peak
- 1590
Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 7 years before HIGH DESERT HOLY SMOKE BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#1,297 of the rated field
- Contests
- 62
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 21%
- Peak
- 1638
62 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 21% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careers#1,296 of the rated field
- Contests
- 83
- GCs
- 2
- Top-10s
- 20%
- Peak
- 1630
Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POPPA PIG AND PORKCHOP | 25 | 9 | 16 | 36% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN TRIGGERS | 20 | 3 | 17 | 15% | ⚔ compare |
| DJS SMOKIN' BBQ | 18 | 9 | 9 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | 18 | 0 | 18 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| 4 LEGS UP BBQ | 16 | 1 | 15 | 6% | ⚔ compare |
| KNIFE PORK AND SPOON | 15 | 0 | 15 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | 14 | 3 | 11 | 21% | ⚔ compare |
| LA PASADITA | 13 | 5 | 8 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| PIG IN A PIT | 12 | 12 | 0 | 100% | ⚔ compare |
| SHO DAWG BBQ | 12 | 10 | 2 | 83% | ⚔ compare |
| ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ | 12 | 9 | 3 | 75% | ⚔ compare |
| BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | 12 | 8 | 4 | 67% | ⚔ compare |
| SUNDANCER BBQ | 12 | 2 | 10 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| Brinkerhoff BBQ | 11 | 3 | 8 | 27% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 47 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 178.8572 | 151.4286 | 166.39 | top 51% |
| Pork Ribs | 47 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 180 🔥 | 149.6572 | 165.74 | top 52% |
| Pork | 47 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 177.7028 | 149.1084 | 165.09 | top 52% |
| Brisket | 47 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 180 🔥 | 147.9540 | 164.24 | top 47% |
“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) | 1 | 0 | top 19% |
| Medium (20–39) | 29 | 1 | top 50% |
| Large (40+) | 17 | 0 | top 52% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild West BBQ Cook-Off | 6 | 4 | 0 | top 47% | Apr 24, 2026 |
| Bliss Brews & Que | 4 | 1 | 1 | top 28% | Oct 7, 2016 |
| Smokin On The Pecos (Day 2) | 3 | 4 | 0 | top 39% | Jun 23, 2018 |
| Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship | 2 | 4 | 0 | top 14% | Aug 21, 2026 |
| Smokin' On The Pecos | 2 | 17 | 0 | top 46% | Jun 24, 2016 |
| Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | 2 | 10 | 0 | top 37% | Mar 18, 2016 |
| Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship | 2 | 16 | 0 | top 52% | Jul 3, 2015 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2014
7 contests
Contests a season
3.6
across 13 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
NM
15 of 47 contests · 9 states in all
Contests visited
33
7 of them more than once
First title
Oct 11, 2013
Bliss Brews & Que
Opponents faced
1,275
finished ahead 1,027 times, behind 1,358
Longest layoff
1.6 yrs
Aug 2, 2019 → Mar 19, 2021
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20263 milestones
- First perfect 180 (Pork Ribs) Luna County Heritage Days Festival
- Peak power rating (1579) Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship
- Most recent contest Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship
