Scratch that Itch BBQ

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

Power ranking

#2596

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1517

peak 1517 · rated over 17 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2022-04-08

latest 2024-09-13

Best ToY finish

#318

Master 2023

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

1 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 20 contests

Avg finish

top 59%

overall standings

Best overall

697.1088 / 720

Master · Smoke in the Spring

Perfect 180s

Current form

673.73 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 664.60 (+9.13)

Walk rate

35%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.8572

Brisket · Smoke in the Spring

Consistency

±14.67

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 167.74 · weakest Chicken (164.84)

Road miles

1,155

mi across 20 mapped stops · furthest 133 mi

Schedule strength

68%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1586)

Purse competed for

$341K

listed at 20 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

GCs in 17 state-championship entries

Master avg

664.60 / 720

17 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (9 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.

On the rise

+38 rating points in a year

Their power rating has climbed 38 points across 9 contests since 2023-03-17 — from 1479 up to 1517.

9 contests since 2023-03-17
now 1517

High-water mark

697.1088 career-best overall

96.8% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 697.1088 at Smoke in the Spring — 96.8% of a perfect 720.

Master
2023-04-07

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

TAILGATE GUYS BBQ has finished one call ahead of Scratch that Itch BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

12–1 behind in the head-to-head

LOVE 2 Q ahead in 92% of their meetings

LOVE 2 Q has come out ahead in 12 of their 13 shared contests.

A strong matchup

5–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of Three Legged Pig BBQ in 5 of their 5 shared contests.

Pork Ribs nemesis

8 of 13 shared pork ribs entries lost

LOVE 2 Q ahead 62% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, LOVE 2 Q has out-cooked them in 8 of 13 shared pork ribs entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

ROCK N BLUES BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

A June team

Top 47% average finish in June

Something about June: average finish in the top 47% across 6 contests, versus top 59% the rest of the year.

6 June contests
top 59% the rest of the year

The metronome

±2.04% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.04% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 92.3% of a perfect score
20 contests

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.

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

All Fired Up and Kicking Ash MO

#2584 of the rated field

1517 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1528

1–1 in 2 shared contests (50% to Scratch that Itch BBQ)

2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team Scratch that Itch BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 16 contests
last seen 2025-11-05

⚔ Head-to-head

Pine Tar BBQ

#2593 of the rated field

1517 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 56
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1541

2–5 in 7 shared contests (29% to Scratch that Itch BBQ)

56 contests to 20: their number has had years to settle where Scratch that Itch BBQ's is still finding its level.

rated over 54 contests
last seen 2026-08-21

⚔ Head-to-head

CEO BBQ

#2607 of the rated field

1516 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 54
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 24%
Peak: 1529

1–1 in 2 shared contests (50% to Scratch that Itch BBQ)

54 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 24% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 54 contests
last seen 2026-06-12

⚔ Head-to-head

ABOVE THE BRIDGE BBQ

#2603 of the rated field

1516 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1531

No shared contest yet.

Their last contest in the data was back in 2021, 3 years before Scratch that Itch BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 16 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

JACK ATTACK BBQ

#2599 of the rated field

1516 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1519

No shared contest yet.

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 16 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 16 contests
last seen 2017-03-25

⚔ Head-to-head

SHORT BUS COOKERS

#2610 of the rated field

1516 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 32%
Peak: 1516

No shared contest yet.

They were already cooking in 2013, 9 years before Scratch that Itch BBQ's first contest.

rated over 19 contests
last seen 2022-10-28

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
LOVE 2 Q	13	1	12	8%	⚔ compare
SLAPS BBQ	13	1	12	8%	⚔ compare
PARTS 'R' SMOKIN	11	1	10	9%	⚔ compare
Barking Dog BBQ	11	1	10	9%	⚔ compare
PIRATES OF BAR-B-QUE BAY	10	2	8	20%	⚔ compare
Damn Fine Beef & Swine	10	1	9	10%	⚔ compare
MAN MEAT BBQ	10	1	9	10%	⚔ compare
ALL FORKED UP FOR Q	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' SAUCED	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
Fergolicious BBQ	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
KC Meat Sweats	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
Dr. Squealgood BBQ	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare
913 BBQ	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
WOOD HOOK BBQ	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	19	1	1	1	177.1544	152.4684	164.84	top 64%
Pork Ribs	19	3	0	0	176.5600	148.5372	167.74	top 47%
Pork	19	2	0	0	176.5600	158.8800	165.81	top 63%
Brisket	19	4	0	0	178.8572	155.9200	166.62	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.

By state / province

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
KS	12	0	top 52%
MO	7	0	top 72%

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	9	0	top 73%
Large (40+)	10	0	top 47%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Smoke in the Spring	2	10	0	top 51%	2023-04-07
Smokin on the Osage (Day 2)	2	25	0	top 93%	2022-07-23

The story so far (16 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 2.4 yrs 2022-04-08 → 2024-09-13

Busiest season 2023 11 contests

Contests a season 6.7 across 3 seasons in the data

Cooks most in KS 13 of 20 contests · 2 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 17 2 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 19 entries · 1 win · 1 calls

Strongest meat Pork Ribs averages 167.74 · weakest Chicken (164.84)

Walk rate 35% a top-10 call in 7 of 20 contests

Overall top-10 rate 5% 1 of 20 contests

Master average 664.60 out of 720 · 17 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 880 841–747 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 1,155 20 mapped stops · furthest 133 mi

Schedule strength 1586 average field rating faced — tougher than 68% of rated contests

Purse competed for $341,285 listed at 20 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships 0 from 17 state-championship entries

