BBQ Bonanza

BBQ Bonanza is a competition barbecue team with 21 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2024. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 27 at the Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges (2017), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #2947 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#2,947

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1507

peak 1526 · rated over 21 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Feb 22, 2013

latest Apr 5, 2024 · 11.1 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#697

Master 2017 · every season

Grand champs

1 reserve

Category wins

1 podium

Overall top-10s

10% of 21 contests

Avg finish

top 57%

overall standings

Best overall

686.2744 / 720

Master · Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges

Perfect 180s

Current form

646.14 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 648.85 (-2.72)

Walk rate

29%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

179.4400

Pork Ribs · Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges

Consistency

±18.35

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 163.65 · weakest Pork (160.35)

Road miles

1,082

across 21 mapped stops · furthest 161 mi

Schedule strength

43%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1557)

Purse competed for

$53K

listed at 3 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 4 state-championship entries

Master avg

648.85 / 720

21 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (8 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

High-water mark

686.2744 career-best overall

95.3% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 686.2744 at Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges — 95.3% of a perfect 720.

Master
Mar 24, 2017

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

RUB THAT MEAT BBQ has finished one call ahead of BBQ Bonanza 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2017 their best year

2017 was the year it came together: 4 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 1 category win, at an average finish in the top 34%.

4 contests
2 overall top-10s
1 category win
average top 34%

A tough matchup

10–3 behind in the head-to-head

Theslabs.com ahead in 77% of their meetings

Theslabs.com has come out ahead in 10 of their 13 shared contests.

A strong matchup

6–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 86% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of INDIGO PIG in 6 of their 7 shared contests.

The comeback

3.8 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 3.8 years, then back at Smoke in the Spring (Apr 7, 2023).

last seen Jun 7, 2019
back Apr 7, 2023

Chicken nemesis

9 of 13 shared chicken entries lost

Theslabs.com ahead 69% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, Theslabs.com has out-cooked them in 9 of 13 shared chicken entries.

Show 1 more storyline

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge every year from 2016 to 2019 — the contest they never miss.

4 visits in all
best finish 22nd

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	#1954 (60 pts)	#2012 (60 pts)	#1996 (60 pts)	#2030 (60 pts)	#1990 (60 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#697 (541 pts)	#892 (436 pts)	#667 (611 pts)	#1034 (346 pts)	#827 (466 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#2841 (59 pts)	#2333 (64 pts)	#2866 (59 pts)	#2863 (59 pts)	#2277 (74 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#2158 (60 pts)	#2209 (60 pts)	#2209 (60 pts)	#2225 (60 pts)	#2214 (60 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1251 (225 pts)	#1323 (225 pts)	#1157 (275 pts)	#1340 (225 pts)	#1306 (225 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#840 (361 pts)	#705 (466 pts)	#845 (381 pts)	#914 (351 pts)	#721 (456 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to BBQ Bonanza, each with one reason worth a look.

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

SMOKEY BEAR'S BBQ

#2,949 of the rated field

1507 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1513

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

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

rated over 17 contests
last seen Oct 29, 2016

⚔ Head-to-head

WOODSHED BBQ

#2,938 of the rated field

1507 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1508

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to BBQ Bonanza)

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 17 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 17 contests
last seen Oct 29, 2016

⚔ Head-to-head

BIG DADDY DAN'S BBQ

#2,960 of the rated field

1507 power rating

Contests: 9
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1508

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to BBQ Bonanza)

Fewer contests behind them than BBQ Bonanza has cooked, 9 to 21, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 9 contests
last seen Jun 9, 2023

⚔ Head-to-head

Salt and Pepper BBQ

#2,939 of the rated field

1507 power rating

Contests: 5
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1516

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to BBQ Bonanza)

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

rated over 5 contests
last seen Oct 3, 2025

⚔ Head-to-head

MOKAN BBQ MOB

#2,968 of the rated field

1507 power rating

Contests: 5
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 20%
Peak: 1511

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to BBQ Bonanza)

