High-water mark
687.3600
career-best overall
95.5% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 687.3600 at Kora Shriners BBQ Competition — 95.5% of a perfect 720.
- Master
- Aug 19, 2023
Gus's BBQ
Gus's BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 11 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2015 and 2024. Their best overall finish is 5th of 31 at the Massachusetts in May (Day 2) (2024). They are ranked #2036 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1537
peak 1537 · rated over 11 contests
Contests
11
in the data
First seen
Jul 17, 2015
latest May 18, 2024 · 8.8 years on the trail
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
0
3 podiums
Overall top-10s
2
18% of 11 contests
Avg finish
top 45%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
667.28 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 661.65 (+5.63)
Walk rate
55%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±14.21
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork Ribs
avg 168.61 · weakest Brisket (161.48)
Road miles
2,016
across 11 mapped stops · furthest 1,138 mi
Schedule strength
35%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1547)
Purse competed for
$30K
listed at 5 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 5 state-championship entries
Master avg
661.65 / 720
11 Master contests · 0 GCs
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #1524 (120 pts) | #1432 (160 pts) | #1040 (295 pts) | #1610 (120 pts) | #1586 (120 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #1951 (105 pts) | #1802 (120 pts) | #2123 (90 pts) | #2260 (60 pts) | #2079 (90 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #1775 (120 pts) | #1425 (205 pts) | #1542 (180 pts) | #1637 (170 pts) | #1839 (120 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #2000 (85 pts) | #2174 (65 pts) | #1565 (165 pts) | #2225 (60 pts) | #1909 (115 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to Gus's BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
76 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#2,031 of the rated field
- Contests
- 11
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 18%
- Peak
- 1552
Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 5 years before Gus's BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#2,026 of the rated field
- Contests
- 14
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 7%
- Peak
- 1546
Careers of much the same size, 14 contests to 11, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careers#2,034 of the rated field
- Contests
- 12
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 33%
- Peak
- 1551
12 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 33% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careers#2,035 of the rated field
- Contests
- 10
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 30%
- Peak
- 1537
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 10 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careers#2,038 of the rated field
- Contests
- 9
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 33%
- Peak
- 1537
Level with Gus's BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careers#2,030 of the rated field
- Contests
- 14
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 43%
- Peak
- 1551
They turned up 7 years after Gus's BBQ did, first appearing in 2022.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| Chow Town BBQ | 5 | 5 | 0 | 100% | ⚔ compare |
| BURNT WOOD BBQ | 5 | 4 | 1 | 80% | ⚔ compare |
| Q Shanty | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| Waypoint BBQ | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| BSQ'S | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| BEND OF THE RIVER BBQ | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| ELJEFE SMOKE | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
| The Docfather BBQ | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
| TRUE SMOKE BBQ | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
| CROIX VALLEY SAUCES | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| LG bbq | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKE IN THE EYE | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 173.7028 | 153.1428 | 166.18 | top 47% |
| Pork Ribs | 11 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 174.8572 | 162.8684 | 168.61 | top 34% |
| Pork | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 173.7028 | 156 | 165.38 | top 49% |
| Brisket | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 176.5944 | 150.8228 | 161.48 | top 53% |
“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) | 4 | 0 | top 54% |
| Large (40+) | 7 | 0 | top 40% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts in May (Day 2) | 2 | 5 | 0 | top 38% | May 18, 2024 |
| Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship | 2 | 16 | 0 | top 47% | Mar 2, 2018 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2024
2 contests
Contests a season
1.6
across 7 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
MN
5 of 11 contests · 5 states in all
Contests visited
9
2 of them more than once
Opponents faced
274
finished ahead 296 times, behind 223
Longest layoff
4.3 yrs
May 11, 2018 → Aug 27, 2022
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20244 milestones
- 10th tracked contest Massachusetts in May (Day 1)
- Career-best single call (Brisket)176.5944 Massachusetts in May (Day 2)
- Peak power rating (1537) Massachusetts in May (Day 2)
- Most recent contest Massachusetts in May (Day 2)
20232 milestones
- First overall top-10 Kora Shriners BBQ Competition
- Career-best overall score687.3600 Kora Shriners BBQ Competition
20153 milestones
- First tracked contest Cookin' on Kampeska
- First call Cookin' on Kampeska
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score652.4800 Cookin' on Kampeska
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +12.9 | Massachusetts in May (Day 2) | May 18, 2024 |
| +10.9 | Kora Shriners BBQ Competition | Aug 19, 2023 |
| +8.1 | Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship | Mar 3, 2017 |
| +7.3 | HOGS 4 HEROES | May 6, 2023 |
| +6.4 | Minnesota in May | May 11, 2018 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -9.9 | Kora Shriner's BBQ Competition | Aug 27, 2022 |
| -1.7 | Massachusetts in May (Day 1) | May 17, 2024 |
| -0.8 | Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship | Mar 4, 2016 |
| -0.8 | Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship | Mar 2, 2018 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% | top 38% | 95.4% | 93.6% |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% | top 26% | 95.5% | 93.6% |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 87% | 89% | 89% |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 48% | 92.8% | 92% |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 34% | 92.1% | 92.1% |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 50% | 91.4% | 90.4% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 53% | 90.6% | 90.6% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 2024 | Massachusetts in May (Day 2) 🏅 Wrentham, MA | 5 / 31 (686.8460) | 15 (170.3088) | 19 (169.1200) | 14 (170.8228) | 2 (176.5944) |
| May 17, 2024 | Massachusetts in May (Day 1) 🏅 Wrentham, MA | 18 / 30 (660.5488) | 23 (160.5828) | 13 (169.1316) | 11 (169.1200) | 16 (161.7144) |
| Aug 19, 2023 | Kora Shriners BBQ Competition 🏅 Hiram, ME | 9 / 46 (687.3600) | 12 (173.7028) | 8 (173.7144) | 7 (173.7028) | 22 (166.2400) |
| May 6, 2023 | HOGS 4 HEROES 🏅 Jamestown, RI | 16 / 50 (661.1312) | 14 (169.7372) | 31 (162.8684) | 22 (165.1200) | 19 (163.4056) |
| Aug 27, 2022 | Kora Shriner's BBQ Competition 🏅 Hiram, ME | 27 / 31 (640.5028) | 31 (153.1428) | 2 (173.7144) | 19 (162.8228) | 31 (150.8228) |
| May 11, 2018 | Minnesota in May Falcon Heights, MN | 25 / 70 (667.8972) | 17 (170.2744) | 32 (165.6800) | 29 (166.8228) | 25 (165.1200) |
| Mar 2, 2018 | Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship Onamia, MN | 34 / 57 (656.4344) | 28 (165.7144) | 3 (174.8572) | 40 (163.3828) | 50 (152.4800) |
| Mar 3, 2017 | Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship Onamia, MN | 16 / 47 (662.7888) | 13 (170.2972) | 19 (165.6800) | 26 (163.3944) | 19 (163.4172) |
| May 13, 2016 | Minnesota in May Falcon Heights, MN | 30 / 71 (658.1944) | 9 (170.8572) | 35 (163.9544) | 15 (169.1200) | 56 (154.2628) |
| Mar 4, 2016 | Fire on Ice Barbecue World Championship Isle, MN | 34 / 59 (643.9544) | 37 (161.7144) | 13 (167.4172) | 45 (156) | 35 (158.8228) |
| Jul 17, 2015 | Cookin' on Kampeska Watertown, SD | 20 / 38 (652.4800) | 24 (161.6800) | 7 (168.5600) | 27 (158.8344) | 14 (163.4056) |