The heartbreaker
0.5596
points from the title
Came within 0.5596 points of the Grand Championship at Keystone Classic BBQ State Championship (2025-10-03).
HotMess BBQ
At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)
Rating
1728
peak 1740 · rated over 93 contests ⓘ
Best runs
8
straight top-10s
Contests
104
in the data
First seen
2014-06-27
latest 2026-08-28
Best ToY finish
#9
Master 2025
Grand champs
7
5 reserve
Category wins
18
50 podiums
Overall top-10s
43
of 104 contests
Avg finish
top 42%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
4 🔥
Current form
687.55 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 664.05 (+23.50)
Walk rate
71%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
8
best run (overall)
Consistency
±49.91
std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 170.45 · weakest Pork Ribs (165.41)
Road miles
34,044
mi across 104 mapped stops · furthest 2393 mi
Schedule strength
69%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1586)
Purse competed for
$565K
listed at 69 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
5 🏅
GCs in 66 state-championship entries
Master avg
664.05 / 720
80 Master contests · 7 GCs
Backyard avg
418.33 / 360
13 Backyard contests · 0 GCs
Master and Backyard overall scores sit on different scales (Master is out of 720, Backyard out of 360), so they're kept separate — averaging them together would be misleading.
This team cooks the Backyard series — its own boards, records and Team of the Year are here.
Storylines (21 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.
Among the elite
#278
of 6,413 rated teams
In the top 4% of every rated team in the data
A power rating of 1728 puts them #278 of 6,413 rated teams — the top 4% of the field.
- rating 1728
- peak 1740
- 93 rated contests
Perfect scores on the board
4
perfect 180s
4 perfect 180s in the data — every judge at the table handing back a nine, across 2 different meats.
- Chicken ×2
- Brisket ×2
Against the odds
22-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 78 times in 100
Their Grand Championship at Nightmare before Zom-B-Q (Day 1) (2024-10-25) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 22-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit.
Giant slayer
58
teams beaten in one weekend
Took the Grand Championship over a 58-team field at Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest.
- 2015-08-21
Happy hunting ground
1×
Grand Championships here
Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest is their spot: 1 Grand Championship in 2 visits.
- 2 visits
- best finish 1st
- average top 14%
Multi-meat days
3
contests with 2+ category wins
They've won two or more meats on the same day 3 times — the best of them 2 category wins at Big Knob BBQ Fest (2025-05-23).
- Chicken 1st
- Brisket 1st
They almost always walk
71%
of contests with a top-10 call
A call in 74 of 104 contests
A top-10 category call in 71% of their 104 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.
High-water mark
710.2744
career-best overall
98.6% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 710.2744 at Saxonburg BBQ Smokeout — 98.6% of a perfect 720.
- Master
- 2025-09-06
State champions
5
state championships won
They've taken 5 state championships from 66 entries at contests carrying the title.
- 66 state-championship entries
The one to beat
4×
one call ahead of them
Better Half Barbecue has finished one call ahead of HotMess BBQ 4 times — their closest competition in the data.
Their season
2025
2 Grand Championships
2025 was the year it came together: 20 contests, 2 Grand Championships and 7 category wins, at an average finish in the top 24%.
- 20 contests
- 15 overall top-10s
- 7 category wins
- average top 24%
The weak link
−5.0
points behind their best meat
Pork Ribs is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 5.04 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 46% of the time against 47%.
- Pork Ribs avg 165.41
- Chicken avg 170.45
- 45 calls in 98 entries
A strong matchup
26–1
ahead in the head-to-head
Ahead in 96% of their meetings
They've finished ahead of 4 BOXERS Q in 26 of their 27 shared contests.
Chicken nemesis
25 of 34
shared chicken entries lost
FIRE & SHINE BBQ ahead 74% of the time
Even in their strongest meat, FIRE & SHINE BBQ has out-cooked them in 25 of 34 shared chicken entries.
A big fish in small ponds
Top 20%
average finish in small fields
Field size changes the story: they average a top 20% finish in small fields against top 40% in large ones.
- Small (<20 teams): top 20% (11)
- Large (40+): top 40% (29)
Looking over their shoulder
3×
one call behind them
Ain't That Rich has landed one call behind them 3 times.
Boom or bust
±13.81%
swing around their own average
Their overall swings ±13.81% of a perfect score around its own average — when it lands they're dangerous, and when it doesn't the weekend is gone by lunch.
- averages 95.6% of a perfect score
- best 144.1%
An October team
Top 22%
average finish in October
Something about October: average finish in the top 22% across 9 contests, versus top 42% the rest of the year.
