SHORT BUS COOKERS

SHORT BUS COOKERS is a competition barbecue team with 19 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2022. They have won 1 Grand Championship, at the Roast n' Boast (2013). They are ranked #2600 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#2,600

of 6,477 rated · rankings

Rating

1517

peak 1517 · rated over 19 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Aug 23, 2013

latest Oct 28, 2022 · 9.2 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#654

Master 2014 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve · wins it all 5% of the time

Category wins

7 podiums

Overall top-10s

32% of 19 contests

Avg finish

top 56%

overall standings

Best overall

700.5828 / 720

Master · Roast n' Boast

Perfect 180s

Current form

674.07 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 663.75 (+10.32)

Walk rate

79%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.8800

Chicken · Roast n' Boast

Consistency

±16.42

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 168.04 · weakest Brisket (164.63)

Road miles

2,518

across 19 mapped stops · furthest 280 mi

Schedule strength

35%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1547)

Purse competed for

$16K

listed at 2 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 5 state-championship entries

Master avg

663.75 / 720

19 Master contests · 1 GC

Storylines (11 found in their record)

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

They almost always walk

79% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 15 of 19 contests

A top-10 category call in 79% of their 19 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

700.5828 career-best overall

97.3% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 700.5828 at Roast n' Boast — 97.3% of a perfect 720.

Master
Aug 23, 2013

A tough matchup

13–1 behind in the head-to-head

RED EYED SMOKERS ahead in 93% of their meetings

RED EYED SMOKERS has come out ahead in 13 of their 14 shared contests.

The drought

18 contests since the last title

Their last Grand Championship came at Roast n' Boast on Aug 23, 2013 — 18 contests and 13.1 years ago.

last GC Aug 23, 2013
13.1 years ago

A strong matchup

9–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 90% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of 180 PROOF BBQ in 9 of their 10 shared contests.

The comeback

3.1 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 3.1 years, then back at Roast N Boast (Oct 28, 2022).

last seen Oct 4, 2019
back Oct 28, 2022

Chicken nemesis

11 of 14 shared chicken entries lost

RED EYED SMOKERS ahead 79% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, RED EYED SMOKERS has out-cooked them in 11 of 14 shared chicken entries.

Show 4 more storylines

Announced themselves early

1st at their very first contest

Finished 1 of 27 at their very first tracked contest, Roast n' Boast (Aug 23, 2013).

Aug 23, 2013
27-team field

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

NAHEOLA PRIDE COOKING TEAM has landed one call behind them 2 times.

An October team

Top 39% average finish in October

Something about October: average finish in the top 39% across 5 contests, versus top 56% the rest of the year.

5 October contests
top 56% the rest of the year

The metronome

±2.28% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.28% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 92.2% of a perfect score
19 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
2016 ↗	Master	#2274 (60 pts)	#2353 (60 pts)	#2349 (60 pts)	#2326 (60 pts)	#2345 (60 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#921 (346 pts)	#716 (521 pts)	#927 (381 pts)	#980 (356 pts)	#803 (456 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#654 (565 pts)	#744 (505 pts)	#609 (630 pts)	#649 (590 pts)	#550 (670 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to SHORT BUS COOKERS, each with one reason worth a look.

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

Sho Nuff Smokin

#2,595 of the rated field

1517 power rating

Contests: 6
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 17%
Peak: 1524

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to SHORT BUS COOKERS)

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

rated over 6 contests
last seen May 9, 2014

⚔ Head-to-head

Scratch that Itch BBQ

#2,607 of the rated field

1516 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 5%
Peak: 1516

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 17 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 17 contests
last seen Sep 13, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

All Fired Up and Kicking Ash MO

#2,596 of the rated field

1517 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1528

Careers of much the same size, 16 contests to 19, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 16 contests
last seen Nov 5, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

ABOVE THE BRIDGE BBQ

#2,604 of the rated field

1516 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1531

16 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 13% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 16 contests
last seen Jun 11, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

JACK ATTACK BBQ

#2,592 of the rated field

1517 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1519

Their last contest in the data was back in 2017, 5 years before SHORT BUS COOKERS's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 16 contests

