Monsters of the Ribway

Monsters of the Ribway is a competition barbecue team with 39 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2023. Their best overall finish is 4th of 37 at the Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (Formerly Morton BBQ Throwdown) (2016). They are ranked #4001 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#4,001

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1483

peak 1546 · rated over 37 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Jun 22, 2013

latest Jul 14, 2023 · 10.1 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#520

Master 2017 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

10 podiums

Overall top-10s

15% of 39 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 56%

overall standings

Best overall

677.0856 / 720

Master · Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (Formerly Morton BBQ Throwdown)

Perfect 180s

Current form

654.47 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 648.11 (+6.36)

Walk rate

54%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.2972

Pork Ribs · Grill Games

Consistency

±14.96

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 163.82 · weakest Brisket (158.95)

Road miles

6,262

across 39 mapped stops · furthest 668 mi

Schedule strength

46%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1560)

Purse competed for

$69K

listed at 9 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 11 state-championship entries

Master avg

648.11 / 720

37 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (10 found in their record)

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

High-water mark

677.0856 career-best overall

94.0% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 677.0856 at Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (Formerly Morton BBQ Throwdown) — 94.0% of a perfect 720.

Master
Jul 22, 2016

The one to beat

3× one call ahead of them

FIDDLIN' FATBACK has finished one call ahead of Monsters of the Ribway 3 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2015 their best year

2015 was the year it came together: 3 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 1 category win, at an average finish in the top 32%.

3 contests
0 overall top-10s
1 category win
average top 32%

A tough matchup

19–0 behind in the head-to-head

One2BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

One2BBQ has come out ahead in 19 of their 19 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.9 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.87 points below their pork, and turns into a call 16% of the time against 35%.

Brisket avg 158.95
Pork avg 163.82
6 calls in 37 entries

A strong matchup

13–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 93% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of SAUCED N SMOKED in 13 of their 14 shared contests.

Pork nemesis

17 of 19 shared pork entries lost

One2BBQ ahead 89% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, One2BBQ has out-cooked them in 17 of 19 shared pork entries.

Show 3 more storylines

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

Risky Brisket has landed one call behind them 2 times.

The long haul

6,262 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 6,262 miles across 39 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 668 miles to Bone Suckin' Sauce Peak City Pig Fest.

39 mapped stops
furthest 668 mi

The metronome

±2.08% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.08% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 90.0% of a perfect score
39 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 ↗	Master	#1182 (77 pts)	#1232 (82 pts)	#1292 (97 pts)	#1280 (62 pts)	#1242 (72 pts)
2022 ↗	Master	#714 (238 pts)	#673 (283 pts)	#465 (542 pts)	#674 (283 pts)	#796 (203 pts)
2021 ↗	Master	#841 (149 pts)	#750 (209 pts)	#959 (139 pts)	#759 (189 pts)	#874 (149 pts)
2020 ↗	Master	#856 (60 pts)	#825 (90 pts)	#913 (60 pts)	#872 (70 pts)	#883 (60 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#703 (479 pts)	#535 (694 pts)	#619 (594 pts)	#683 (539 pts)	#913 (354 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#520 (739 pts)	#747 (534 pts)	#401 (959 pts)	#416 (919 pts)	#629 (634 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#862 (412 pts)	#1087 (317 pts)	#944 (392 pts)	#874 (447 pts)	#955 (367 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#931 (340 pts)	#808 (450 pts)	#890 (400 pts)	#1505 (180 pts)	#750 (490 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#883 (376 pts)	#984 (356 pts)	#792 (461 pts)	#749 (501 pts)	#874 (391 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#1230 (212 pts)	#1326 (202 pts)	#1025 (302 pts)	#1282 (212 pts)	#1262 (217 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Monsters of the Ribway, each with one reason worth a look.

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

WHISKEY WHISKERS BBQ COMPANY

#4,005 of the rated field

1483 power rating

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

2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to Monsters of the Ribway)

2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team Monsters of the Ribway has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 18 contests
last seen Aug 21, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

HIGH ON THE HOG CATLIN, IL

#3,973 of the rated field

1484 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 7%
Peak: 1505

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to Monsters of the Ribway)

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

rated over 14 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

Big Bad Hawg's

#3,974 of the rated field

1484 power rating

Contests: 10
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1484

5–0 in 5 shared contests (100% to Monsters of the Ribway)

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 10 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 10 contests
last seen Oct 13, 2017