- 9 October contests
- top 42% the rest of the year
The long haul
34,044
road miles between contests
Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 34,044 miles across 104 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 2,393 miles to Brentwood Cook Off and Car Show.
- 104 mapped stops
- furthest 2,393 mi
A standing appointment
5
years running at one contest
They've cooked Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 2) every year from 2022 to 2026 — the contest they never miss.
- 8 visits in all
- best finish 1st
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.
#279 of the rated field
- Contests
- 89
- GCs
- 2
- Top-10s
- 40%
- Peak
- 1728
0–2 in 2 shared contests (0% to HotMess BBQ)
2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team HotMess BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-head#282 of the rated field
- Contests
- 134
- GCs
- 3
- Top-10s
- 46%
- Peak
- 1728
17–13 in 31 shared contests (55% to HotMess BBQ)
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 127 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-head#281 of the rated field
- Contests
- 184
- GCs
- 16
- Top-10s
- 68%
- Peak
- 1888
0–2 in 2 shared contests (0% to HotMess BBQ)
Their last contest in the data was back in 2021, 5 years before HotMess BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-head#277 of the rated field
- Contests
- 52
- GCs
- 5
- Top-10s
- 48%
- Peak
- 1732
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to HotMess BBQ)
Fewer contests behind them than HotMess BBQ has cooked, 52 to 104, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.
⚔ Head-to-head#280 of the rated field
- Contests
- 101
- GCs
- 4
- Top-10s
- 33%
- Peak
- 1728
No shared contest yet.
Their rating is built on 4 Grand Championships in 101 contests, alongside a 33% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Head-to-head#275 of the rated field
- Contests
- 226
- GCs
- 26
- Top-10s
- 65%
- Peak
- 1902
1–1 in 2 shared contests (50% to HotMess BBQ)
Level with HotMess BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Head-to-headFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | 42 | 20 | 20 | 48% | ⚔ compare |
| OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | 37 | 18 | 19 | 49% | ⚔ compare |
| 3 EYZ BBQ | 36 | 20 | 15 | 56% | ⚔ compare |
| Uncle Dubby's Backyard BBQ | 32 | 19 | 12 | 59% | ⚔ compare |
| FIRE & SHINE BBQ | 32 | 18 | 13 | 56% | ⚔ compare |
| Capt. Blue BBQ | 32 | 16 | 14 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKECRAFT - MD | 31 | 17 | 13 | 55% | ⚔ compare |
| Leaning Jowler BBQ | 31 | 12 | 16 | 39% | ⚔ compare |
| Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit | 30 | 14 | 16 | 47% | ⚔ compare |
| Pinky Out BBQ | 29 | 13 | 15 | 45% | ⚔ compare |
| BLUE & GRAY BBQ | 28 | 20 | 8 | 71% | ⚔ compare |
| The Swine Doctor's BBQ | 28 | 15 | 13 | 54% | ⚔ compare |
| Gold-N-Blue Barbecue | 28 | 14 | 14 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| 4 BOXERS Q | 27 | 26 | 1 | 96% | ⚔ compare |
| PHILLY BLIND PIG BBQ | 26 | 23 | 3 | 88% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 99 | 47 | 5 | 17 | 180.0000 🔥 | 151.3600 | 170.45 | top 41% |
| Pork Ribs | 98 | 45 | 3 | 12 | 178.8572 | 20.0000 | 165.41 | top 47% |
| Pork | 86 | 33 | 3 | 9 | 179.4400 | 141.1656 | 167.46 | top 48% |
| Brisket | 80 | 34 | 7 | 12 | 180.0000 🔥 | 137.0972 | 166.20 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PA | 28 | 5 | top 26% |
| VA | 23 | 1 | top 29% |
| IL | 11 | 0 | top 60% |
| KS | 8 | 0 | top 89% |
| MO | 7 | 1 | top 39% |
| FL | 3 | 0 | top 87% |
| NY | 2 | 0 | top 12% |
| IN | 2 | 0 | top 88% |
| MS | 2 | 0 | top 33% |
| MN | 1 | 0 | top 90% |
| NJ | 1 | 0 | top 19% |
| MD | 1 | 0 | top 7% |
| DE | 1 | 0 | top 16% |
| NC | 1 | 0 | top 71% |
| DC | 1 | 0 | top 53% |
| WI | 1 | 0 | top 56% |