They turned up 8 years after BBQ Bonanza did, first appearing in 2021.

rated over 5 contests
last seen Apr 7, 2023

⚔ Head-to-head

DC'S SMOKIN BBQ

#2,963 of the rated field

1507 power rating

Contests: 6
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 33%
Peak: 1513

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

Their last contest in the data was back in 2014, 10 years before BBQ Bonanza's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 5 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
PORKY MCBEEF AND THE CLUCKERS	13	4	9	31%	⚔ compare
Theslabs.com	13	3	10	23%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' SAUCED	11	2	9	18%	⚔ compare
3 PIGS SMOKIN	10	2	8	20%	⚔ compare
HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB	10	1	9	10%	⚔ compare
B & C SMOKERS	9	4	5	44%	⚔ compare
Sons of a Brisket	9	3	6	33%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKING HILLS	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
HIGH i QUE	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
Three Brothers Different Mothers	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
913 BBQ	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
Fergolicious BBQ	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
DAWGHOUSE BBQ	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
BLACK EYE BBQ	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
Lazy Butt BBQ	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	21	2	0	0	173.7028	148.5028	163.65	top 54%
Pork Ribs	21	3	1	1	179.4400	143.8856	162.56	top 54%
Pork	21	0	0	0	174.2628	141.7142	160.35	top 65%
Brisket	21	4	0	0	172	145.6344	162.29	top 50%

“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 52%
Large (40+)	17	0	top 58%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
KS	16	0	top 59%
MO	5	0	top 48%

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Smoke in the Spring	7	37	0	top 62%	Apr 5, 2024
Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge	4	22	0	top 70%	Jun 7, 2019

More numbers

Busiest season 2013 6 contests

Contests a season 2.3 across 9 seasons in the data

Most contests held in KS 16 of 21 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 12 2 of them more than once

Opponents faced 1,232 finished ahead 1,261 times, behind 1,063

Longest layoff 3.8 yrs Jun 7, 2019 → Apr 7, 2023

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

20241 milestone

Apr 5 Most recent contest Smoke in the Spring

20181 milestone

Apr 6 Peak power rating (1526) Smoke in the Spring

20176 milestones

Mar 24 First category win (Pork Ribs) Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges
Mar 24 First overall top-10 Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges
Mar 24 First overall podium Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges
Mar 24 First Reserve Championship Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges
Mar 24 Career-best overall score686.2744 Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges
Mar 24 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)179.4400 Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges

20151 milestone

Apr 10 10th tracked contest Smoke in the Spring

20133 milestones

Feb 22 First tracked contest Polar Bear Challenge
Apr 5 First call Smokin' On Big Creek
Apr 5 First overall past 90% of a perfect score659.9998 Smokin' On Big Creek

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+19.5	Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges	Mar 24, 2017
+11.6	35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open	Oct 2, 2014
+10.5	Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off 4 Life (JUDGES FULL)	Jun 16, 2017
+7.2	Smokin' On Big Creek	Apr 5, 2013
+6.7	Smoke in the Spring	Apr 10, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-13.1	Polar Bear Challenge	Feb 22, 2013
-13	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Apr 26, 2013
-9.9	Smoke in the Spring	Apr 5, 2024
-9.4	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge	Jun 8, 2018
-8.8	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge	Jun 10, 2016