Power rating 1517 peak 1517 · #2596 of 6,413 rated

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

2022
Apr 8 First tracked contest Smoke in the Spring
Apr 22 First overall past 90% of a perfect score661.0404 Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest (JUDGE'S FULL)
Jun 3 First call McLouth BBQ Blowout 31st Annual
Jun 10 First category win (Chicken) Smoke on the Plains Derby BBQ & Music Fest
2023
Apr 7 First overall top-10 Smoke in the Spring
Apr 7 10th tracked contest Smoke in the Spring
Apr 7 Career-best overall score697.1088 Smoke in the Spring
Apr 7 Career-best single call (Brisket)178.8572 Smoke in the Spring
Sep 27 Peak power rating (1517) American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest
2024
Sep 13 Most recent contest Made for KC BBQ Championship (COMPETITORS SERIES)

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+18.7	Smoke in the Spring	2023-04-07
+11.6	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship	2022-06-24
+11.4	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship	2023-06-23
+4.6	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest	2023-09-27
+4.5	Red, White, Blue BBQ Competition	2022-04-29

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-10.2	Smokin on the Osage (Day 2)	2022-07-23
-9.2	Smoke in the Spring	2022-04-08
-7.2	Smokin on the Osage (Day 1)	2022-07-22
-7	Smoke on the Plains Derby BBQ & Music Fest	2022-06-10
-4.5	Smoke on the River	2023-09-01

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)

Season by season

Season	Contests	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2024	1	0	0	0%	top 87%	—	—
2023	11	1	0	45%	top 52%	96.8%	93.2%
2022	8	0	1	25%	top 66%	93.6%	91.2%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2024-09-13	Made for KC BBQ Championship (COMPETITORS SERIES) unrated Weston, MO	33 / 38 (665.5660)	31 (167.9772)	13 (170.8344)	36 (160.5144)	18 (166.2400)
2023-09-27	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS	221 / 487 (675.3256)	179 (170.8228)	246 (168.5372)	298 (165.6800)	149 (170.2856)
2023-09-27	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS	—	—	—	—	—
2023-09-09	7th Annual Smoke on the Trails 🏅 Gardner, KS	23 / 38 (669.5656)	17 (172.5600)	16 (171.4056)	16 (169.6800)	27 (155.9200)
2023-09-01	Smoke on the River 🏅 Burlington, KS	16 / 20 (669.6344)	17 (164.5716)	19 (159.9428)	7 (173.1200)	5 (172.0000)
2023-08-18	BBQ & Fly-In on the River 🏅 Excelsior Springs, MO	28 / 57 (675.8628)	31 (168.5256)	11 (175.4172)	33 (169.6800)	39 (162.2400)
2023-06-23	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	28 / 167 (678.2400)	31 (170.2972)	43 (169.7144)	34 (171.9656)	54 (166.2628)
2023-06-09	Made for KC BBQ Championship (COMPETITORS SERIES) unrated Kansas City, MO	29 / 44 (671.3032)	36 (165.0972)	9 (174.2744)	38 (164.5372)	16 (167.3944)
2023-06-02	McLouth BBQ Blowout 32nd Annual 🏅 McLouth, KS	22 / 36 (651.9544)	24 (162.8344)	22 (162.8572)	28 (158.8800)	13 (167.3828)
2023-04-21	Smokin in the Creek BBQ 🏅 Sugar Creek, MO	25 / 51 (668.4112)	42 (155.8968)	33 (162.2400)	6 (176.5600)	10 (173.7144)
2023-04-07	Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS	10 / 103 (697.1088)	12 (176.0116)	23 (174.2744)	61 (167.9656)	6 (178.8572)
2023-03-17	5th Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship 🏅 Olathe, KS	53 / 68 (656.4228)	64 (152.4684)	7 (176.5600)	56 (162.2972)	46 (165.0972)
2022-07-23	Smokin on the Osage (Day 2) 🏅 Osceola, MO	25 / 26 (642.6972)	25 (159.3600)	19 (165.0856)	26 (159.9772)	22 (158.2744)
2022-07-22	Smokin on the Osage (Day 1) 🏅 Osceola, MO	25 / 28 (651.3144)	26 (161.7144)	23 (161.0856)	25 (162.8000)	19 (165.7144)
2022-06-24	The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS	30 / 164 (672.4456)	94 (161.6800)	18 (171.9656)	81 (165.6800)	12 (173.1200)
2022-06-10	Smoke on the Plains Derby BBQ & Music Fest 🏅 Derby, KS	18 / 29 (663.3372)	1 (177.1544)	21 (164.5372)	19 (163.9656)	25 (157.6800)
2022-06-03	McLouth BBQ Blowout 31st Annual 🏅 McLouth, KS	17 / 30 (658.8116)	28 (157.1200)	9 (171.4516)	17 (163.4172)	9 (166.8228)
2022-04-29	Red, White, Blue BBQ Competition 🏅 Topeka, KS	37 / 77 (673.6232)	46 (166.8344)	20 (172.5716)	26 (170.8228)	39 (163.3944)
2022-04-22	Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest (JUDGE'S FULL) 🏅 Sugar Creek, MO	23 / 35 (661.0404)	25 (162.8344)	22 (165.6916)	27 (163.3944)	17 (169.1200)
2022-04-08	Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS	86 / 94 (632.4116)	84 (158.2516)	91 (148.5372)	82 (159.3828)	54 (166.2400)

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
2023 ↗	Master	#318 (670 pts)	#333 (675 pts)	#320 (800 pts)	#277 (790 pts)	#239 (900 pts)