SMITH BBQ CO.

SMITH BBQ CO. is a competition barbecue team with 11 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2023. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 34 at the Septemberfest BBQ & RibEye Steak Cook-off Challenge (2023), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #3057 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “Smith BBQ Co”.

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At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#3,057

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1504

peak 1504 · rated over 11 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Sep 27, 2013

latest Sep 2, 2023 · 9.9 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#856

Master 2020 · every season

Grand champs

1 reserve

Category wins

1 podium

Overall top-10s

18% of 11 contests

Avg finish

top 58%

overall standings

Best overall

659.8972 / 720

Master · 2nd Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship

Perfect 180s

Current form

643.66 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 635.65 (+8.01)

Walk rate

36%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176

Pork Ribs · 2nd Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship

Consistency

±11.21

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 164.19 · weakest Pork (155.31)

Road miles

579

across 11 mapped stops · furthest 179 mi

Schedule strength

48%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1562)

Purse competed for

$32K

listed at 4 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 4 state-championship entries

Master avg

635.65 / 720

11 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (8 found in their record)

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

The heartbreaker

2.8572 points from the title

Came within 2.8572 points of the Grand Championship at Septemberfest BBQ & RibEye Steak Cook-off Challenge (Sep 2, 2023).

A tough matchup

7–2 behind in the head-to-head

WHEN PIGS DIE ahead in 78% of their meetings

WHEN PIGS DIE has come out ahead in 7 of their 9 shared contests.

The weak link

−8.9 points behind their best meat

Pork is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 8.89 points below their pork ribs, and turns into a call 0% of the time against 18%.

Pork avg 155.31
Pork Ribs avg 164.19
0 calls in 11 entries

A strong matchup

4–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

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

The comeback

3.8 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 3.8 years, then back at 2nd Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship (Mar 13, 2020).

last seen May 20, 2016
back Mar 13, 2020

Pork Ribs nemesis

7 of 9 shared pork ribs entries lost

WHEN PIGS DIE ahead 78% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, WHEN PIGS DIE has out-cooked them in 7 of 9 shared pork ribs entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

BLACKSHIRT BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

Show 1 more storyline

A September team

Top 37% average finish in September

Something about September: average finish in the top 37% across 4 contests, versus top 58% the rest of the year.

4 September contests
top 58% the rest of the year

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
2023 ↗	Master	#1255 (60 pts)	#1319 (60 pts)	#1276 (100 pts)	#1287 (60 pts)	#1221 (75 pts)
2022 ↗	Master	#1309 (60 pts)	#1341 (60 pts)	#1404 (60 pts)	#1348 (60 pts)	#1333 (60 pts)
2020 ↗	Master	#856 (60 pts)	#896 (60 pts)	#533 (210 pts)	#899 (60 pts)	#883 (60 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#2240 (65 pts)	#2260 (75 pts)	#2349 (60 pts)	#2326 (60 pts)	#1839 (120 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#2143 (63 pts)	#1562 (168 pts)	#2159 (68 pts)	#2160 (73 pts)	#2829 (53 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1104 (272 pts)	#772 (482 pts)	#782 (467 pts)	#1273 (247 pts)	#1022 (322 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

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

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

BUTT'N HEADS

#3,075 of the rated field

1504 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 18%
Peak: 1530

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

rated over 11 contests

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SMOKIN YETI BBQ

#3,072 of the rated field

1504 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1506

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 13 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 13 contests
last seen May 25, 2018

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KREWE DU QUE

#3,058 of the rated field

1504 power rating

Contests: 9
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1510

Careers of much the same size, 9 contests to 11, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 9 contests
last seen Apr 23, 2021

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SMOKE DOG BBQ

#3,065 of the rated field

1504 power rating

Contests: 9
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1515

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.

rated over 9 contests
last seen May 31, 2019

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FIRE-N-SMOKE BBQ

#3,045 of the rated field

1504 power rating

Contests: 9
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1514

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

rated over 9 contests
last seen Nov 6, 2015

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WILD SHOOTERS BBQ

#3,060 of the rated field

1504 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1512

15 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Aug 9, 2019

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
WHEN PIGS DIE	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN' LEFTY'S BBQ	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare
ELWOOD BBQ	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
PARROTHEAD SMOKERS	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
HELPING U BBQ	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
SPICE YOUR LIFE RUB YOUR MEAT	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN DINGER - THE PROFESSOR OF HOGOLOGY	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
PORKY BUTTS BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
TATTOO BOB'S BAR-B-Q	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
YOU GONNA LIKE IT	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
PORK PATROL BBQ	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
KEV'S CHEW CHEW BBQ	5	2	3	40%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	11	2	1	169.1428	150.8344	160.75	top 64%
Pork Ribs	11	2	0	176	153.0972	164.19	top 53%
Pork	11	0	0	163.9656	141.7372	155.31	top 82%
Brisket	11	0	0	163.9772	139.9660	155.40	top 71%

“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)	6	0	top 62%
Large (40+)	5	0	top 53%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
NE	9	top 56%
IA	1	top 76%
KS	1	top 63%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Ak-Sar-Ben's River City Rodeo & Stock Show	2	33	0	top 66%	Sep 26, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2014 4 contests

