Pork Butt Paradise

Pork Butt Paradise is a competition barbecue team with 38 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2014 and 2024. They have won 2 Grand Championships, most recently at the Riverside Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival (2015), and finished Reserve Grand Champion 3 times. They are ranked #400 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#400

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1700

peak 1711 · rated over 37 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

May 10, 2014

latest Aug 17, 2024 · 10.3 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#138

Master 2015 · every season

Grand champs

3 reserve · wins it all 5% of the time

Category wins

25 podiums

Overall top-10s

66% of 38 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 27%

overall standings

Best overall

695.3712 / 720

Master · Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY)

Perfect 180s

Current form

667.34

last 5 Master vs avg 667.16 (+0.18)

Walk rate

84%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.8572

Pork · Harvard Fall Festival BBQ Contest

Consistency

±13.63

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 168.36 · weakest Pork Ribs (165.96)

Road miles

9,017

across 38 mapped stops · furthest 1,219 mi

Schedule strength

56%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1571)

Purse competed for

$39K

listed at 3 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 3 state-championship entries

Master avg

667.16 / 720

37 Master contests · 2 GCs

Storylines (17 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

The heartbreaker

1.1312 points from the title

Came within 1.1312 points of the Grand Championship at Harvard Fall Festival BBQ Contest (Sep 12, 2015).

Among the elite

#400 of 6,476 rated teams

In the top 6% of every rated team in the data

A power rating of 1700 puts them #400 of 6,476 rated teams — the top 6% of the field.

rating 1700
peak 1711
37 rated contests

Against the odds

30-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings

The ratings favoured the top seed the other 70 times in 100

Their Grand Championship at Riverside Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival (Oct 9, 2015) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 30-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA.

Happy hunting ground

Top 12% average finish here

Granite State BBQ Championship is their spot: an average finish in the top 12% across 3 visits.

3 visits
best finish 2nd
average top 12%

A multi-meat day

1 contest with 2+ category wins

They've won two or more meats on the same day 1 time — the best of them 2 category wins at Rock'N RibFest 2015 (Jun 20, 2015).

Pork Ribs 1st
Pork 1st

They almost always walk

84% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 32 of 38 contests

A top-10 category call in 84% of their 38 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

695.3712 career-best overall

96.6% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 695.3712 at Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) — 96.6% of a perfect 720.

Master
Oct 21, 2016

Show 10 more storylines

The one to beat

3× one call ahead of them

THE BASIC BBQ TEAM has finished one call ahead of Pork Butt Paradise 3 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2015 2 Grand Championships

2015 was the year it came together: 8 contests, 2 Grand Championships and 6 category wins, at an average finish in the top 10%.

8 contests
8 overall top-10s
6 category wins
average top 10%

A tough matchup

20–8 behind in the head-to-head

INSANE SWINE BBQ ahead in 71% of their meetings

INSANE SWINE BBQ has come out ahead in 20 of their 28 shared contests.

The drought

22 contests since the last title

Their last Grand Championship came at Riverside Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival on Oct 9, 2015 — 22 contests and 11 years ago.

last GC Oct 9, 2015
11 years ago

A strong matchup

17–2 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 89% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of CIDER BOYS BBQ in 17 of their 19 shared contests.

The comeback

5 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 5 years, then back at Granite State BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Jun 1, 2024).

last seen Jun 1, 2019
back Jun 1, 2024

Always the bridesmaid

3 reserve championships

Runner-up for the whole thing 3 times against 2 Grand Championships — close enough to touch it, over and over.

2 Grand Championships
38 contests

Looking over their shoulder

4× one call behind them

Rogue Hog BBQ has landed one call behind them 4 times.

The long haul

9,017 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 9,017 miles across 38 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 1,219 miles to National Pro BBQ Tour Championship.

