Traditions BBQ

At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)

Power ranking

#3300

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1498

peak 1503 · rated over 14 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-07-26

latest 2023-06-09

Best ToY finish

#885

Master 2013

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

3 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 15 contests

Avg finish

top 58%

overall standings

Best overall

687.3716 / 720

Master · The National BBQ Cup (GBC Qualifier)

Perfect 180s

Current form

649.68 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 652.01 (-2.32)

Walk rate

33%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

177.1428

Brisket · Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic

Consistency

±18.13

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Brisket

avg 166.07 · weakest Pork Ribs (160.42)

Road miles

2,454

mi across 15 mapped stops · furthest 379 mi

Schedule strength

33%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1544)

Purse competed for

$20K

listed at 3 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

GCs in 1 state-championship entries

Master avg

652.01 / 720

12 Master contests · 0 GCs

Backyard avg

335.95 / 360

2 Backyard contests · 0 GCs

Master and Backyard overall scores sit on different scales (Master is 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.

⚔ Compare with another team

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.

High-water mark

687.3716 career-best overall

95.5% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 687.3716 at The National BBQ Cup (GBC Qualifier) — 95.5% of a perfect 720.

Master
2013-11-15

A tough matchup

9–0 behind in the head-to-head

CHECKERED PIG ahead in 100% of their meetings

CHECKERED PIG has come out ahead in 9 of their 9 shared contests.

The weak link

−5.7 points behind their best meat

Pork Ribs is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 5.65 points below their brisket, and turns into a call 7% of the time against 17%.

Pork Ribs avg 160.42
Brisket avg 166.07
1 calls in 14 entries

A strong matchup

4–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of FLAT BOTTOM BBQ in 4 of their 4 shared contests.

The comeback

6.5 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 6.5 years, then back at Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ (2022-09-08).

last seen 2016-03-11
back 2022-09-08

Brisket nemesis

8 of 9 shared brisket entries lost

CHECKERED PIG ahead 89% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, CHECKERED PIG has out-cooked them in 8 of 9 shared brisket entries.

A September team

Top 48% average finish in September

Something about September: average finish in the top 48% across 3 contests, versus top 58% the rest of the year.

3 September contests
top 58% the rest of the year

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.

126 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.

BEAN CAN BBQ

#3311 of the rated field

1497 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1507

2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to Traditions BBQ)

2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team Traditions BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 11 contests
last seen 2018-06-22

⚔ Head-to-head

Q-FUSED BBQ TEAM

#3296 of the rated field

1498 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 5
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 20%
Peak: 1506

1–1 in 2 shared contests (50% to Traditions BBQ)

Their last contest in the data was back in 2017, 6 years before Traditions BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 5 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

Bbqweiser

#3282 of the rated field

1498 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1528

No shared contest yet.

They've been 1528 at their best, 30 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 13 contests
last seen 2019-09-27

⚔ Head-to-head

NIBBLE ME THIS

#3294 of the rated field

1498 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1511

No shared contest yet.

Careers of much the same size, 12 contests to 15, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 12 contests
last seen 2018-08-10

⚔ Head-to-head

CHILLIN N GRILLIN BBQ COMPANY

#3304 of the rated field

1498 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 18%
Peak: 1506

No shared contest yet.

Level with Traditions BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 11 contests
last seen 2019-09-21

⚔ Head-to-head

RJ'S BACKYARD COOKERS

#3319 of the rated field

1497 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1497

No shared contest yet.

18 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 6% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 18 contests
last seen 2022-06-17

⚔ Head-to-head

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
CHECKERED PIG	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
SAUCED! BBQ TEAM	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
SMOKE THIS	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
WAYLON'S WICKEDLY GOOD Q	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
Killer B's BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
REDNECK SCIENTIFIC	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
TWO OLD MEN AND A GRILL	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
BUBBAJACK'S	6	3	3	50%	⚔ compare
EB'S BAR-B-QUE	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare
PICKIN' PORKERS	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare
QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
Bald Hawg BBQ	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
MIDNIGHT BURN	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN SKULLIES	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	14	1	1	173.7028	150.7540	165.84	top 54%
Pork Ribs	14	1	1	176.5600	147.9200	160.42	top 65%
Pork	13	1	0	169.1084	143.3484	161.85	top 66%
Brisket	12	2	1	177.1428	153.0744	166.07	top 42%

“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	Avg finish
NC	6	top 63%
GA	5	top 61%
AL	2	top 38%
TN	1	top 59%

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	4	0	top 63%
Large (40+)	10	0	top 57%

Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Flames on the Flint (GBC Qualifier)	2	33	0	top 68%	2016-03-11
The National BBQ Cup (SBBQA)	2	14	0	top 37%	2014-11-21

The story so far (18 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 9.9 yrs 2013-07-26 → 2023-06-09

Busiest season 2014 6 contests

Contests a season 2.5 across 6 seasons in the data

Cooks most in NC 6 of 15 contests · 4 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 12 2 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 14 entries · 0 wins · 1 calls

Strongest meat Brisket averages 166.07 · weakest Pork Ribs (160.42)

Walk rate 33% a top-10 call in 5 of 15 contests

Overall top-10 rate 7% 1 of 15 contests

Master average 652.01 out of 720 · 12 contests · 0 GCs

Backyard average 335.95 out of 360 · 2 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 521 415–448 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 2,454 15 mapped stops · furthest 379 mi

