The heartbreaker
Came within 0.6056 points of the Grand Championship at Central Illinois Bragging Rights (CIBR-BBQ) (Oct 11, 2019).
JaBs BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 55 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2015 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 28 at the Smoke on the Ohio (2024), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion 4 times. They are ranked #390 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #256 (848 pts) | #331 (713 pts) | #317 (796 pts) | #243 (913 pts) | #279 (823 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #263 (821 pts) | #298 (761 pts) | #183 (1,171 pts) | #320 (661 pts) | #370 (571 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #175 (1,148 pts) | #149 (1,268 pts) | #76 (1,627 pts) | #285 (853 pts) | #244 (948 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #117 (1,347 pts) | #114 (1,347 pts) | #141 (1,255 pts) | #59 (1,702 pts) | #135 (1,197 pts) |
| 2020 ↗ | Master | #152 (740 pts) | #141 (825 pts) | #131 (815 pts) | #153 (760 pts) | #265 (450 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #217 (1,271 pts) | #293 (1,031 pts) | #280 (1,046 pts) | #203 (1,286 pts) | #267 (1,126 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #983 (285 pts) | #1054 (280 pts) | #902 (370 pts) | #1005 (305 pts) | #976 (310 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #2212 (60 pts) | #2178 (75 pts) | #2304 (60 pts) | #2260 (60 pts) | #2266 (60 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #2259 (64 pts) | #1729 (149 pts) | #2954 (54 pts) | #2950 (54 pts) | #2239 (79 pts) |
The teams rated closest to JaBs BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
Careers of much the same size, 46 contests to 55, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careersTheir rating is built on 4 Grand Championships in 37 contests, alongside a 68% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Compare careersLevel with JaBs BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careersOne contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team JaBs BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-headThis is the highest they've ever been rated, 54 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-headThey turned up 7 years after JaBs BBQ did, first appearing in 2022.
⚔ Compare careers| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Smoke BBQ | 34 | 10 | 24 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| TRIPLE H BBQ | 31 | 14 | 17 | 45% | ⚔ compare |
| JANKY LEG BBQ | 31 | 12 | 19 | 39% | ⚔ compare |
| Rusty Pig BBQ | 30 | 16 | 14 | 53% | ⚔ compare |
| SmokinGhost BBQ | 29 | 15 | 14 | 52% | ⚔ compare |
| THE BBQ BUS | 23 | 14 | 9 | 61% | ⚔ compare |
| MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS | 23 | 12 | 11 | 52% | ⚔ compare |
| DB BBQ | 22 | 16 | 6 | 73% | ⚔ compare |
| HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | 22 | 16 | 6 | 73% | ⚔ compare |
| Carrol Lou's Smokehouse | 22 | 14 | 8 | 64% | ⚔ compare |
| QUE U | 21 | 8 | 13 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| One2BBQ | 20 | 7 | 13 | 35% | ⚔ compare |
| LOCAL YOKELS BBQ | 20 | 6 | 14 | 30% | ⚔ compare |
| ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | 20 | 5 | 15 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | 19 | 18 | 1 | 95% | ⚔ compare |
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 50 | 21 | 2 | 6 | 178.2972 | 157.6800 | 171.23 | top 36% |
| Pork Ribs | 53 | 29 | 1 | 10 | 180 🔥 | 145.6688 | 169.15 | top 36% |
| Pork | 50 | 30 | 4 | 8 | 180 🔥 | 146.2284 | 170.58 | top 35% |
| Brisket | 50 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 177.1544 | 145.6572 | 167.28 | top 46% |
“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.