20251 milestone
- Career-best overall score699.4060 Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship
20181 milestone
- 25th tracked contest Smokin On The Pecos (Day 2)
20141 milestone
- 10th tracked contest Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY)
20138 milestones
- First tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First call Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First category win (Pork) Bliss Brews & Que
- First overall top-10 Bliss Brews & Que
- First overall podium Bliss Brews & Que
- First Grand Championship Bliss Brews & Que
- First multi-meat day Bliss Brews & Que
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score667.3372 Bliss Brews & Que
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +16.2 | Bliss Brews & Que | Oct 11, 2013 |
| +15.4 | Wild West BBQ Cook-Off | Apr 25, 2025 |
| +14.4 | Smokin' On The Pecos | Jun 26, 2015 |
| +14.2 | Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship | Aug 15, 2025 |
| +11.6 | Luna County Heritage Days Festival | May 15, 2026 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -10.5 | The All American Comeback BBQ, Bourbon, & Bands | May 2, 2025 |
| -10.1 | Firelake BBQ Cook Off-Day 1 | Mar 19, 2021 |
| -9.6 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) | Oct 24, 2014 |
| -9.4 | BBQ & Brew Festival | Feb 27, 2026 |
| -7.3 | 35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open | Oct 2, 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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 100% | top 40% | 96.3% | 94.8% |
| 2025 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 40% | top 47% | 97.1% | 94.7% |
| 2024 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 67% | top 61% | 93.5% | 92.8% |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 73% | 90.7% | 90.7% |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 75% | top 53% | 95.3% | 93.2% |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67% | top 61% | 93.1% | 91.2% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 65% | 91.3% | 91.3% |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 54% | 93.6% | 92.8% |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25% | top 60% | 91.7% | 90.7% |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100% | top 33% | 93.7% | 92.2% |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 75% | top 37% | 93.5% | 89.9% |
| 2014 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43% | top 59% | 91.7% | 89.7% |
| 2013 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 67% | top 39% | 92.7% | 88.9% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 2026 | Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship 🏅 Lubbock, TX | 11 / 51 (693.0512) | 37 (163.9428) | 25 (171.4056) | 7 (177.7028) | 1 (180) |
| May 23, 2026 | Best Dam BBQ 🏅 Boulder City, NV | 15 / 33 (688.5144) | 11 (174.8572) | 23 (168.5372) | 21 (168.5600) | 5 (176.5600) |
| May 15, 2026 | Luna County Heritage Days Festival 🏅 Deming, NM | 3 / 16 (686.7428) | 9 (166.2400) | 1 (180) | 4 (174.2744) | 8 (166.2284) |
| Apr 24, 2026 | Wild West BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Lamar, CO | 7 / 27 (671.3032) | 8 (171.9772) | 20 (158.2288) | 7 (172.5600) | 8 (168.5372) |
| Feb 27, 2026 | BBQ & Brew Festival 🏅 Yuma, AZ | 22 / 25 (672.4344) | 25 (158.2172) | 4 (177.7144) | 22 (166.8228) | 12 (169.6800) |
