NEVER EASY BBQ IA
Rating
1583
peak 1591 · rated over 49 contests
Best runs
3
straight top-10s
Contests
53
in the data
First seen
2019-06-21
latest 2026-08-14
Best ToY finish
#144
Master 2026
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
3
9 podiums
Overall top-10s
8
of 53 contests
Avg finish
top 52%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
1 🔥
Current form
691.12 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 673.67 (+17.46)
Walk rate
64%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
3
best run (overall)
Consistency
±16.28
std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 172.66 · weakest Brisket (164.28)
Road miles
9855
mi across 53 mapped stops · furthest 484 mi
Schedule strength
72%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1568)
Purse competed for
$613K
listed at 43 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
GCs in 47 state-championship entries
Master avg
673.67 / 720
48 Master contests · 0 GCs
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
Good Grefe! has finished one call ahead of NEVER EASY BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
T-Rex BBQ has landed one call behind them 3 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
HOT DADDY'S BBQ has come out ahead in 27 of their 30 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of PORK COUNTY BARBECUE in 9 of their 10 shared contests.
🏕️ Happy hunting ground
Shenandoah ShenDig is their spot: an average finish in the top 17% across 2 visits.
😤 Chicken nemesis
Even in their strongest meat, HOT DADDY'S BBQ has out-cooked them in 19 of 31 shared chicken entries.
Teams like this (closest power rating, IA first)
Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEAM CRAWFORD | 30 | 15 | 15 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| HOT DADDY'S BBQ | 30 | 3 | 27 | 10% | ⚔ compare |
| T-Rex BBQ | 28 | 12 | 16 | 43% | ⚔ compare |
| WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | 26 | 8 | 18 | 31% | ⚔ compare |
| SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | 26 | 5 | 21 | 19% | ⚔ compare |
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 24 | 7 | 17 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| MACHETE BOYS BBQ | 22 | 10 | 12 | 45% | ⚔ compare |
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 22 | 4 | 18 | 18% | ⚔ compare |
| Matty Macks | 21 | 9 | 12 | 43% | ⚔ compare |
| HOME FARM BBQ | 19 | 10 | 9 | 53% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKEHOUSE 72 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 61% | ⚔ compare |
| Darty-Q | 18 | 11 | 7 | 61% | ⚔ compare |
| Heavy Smoke BBQ | 18 | 2 | 16 | 11% | ⚔ compare |
| Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | 17 | 11 | 6 | 65% | ⚔ compare |
| THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE | 17 | 6 | 11 | 35% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 49 | 24 | 2 | 6 | 180.0000 🔥 | 159.9656 | 172.66 | top 35% |
| Pork Ribs | 49 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 177.7144 | 155.9772 | 168.82 | top 48% |
| Pork | 48 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 177.7372 | 150.8456 | 168.09 | top 55% |
| Brisket | 49 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 178.2972 | 143.4400 | 164.28 | top 61% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| IA | 23 | 0 | top 55% |
| MO | 11 | 0 | top 53% |
| KS | 5 | 0 | top 31% |
| MN | 3 | 0 | top 57% |
| IL | 3 | 0 | top 56% |
| SD | 2 | 0 | top 24% |
| OK | 1 | 0 | top 67% |
| WI | 1 | 0 | top 78% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 3 | 0 | top 57% |
| Medium (20–39) | 22 | 0 | top 55% |
| Large (40+) | 24 | 0 | top 48% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBQ & Fly-In on the River | 3 | 33 | 0 | top 53% | 2026-08-14 |
| Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard | 3 | 27 | 0 | top 56% | 2025-09-19 |
