Subtle Smoke

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

Power ranking

#5822

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1440

peak 1517 · rated over 48 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-05-17

latest 2024-08-23

Best ToY finish

#274

Master 2013

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

7 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 53 contests

Avg finish

top 63%

overall standings

Best overall

683.3832 / 720

Master · 9th Annual Big Island BBQ

Perfect 180s

Current form

650.51 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 651.05 (-0.54)

Walk rate

53%

contests with a top-10 call

Top-10 streak

best run (overall)

Best single call

177.1544

Pork · 9th Annual Big Island BBQ

Consistency

±12.78

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 165.78 · weakest Brisket (158.53)

Road miles

7,275

mi across 53 mapped stops · furthest 251 mi

Schedule strength

40%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1553)

Purse competed for

$99K

listed at 11 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

GCs in 10 state-championship entries

Master avg

651.05 / 720

48 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (11 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.

High-water mark

683.3832 career-best overall

94.9% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 683.3832 at 9th Annual Big Island BBQ — 94.9% of a perfect 720.

Master
2016-08-26

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

Totally Sauced has finished one call ahead of Subtle Smoke 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

36–0 behind in the head-to-head

SPITFIRE ahead in 100% of their meetings

SPITFIRE has come out ahead in 36 of their 36 shared contests.

The weak link

−7.2 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 7.25 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 13% of the time against 22%.

Brisket avg 158.53
Chicken avg 165.78
6 calls in 48 entries

A strong matchup

8–3 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 73% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of 3 BRATS AND A COCKTAIL WEENIE in 8 of their 11 shared contests.

The comeback

2.7 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2.7 years, then back at Minnesota in May (2021-05-07).

last seen 2018-09-01
back 2021-05-07

Chicken nemesis

28 of 35 shared chicken entries lost

SHIGGIN & GRINNIN ahead 80% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, SHIGGIN & GRINNIN has out-cooked them in 28 of 35 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

Phoenix BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

An August team

Top 52% average finish in August

Something about August: average finish in the top 52% across 11 contests, versus top 63% the rest of the year.

11 August contests
top 63% the rest of the year

The long haul

7,275 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 7,275 miles across 53 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 251 miles to Septemberfest BBQ & Rib-Eye Steak Cookoff Challenge.

53 mapped stops
furthest 251 mi

The metronome

±1.78% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.78% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 90.4% of a perfect score
53 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.

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

DP BBQ

#5813 of the rated field

1440 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1440

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Subtle Smoke)

One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team Subtle Smoke has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 11 contests
last seen 2020-10-17

⚔ Head-to-head

KC Rib doctor

#5840 of the rated field

1440 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 38
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1440

No shared contest yet.

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 38 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 38 contests
last seen 2026-06-26

⚔ Head-to-head

HOG CALL BBQ

#5836 of the rated field

1440 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 27
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1506

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 27 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

MEATSMACK

#5829 of the rated field

1440 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 25
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 4%
Peak: 1440

No shared contest yet.

Fewer contests behind them than Subtle Smoke has cooked, 25 to 53, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 25 contests
last seen 2018-07-20

⚔ Head-to-head

Ribbed For Your Pleasure

#5831 of the rated field

1440 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1508

No shared contest yet.

18 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 11% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 18 contests
last seen 2026-08-21

⚔ Head-to-head

NED'S CAROLINA BARBEQUE COMPANY

#5814 of the rated field

1440 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1440

No shared contest yet.

Level with Subtle Smoke on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 16 contests
last seen 2016-09-23

