RUBBING BUTTS BBQ KS

RUBBING BUTTS BBQ KS is a competition barbecue team with 45 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2016. They have won 4 Grand Championships, most recently at the Cowley County BBQ Contest (2014). They are ranked #442 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#442

of 6,477 rated · rankings

Rating

1690

peak 1690 · rated over 43 contests2 invitational or side-series contests not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Mar 15, 2013

latest Oct 14, 2016 · 3.6 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#77

Master 2013 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve · wins it all 9% of the time

Category wins

28 podiums

Overall top-10s

49% of 45 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s · 2 straight GCs

Avg finish

top 29%

overall standings

Best overall

701.1656 / 720

Master · Cowley County BBQ Contest

Perfect 180s

Current form

670.44

last 5 Master vs avg 670.27 (+0.17)

Walk rate

84%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

179.4400

Pork · Fire on the Frontier BBQ Classic

Consistency

±13.33

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 168.63 · weakest Pork Ribs (166.40)

Road miles

5,469

across 45 mapped stops · furthest 261 mi

Schedule strength

32%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1543)

Master avg

670.27 / 720

45 Master contests · 4 GCs

Storylines (14 found in their record)

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

Among the elite

#442 of 6,477 rated teams

In the top 7% of every rated team in the data

A power rating of 1690 puts them #442 of 6,477 rated teams — the top 7% of the field.

rating 1690
peak 1690
43 rated contests

Against the odds

35-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings

The ratings favoured the top seed the other 65 times in 100

Their Grand Championship at Cowley County BBQ Contest (Jul 11, 2014) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 35-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY.

Giant slayer

52 teams beaten in one weekend

Took the Grand Championship over a 52-team field at Stillwater Elks 25th Annual Blazathon.

Apr 5, 2013

Happy hunting ground

1× Grand Championship here

Blues, BBQ & Bargains is their spot: 1 Grand Championship in 2 visits.

2 visits
best finish 1st
average top 12%

A multi-meat day

1 contest with 2+ category wins

They've won two or more meats on the same day 1 time — the best of them 2 category wins at Blues, BBQ & Bargains (Jul 19, 2013).

Pork 1st
Brisket 1st

They almost always walk

84% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 38 of 45 contests

A top-10 category call in 84% of their 45 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

701.1656 career-best overall

97.4% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 701.1656 at Cowley County BBQ Contest — 97.4% of a perfect 720.

Master
Jul 11, 2014

Show 7 more storylines

The one to beat

3× one call ahead of them

BUTCHER BBQ has finished one call ahead of RUBBING BUTTS BBQ KS 3 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2013 3 Grand Championships

2013 was the year it came together: 17 contests, 3 Grand Championships and 4 category wins, at an average finish in the top 24%.

17 contests
12 overall top-10s
4 category wins
average top 24%

The drought

21 contests since the last title

Their last Grand Championship came at Cowley County BBQ Contest on Jul 11, 2014 — 21 contests and 12.2 years ago.

last GC Jul 11, 2014
12.2 years ago

A strong matchup

21–7 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 75% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of GREAT PLAINS BBQ in 21 of their 28 shared contests.

Looking over their shoulder

3× one call behind them

BUFFALO'S BBQ has landed one call behind them 3 times.

The long haul

5,469 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 5,469 miles across 45 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 261 miles to 13th Annual Bordertown Bash.

45 mapped stops
furthest 261 mi

The metronome

±1.85% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.85% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 93.1% of a perfect score
45 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
2015 ↗	Master	#229 (1,381 pts)	#306 (1,156 pts)	#194 (1,445 pts)	#84 (1,846 pts)	#321 (1,091 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#181 (1,587 pts)	#207 (1,392 pts)	#109 (1,828 pts)	#182 (1,459 pts)	#147 (1,671 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#77 (2,120 pts)	#57 (2,048 pts)	#141 (1,530 pts)	#53 (2,021 pts)	#58 (2,115 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to RUBBING BUTTS BBQ KS, each with one reason worth a look.

