High-water mark
679.9084
career-best overall
94.4% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 679.9084 at Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest — 94.4% of a perfect 720.
- Master
- 2024-06-07
Old Man Joes
At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)
Rating
1490
peak 1509 · rated over 12 contests ⓘ
Contests
12
in the data
First seen
2013-03-01
latest 2024-06-07
Best ToY finish
#1162
Master 2013
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
0
1 podiums
Overall top-10s
2
of 12 contests
Avg finish
top 64%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
666.86 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 643.79 (+23.08)
Walk rate
42%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±49.95
std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork
avg 165.12 · weakest Chicken (162.88)
Road miles
3,273
mi across 12 mapped stops · furthest 1157 mi
Schedule strength
69%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1586)
Purse competed for
$51K
listed at 3 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
GCs in 3 state-championship entries
Master avg
643.79 / 720
12 Master contests · 0 GCs
Storylines (7 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.
The one to beat
2×
one call ahead of them
56 SMOKEHOUSE has finished one call ahead of Old Man Joes 2 times — their closest competition in the data.
A tough matchup
6–1
behind in the head-to-head
4 LEGS UP BBQ ahead in 86% of their meetings
4 LEGS UP BBQ has come out ahead in 6 of their 7 shared contests.
The comeback
3.5 yrs
off the trail, then back
Off the trail for 3.5 years, then back at Smoke in the Spring (2024-04-05).
- last seen 2020-10-23
- back 2024-04-05
Pork nemesis
5 of 5
shared pork entries lost
HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB ahead 100% of the time
Even in their strongest meat, HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB has out-cooked them in 5 of 5 shared pork entries.
A September team
Top 49%
average finish in September
Something about September: average finish in the top 49% across 4 contests, versus top 64% the rest of the year.
- 4 September contests
- top 64% the rest of the year
The long haul
3,273
road miles between contests
Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 3,273 miles across 12 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 1,157 miles to Triple Threat BBQ Beer and Music Festival.
- 12 mapped stops
- furthest 1,157 mi
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.
162 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#3674 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 8%
- Peak
- 1489
No shared contest yet.
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 12 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-head#3669 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 25%
- Peak
- 1489
No shared contest yet.
Their last contest in the data was back in 2016, 8 years before Old Man Joes's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-head#3659 of the rated field
- Contests
- 14
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1490
No shared contest yet.
Careers of much the same size, 14 contests to 12, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Head-to-head#3670 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 36%
- Peak
- 1489
No shared contest yet.
They turned up 6 years after Old Man Joes did, first appearing in 2019.
⚔ Head-to-head#3644 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1490
No shared contest yet.
Level with Old Man Joes on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Head-to-head#3657 of the rated field
- Contests
- 14
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1490
No shared contest yet.
14 contests and no Grand Championship yet.
⚔ Head-to-headFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 LEGS UP BBQ | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| Petie's Smokin Pits BBQ | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| THE GRISWOLDS | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
| Three Hog Night Smokers | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| SCOTTS BBQ SHACK | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| SLAPS BBQ | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| BOOMERANG BBQ | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| BUFFALO'S BBQ | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 176.5600 | 143.3488 | 162.88 | top 66% |
| Pork Ribs | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 176.0000 | 145.6344 | 164.87 | top 51% |
| Pork | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 178.8572 | 151.9540 | 165.12 | top 55% |
| Brisket | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 173.1316 | 155.9200 | 164.49 | top 55% |
“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 | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| KS | 5 | 0 | top 60% |
| OK | 4 | 0 | top 74% |
| DE | 1 | 0 | top 85% |
| AL | 1 | 0 | top 56% |
| LA | 1 | 0 | top 25% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium (20–39) | 4 | 0 | top 41% |
| Large (40+) | 8 | 0 | top 75% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firelake BBQ Cook Off(Day 2) | 2 | 62 | 0 | top 90% | 2017-03-25 |