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SPITFIRE	36	0	36	0%	⚔ compare
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN	34	0	34	0%	⚔ compare
Hogline	23	4	19	17%	⚔ compare
Eggspert BBQ	21	2	19	10%	⚔ compare
CITY SLICKERS BBQ	21	2	19	10%	⚔ compare
SMOKEY AND HIS BANDITS	20	4	16	20%	⚔ compare
ACES HIGH BBQ	20	3	17	15%	⚔ compare
ROLLIN' SMOKE BBQ SD	19	6	13	32%	⚔ compare
Pigtamer BBQ	17	6	11	35%	⚔ compare
TRUE SMOKE BBQ	17	6	11	35%	⚔ compare
MYASSIS SMOKIN	17	6	11	35%	⚔ compare
RUB MY RACK	17	3	14	18%	⚔ compare
LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY	17	2	15	12%	⚔ compare
PARROTHEAD SMOKERS	17	1	16	6%	⚔ compare
NECTAR OF THE HOGS	16	2	14	13%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	49	11	0	1	175.4172	150.2512	165.78	top 54%
Pork Ribs	53	12	1	2	177.1428	145.6344	163.13	top 57%
Pork	49	10	0	4	177.1544	151.3484	163.67	top 56%
Brisket	48	6	0	0	172.0232	138.2056	158.53	top 65%

“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	Avg finish
MN	35	top 65%
SD	7	top 49%
NE	5	top 67%
IA	1	top 56%

By contest size

Field	Contests	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	2	top 62%
Medium (20–39)	24	top 65%
Large (40+)	22	top 61%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-off	3	23	top 73%	2023-07-14
Cookin' on Kampeska	3	9	top 53%	2016-07-15
Minnesota in May	2	52	top 91%	2024-05-10
Smokin in Steele (Master & Backyard Contest)	2	26	top 72%	2022-06-03
*Septemberfest BBQ & Rib-eye Steak Cookoff Challenge	2	27	top 70%	2018-09-01
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2	18	top 78%	2016-07-22
Minnesota in May	2	13	top 43%	2016-05-13
Septemberfest BBQ & Rib-Eye Steak Cookoff Challenge	2	20	top 70%	2015-09-05
Smokefest	2	12	top 50%	2015-08-21
Bend of the River CookOut	2	26	top 69%	2015-06-12

The story so far (18 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 11.3 yrs 2013-05-17 → 2024-08-23

Busiest season 2013 12 contests

Contests a season 5.9 across 9 seasons in the data

Cooks most in MN 39 of 53 contests · 4 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 36 10 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Pork Ribs 53 entries · 1 win · 12 calls

Strongest meat Chicken averages 165.78 · weakest Brisket (158.53)

Walk rate 53% a top-10 call in 28 of 53 contests

Overall top-10 rate 8% 4 of 53 contests

Best top-10 run 2 straight contests

Master average 651.05 out of 720 · 48 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 717 707–1,307 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 7,275 53 mapped stops · furthest 251 mi

Schedule strength 1553 average field rating faced — tougher than 40% of rated contests

Purse competed for $99,100 listed at 11 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships 0 from 10 state-championship entries

Longest layoff 2.7 yrs 2018-09-01 → 2021-05-07

Power rating 1440 peak 1517 · #5822 of 6,413 rated

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

2013
May 17 First tracked contest Minnesota in May
Jun 15 First overall past 90% of a perfect score658.8568 Treasure Island International BBQ Championship
Jun 21 First call Smoking Knights BBQ Competition
Jun 28 First category win (Pork Ribs) Bend of the River BBQ Smoke Off
Jul 19 First overall top-10 Cookin' on Kampeska: Wing Fling & BBQ Thing
Aug 9 10th tracked contest Med City BBQ & Musicfest
2014
Jun 6 Peak power rating (1517) SD BBQ Championships
2015
Jul 31 25th tracked contest Great Northern BBQ
2016
Aug 26 Career-best overall score683.3832 9th Annual Big Island BBQ
Aug 26 Career-best single call (Pork)177.1544 9th Annual Big Island BBQ
2023
Jul 14 50th tracked contest KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-of (ONE MEAT RIBS)
2024
Aug 23 Most recent contest MN Masters BBQ

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+15.6	9th Annual Big Island BBQ	2016-08-26
+11.4	Cookin' on Kampeska: Wing Fling & BBQ Thing	2013-07-19
+11.3	Cookin' on Kampeska	2015-07-17
+10.2	Minnesota in May	2014-05-16
+7.7	Lake Minnetonka BBQ & Beer Fest (Teams spots Full)	2016-08-12