| CA | 1 | 0 | top 77% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 11 | 5 | top 20% |
| Medium (20–39) | 54 | 1 | top 47% |
| Large (40+) | 29 | 1 | top 40% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 2) | 8 | 1 | 1 | top 24% | 2026-05-16 |
| Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) | 6 | 2 | 0 | top 33% | 2026-07-25 |
| BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) | 6 | 2 | 0 | top 22% | 2026-03-28 |
| Revolutionary BBQ Brawl | 3 | 3 | 0 | top 43% | 2026-04-24 |
| Keystone Classic BBQ State Championship | 3 | 2 | 0 | top 16% | 2025-10-03 |
| Smoke in the Grove (Day 2) | 3 | 4 | 0 | top 24% | 2022-07-30 |
| Lakeland Pig Festival | 3 | 48 | 0 | top 87% | 2020-01-24 |
| *EffingHam-Jam | 3 | 14 | 0 | top 64% | 2018-07-27 |
| Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest | 2 | 1 | 1 | top 14% | 2016-08-19 |
| Triple Crown BBQ (Day 2) | 2 | 3 | 0 | top 32% | 2025-08-09 |
| Americamps BBQ Throwdown (Day 2) | 2 | 4 | 0 | top 40% | 2024-08-10 |
| Revolutionary BBQ Brawl (Day 2) | 2 | 5 | 0 | top 30% | 2024-04-20 |
| Smoke on the Rail (Day 2) | 2 | 5 | 0 | top 19% | 2023-07-29 |
| Revolutionary BBQ Brawl - Battle on the James (Day 2) | 2 | 3 | 0 | top 21% | 2023-04-29 |
| Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles BBQ Competition (Day 2) | 2 | 24 | 0 | top 96% | 2022-07-30 |
| Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff | 2 | 26 | 0 | top 57% | 2018-09-21 |
The story so far (22 numbers that describe this team)
On the trail
12.2 yrs
2014-06-27 → 2026-08-28
Busiest season
2025
20 contests · 2 GCs
Contests a season
7.4
across 14 seasons in the data
Cooks most in
VA
30 of 104 contests · 17 states/provinces in all
Contests visited
59
16 of them cooked more than once
Most-entered meat
Chicken
99 entries · 5 wins · 47 calls
Strongest meat
Chicken
averages 170.45 · weakest Pork Ribs (165.41)
Walk rate
71%
a top-10 call in 74 of 104 contests
Overall top-10 rate
41%
43 of 104 contests
Wins it all
7%
7 Grand Championships · 5 reserve
First title
2015-08-21
Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest
Best top-10 run
8
straight contests
Master average
664.05
out of 720 · 80 contests · 7 GCs
Backyard average
418.33
out of 360 · 13 contests · 0 GCs
Perfect 180s
4
every judge at the table handing back a nine
Opponents faced
1,487
2,510–1,775 across every shared overall standing
Road miles
34,044
104 mapped stops · furthest 2,393 mi
Schedule strength
1586
average field rating faced — tougher than 69% of rated contests
Purse competed for
$564,575
listed at 69 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
5
from 66 state-championship entries
Longest layoff
1.4 yrs
2020-01-24 → 2021-06-04
Power rating
1728
peak 1740 · #278 of 6,413 rated
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
- 2013
- First tracked contest Brentwood Cook Off and Car Show
- 2014
- First call Super City Blues & Ques
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score654.1828 Super City Blues & Ques
- 2015
- First category win (Chicken) Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest
- First overall top-10 Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest
- First overall podium Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest
- First Grand Championship Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest
- First multi-meat day Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest
- Biggest field won (58 teams) Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest
- 2016
- 10th tracked contest Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2
- 2018
- 25th tracked contest Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff
- 2023
- 50th tracked contest Americamps BBQ Throwdown - Day 2 (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 2024