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 3 | 0 | top 31% |
| Medium (20–39) | 28 | 0 | top 36% |
| Large (40+) | 19 | 0 | top 34% |
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EffingHAM-JAM | 6 | 2 | 0 | top 49% | Jul 22, 2022 |
| Smoke on the Ohio | 3 | 2 | 0 | top 19% | Sep 11, 2026 |
| Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard | 3 | 5 | 0 | top 34% | Sep 20, 2024 |
| Harvest on Fire at the Winery | 3 | 4 | 0 | top 47% | Jul 8, 2022 |
| Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (Day 2) | 2 | 5 | 0 | top 19% | Mar 23, 2024 |
| Smokin' for Garrett | 2 | 3 | 0 | top 24% | Oct 6, 2023 |
| Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown | 2 | 3 | 0 | top 30% | Jul 14, 2023 |
| Route 66 Smoke Out | 2 | 13 | 0 | top 41% | May 6, 2022 |
| Smokin' For Garrett | 2 | 13 | 0 | top 40% | Oct 22, 2021 |
| Covid-Que Relief (Day 2) | 2 | 13 | 0 | top 40% | Jun 20, 2020 |
| Central Illinois Bragging Rights (CIBR-BBQ) | 2 | 2 | 0 | top 43% | Oct 11, 2019 |
| Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown | 2 | 9 | 0 | top 38% | Jul 19, 2019 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +16.9 | Harvest On Fire at The Winery | Jul 12, 2019 |
| +16.8 | Central Illinois Bragging Rights (CIBR-BBQ) | Oct 11, 2019 |
| +16.1 | Effingham -Jam | Jul 26, 2019 |
| +14.6 | Harvest On the Fire At the Winery | Jul 9, 2021 |
| +13.6 | CIBBQ Red Devil Edition Day 1 | Jul 17, 2020 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -20.3 | Smoke N for the Kids | Aug 17, 2024 |
| -7.9 | Central Illinois Bragging Rights | Oct 9, 2015 |
| -7.4 | EffingHam-Jam | Jul 28, 2017 |
| -6.4 | EffingHAM Jam | Jul 22, 2016 |
| -6.3 | Harvest on Fire at the Winery | Jul 8, 2022 |
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100% | top 31% | 95.9% | 95.9% |
| 2024 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 71% | top 37% | 97.3% | 91.8% |
| 2023 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 100% | top 23% | 97.1% | 95.9% |
| 2022 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 88% | top 37% | 96.7% | 95% |
| 2021 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 77% | top 28% | 97.1% | 94.9% |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 67% | top 35% | 95.4% | 94% |
| 2019 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 100% | top 22% | 97.1% | 94.4% |
| 2018 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | top 49% | 92.5% | 92.2% |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 86% | 84.9% | 84.9% |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 79% | 86.2% | 86.2% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 81% | 86.7% | 86.7% |
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 11, 2026 | Smoke on the Ohio 🏅 Mt. Vernon, IN | 8 / 26 (690.2056) | 15 (170.8228) | 1 (177.7144) | 8 (172) | 16 (169.6684) |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard 🏅 Murphysboro, IL | 29 / 58 (684.4568) | 29 (174.2628) | 51 (162.8228) | 17 (174.2628) | 13 (173.1084) |
| Sep 13, 2024 | Smoke on the Ohio 🏅 Mt. Vernon, IN | 2 / 28 (699.3600) | 4 (176.5600) | 4 (177.7144) | 7 (171.9772) | 5 (173.1084) |
| Aug 17, 2024 | Smoke N for the Kids 🏅 Troy, IL | 27 / 27 (497.5884) | 12 (171.9772) | — | 23 (167.9772) | 25 (157.6340) |
| Jul 27, 2024 | Code 3 Spices - Smokin' on Main 🏅 Collinsville, IL | 9 / 34 (688.5256) | 18 (172) | 18 (169.6800) | 8 (173.1428) | 7 (173.7028) |
| Mar 23, 2024 | Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (Day 2) 🏅 St. Robert, MO | 8 / 34 (700.5144) | 15 (175.4172) | 25 (169.6916) | 1 (180) | 6 (175.4056) |