38 mapped stops
furthest 1,219 mi

The metronome

±1.89% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.89% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 92.7% of a perfect score
38 contests

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
2024 ↗	Master	#684 (225 pts)	#641 (285 pts)	#575 (380 pts)	#651 (270 pts)	#757 (205 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#1716 (100 pts)	#2049 (60 pts)	#1820 (95 pts)	#1786 (100 pts)	#1805 (90 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1124 (235 pts)	#1495 (145 pts)	#1239 (220 pts)	#1286 (195 pts)	#926 (345 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#421 (888 pts)	#706 (573 pts)	#778 (518 pts)	#304 (1,153 pts)	#365 (1,038 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#386 (1,010 pts)	#486 (830 pts)	#448 (900 pts)	#424 (960 pts)	#422 (950 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#138 (1,839 pts)	#289 (1,189 pts)	#154 (1,609 pts)	#79 (1,884 pts)	#204 (1,479 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#296 (1,191 pts)	#395 (946 pts)	#353 (1,023 pts)	#241 (1,281 pts)	#294 (1,181 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Pork Butt Paradise, each with one reason worth a look.

QUE AND A HALF MEN

#399 of the rated field

1700 power rating

Contests: 54
GCs: 4
Top-10s: 54%
Peak: 1708

7–5 in 12 shared contests (58% to Pork Butt Paradise)

These two have cooked 12 of the same contests — Pork Butt Paradise ahead 7–5 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 52 contests
last seen Oct 8, 2016

⚔ Head-to-head

Dr. Pearl's Medicinal Smoke BBQ Team

#395 of the rated field

1700 power rating

Contests: 73
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 44%
Peak: 1734

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Pork Butt Paradise)

They've been 1734 at their best, 34 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 72 contests
last seen Oct 25, 2025

⚔ Head-to-head

FOWL BUTT BBQ

#397 of the rated field

1700 power rating

Contests: 58
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 40%
Peak: 1730

Their last contest in the data was back in 2018, 6 years before Pork Butt Paradise's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 58 contests

⚔ Compare careers

K & D SMOKERS

#398 of the rated field

1700 power rating

Contests: 60
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 28%
Peak: 1708

A longer road to the same neighbourhood — 60 contests to 38.

rated over 60 contests
last seen Sep 27, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

Carrol Lou's Smokehouse

#396 of the rated field

1700 power rating

Contests: 84
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 44%
Peak: 1751

Their rating is built on 2 Grand Championships in 84 contests, alongside a 44% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 81 contests
last seen Apr 28, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

TEAM EATAPEDIA

#401 of the rated field

1699 ▼ 1 power rating

Contests: 49
GCs: 5
Top-10s: 55%
Peak: 1702

0–2 in 2 shared contests (0% to Pork Butt Paradise)

Level with Pork Butt Paradise on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 47 contests
last seen Oct 26, 2018

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA	32	11	21	34%	⚔ compare
INSANE SWINE BBQ	28	8	20	29%	⚔ compare
Smokin Aces	24	17	7	71%	⚔ compare
Rogue Hog BBQ	24	12	12	50%	⚔ compare
FIRE DOWN BELOW	24	12	12	50%	⚔ compare
THE BASIC BBQ TEAM	22	13	9	59%	⚔ compare
FOUR SMOKING GUYS	20	15	5	75%	⚔ compare
ELJEFE SMOKE	20	12	8	60%	⚔ compare
CIDER BOYS BBQ	19	17	2	89%	⚔ compare
PADDY MCQ'S	19	11	8	58%	⚔ compare
ACK-QUE	18	9	9	50%	⚔ compare
A MAZIE Q	17	13	4	76%	⚔ compare
BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ	15	11	4	73%	⚔ compare
Smokin' Bulldogs	14	12	2	86%	⚔ compare
MEAT @ SLIMS	14	10	4	71%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	37	14	0	1	176	151.3828	166.00	top 43%
Pork Ribs	38	15	2	7	177.1544	154.7888	165.96	top 38%
Pork	37	22	6	10	178.8572	153.6572	168.36	top 30%
Brisket	37	22	1	7	176.5944	150.8456	166.78	top 28%