Schedule strength 1544 average field rating faced — tougher than 33% of rated contests

Purse competed for $20,350 listed at 3 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships 0 from 1 state-championship entries

Longest layoff 6.5 yrs 2016-03-11 → 2022-09-08

Power rating 1498 peak 1503 · #3300 of 6,413 rated

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

2013
Jul 26 First tracked contest Foothills Country Fair BBQ Bash
Jul 26 First overall past 90% of a perfect score660.4800 Foothills Country Fair BBQ Bash
Sep 20 First call Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic
Sep 20 Career-best single call (Brisket)177.1428 Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic
Sep 20 Peak power rating (1503) Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic
Nov 15 Career-best overall score687.3716 The National BBQ Cup (GBC Qualifier)
2014
Sep 19 10th tracked contest Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally
2022
Sep 8 First overall top-10 Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ
2024
May 4 Most recent contest The Great Alabama Public Television BBQ Cook-Off (ONE MEAT PORK)

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+14.8	Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ	2022-09-08
+14	The National BBQ Cup (GBC Qualifier)	2013-11-15
+8.3	Jiggy with the Piggy BBQ Challenge	2014-05-09
+4.9	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic	2013-09-20
+2.7	The National BBQ Cup (SBBQA)	2014-11-21

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-11.8	Smoke-n-Thunder BBQ Classic	2013-10-12
-11	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally	2014-09-19
-9.8	Hog Happnin'	2013-11-01
-9.4	Lincolnton Hog Happenin'	2014-06-06
-6	Flames on the Flint (SBBQA)	2014-03-14

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	Top-10s	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2024	1	0	100%	—	—	—
2023	1	0	0%	top 62%	91.9%	91.9%
2022	1	1	100%	top 14%	94.8%	94.8%
2016	1	0	0%	top 58%	91.4%	91.4%
2014	6	0	33%	top 64%	93%	89.8%
2013	5	0	20%	top 60%	95.5%	91.2%

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2024-05-04	The Great Alabama Public Television BBQ Cook-Off (ONE MEAT PORK) Birmingham, AL	—	—	—	7 (168.5372)	—
2023-06-09	Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL	16 / 26 (330.7888)	17 (165.0972)	14 (165.6916)	—	—
2022-09-08	Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ 🏅 Huntsville, AL	5 / 35 (341.1200)	17 (164.5600)	3 (176.5600)	—	—
2016-03-11	Flames on the Flint (GBC Qualifier) Bainbridge, GA	52 / 89 (658.1256)	65 (163.9428)	79 (156.5028)	32 (167.4172)	17 (170.2628)
2014-11-21	The National BBQ Cup (SBBQA) Cumming, GA	48 / 86 (669.6112)	64 (166.2284)	44 (166.8572)	38 (169.1084)	49 (167.4172)
2014-09-19	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally Salisbury, NC	59 / 64 (622.6852)	40 (165.6800)	49 (155.9884)	64 (143.3484)	46 (157.6684)
2014-06-06	Lincolnton Hog Happenin' Lincolnton, NC	31 / 38 (635.7712)	13 (170.2628)	32 (147.9200)	32 (158.2056)	25 (159.3828)
2014-05-09	Jiggy with the Piggy BBQ Challenge Kannapolis, NC	23 / 80 (662.2288)	17 (170.8228)	31 (163.9772)	67 (154.2744)	5 (173.1544)
2014-04-18	17th Annual Firehouse BBQ Cook-off Kings Mountain, NC	28 / 55 (652.9828)	33 (164.5484)	36 (157.1088)	22 (165.0856)	18 (166.2400)
2014-03-14	Flames on the Flint (SBBQA) Bainbridge, GA	33 / 43 (638.1372)	3 (171.9656)	37 (155.3944)	36 (157.7028)	35 (153.0744)
2013-11-15	The National BBQ Cup (GBC Qualifier) Cumming, GA	14 / 79 (687.3716)	18 (173.7028)	14 (173.1200)	50 (166.2628)	12 (174.2860)
2013-11-01	Hog Happnin' Shelby, NC	65 / 75 (625.4628)	70 (150.7540)	71 (150.2172)	53 (161.6800)	41 (162.8116)
2013-10-12	Smoke-n-Thunder BBQ Classic Rome, GA	24 / 25 (647.7944)	17 (167.4060)	25 (157.6572)	25 (161.0856)	17 (161.6456)
2013-09-20	Tilley Harley-Davidson Biker Blues BBQ Rally and BBQ Classic Salisbury, NC	28 / 72 (663.4168)	26 (168.0228)	63 (153.1428)	44 (165.1084)	2 (177.1428)
2013-07-26	Foothills Country Fair BBQ Bash Cleveland, TN	32 / 54 (660.4800)	47 (158.8000)	29 (165.6916)	29 (166.2628)	16 (169.7256)

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
2014 ↗	Master	#897 (366 pts)	#612 (631 pts)	#979 (356 pts)	#959 (371 pts)	#715 (516 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#885 (335 pts)	#920 (350 pts)	#942 (330 pts)	#1102 (275 pts)	#761 (425 pts)