PASSIONS OF THE PIT

PASSIONS OF THE PIT is a competition barbecue team with 44 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2024. Their best overall finish is 7th of 53 at the Battle of the Brisket (2013). They are ranked #2628 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#2,628

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1516

peak 1571 · rated over 44 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

May 10, 2013

latest Sep 27, 2024 · 11.4 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#540

Master 2014 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

4 podiums

Overall top-10s

2% of 44 contests

Avg finish

top 50%

overall standings

Best overall

674.2056 / 720

Master · Wheels 'N' Squeels BBQ Challenge

Perfect 180s

Current form

652.45 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 645.91 (+6.54)

Walk rate

25%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176.5944

Pork Ribs · Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship

Consistency

±29.74

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 166.62 · weakest Brisket (155.35)

Road miles

1,179

across 44 mapped stops · furthest 44 mi

Schedule strength

27%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1536)

Purse competed for

$142K

listed at 13 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 23 state-championship entries

Master avg

645.91 / 720

44 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (10 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

674.2056 career-best overall

93.6% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 674.2056 at Wheels 'N' Squeels BBQ Challenge — 93.6% of a perfect 720.

Master
Aug 1, 2013

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

EAST MEATS WEST has finished one call ahead of PASSIONS OF THE PIT 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2013 their best year

2013 was the year it came together: 5 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 31%.

5 contests
1 overall top-10
0 category wins
average top 31%

A tough matchup

25–2 behind in the head-to-head

BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE ahead in 93% of their meetings

BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE has come out ahead in 25 of their 27 shared contests.

The weak link

−11.3 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 11.27 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 7% of the time against 16%.

Brisket avg 155.35
Chicken avg 166.62
3 calls in 44 entries

A strong matchup

16–3 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 84% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of This is Nice in 16 of their 19 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

22 of 25 shared chicken entries lost

913 BBQ ahead 88% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, 913 BBQ has out-cooked them in 22 of 25 shared chicken entries.

Show 3 more storylines

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

Five Guys and a Grill has landed one call behind them 2 times.

A June team

Top 39% average finish in June

Something about June: average finish in the top 39% across 15 contests, versus top 50% the rest of the year.

15 June contests
top 50% the rest of the year

A standing appointment

6 years running at one contest

They've cooked Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest every year from 2016 to 2021 — the contest they never miss.

6 visits in all
best finish 30th

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
2024 ↗	Master	#878 (120 pts)	#806 (180 pts)	#900 (160 pts)	#938 (120 pts)	#922 (120 pts)
2023 ↗	Master	#938 (120 pts)	#1011 (120 pts)	#1118 (120 pts)	#989 (120 pts)	#989 (120 pts)
2022 ↗	Master	#986 (120 pts)	#868 (180 pts)	#978 (165 pts)	#1046 (120 pts)	#1021 (120 pts)
2021 ↗	Master	#752 (180 pts)	#758 (205 pts)	#833 (180 pts)	#766 (185 pts)	#782 (180 pts)
2020 ↗	Master	#856 (60 pts)	#896 (60 pts)	#913 (60 pts)	#883 (65 pts)	#883 (60 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#1471 (120 pts)	#1593 (120 pts)	#1542 (125 pts)	#1578 (120 pts)	#1536 (120 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#954 (300 pts)	#941 (340 pts)	#927 (355 pts)	#930 (345 pts)	#994 (300 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1064 (300 pts)	#804 (490 pts)	#1100 (315 pts)	#1131 (300 pts)	#1103 (300 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1041 (308 pts)	#939 (388 pts)	#769 (518 pts)	#956 (393 pts)	#1301 (238 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1075 (275 pts)	#1476 (180 pts)	#874 (410 pts)	#1077 (310 pts)	#1219 (240 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#540 (707 pts)	#413 (912 pts)	#517 (762 pts)	#560 (697 pts)	#417 (912 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#541 (583 pts)	#517 (628 pts)	#466 (698 pts)	#720 (463 pts)	#756 (428 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to PASSIONS OF THE PIT, 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.

F.O.M.S.B.