| Nov 21, 2025 | BBQ Jackpot 🏅 Las Vegas, NV | 45 / 90 (681.6460) | 51 (169.6800) | 70 (165.7032) | 31 (172) | 20 (174.2628) |
| Aug 15, 2025 | Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship 🏅 Lubbock, TX | 4 / 55 (699.4060) | 1 (178.8572) | 18 (171.9772) | 15 (172.0116) | 3 (176.5600) |
| May 2, 2025 | The All American Comeback BBQ, Bourbon, & Bands Ruidoso Downs, NM | 27 / 30 (671.3488) | 28 (166.8344) | 26 (166.2628) | 11 (174.8572) | 25 (163.3944) |
| Apr 25, 2025 | Wild West BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Lamar, CO | 4 / 30 (686.2400) | 5 (174.2972) | 19 (165.6800) | 12 (169.6800) | 1 (176.5828) |
| Feb 21, 2025 | Best in the Southwest 🏅 Yuma, AZ | 22 / 29 (670.1832) | 15 (170.8344) | 24 (163.9428) | 24 (165.1316) | 12 (170.2744) |
| Sep 6, 2024 | Veterans of Foreign Wars Colorado KCBS Pitmaster BBQ Contest 🏅 Castle Rock, CO | 22 / 36 (668.9944) | 14 (171.9772) | 25 (165.0972) | 32 (161.0972) | 13 (170.8228) |
| Jun 28, 2024 | The Art of Barbeque 🏅 Sterling, CO | 12 / 25 (672.9712) | 9 (170.8112) | 16 (167.3828) | 17 (165.0972) | 12 (169.6800) |
| May 10, 2024 | Wild West BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Lamar, CO | 21 / 29 (661.5312) | 26 (161.6456) | 25 (158.8000) | 23 (163.9428) | 1 (177.1428) |
| May 12, 2023 | Wild West BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Lamar, CO | 22 / 30 (652.9944) | 22 (162.8344) | 21 (162.2400) | 13 (169.1200) | 22 (158.8000) |
| Sep 30, 2022 | 2022 Mazatzal Grill Masters BBQ Competition & Testicle Festival 🏅 Payson, AZ | 12 / 21 (677.0172) | 17 (166.8228) | 17 (166.2516) | 14 (168.5256) | 4 (175.4172) |
| Sep 9, 2022 | Western Legends BBQ Contest 🏅 Kanab, UT | 23 / 31 (658.1140) | 21 (165.6800) | 13 (166.8228) | 20 (167.3712) | 27 (158.2400) |
| Aug 5, 2022 | Beat the Heat BBQ & Brews 🏅 Alamosa, CO | 8 / 35 (686.2284) | 7 (170.8456) | 12 (172.5600) | 14 (170.8572) | 10 (171.9656) |
| May 6, 2022 | Wild West BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Lamar, CO | 19 / 33 (663.2800) | 1 (175.4056) | 28 (156.5488) | 22 (160.5028) | 7 (170.8228) |
| Aug 6, 2021 | SLV Beat the Heat BBQ 🏅 Alamosa, CO | 20 / 42 (670.1484) | 33 (163.9888) | 21 (167.3828) | 23 (167.9656) | 10 (170.8112) |
| May 7, 2021 | Wild West BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Lamar, CO | 14 / 35 (658.2976) | 23 (162.3088) | 4 (171.4516) | 32 (149.1200) | 3 (175.4172) |
| Mar 19, 2021 | Firelake BBQ Cook Off-Day 1 Shawnee, OK | 54 / 56 (641.4856) | 55 (157.6800) | 53 (158.2172) | 27 (169.6684) | 52 (155.9200) |
| Aug 2, 2019 | San Luis Valley Beat the Heat BBQ 🏅 Alamosa, CO | 35 / 54 (657.0172) | 34 (165.6800) | 41 (161.6572) | 32 (164) | 30 (165.6800) |
| Jun 23, 2018 | Smokin On The Pecos (Day 2) Artesia, NM | 20 / 32 (674.1712) | 25 (165.6800) | 22 (166.8228) | 12 (174.2628) | 18 (167.4056) |
| Jun 22, 2018 | Smokin On The Pecos (Day 1) Artesia, NM | 18 / 39 (661.5656) | 8 (171.9772) | 17 (166.8228) | 29 (158.2400) | 19 (164.5256) |
| Jun 24, 2017 | Smokin On The Pecos-Doubleheader-Day 2 Artesia, NM | 23 / 37 (659.8856) | 30 (162.8344) | 11 (173.1428) | 29 (163.3828) | 25 (160.5256) |
| Jun 23, 2017 | Smokin On The Pecos-Doubleheader-Day 1 Artesia, NM | 25 / 43 (646.1708) | 12 (169.6912) | 28 (159.3484) | 24 (161.7028) | 31 (155.4284) |