| King of the Corn | 3 | 14 | 0 | top 50% | 2024-05-17 |
| Cruisin' and BBQin' | 2 | 14 | 0 | top 74% | 2026-07-31 |
| Shenandoah ShenDig | 2 | 3 | 0 | top 17% | 2026-07-17 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | 2 | 63 | 0 | top 18% | 2025-11-05 |
| Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest | 2 | 15 | 0 | top 39% | 2025-04-25 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST | 2 | 56 | 0 | top 25% | 2022-09-29 |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2025 (13 contests)
- Cooks mostly in IA (24 of 53 contests)
- Most-entered category: Chicken (49 entries)
- Average Master overall score: 673.67 / 720
- 1 perfect 180 on the books 🔥
Milestones
- 🚩 2019-06-21 — First tracked contest · Bring'n Home the Bacon
- 📣 2019-06-21 — First call · Bring'n Home the Bacon
- 🎖️ 2023-09-21 — 25th tracked contest · Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard
- 🎖️ 2026-07-17 — 50th tracked contest · Shenandoah ShenDig
- ⭐ 2026-07-17 — Career-best overall score (702.2400) · Shenandoah ShenDig
- 📈 2026-07-17 — Peak power rating (1591) · Shenandoah ShenDig
- 🔥 2026-07-24 — First perfect 180 (Chicken) · 10th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +13.2 | Shenandoah ShenDig | 2026-07-17 |
| +13.2 | Original SD BBQ Championships | 2026-06-05 |
| +11.8 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest | 2025-11-05 |
| +11.8 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST | 2021-09-16 |
| +11.3 | Real Squeal BBQ Smokeoff | 2021-07-16 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -12.6 | Smokin' in Steele | 2025-05-30 |
| -11.5 | Bring'n Home the Bacon | 2019-06-21 |
| -10.3 | Cruisin' and BBQin' | 2026-07-31 |
| -8.9 | 9th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest | 2025-07-25 |
| -8.2 | 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST | 2019-09-12 |
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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 100% | top 41% | 97.5% | 95.4% |
| 2025 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 62% | top 52% | 96.4% | 94.6% |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40% | top 45% | 95.6% | 94.7% |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 53% | 94.1% | 93.8% |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 42% | 94.3% | 93.8% |
| 2021 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 71% | top 54% | 94.8% | 92.7% |
| 2020 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 43% | top 62% | 93.8% | 91.7% |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60% | top 62% | 94.1% | 90.2% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-14 | BBQ & Fly-In on the River 🏅 Excelsior Springs, MO | 33 / 83 (687.3256) | 42 (171.9656) | 10 (177.7144) | 38 (171.9656) | 58 (165.6800) |
| 2026-07-31 | Cruisin' and BBQin' 🏅 Hampton, IA | 18 / 26 (680.9940) | 7 (176.5600) | 13 (173.1200) | 22 (165.0856) | 19 (166.2284) |
| 2026-07-24 | 10th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest 🏅 Emmetsburg, IA | 10 / 17 (694.7656) | 3 (180.0000) | 12 (170.8344) | 15 (170.8112) | 8 (173.1200) |
| 2026-07-17 | Shenandoah ShenDig 🏅 Shenandoah, IA | 3 / 28 (702.2400) | 5 (177.7028) | 1 (177.7144) | 11 (174.2628) | 9 (172.5600) |
| 2026-07-17 | Shenandoah ShenDig (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Shenandoah, IA | — | 6 (174.8572) | — | — | — |
| 2026-06-05 | Original SD BBQ Championships 🏅 Huron, SD | 7 / 48 (690.2860) | 7 (173.7144) | 33 (167.9888) | 2 (177.7372) | 19 (170.8456) |
| 2026-06-05 | Original SD BBQ Championships (ONE MEAT RIBS) Huron, SD | — | — | 7 (172.5600) | — | — |
| 2026-05-08 | Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN | 19 / 77 (685.1428) | 23 (174.2856) | 57 (165.7028) | 9 (175.4172) | 33 (169.7372) |
| 2026-05-01 | SmokeHouse Barbeque Showdown (OPEN FORMAT) (REGISTRATION FULL) 🏅 Cambridge, IA | 6 / 17 (684.4800) | 17 (170.8228) | 9 (171.9772) | 11 (173.1544) | 15 (168.5256) |