⚔ Compare careers

2 Old Navy Chiefs and a Baker

#2,589 of the rated field

1517 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 15%
Peak: 1520

They turned up 6 years after SHORT BUS COOKERS did, first appearing in 2019.

rated over 13 contests
last seen Jun 16, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
RED EYED SMOKERS	14	1	13	7%	⚔ compare
CUZ'S CUSTOM COOKING	11	4	7	36%	⚔ compare
BAYOU BOOGIE BBQ	11	1	10	9%	⚔ compare
South Pork	11	0	11	0%	⚔ compare
180 PROOF BBQ	10	9	1	90%	⚔ compare
The Specialists	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
Misfits of Smoke	9	8	1	89%	⚔ compare
Saucy Bones Q Crew	8	5	3	63%	⚔ compare
BEER-B-QUE BOYS	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
SWEET DREAMS BBQ	7	4	3	57%	⚔ compare
BOOTYQUE	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN' SOBER...SOMETIMES	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
HAULIN' BUTT BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
JIGGY PIGGY	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
GIVE IT TO GOD	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	19	8	1	2	178.8800	155.3828	168.04	top 48%
Pork Ribs	19	5	0	4	174.2856	155.3944	164.90	top 58%
Pork	19	6	0	0	173.1200	156.4912	166.19	top 54%
Brisket	19	10	0	1	177.7144	150.1828	164.63	top 50%

“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 63%
Medium (20–39)	13	1	top 50%
Large (40+)	5	0	top 69%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
MS	13	1	top 49%
AL	5	0	top 72%
TN	1	0	top 61%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Roast N Boast	5	1	1	top 35%	Oct 28, 2022
'Que at the View	3	22	0	top 73%	Apr 8, 2016
Roast N Boast BBQ	2	6	0	top 31%	Oct 6, 2017
Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ	2	17	0	top 74%	Dec 4, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2014 6 contests

Contests a season 2.7 across 7 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MS 13 of 19 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 11 4 of them more than once

First title Aug 23, 2013 Roast n' Boast

Opponents faced 336 finished ahead 268 times, behind 347

Longest layoff 3.1 yrs Oct 4, 2019 → Oct 28, 2022

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

20222 milestones

Oct 28 Peak power rating (1517) Roast N Boast
Oct 28 Most recent contest Roast N Boast

20151 milestone

Apr 3 10th tracked contest 'Que at the View

20139 milestones

Aug 23 First tracked contest Roast n' Boast
Aug 23 First call Roast n' Boast
Aug 23 First category win (Chicken) Roast n' Boast
Aug 23 First overall top-10 Roast n' Boast
Aug 23 First overall podium Roast n' Boast
Aug 23 First Grand Championship Roast n' Boast
Aug 23 First overall past 90% of a perfect score700.5828 Roast n' Boast
Aug 23 Career-best overall score700.5828 Roast n' Boast
Aug 23 Career-best single call (Chicken)178.8800 Roast n' Boast

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+16.3	Roast n' Boast	Aug 23, 2013
+11.6	Roast N' Boast	Oct 17, 2014
+11.5	Roast N' Boast	Oct 2, 2015
+11	Roast N Boast BBQ	Oct 6, 2017
+8	Roast N Boast	Oct 28, 2022

