Happy hunting ground
Top 13%
average finish here
Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship is their spot: an average finish in the top 13% across 3 visits.
- 3 visits
- best finish 9th
- average top 13%
HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ
HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 21 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2022 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 4th of 26 at the Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival (2024). They are ranked #1425 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1570
peak 1570 · rated over 19 contests
Contests
21
in the data
First seen
Aug 19, 2022
latest Jun 12, 2026 · 3.8 years on the trail
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
2
7 podiums
Overall top-10s
6
29% of 21 contests
Best top-10 run
3
straight overall top-10s
Avg finish
top 40%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
338.12 ▲
last 5 Backyard vs avg 336.39 (+1.73)
Walk rate
62%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±6.98
spread of their Backyard overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork
avg 170.14 · weakest Chicken (165.10)
Road miles
1,964
across 21 mapped stops · furthest 182 mi
Schedule strength
63%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1579)
Purse competed for
$209K
listed at 19 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 17 state-championship entries
Master avg
657.86 / 720
2 Master contests · 0 GCs
Backyard avg
336.39 / 360
14 Backyard contests · 0 GCs
Backyard (3-meat) avg
483.70 / 540
3 Backyard (3-meat) contests · 0 GCs
These overall scores sit on different scales (Master out of 720, Backyard out of 360, Backyard (3-meat) out of 540), 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Backyard | #118 (384 pts) | #134 (344 pts) | #113 (499 pts) | — | — |
| 2025 ↗ | Backyard | #110 (494 pts) | #144 (404 pts) | #67 (824 pts) | — | — |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #1481 (51 pts) | #1515 (51 pts) | #1523 (56 pts) | #740 (201 pts) | #1085 (86 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Backyard | #100 (616 pts) | #138 (461 pts) | #82 (751 pts) | — | — |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | — | — | #1317 (60 pts) | — | — |
| 2023 ↗ | Backyard | — | #148 (336 pts) | #164 (309 pts) | — | — |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #1239 (64 pts) | #1074 (119 pts) | #1218 (112 pts) | #1220 (79 pts) | #1170 (94 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Backyard | — | #304 (85 pts) | #307 (85 pts) | — | — |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
44 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#1,422 of the rated field
- Contests
- 19
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 21%
- Peak
- 1570
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 19 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careers#1,421 of the rated field
- Contests
- 18
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 44%
- Peak
- 1570
Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 7 years before HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#1,431 of the rated field
- Contests
- 22
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 23%
- Peak
- 1569
Careers of much the same size, 22 contests to 21, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careers#1,426 of the rated field
- Contests
- 23
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 30%
- Peak
- 1589
23 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 30% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careers#1,429 of the rated field
- Contests
- 23
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 22%
- Peak
- 1573
They were already cooking in 2016, 6 years before HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ's first contest.
⚔ Compare careers#1,430 of the rated field
- Contests
- 27
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 30%
- Peak
- 1569
Level with HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stewbabys BBQ | 16 | 11 | 5 | 69% | ⚔ compare |
| Blue Smoke Q | 16 | 9 | 6 | 56% | ⚔ compare |
| BAD ROOSTER BBQ | 15 | 4 | 11 | 27% | ⚔ compare |
| COOL HAND QUE | 14 | 9 | 5 | 64% | ⚔ compare |
| OFF THE CHAIN | 14 | 6 | 7 | 43% | ⚔ compare |
| ZIPS BBQ | 14 | 4 | 10 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | 13 | 7 | 6 | 54% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | 13 | 5 | 8 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| CHOOCHOO BBQ | 11 | 7 | 3 | 64% | ⚔ compare |
| Organizer Portal | 11 | 4 | 7 | 36% | ⚔ compare |
| YES, DEAR BBQ | 11 | 3 | 8 | 27% | ⚔ compare |
| RUNNING STYLE BBQ - GA | 11 | 1 | 10 | 9% | ⚔ compare |
| HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | 10 | 9 | 1 | 90% | ⚔ compare |
| TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | 10 | 9 | 1 | 90% | ⚔ compare |
| Willingham's | 10 | 8 | 2 | 80% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 173.1200 | 149.0400 | 165.10 | top 43% |
| Pork Ribs | 21 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 178.2972 | 152.5256 | 165.95 | top 42% |
| Pork | 14 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 177.7144 | 157.6800 | 170.14 | top 21% |
| Brisket | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 167.4060 | 165.0972 | 166.25 | top 64% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium (20–39) | 10 | 0 | top 48% |
| Large (40+) | 9 | 0 | top 32% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta BBQ Store Classic | 4 | 15 | 0 | top 35% | Nov 14, 2025 |
| Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship | 3 | 9 | 0 | top 13% | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival | 3 | 4 | 0 | top 32% | Aug 16, 2024 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2025
6 contests
Contests a season
4.2
across 5 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
GA
13 of 21 contests · 3 states in all
Contests visited
12
3 of them more than once
Most-entered meat
Pork Ribs
21 entries · 0 wins · 8 calls
Opponents faced
568
finished ahead 851 times, behind 530
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20262 milestones
- Peak power rating (1570) Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Most recent contest Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY)
20242 milestones
- Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)178.2972 Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship
- 10th tracked contest BBQ, Boogie & Blues
20234 milestones
- First overall top-10 Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score502.2168 Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival
- Career-best overall score663.8860 The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival
- First category win (Pork) Atlanta BBQ Store Classic
20222 milestones
- First tracked contest Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival
- First call Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +16.2 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship | Mar 15, 2024 |
| +13.9 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship | Mar 20, 2026 |
| +12.3 | Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival | Aug 16, 2024 |
| +11.5 | BBQ, Boogie & Blues | Apr 26, 2024 |
| +10.6 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship | Mar 14, 2025 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -15.3 | Honeybee BBQ Competition | May 30, 2025 |
| -8 | The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival | Oct 6, 2023 |
| -7.7 | Smoke on the Falls | Apr 7, 2023 |
| -2.3 | Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival | Aug 19, 2022 |
| -2.2 | Atlanta BBQ Store Classic | Nov 15, 2024 |
Scores over time (% of a perfect score — 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67% | top 36% | 96% | 94.9% |
| 2025 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 67% | top 44% | 95.9% | 93.3% |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 60% | top 23% | 95.2% | 93% |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 50% | top 55% | 93% | 91.9% |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67% | top 41% | 89.9% | 87.9% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2026 | Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL | 14 / 31 (341.6456) | 14 (173.1084) | 17 (168.5372) | — | — |
| Mar 27, 2026 | Singing River Smoke-O-Rama (BACKYARD ONLY) Athens, AL | 22 / 43 (337.6688) | 32 (163.3828) | 8 (174.2860) | — | — |
| Mar 20, 2026 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship 🏅 Lebanon, TN | 13 / 125 (345.7260) | 31 (169.7144) | 5 (176.0116) | 3 (177.7144) | — |
| Nov 14, 2025 | Atlanta BBQ Store Classic 🏅 Cumming, GA | 20 / 56 (331.9316) | 13 (171.9772) | 23 (159.9544) | — | — |
| Aug 15, 2025 | Pigs & Peaches 🏅 Kennesaw, GA | 8 / 27 (333.6228) | 12 (159.3600) | 2 (174.2628) | 3 (174.2628) | — |
| Jun 20, 2025 | Poosa Q 🏅 Montgomery, AL | 25 / 42 (334.7772) | 27 (165.0972) | 15 (169.6800) | — | — |
| May 30, 2025 | Honeybee BBQ Competition 🏅 Lafayette, GA | 26 / 26 (651.8288) | 26 (153.0628) | 24 (159.9544) | 4 (173.7144) | 18 (165.0972) |
| Apr 25, 2025 | BBQ & Boogie 🏅 Calhoun, GA | 7 / 32 (345.0972) | 10 (170.8228) | 5 (174.2744) | 8 (166.8228) | — |
| Mar 14, 2025 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship 🏅 Lebanon, TN | 19 / 100 (343.9428) | 33 (167.3828) | 4 (176.5600) | 23 (169.6684) | — |
| Nov 15, 2024 | Atlanta BBQ Store Classic 🏅 Cuming, GA | 30 / 58 (324.4340) | 34 (157.0628) | 18 (167.3712) | 11 (170.8228) | — |
| Aug 16, 2024 | Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival 🏅 Kennesaw, GA | 4 / 26 (342.8000) | 6 (173.1200) | 8 (169.6800) | 3 (174.2744) | — |
| Apr 26, 2024 | BBQ, Boogie & Blues 🏅 Calhoun, GA | 5 / 34 (331.3484) | 10 (160.5256) | 4 (170.8228) | 1 (173.1200) | — |
| Mar 15, 2024 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship 🏅 Lebanon, TN | 9 / 93 (339.9544) | 33 (161.6572) | 2 (178.2972) | 33 (157.6800) | — |
| Mar 15, 2024 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT RIBS) Lebanon, TN | — | — | 68 (152.5256) | — | — |
| Nov 17, 2023 | Atlanta BBQ Store Classic 🏅 Cumming, GA | 15 / 60 (333.0972) | 12 (169.1428) | 17 (163.9544) | 1 (177.7144) | — |
| Oct 6, 2023 | The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival 🏅 Lyons, GA | 23 / 29 (663.8860) | 12 (170.2628) | 27 (157.6800) | 20 (168.5372) | 17 (167.4060) |
| Aug 18, 2023 | Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival 🏅 Kennesaw, GA | 7 / 27 (502.2168) | 7 (166.2740) | 12 (163.9428) | 4 (172) | — |
| Apr 7, 2023 | Smoke on the Falls 🏅 Gadsden, AL | 35 / 39 (323.3484) | 23 (168) | 41 (155.3484) | — | — |
| Nov 18, 2022 | Atlanta BBQ Store Classic 🏅 Cumming, GA | 16 / 57 (485.6000) | 10 (167.9772) | 17 (153.6572) | 13 (163.9656) | — |
| Nov 17, 2022 | Atlanta BBQ Store Classic (One Meat Ribs) Cumming, GA | — | — | 26 (165.7028) | — | — |
| Aug 19, 2022 | Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival 🏅 Kennesaw, GA | 16 / 30 (463.2688) | 17 (149.0400) | 17 (152.5372) | 10 (161.6916) | — |