#2,636 of the rated field

1515 power rating

Contests: 53
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1529

6–10 in 16 shared contests (38% to PASSIONS OF THE PIT)

These two have cooked 16 of the same contests — F.O.M.S.B. ahead 10–6 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 53 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

Rubbin Butts Bone In

#2,618 of the rated field

1516 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1518

3–7 in 10 shared contests (30% to PASSIONS OF THE PIT)

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 15 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Jun 27, 2025

⚔ Head-to-head

SMOKIN HOGS BBQ

#2,619 of the rated field

1516 power rating

Contests: 5
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 20%
Peak: 1526

2–2 in 4 shared contests (50% to PASSIONS OF THE PIT)

Their last contest in the data was back in 2021, 3 years before PASSIONS OF THE PIT's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 5 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

Hot Rod's BBQ

#2,617 of the rated field

1516 power rating

Contests: 42
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 10%
Peak: 1533

Careers of much the same size, 42 contests to 44, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 42 contests
last seen Jul 31, 2020

⚔ Compare careers

MYA&DJ'S BBQ

#2,616 of the rated field

1516 power rating

Contests: 28
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 18%
Peak: 1516

28 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 18% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 28 contests
last seen Aug 7, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Chucho Q

#2,639 of the rated field

1515 power rating

Contests: 21
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 14%
Peak: 1527

Level with PASSIONS OF THE PIT on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 20 contests
last seen Jul 24, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE	27	2	25	7%	⚔ compare
913 BBQ	26	2	24	8%	⚔ compare
KC Rib doctor	22	14	8	64%	⚔ compare
B & C SMOKERS	21	4	17	19%	⚔ compare
Four Men and A Pig	21	0	21	0%	⚔ compare
Dead Last BBQ	20	4	16	20%	⚔ compare
Fat&Dumb BBQ	20	2	18	10%	⚔ compare
This is Nice	19	16	3	84%	⚔ compare
Rub Me Tender Rub Me Sweet	19	9	10	47%	⚔ compare
HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB	19	4	15	21%	⚔ compare
HIGH i QUE	19	2	17	11%	⚔ compare
Big Fork BBQ	18	9	9	50%	⚔ compare
Griswold Grillers	17	11	6	65%	⚔ compare
No Butts About It	17	10	7	59%	⚔ compare
Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em	17	9	8	53%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	43	7	1	174.8456	156.5144	166.62	top 39%
Pork Ribs	44	6	3	176.5944	138.8460	164.69	top 42%
Pork	44	2	0	173.1200	146.2858	163.04	top 52%
Brisket	44	3	0	169.7372	140.4800	155.35	top 65%

“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
Medium (20–39)	2	0	top 41%
Large (40+)	42	0	top 50%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
KS	42	0	top 49%
MO	2	0	top 66%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship	6	23	top 48%	Sep 23, 2022
Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest	6	30	top 77%	Jul 9, 2021
Sertoma 48 BBQ	6	18	top 61%	May 4, 2018
The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship	4	52	top 43%	Jun 21, 2024
Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship	4	21	top 32%	Jun 24, 2016
Battle of the Brisket	3	7	top 26%	Sep 16, 2016
Shawnee Great Grillers	2	37	top 62%	Sep 27, 2024
Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship Barbeque	2	50	top 50%	Sep 21, 2018
Tonganoxie Days BBQ Blowout	2	16	top 36%	Jun 13, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2014 7 contests

Contests a season 3.7 across 12 seasons in the data

Most contests held in KS 42 of 44 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 18 9 of them more than once

Opponents faced 1,143 finished ahead 2,227 times, behind 1,802

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

20241 milestone

Sep 27 Most recent contest Shawnee Great Grillers

20171 milestone

Jul 14 25th tracked contest Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest

20151 milestone

Jun 5 Peak power rating (1571) 2015 Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest

20142 milestones

Aug 1 10th tracked contest Wheels 'N' Squeels BBQ Challenge
Sep 26 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)176.5944 Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship

20135 milestones

May 10 First tracked contest Sertoma 48 BBQ
Jun 7 First call Tonganoxie Days BBQ Blowout
Jun 7 First overall past 90% of a perfect score652.5714 Tonganoxie Days BBQ Blowout
Aug 1 Career-best overall score674.2056 Wheels 'N' Squeels BBQ Challenge
Sep 13 First overall top-10 Battle of the Brisket

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+11.9	Battle of the Brisket	Sep 13, 2013
+11.1	Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship	Jun 27, 2014
+10.8	Wheels 'N' Squeels BBQ Challenge	Aug 1, 2013
+10.8	Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship	Jun 23, 2017
+10.7	Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship	Jun 21, 2013