- First state championship Steel City Smokeout
- First Reserve Championship Zom-B-Q (Day 2)
- 2025
- 10th category win Big Knob BBQ Fest
- 5th Grand Championship Saxonburg BBQ Smokeout
- Career-best overall score710.2744 Saxonburg BBQ Smokeout
- First perfect 180 (Brisket) First State BBQ Bash
- 2026
- Peak power rating (1740) BBQ Gives Back (Day 1)
- 100th tracked contest Chillin & Grillin in the Glades
- Most recent contest Saxonburg BBQ Smokeout
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +18 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard) | 2023-03-25 |
| +17.8 | Nightmare before Zom-B-Q (Day 1) | 2024-10-25 |
| +17.2 | Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest | 2015-08-21 |
| +16.8 | Smoke in the Grove (Day 2) | 2022-07-30 |
| +16.5 | Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest | 2016-04-15 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -18.3 | Minnesota in May | 2026-05-08 |
| -18.1 | Revolutionary BBQ Brawl | 2026-04-24 |
| -17.9 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 34th Annual | 2025-06-06 |
| -15.3 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 33rd Annual | 2024-05-31 |
| -14.4 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 32nd Annual | 2023-06-02 |
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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 79% | top 36% | 97.7% | 95.6% |
| 2025 | 20 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 90% | top 24% | 98.6% | 95.9% |
| 2024 | 19 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 79% | top 37% | 96.9% | 94.9% |
| 2023 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 79% | top 33% | 144.1% | 109.2% |
| 2022 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 50% | top 53% | 142.4% | 105.9% |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67% | top 68% | 91.4% | 75.8% |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 94% | 69.8% | 69.8% |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 79% | 88.9% | 88.4% |
| 2018 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40% | top 69% | 92% | 89.4% |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 60% | 92.9% | 89.8% |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 63% | top 49% | 95% | 92% |
| 2015 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 75% | top 34% | 94.8% | 92.6% |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33% | top 67% | 90.9% | 86.9% |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | — | — | — |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-28 | Saxonburg BBQ Smokeout 🏅 Saxonburg, PA | 5 / 16 (685.6000) | 5 (174.2628) | 7 (170.8228) | 6 (169.6916) | 7 (170.8228) |
| 2026-08-21 | Stoney Creek BBQ Cookoff 🏅 Edinburg, VA | 12 / 26 (685.0284) | 5 (176.5600) | 19 (166.2284) | 16 (172.5600) | 13 (169.6800) |
| 2026-07-25 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 19 / 39 (685.5884) | 15 (175.4172) | 13 (174.2628) | 33 (165.0972) | 22 (170.8112) |
| 2026-07-24 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 12 / 43 (687.9088) | 12 (175.4172) | 23 (167.3944) | 20 (169.6800) | 4 (175.4172) |
| 2026-07-17 | Chillin & Grillin in the Glades 🏅 Wise, VA | 4 / 35 (693.6228) | 2 (180.0000) | 24 (168.5372) | 15 (171.9656) | 8 (173.1200) |
| 2026-05-22 | Big Knob BBQ & Cash Fest 🏅 Rochester, PA | 1 / 14 (700.5372) | 1 (177.7144) | 3 (174.2628) | 5 (173.7144) | 3 (174.8456) |
| 2026-05-16 | Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 2) 🏅 Morgantown, PA | 3 / 17 (703.4176) | 3 (178.8572) | 8 (169.6916) | 2 (176.0116) | 1 (178.8572) |
| 2026-05-15 | Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 1) 🏅 Morgantown, PA | 1 / 25 (693.0628) | 7 (174.2628) | 5 (173.1200) | 7 (172.5600) | 2 (173.1200) |
| 2026-05-08 | Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN | 69 / 77 (667.3488) | 53 (169.1200) | 63 (163.9772) | 7 (175.4400) | 69 (158.8116) |