Ash Kickin' BBQ

#441 of the rated field

1690 power rating

Contests: 41
GCs: 4
Top-10s: 49%
Peak: 1705

Careers of much the same size, 41 contests to 45, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 39 contests
last seen May 8, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

PIG WHISPERERS

#443 of the rated field

1689 power rating

Contests: 35
GCs: 3
Top-10s: 60%
Peak: 1699

Their rating is built on 3 Grand Championships in 35 contests, alongside a 60% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 35 contests
last seen Aug 5, 2016

⚔ Compare careers

ELITE BBQ SMOKERS

#440 of the rated field

1690 power rating

Contests: 215
GCs: 4
Top-10s: 32%
Peak: 1732

They've been 1732 at their best, 42 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 207 contests
last seen Jul 24, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

MOKAN MEATHEADS

#448 of the rated field

1688 ▼ 1 power rating

Contests: 59
GCs: 4
Top-10s: 32%
Peak: 1703

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to RUBBING BUTTS BBQ KS)

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

rated over 58 contests
last seen Aug 6, 2021

⚔ Head-to-head

FIRE DANCER BBQ

#438 of the rated field

1691 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 252
GCs: 17
Top-10s: 50%
Peak: 1822

3–2 in 5 shared contests (60% to RUBBING BUTTS BBQ KS)

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

rated over 239 contests
last seen Sep 30, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

Curly Bird BBQ

#445 of the rated field

1689 ▼ 1 power rating

Contests: 46
GCs: 7
Top-10s: 65%
Peak: 1707

Level with RUBBING BUTTS BBQ KS on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 45 contests
last seen Jun 12, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
BUTCHER BBQ	29	5	24	17%	⚔ compare
GREAT PLAINS BBQ	28	21	7	75%	⚔ compare
SMOKE N HOGS BBQ KS	24	11	13	46%	⚔ compare
4 LEGS UP BBQ	20	7	13	35%	⚔ compare
JP CUSTOM SMOKE	20	7	13	35%	⚔ compare
Smoke-A-Holics	19	3	16	16%	⚔ compare
NAUGHTY NURSES BBQ	18	10	8	56%	⚔ compare
WICHITA SWINEMEN	18	8	10	44%	⚔ compare
WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY	18	7	11	39%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN ELVISES	15	14	1	93%	⚔ compare
BUFFALO'S BBQ	15	7	8	47%	⚔ compare
THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ	15	3	12	20%	⚔ compare
CHIP ON OUR SHOULDER	14	11	3	79%	⚔ compare
WILDCATTERS Q CREW	14	3	11	21%	⚔ compare
LONGBONE BBQ	13	11	2	85%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	45	17	0	7	177.1544	142.2860	167.83	top 36%
Pork Ribs	45	19	1	7	178.8572	150.8116	166.40	top 39%
Pork	45	23	2	8	179.4400	149.7600	168.63	top 32%
Brisket	45	24	3	6	176.5828	157.1200	167.40	top 32%

“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
Small (<20 teams)	1	0	top 36%
Medium (20–39)	27	2	top 29%
Large (40+)	17	2	top 29%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
KS	28	3	top 27%
OK	11	1	top 28%
MO	4	0	top 43%
AR	1	0	top 52%
NE	1	0	top 10%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Rossville Tall Corn BBQ Contest	2	1	1	top 18%	Aug 1, 2014
Blues, BBQ & Bargains	2	1	1	top 12%	Jul 18, 2014
Harper County Bullseye BBQ	2	4	0	top 24%	Oct 14, 2016
Derby BBQ Festival	2	10	0	top 35%	Sep 11, 2015
When Pigs Fly BBQ Contest & Fly In	2	6	0	top 25%	Aug 22, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2013 17 contests · 3 GCs