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-18.7	Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship	Sep 25, 2015
-10.4	The Grasshopper '18 (formerly Kansas 10x10) (JUDGES FULL)	May 11, 2018
-10.4	22nd Annual Platte City BBQ Cook Off at Basswood Resort	May 19, 2017
-8.2	Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest	Jul 14, 2017
-8	Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest	Jun 3, 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	Top-10s	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2024	2	0	0%	top 45%	91.3%	91.2%
2023	2	0	0%	top 61%	90.6%	89.7%
2022	2	0	0%	top 38%	92.1%	91.7%
2021	3	0	0%	top 59%	90.6%	89.4%
2020	1	0	0%	top 70%	91.6%	91.6%
2019	3	0	0%	top 54%	91.6%	90.2%
2018	5	0	0%	top 66%	91%	89.1%
2017	5	0	20%	top 61%	91.6%	89.2%
2016	5	0	40%	top 50%	91.7%	90.3%
2015	4	0	25%	top 58%	91.1%	83.8%
2014	7	0	71%	top 33%	92.5%	91.3%
2013	5	1	40%	top 31%	93.6%	90.9%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Sep 27, 2024	Shawnee Great Grillers 🏅 Shawnee, KS	37 / 73 (655.2800)	13 (174.2628)	46 (161.6800)	28 (170.2628)	66 (149.0744)
Jun 21, 2024	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	68 / 172 (657.6228)	59 (166.8456)	17 (172)	68 (166.2284)	132 (152.5488)
Sep 22, 2023	Shawnee Great Grillers 🏅 Shawnee, KS	54 / 73 (639.1768)	63 (157.0512)	25 (170.8112)	61 (156.5372)	55 (154.7772)
Jun 23, 2023	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	80 / 167 (652.5256)	47 (168)	139 (154.2628)	28 (173.1200)	105 (157.1428)
Sep 23, 2022	Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship 🏅 Shawnee, KS	40 / 87 (657.6344)	27 (170.2972)	16 (173.7372)	50 (163.3828)	73 (150.2172)
Jun 24, 2022	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	49 / 164 (663.3600)	13 (173.1772)	60 (165.7028)	96 (163.3944)	85 (161.0856)
Sep 24, 2021	Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship (TEAM & JUDGES ARE FULL-WAITLIST ONLY) 🏅 Shawnee, KS	46 / 86 (650.7544)	33 (167.9772)	33 (167.9772)	53 (164.0228)	75 (150.7772)
Jul 9, 2021	Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest 🏅 Mayetta, KS	38 / 43 (627.8288)	40 (156.5144)	39 (155.3828)	24 (169.1544)	40 (146.7772)
Jun 25, 2021	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	52 / 145 (652.0228)	20 (169.1772)	96 (158.2744)	74 (161.7256)	62 (162.8456)
Jul 10, 2020	Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest 🏅 Mayetta, KS	43 / 61 (659.4060)	40 (165.1544)	42 (165.1200)	24 (169.7372)	50 (159.3944)
Sep 27, 2019	Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship 🏅 Shawnee, KS	37 / 102 (659.3256)	64 (162.2628)	22 (170.2628)	36 (167.4172)	56 (159.3828)
Jul 12, 2019	Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest 🏅 Mayetta, KS	46 / 59 (647.3484)	40 (166.8228)	35 (165.1200)	48 (160)	49 (155.4056)
Jun 21, 2019	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	89 / 183 (642.2172)	96 (160.5484)	24 (170.2744)	35 (169.1772)	166 (142.2172)
Sep 21, 2018	Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship Barbeque 🏅 Shawnee, KS	50 / 107 (654.1712)	26 (168.5484)	29 (169.1084)	41 (166.8572)	92 (149.6572)
Jul 13, 2018	Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest Mayetta, KS	30 / 48 (655.3716)	17 (170.2628)	41 (154.2400)	16 (169.1544)	26 (161.7144)
Jun 22, 2018	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle Lenexa, KS	98 / 185 (633.1088)	43 (164.5716)	80 (161.7144)	124 (154.2856)	128 (152.5372)
May 11, 2018	The Grasshopper '18 (formerly Kansas 10x10) (JUDGES FULL) De Soto, KS	54 / 56 (625.0860)	28 (167.4056)	56 (138.8460)	47 (161.1316)	49 (157.7028)
May 4, 2018	Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS	29 / 41 (638.7312)	26 (161.1316)	14 (166.8228)	28 (158.2740)	31 (152.5028)
Sep 22, 2017	Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship Barbeque 🏅 Shawnee, KS	60 / 112 (646.1256)	6 (174.8456)	58 (162.8000)	86 (158.2400)	94 (150.2400)
