The heartbreaker
Came within 0.5372 points of the Grand Championship at Iowa State BBQ Championship (Mar 29, 2024).
Matty Macks is a competition barbecue team with 54 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2019 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 31 at the 9th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest (2025), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion twice. They are ranked #631 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “Matty Mack's”.
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #240 (788 pts) | #235 (888 pts) | #315 (743 pts) | #216 (868 pts) | #189 (948 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #299 (738 pts) | #408 (563 pts) | #523 (413 pts) | #227 (983 pts) | #345 (668 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #166 (1,144 pts) | #195 (1,074 pts) | #241 (1,004 pts) | #126 (1,309 pts) | #194 (1,049 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #313 (679 pts) | #284 (799 pts) | #243 (977 pts) | #318 (669 pts) | #376 (554 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #353 (649 pts) | #275 (854 pts) | #359 (709 pts) | #410 (559 pts) | #354 (684 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #311 (619 pts) | #274 (754 pts) | #268 (784 pts) | #348 (594 pts) | #426 (464 pts) |
| 2020 ↗ | Master | #655 (120 pts) | #555 (185 pts) | #701 (120 pts) | #706 (120 pts) | #681 (120 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #2471 (58 pts) | #2489 (58 pts) | #1884 (83 pts) | #1950 (73 pts) | #1933 (73 pts) |
The teams rated closest to Matty Macks, each with one reason worth a look.
These two have cooked 6 of the same contests — Up From The Pits BBQ ahead 5–1 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.
⚔ Head-to-headCareers of much the same size, 43 contests to 54, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Head-to-headThis is the highest they've ever been rated, 61 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Head-to-headTheir rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 68 contests, alongside a 40% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Head-to-headThey were already cooking in 2013, 6 years before Matty Macks's first contest.
⚔ Head-to-headLevel with Matty Macks on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Head-to-head| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Rex BBQ | 30 | 15 | 15 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | 30 | 7 | 23 | 23% | ⚔ compare |
| TEAM CRAWFORD | 28 | 13 | 15 | 46% | ⚔ compare |
| HOT DADDY'S BBQ | 27 | 5 | 22 | 19% | ⚔ compare |
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 27 | 5 | 22 | 19% | ⚔ compare |
| MACHETE BOYS BBQ | 23 | 6 | 17 | 26% | ⚔ compare |
| Darty-Q | 22 | 12 | 10 | 55% | ⚔ compare |
| SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | 22 | 5 | 17 | 23% | ⚔ compare |
| HOME FARM BBQ | 21 | 14 | 7 | 67% | ⚔ compare |
| Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | 21 | 13 | 8 | 62% | ⚔ compare |
| NEVER EASY BBQ | 21 | 12 | 9 | 57% | ⚔ compare |
| PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | 21 | 6 | 15 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | 20 | 13 | 7 | 65% | ⚔ compare |
| MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | 20 | 9 | 11 | 45% | ⚔ compare |
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 20 | 5 | 15 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 47 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 180 🔥 | 152.5600 | 170.58 | top 46% |
| Pork Ribs | 50 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 177.7372 | 153.6688 | 168.84 | top 48% |
| Pork | 47 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 178.8572 | 151.9200 | 169.37 | top 46% |
| Brisket | 47 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 180 🔥 | 148.5372 | 167.24 | top 48% |
“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.