| Mar 23, 2024 | Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (ONE MEAT RIBS) St. Robert, MO | — | — | 10 (167.9772) | — | — |
| Mar 22, 2024 | Kickin' It Route 66 BBQ (Day 1) 🏅 St. Robert, MO | 5 / 35 (693.6572) | 11 (173.1316) | 2 (175.4172) | 8 (172) | 10 (173.1084) |
| Oct 27, 2023 | Smoke on the Water - Saracen Casino PB 🏅 Pine Bluff, AR | 13 / 49 (689.0396) | 23 (171.9656) | 2 (180) | 30 (166.8228) | 18 (170.2512) |
| Oct 6, 2023 | Smokin' for Garrett 🏅 Mt. Carmel, IL | 3 / 26 (699.3944) | 1 (178.2972) | 8 (171.9772) | 9 (173.7144) | 6 (175.4056) |
| Sep 21, 2023 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard 🏅 Murphysboro, IL | 5 / 50 (697.7144) | 5 (176) | 3 (177.7144) | 9 (174.2972) | 21 (169.7028) |
| Sep 8, 2023 | Smoke on the Ohio 🏅 Mt. Vernon, IN | 5 / 25 (690.7656) | 13 (168.5372) | 2 (176.5600) | 7 (171.9656) | 8 (173.7028) |
| Jul 14, 2023 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown 🏅 Eureka, IL | 12 / 25 (676.4112) | 11 (170.8228) | 6 (168.5372) | 6 (174.2628) | 18 (162.7884) |
| Jul 14, 2023 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (One Meat Ribs) Eureka, IL | — | — | 10 (169.6916) | — | — |
| Oct 21, 2022 | Saracen Casino Smoke on the Water 🏅 Pine Bluff, AR | 6 / 47 (695.9084) | 18 (171.9656) | 4 (178.8572) | 17 (170.8228) | 7 (174.2628) |
| Sep 23, 2022 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard 🏅 Murphysboro, IL | 20 / 46 (685.6228) | 11 (175.4172) | 21 (171.9772) | 25 (169.1084) | 19 (169.1200) |
| Sep 16, 2022 | Smokin' For Garrett 🏅 Mt. Carmel, IL | 10 / 27 (686.7884) | 2 (177.7028) | 2 (174.8800) | 14 (170.8228) | 21 (163.3828) |
| Jul 22, 2022 | EffingHAM-JAM 🏅 Effingham, IL | 8 / 25 (678.8228) | 11 (171.4284) | 4 (173.1544) | 24 (158.8228) | 3 (175.4172) |
| Jul 15, 2022 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown 🏅 Eureka, IL | 3 / 25 (694.2284) | 2 (177.1544) | 2 (176.5600) | 11 (169.6912) | 6 (170.8228) |
| Jul 15, 2022 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (One Meat Ribs) Eureka, IL | — | — | 7 (171.4172) | — | — |
| Jul 8, 2022 | Harvest on Fire at the Winery 🏅 Marshall, IL | 20 / 28 (674.1600) | 11 (174.2628) | 18 (167.9772) | 5 (174.2628) | 25 (157.6572) |
| May 6, 2022 | Route 66 Smoke Out 🏅 Dwight, IL | 17 / 33 (672.4224) | 14 (171.4056) | 4 (173.7028) | 16 (169.6684) | 28 (157.6456) |
| Nov 13, 2021 | 3rd Annual KCBS World Invitational - Master Invitational unrated Shawnee, OK | 8 / 92 (698.8340) | 12 (177.7028) | 13 (177.1428) | 23 (174.8572) | 60 (169.1312) |
| Nov 11, 2021 | 3rd Annual KCBS World Invitational - Open unrated Shawnee, OK | 32 / 111 (685.6456) | 33 (172.5600) | 23 (172.5600) | 47 (171.9772) | 57 (168.5484) |
| Nov 11, 2021 | 3rd Annual KCBS World Invitational - Ancillary unrated Shawnee, OK | — | — | — | — | — |
| Oct 22, 2021 | Smokin' For Garrett 🏅 Boonville, IN | 13 / 27 (670.7884) | 21 (162.8456) | 8 (167.4172) | 7 (172.5600) | 14 (167.9656) |
| Sep 3, 2021 | A Celebration of Our Heroes 🏅 Madison, IL | 7 / 20 (682.1712) | 8 (171.9656) | 15 (165.0856) | 7 (171.9772) | 3 (173.1428) |
| Jul 23, 2021 | Effingham -Jam 🏅 Effingham, IL | 10 / 29 (675.9200) | 18 (166.2744) | 8 (169.7028) | 2 (176.5600) | 19 (163.3828) |
| Jul 17, 2021 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown Day 2 🏅 Eureka, IL | 2 / 19 (692.5028) | 4 (170.8228) | 6 (174.2744) | 2 (174.2628) | 1 (173.1428) |
| Jul 16, 2021 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown Day 1 🏅 Eureka, IL | 9 / 25 (678.7312) | 9 (171.4056) | 15 (163.3828) | 10 (170.8228) | 6 (173.1200) |
| Jul 16, 2021 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown - One Meat Rib Contest Eureka, IL | — | — | 6 (166.2628) | — | — |
