High-water mark
686.1940
career-best overall
95.3% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 686.1940 at McLouth BBQ Blowout 33rd Annual — 95.3% of a perfect 720.
- Master
- May 31, 2024
Grinders BBQ
Grinders BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 15 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2014 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 7th of 35 at the McLouth BBQ Blowout 33rd Annual (2024). They are ranked #2015 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1538
peak 1538 · rated over 14 contests
Contests
15
in the data
First seen
May 16, 2014
latest Aug 14, 2026 · 12.2 years on the trail
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
1
2 podiums
Overall top-10s
1
7% of 15 contests
Avg finish
top 50%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
680.69 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 662.61 (+18.09)
Walk rate
47%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±18.15
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork Ribs
avg 167.04 · weakest Chicken (163.63)
Road miles
2,332
across 15 mapped stops · furthest 786 mi
Schedule strength
57%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1572)
Purse competed for
$181K
listed at 7 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 6 state-championship entries
Master avg
662.61 / 720
14 Master contests · 0 GCs
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to Grinders BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
81 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#2,010 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 42%
- Peak
- 1538
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Grinders BBQ)
One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team Grinders BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-head#2,016 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 18%
- Peak
- 1538
1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to Grinders BBQ)
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 11 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-head#2,003 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 9%
- Peak
- 1541
2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to Grinders BBQ)
Careers of much the same size, 11 contests to 15, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Head-to-head#2,021 of the rated field
- Contests
- 9
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 44%
- Peak
- 1538
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Grinders BBQ)
Their last contest in the data was back in 2017, 9 years before Grinders BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-head#2,017 of the rated field
- Contests
- 16
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 19%
- Peak
- 1544
16 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 19% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careers#2,026 of the rated field
- Contests
- 14
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 7%
- Peak
- 1546
Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2014.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | 8 | 3 | 5 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | 7 | 2 | 5 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| DIRT ROAD BBQ | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| IN DEEP SAUCE | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN O BBQ | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| SLAPS BBQ | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| BURNT FINGER BBQ | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| WOOD HOOK BBQ | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| HIGH i QUE | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 174.2628 | 153.0628 | 163.63 | top 65% |
| Pork Ribs | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 177.7028 | 154.2288 | 167.04 | top 44% |
| Pork | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 177.7028 | 151.4172 | 165.28 | top 55% |
| Brisket | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 177.1428 | 157.0856 | 166.66 | top 39% |
“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) | 5 | 0 | top 50% |
| Large (40+) | 9 | 0 | top 49% |
More numbers
Busiest season
2015
3 contests
Contests a season
1.7
across 9 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
KS
8 of 15 contests · 4 states in all
Contests visited
14
a different one every time
Opponents faced
1,065
finished ahead 812 times, behind 660
Longest layoff
2.3 yrs
Jun 4, 2021 → Sep 27, 2023
