High-water mark
697.0856
career-best overall
96.8% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 697.0856 at Smokin in the Ville — 96.8% of a perfect 720.
- Master
- Apr 28, 2017
Blind Squirrel BBQ
Blind Squirrel BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 22 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2019. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 26 at the Smokin in the Ville (2017), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion twice. They are ranked #2656 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1514
peak 1528 · rated over 19 contests
Contests
22
in the data
First seen
Sep 20, 2013
latest Jun 28, 2019 · 5.8 years on the trail
Grand champs
0
2 reserve
Category wins
2
4 podiums
Overall top-10s
4
18% of 22 contests
Avg finish
top 57%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
657.42 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 642.57 (+14.85)
Walk rate
50%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±43.07
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork
avg 164.40 · weakest Chicken (156.64)
Road miles
3,914
across 21 mapped stops · furthest 1,014 mi
Schedule strength
60%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1576)
Purse competed for
$30K
listed at 5 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 3 state-championship entries
Master avg
642.57 / 720
19 Master contests · 0 GCs
Backyard avg
315.94 / 360
1 Backyard contest · 0 GCs
These overall scores sit on different scales (Master out of 720, Backyard out of 360), 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #1109 (222 pts) | #1135 (232 pts) | #1173 (222 pts) | #1144 (232 pts) | #931 (322 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #820 (396 pts) | #932 (346 pts) | #995 (321 pts) | #701 (521 pts) | #735 (486 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #567 (692 pts) | #598 (667 pts) | #625 (652 pts) | #481 (817 pts) | #642 (617 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #975 (337 pts) | #905 (407 pts) | #961 (382 pts) | #1041 (347 pts) | #1044 (327 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #2084 (75 pts) | #2167 (75 pts) | #2161 (75 pts) | #2172 (75 pts) | #2148 (75 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to Blind Squirrel BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
97 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#2,652 of the rated field
- Contests
- 9
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1522
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Blind Squirrel BBQ)
One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team Blind Squirrel BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-head#2,669 of the rated field
- Contests
- 15
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1524
Fewer contests behind them than Blind Squirrel BBQ has cooked, 15 to 22, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.
⚔ Compare careers#2,668 of the rated field
- Contests
- 15
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 20%
- Peak
- 1537
15 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 20% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careers#2,665 of the rated field
- Contests
- 15
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 7%
- Peak
- 1523
Their last contest in the data was back in 2016, 3 years before Blind Squirrel BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#2,660 of the rated field
- Contests
- 14
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 57%
- Peak
- 1533
Level with Blind Squirrel BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careers#2,662 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 17%
- Peak
- 1532
Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHEN PIGS DIE | 12 | 3 | 9 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| TEAM BREW & QUE | 9 | 3 | 6 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| HELPING U BBQ | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| DIRT ROAD BBQ | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY | 7 | 2 | 5 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| Grate Expectations | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| THE SMOKING HILLS | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKE'N BBQ | 5 | 4 | 1 | 80% | ⚔ compare |
| 42 BBQ | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| Smokin Reefer BBQ | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| PORKY BUTTS BBQ | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| 4 LEGS UP BBQ | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 20 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 172.5600 | 20 | 156.64 | top 57% |
| Pork Ribs | 21 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 174.8456 | 139.9316 | 161.15 | top 57% |
| Pork | 19 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 179.4400 | 138.2628 | 164.40 | top 51% |
| Brisket | 19 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 171.9772 | 127.9316 | 160.88 | top 54% |
“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) | 1 | 0 | top 29% |
| Medium (20–39) | 14 | 0 | top 60% |
| Large (40+) | 5 | 0 | top 55% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Blue BBQ Championship | 4 | 12 | 0 | top 53% | May 31, 2019 |
| Central Plains Ribfest | 3 | 9 | 0 | top 60% | Jun 14, 2019 |
| BBQ on the Bricks | 2 | 16 | 0 | top 69% | Aug 25, 2017 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2017
5 contests
Contests a season
2.4
across 9 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
NE
8 of 22 contests · 6 states in all
Contests visited
14
3 of them more than once
Most-entered meat
Pork Ribs
21 entries · 1 win · 4 calls
Opponents faced
438