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12.9	Minnesota in May	2013-05-17
-10.7	Minnesota in May	2021-05-07
-10.1	Minnesota in May	2024-05-10
-10.1	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2016-07-22
-10	*Mankato Cookout Day 2 and( Back Yard)	2016-06-11

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	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2024	2	0	0	50%	top 90%	91.2%	90.8%
2023	6	0	0	17%	top 79%	91.6%	90%
2022	3	0	0	33%	top 68%	92.8%	91.7%
2021	3	0	0	33%	top 74%	92.5%	90.5%
2018	1	0	0	0%	top 79%	88.6%	88.6%
2016	10	1	0	30%	top 64%	94.9%	90%
2015	9	2	0	67%	top 57%	93.4%	90.8%
2014	7	0	0	86%	top 60%	92.1%	90.3%
2013	12	1	1	75%	top 55%	93.4%	90.5%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2024-08-23	MN Masters BBQ 🏅 Pierz, MN	23 / 27 (651.3484)	27 (150.2512)	16 (166.2744)	23 (163.9656)	8 (170.8572)
2024-05-10	Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN	55 / 58 (656.4456)	54 (162.2972)	47 (165.1200)	54 (161.6456)	39 (167.3828)
2023-07-14	KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-off 🏅 Worthington, MN	35 / 39 (642.1376)	31 (165.6800)	13 (170.2744)	30 (163.3944)	39 (142.7888)
2023-07-14	KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-of (ONE MEAT RIBS) Worthington, MN	—	—	10 (170.2744)	—	—
2023-06-02	Original SD BBQ Championships 🏅 Huron, SD	23 / 39 (659.8744)	16 (168.5256)	33 (159.3944)	16 (170.2744)	23 (161.6800)
2023-06-01	Original SD BBQ Championships (One Meat Ribs) Huron, SD	—	—	14 (165.7372)	—	—
2023-05-12	Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN	52 / 59 (642.7660)	43 (165.1200)	57 (154.2744)	59 (151.3484)	12 (172.0232)
2023-05-12	Minnesota in May (One Meat Ribs) St. Peter, MN	—	—	24 (166.2284)	—	—
2022-07-15	KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-off 🏅 Worthington, MN	23 / 40 (667.9312)	30 (165.6800)	15 (168.5484)	14 (169.7028)	27 (164.0000)
2022-07-15	KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-off (One Meat Ribs) Worthington, MN	—	—	15 (162.8460)	—	—
2022-06-03	Smokin in Steele (Master & Backyard Contest) 🏅 Owatonna, MN	26 / 33 (651.8628)	18 (167.9772)	10 (170.2972)	27 (163.3828)	32 (150.2056)
2021-07-16	KTD Smokin' Gobbler Cook-off 🏅 Worthington, MN	24 / 33 (665.6688)	31 (161.0856)	23 (164.5716)	14 (170.2972)	12 (169.7144)
2021-06-04	Original SD BBQ Championship 🏅 Huron, SD	30 / 49 (658.7312)	21 (167.9656)	3 (177.1428)	43 (156.5028)	39 (157.1200)
2021-05-07	Minnesota in May 🏅 Cambridge, MN	52 / 60 (630.6400)	32 (167.4056)	60 (145.6344)	39 (163.3828)	57 (154.2172)
2018-09-01	*Septemberfest BBQ & Rib-eye Steak Cookoff Challenge Omaha, NE	27 / 34 (638.1256)	29 (158.2400)	15 (165.7144)	25 (161.6684)	29 (152.5028)
2016-09-03	Septemberfest BBQ & Rib-eye Steak Cookoff Challenge Omaha, NE	27 / 45 (653.0172)	37 (159.3944)	6 (172.0000)	41 (158.2284)	29 (163.3944)