| May 26, 2017 | The Wind Rider Music & BBQ Festival (WFC QUALIFIER) Ruidoso, NM | 23 / 36 (650.7424) | 24 (163.4056) | 20 (165.6684) | 20 (165.1428) | 30 (156.5256) |
| May 5, 2017 | City of Show Low's 5th Annual BBQ Throwdown Show Low, AZ | 20 / 36 (656.4340) | 8 (174.8456) | 12 (168.5372) | 29 (153.0856) | 21 (159.9656) |
| Oct 7, 2016 | Bliss Brews & Que Ft. Bliss, TX | 11 / 32 (654.1712) | 4 (173.7028) | 4 (170.8344) | 18 (154.8000) | 17 (154.8340) |
| Sep 9, 2016 | Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge Grand Junction, CO | 17 / 49 (667.3488) | 6 (173.7144) | 41 (155.9772) | 1 (177.1544) | 32 (160.5028) |
| Jul 2, 2016 | 13th Annual Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship 🏅 Rio Rancho, NM | 6 / 31 (670.2060) | 13 (164.5372) | 6 (170.8460) | 16 (161.6800) | 2 (173.1428) |
| Jun 24, 2016 | Smokin' On The Pecos Artesia, NM | 17 / 44 (653.6572) | 6 (174.8572) | 8 (174.2628) | 31 (150.8800) | 32 (153.6572) |
| Mar 18, 2016 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Tucson, AZ | 12 / 30 (674.8800) | 17 (167.4172) | 10 (170.8456) | 16 (169.7372) | 14 (166.8800) |
| Oct 9, 2015 | Bliss, Brews & Que Fort Bliss, TX | 18 / 40 (623.9424) | 23 (155.4172) | 17 (157.7028) | 9 (162.8684) | 27 (147.9540) |
| Jul 3, 2015 | Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship 🏅 Rio Rancho, NM | 27 / 44 (619.8628) | 27 (154.2628) | 24 (158.2744) | 33 (150.2400) | 17 (157.0856) |
| Jun 26, 2015 | Smokin' On The Pecos Artesia, NM | 4 / 48 (671.4172) | 3 (172.0116) | 4 (175.4056) | 3 (171.4516) | 28 (152.5484) |
| Mar 20, 2015 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Tucson, AZ | 10 / 29 (673.0972) | 10 (172) | 5 (173.7144) | 18 (163.4056) | 14 (163.9772) |
| Oct 24, 2014 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) Lynchburg, TN | 85 / 92 (632.9940) | 78 (158.2284) | 89 (149.6572) | 25 (170.2512) | 78 (154.8572) |
| Oct 10, 2014 | Bliss, Brews & Que Fort Bliss, TX | 8 / 26 (647.3144) | 6 (165.6800) | 21 (152.5144) | 2 (170.2628) | 8 (158.8572) |
| Oct 2, 2014 | 35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO | 127 / 165 (657.1428) | 115 (165.1428) | 74 (168.0344) | 101 (166.8228) | 148 (157.1428) |
| Oct 2, 2014 | 35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO | 418 / 552 (630.6852) | 426 (158.1940) | 262 (164.5600) | 502 (149.1084) | 334 (158.8228) |
| Jul 4, 2014 | Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship 🏅 Rio Rancho, NM | 16 / 38 (649.1772) | 27 (157.1428) | 4 (173.7372) | 30 (152.5600) | 13 (165.7372) |
| Jun 27, 2014 | Smokin' On The Pecos Artesia, NM | 32 / 60 (645.0512) | 35 (160.5600) | 26 (166.2972) | 26 (165.1200) | 46 (153.0740) |
| Apr 18, 2014 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Denver, CO | 12 / 30 (659.9540) | 5 (170.2856) | 22 (158.8572) | 6 (170.8456) | 13 (159.9656) |
| Oct 11, 2013 | Bliss Brews & Que Fort Bliss, TX | 1 / 26 (667.3372) | 10 (165.1200) | 15 (158.8000) | 1 (173.1544) | 1 (170.2628) |
| Jul 5, 2013 | Rio Rancho NM 10th Annual 2013 Pork & Brew State BBQ Championship Rio Rancho, NM | 20 / 42 (619.9998) | 29 (151.4286) | 19 (158.8572) | 18 (159.4282) | 23 (150.2858) |
| Mar 15, 2013 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Albuquerque, NM | 13 / 20 (632.0002) | 14 (160.5712) | 5 (166.2860) | 16 (152.5714) | 14 (152.5716) |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.