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 2 | 0 | top 35% |
| Medium (20–39) | 20 | 0 | top 47% |
| Large (40+) | 25 | 0 | top 40% |
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State BBQ Championship | 6 | 2 | 0 | top 30% | Apr 3, 2026 |
| Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard | 3 | 9 | 0 | top 41% | Sep 20, 2024 |
| King of the Corn | 3 | 9 | 0 | top 34% | May 17, 2024 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | 3 | 60 | 0 | top 33% | Sep 27, 2023 |
| WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest (JUDGING FULL) | 3 | 17 | 0 | top 75% | Apr 28, 2023 |
| Minnesota in May | 2 | 13 | 0 | top 37% | May 8, 2026 |
| Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT) | 2 | 56 | 0 | top 64% | Apr 10, 2026 |
| SJV Winter Rub | 2 | 5 | 0 | top 20% | Jan 30, 2026 |
| BBQ & Fly-In on the River | 2 | 19 | 0 | top 38% | Aug 15, 2025 |
| Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) | 2 | 10 | 0 | top 38% | Oct 26, 2024 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +15.9 | 9th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest | Jul 25, 2025 |
| +15.3 | Iowa State BBQ Championship | Mar 29, 2024 |
| +13 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard | Sep 21, 2023 |
| +12.7 | Laurie Hillbilly BBQ | Aug 6, 2021 |
| +12 | SJV Winter Rub | Jan 24, 2025 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -10.5 | 23rd Annual Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition | Jun 14, 2024 |
| -9.4 | Real Squeal BBQ Smoke Off | Jul 17, 2020 |
| -8.4 | WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest (JUDGING FULL) | Apr 28, 2023 |
| -7 | Minnesota in May | May 8, 2026 |
| -5.8 | Smokin in Steele (Master & Backyard Contest) | Jun 3, 2022 |
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 71% | top 42% | 97.6% | 95.1% |
| 2025 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 80% | top 21% | 96.3% | 95.6% |
| 2024 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 50% | top 41% | 97.3% | 94.8% |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 56% | top 45% | 96.5% | 93.9% |
| 2022 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 33% | top 49% | 94.6% | 93.6% |
| 2021 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 67% | top 43% | 95.2% | 92.9% |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 85% | 88.7% | 86.5% |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 47% | 90.8% | 90.8% |
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 24, 2026 | 10th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest 🏅 Emmetsburg, IA | 3 / 17 (702.8460) | 2 (180) | 10 (170.8688) | 10 (171.9772) | 1 (180) |
| May 8, 2026 | Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN | 39 / 77 (679.3260) | 8 (176.5716) | 74 (161.6572) | 48 (169.1200) | 24 (171.9772) |
| May 8, 2026 | Minnesota in May (ONE MEAT RIBS) St. Peter, MN | — | — | 30 (166.2516) | — | — |
| May 1, 2026 | SmokeHouse Barbeque Showdown (OPEN FORMAT) (REGISTRATION FULL) 🏅 Cambridge, IA | 9 / 17 (680.4916) | 26 (163.9428) | 22 (166.8572) | 1 (177.7144) | 8 (171.9772) |
| Apr 10, 2026 | Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT) 🏅 Osage City, KS | 56 / 101 (684.4340) | 88 (166.2400) | 69 (169.6684) | 16 (175.4172) | 34 (173.1084) |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Iowa State BBQ Championship 🏅 Altoona, IA | 21 / 42 (678.1716) | 7 (175.4172) | 30 (166.2516) | 29 (166.8228) | 18 (169.6800) |
| Jan 30, 2026 | SJV Winter Rub 🏅 Omaha, NE | 9 / 38 (684.4456) | 19 (169.6800) | 7 (174.2628) | 22 (168.5372) | 8 (171.9656) |