⚔ Head-to-head

HOT EMBERS BBQ

#3,983 of the rated field

1484 power rating

Contests: 10
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 10%
Peak: 1484

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to Monsters of the Ribway)

Fewer contests behind them than Monsters of the Ribway has cooked, 10 to 39, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 6 contests
last seen Jun 19, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

Wood Chicks BBQ

#4,017 of the rated field

1483 power rating

Contests: 6
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1505

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Monsters of the Ribway)

Level with Monsters of the Ribway on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 6 contests
last seen Jan 28, 2022

⚔ Head-to-head

MAKE M' SQUEAL

#3,999 of the rated field

1483 power rating

Contests: 23
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 4%
Peak: 1512

23 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 4% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 23 contests
last seen Jun 18, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
One2BBQ	19	0	19	0%	⚔ compare
CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE	18	1	17	6%	⚔ compare
QUAU	17	6	11	35%	⚔ compare
SmokinGhost BBQ	17	3	14	18%	⚔ compare
RACK MASTERS BBQ	16	7	9	44%	⚔ compare
SAUCED N SMOKED	14	13	1	93%	⚔ compare
CLUCK , OINK & MOO BARBECUE	14	6	8	43%	⚔ compare
FIDDLIN' FATBACK	14	6	8	43%	⚔ compare
Risky Brisket	14	3	11	21%	⚔ compare
BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO.	14	3	11	21%	⚔ compare
Its 5 Oclock Somewhere	14	2	12	14%	⚔ compare
SMOKY LINCS	13	8	5	62%	⚔ compare
CHANNABILLY BBQ	13	5	8	38%	⚔ compare
MOON KING BBQ	12	11	1	92%	⚔ compare
Rusty Pig BBQ	12	2	10	17%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	37	6	2	2	176.5828	146.2400	163.26	top 57%
Pork Ribs	39	10	1	4	178.2972	144.5372	162.50	top 52%
Pork	37	13	0	3	176.5716	149.6796	163.82	top 47%
Brisket	37	6	0	1	173.1656	141.6344	158.95	top 63%

“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)	4	top 62%
Medium (20–39)	13	top 54%
Large (40+)	20	top 56%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
IL	27	top 57%
WI	6	top 51%
NC	2	top 61%
MN	1	top 29%
IA	1	top 75%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Grill Games	4	5	top 45%	Aug 24, 2018
Heritage Days BBQ Showdown (Day one)	3	20	top 59%	Jun 25, 2021
Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown	3	14	top 53%	Jul 19, 2019
Up In smoke on the Square ( WAIT LIST ONLY FOR JUDGES)	3	14	top 52%	Jun 1, 2018
Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown	2	16	top 72%	Jul 14, 2023
Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1	2	36	top 77%	Jun 21, 2019
I-39 Smokin Car Show	2	6	top 44%	Jun 30, 2018
Morton BBQ Throwdown	2	24	top 56%	Jul 25, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2017 7 contests

Contests a season 3.5 across 11 seasons in the data

Most contests held in IL 29 of 39 contests · 5 states in all

Contests visited 24 8 of them more than once

Most-entered meat Pork Ribs 39 entries · 1 win · 10 calls

Opponents faced 644 finished ahead 622 times, behind 882

Longest layoff 1.2 yrs Jul 19, 2019 → Oct 16, 2020

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

20231 milestone

Jul 14 Most recent contest Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown

20182 milestones

Jul 20 25th tracked contest Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (JUDGES FULL)
Aug 24 Peak power rating (1546) Grill Games

20171 milestone

Aug 25 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)178.2972 Grill Games

20161 milestone

Jul 22 Career-best overall score677.0856 Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (Formerly Morton BBQ Throwdown)

20152 milestones

Jun 5 First category win (Chicken) Up In Smoke On The Square
Aug 28 10th tracked contest Grill Games

20143 milestones

Jul 25 First call Morton BBQ Throwdown
Sep 5 First overall top-10 Heart of Illinois BBQ, Beer & Bluegrass Festival
Sep 5 First overall past 90% of a perfect score665.6800 Heart of Illinois BBQ, Beer & Bluegrass Festival

20131 milestone

Jun 22 First tracked contest Mr. BBQ Barbeque Challenge

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+14.4	Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (Formerly Morton BBQ Throwdown)	Jul 22, 2016
+12.7	Grill Games	Aug 25, 2017
+11.1	5th Annual Morton BBQ Throwdown	Jul 24, 2015
+10.8	I-39 Smokin Car Show	Jun 30, 2018
+9	Big Muddy Brew N Que	Sep 2, 2017