finished ahead 286 times, behind 423
Longest layoff
5.1 yrs
Jun 28, 2019 → Aug 2, 2024
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20241 milestone
- Most recent contest All American BBQ Throwdown (ONE MEAT RIBS)
20181 milestone
- Peak power rating (1528) Big Blue BBQ Championship (TEAMS FULL)
20173 milestones
- 10th tracked contest Smokin in the Ville
- Career-best overall score697.0856 Smokin in the Ville
- Career-best single call (Pork)179.4400 Smokin in the Ville
20131 milestone
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score657.0512 Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic
—6 milestones
- First tracked contest The Stith Family Farms Backyard BBQ contest (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First call The Stith Family Farms Backyard BBQ contest (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First category win (Pork Ribs) The Stith Family Farms Backyard BBQ contest (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First overall top-10 The Stith Family Farms Backyard BBQ contest (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First overall podium The Stith Family Farms Backyard BBQ contest (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First Reserve Championship The Stith Family Farms Backyard BBQ contest (BACKYARD ONLY)
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +18.7 | Smokin in the Ville | Apr 28, 2017 |
| +10.4 | Big Blue BBQ Championship (TEAMS FULL) | Jun 1, 2018 |
| +9 | 6th Annual Valley Veterans BBQ Competition | May 19, 2017 |
| +8 | Central Plains Ribfest | Jun 16, 2017 |
| +7.9 | Fire N Up in the Flint Hills | Apr 21, 2018 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -14.7 | Jiggy with the Piggy BBQ Challenge | May 9, 2014 |
| -11.2 | BBQ in the Bluffs | May 13, 2016 |
| -8.5 | BBQ on the Bricks | Aug 26, 2016 |
| -6.2 | Back To Mayberry | Jun 28, 2019 |
| -5.5 | Central Plains Ribfest | Jun 14, 2019 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100% | top 29% | 87.8% | 87.8% |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | — | — | — |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33% | top 73% | 91.7% | 90.9% |
| 2018 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 75% | top 48% | 93.2% | 92% |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 100% | top 35% | 96.8% | 92.8% |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 75% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | — | — | — |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 99% | 69.5% | 69.5% |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 56% | 91.3% | 91.3% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2, 2024 | All American BBQ Throwdown (ONE MEAT RIBS) Westland, MI | — | — | 8 (172.5944) | — | — |
| Jun 28, 2019 | Back To Mayberry 🏅 Rodney, IA | 24 / 28 (654.2400) | 20 (167.4172) | 27 (155.3828) | 19 (166.8800) | 20 (164.5600) |
| Jun 14, 2019 | Central Plains Ribfest 🏅 Holdrege, NE | 23 / 30 (647.9312) | 22 (158.2860) | 22 (157.7028) | 18 (166.2740) | 15 (165.6684) |
| May 31, 2019 | Big Blue BBQ Championship 🏅 Marysville, KS | 16 / 29 (660.5256) | 19 (162.2628) | 16 (166.2972) | 24 (161.1200) | 9 (170.8456) |
| Jun 15, 2018 | Central Plains Ribfest Holdrege, NE | 25 / 35 (659.3260) | 20 (167.4172) | 28 (161.6800) | 9 (172.5600) | 29 (157.6688) |
| Jun 1, 2018 | Big Blue BBQ Championship (TEAMS FULL) Marysville, KS | 12 / 42 (665.0856) | 26 (162.8228) | 18 (164.5600) | 14 (167.9884) | 11 (169.7144) |
| May 18, 2018 | 7th Annual Valley Veterans BBQ Competition Valley, NE | 25 / 42 (655.2800) | 36 (158.8228) | 25 (159.3828) | 9 (171.9772) | 22 (165.0972) |
| Apr 21, 2018 | Fire N Up in the Flint Hills Council Grove, KS | 7 / 21 (670.7660) | 8 (168.5716) | 13 (163.9772) | 11 (166.2400) | 3 (171.9772) |
| Aug 25, 2017 | BBQ on the Bricks Kearney, NE | 16 / 34 (662.2860) | 7 (170.8456) | 14 (165.1544) | 12 (165.1544) | 21 (161.1316) |
| Jun 16, 2017 | Central Plains Ribfest Holdrege, NE | 9 / 27 (659.3832) | 12 (166.8572) | 17 (159.4172) | 4 (173.1316) | 11 (159.9772) |
| Jun 2, 2017 | Big Blue BBQ Championship (TEAM FULL) Marysville, KS | 18 / 35 (651.9544) | 24 (161.7144) | 33 (154.8344) | 8 (168.5484) | 8 (166.8572) |
| May 19, 2017 | 6th Annual Valley Veterans BBQ Competition Valley, NE | 16 / 47 (668.4684) | 13 (170.8344) | 4 (174.8456) | 34 (158.8344) | 18 (163.9540) |
| Apr 28, 2017 | Smokin in the Ville Edwardsville, KS | 2 / 26 (697.0856) | 4 (172.5600) | 5 (174.2628) | 1 (179.4400) | 6 (170.8228) |
| Sep 23, 2016 | Jammin' in JC BBQ Contest Junction City, KS | 19 / 39 (658.2632) | 24 (165.1428) | 18 (165.7260) | 14 (171.4172) | 27 (155.9772) |
| Sep 9, 2016 | Derby BBQ Festival Derby, KS | 24 / 38 (655.3832) | 21 (166.8344) | 29 (158.8916) | 27 (163.3944) | 23 (166.2628) |
| Aug 26, 2016 | BBQ on the Bricks Kearney, NE | 31 / 34 (605.0744) | 13 (166.8456) | 33 (141.6688) | 31 (152.5256) | 32 (144.0344) |
| Jun 3, 2016 | Big Blue BBQ Championship Marysville, KS | 23 / 30 (611.3256) | 19 (155.9772) | 14 (161.6800) | 30 (138.2628) | 20 (155.4056) |
| May 13, 2016 | BBQ in the Bluffs Council Bluffs, IA | 32 / 33 (568.9144) | 32 (150.8228) | 32 (139.9316) | 30 (150.2284) | 32 (127.9316) |
| Jul 10, 2015 | Sauce & Cycles Falls City, NE | — | — | — | — | — |
| May 9, 2014 | Jiggy with the Piggy BBQ Challenge Kannapolis, NC | 79 / 80 (500.4800) | 79 (20) | 47 (159.9656) | 37 (161.6800) | 50 (158.8344) |
| Sep 20, 2013 | Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic Salisbury, NC | 40 / 72 (657.0512) | 46 (163.4172) | 29 (165.7372) | 30 (167.9540) | 41 (159.9428) |
| — | The Stith Family Farms Backyard BBQ contest (BACKYARD ONLY) Elizabethtown, KY | 2 / 7 (315.9428) | 2 (155.3828) | 1 (160.5600) | — | — |