Perfect scores on the board
3
perfect 180s
3 perfect 180s in the data — every judge at the table handing back a nine, across 2 different meats.
- Chicken ×2
- Pork ×1
Big Wigs BBQ
Big Wigs BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 48 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2024. They have won 3 Grand Championships, most recently at the East Central State BBQ Cook Off Paola Roots Festival (2015), and finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #812 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1627
peak 1689 · rated over 45 contests2 invitational or side-series contests not counted
Contests
48
in the data
First seen
Mar 15, 2013
latest Aug 23, 2024 · 11.4 years on the trail
Grand champs
3
1 reserve · wins it all 6% of the time
Category wins
7
16 podiums
Overall top-10s
15
31% of 48 contests
Best top-10 run
5
straight overall top-10s
Avg finish
top 32%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
3 🔥
Current form
656.32 ▼
last 5 Master vs avg 667.40 (-11.07)
Walk rate
67%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±11.70
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 170.22 · weakest Brisket (163.61)
Road miles
4,141
across 48 mapped stops · furthest 214 mi
Schedule strength
36%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1548)
Purse competed for
$123K
listed at 8 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 12 state-championship entries
Master avg
667.40 / 720
47 Master contests · 3 GCs
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #1062 (111 pts) | #968 (136 pts) | #1097 (126 pts) | #1138 (101 pts) | #1126 (106 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #909 (150 pts) | #902 (170 pts) | #1060 (135 pts) | #890 (175 pts) | #863 (175 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #1055 (240 pts) | #909 (325 pts) | #914 (335 pts) | #946 (310 pts) | #1111 (240 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #770 (425 pts) | #614 (605 pts) | #949 (345 pts) | #957 (330 pts) | #813 (415 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #685 (560 pts) | #419 (905 pts) | #573 (700 pts) | #616 (655 pts) | #1103 (300 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #628 (615 pts) | #591 (685 pts) | #821 (480 pts) | #637 (630 pts) | #543 (745 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #449 (855 pts) | #527 (740 pts) | #563 (685 pts) | #702 (540 pts) | #524 (720 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #349 (1,046 pts) | #460 (836 pts) | #458 (866 pts) | #279 (1,201 pts) | #525 (706 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #1970 (75 pts) | #1412 (180 pts) | #2043 (75 pts) | #2080 (75 pts) | #2034 (75 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to Big Wigs BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
27 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#809 of the rated field
- Contests
- 49
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 22%
- Peak
- 1637
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Big Wigs BBQ)
One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team Big Wigs BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-head#813 of the rated field
- Contests
- 42
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 40%
- Peak
- 1634
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Big Wigs BBQ)
Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 5 years before Big Wigs BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-head#811 of the rated field
- Contests
- 19
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 32%
- Peak
- 1627
1–1 in 2 shared contests (50% to Big Wigs BBQ)
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 19 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-head#807 of the rated field
- Contests
- 46
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 39%
- Peak
- 1628
Careers of much the same size, 46 contests to 48, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careers#808 of the rated field
- Contests
- 83
- GCs
- 2
- Top-10s
- 39%
- Peak
- 1702
Their rating is built on 2 Grand Championships in 83 contests, alongside a 39% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Compare careers#814 of the rated field
- Contests
- 20
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 75%
- Peak
- 1627