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-10.5	Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown	Jul 19, 2019
-10.2	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown (Day One)	Jun 24, 2022
-9.2	Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown	Jul 14, 2023
-7.9	Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown Day 2	Jul 17, 2021
-7.1	Grill Games	Aug 22, 2014

Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — 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	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2023	3	0	0	0%	top 73%	91.3%	90.4%
2022	5	0	0	80%	top 69%	93.2%	91.6%
2021	2	0	0	0%	top 72%	91.8%	90.2%
2020	1	0	0	0%	top 58%	90.6%	90.6%
2019	2	0	0	50%	top 74%	90%	89.5%
2018	5	1	1	80%	top 51%	93%	90.2%
2017	7	2	1	57%	top 49%	92.7%	89.9%
2016	4	2	0	75%	top 48%	94%	90.7%
2015	3	0	1	100%	top 32%	92.5%	91.6%
2014	4	1	0	50%	top 61%	92.5%	88.6%
2013	3	0	0	0%	top 60%	87.8%	87.2%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jul 14, 2023	Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown 🏅 Eureka, IL	20 / 25 (644.9824)	21 (163.9656)	16 (162.8228)	21 (156.5256)	19 (161.6684)
Jul 14, 2023	Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (One Meat Ribs) Eureka, IL	—	—	11 (167.9888)	—	—
Apr 14, 2023	Bone Suckin' Sauce Peak City Pig Fest 🏅 Apex, NC	21 / 32 (657.0056)	20 (165.1200)	17 (166.2400)	24 (161.6684)	22 (163.9772)
Jul 15, 2022	Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown 🏅 Eureka, IL	16 / 25 (670.6856)	21 (159.3600)	3 (176.5600)	12 (169.6800)	18 (165.0856)
Jul 15, 2022	Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (One Meat Ribs) Eureka, IL	—	—	5 (172.5716)	—	—
Jun 24, 2022	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown (Day One) 🏅 Belvidere, IL	34 / 36 (637.4972)	27 (165.6800)	23 (165.0972)	27 (165.0856)	35 (141.6344)
May 6, 2022	Route 66 Smoke Out 🏅 Dwight, IL	20 / 33 (662.1716)	8 (174.8572)	21 (162.8344)	15 (169.6800)	29 (154.8000)
Apr 8, 2022	Jimbo's Annual BBQ Competition 🏅 Stem, NC	20 / 36 (667.3488)	21 (165.6800)	31 (161.6916)	3 (176.5716)	22 (163.4056)
Jul 17, 2021	Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown Day 2 🏅 Eureka, IL	16 / 19 (637.5544)	11 (166.2856)	18 (157.6688)	16 (154.2056)	16 (159.3944)
Jun 25, 2021	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown (Day one) 🏅 Belvidere, IL	29 / 49 (661.0972)	18 (168)	41 (159.4056)	17 (170.2744)	32 (163.4172)
Oct 16, 2020	Best of the Midwest BBQ 🏅 Union Grove, WI	29 / 50 (652.4576)	19 (169.1200)	25 (163.9888)	23 (165.0972)	40 (154.2516)
Jul 19, 2019	Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown 🏅 Peoria, IL	30 / 40 (647.8860)	27 (163.3944)	31 (159.9772)	17 (166.2744)	34 (158.2400)
Jun 21, 2019	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1 🏅 Belvidere, IL	36 / 50 (641.5088)	31 (163.3828)	44 (151.9316)	8 (171.4172)	39 (154.7772)
Aug 24, 2018	Grill Games Kenosha, WI	22 / 42 (653.0632)	20 (166.8344)	18 (164.5716)	9 (168)	31 (153.6572)
Jul 20, 2018	Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (JUDGES FULL) Peoria, IL	14 / 43 (669.5540)	8 (171.9656)	4 (173.1200)	21 (167.3828)	36 (157.0856)
Jun 30, 2018	I-39 Smokin Car Show Minonk, IL	6 / 29 (654.7656)	1 (175.4400)	6 (166.2628)	16 (155.9200)	16 (157.1428)
Jun 22, 2018	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1 Belvidere, IL	42 / 51 (634.1144)	14 (171.9656)	47 (148.5600)	35 (159.9544)	47 (153.6344)