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20263 milestones
- Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)177.7028 BBQ & Fly-In on the River
- Peak power rating (1538) BBQ & Fly-In on the River
- Most recent contest BBQ & Fly-In on the River
20242 milestones
- First overall top-10 McLouth BBQ Blowout 33rd Annual
- Career-best overall score686.1940 McLouth BBQ Blowout 33rd Annual
20192 milestones
- First category win (Brisket) Smoke on the Bricks
- 10th tracked contest 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST
20143 milestones
- First tracked contest Wheatstock Grill-Off: Peace, Love & BBQ
- First call Wheatstock Grill-Off: Peace, Love & BBQ
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score661.6232 Septemberfest BBQ & Rib-Eye Steak Cookoff Challenge
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +11.2 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 33rd Annual | May 31, 2024 |
| +10.3 | Smoke on the Bricks | May 31, 2019 |
| +9.2 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | Sep 27, 2023 |
| +7.1 | Mclouth BBQ Blowout 29th Annual | Jun 4, 2021 |
| +7 | Septemberfest BBQ & Rib-Eye Steak Cookoff Challenge | Aug 30, 2014 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -8.2 | Wheatstock Grill-Off: Peace, Love & BBQ | May 16, 2014 |
| -6.6 | Piggin In The Park (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) | Jun 2, 2017 |
| -4.8 | The Best Damn BBQ Contest | Apr 10, 2015 |
| -0.2 | Smokin in the Golden Valley | Sep 4, 2015 |
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 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 48% | 95.1% | 95.1% |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | top 20% | 95.3% | 95.3% |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 31% | 94.7% | 94.7% |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 33% | 94% | 94% |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 50% | top 28% | 93.6% | 93.5% |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 60% | 92.1% | 92.1% |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 82% | 88.4% | 88.4% |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33% | top 65% | 91.6% | 89.5% |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 57% | 93.1% | 91.1% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 14, 2026 | BBQ & Fly-In on the River 🏅 Excelsior Springs, MO | 40 / 83 (685.0400) | 56 (169.1200) | 11 (177.7028) | 67 (165.0972) | 20 (173.1200) |
| May 31, 2024 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 33rd Annual 🏅 McLouth, KS | 7 / 35 (686.1940) | 21 (166.8112) | 12 (170.8572) | 3 (177.7028) | 9 (170.8228) |
| Sep 27, 2023 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sep 27, 2023 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 150 / 487 (681.6456) | 116 (173.1428) | 195 (170.8228) | 180 (170.2744) | 228 (167.4056) |
| Jun 4, 2021 | Mclouth BBQ Blowout 29th Annual 🏅 Mclouth, KS | 14 / 42 (676.4796) | 28 (166.2284) | 21 (168.5600) | 21 (167.9884) | 4 (173.7028) |
| Sep 12, 2019 | 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 136 / 468 (674.1140) | 50 (174.2628) | 62 (173.1200) | 201 (167.3828) | 311 (159.3484) |
| May 31, 2019 | Smoke on the Bricks 🏅 Baldwin City, KS | 13 / 49 (671.9084) | 16 (168.5256) | 20 (166.2628) | 33 (159.9772) | 1 (177.1428) |
| Jun 29, 2018 | Freedom Fest BBQ Cook-Off Willard, MO | 31 / 52 (663.2800) | 44 (161.0972) | 29 (166.2628) | 22 (169.6800) | 22 (166.2400) |
| Jun 2, 2017 | Piggin In The Park (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) Woodruff, SC | 36 / 44 (636.3540) | 42 (153.0628) | 35 (158.2400) | 18 (167.9656) | 38 (157.0856) |
| Sep 4, 2015 | Smokin in the Golden Valley Clinton, MO | 19 / 31 (633.5204) | 27 (153.6460) | 10 (166.8344) | 26 (155.9544) | 18 (157.0856) |
| May 23, 2015 | Sugar Mound BBQ Festival Mound City, KS | 38 / 62 (659.2680) | 54 (159.9540) | 40 (162.8228) | 40 (165.0856) | 11 (171.4056) |
| Apr 10, 2015 | The Best Damn BBQ Contest Smithville, MO | 38 / 52 (639.8972) | 32 (163.4172) | 46 (154.2288) | 39 (160) | 22 (162.2512) |
| Oct 10, 2014 | Anchor City Cook Off Centralia, MO | 13 / 27 (670.2056) | 16 (166.2512) | 14 (166.2744) | 13 (167.4172) | 5 (170.2628) |
| Aug 30, 2014 | Septemberfest BBQ & Rib-Eye Steak Cookoff Challenge Omaha, NE | 12 / 29 (661.6232) | 22 (159.9656) | 6 (170.2860) | 10 (167.9772) | 14 (163.3944) |
| May 16, 2014 | Wheatstock Grill-Off: Peace, Love & BBQ Abilene, KS | 22 / 27 (636.9828) | 25 (155.3600) | 10 (166.2400) | 25 (151.4172) | 16 (163.9656) |