| 2026-05-08 | Minnesota in May (ONE MEAT RIBS) St. Peter, MN | — | — | 36 (164.5372) | — | — |
| 2026-04-24 | Revolutionary BBQ Brawl 🏅 Williamsburg, VA | 18 / 20 (668.9828) | 1 (180.0000) | 20 (165.0972) | 20 (156.5028) | 13 (167.3828) |
| 2026-03-28 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 15 / 36 (692.5028) | 22 (173.7028) | 15 (171.4172) | 17 (171.9772) | 6 (175.4056) |
| 2026-03-27 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 8 / 40 (693.0628) | 4 (177.1428) | 36 (162.8000) | 18 (173.1200) | 1 (180.0000) |
| 2026-03-27 | BBQ Gives Back (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Urbanna, VA | — | 13 (170.8228) | — | — | — |
| 2025-10-25 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) 🏅 Jackson, NJ | 6 / 32 (694.2172) | 11 (173.1200) | 6 (175.4172) | 14 (173.1200) | 11 (172.5600) |
| 2025-10-10 | MD State BBQ Bash 🏅 Bel Air, MD | 2 / 29 (695.8968) | 10 (174.2628) | 5 (175.4056) | 7 (171.9656) | 5 (174.2628) |
| 2025-10-03 | Keystone Classic BBQ State Championship 🏅 Harrisburg, PA | 2 / 30 (692.5260) | 4 (176.0116) | 10 (169.6916) | 4 (175.4056) | 7 (171.4172) |
| 2025-09-26 | First State BBQ Bash 🏅 Milford, DE | 4 / 25 (693.6572) | 2 (178.8572) | 17 (165.1200) | 13 (169.6800) | 1 (180.0000) |
| 2025-09-26 | First State BBQ Bash (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Milford, DE | — | 5 (169.6916) | — | — | — |
| 2025-09-06 | Saxonburg BBQ Smokeout Saxonburg, PA | 1 / 14 (710.2744) | 2 (176.5600) | 1 (178.8572) | 3 (176.5600) | 4 (178.2972) |
| 2025-08-09 | Triple Crown BBQ (Day 2) 🏅 Doswell, VA | 3 / 25 (694.2288) | 24 (167.3828) | 2 (177.7144) | 12 (173.1316) | 2 (176.0000) |
| 2025-08-08 | Triple Crown BBQ (Day 1) 🏅 Doswell, VA | 13 / 25 (686.7544) | 10 (171.9772) | 19 (166.2400) | 11 (171.9772) | 4 (176.5600) |
| 2025-08-02 | Grand American Barbecue New York State Championship (Open) 🏅 Port Jervis, NY | 3 / 47 (700.5716) | 11 (176.0116) | 10 (176.0000) | 5 (174.8572) | 14 (173.7028) |
| 2025-08-01 | Grand American Barbecue World Championship (Invitational) (COMPETITOR SERIES) unrated Port Jervis, NY | 6 / 34 (699.9660) | 3 (177.7144) | 28 (169.6800) | 10 (176.5600) | 7 (176.0116) |
| 2025-07-26 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 4 / 27 (696.5260) | 14 (170.8344) | 6 (173.7028) | 8 (174.2744) | 1 (177.7144) |
| 2025-07-25 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 2 / 30 (703.3828) | 8 (175.4172) | 7 (173.7028) | 6 (176.5600) | 3 (177.7028) |
| 2025-06-06 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 34th Annual 🏅 McLouth, KS | 25 / 28 (638.7084) | 22 (164.5256) | 27 (158.2288) | 27 (156.5484) | 22 (159.4056) |
| 2025-05-23 | Big Knob BBQ Fest 🏅 Rochester, PA | 1 / 12 (705.1200) | 1 (178.8572) | 5 (169.6800) | 2 (177.1428) | 1 (179.4400) |
| 2025-05-17 | Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 2) 🏅 Morgantown, PA | 9 / 21 (675.9088) | 8 (171.9888) | 12 (166.2400) | 14 (166.8456) | 8 (170.8344) |
| 2025-05-16 | Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 1) 🏅 Morgantown, PA | 17 / 28 (669.6000) | 16 (170.8344) | 8 (171.4172) | 26 (159.9656) | 10 (167.3828) |
| 2025-04-26 | Revolutionary BBQ Brawl (Day 2) 🏅 Williamsburg, VA | 4 / 16 (697.1316) | 1 (177.7372) | 5 (176.0116) | 11 (170.2628) | 7 (173.1200) |
| 2025-04-25 | Revolutionary BBQ Brawl (Day 1) 🏅 Williamsburg, VA | 3 / 20 (684.4916) | 9 (173.1200) | 10 (169.1200) | 10 (170.2628) | 4 (171.9888) |
| 2025-03-22 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 2 / 43 (706.8460) | 22 (171.9772) | 5 (176.5716) | 2 (179.4400) | 1 (178.8572) |
| 2025-03-21 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) (Masters and Backyard) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 20 / 45 (682.7544) | 19 (173.1200) | 29 (169.1200) | 16 (173.1200) | 22 (167.3944) |