“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)	3	1	top 28%
Medium (20–39)	23	1	top 27%
Large (40+)	11	0	top 26%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
CT	9	0	top 25%
NH	8	1	top 14%
MA	7	1	top 27%
ME	6	0	top 34%
RI	3	0	top 40%
AR	1	0	top 92%
VA	1	0	top 28%
TN	1	0	top 5%
VT	1	0	top 15%

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Sun BBQ Fest	4	5	0	top 28%	Jun 2, 2018
Riverside Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival	3	1	1	top 27%	Oct 5, 2018
Granite State BBQ Championship	3	2	0	top 12%	Jun 9, 2018
Great Maine BBQ Challenge	2	7	0	top 32%	Sep 22, 2018
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2	2	0	top 15%	Aug 4, 2017
Harvard Fall Festival BBQ Contest	2	2	0	top 15%	Sep 12, 2015
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2	3	0	top 18%	Aug 14, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2016 8 contests

Contests a season 5.4 across 7 seasons in the data

Most contests held in CT 9 of 38 contests · 9 states in all

Contests visited 26 7 of them more than once

Most-entered meat Pork Ribs 38 entries · 2 wins · 15 calls

First title Jun 20, 2015 Rock'N RibFest 2015

Opponents faced 519 finished ahead 1,011 times, behind 328

Longest layoff 5 yrs Jun 1, 2019 → Jun 1, 2024

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

20241 milestone

Aug 17 Most recent contest Kora Kares for Kids

20172 milestones

Jun 3 25th tracked contest Sun BBQ Fest
Sep 22 Peak power rating (1711) Great Maine BBQ Challenge

20161 milestone

Oct 21 Career-best overall score695.3712 Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY)

20155 milestones

May 29 First overall podium Monadnock Up in Smoke BBQ Fest
Jun 13 10th tracked contest Sun BBQ Fest
Jun 20 First Grand Championship Rock'N RibFest 2015
Jun 20 First multi-meat day Rock'N RibFest 2015
Sep 12 First Reserve Championship Harvard Fall Festival BBQ Contest

20146 milestones

May 10 First tracked contest The Polish Hungry for Que BBQ Bash
May 10 First call The Polish Hungry for Que BBQ Bash
May 10 First overall top-10 The Polish Hungry for Que BBQ Bash
May 31 First overall past 90% of a perfect score661.1888 Monadnock Up in Smoke BBQ, Beer Fest
Sep 13 First category win (Pork) Harvard Fall Festival BBQ Contest
Sep 13 Career-best single call (Pork)178.8572 Harvard Fall Festival BBQ Contest