| 2026-04-17 | Knox Co. 4-H/FFA Ring of Smoke 🏅 Edina, MO | 19 / 25 (669.6572) | 23 (163.4060) | 3 (176.5944) | 18 (166.2284) | 17 (163.4284) |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 63 / 401 (693.1544) | 54 (176.0000) | 226 (168.0116) | 177 (170.8456) | 18 (178.2972) |
| 2025-10-24 | 1st Annual Boost & BBQ 🏅 Odessa, MO | 10 / 25 (688.4800) | 4 (177.7028) | 12 (173.1200) | 14 (171.9772) | 18 (165.6800) |
| 2025-10-03 | La Belle MO Show Me BBQ Showdown 🏅 La Belle, MO | 15 / 39 (690.7308) | 14 (174.2628) | 22 (173.1084) | 18 (172.5484) | 18 (170.8112) |
| 2025-09-19 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard 🏅 Murphysboro, IL | 32 / 56 (689.0628) | 32 (172.5600) | 30 (171.9656) | 28 (172.5600) | 26 (171.9772) |
| 2025-08-29 | SD BBQ Shootout @ Huset's Speedway 🏅 Brandon, SD | 15 / 44 (682.8112) | 10 (174.2856) | 25 (169.1200) | 17 (171.4400) | 20 (167.9656) |
| 2025-08-22 | Cruisin' and BBQin' 🏅 Hampton, IA | 14 / 18 (677.0516) | 11 (170.8460) | 11 (170.2628) | 15 (165.0972) | 7 (170.8456) |
| 2025-08-15 | BBQ & Fly-In on the River 🏅 Excelsior Springs, MO | 35 / 62 (682.7428) | 8 (177.7144) | 43 (166.8228) | 37 (169.6800) | 41 (168.5256) |
| 2025-07-25 | 9th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest 🏅 Emmetsburg, IA | 28 / 31 (664.4112) | 23 (165.1316) | 14 (168.5256) | 15 (169.6684) | 29 (161.0856) |
| 2025-07-18 | Shenandoah ShenDig 🏅 Shenandoah, IA | 7 / 30 (694.2172) | 3 (177.7144) | 19 (168.5256) | 7 (175.4172) | 9 (172.5600) |
| 2025-07-11 | KTD Smokn' Gobbler 🏅 Worthington, MN | 15 / 26 (669.5656) | 20 (165.0972) | 15 (167.3944) | 5 (174.8456) | 21 (162.2284) |
| 2025-05-30 | Smokin' in Steele 🏅 Owatonna, MN | 25 / 28 (655.8288) | 7 (174.2744) | 27 (161.0972) | 19 (168.5256) | 27 (151.9316) |
| 2025-05-16 | King of the Corn 🏅 Ottumwa, IA | 18 / 33 (679.9200) | 13 (174.2628) | 19 (170.2972) | 16 (169.6800) | 27 (165.6800) |
| 2025-04-25 | Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest 🏅 Sugar Creek, MO | 15 / 40 (687.9432) | 9 (176.0000) | 14 (174.2744) | 22 (170.2744) | 24 (167.3944) |
| 2024-10-30 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 94 / 444 (688.5028) | 154 (172.5484) | 123 (173.1200) | 26 (177.1544) | 261 (165.6800) |
| 2024-10-30 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024-09-20 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard 🏅 Murphysboro, IL | 33 / 58 (681.5884) | 14 (177.1428) | 21 (171.9772) | 34 (170.8228) | 45 (161.6456) |
| 2024-05-17 | King of the Corn 🏅 Ottumwa, IA | 22 / 36 (671.8968) | 5 (176.5828) | 7 (172.5484) | 26 (163.9656) | 33 (158.8000) |
| 2024-04-26 | Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest 🏅 Sugar Creek, MO | 18 / 44 (685.0400) | 30 (167.3944) | 7 (176.0000) | 25 (167.3828) | 10 (174.2628) |
| 2023-09-21 | Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard 🏅 Murphysboro, IL | 27 / 50 (673.5768) | 30 (167.4056) | 11 (173.7028) | 36 (166.2284) | 32 (166.2400) |
| 2023-05-19 | King of the Corn 🏅 Ottumwa, IA | 23 / 45 (677.6804) | 36 (166.2860) | 7 (174.3088) | 27 (169.1200) | 24 (167.9656) |
| 2022-10-14 | King of the Corn 🏅 Ottumwa, IA | 14 / 36 (678.8000) | 10 (172.5828) | 9 (170.8344) | 28 (165.6800) | 10 (169.7028) |
| 2022-10-01 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - SIDES Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022-09-29 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 189 / 505 (675.3256) | 206 (169.1200) | 271 (166.8228) | 210 (168.5600) | 124 (170.8228) |
| 2022-06-17 | Rose Festival 21st Annual KCBS BBQ Contest 🏅 State Center, IA | 16 / 32 (672.4684) | 10 (170.8688) | 5 (171.9656) | 15 (167.9656) | 20 (161.6684) |
| 2021-11-11 | 3rd Annual KCBS World Invitational - Open Shawnee, OK | 74 / 111 (671.8740) | 64 (167.9656) | 55 (169.1200) | 91 (165.6684) | 56 (169.1200) |
