The Meat Rubbers BBQ

The Meat Rubbers BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 16 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2015 and 2023. Their best overall finish is 4th of 20 at the Smoke, Wind & Fire (2022). They are ranked #4552 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#4,552

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1472

peak 1472 · rated over 16 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Aug 14, 2015

latest Jul 20, 2023 · 7.9 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#1055

Master 2018 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

2 podiums

Overall top-10s

13% of 16 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s, still running

Avg finish

top 66%

overall standings

Best overall

666.7656 / 720

Master · Bordertown BBQ Brawl

Perfect 180s

Current form

654.43 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 642.37 (+12.06)

Walk rate

81%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

175.4400

Pork Ribs · The Rumble on the River presented by TheBBQSuperStore.com

Consistency

±15.43

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 163.20 · weakest Pork (157.75)

Road miles

3,238

across 16 mapped stops · furthest 1,390 mi

Schedule strength

46%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1559)

Purse competed for

$8,000

listed at 1 contest — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 1 state-championship entry

Master avg

642.37 / 720

14 Master contests · 0 GCs

Backyard avg

313.70 / 360

2 Backyard contests · 0 GCs

These overall scores sit on different scales (Master out of 720, Backyard out of 360), so they're kept separate — averaging them together would be misleading.

This team cooks the Backyard series — its own boards, records and Team of the Year are here.

Storylines (11 found in their record)

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

They almost always walk

81% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 13 of 16 contests

A top-10 category call in 81% of their 16 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

666.7656 career-best overall

92.6% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 666.7656 at Bordertown BBQ Brawl — 92.6% of a perfect 720.

Master
Aug 17, 2018

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

KEVLAR BBQ has finished one call ahead of The Meat Rubbers BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2018 their best year

2018 was the year it came together: 3 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 53%.

3 contests
0 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 53%

A tough matchup

12–0 behind in the head-to-head

iBQ'n ahead in 100% of their meetings

iBQ'n has come out ahead in 12 of their 12 shared contests.

The weak link

−5.4 points behind their best meat

Pork is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 5.45 points below their pork ribs, and turns into a call 7% of the time against 56%.

Pork avg 157.75
Pork Ribs avg 163.20
1 call in 14 entries

A strong matchup

4–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

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

Show 4 more storylines

The comeback

3.1 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 3.1 years, then back at Smoke, Wind & Fire (Jul 23, 2022).

last seen Jun 21, 2019
back Jul 23, 2022

Pork Ribs nemesis

10 of 12 shared pork ribs entries lost

iBQ'n ahead 83% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, iBQ'n has out-cooked them in 10 of 12 shared pork ribs entries.

The long haul

3,238 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 3,238 miles across 16 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 1,390 miles to Smoke, Wind & Fire.

16 mapped stops
furthest 1,390 mi

The metronome

±2.12% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.12% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 89.0% of a perfect score
16 contests

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 ↗	Backyard	—	#233 (156 pts)	#242 (146 pts)	—	—
2019 ↗	Master	#1655 (110 pts)	#1976 (70 pts)	#1930 (75 pts)	#1786 (100 pts)	#1143 (230 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1055 (254 pts)	#1207 (224 pts)	#804 (444 pts)	#1212 (224 pts)	#1105 (259 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1083 (293 pts)	#1247 (253 pts)	#659 (618 pts)	#1166 (288 pts)	#1008 (348 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1182 (251 pts)	#946 (386 pts)	#1069 (321 pts)	#1410 (221 pts)	#1262 (246 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1134 (252 pts)	#1512 (177 pts)	#1408 (197 pts)	#1043 (322 pts)	#1010 (327 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to The Meat Rubbers BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

FEEL THE BURN BBQ

#4,529 of the rated field

1472 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1511

They've been 1511 at their best, 38 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Sep 30, 2016

⚔ Compare careers

Deans Rockn Rednecks

#4,564 of the rated field

1472 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1503

Careers of much the same size, 18 contests to 16, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 18 contests
last seen Jul 29, 2023