They turned up 8 years after Big Wigs BBQ did, first appearing in 2021.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four Men and A Pig | 24 | 9 | 15 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| B & C SMOKERS | 24 | 9 | 15 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| HIGH i QUE | 20 | 2 | 18 | 10% | ⚔ compare |
| SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 20 | 1 | 19 | 5% | ⚔ compare |
| Theslabs.com | 19 | 12 | 7 | 63% | ⚔ compare |
| THE SMOKING HILLS | 19 | 3 | 16 | 16% | ⚔ compare |
| DUNN UP BBQ | 17 | 17 | 0 | 100% | ⚔ compare |
| Double Stack BBQ | 17 | 16 | 1 | 94% | ⚔ compare |
| Dead Last BBQ | 17 | 15 | 2 | 88% | ⚔ compare |
| BLACK EYE BBQ | 17 | 13 | 4 | 76% | ⚔ compare |
| BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE | 17 | 5 | 12 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| GETTIN' SAUCED | 17 | 4 | 13 | 24% | ⚔ compare |
| Royal Smoke | 16 | 15 | 1 | 94% | ⚔ compare |
| BEAUX HAWG BBQ | 16 | 12 | 4 | 75% | ⚔ compare |
| Sublime BBQ | 16 | 4 | 12 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 47 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 180 🔥 | 156.5028 | 170.22 | top 28% |
| Pork Ribs | 47 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 178.8572 | 149.6456 | 166.36 | top 39% |
| Pork | 47 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 180 🔥 | 152.5028 | 167.20 | top 38% |
| Brisket | 47 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 176 | 145.0972 | 163.61 | top 44% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 2 | 0 | top 58% |
| Medium (20–39) | 1 | 0 | top 74% |
| Large (40+) | 44 | 3 | top 30% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Central State BBQ Cook-Off-Paola Roots Festival | 8 | 1 | 2 | top 21% | Aug 26, 2022 |
| Sertoma 48 BBQ | 5 | 1 | 1 | top 19% | May 4, 2018 |
| Main Street BBQ & Blues Fest | 2 | 9 | 0 | top 39% | Apr 20, 2018 |
| 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) | 2 | 127 | 0 | top 52% | Oct 29, 2016 |
| Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship | 2 | 10 | 0 | top 8% | Jun 24, 2016 |
| Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest | 2 | 4 | 0 | top 22% | Apr 15, 2016 |
| Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest | 2 | 5 | 0 | top 13% | Jun 6, 2014 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2014
9 contests · 1 GC
Contests a season
4.8
across 10 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
KS
32 of 48 contests · 3 states in all
Contests visited
31
7 of them more than once
First title
Aug 23, 2013
East Central State BBQ Cook-Off Paola Roots Festival
Opponents faced
2,483
finished ahead 4,238 times, behind 2,415
Longest layoff
3 yrs
Sep 12, 2019 → Aug 26, 2022
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20241 milestone
- Most recent contest East Central Kansas State BBQ Championship
20181 milestone
- Peak power rating (1689) East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival
20161 milestone
- 25th tracked contest Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship
20151 milestone
- First Reserve Championship Sertoma 48 BBQ
20143 milestones
- 10th tracked contest 6th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest
- First perfect 180 (Pork) Sertoma 48 BBQ
- Career-best overall score689.0972 Sertoma 48 BBQ
20138 milestones
- First tracked contest NKC MO State BBQ Championship
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score657.1424 NKC MO State BBQ Championship
- First call Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest
- First overall top-10 Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest
- First category win (Chicken) East Central State BBQ Cook-Off Paola Roots Festival
- First overall podium East Central State BBQ Cook-Off Paola Roots Festival
- First Grand Championship East Central State BBQ Cook-Off Paola Roots Festival
- Biggest field won (68 teams) East Central State BBQ Cook-Off Paola Roots Festival
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +13.8 | East Central State BBQ Cook-Off Paola Roots Festival | Aug 23, 2013 |
| +13.7 | Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest | Apr 19, 2013 |
| +13.4 | Sertoma 48 BBQ | May 9, 2014 |
| +12.9 | Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest | Jun 7, 2013 |
| +11.9 | Sertoma 48 BBQ | May 8, 2015 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -16.6 | 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST | Sep 12, 2019 |