2016-08-26	9th Annual Big Island BBQ Albert Lea, MN	7 / 48 (683.3832)	8 (173.1200)	13 (170.3088)	2 (177.1544)	26 (162.8000)
2016-08-12	Lake Minnetonka BBQ & Beer Fest (Teams spots Full) Tonka Bay, MN	14 / 35 (670.7540)	9 (171.4056)	7 (170.2628)	26 (162.8228)	16 (166.2628)
2016-07-22	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Woodbury, MN	28 / 30 (616.3656)	25 (161.0856)	29 (149.1316)	25 (160.5256)	27 (145.6228)
2016-07-15	Cookin' on Kampeska Watertown, SD	28 / 41 (650.7428)	37 (157.1200)	38 (153.1088)	11 (170.2512)	11 (170.2628)
2016-06-17	Treasure Island BBQ/ Steak Food Fest Red Wing, MN	22 / 34 (634.6512)	19 (165.0856)	26 (158.2628)	24 (158.8228)	24 (152.4800)
2016-06-11	*Mankato Cookout Day 2 and( Back Yard) Mankato, MN	31 / 32 (634.7316)	27 (163.4172)	30 (153.1088)	11 (167.3828)	30 (150.8228)
2016-06-10	*Mankato Cookout Day 1 Mankato, MN	27 / 33 (651.8628)	20 (167.9656)	28 (158.2400)	20 (165.7028)	26 (159.9544)
2016-05-13	Minnesota in May Falcon Heights, MN	45 / 71 (643.9312)	13 (170.2972)	46 (160.5256)	25 (166.2856)	65 (146.8228)
2016-03-04	Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship Isle, MN	35 / 59 (643.3144)	36 (161.7144)	35 (159.9772)	34 (159.3828)	26 (162.2400)
2015-09-05	Septemberfest BBQ & Rib-Eye Steak Cookoff Challenge Omaha, NE	22 / 31 (651.8856)	9 (170.2628)	28 (155.3484)	4 (171.4172)	26 (154.8572)
2015-08-21	Smokefest Marshall, MN	26 / 42 (653.0288)	23 (167.3944)	37 (157.0972)	16 (167.3828)	28 (161.1544)
2015-08-07	Med City BBQ & Musicfest Rochester, MN	20 / 47 (654.1600)	21 (167.4056)	20 (164.5716)	31 (159.3828)	23 (162.8000)
2015-07-31	Great Northern BBQ Brainerd, MN	16 / 26 (649.6228)	18 (164.5600)	17 (163.4516)	14 (161.6684)	18 (159.9428)
2015-07-17	Cookin' on Kampeska Watertown, SD	9 / 38 (672.5260)	5 (174.8572)	21 (162.2744)	3 (172.0000)	15 (163.3944)
2015-07-10	Smoke on the Waterfall REDWOOD FALLS, MN	9 / 16 (653.0856)	5 (169.1312)	10 (160.5600)	3 (170.2972)	13 (153.0972)
2015-06-12	Bend of the River CookOut Mankato, MN	26 / 42 (653.6344)	6 (171.9656)	33 (159.3716)	14 (166.8572)	35 (155.4400)
2015-05-15	Minnesota in May St. Paul, MN	44 / 60 (641.6460)	30 (163.4172)	52 (152.5372)	52 (155.4172)	9 (170.2744)
2015-02-27	Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship (Competitor's Series) Isle, MN	—	5 (171.4284)	33 (154.8916)	29 (156.5256)	—
2014-08-30	Septemberfest BBQ & Rib-Eye Steak Cookoff Challenge Omaha, NE	20 / 29 (642.6740)	24 (158.7884)	15 (166.2628)	2 (174.8572)	28 (142.7656)
2014-08-22	Big Island BBQ Albert Lea, MN	37 / 54 (648.5372)	22 (170.2628)	25 (166.8572)	37 (161.7028)	48 (149.7144)
2014-07-18	Cookin' on Kampeska Watertown, SD	21 / 31 (654.2172)	23 (161.1084)	18 (163.3944)	7 (171.9772)	26 (157.7372)
2014-07-11	The Madelia Blazin' Barbeque Blast Madelia, MN	20 / 26 (643.4172)	16 (162.8456)	6 (169.7372)	23 (154.8228)	20 (156.0116)
2014-06-27	Bend of the River CookOut Mankato, MN	38 / 50 (647.8400)	40 (161.6800)	38 (157.0972)	9 (171.4056)	37 (157.6572)