The story so far (17 numbers that describe this team)
On the trail
11.3 yrs
2013-03-01 → 2024-06-07
Busiest season
2017
4 contests
Contests a season
1.7
across 7 seasons in the data
Cooks most in
KS
5 of 12 contests · 5 states/provinces in all
Contests visited
11
1 of them cooked more than once
Most-entered meat
Pork Ribs
12 entries · 0 wins · 2 calls
Strongest meat
Pork
averages 165.12 · weakest Chicken (162.88)
Walk rate
42%
a top-10 call in 5 of 12 contests
Overall top-10 rate
17%
2 of 12 contests
Master average
643.79
out of 720 · 12 contests · 0 GCs
Opponents faced
541
215–516 across every shared overall standing
Road miles
3,273
12 mapped stops · furthest 1,157 mi
Schedule strength
1586
average field rating faced — tougher than 69% of rated contests
Purse competed for
$50,590
listed at 3 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0
from 3 state-championship entries
Longest layoff
3.5 yrs
2020-10-23 → 2024-04-05
Power rating
1490
peak 1509 · #3653 of 6,413 rated
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
- 2013
- First tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First call Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First overall top-10 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score669.1424 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- Peak power rating (1509) Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- 2020
- 10th tracked contest Firelake BBQ Cook Off-Day 1
- Career-best single call (Pork)178.8572 Firelake BBQ Cook Off-Day 1
- 2024
- Career-best overall score679.9084 Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest
- Most recent contest Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +10.8 | *Derby BBQ Festival(JUDGES FULL) | 2017-09-08 |
| +8.9 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | 2013-03-01 |
| +3.9 | Firelake BBQ Cook Off-Day 1 | 2020-10-23 |
| +2.3 | Jammin' in JC BBQ Contest | 2016-09-23 |
| +2 | *Cherokee Strip BBQ Cook-Off | 2017-09-15 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -11.5 | Firelake BBQ Cook Off (Day 1) | 2017-03-24 |
| -9.5 | Triple Threat BBQ Beer and Music Festival | 2015-04-10 |
| -4.7 | *Kansas BBQ Shoot Out Day 1 | 2018-03-02 |
| -4.2 | Firelake BBQ Cook Off(Day 2) | 2017-03-25 |
| -3.7 | Smoke in the Spring | 2024-04-05 |
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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 68% | 94.4% | 93.5% |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 58% | 94.4% | 94.4% |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 85% | 90.9% | 90.9% |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25% | top 67% | 93.6% | 86% |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 54% | 90.5% | 90.5% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 85% | 83.5% | 83.5% |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | top 41% | 92.9% | 91.4% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-06-07 | Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest 🏅 Derby, KS | 25 / 43 (679.9084) | 25 (170.2972) | 19 (170.8228) | 25 (170.8228) | 21 (167.9656) |
| 2024-04-05 | Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS | 75 / 97 (666.1484) | 57 (168.5484) | 34 (172.5600) | 89 (157.6456) | 60 (167.3944) |
| 2020-10-23 | Firelake BBQ Cook Off-Day 1 🏅 Shawnee, OK | 37 / 64 (679.3484) | 60 (162.8228) | 16 (171.9772) | 7 (178.8572) | 44 (165.6912) |
| 2018-03-02 | *Kansas BBQ Shoot Out Day 1 Cheney, KS | 40 / 47 (654.1828) | 45 (156.5600) | 40 (161.6456) | 38 (162.8456) | 10 (173.1316) |
| 2017-09-15 | *Cherokee Strip BBQ Cook-Off Ponca City, OK | 22 / 38 (654.7316) | 24 (162.8000) | 17 (165.1200) | 20 (162.8344) | 22 (163.9772) |
| 2017-09-08 | *Derby BBQ Festival(JUDGES FULL) Derby, KS | 8 / 29 (674.2288) | 18 (165.0972) | 6 (170.8456) | 8 (170.8688) | 12 (167.4172) |
| 2017-03-25 | Firelake BBQ Cook Off(Day 2) Shawnee, OK | 62 / 77 (655.8512) | 14 (176.5600) | 27 (171.4172) | 71 (151.9540) | 66 (155.9200) |
| 2017-03-24 | Firelake BBQ Cook Off (Day 1) Shawnee, OK | 87 / 87 (491.9088) | — | 63 (161.0972) | 58 (164.5600) | 51 (166.2516) |
| 2016-09-23 | Jammin' in JC BBQ Contest Junction City, KS | 21 / 39 (651.2572) | 28 (161.6800) | 26 (160.5372) | 24 (165.0972) | 17 (163.9428) |
| 2015-04-10 | Triple Threat BBQ Beer and Music Festival Harrington, DE | 84 / 99 (601.4860) | 92 (143.3488) | 90 (145.6344) | 68 (154.2512) | 52 (158.2516) |
| 2013-09-13 | Decatur Jaycees 19th Annual Riverfest Decatur, AL | 45 / 80 (647.2340) | 54 (159.3712) | 69 (150.7540) | 10 (172.5716) | 34 (164.5372) |
| 2013-03-01 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Baton Rouge, LA | 7 / 28 (669.1424) | 13 (164.5712) | 2 (176.0000) | 11 (169.1430) | 20 (159.4282) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #1954 (60 pts) | #2012 (60 pts) | #1996 (60 pts) | #2030 (60 pts) | #1521 (135 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #1589 (149 pts) | #2102 (89 pts) | #1594 (169 pts) | #1648 (149 pts) | #1923 (119 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #1162 (233 pts) | #1389 (188 pts) | #948 (328 pts) | #1110 (273 pts) | #1494 (153 pts) |