| 2024-10-26 | Zom-B-Q (Day 2) 🏅 Roseland, VA | 2 / 11 (697.6800) | 7 (174.2628) | 3 (174.8572) | 2 (176.5944) | 5 (171.9656) |
| 2024-10-25 | Nightmare before Zom-B-Q (Day 1) 🏅 Roseland, VA | 1 / 13 (695.9084) | 4 (173.1200) | 1 (178.8572) | 1 (176.5600) | 11 (167.3712) |
| 2024-10-25 | Zom-B-Q (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Roseland, VA | — | 9 (167.3828) | — | — | — |
| 2024-10-25 | Zom-B-Q (ONE MEAT RIBS) Roseland, VA | — | — | 8 (165.0856) | — | — |
| 2024-10-04 | Keystone Classic BBQ State Championship 🏅 Harrisburg, PA | 5 / 25 (691.3828) | 9 (172.0000) | 2 (174.2744) | 11 (169.7028) | 5 (175.4056) |
| 2024-08-30 | Fire in the Foothills BBQ Festival 🏅 King, NC | 20 / 28 (673.5656) | 11 (173.1200) | 12 (169.6916) | 14 (170.2628) | 24 (160.4912) |
| 2024-08-10 | Americamps BBQ Throwdown (Day 2) 🏅 Ashland, VA | 4 / 28 (694.7772) | 6 (176.5600) | 8 (174.2744) | 10 (171.9656) | 7 (171.9772) |
| 2024-08-09 | Americamps BBQ Throwdown (Day 1) 🏅 Ashland, VA | 18 / 27 (682.1712) | 7 (174.2628) | 23 (166.8344) | 17 (170.2512) | 14 (170.8228) |
| 2024-08-09 | Americamps BBQ Throwdown (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Ashland, VA | — | 13 (170.8228) | — | — | — |
| 2024-08-09 | Americamps BBQ Throwdown (ONE MEAT RIBS) Ashland, VA | — | — | 12 (168.5488) | — | — |
| 2024-07-27 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 14 / 32 (687.3256) | 7 (177.7028) | 3 (177.7144) | 24 (164.5256) | 18 (167.3828) |
| 2024-07-26 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 19 / 35 (665.5656) | 18 (167.4056) | 9 (170.8460) | 17 (167.9656) | 26 (159.3484) |
| 2024-07-19 | Steel City Smokeout 🏅 Bethlehem, PA | 1 / 10 (693.0396) | 3 (170.8228) | 2 (174.2628) | 1 (177.1428) | 3 (170.8112) |
| 2024-06-22 | Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle 🏅 Washington, DC | 19 / 36 (688.5144) | 22 (171.9772) | 13 (173.7144) | 27 (168.5372) | 6 (174.2856) |
| 2024-05-31 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 33rd Annual 🏅 McLouth, KS | 31 / 35 (635.8516) | 31 (153.6916) | 28 (162.2400) | 21 (165.7028) | 30 (154.2172) |
| 2024-05-18 | Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 2) 🏅 Morgantown, PA | 10 / 26 (678.1828) | 9 (173.1084) | 19 (162.8344) | 17 (164.5372) | 1 (177.7028) |
| 2024-05-17 | Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 1) 🏅 Morgantown, PA | 3 / 37 (686.7428) | 3 (176.5600) | 5 (170.8344) | 7 (174.2628) | 17 (165.0856) |
| 2024-04-20 | Revolutionary BBQ Brawl (Day 2) 🏅 Williamsburg, VA | 10 / 25 (683.9432) | 8 (173.1428) | 3 (175.4288) | 18 (163.9544) | 11 (171.4172) |
| 2024-04-19 | Revolutionary BBQ Brawl (Day 1) 🏅 Williamsburg, VA | 5 / 25 (690.8116) | 5 (173.1200) | 8 (172.5716) | 7 (172.5600) | 8 (172.5600) |
| 2023-10-06 | Keystone Classic BBQ State Championship 🏅 Harrisburg, PA | 6 / 28 (672.4456) | 11 (168.5256) | 9 (167.3944) | 7 (166.8228) | 5 (169.7028) |
| 2023-09-23 | Americamps BBQ Throwdown - Day 2 (BACKYARD ONLY) Ashland, VA | 9 / 20 (514.7772) | 15 (168.5256) | 4 (174.2628) | 6 (171.9888) | — |
| 2023-09-22 | Americamps BBQ Throwdown - Day 1 (BACKYARD ONLY) Ashland, VA | 6 / 24 (518.8000) | 4 (176.5600) | 14 (168.5372) | 7 (173.7028) | — |
| 2023-07-29 | Smoke on the Rail (Day 2) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 5 / 40 (342.8456) | 6 (172.5600) | 7 (170.2856) | — | — |
| 2023-07-28 | The National Beef Smokin' Saddles Official BBQ Contest (Day 1) 🏅 Dodge City, KS | 25 / 25 (627.3028) | 22 (168.0116) | 25 (143.9656) | 24 (159.3712) | 24 (155.9544) |
| 2023-07-28 | Smoke on the Rail (Day 1) 🏅 New Freedom, PA | 13 / 51 (335.3716) | 10 (170.8228) | 19 (164.5488) | — | — |
| 2023-06-02 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 32nd Annual 🏅 McLouth, KS | 33 / 36 (621.5428) | 29 (157.6456) | 25 (159.9428) | 33 (149.1200) | 27 (154.8344) |
