Belly Up BBQ

Belly Up BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 18 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2023. Their best overall finish is 13th of 38 at the Swine At the Shrine (2020). They are ranked #3182 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#3,182

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1501

peak 1511 · rated over 17 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Apr 19, 2013

latest Sep 8, 2023 · 10.4 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#928

Master 2013 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

1 podium

Overall top-10s

0% of 18 contests

Avg finish

top 56%

overall standings

Best overall

693.6804 / 720

Master · Swine At the Shrine

Perfect 180s

Current form

648.49 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 639.69 (+8.81)

Walk rate

28%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176.5600

Chicken · Swine At the Shrine

Consistency

±38.23

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 164.75 · weakest Brisket (149.78)

Road miles

3,121

across 18 mapped stops · furthest 1,270 mi

Schedule strength

34%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1546)

Purse competed for

$121K

listed at 7 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 7 state-championship entries

Master avg

639.69 / 720

17 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

693.6804 career-best overall

96.3% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 693.6804 at Swine At the Shrine — 96.3% of a perfect 720.

Master
Sep 11, 2020

A tough matchup

8–0 behind in the head-to-head

3 EYZ BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

3 EYZ BBQ has come out ahead in 8 of their 8 shared contests.

The weak link

−15.0 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 14.97 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 0% of the time against 24%.

Brisket avg 149.78
Chicken avg 164.75
0 calls in 17 entries

A strong matchup

4–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of SWEET BUTT BBQ in 4 of their 4 shared contests.

The comeback

2.2 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2.2 years, then back at SC Festival Of Discovery (Jul 12, 2018).

last seen May 6, 2016
back Jul 12, 2018

Chicken nemesis

8 of 8 shared chicken entries lost

3 EYZ BBQ ahead 100% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, 3 EYZ BBQ has out-cooked them in 8 of 8 shared chicken entries.

An August team

Top 46% average finish in August

Something about August: average finish in the top 46% across 4 contests, versus top 56% the rest of the year.

4 August contests
top 56% the rest of the year

Show 1 more storyline

The long haul

3,121 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 3,121 miles across 18 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 1,270 miles to Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Classic Cookoff.

18 mapped stops
furthest 1,270 mi

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
2016 ↗	Master	#2274 (60 pts)	#2353 (60 pts)	#2319 (65 pts)	#2326 (60 pts)	#2345 (60 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1433 (175 pts)	#1645 (145 pts)	#1424 (190 pts)	#1238 (255 pts)	#1728 (125 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1702 (142 pts)	#1404 (212 pts)	#1753 (142 pts)	#1304 (237 pts)	#1424 (202 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#928 (316 pts)	#807 (401 pts)	#1058 (291 pts)	#1016 (306 pts)	#849 (371 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

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

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

PATENT PENDING BBQ

#3,200 of the rated field

1501 power rating

Contests: 6
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1501

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Belly Up BBQ)

One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team Belly Up BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 6 contests
last seen Aug 1, 2014

⚔ Head-to-head

Willingham's

#3,199 of the rated field

1501 power rating

Contests: 91
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1505

0–2 in 2 shared contests (0% to Belly Up BBQ)

91 contests to 18: their number has had years to settle where Belly Up BBQ's is still finding its level.

rated over 90 contests
last seen Sep 4, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

HEAVY D BBQ

#3,178 of the rated field

1501 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 33%
Peak: 1542

They've been 1542 at their best, 41 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Jun 15, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

BAR-BEAM-QUE

#3,188 of the rated field

1501 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 10%
Peak: 1501

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

rated over 20 contests
last seen Aug 19, 2022

⚔ Compare careers

Grillzwolds BBQ Team

#3,167 of the rated field

1501 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1505

They turned up 9 years after Belly Up BBQ did, first appearing in 2022.

rated over 13 contests
last seen Jun 12, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Stumpy Coals BBQ

#3,168 of the rated field

1501 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1536

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

rated over 12 contests
last seen Aug 25, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
APORKALYPSE NOW	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
3 EYZ BBQ	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
JACKED UP BBQ	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
BIG BLOCK BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
FAT MAXINE'S BBQ	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare
MAYA JANE BBQ CO.	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
Smoke Central BBQ	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
4:20 Q	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
PORK BARREL BBQ	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
ASTRO PIGS BBQ	5	3	2	60%	⚔ compare
BOHEMIAN BBQ	5	2	3	40%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	17	4	1	176.5600	145.6684	164.75	top 44%
Pork Ribs	18	0	0	174.8572	148.5256	162.40	top 52%
Pork	17	3	0	174.2628	141.1426	162.89	top 45%
Brisket	17	0	0	173.1316	20	149.78	top 59%

“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)	3	0	top 48%
Large (40+)	14	0	top 58%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
MD	9	top 58%
GA	3	top 68%
FL	2	top 47%
SC	2	top 44%
TX	1	top 51%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Swine At the Shrine	2	13	top 52%	Aug 5, 2022
SC Festival of Discovery	2	33	top 44%	Jul 12, 2019
Naptown barBAYq Contest and Music Festival	2	31	top 60%	May 6, 2016

More numbers

Busiest season 2013 4 contests

Contests a season 1.8 across 10 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MD 9 of 18 contests · 5 states in all

Contests visited 14 3 of them more than once

Most-entered meat Pork Ribs 18 entries · 0 wins · 0 calls

Opponents faced 676 finished ahead 431 times, behind 596

Longest layoff 2.2 yrs May 6, 2016 → Jul 12, 2018

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

20231 milestone

Sep 8 Most recent contest Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Classic Cookoff