Contests a season 1.6 across 7 seasons in the data

Most contests held in NE 9 of 11 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 10 1 of them more than once

Opponents faced 280 finished ahead 187 times, behind 257

Longest layoff 3.8 yrs May 20, 2016 → Mar 13, 2020

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

20235 milestones

Jul 21 10th tracked contest Shenandoah ShenDig
Sep 2 First overall podium Septemberfest BBQ & RibEye Steak Cook-off Challenge
Sep 2 First Reserve Championship Septemberfest BBQ & RibEye Steak Cook-off Challenge
Sep 2 Peak power rating (1504) Septemberfest BBQ & RibEye Steak Cook-off Challenge
Sep 2 Most recent contest Septemberfest BBQ & RibEye Steak Cook-off Challenge

20221 milestone

Sep 3 First overall top-10 Septemberfest BBQ & RibEye Steak Cookoff Challenge

20203 milestones

Mar 13 First overall past 90% of a perfect score659.8972 2nd Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship
Mar 13 Career-best overall score659.8972 2nd Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship
Mar 13 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)176 2nd Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship

20141 milestone

May 30 First call 3rd Annual Valley Veterans Barbecue Competition

20131 milestone

Sep 27 First tracked contest Ak-Sar-Ben's River City Rodeo & Stock Show

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+18.9	Septemberfest BBQ & RibEye Steak Cook-off Challenge	Sep 2, 2023
+16.7	Septemberfest BBQ & RibEye Steak Cookoff Challenge	Sep 3, 2022
+0.7	5th Annual Valley Veteran's BBQ Competition	May 20, 2016
+0.6	2nd Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship	Mar 13, 2020

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-7.8	4th Annual Valley Veterans BBQ Competition	May 29, 2015
-7.1	3rd Annual Valley Veterans Barbecue Competition	May 30, 2014
-5.3	Shenandoah ShenDig	Jul 21, 2023
-4.8	RiverFest Red White and Que	Jul 18, 2014
-4.4	Ak-Sar-Ben's River City Rodeo & Stock Show	Sep 26, 2014

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	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2023	2	1	0%	top 41%	97.5%	92.5%
2022	1	1	0%	top 11%	95.7%	95.7%
2020	1	0	100%	top 63%	91.7%	91.7%
2016	1	0	0%	top 57%	89.5%	89.5%
2015	1	0	100%	top 82%	85.7%	85.7%
2014	4	0	50%	top 70%	88.2%	87.4%
2013	1	0	0%	top 63%	88.9%	88.9%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Sep 2, 2023	Septemberfest BBQ & RibEye Steak Cook-off Challenge 🏅 Omaha, NE	2 / 34 (350.8572)	34 (158.2172)	21 (167.3828)	25 (163.9656)	33 (156.0460)
Jul 21, 2023	Shenandoah ShenDig 🏅 Shenandoah, IA	28 / 37 (630.1604)	36 (150.8344)	17 (170.2744)	36 (149.0628)	22 (159.9888)
Sep 3, 2022	Septemberfest BBQ & RibEye Steak Cookoff Challenge 🏅 Omaha, NE	5 / 45 (344.5372)	44 (157.1200)	38 (163.9772)	43 (157.6684)	36 (159.3944)
Mar 13, 2020	2nd Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship 🏅 Olathe, KS	43 / 68 (659.8972)	48 (163.4056)	4 (176)	48 (163.9544)	53 (156.5372)
May 20, 2016	5th Annual Valley Veteran's BBQ Competition Valley, NE	24 / 42 (644.4916)	22 (164.5372)	29 (157.6800)	32 (158.2972)	13 (163.9772)
May 29, 2015	4th Annual Valley Veterans BBQ Competition Valley, NE	23 / 28 (617.0864)	6 (167.4172)	22 (155.9660)	21 (153.7372)	27 (139.9660)
Sep 26, 2014	Ak-Sar-Ben's River City Rodeo & Stock Show Omaha, NE	33 / 47 (627.2684)	14 (167.4056)	38 (153.0972)	34 (156.5600)	41 (150.2056)
Aug 8, 2014	Cass County Weeping Water, NE	22 / 35 (635.3944)	24 (159.4172)	4 (175.4400)	32 (149.0972)	25 (151.4400)
Jul 18, 2014	RiverFest Red White and Que Bellevue, NE	25 / 35 (627.9316)	29 (151.3600)	21 (161.1544)	32 (152.5944)	16 (162.8228)
May 30, 2014	3rd Annual Valley Veterans Barbecue Competition Valley, NE	23 / 30 (626.2400)	3 (169.1428)	15 (160.5372)	30 (141.7372)	19 (154.8228)
Sep 27, 2013	Ak-Sar-Ben's River City Rodeo & Stock Show Omaha, NE	35 / 56 (639.9084)	42 (159.3828)	22 (164.5944)	32 (161.6912)	40 (154.2400)

SMITH BBQ CO.

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)

The heartbreaker

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Pork Ribs nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

A September team

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)