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	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2024	1	0	0	0%	top 94%	86.9%	86.9%
2023	1	0	0	0%	top 78%	91.1%	91.1%
2019	2	0	0	50%	top 50%	92.8%	92.3%
2018	2	0	0	50%	top 70%	91.8%	88.9%
2017	4	2	1	75%	top 34%	95.3%	92.7%
2016	1	0	0	0%	top 85%	87.6%	87.6%
2015	1	0	0	0%	top 38%	91.3%	91.3%
2014	3	0	0	0%	top 49%	93.2%	90.3%
2013	6	0	0	17%	top 63%	91.7%	88.5%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Apr 5, 2024	Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS	91 / 97 (625.4516)	93 (154.7772)	89 (159.3600)	75 (165.6800)	94 (145.6344)
Apr 7, 2023	Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS	80 / 103 (655.9084)	67 (167.4400)	83 (161.6568)	86 (159.3944)	57 (167.4172)
Jun 7, 2019	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge 🏅 Kansas City, KS	26 / 46 (661.5884)	43 (153.0972)	10 (173.7144)	26 (165.1084)	13 (169.6684)
Apr 12, 2019	Smoke In the Springs 🏅 Osage City, KS	46 / 104 (667.9772)	75 (162.8344)	37 (168.0228)	44 (167.4172)	35 (169.7028)
Jun 8, 2018	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge Kansas City, KS	40 / 46 (619.7596)	45 (148.5028)	45 (143.8856)	36 (156.5484)	9 (170.8228)
Apr 6, 2018	Smoke in the Spring Osage City, KS	54 / 103 (660.9944)	45 (168.5372)	30 (169.7144)	55 (165.0856)	75 (157.6572)
Jun 16, 2017	Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off 4 Life (JUDGES FULL) Kansas City, KS	8 / 34 (665.6344)	11 (165.6800)	15 (161.6916)	12 (166.2628)	4 (172)
Jun 9, 2017	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge Kansas City, KS	22 / 42 (657.5312)	10 (173.7028)	7 (172.5600)	27 (162.2284)	36 (149.0400)
Apr 7, 2017	Smoke in the Spring (WFC Quilfyer) Osage City, KS	51 / 100 (660.4340)	39 (169.1084)	67 (161.6684)	53 (165.0856)	45 (164.5716)
Mar 24, 2017	Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges Spring Hill, KS	2 / 27 (686.2744)	13 (168)	1 (179.4400)	15 (166.8344)	9 (172)
Jun 10, 2016	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge Kansas City, KS	29 / 34 (630.6972)	24 (158.8572)	28 (157.6572)	29 (157.0856)	22 (157.0972)
Apr 10, 2015	Smoke in the Spring Osage City, KS	37 / 97 (657.5544)	34 (167.3944)	49 (162.8228)	65 (159.9428)	25 (167.3944)
Oct 2, 2014	35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO	125 / 552 (670.7656)	198 (167.9884)	163 (168.5600)	50 (174.2628)	318 (159.9544)
Aug 8, 2014	Balloons & BBQ Festival at Kansas Speedway Kansas City, KS	35 / 53 (646.8004)	30 (164.5600)	15 (168.5944)	48 (155.3828)	38 (158.2632)
Apr 11, 2014	Smoke In The Spring Osage City, KS	42 / 73 (633.5540)	32 (164.5256)	56 (153.0856)	57 (153.1200)	25 (162.8228)
Oct 3, 2013	34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO	212 / 535 (646.1596)	163 (165.7028)	312 (157.6684)	238 (161.7028)	223 (161.0856)
Apr 26, 2013	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Overland Park, KS	28 / 30 (615.4282)	24 (157.7142)	19 (156.5714)	29 (141.7142)	19 (159.4284)
Apr 12, 2013	Smoke In The Spring Osage City, KS	46 / 71 (641.1428)	47 (159.4284)	57 (155.4288)	37 (163.4286)	34 (162.8570)
Apr 5, 2013	Smokin' On Big Creek Pleasant Hill, MO	23 / 74 (659.9998)	9 (171.4284)	27 (165.7144)	67 (153.1426)	10 (169.7144)
Mar 15, 2013	NKC MO State BBQ Championship N. Kansas City, MO	45 / 79 (631.4278)	20 (164.5712)	35 (161.1430)	68 (149.7140)	42 (155.9996)
Feb 22, 2013	Polar Bear Challenge Columbia, MO	42 / 46 (630.8566)	28 (162.8570)	40 (154.8570)	35 (158.2856)	39 (154.8570)

BBQ Bonanza

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (8 found in their record)

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

A strong matchup

The comeback

Chicken nemesis

A standing appointment

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

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

By meat

By field size and state

By contest size

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

More numbers

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

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

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

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

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)