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+14.5	Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY)	Oct 21, 2016
+14.3	Monadnock Up in Smoke BBQ, Beer Fest	May 31, 2014
+13.5	Monadnock Up in Smoke BBQ Fest	May 29, 2015
+12.9	Sun BBQ Fest	Jun 13, 2015
+11.9	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Aug 14, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-9.8	National Pro BBQ Tour Championship	Oct 6, 2017
-9.3	Rotary Club of Wakefield Rhode Island	Jul 22, 2016
-7.5	Kora Kares for Kids	Aug 17, 2024
-4.3	Nostrano Garlic Festival Presents: Great Maine BBQ Challenge at Smuggler's Den Campground	Sep 9, 2016
-4.2	Sun BBQ Fest	Jun 2, 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	3	0	1	0	67%	top 39%	94.2%	93.2%
2019	1	0	0	0	0%	top 28%	92.5%	92.5%
2018	4	0	1	1	75%	top 35%	94.1%	92.4%
2017	6	0	4	1	83%	top 32%	94.1%	93.1%
2016	8	0	5	0	75%	top 31%	96.6%	92%
2015	8	2	8	6	100%	top 10%	96.3%	94.5%
2014	8	0	6	1	100%	top 29%	92.8%	91.2%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Aug 17, 2024	Kora Kares for Kids 🏅 Hiram, ME	21 / 39 (664.5144)	6 (173.1200)	29 (161.7372)	31 (159.9772)	9 (169.6800)
Aug 17, 2024	Kora Kares for Kids (ONE MEAT RIBS) Hiram, ME	—	—	26 (163.4288)	—	—
Jun 1, 2024	Granite State BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES 🏅 Merrimack, NH	9 / 37 (678.1832)	15 (169.6800)	2 (177.1544)	4 (173.1200)	27 (158.2288)
Jun 1, 2019	Sun BBQFest 🏅 Uncasville, CT	17 / 61 (666.2176)	45 (160.5144)	18 (168.0232)	17 (169.7028)	19 (167.9772)
Oct 5, 2018	Riverside Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival Greenfield, MA	11 / 31 (666.7772)	11 (169.1428)	16 (161.6916)	23 (162.2400)	3 (173.7028)
Sep 22, 2018	Great Maine BBQ Challenge Bangor, ME	11 / 27 (661.0056)	16 (165.6684)	5 (168.5372)	12 (163.4172)	13 (163.3828)
Jun 9, 2018	Granite State BBQ Championship Hancock, NH	6 / 41 (677.6344)	24 (164.5372)	16 (165.1088)	10 (171.4056)	1 (176.5828)
Jun 2, 2018	Sun BBQ Fest Uncasville, CT	28 / 59 (656.4800)	21 (167.9772)	14 (168.5944)	32 (162.2284)	29 (157.6800)
Oct 6, 2017	National Pro BBQ Tour Championship Bentonville, AR	46 / 50 (673.6004)	30 (174.2744)	50 (154.7888)	31 (170.2744)	11 (174.2628)
Sep 22, 2017	Great Maine BBQ Challenge Bangor, ME	7 / 29 (665.0400)	12 (163.3828)	8 (167.4172)	2 (170.2628)	10 (163.9772)
Aug 25, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Richmond, VA	8 / 29 (677.6116)	24 (166.8344)	11 (169.6916)	6 (171.9656)	6 (169.1200)
Aug 4, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour South Windsor, CT	2 / 30 (674.2284)	16 (165.0856)	23 (158.8572)	1 (177.7372)	3 (172.5484)
Jun 10, 2017	Granite State BBQ Championship Hancock, NH	5 / 35 (664.5032)	6 (171.9888)	25 (158.2516)	3 (170.2972)	13 (163.9656)
Jun 3, 2017	Sun BBQ Fest Uncasville, CT	21 / 73 (666.2404)	52 (155.3828)	40 (160.5488)	8 (173.7144)	2 (176.5944)
Oct 21, 2016	Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) Lynchburg, TN	5 / 96 (695.3712)	10 (176)	28 (173.1200)	25 (171.4056)	16 (174.8456)
Oct 7, 2016	Riverside Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival Greenfield, MA	14 / 33 (646.6856)	7 (170.2856)	18 (161.6572)	23 (155.3716)	14 (159.3712)
Sep 9, 2016	Nostrano Garlic Festival Presents: Great Maine BBQ Challenge at Smuggler's Den Campground Southwest Harbor, ME	10 / 20 (645.0628)	10 (162.2740)	13 (160.5716)	11 (158.2516)	6 (163.9656)
Aug 19, 2016	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour South Windsor, CT	6 / 26 (673.0740)	19 (160.5484)	2 (173.7372)	5 (167.9656)	5 (170.8228)