| Aug 15, 2025 | BBQ & Fly-In on the River 🏅 Excelsior Springs, MO | 19 / 62 (693.0628) | 18 (175.4172) | 46 (166.2400) | 3 (178.8572) | 22 (172.5484) |
| Jul 25, 2025 | 9th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest 🏅 Emmetsburg, IA | 2 / 31 (686.8000) | 13 (170.8228) | 21 (165.1200) | 2 (176) | 3 (174.8572) |
| Apr 4, 2025 | Iowa State BBQ Championship 🏅 Altoona, IA | 13 / 49 (679.9432) | 32 (165.6800) | 12 (172.5716) | 1 (178.8572) | 34 (162.8344) |
| Mar 21, 2025 | 7th Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship 🏅 Olathe, KS | 19 / 70 (691.9200) | 28 (173.1200) | 24 (171.9772) | 24 (173.7028) | 13 (173.1200) |
| Jan 24, 2025 | SJV Winter Rub 🏅 Omaha, NE | 5 / 32 (690.2172) | 3 (177.1428) | 19 (167.9772) | 9 (173.1316) | 5 (171.9656) |
| Oct 30, 2024 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Oct 30, 2024 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 139 / 444 (684.5028) | 180 (171.4056) | 74 (174.8572) | 190 (169.7144) | 187 (168.5256) |
| Oct 26, 2024 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) 🏅 Oak Grove, MO | 10 / 56 (689.0512) | 35 (171.9656) | 24 (171.9772) | 1 (177.7144) | 31 (167.3940) |
| Oct 25, 2024 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) 🏅 Oak Grove, MO | 31 / 53 (680.4684) | 49 (164.5372) | 18 (172.5600) | 5 (177.7028) | 45 (165.6684) |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard 🏅 Murphysboro, IL | 22 / 58 (687.9200) | 23 (174.8572) | 30 (170.8228) | 38 (169.6800) | 16 (172.5600) |
| Aug 16, 2024 | BBQ & Fly-In on the River 🏅 Excelsior Springs, MO | 30 / 65 (682.7772) | 17 (174.8572) | 25 (170.8228) | 43 (166.2516) | 24 (170.8456) |
| Jul 12, 2024 | KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-off 🏅 Worthington, MN | 21 / 34 (672.4800) | 24 (169.1316) | 23 (166.2512) | 19 (167.9772) | 17 (169.1200) |
| Jun 14, 2024 | 23rd Annual Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition 🏅 State Center, IA | 21 / 25 (658.7316) | 6 (173.1200) | 22 (162.8344) | 18 (166.8572) | 24 (155.9200) |
| Jun 7, 2024 | Hoosier BBQ Classic 🏅 Franklin, IN | 7 / 38 (694.2288) | 5 (177.1544) | 17 (169.6916) | 7 (174.2628) | 9 (173.1200) |
| May 17, 2024 | King of the Corn 🏅 Ottumwa, IA | 13 / 36 (682.2400) | 18 (171.4056) | 24 (166.8344) | 6 (175.4172) | 15 (168.5828) |
| May 10, 2024 | Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN | 13 / 58 (689.0976) | 6 (176) | 20 (170.8460) | 13 (174.2744) | 33 (167.9772) |
| May 10, 2024 | Minnesota in May (ONE MEAT RIBS) St. Peter, MN | — | — | 14 (170.8572) | — | — |
| Apr 5, 2024 | Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS | 70 / 97 (670.6856) | 67 (167.3828) | 91 (159.3484) | 28 (173.1200) | 43 (170.8344) |
| Mar 29, 2024 | Iowa State BBQ Championship 🏅 Altoona, IA | 2 / 42 (700.5944) | 17 (172) | 1 (177.7372) | 20 (171.4172) | 1 (179.4400) |
| 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 | 178 / 487 (679.3828) | 197 (170.2628) | 144 (171.9772) | 196 (169.7028) | 221 (167.4400) |
| Sep 21, 2023 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard 🏅 Murphysboro, IL | 9 / 50 (694.8000) | 8 (174.2628) | 20 (172.5600) | 7 (174.8572) | 15 (173.1200) |
| Sep 15, 2023 | Tri City BBQ Fest 🏅 Denison, IA | 18 / 32 (672.4688) | 21 (165.6800) | 13 (170.8344) | 7 (174.2744) | 25 (161.6800) |
| Jun 16, 2023 | Rose Festival 22nd Annual KCBS BBQ Competition 🏅 State Center, IA | 12 / 27 (675.9432) | 2 (179.4400) | 9 (171.4172) | 15 (170.8572) | 25 (154.2288) |
