BBQ Bonanza

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

Power ranking

#2921

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1507

peak 1526 · rated over 21 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-02-22

latest 2024-04-05

Best ToY finish

#697

Master 2017

Grand champs

1 reserve

Category wins

1 podiums

Overall top-10s

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

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 163.65 · weakest Pork (160.35)

Road miles

1,082

mi across 21 mapped stops · furthest 161 mi

Schedule strength

44%

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

Purse competed for

$53K

listed at 3 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

GCs in 4 state-championship entries

Master avg

648.85 / 720

21 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (8 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

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
2017-03-24

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 wins
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 (2023-04-07).

last seen 2019-06-07
back 2023-04-07

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.

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

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.

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

BIG DADDY DAN'S BBQ

#2938 of the rated field

1507 ▼ 0 power rating

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

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

One contest 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 9 contests
last seen 2023-06-09

⚔ Head-to-head

Salt and Pepper BBQ

#2919 of the rated field

1507 ▼ 0 power rating

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

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

Fewer contests behind them than BBQ Bonanza has cooked, 5 to 21, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 5 contests
last seen 2025-10-03

⚔ Head-to-head

Brisket Bones n Brews

#2917 of the rated field

1507 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 21
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 10%
Peak: 1509

No shared contest yet.

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 20 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 20 contests
last seen 2026-07-17

⚔ Head-to-head

RUB WON OUT

#2927 of the rated field

1507 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 24
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 4%
Peak: 1540

No shared contest yet.

Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 5 years before BBQ Bonanza's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 23 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

JOHNSON'S BREW N BBQ

#2922 of the rated field

1507 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 5%
Peak: 1514

No shared contest yet.

19 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 5% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 18 contests
last seen 2020-04-06

⚔ Head-to-head

ELI'S PIT CREW

#2942 of the rated field

1507 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 17%
Peak: 1509

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 18 contests
last seen 2018-09-28

⚔ 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
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
PORK ME PURPLE	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	172.0000	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 state / province

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

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	4	0	top 52%
Large (40+)	17	0	top 58%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Smoke in the Spring	7	37	0	top 62%	2024-04-05
Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge	4	22	0	top 70%	2019-06-07

The story so far (17 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 11.1 yrs 2013-02-22 → 2024-04-05

Busiest season 2013 6 contests

Contests a season 2.3 across 9 seasons in the data

Cooks most in KS 16 of 21 contests · 2 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 12 2 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 21 entries · 0 wins · 2 calls

Strongest meat Chicken averages 163.65 · weakest Pork (160.35)

Walk rate 29% a top-10 call in 6 of 21 contests

Overall top-10 rate 10% 2 of 21 contests

Master average 648.85 out of 720 · 21 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 1,244 1,261–1,063 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 1,082 21 mapped stops · furthest 161 mi

Schedule strength 1557 average field rating faced — tougher than 44% of rated contests

Purse competed for $53,400 listed at 3 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships 0 from 4 state-championship entries

Longest layoff 3.8 yrs 2019-06-07 → 2023-04-07

Power rating 1507 peak 1526 · #2921 of 6,413 rated

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

2013
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
2015
Apr 10 10th tracked contest Smoke in the Spring
2017
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
2018
Apr 6 Peak power rating (1526) Smoke in the Spring
2024
Apr 5 Most recent contest Smoke in the Spring

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+19.5	Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges	2017-03-24
+11.6	35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open	2014-10-02
+10.5	*Knights Of Columbus BBQ Smoke Off 4 Life(JUDGES FULL)	2017-06-16
+7.2	Smokin' On Big Creek	2013-04-05
+6.7	Smoke in the Spring	2015-04-10

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-13.1	Polar Bear Challenge	2013-02-22
-13	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2013-04-26
-9.9	Smoke in the Spring	2024-04-05
-9.4	*Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge	2018-06-08
-8.8	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge	2016-06-10

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	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
2024-04-05	Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS	91 / 97 (625.4516)	93 (154.7772)	89 (159.3600)	75 (165.6800)	94 (145.6344)
2023-04-07	Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS	80 / 103 (655.9084)	67 (167.4400)	83 (161.6568)	86 (159.3944)	57 (167.4172)
2019-06-07	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge 🏅 Kansas City, KS	26 / 46 (661.5884)	43 (153.0972)	10 (173.7144)	26 (165.1084)	13 (169.6684)
2019-04-12	Smoke In the Springs 🏅 Osage City, KS	46 / 104 (667.9772)	75 (162.8344)	37 (168.0228)	44 (167.4172)	35 (169.7028)
2018-06-08	*Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge Kansas City, KS	40 / 46 (619.7596)	45 (148.5028)	45 (143.8856)	36 (156.5484)	9 (170.8228)
2018-04-06	Smoke in the Spring Osage City, KS	54 / 103 (660.9944)	45 (168.5372)	30 (169.7144)	55 (165.0856)	75 (157.6572)
2017-06-16	*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 (172.0000)
2017-06-09	*Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge Kansas City, KS	22 / 42 (657.5312)	10 (173.7028)	7 (172.5600)	27 (162.2284)	36 (149.0400)
2017-04-07	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)
2017-03-24	Smoked & Sauced a BBQ for Badges Spring Hill, KS	2 / 27 (686.2744)	13 (168.0000)	1 (179.4400)	15 (166.8344)	9 (172.0000)
2016-06-10	Smoke Out Hunger BBQ Challenge Kansas City, KS	29 / 34 (630.6972)	24 (158.8572)	28 (157.6572)	29 (157.0856)	22 (157.0972)
2015-04-10	Smoke in the Spring Osage City, KS	37 / 97 (657.5544)	34 (167.3944)	49 (162.8228)	65 (159.9428)	25 (167.3944)
2014-10-02	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)
2014-08-08	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)
2014-04-11	Smoke In The Spring Osage City, KS	42 / 73 (633.5540)	32 (164.5256)	56 (153.0856)	57 (153.1200)	25 (162.8228)
2013-10-03	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)
2013-04-26	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)
2013-04-12	Smoke In The Spring Osage City, KS	46 / 71 (641.1428)	47 (159.4284)	57 (155.4288)	37 (163.4286)	34 (162.8570)
2013-04-05	Smokin' On Big Creek Pleasant Hill, MO	23 / 74 (659.9998)	9 (171.4284)	27 (165.7144)	67 (153.1426)	10 (169.7144)
2013-03-15	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)
2013-02-22	Polar Bear Challenge Columbia, MO	42 / 46 (630.8566)	28 (162.8570)	40 (154.8570)	35 (158.2856)	39 (154.8570)

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)	#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)