Jul 22, 2016	Rotary Club of Wakefield Rhode Island Kingston, RI	23 / 34 (642.1828)	16 (165.0856)	17 (162.8572)	28 (156)	23 (158.2400)
Jun 25, 2016	Green Mountain BBQ Championship Waterbury, VT	6 / 40 (674.1940)	10 (169.6684)	22 (161.1544)	4 (172.5484)	5 (170.8228)
Jun 4, 2016	Granite State BBQ Championship Hancock, NH	2 / 32 (677.6912)	7 (171.9884)	7 (168.5944)	4 (173.1428)	12 (163.9656)
Apr 30, 2016	Ridgefield Gone Country BBQ Festival Ridgefield, CT	15 / 39 (646.2396)	24 (156.5140)	14 (162.2856)	12 (164.5600)	12 (162.8800)
Oct 9, 2015	Riverside Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival Greenfield, MA	1 / 25 (682.7540)	10 (168.5600)	2 (173.1200)	4 (171.4056)	3 (169.6684)
Sep 12, 2015	Harvard Fall Festival BBQ Contest Harvard, MA	2 / 37 (693.6684)	6 (171.4056)	3 (174.8456)	1 (178.2972)	7 (169.1200)
Sep 5, 2015	Bear's Smokehouse New England BBQ Championships Hartford, CT	3 / 17 (679.9544)	3 (173.7028)	4 (169.6916)	1 (172.5828)	6 (163.9772)
Aug 14, 2015	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Scarborough, ME	3 / 26 (677.1428)	13 (165.7028)	5 (168.5828)	1 (170.8800)	3 (171.9772)
Jul 17, 2015	Wakefield Rotary Campus Cook Off Kingston, RI	6 / 37 (678.2396)	17 (164.5256)	1 (175.4400)	5 (170.2628)	12 (168.0112)
Jun 20, 2015	Rock'N RibFest 2015 Merrimack, NH	1 / 16 (676.5372)	4 (160.5372)	1 (170.8344)	1 (178.3200)	4 (166.8456)
Jun 13, 2015	Sun BBQ Fest Uncasville, CT	5 / 52 (680.0112)	28 (164.5484)	9 (169.7256)	2 (175.4516)	8 (170.2856)
May 29, 2015	Monadnock Up in Smoke BBQ Fest Swanzey, NH	3 / 49 (673.6572)	4 (172)	31 (160.5372)	9 (170.2744)	3 (170.8456)
Oct 10, 2014	Riverside Blues & BBQ Festival Greenfield, MA	5 / 27 (668.4916)	4 (170.8572)	4 (171.4172)	21 (156.5144)	6 (169.7028)
Sep 13, 2014	Harvard Fall Festival BBQ Contest Harvard, MA	11 / 43 (652.4228)	33 (151.3828)	15 (161.0972)	1 (178.8572)	17 (161.0856)
Aug 8, 2014	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Scarborough, ME	7 / 28 (656.5484)	10 (165.1428)	11 (161.1428)	12 (161.7028)	4 (168.5600)
Jul 18, 2014	Wakefield Rotary Campus Cook Off & State BBQ Championships Kingston, RI	12 / 33 (661.6796)	25 (159.9656)	5 (175.4056)	2 (175.4628)	29 (150.8456)
Jun 20, 2014	Sun BBQ Fest Uncasville, CT	9 / 32 (658.7424)	11 (166.2512)	15 (162.8344)	10 (166.2628)	11 (163.3940)
Jun 13, 2014	Rock'n Ribfest NH State BBQ Championship Merrimack, NH	9 / 28 (657.6800)	11 (165.1200)	17 (161.1200)	15 (162.2744)	4 (169.1656)
May 31, 2014	Monadnock Up in Smoke BBQ, Beer Fest Swanzey, NH	5 / 48 (661.1888)	12 (168.5944)	28 (156.5716)	5 (171.4400)	8 (164.5828)
May 10, 2014	The Polish Hungry for Que BBQ Bash Gardner, MA	10 / 17 (633.5888)	13 (153.6572)	2 (166.2628)	12 (153.6572)	7 (160.0116)

Pork Butt Paradise

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Best top-10 run

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (17 found in their record)

The heartbreaker

Among the elite

Against the odds

Happy hunting ground

A multi-meat day

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The drought

A strong matchup

The comeback

Always the bridesmaid

Looking over their shoulder

The long haul

The metronome

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

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

By meat

By field size and state

By contest size

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

More numbers

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

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

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

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

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)