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-8.6	Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ	Dec 4, 2015
-7.8	'Que at the View	Apr 8, 2016
-6.5	Battle of Brandon BBQ Challenge	May 2, 2014
-6.1	Christmas on the River State Championship	Dec 6, 2013
-5.6	Bama Brew & Que	Sep 12, 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	GCs	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2022	1	0	1	0	100%	top 63%	92.8%	92.8%
2019	1	0	0	0	100%	top 64%	92.8%	92.8%
2017	2	0	1	0	100%	top 42%	95.1%	93.6%
2016	2	0	1	0	50%	top 60%	95.2%	92.4%
2015	4	0	1	0	75%	top 59%	94.2%	91.6%
2014	6	0	1	0	67%	top 58%	94.3%	91.8%
2013	3	1	1	1	100%	top 48%	97.3%	92.1%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Oct 28, 2022	Roast N Boast 🏅 Columbus, MS	5 / 8 (668.4460)	7 (163.9888)	3 (171.9772)	4 (170.8228)	5 (161.6572)
Oct 4, 2019	Roast N Boast 🏅 Columbus, MS	16 / 25 (667.9088)	18 (161.1200)	18 (166.8344)	15 (166.2400)	5 (173.7144)
Oct 6, 2017	Roast N Boast BBQ Columbus, MS	6 / 25 (684.4684)	5 (171.9884)	3 (174.2744)	10 (170.8228)	9 (167.3828)
Feb 24, 2017	Bud & BBQ (JUDGING IS FULL) Meridian, MS	13 / 22 (663.8400)	13 (166.8228)	17 (160.5144)	6 (173.1200)	14 (163.3828)
Sep 30, 2016	Roast N Boast BBQ Columbus, MS	10 / 27 (685.6800)	3 (176.5600)	21 (165.0972)	13 (170.8800)	6 (173.1428)
Apr 8, 2016	'Que at the View Gulfport, MS	36 / 43 (644.9944)	40 (155.3828)	37 (162.8228)	28 (163.3944)	26 (163.3944)
Dec 4, 2015	Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ 🏅 Demopolis, AL	32 / 36 (635.7828)	14 (169.1200)	30 (155.9544)	32 (156.4912)	31 (154.2172)
Oct 2, 2015	Roast N' Boast Columbus, MS	6 / 26 (678.2744)	9 (167.4172)	4 (174.2856)	13 (161.6916)	4 (174.8800)
Aug 14, 2015	Stand By Your Grill Fulton, MS	28 / 57 (671.3144)	43 (164.5372)	27 (166.2516)	33 (165.1200)	10 (175.4056)
Apr 3, 2015	'Que at the View Gulfport, MS	30 / 40 (653.5660)	4 (173.7028)	30 (159.9888)	12 (169.6916)	37 (150.1828)
Dec 5, 2014	Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ 🏅 Demopolis, AL	17 / 29 (664.3884)	19 (167.3828)	20 (163.9428)	21 (161.6456)	8 (171.4172)
Oct 17, 2014	Roast N' Boast Columbus, MS	5 / 25 (678.8344)	13 (164)	3 (171.9772)	7 (172)	5 (170.8572)
Sep 12, 2014	Bama Brew & Que Tuscaloosa, AL	19 / 26 (654.6516)	19 (163.9428)	11 (169.6916)	18 (166.2400)	23 (154.7772)
Jul 25, 2014	Foothills Country Fair BBQ Bash Cleveland, TN	30 / 49 (664.4228)	23 (169.1200)	34 (163.9312)	44 (158.8116)	9 (172.5600)
May 2, 2014	Battle of Brandon BBQ Challenge Brandon, MS	30 / 40 (651.2116)	24 (168.5372)	34 (158.2172)	28 (160.5028)	26 (163.9544)
Apr 4, 2014	'Que at the View Gulfport, MS	22 / 36 (654.1140)	22 (165.6800)	24 (160.5028)	10 (169.6800)	26 (158.2512)
Dec 6, 2013	Christmas on the River State Championship 🏅 Demopolis, AL	22 / 29 (644.3316)	10 (170.8228)	23 (159.3600)	18 (163.9428)	27 (150.2060)
Sep 27, 2013	PorktoberQue Dothan, AL	19 / 29 (644.4684)	4 (173.7256)	22 (155.3944)	18 (164.5256)	22 (150.8228)
Aug 23, 2013	Roast n' Boast Columbus, MS	1 / 27 (700.5828)	1 (178.8800)	3 (172)	5 (171.9884)	2 (177.7144)

SHORT BUS COOKERS

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 (11 found in their record)

They almost always walk

High-water mark

A tough matchup

The drought

A strong matchup

The comeback

Chicken nemesis

Announced themselves early

Looking over their shoulder

An October team

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)