Jun 1, 2018	Up In smoke on the Square ( WAIT LIST ONLY FOR JUDGES) Lincoln, IL	27 / 40 (635.7940)	31 (156.5028)	30 (155.3484)	8 (165.6684)	22 (158.2744)
Oct 13, 2017	CIBR-BBQ Central Illinois Bragging Right BBQ Arthur, IL	27 / 41 (647.2456)	33 (158.2172)	30 (159.3944)	11 (168.5256)	26 (161.1084)
Sep 2, 2017	Big Muddy Brew N Que Winona, MN	6 / 21 (667.3256)	17 (162.2744)	5 (170.2628)	7 (169.1084)	9 (165.6800)
Aug 25, 2017	Grill Games Kenosha, WI	5 / 39 (663.9200)	30 (156.5256)	1 (178.2972)	10 (163.9772)	10 (165.1200)
Aug 4, 2017	Badger Brews & Que Port Washington, WI	20 / 30 (631.8744)	29 (146.2400)	5 (168)	10 (162.8228)	21 (154.8116)
Jul 21, 2017	Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (JUDGES FULL) Peoria, IL	25 / 48 (635.2340)	32 (158.8228)	15 (162.2856)	27 (159.3484)	29 (154.7772)
Jul 1, 2017	I-39 Smokin Car Show Minonk, IL	12 / 18 (631.8284)	12 (159.9656)	15 (148.5144)	3 (170.8228)	14 (152.5256)
Jun 23, 2017	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Belvidere, IL	20 / 42 (653.1088)	16 (165.7028)	29 (161.1772)	18 (163.9772)	22 (162.2516)
Aug 20, 2016	Illinois BBQ Fest at Hillcrest Event Center Orion, IL	7 / 12 (647.8284)	7 (164.5372)	3 (163.9428)	6 (159.9428)	8 (159.4056)
Jul 22, 2016	Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (Formerly Morton BBQ Throwdown) Peoria, IL	4 / 37 (677.0856)	14 (166.2628)	13 (166.2972)	3 (174.2628)	10 (170.2628)
Jun 24, 2016	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Belvidere, IL	23 / 33 (637.0972)	17 (165.6800)	31 (144.5372)	7 (170.2972)	20 (156.5828)
Jun 3, 2016	Up In smoke on the Square Lincoln, IL	28 / 52 (649.1316)	37 (162.2628)	32 (159.3944)	36 (160.0228)	17 (167.4516)
Aug 28, 2015	Grill Games Kenosha, WI	18 / 49 (650.7772)	36 (156.5372)	4 (172.5600)	27 (159.3944)	17 (162.2856)
Jul 24, 2015	5th Annual Morton BBQ Throwdown Morton, IL	11 / 47 (666.2740)	16 (166.2400)	11 (167.4400)	31 (159.4284)	3 (173.1656)
Jun 5, 2015	Up In Smoke On The Square Lincoln, IL	14 / 40 (660.5256)	1 (176.5828)	26 (158.8456)	31 (156.5372)	8 (168.5600)
Sep 5, 2014	Heart of Illinois BBQ, Beer & Bluegrass Festival Peoria, IL	6 / 16 (665.6800)	8 (165.0972)	2 (173.7600)	6 (168)	12 (158.8228)
Aug 22, 2014	Grill Games Kenosha, WI	36 / 47 (620.4340)	36 (155.9312)	38 (146.8460)	40 (149.6796)	12 (167.9772)
Jul 25, 2014	Morton BBQ Throwdown Morton, IL	28 / 48 (638.2404)	29 (162.2400)	29 (157.6916)	5 (169.7144)	43 (148.5944)
May 24, 2014	Red, White, And BBQ Westmont, IL	51 / 72 (626.1716)	57 (154.8228)	41 (159.3944)	45 (159.9772)	57 (151.9772)
Oct 18, 2013	8th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q (TEAMS FULL) Libertyville, IL	28 / 54 (621.0736)	25 (158.8568)	31 (154.2628)	34 (150.2512)	22 (157.7028)
Jul 26, 2013	Morton BBQ Throwdown (TEAMS & JUDGES FULL - May email to be put on waitlist) Morton, IL	24 / 45 (631.8972)	30 (154.2744)	17 (162.8344)	28 (161.6912)	32 (153.0972)
Jun 22, 2013	Mr. BBQ Barbeque Challenge Davenport, IA	24 / 32 (629.7144)	26 (156.0002)	13 (165.1428)	23 (159.9998)	28 (148.5716)

Monsters of the Ribway

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

Storylines (10 found in their record)

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Pork nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

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, averaged over 5 contests — 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)