Contests a season 11.3 across 4 seasons in the data

Most contests held in KS 28 of 45 contests · 5 states in all

Contests visited 40 5 of them more than once

First title Apr 5, 2013 Stillwater Elks 25th Annual Blazathon

Opponents faced 1,360 finished ahead 2,133 times, behind 838

Longest layoff 1 yrs Oct 3, 2015 → Oct 14, 2016

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

20162 milestones

Oct 14 Peak power rating (1690) Harper County Bullseye BBQ
Oct 14 Most recent contest Harper County Bullseye BBQ

20151 milestone

Jun 12 Career-best single call (Pork)179.4400 Fire on the Frontier BBQ Classic

20142 milestones

Jul 11 Career-best overall score701.1656 Cowley County BBQ Contest
Jul 18 25th tracked contest Blues, BBQ & Bargains

201310 milestones

Mar 15 First tracked contest Smokin' At The Run Miami, OK
Mar 15 First call Smokin' At The Run Miami, OK
Mar 15 First overall past 90% of a perfect score670.2856 Smokin' At The Run Miami, OK
Mar 22 First overall top-10 Heatin' Up the Bricks
Apr 5 First category win (Pork) Stillwater Elks 25th Annual Blazathon
Apr 5 First overall podium Stillwater Elks 25th Annual Blazathon
Apr 5 First Grand Championship Stillwater Elks 25th Annual Blazathon
Apr 5 Biggest field won (52 teams) Stillwater Elks 25th Annual Blazathon
Jul 19 First multi-meat day Blues, BBQ & Bargains
Aug 2 10th tracked contest Rossville Tall Corn BBQ Contest

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+15.2	Stillwater Elks 25th Annual Blazathon	Apr 5, 2013
+13.8	Blues, BBQ & Bargains	Jul 19, 2013
+13.5	Heatin' Up the Bricks	Mar 22, 2013
+12.7	Rossville Tall Corn BBQ Contest	Aug 2, 2013
+12.6	Cowley County BBQ Contest	Jul 11, 2014

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-8.8	HutchFest BBQ Cook-Off	Jul 3, 2015
-3.2	Fire on the Frontier BBQ Classic	Jun 12, 2015
-2.7	Flint Hills Beef Fest BBQ	Aug 21, 2015
-2	Derby BBQ Festival	Sep 11, 2015
-1.7	13th Annual Bordertown Bash	Oct 19, 2013