| -11.1 | BBQ, Bikes and Blues | Apr 26, 2019 |
| -10.2 | Smokin' At The Run | Mar 15, 2014 |
| -9.3 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST | Sep 29, 2022 |
| -6.8 | 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) | Sep 15, 2018 |
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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 60% | 93% | 93% |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 69% | 91.9% | 91.9% |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 57% | 94.4% | 92.3% |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60% | top 58% | 92.8% | 90.3% |
| 2018 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60% | top 38% | 93.2% | 91.8% |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 80% | top 25% | 94% | 93.2% |
| 2016 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 67% | top 31% | 94.6% | 93.2% |
| 2015 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 83% | top 18% | 95.3% | 93.7% |
| 2014 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 56% | top 35% | 95.7% | 92.9% |
| 2013 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 86% | top 10% | 94.6% | 93.4% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 23, 2024 | East Central Kansas State BBQ Championship 🏅 Paola, KS | 25 / 42 (669.5776) | 9 (175.4172) | 35 (160.5144) | 21 (169.6916) | 23 (163.9544) |
| Aug 26, 2023 | East Central Kansas State BBQ Championship - Paola Roots Festival 🏅 Paola, KS | 11 / 16 (661.5888) | 8 (169.1200) | 9 (169.1316) | 13 (160.5372) | 12 (162.8000) |
| Oct 1, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - SIDES Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sep 29, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 362 / 505 (650.1712) | 286 (166.2628) | 485 (149.6456) | 232 (168) | 229 (166.2628) |
| Aug 26, 2022 | East Central State BBQ Cook-Off-Paola Roots Festival 🏅 Paola, KS | 19 / 45 (679.3372) | 15 (172.5600) | 22 (167.3828) | 14 (171.9772) | 14 (167.4172) |
| Sep 12, 2019 | 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 407 / 468 (620.9372) | 389 (156.5028) | 333 (160.5488) | 408 (152.5028) | 397 (151.3828) |
| Aug 23, 2019 | East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival 🏅 Paola, KS | 33 / 66 (663.2684) | 25 (168.5600) | 8 (174.2628) | 30 (168.5372) | 56 (151.9084) |
| Jun 21, 2019 | The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS | 78 / 183 (647.9196) | 65 (164.5256) | 108 (157.1428) | 41 (168.5828) | 106 (157.6684) |
| May 31, 2019 | Smoke on the Bricks 🏅 Baldwin City, KS | 18 / 49 (667.8976) | 6 (174.2744) | 37 (153.6344) | 18 (167.4288) | 8 (172.5600) |
| Apr 26, 2019 | BBQ, Bikes and Blues 🏅 Washington, MO | 29 / 39 (649.0516) | 9 (172.5600) | 27 (160.5488) | 11 (170.8456) | 35 (145.0972) |
| Sep 15, 2018 | 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 270 / 467 (654.7656) | 18 (177.1428) | 204 (167.4056) | 253 (163.9428) | 425 (146.2744) |
| Aug 24, 2018 | East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival Paola, KS | 13 / 67 (670.7200) | 5 (175.4056) | 18 (170.2744) | 35 (162.8000) | 31 (162.2400) |
| Jun 22, 2018 | The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle Lenexa, KS | 21 / 185 (665.0052) | 11 (171.9656) | 35 (168.5484) | 48 (166.8228) | 90 (157.6684) |
| May 4, 2018 | Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS | 19 / 41 (655.2916) | 10 (170.2744) | 26 (159.3600) | 19 (164.5372) | 23 (161.1200) |
| Apr 20, 2018 | Main Street BBQ & Blues Fest Washington, MO | 22 / 40 (658.7084) | 25 (162.8000) | 23 (161.7028) | 28 (161.0856) | 7 (173.1200) |
| Sep 29, 2017 | Smoke On the Trails Gardner, KS | 19 / 64 (673.0056) | 11 (172.5600) | 37 (162.7884) | 1 (177.7028) | 42 (159.9544) |
| Aug 25, 2017 | East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival Paola, KS | 21 / 57 (662.7656) | 1 (180) | 27 (163.4056) | 31 (164.5372) | 47 (154.8228) |
| Jun 23, 2017 | Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS | 8 / 184 (668.4916) | 4 (174.8572) | 2 (176.5600) | 22 (169.6800) | 142 (147.3944) |
| May 19, 2017 | 22nd Annual Platte City BBQ Cook Off at Basswood Resort Platte City, MO | 19 / 59 (676.5256) | 18 (170.8228) | 26 (168) | 11 (171.4056) | 26 (166.2972) |
| Apr 21, 2017 | Main Street BBQ & Blues Fest Washington, MO | 9 / 40 (674.8228) | 5 (176.0572) | 2 (175.4172) | 16 (167.9656) | 30 (155.3828) |