2014-06-06	SD BBQ Championships Huron, SD	18 / 42 (650.8688)	15 (166.8456)	5 (170.3316)	22 (159.4516)	31 (154.2400)
2014-05-16	Minnesota in May Falcon Heights, MN	13 / 58 (662.8004)	26 (164.5488)	8 (166.8572)	37 (161.1200)	9 (170.2744)
2013-08-31	Septemberfest BBQ & Ribeye Steak Cookoff Challenge Omaha, NE	18 / 32 (664.5372)	7 (174.2972)	18 (165.1200)	22 (162.8228)	23 (162.2972)
2013-08-16	Smokefest Marshall, MN	12 / 31 (657.0400)	9 (167.9772)	14 (163.3944)	4 (169.1084)	19 (156.5600)
2013-08-09	Med City BBQ & Musicfest Rochester, MN	16 / 50 (658.1716)	3 (175.4172)	18 (163.9772)	10 (169.6800)	39 (149.0972)
2013-08-02	Great Northern Barbeque Brainerd, MN	14 / 22 (646.1828)	11 (165.7144)	16 (159.9772)	18 (154.2628)	8 (166.2284)
2013-07-19	Cookin' on Kampeska: Wing Fling & BBQ Thing Watertown, SD	6 / 26 (672.4912)	4 (175.4172)	13 (164.0000)	13 (163.4056)	4 (169.6684)
2013-07-12	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Woodbury, MN	18 / 29 (638.1600)	14 (165.6800)	4 (172.5944)	19 (161.6800)	27 (138.2056)
2013-07-03	Whiting 4th of July BBQ Cookoff Whiting, IA	14 / 25 (651.4282)	12 (166.8572)	4 (167.4286)	19 (155.9996)	13 (161.1428)
2013-06-28	Bend of the River BBQ Smoke Off Mankato, MN	12 / 30 (665.1424)	17 (166.2856)	1 (174.8572)	16 (163.9998)	20 (159.9998)
2013-06-21	Smoking Knights BBQ Competition Hutchinson, MN	13 / 19 (651.4288)	16 (161.1428)	14 (163.4288)	8 (166.2858)	10 (160.5714)
2013-06-15	Treasure Island International BBQ Championship Welch, MN	40 / 68 (658.8568)	37 (166.8570)	34 (167.4286)	50 (161.7142)	39 (162.8570)
2013-05-31	Smokin' in Steele Owatonna, MN	33 / 51 (638.8568)	39 (158.8570)	29 (160.0000)	34 (157.1426)	17 (162.8572)
2013-05-17	Minnesota in May Faribault, MN	45 / 49 (619.9992)	34 (161.1426)	41 (156.0000)	48 (155.4282)	45 (147.4284)

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
2024 ↗	Master	#870 (122 pts)	#1057 (112 pts)	#908 (157 pts)	#931 (122 pts)	#755 (207 pts)
2023 ↗	Master	#748 (190 pts)	#741 (225 pts)	#461 (526 pts)	#716 (225 pts)	#674 (255 pts)
2022 ↗	Master	#962 (128 pts)	#943 (153 pts)	#646 (335 pts)	#898 (173 pts)	#1090 (118 pts)
2021 ↗	Master	#746 (183 pts)	#767 (198 pts)	#541 (363 pts)	#674 (233 pts)	#676 (243 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#2485 (59 pts)	#2500 (59 pts)	#1786 (109 pts)	#2495 (59 pts)	#2488 (59 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#518 (764 pts)	#452 (884 pts)	#468 (869 pts)	#425 (959 pts)	#568 (709 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#537 (703 pts)	#392 (963 pts)	#639 (608 pts)	#304 (1103 pts)	#545 (688 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#602 (618 pts)	#657 (578 pts)	#453 (873 pts)	#439 (868 pts)	#658 (563 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#274 (1094 pts)	#183 (1354 pts)	#184 (1374 pts)	#256 (1102 pts)	#277 (1077 pts)