20203 milestones

Mar 6 Peak power rating (1511) Fire it up Frostproof!
Sep 11 Career-best overall score693.6804 Swine At the Shrine
Sep 11 Career-best single call (Chicken)176.5600 Swine At the Shrine

20181 milestone

Jul 12 10th tracked contest SC Festival Of Discovery

20151 milestone

Aug 14 First overall past 90% of a perfect score665.6572 14th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash

20132 milestones

Apr 19 First tracked contest Pork in the Park Barbeque Festival
May 3 First call Naptown barBAYq Contest & Music Festival

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+9.2	Swine At the Shrine	Sep 11, 2020
+9.1	14th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash	Aug 14, 2015
+6.8	SC Festival of Discovery	Jul 12, 2019
+6.1	12th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash	Aug 9, 2013
+5.4	Fire it up Frostproof!	Mar 6, 2020

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-13.9	Hawgin On Lanier	Jul 31, 2020
-8.7	Pork in the Park Barbeque Festival	Apr 19, 2013
-7.5	Naptown barBAYq Contest & Music Festival	May 3, 2013
-5	Naptown barBAYq Contest and Music Festival	May 6, 2016
-3.8	3rd Annual High Point BBQ	Oct 11, 2013

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	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2023	1	0%	top 51%	92%	92%
2022	2	0%	top 69%	93.8%	93.8%
2021	1	0%	top 53%	93.8%	93.8%
2020	3	67%	top 58%	96.3%	88.2%
2019	1	100%	top 40%	92.6%	92.6%
2018	1	0%	top 48%	91.8%	91.8%
2016	1	0%	top 73%	83.7%	83.7%
2015	2	0%	top 39%	92.5%	90.8%
2014	2	50%	top 55%	88.5%	87.6%
2013	4	25%	top 64%	88.2%	85.3%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Sep 8, 2023	Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Classic Cookoff 🏅 Waller, TX	50 / 99 (662.2284)	24 (171.4400)	51 (166.8572)	26 (171.4284)	79 (152.5028)
Aug 5, 2022	Swine At the Shrine 🏅 Savannah, GA	34 / 49 (675.2800)	34 (168.5256)	34 (169.6916)	14 (173.1316)	40 (163.9312)
Aug 5, 2022	Swine At the Shrine (One Meat Ribs) Savannah, GA	—	—	19 (164.5716)	—	—
Apr 9, 2021	Boss of the Sauce BBQ Festival 🏅 Jacksonville, FL	21 / 40 (675.3484)	19 (169.7144)	20 (170.2512)	19 (169.1200)	20 (166.2628)
Sep 11, 2020	Swine At the Shrine 🏅 Savannah, GA	13 / 38 (693.6804)	6 (176.5600)	11 (174.8572)	25 (169.1316)	12 (173.1316)
Jul 31, 2020	Hawgin On Lanier 🏅 Cumming, GA	55 / 55 (535.9312)	25 (171.4056)	14 (171.4056)	15 (173.1200)	55 (20)
Mar 6, 2020	Fire it up Frostproof! 🏅 Frostproof, FL	13 / 32 (675.3372)	6 (171.4056)	13 (169.6916)	6 (170.8572)	18 (163.3828)
Jul 12, 2019	SC Festival of Discovery 🏅 Greenwood, SC	33 / 83 (666.6856)	3 (176.5600)	63 (156.5144)	4 (174.2628)	50 (159.3484)
Jul 12, 2018	SC Festival Of Discovery Greenwood, SC	43 / 89 (660.9716)	38 (166.8344)	26 (169.6800)	55 (161.6572)	46 (162.8000)
May 6, 2016	Naptown barBAYq Contest and Music Festival Annapolis, MD	37 / 51 (602.6056)	46 (145.6684)	24 (160.5600)	26 (159.3600)	45 (137.0172)
Aug 14, 2015	14th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash Bel Air, MD	14 / 46 (665.6572)	20 (165.6800)	11 (171.4400)	11 (169.6800)	24 (158.8572)
May 1, 2015	Naptown barBAYq Contest and Music Festival Annapolis, MD	31 / 64 (641.5884)	43 (157.6684)	34 (157.1088)	12 (166.2628)	32 (160.5484)
Aug 8, 2014	MD State BBQ Bash, Presented by Mars Super Markets Bel Air, MD	26 / 54 (636.9368)	12 (165.6684)	40 (148.5256)	8 (167.3828)	29 (155.3600)
Jun 6, 2014	Beltway BBQ Showdown Ft. Washington, MD	26 / 42 (624.4684)	24 (159.4056)	25 (156.5944)	35 (147.9084)	13 (160.5600)
Oct 11, 2013	3rd Annual High Point BBQ Clarksburg, MD	21 / 31 (618.1140)	20 (157.0740)	23 (149.7028)	20 (155.9428)	16 (155.3944)
Aug 9, 2013	12th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash Bel Air, MD	22 / 60 (635.3028)	21 (160.5256)	27 (159.9656)	33 (153.6572)	16 (161.1544)
May 3, 2013	Naptown barBAYq Contest & Music Festival Annapolis, MD	41 / 55 (609.1424)	10 (167.4286)	35 (150.8570)	53 (141.1426)	36 (149.7142)
Apr 19, 2013	Pork in the Park Barbeque Festival Salisbury, MD	82 / 106 (595.4278)	87 (149.1426)	45 (154.8568)	88 (145.1426)	73 (146.2858)

Belly Up BBQ

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

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Chicken nemesis

An August team

The long haul

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)