HotMess BBQ VA
Rating
1758
peak 1762
Contests
61
in the data
First seen
2021-07-30
latest 2026-05-22
Best ToY finish
#9
Master 2025
Grand champs
6
5 reserve
Category wins
16
46 podiums
Overall top-10s
39
of 61 contests
Avg finish
top 26%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
3 🔥
Current form
691.70 ▲
last 5 vs career avg 616.86 (+74.84)
Walk rate
90%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
8
best run (overall)
Consistency
±130.70
std dev of overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 172.91 · weakest Pork Ribs (170.68)
Road miles
5262
mi across 61 mapped stops · furthest 297 mi
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
Mispillion Meat Works has finished one call ahead of HotMess BBQ 4 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
Country Boys BBQ has landed one call behind them 3 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
POOR BOYS BBQ has come out ahead in 10 of their 14 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of 4 BOXERS Q in 23 of their 24 shared contests.
🏕️ Happy hunting ground
BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) (Masters and Backyard) is their spot: an average finish in the top 6% across 2 visits.
💔 The heartbreaker
Came within 0.5596 points of the Grand Championship at Keystone Classic BBQ State Championship (2025-10-03).
📅 A October team
Something about October: average finish in the top 14% across 7 contests, versus top 26% the rest of the year.
🃏 Against the odds
Their Grand Championship at Nightmare before Zom-B-Q (Day 1) (2024-10-25) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 28-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit.
Teams like this (closest power rating, VA first)
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 58 | 37 | 4 | 14 | 180.0000 🔥 | 159.9656 | 172.91 | top 33% |
| Pork Ribs | 56 | 38 | 2 | 11 | 178.8572 | 160.5372 | 170.68 | top 36% |
| Pork | 45 | 26 | 3 | 9 | 179.4400 | 156.5028 | 171.62 | top 37% |
| Brisket | 39 | 28 | 7 | 12 | 180.0000 🔥 | 159.3484 | 172.80 | top 29% |
“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 | 25 | 5 | top 24% |
| VA | 21 | 1 | top 29% |
| NY | 2 | 0 | top 12% |
| 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% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 9 | 5 | top 14% |
| Medium (20–39) | 33 | 1 | top 32% |
| Large (40+) | 11 | 0 | top 19% |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2025 (19 contests)
- Cooks mostly in VA (28 of 61 contests)
- Most-entered category: Chicken (58 entries)
- First Grand Championship in the data: Steel City Smokeout (2024-07-19)
- Wins it all in 10% of contests
- All-time average overall score: 616.86
- 3 perfect 180s on the books 🔥
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
Category scores over time
Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)
Where they finish (overall)
Best vs average (by meat)
Team of the Year rank by season
Season by season
| Season | Contests | GCs | Category wins | Best overall | Avg overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 703.4176 | 691.93 |
| 2025 | 19 | 2 | 7 | 710.2744 | 693.88 |
| 2024 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 697.6800 | 686.40 |
| 2023 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 672.4456 | 442.92 |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 512.4684 | 450.81 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 331.9200 | 330.50 |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| 2026-04-24 | 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) 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) |
| 2025-05-23 | 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) |
| 2024-05-18 | 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 | Smoke on the Rail (Day 1) New Freedom, PA | 13 / 51 (335.3716) | 10 (170.8228) | 19 (164.5488) | — | — |
| 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 | 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 | Smoke in the Grove (Day 1) Spring Grove, PA | 17 / 54 (502.2400) | 15 (169.7256) | 21 (160.5372) | 5 (171.9772) | — |
| 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) | — | — |
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 | #66 (1101 pts) | #39 (1303 pts) | #156 (766 pts) | #106 (826 pts) | #37 (1296 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) | — | — |
| 2021 ↗ | Backyard | — | #262 (60 pts) | #134 (185 pts) | — | — |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #1527 (56 pts) | #1249 (71 pts) | #912 (151 pts) | — | — |