| Jul 9, 2021 | Harvest On the Fire At the Winery 🏅 Marshall, IL | 3 / 38 (686.8344) | 1 (176.5600) | 17 (166.8572) | 1 (175.4172) | 15 (168) |
| May 1, 2021 | Route 66 Smoke Out 🏅 Dwight, IL | 13 / 44 (675.3028) | 2 (177.7028) | 26 (161.6572) | 9 (170.8228) | 25 (165.1200) |
| Mar 27, 2021 | Mother Road BBQ Competition 🏅 Waynesville, MO | 7 / 32 (693.6340) | 14 (170.8572) | 16 (169.6684) | 1 (180) | 12 (173.1084) |
| Mar 26, 2021 | Kickin It Route 66 Barbeque Challenge 🏅 St. Roberts, MO | 25 / 52 (679.3368) | 29 (168.5600) | 5 (176) | 27 (169.6684) | 34 (165.1084) |
| Oct 23, 2020 | Smokin For Garrett Boonville, IN | 13 / 41 (675.8968) | 8 (171.4056) | 11 (167.9772) | 7 (173.1428) | 26 (163.3712) |
| Jul 18, 2020 | CIBBQ Red Devil Edition Day 2 🏅 Eureka, IL | 15 / 25 (671.9888) | 5 (173.1428) | 2 (173.1316) | 3 (172.5600) | 25 (153.1544) |
| Jul 17, 2020 | CIBBQ Red Devil Edition Day 1 🏅 Eureka, IL | 3 / 30 (686.8116) | 5 (173.1200) | 7 (171.4172) | 9 (171.4172) | 7 (170.8572) |
| Jul 10, 2020 | Harvest On the Fire At the Winery 🏅 Marshall, IL | 15 / 53 (680.5716) | 9 (173.7372) | 21 (167.4400) | 15 (171.4172) | 28 (167.9772) |
| Jun 20, 2020 | Covid-Que Relief (Day 2) Franklin, IN | 38 / 63 (666.1368) | 33 (169.1316) | 23 (167.9656) | 52 (163.9312) | 40 (165.1084) |
| Jun 19, 2020 | Covid-Que Relief (Day 1) Franklin, IN | 13 / 69 (678.7772) | 15 (172.0116) | 12 (172.5600) | 40 (166.2400) | 32 (167.9656) |
| Oct 11, 2019 | Central Illinois Bragging Rights (CIBR-BBQ) 🏅 Arthur, IL | 2 / 43 (698.8116) | 2 (175.4172) | 3 (174.2744) | 8 (173.7028) | 5 (175.4172) |
| Sep 12, 2019 | 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 252 / 468 (657.0744) | 378 (157.6800) | 206 (166.2972) | 10 (177.1428) | 353 (155.9544) |
| Aug 16, 2019 | Evansville BBQ 🏅 Evansville, IN | 5 / 19 (682.8000) | 4 (172.5600) | 11 (159.9428) | 4 (174.8572) | 4 (175.4400) |
| Jul 26, 2019 | Effingham -Jam 🏅 Effingham, IL | 2 / 26 (689.0972) | 12 (166.8228) | 10 (166.8228) | 1 (178.2972) | 1 (177.1544) |
| Jul 19, 2019 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown 🏅 Peoria, IL | 9 / 40 (675.3600) | 18 (167.4172) | 5 (171.4400) | 7 (173.1200) | 27 (163.3828) |
| Jul 12, 2019 | Harvest On Fire at The Winery 🏅 Marshall, IL | 4 / 31 (684.5372) | 5 (176) | 16 (164.5600) | 7 (169.6800) | 2 (174.2972) |
| Jun 14, 2019 | Hog Capital Challenge 🏅 Kewanee, IL | 7 / 25 (669.7032) | 10 (166.2628) | 3 (173.1888) | 4 (174.2972) | 16 (155.9544) |
| Oct 12, 2018 | CIBR-BBQ Central Illinois Bragging Right BBQ Arthur, IL | 14 / 45 (664.4800) | 29 (163.4056) | 4 (171.4172) | 16 (166.2400) | 25 (163.4172) |
| Sep 7, 2018 | Harvest On Fire at The Winery (JUDGES FULL) Marshall, IL | 9 / 16 (666.1600) | 11 (163.3944) | 7 (166.2744) | 2 (174.2628) | 13 (162.2284) |
| Jul 27, 2018 | EffingHam-Jam Effingham, IL | 16 / 30 (665.0172) | 7 (171.4172) | 23 (159.9428) | 9 (170.8344) | 19 (162.8228) |
| Jul 20, 2018 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (JUDGES FULL) Peoria, IL | 23 / 43 (659.8056) | 33 (161.6572) | 18 (166.2400) | 33 (158.7884) | 7 (173.1200) |
| Jul 28, 2017 | EffingHam-Jam Effingham, IL | 30 / 35 (611.2460) | 22 (159.9772) | 33 (148.5372) | 25 (157.0744) | 29 (145.6572) |
| Jul 22, 2016 | EffingHAM Jam Effingham, IL | 23 / 29 (620.4912) | 8 (167.9540) | 27 (145.7256) | 26 (151.4172) | 20 (155.3944) |
| Oct 9, 2015 | Central Illinois Bragging Rights Arthur, IL | 39 / 48 (623.8856) | 5 (172.5600) | 46 (145.6688) | 48 (146.2284) | 28 (159.4284) |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.