Jul 14, 2017	Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest Mayetta, KS	48 / 58 (639.2800)	28 (167.9656)	40 (163.4172)	28 (167.4172)	54 (140.4800)
Jun 23, 2017	Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	25 / 184 (659.3712)	13 (171.4056)	22 (168.6056)	56 (165.1200)	113 (154.2400)
May 19, 2017	22nd Annual Platte City BBQ Cook Off at Basswood Resort Platte City, MO	50 / 59 (636.4796)	22 (169.7256)	40 (162.8572)	49 (158.8112)	58 (145.0856)
May 5, 2017	Sertoma 48 BBQ (JUDGESFULL) Lawrence, KS	31 / 44 (628.9484)	31 (159.9544)	33 (159.9656)	31 (160.5256)	37 (148.5028)
Sep 23, 2016	Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship 🏅 Shawnee, KS	35 / 111 (660.4572)	79 (158.2400)	3 (175.4400)	26 (168.5372)	62 (158.2400)
Sep 16, 2016	Battle of the Brisket Mission, KS	11 / 33 (657.6800)	10 (167.4400)	7 (171.4400)	8 (170.8800)	27 (147.9200)
Jun 24, 2016	Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	90 / 183 (633.6804)	15 (170.8572)	50 (165.7144)	131 (154.2744)	155 (142.8344)
Jun 3, 2016	Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest Mayetta, KS	43 / 55 (640.4112)	20 (167.9884)	50 (147.3600)	13 (172.5600)	45 (152.5028)
May 6, 2016	Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS	24 / 42 (658.7772)	21 (167.4172)	14 (169.7144)	36 (160.5256)	26 (161.1200)
Sep 25, 2015	Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship 🏅 Shawnee, KS	112 / 112 (469.6688)	—	31 (168.5372)	94 (149.7372)	85 (151.3944)
Jun 26, 2015	Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	95 / 183 (633.1312)	104 (158.8572)	33 (167.9772)	91 (160.0456)	151 (146.2512)
Jun 5, 2015	2015 Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest Mayetta, KS	25 / 64 (655.2684)	26 (166.2628)	6 (172)	21 (167.3828)	56 (149.6228)
May 8, 2015	Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS	18 / 45 (655.8512)	27 (161.7028)	14 (167.9656)	15 (166.8228)	25 (159.3600)
Sep 26, 2014	Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship 🏅 Shawnee, KS	23 / 112 (666.2744)	45 (165.7144)	3 (176.5944)	82 (155.3828)	13 (168.5828)
Sep 19, 2014	Battle of the Brisket Mission, KS	14 / 46 (663.9772)	3 (172)	35 (155.9772)	7 (169.7028)	6 (166.2972)
Aug 1, 2014	Wheels 'N' Squeels BBQ Challenge Olathe, KS	20 / 70 (663.4056)	9 (173.1428)	20 (168.5600)	68 (151.9656)	10 (169.7372)
Jul 24, 2014	ACF - GKCCA BBQ Competition Kansas City, MO	12 / 25 (638.2972)	9 (166.2628)	22 (146.2744)	12 (160.5828)	7 (165.1772)
Jun 27, 2014	Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	21 / 184 (659.3940)	95 (160.5600)	28 (167.4400)	51 (163.9884)	23 (167.4056)
Jun 13, 2014	Tonganoxie Days BBQ Blowout Tonganoxie, KS	16 / 41 (665.0512)	10 (170.2856)	24 (163.4056)	18 (165.6684)	13 (165.6916)
May 9, 2014	Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS	29 / 54 (646.1944)	24 (165.6916)	14 (168)	24 (163.3828)	47 (149.1200)
Sep 13, 2013	Battle of the Brisket Mission, KS	7 / 53 (673.1084)	10 (167.9772)	5 (172.5600)	11 (166.8456)	14 (165.7256)
Aug 1, 2013	Wheels 'N' Squeels BBQ Challenge Olathe, KS	13 / 74 (674.2056)	12 (172)	27 (166.8228)	21 (170.2972)	30 (165.0856)
Jun 21, 2013	Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	32 / 183 (650.2860)	11 (172)	39 (165.1428)	154 (146.2858)	27 (166.8574)
Jun 7, 2013	Tonganoxie Days BBQ Blowout Tonganoxie, KS	16 / 49 (652.5714)	16 (164.5716)	2 (173.1428)	32 (160)	36 (154.8570)
May 10, 2013	Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS	37 / 49 (621.1420)	25 (161.7140)	31 (157.1426)	35 (154.8570)	40 (147.4284)

PASSIONS OF THE PIT

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 (10 found in their record)

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

A June team

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)