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	GCs	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2016	1	0	0	0	100%	top 34%	95%	95%
2015	12	0	5	1	83%	top 34%	96%	93.5%
2014	15	1	5	1	67%	top 31%	97.4%	92.9%
2013	17	3	12	4	100%	top 24%	95.6%	92.9%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Oct 14, 2016	Harper County Bullseye BBQ Harper, KS	13 / 38 (683.9540)	12 (172.5484)	3 (177.7372)	17 (168)	24 (165.6684)
Oct 3, 2015	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO	116 / 606 (673.0400)	150 (169.1544)	245 (166.2400)	182 (167.9656)	129 (169.6800)
Oct 2, 2015	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO	142 / 187 (664.4916)	154 (163.9772)	33 (174.8572)	172 (158.2628)	115 (167.3944)
Sep 25, 2015	Jammin in JC Blues & BBQ Festival Junction City, KS	5 / 25 (678.2512)	3 (174.8800)	4 (173.1200)	11 (165.1428)	10 (165.1084)
Sep 11, 2015	Derby BBQ Festival Derby, KS	10 / 26 (652.4572)	13 (162.8228)	13 (161.6800)	4 (168)	17 (159.9544)
Aug 21, 2015	Flint Hills Beef Fest BBQ Emporia, KS	19 / 36 (662.8112)	28 (163.4056)	21 (163.9656)	3 (173.1428)	22 (162.2972)
Aug 7, 2015	Smokin on the Smoky Salina, KS	5 / 33 (691.3600)	6 (173.1200)	1 (178.8572)	14 (169.1200)	11 (170.2628)
Jul 31, 2015	Rossville Tall Corn Festival BBQ Contest Rossville, KS	11 / 46 (673.6112)	22 (165.1084)	5 (171.9772)	2 (176.5600)	29 (159.9656)
Jul 3, 2015	HutchFest BBQ Cook-Off Hutchinson, KS	20 / 31 (654.2628)	7 (172.0228)	27 (150.8116)	14 (166.2628)	12 (165.1656)
Jun 12, 2015	Fire on the Frontier BBQ Classic Hays, KS	16 / 35 (675.3716)	29 (158.2744)	17 (166.2400)	2 (179.4400)	12 (171.4172)
May 8, 2015	Wheatstock Grill Off Abilene, KS	6 / 32 (685.1088)	21 (164.5716)	2 (178.8572)	5 (173.7144)	13 (167.9656)
Apr 17, 2015	10th Annual Roberts Ranch Smokin' Red Dirt BBQ Enid, OK	15 / 75 (681.0740)	34 (166.2400)	28 (167.9656)	16 (173.1428)	8 (173.7256)
Mar 27, 2015	Firelake BBQ Cook Off Shawnee, OK	4 / 52 (690.7884)	8 (173.1200)	15 (171.4056)	2 (177.1428)	18 (169.1200)
Oct 17, 2014	Harper County Bullseye BBQ Harper, KS	4 / 30 (660.5716)	11 (164)	12 (161.1428)	3 (168.5716)	9 (166.8572)
Oct 2, 2014	35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO	92 / 165 (668.5832)	65 (170.2744)	89 (166.8344)	67 (168.5944)	120 (162.8800)
Oct 2, 2014	35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO	120 / 552 (671.3484)	118 (170.8456)	312 (162.2744)	118 (170.8228)	157 (167.4056)
Sep 19, 2014	28th Annual Cherokee Strip Cookoff Ponca City, OK	12 / 41 (667.9428)	10 (170.8456)	3 (174.2972)	16 (165.6800)	22 (157.1200)
Sep 12, 2014	Derby BBQ Festival Derby, KS	12 / 38 (678.7772)	16 (168.5600)	2 (177.7028)	22 (166.8228)	19 (165.6916)
Aug 22, 2014	When Pigs Fly BBQ Contest & Fly In McPherson, KS	11 / 36 (681.0284)	18 (166.2400)	6 (174.8456)	7 (173.1084)	18 (166.8344)
Aug 1, 2014	Rossville Tall Corn BBQ Contest Rossville, KS	12 / 37 (653.0284)	21 (162.8228)	22 (157.6684)	14 (167.3944)	10 (165.1428)
Jul 18, 2014	Blues, BBQ & Bargains Hays, KS	7 / 33 (675.9544)	26 (159.3828)	3 (176)	6 (170.2744)	5 (170.2972)
Jul 11, 2014	Cowley County BBQ Contest Winfield, KS	1 / 20 (701.1656)	2 (177.1544)	2 (175.4400)	5 (171.9884)	1 (176.5828)
Jun 6, 2014	Big Blue BBQ Championship Marysville, KS	6 / 25 (666.8460)	4 (166.8572)	16 (161.7260)	8 (166.8456)	2 (171.4172)