| Oct 29, 2016 | 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 188 / 557 (665.0056) | 11 (176.5828) | 350 (161.6456) | 410 (159.3716) | 165 (167.4056) |
| Oct 28, 2016 | 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL) unrated Kansas City, KS | 127 / 180 (667.9428) | 130 (167.4172) | 14 (177.2000) | 174 (158.7884) | 139 (164.5372) |
| Aug 26, 2016 | East Central State BBQ Cook-Off, Paola Roots Festival Paola, KS | 5 / 61 (681.0400) | 22 (166.8344) | 19 (167.3828) | 8 (173.1084) | 3 (173.7144) |
| Jun 24, 2016 | Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS | 18 / 183 (671.3944) | 8 (173.1544) | 94 (159.4172) | 64 (163.4172) | 6 (175.4056) |
| May 6, 2016 | Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS | 12 / 42 (674.8572) | 11 (171.4400) | 18 (168.5600) | 31 (163.9772) | 8 (170.8800) |
| Apr 15, 2016 | Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO | 19 / 53 (664.4800) | 10 (171.4172) | 35 (158.2400) | 3 (174.2628) | 27 (160.5600) |
| Oct 3, 2015 | 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO | 128 / 606 (671.8628) | 1 (180) | 349 (162.2516) | 290 (164.5256) | 240 (165.0856) |
| Sep 25, 2015 | Burg Fest BBQ Contest Warrensburg, MO | 9 / 19 (664.9828) | 9 (167.4172) | 8 (166.2400) | 15 (160.5028) | 6 (170.8228) |
| Aug 28, 2015 | East Central State BBQ Cook Off Paola Roots Festival Paola, KS | 1 / 65 (682.2860) | 12 (169.6800) | 3 (173.1544) | 30 (163.4516) | 1 (176) |
| Jun 26, 2015 | Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS | 10 / 183 (675.3712) | 11 (171.4172) | 27 (168.5484) | 60 (163.9772) | 16 (171.4284) |
| May 8, 2015 | Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS | 2 / 45 (686.2288) | 19 (166.8344) | 8 (171.9772) | 2 (174.8572) | 4 (172.5600) |
| Apr 17, 2015 | 7th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO | 14 / 49 (666.2400) | 15 (167.9772) | 6 (173.1428) | 17 (166.2972) | 26 (158.8228) |
| Oct 2, 2014 | 35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO | 101 / 165 (666.1944) | 84 (168) | 121 (162.2400) | 122 (163.3944) | 43 (172.5600) |
| Oct 2, 2014 | 35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO | 179 / 552 (664.5144) | 396 (159.4172) | 207 (166.8228) | 137 (169.7144) | 134 (168.5600) |
| Aug 22, 2014 | East Central State BBQ Cook Off Paola Roots Festival Paola, KS | 3 / 69 (681.6800) | 12 (171.4172) | 2 (178.8572) | 1 (176.5828) | 37 (154.8228) |
| Aug 1, 2014 | Wheels 'N' Squeels BBQ Challenge Olathe, KS | 31 / 70 (654.7428) | 17 (168.5484) | 58 (153.6572) | 34 (164.5600) | 14 (167.9772) |
| Jun 6, 2014 | Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest Mayetta, KS | 10 / 54 (670.7888) | 16 (168.5372) | 42 (157.6688) | 5 (174.8456) | 11 (169.7372) |
| May 9, 2014 | Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS | 1 / 54 (689.0972) | 4 (173.1428) | 10 (169.1316) | 1 (180) | 16 (166.8228) |
| Apr 11, 2014 | 6th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO | 15 / 46 (666.8112) | 22 (163.4056) | 11 (169.1200) | 7 (169.1656) | 22 (165.1200) |
| Mar 15, 2014 | Smokin' At The Run Miami, OK | 58 / 72 (659.9888) | 28 (172.5600) | 23 (170.2972) | 69 (155.9772) | 59 (161.1544) |
| Mar 14, 2014 | Smokin' At The Run Shootout Miami, OK | 16 / 41 (663.3256) | 20 (167.9656) | 8 (173.1428) | 29 (162.8228) | 27 (159.3944) |
| Oct 3, 2013 | 34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO | 53 / 535 (668.5028) | 7 (177.7028) | 236 (160.5372) | 148 (166.2628) | 148 (164) |
| Aug 23, 2013 | East Central State BBQ Cook-Off Paola Roots Festival Paola, KS | 1 / 68 (681.1200) | 1 (178.8800) | 10 (171.4400) | 9 (169.1428) | 31 (161.6572) |
| Aug 1, 2013 | Wheels 'N' Squeels BBQ Challenge Olathe, KS | 10 / 74 (675.3484) | 28 (166.8344) | 30 (165.1084) | 17 (171.4056) | 8 (172) |
| Jun 7, 2013 | Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest Mayetta, KS | 5 / 69 (679.4282) | 7 (172) | 4 (174.2858) | 9 (170.8570) | 34 (162.2854) |
| May 10, 2013 | Sertoma 48 BBQ Lawrence, KS | 6 / 49 (677.1426) | 8 (171.4284) | 2 (172.5714) | 8 (169.1428) | 18 (164) |
| Apr 19, 2013 | Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO | 4 / 50 (670.2858) | 21 (161.7142) | 2 (172) | 6 (171.4286) | 12 (165.1430) |
| Mar 15, 2013 | NKC MO State BBQ Championship N. Kansas City, MO | 13 / 79 (657.1424) | 52 (157.1426) | 13 (168) | 12 (168) | 18 (163.9998) |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.