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FOUNDING FATHERS BBQ

#4,527 of the rated field

1473 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 11%
Peak: 1505

Their last contest in the data was back in 2016, 7 years before The Meat Rubbers BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 19 contests

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CROW RIVER BBQ

#4,532 of the rated field

1472 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1504

12 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Jul 14, 2017

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MESS-IN-A ROUND BBQ

#4,559 of the rated field

1472 power rating

Contests: 23
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 4%
Peak: 1472

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

rated over 22 contests
last seen Mar 20, 2026

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Smoke on the Water BBQ

#4,545 of the rated field

1472 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 9%
Peak: 1472

They turned up 10 years after The Meat Rubbers BBQ did, first appearing in 2025.

rated over 11 contests
last seen Sep 18, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
iBQ'n	12	0	12	0%	⚔ compare
SWEET RACKS & SMOKIN' BUTTS BBQ	11	2	9	18%	⚔ compare
Mac Attack BBQ	11	0	11	0%	⚔ compare
RUBBED, SMOKED, AND SAUCED BBQ	10	3	7	30%	⚔ compare
PapaDads BBQ	10	1	9	10%	⚔ compare
AWW HELL	10	1	9	10%	⚔ compare
THE REAL SMOKIN ACES	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
FIREHOUSE SMOKE	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
Smokin Good Time BBQ	9	4	5	44%	⚔ compare
HOLY SMOKERS MI	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
BAD WOLF BBQ	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare
BAVARIAN SMOKE BBQ	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare
MUTTS & BUTTS BARK-BQ	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
BIG BROTHERS BBQ	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
PB&J'S BBQ TEAM	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	16	4	1	169.7028	149.1088	159.93	top 69%
Pork Ribs	16	9	0	175.4400	146.2400	163.20	top 48%
Pork	14	1	0	167.9656	144.5944	157.75	top 70%
Brisket	14	2	1	172.5828	148	160.14	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	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	2	top 100%
Medium (20–39)	13	top 63%
Large (40+)	1	top 44%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
MI	13	top 67%
AB	1	top 100%
IN	1	top 74%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Silver Lake Apple BBQ Festival	2	21	0	top 59%	Sep 14, 2018
All American BBQ Throwdown	2	16	0	top 86%	Aug 4, 2017

More numbers

Busiest season 2017 4 contests

Contests a season 2.3 across 7 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MI 13 of 16 contests · 3 states and provinces in all

Contests visited 14 2 of them more than once

Opponents faced 194 finished ahead 164 times, behind 267

Longest layoff 3.1 yrs Jun 21, 2019 → Jul 23, 2022

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

20231 milestone

Jul 20 Most recent contest Smoke, Wind & Fire (Backyard)

20221 milestone

Jul 23 First overall top-10 Smoke, Wind & Fire

20181 milestone

Aug 17 Career-best overall score666.7656 Bordertown BBQ Brawl

20172 milestones

Sep 22 10th tracked contest The Rumble on the River presented by TheBBQSuperStore.com
Sep 22 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)175.4400 The Rumble on the River presented by TheBBQSuperStore.com

20161 milestone

May 20 Peak power rating (1495) 2nd Annual Pork in the Park

20153 milestones

Aug 14 First tracked contest Jimmy's Roadhouse Backyard BBQ Battle
Aug 28 First call Ribstock II: Ribs & Racing
Sep 11 First overall past 90% of a perfect score657.0172 Silver Lake Apple BBQ Festival

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+8.5	Smoke, Wind & Fire	Jul 23, 2022
+6.1	Bordertown BBQ Brawl	Aug 17, 2018
+5.7	11th Annual Auburn Hills Barbecue Cook-Off	Jun 21, 2019
+5.4	Silver Lake Apple BBQ Festival	Sep 14, 2018
+3.9	Silver Lake Apple BBQ Festival	Sep 11, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-15.1	Smoke, Wind & Fire (Backyard)	Jul 20, 2023
-11.6	All American BBQ Throwdown	Aug 5, 2016
-11.4	Jimmy's Roadhouse Backyard BBQ Battle	Aug 14, 2015
-6.5	Ribstock	Aug 26, 2016
-5.3	The Rumble on the River presented by TheBBQSuperStore.com	Sep 22, 2017