| May 19, 2023 | King of the Corn 🏅 Ottumwa, IA | 19 / 45 (683.3372) | 12 (173.1200) | 5 (175.4172) | 29 (166.2400) | 19 (168.5600) |
| Apr 28, 2023 | WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest (JUDGING FULL) 🏅 Washington, MO | 32 / 37 (649.0060) | 32 (162.8000) | 30 (159.9888) | 29 (164.5372) | 30 (161.6800) |
| Apr 28, 2023 | WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest (ONE MEAT RIBS) (JUDGING FULL) Washington, MO | — | — | 2 (176.5716) | — | — |
| Mar 31, 2023 | Iowa State BBQ Championship 🏅 Altoona, IA | 14 / 47 (679.3716) | 23 (170.2744) | 18 (170.2744) | 30 (166.8228) | 12 (172) |
| Oct 14, 2022 | King of the Corn 🏅 Ottumwa, IA | 9 / 36 (680.4456) | 2 (176.5600) | 21 (166.8228) | 9 (173.1200) | 22 (163.9428) |
| Oct 1, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - SIDES Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sep 29, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 244 / 505 (669.0284) | 364 (162.8228) | 98 (173.1544) | 304 (165.0856) | 192 (167.9656) |
| Sep 23, 2022 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard 🏅 Murphysboro, IL | 31 / 46 (673.5884) | 24 (171.9656) | 28 (169.1200) | 32 (167.3944) | 26 (165.1084) |
| Jun 17, 2022 | Rose Festival 21st Annual KCBS BBQ Contest 🏅 State Center, IA | 15 / 32 (673.6116) | 1 (178.2972) | 8 (170.8344) | 30 (155.9544) | 12 (168.5256) |
| Jun 3, 2022 | Smokin in Steele (Master & Backyard Contest) 🏅 Owatonna, MN | 19 / 33 (670.7316) | 24 (166.2400) | 19 (167.4172) | 17 (168.5372) | 13 (168.5372) |
| Apr 22, 2022 | WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest 🏅 Washington, MO | 17 / 29 (664.9828) | 23 (164.5256) | 6 (169.6800) | 27 (159.3716) | 10 (171.4056) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | Iowa State BBQ Championship 🏅 Altoona, IA | 18 / 48 (681.0976) | 29 (167.9888) | 17 (170.8688) | 20 (170.2628) | 13 (171.9772) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | Iowa State BBQ Championship (Steak) Altoona, IA | 6 (169.6916) | — | — | — | — |
| Sep 24, 2021 | Ottumwa 4th Annual Smoketoberfest 🏅 Ottumwa, IA | 22 / 35 (669.6228) | 20 (169.1200) | 22 (166.2400) | 10 (171.4172) | 28 (162.8456) |
| Sep 16, 2021 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 60 / 467 (496.5140) | 235 (166.2400) | 91 (172) | 264 (163.9656) | 22 (176) |
| Aug 6, 2021 | Laurie Hillbilly BBQ 🏅 Laurie, MO | 6 / 26 (685.6340) | 8 (172.5600) | 6 (172.5484) | 6 (172.5600) | 13 (167.9656) |
| Jul 16, 2021 | Real Squeal BBQ Smokeoff 🏅 Cedar Rapids, IA | 14 / 26 (667.3028) | 8 (173.7028) | 4 (170.8344) | 18 (162.2400) | 20 (160.5256) |
| Jun 18, 2021 | Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition 🏅 State Center, IA | 8 / 32 (671.9432) | 2 (174.8572) | 4 (172.5716) | 19 (166.2400) | 20 (158.2744) |
| Apr 23, 2021 | WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest 🏅 Washington, MO | 36 / 45 (655.2912) | 33 (164.5484) | 22 (168) | 33 (162.2284) | 34 (160.5144) |
| Oct 2, 2020 | Ottumwa Smoketoberfest 🏅 Ottumwa, IA | 56 / 66 (638.7316) | 12 (172.5716) | 52 (158.8572) | 62 (151.9200) | 58 (155.3828) |
| Jul 17, 2020 | Real Squeal BBQ Smoke Off 🏅 Marion, IA | 31 / 36 (606.7088) | 33 (152.5600) | 30 (153.6688) | 30 (151.9428) | 27 (148.5372) |
| Sep 12, 2019 | 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 81 / 468 (490.2400) | 238 (165.1428) | 325 (161.1316) | 113 (170.8228) | 406 (150.2172) |
| Jul 19, 2019 | BBQ'Loo & Blues Too! 🏅 Waterloo, IA | 25 / 33 (653.6116) | 25 (163.9772) | 20 (163.9772) | 22 (165.6800) | 22 (159.9772) |