| 2021-09-24 | Ottumwa 4th Annual Smoketoberfest 🏅 Ottumwa, IA | 14 / 35 (678.8000) | 3 (176.0228) | 19 (167.3944) | 15 (170.2856) | 23 (165.0972) |
| 2021-09-16 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 56 / 467 (682.2856) | 24 (176.0000) | 101 (171.4400) | 119 (169.1656) | 211 (165.6800) |
| 2021-07-30 | 5th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest 🏅 Emmetsburg, IA | 23 / 35 (660.4228) | 6 (176.0000) | 34 (157.0856) | 6 (171.9772) | 32 (155.3600) |
| 2021-07-16 | Real Squeal BBQ Smokeoff 🏅 Cedar Rapids, IA | 7 / 26 (680.5600) | 1 (178.8572) | 11 (168.5828) | 15 (166.2856) | 10 (166.8344) |
| 2021-06-18 | Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition 🏅 State Center, IA | 25 / 32 (644.4340) | 8 (170.8572) | 28 (157.0628) | 30 (150.8456) | 13 (165.6684) |
| 2021-04-23 | WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest 🏅 Washington, MO | 39 / 45 (651.3716) | 10 (172.5828) | 18 (169.1200) | 40 (160.0116) | 45 (149.6572) |
| 2020-10-02 | Ottumwa Smoketoberfest 🏅 Ottumwa, IA | 36 / 66 (666.2400) | 1 (177.7372) | 14 (169.7028) | 21 (170.2856) | 64 (148.5144) |
| 2020-09-26 | West Bottoms Cameron BBQ Contest 🏅 Cameron, MO | 26 / 36 (672.4800) | 11 (173.7144) | 29 (164.5484) | 23 (168.5372) | 23 (165.6800) |
| 2020-08-14 | BBQ & Fly in on the River 🏅 Excelsior Springs, MO | 35 / 55 (675.3948) | 6 (176.5828) | 33 (167.3944) | 24 (172.0232) | 42 (159.3944) |
| 2020-07-17 | Real Squeal BBQ Smoke Off 🏅 MARION, IA | 23 / 36 (640.5716) | 3 (174.8456) | 16 (161.7032) | 20 (160.5828) | 33 (143.4400) |
| 2020-06-27 | Back to Mayberry Day 2 🏅 Rodney, IA | 41 / 47 (651.3140) | 44 (159.9656) | 39 (161.1200) | 31 (166.2628) | 32 (163.9656) |
| 2020-06-26 | Back to Mayberry Day 1 🏅 Rodney, IA | 36 / 53 (657.0632) | 14 (170.8688) | 31 (164.5372) | 49 (154.2516) | 23 (167.4056) |
| 2020-04-06 | Socially Distanced Smoking - Brisket presented by The BBQ League washington, MO | 30 / 109 (166.8800) | — | — | — | 31 (166.8800) |
| 2019-10-04 | Smoketoberfest 🏅 Ottumwa, IA | 38 / 49 (641.5656) | 24 (169.7144) | 35 (162.8340) | 41 (158.8228) | 41 (150.1944) |
| 2019-09-12 | 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 316 / 468 (645.0512) | 216 (166.3200) | 339 (159.9772) | 274 (163.3940) | 368 (155.3600) |
| 2019-08-09 | 16th Annual UP IN SMOKE BBQ Bash 🏅 Mason City, IA | 20 / 38 (653.6344) | 7 (172.5944) | 6 (167.4060) | 15 (166.8456) | 37 (146.7884) |
| 2019-06-28 | Back To Mayberry 🏅 Rodney, IA | 10 / 28 (677.7376) | 14 (169.7028) | 9 (169.1660) | 16 (167.4288) | 7 (171.4400) |
| 2019-06-21 | Bring'n Home the Bacon 🏅 West Salem, WI | 29 / 37 (629.5200) | 4 (170.8572) | 26 (155.9772) | 33 (151.3600) | 29 (151.3256) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #144 (967 pts) | #111 (1159 pts) | #98 (1276 pts) | #139 (957 pts) | #198 (762 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #214 (1027 pts) | #145 (1356 pts) | #277 (923 pts) | #200 (1096 pts) | #256 (902 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #591 (290 pts) | #492 (420 pts) | #503 (470 pts) | #687 (240 pts) | #588 (315 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #908 (130 pts) | #1011 (120 pts) | #678 (295 pts) | #989 (120 pts) | #970 (125 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #577 (337 pts) | #555 (387 pts) | #542 (447 pts) | #665 (287 pts) | #598 (337 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #368 (518 pts) | #178 (1038 pts) | #436 (483 pts) | #359 (563 pts) | #407 (493 pts) |
| 2020 ↗ | Master | #307 (370 pts) | #96 (1000 pts) | #273 (460 pts) | #293 (420 pts) | #321 (380 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #766 (393 pts) | #572 (608 pts) | #689 (493 pts) | #823 (388 pts) | #806 (398 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #2004 (96 pts) | #1359 (216 pts) | #2153 (86 pts) | #2119 (86 pts) | #1767 (126 pts) |