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	1	1	100%	top 100%	86.8%	86.8%
2022	1	1	100%	top 20%	87.5%	87.5%
2019	1	0	100%	top 47%	91.1%	91.1%
2018	3	0	67%	top 53%	92.6%	90.6%
2017	4	0	100%	top 77%	91.6%	89.9%
2016	3	0	67%	top 77%	90.1%	87.8%
2015	3	0	67%	top 65%	91.3%	87.7%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jul 20, 2023	Smoke, Wind & Fire (Backyard) Raymond, AB	6 / 6 (312.5372)	5 (159.3828)	6 (153.1544)	—	—
Jul 23, 2022	Smoke, Wind & Fire Lethbridge	4 / 20 (314.8572)	3 (159.4284)	4 (155.4288)	—	—
Jun 21, 2019	11th Annual Auburn Hills Barbecue Cook-Off 🏅 Auburn Hills, MI	14 / 30 (655.9884)	22 (162.2856)	21 (161.7028)	16 (159.4172)	3 (172.5828)
Sep 14, 2018	Silver Lake Apple BBQ Festival Mears, MI	21 / 48 (644.4452)	20 (164.5372)	12 (169.1312)	29 (151.3828)	24 (159.3940)
Aug 17, 2018	Bordertown BBQ Brawl Sault Ste Marie, MI	12 / 24 (666.7656)	19 (163.3828)	9 (169.1544)	14 (167.9656)	17 (166.2628)
Aug 3, 2018	Westland Area Jaycee's All American BBQ Throwdown Westland, MI	26 / 39 (645.6116)	33 (157.1200)	5 (172)	31 (152.5144)	16 (163.9772)
Sep 22, 2017	The Rumble on the River presented by TheBBQSuperStore.com Grand Haven, MI	21 / 24 (659.3604)	19 (166.8344)	6 (175.4400)	21 (163.4288)	23 (153.6572)
Sep 8, 2017	Silver Lake Apple BBQ Festival Silver Lake, MI	21 / 28 (642.7768)	26 (150.8228)	7 (168.5484)	21 (158.2972)	16 (165.1084)
Aug 4, 2017	All American BBQ Throwdown Westland, MI	21 / 29 (635.8628)	26 (152.5372)	9 (165.6800)	25 (155.4056)	15 (162.2400)
Jul 14, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour South Bend, IN	20 / 27 (651.9200)	22 (162.2628)	7 (167.9772)	17 (162.8456)	18 (158.8344)
Aug 26, 2016	Ribstock Marne, MI	26 / 32 (619.9316)	16 (164.5372)	23 (156.5144)	25 (150.8800)	26 (148)
Aug 5, 2016	All American BBQ Throwdown Westland, MI	16 / 16 (627.9660)	10 (165.1200)	8 (166.3088)	16 (144.5944)	16 (151.9428)
May 20, 2016	2nd Annual Pork in the Park Wyandotte, MI	14 / 28 (648.5600)	6 (169.7028)	12 (162.2744)	20 (155.4856)	15 (161.0972)
Sep 11, 2015	Silver Lake Apple BBQ Festival Mears, MI	16 / 34 (657.0172)	24 (161.0972)	20 (165.0972)	19 (165.1428)	10 (165.6800)
Aug 28, 2015	Ribstock II: Ribs & Racing Marne, MI	18 / 32 (621.0860)	28 (149.1088)	28 (146.2400)	6 (167.4628)	13 (158.2744)
Aug 14, 2015	Jimmy's Roadhouse Backyard BBQ Battle Newaygo, MI	24 / 26 (615.9540)	24 (150.7884)	24 (156.5944)	23 (153.7256)	20 (154.8456)

The Meat Rubbers BBQ

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Best top-10 run

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

Backyard avg

Storylines (11 found in their record)

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Pork Ribs nemesis

The long haul

The metronome

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)