| 2023-05-19 | Twin Valley Fire and Smoke 🏅 Morgantown, PA | 5 / 37 (341.6800) | 2 (178.8572) | 13 (162.8228) | — | — |
| 2023-04-29 | Revolutionary BBQ Brawl - Battle on the James (Day 2) 🏅 Williamsburg, VA | 5 / 19 (338.2744) | 6 (173.7144) | 14 (164.5600) | — | — |
| 2023-04-28 | Revolutionary BBQ Brawl - Battle on the James (Day 1) 🏅 Williamsburg, VA | 3 / 20 (345.6684) | 2 (174.8456) | 4 (170.8228) | — | — |
| 2023-03-25 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 3 / 46 (516.5144) | 3 (171.4056) | 7 (169.6916) | 3 (175.4172) | — |
| 2023-03-24 | BBQ Gives Back (One Meat Chicken) Urbanna, VA | — | 15 (171.4056) | — | — | — |
| 2023-03-24 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) (Masters and Backyard) 🏅 Urbanna, VA | 9 / 53 (502.7884) | 18 (163.9540) | 2 (173.7372) | 10 (165.0972) | — |
| 2023-03-24 | BBQ Gives Back (One Meat Ribs) Urbanna, VA | — | — | 8 (171.4172) | — | — |
| 2022-07-30 | Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles BBQ Competition (Day 2) 🏅 Dodge City, KS | 25 / 25 (618.0688) | 18 (167.9772) | 25 (154.7888) | 24 (152.5256) | 25 (142.7772) |
| 2022-07-30 | Smoke in the Grove (Day 2) 🏅 Spring Grove, PA | 4 / 42 (512.4684) | 21 (167.3712) | 3 (170.8344) | 1 (174.2628) | — |
| 2022-07-29 | Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles BBQ Competition (Day 1) 🏅 Dodge City, KS | 24 / 26 (611.2112) | 26 (151.3600) | 21 (158.8572) | 25 (150.7884) | 24 (150.2056) |
| 2022-07-29 | Smoke in the Grove (Day 1) 🏅 Spring Grove, PA | 17 / 54 (502.2400) | 15 (169.7256) | 21 (160.5372) | 5 (171.9772) | — |
| 2022-06-03 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 31st Annual 🏅 McLouth, KS | 22 / 30 (641.0972) | 19 (162.2744) | 21 (161.6800) | 16 (164.0228) | 27 (153.1200) |
| 2022-05-13 | Twin Valley Fire and Smoke 🏅 Morgantown, PA | 4 / 39 (337.7144) | 2 (173.1428) | 8 (164.5716) | — | — |
| 2021-09-24 | Smoke in the Park 🏅 Lemoyne, PA | 31 / 31 (331.9200) | 22 (163.9428) | 8 (167.9772) | — | — |
| 2021-07-30 | Smoke in the Grove 🏅 Spring Grove, PA | 17 / 54 (329.0856) | 25 (159.9656) | 5 (169.1200) | — | — |
| 2021-06-04 | Mclouth BBQ Blowout 29th Annual 🏅 Mclouth, KS | 31 / 42 (646.2060) | 36 (161.1200) | 39 (157.1088) | 24 (166.8800) | 31 (161.0972) |
| 2020-01-24 | Lakeland Pig Festival 🏅 Lakeland, FL | 50 / 53 (502.2400) | 7 (174.8572) | 52 (20.0000) | 35 (162.8572) | 49 (144.5256) |
| 2019-09-20 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook Off 🏅 Murphysboro, IL | 41 / 54 (639.8632) | 36 (161.6684) | 41 (160.0004) | 20 (169.1316) | 51 (149.0628) |
| 2019-01-25 | Lakeland Pig Festival 🏅 Lakeland, FL | 48 / 58 (633.5772) | 40 (161.7144) | 53 (151.3716) | 51 (155.3484) | 30 (165.1428) |
| 2018-09-21 | Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff Murphysboro, IL | 39 / 59 (662.6968) | 30 (168.5600) | 41 (161.6456) | 48 (161.0856) | 21 (171.4056) |
| 2018-08-31 | Smokin in the Bogs Warrens, WI | 14 / 25 (647.8856) | 14 (165.1200) | 12 (164.5372) | 7 (169.7028) | 19 (148.5256) |
| 2018-07-27 | *EffingHam-Jam Effingham, IL | 24 / 30 (647.2920) | 17 (163.4288) | 27 (149.6576) | 20 (162.7884) | 4 (171.4172) |
| 2018-04-20 | *Main Street BBQ & Blues Fest Washington, MO | 24 / 40 (653.0056) | 19 (165.6684) | 37 (151.3372) | 13 (167.4172) | 15 (168.5828) |
| 2018-01-26 | Lakeland Pig Festival Lakeland, FL | 50 / 60 (606.6860) | 52 (155.3944) | 47 (155.4172) | 43 (157.0856) | 54 (138.7888) |
| 2017-09-22 | Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff Murphysboro, IL | 26 / 55 (669.0172) | 40 (163.9544) | 21 (169.6800) | 24 (169.1200) | 22 (166.2628) |
| 2017-07-28 | EffingHam-Jam Effingham, IL | 22 / 35 (631.9204) | 19 (162.2744) | 15 (163.9888) | 10 (168.5600) | 31 (137.0972) |