May 16, 2014	Wheatstock Grill-Off: Peace, Love & BBQ Abilene, KS	6 / 27 (678.7312)	4 (175.4172)	12 (165.6800)	5 (169.6684)	8 (167.9656)
Apr 11, 2014	9th Annual Smokin' Red Dirt BBQ Enid, OK	21 / 64 (664.4344)	19 (169.1200)	12 (170.8344)	47 (154.2172)	12 (170.2628)
Apr 4, 2014	Stillwater Elks Lodge Blazathon Stillwater, OK	18 / 40 (618.3544)	31 (142.2860)	5 (164.5828)	20 (149.7600)	5 (161.7256)
Mar 15, 2014	Smokin' At The Run Miami, OK	34 / 72 (675.9084)	35 (171.9656)	58 (163.4172)	24 (171.9656)	31 (168.5600)
Mar 14, 2014	Smokin' At The Run Shootout Miami, OK	20 / 43 (666.1256)	21 (167.9656)	18 (165.6916)	23 (166.2400)	15 (166.2284)
Oct 19, 2013	13th Annual Bordertown Bash Fort Smith, AR	13 / 25 (660.4000)	4 (176.5600)	17 (156.5028)	16 (158.8000)	5 (168.5372)
Oct 18, 2013	Balloons Blues Bikes & BBQ Parsons, KS	9 / 25 (673.1200)	3 (174.8572)	5 (174.2972)	21 (157.7028)	8 (166.2628)
Sep 20, 2013	Bricks, Brons & BBQ Russell, KS	5 / 14 (652.4452)	5 (161.6684)	9 (158.2396)	5 (170.8572)	6 (161.6800)
Sep 13, 2013	Cherokee Strip Cook-Off Ponca City, OK	11 / 33 (667.3716)	11 (169.1200)	15 (162.8116)	11 (166.2856)	8 (169.1544)
Sep 6, 2013	National Bar-B-Que Derby Derby, KS	5 / 35 (670.2512)	3 (171.4056)	6 (169.7600)	12 (166.2628)	15 (162.8228)
Aug 23, 2013	When Pigs Fly BBQ Contest & Fly In McPherson, KS	6 / 30 (662.7884)	16 (162.2628)	7 (165.7144)	8 (167.4056)	7 (167.4056)
Aug 17, 2013	BBQ at the Races Kansas Speedway Kansas City, KS	10 / 31 (679.9312)	21 (165.1428)	7 (173.1200)	8 (173.7028)	10 (167.9656)
Aug 2, 2013	Rossville Tall Corn BBQ Contest Rossville, KS	1 / 25 (668.5372)	2 (175.4400)	4 (163.9772)	12 (159.9772)	2 (169.1428)
Jul 19, 2013	Blues, BBQ & Bargains Hays, KS	1 / 42 (688.0228)	16 (166.8344)	8 (169.2000)	1 (177.1428)	1 (174.8456)
May 31, 2013	Valley Center Spring Fling Valley Center, KS	4 / 34 (674.2858)	2 (176)	28 (158.2858)	7 (168)	5 (172)
May 17, 2013	Taste of Wheatstock Abilene, KS	6 / 25 (672.5712)	6 (172)	20 (154.8572)	5 (170.8570)	1 (174.8570)
May 10, 2013	Rods, Ribs & Rock N Roll 2013 Manhattan, KS	12 / 25 (659.9996)	6 (168)	16 (162.8570)	15 (164.5712)	10 (164.5714)
Apr 26, 2013	R'Kansas City State BBQ Championship Arkansas City, KS	10 / 25 (671.4282)	2 (177.1430)	22 (157.1426)	9 (171.4284)	10 (165.7142)
Apr 19, 2013	8th Annual Smokin' Red Dirt BBQ Enid, OK	11 / 63 (670.2860)	13 (169.1430)	45 (155.4288)	4 (175.4286)	7 (170.2856)
Apr 5, 2013	Stillwater Elks 25th Annual Blazathon Stillwater, OK	1 / 52 (651.4288)	14 (152.5716)	8 (161.1430)	1 (174.8572)	7 (162.8570)
Mar 22, 2013	Heatin' Up the Bricks Kearney, NE	4 / 40 (673.7138)	14 (165.1426)	22 (161.1426)	3 (174.8572)	2 (172.5714)
Mar 15, 2013	Smokin' At The Run Miami, OK Miami, OK	16 / 55 (670.2856)	26 (166.2856)	34 (161.7146)	9 (172.5714)	13 (169.7140)

An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.

RUBBING BUTTS BBQ KS

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

Master avg

Storylines (14 found in their record)

Among the elite

Against the odds

Giant slayer

Happy hunting ground

A multi-meat day

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

The drought

A strong matchup

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)