| 2017-07-21 | *Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (JUDGES FULL) Peoria, IL | 30 / 48 (626.0796) | 33 (158.2628) | 23 (159.4056) | 34 (154.2056) | 30 (154.2056) |
| 2017-07-07 | 10th Annual Wellsville BBQ Cookoff Wellsville, MO | 17 / 25 (658.8344) | 19 (165.1312) | 9 (170.3088) | 23 (158.2744) | 13 (165.1200) |
| 2016-08-19 | Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest Cape Girardeau, MO | 13 / 51 (658.1944) | 6 (169.6800) | 7 (168.0000) | 30 (159.3944) | 20 (161.1200) |
| 2016-07-22 | EffingHAM Jam Effingham, IL | 14 / 29 (653.0168) | 3 (173.7028) | 22 (153.0856) | 21 (154.7884) | 7 (171.4400) |
| 2016-05-06 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour St. Charles, MO | 21 / 30 (654.8572) | 17 (168.5828) | 30 (147.4172) | 9 (170.8800) | 8 (167.9772) |
| 2016-04-30 | Smokin on the Water 2 Liberty, IN | 31 / 35 (653.5656) | 24 (169.6800) | 26 (163.9656) | 25 (165.1200) | 31 (154.8000) |
| 2016-04-29 | Smokin on the Water Liberty, IN | 29 / 33 (643.8632) | 22 (165.1200) | 16 (166.2748) | 27 (162.2628) | 28 (150.2056) |
| 2016-04-15 | Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO | 3 / 53 (683.9772) | 5 (175.4172) | 6 (173.7144) | 5 (173.1428) | 23 (161.7028) |
| 2016-03-19 | Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 2 Tupelo, MS | 23 / 61 (679.3140) | 18 (173.7028) | 24 (169.6684) | 26 (169.1200) | 36 (166.8228) |
| 2016-03-18 | Tupelo BBQ Duel- Comp 1 Tupelo, MS | 27 / 95 (675.2912) | 9 (175.4172) | 46 (165.1200) | 37 (168.5256) | 46 (166.2284) |
| 2015-10-09 | Central Illinois Bragging Rights Arthur, IL | 15 / 48 (669.5996) | 14 (168.5140) | 8 (171.9772) | 20 (166.2628) | 26 (162.8456) |
| 2015-08-21 | Cape Jaycees BBQ Fest Cape Girardeau, MO | 1 / 58 (682.2856) | 1 (177.1428) | 1 (174.8572) | 17 (165.1428) | 14 (165.1428) |
| 2015-07-24 | Effing-Ham-Jam State BBQ Championship Effingham, IL | 11 / 18 (645.6000) | 18 (157.6572) | 8 (163.3828) | 10 (161.7144) | 12 (162.8456) |
| 2015-07-10 | 8th Annual Wellsville BBQ Cookoff Wellsville, MO | 13 / 31 (668.4912) | 20 (165.1200) | 14 (166.2512) | 11 (169.7144) | 13 (167.4056) |
| 2014-10-17 | Casino Queen BBQ Competition Greater St. Louis, IL | 29 / 44 (653.1312) | 14 (170.8456) | 15 (168.5828) | 39 (153.1200) | 29 (160.5828) |
| 2014-08-08 | Brentwood Cook Off & Car Show Brentwood, CA | 20 / 26 (569.3256) | 13 (160.6744) | 25 (125.1312) | 21 (141.1656) | 20 (142.3544) |
| 2014-06-27 | Super City Blues & Ques Metropolis, IL | 19 / 33 (654.1828) | 6 (171.4172) | 20 (165.1428) | 31 (153.0856) | 19 (164.5372) |
| 2013-08-09 | Brentwood Cook Off and Car Show Brentwood, CA | — | — | — | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #39 (1728 pts) | #11 (1955 pts) | #122 (1188 pts) | #83 (1273 pts) | #15 (1918 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #9 (2432 pts) | #42 (1939 pts) | #61 (1853 pts) | #53 (1817 pts) | #9 (2342 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #48 (1910 pts) | #58 (1717 pts) | #29 (2039 pts) | #67 (1610 pts) | #64 (1635 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Backyard | — | #32 (1080 pts) | #58 (949 pts) | — | — |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #805 (168 pts) | #728 (231 pts) | #686 (291 pts) | #872 (158 pts) | #832 (178 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Backyard | — | #102 (428 pts) | #103 (448 pts) | — | — |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #1269 (70 pts) | #1246 (85 pts) | #1346 (75 pts) | #1187 (100 pts) | #1654 (55 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Backyard | — | #262 (60 pts) | #134 (185 pts) | — | — |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #1527 (56 pts) | #1249 (71 pts) | #912 (151 pts) | — | — |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #589 (667 pts) | #447 (887 pts) | #689 (587 pts) | #630 (637 pts) | #642 (617 pts) |