The heartbreaker
Came within 0.5484 points of the Grand Championship at 9th Annual Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ & Bluegrass Festival (2013-08-16).
Each card leads with the number that made it a story — read straight out of their results, no editorialising.
Came within 0.5484 points of the Grand Championship at 9th Annual Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ & Bluegrass Festival (2013-08-16).
In the top 3% of every rated team in the data
A power rating of 1755 puts them #202 of 6,413 rated teams — the top 3% of the field.
4 perfect 180s in the data — every judge at the table handing back a nine, across 3 different meats.
Took the Grand Championship over a 44-team field at Jim Beam BBQ Classic.
Jim Beam BBQ Classic is their spot: 2 Grand Championships in 3 visits.
A call in 59 of 65 contests
A top-10 category call in 91% of their 65 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.
96.8% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 697.1088 at Jim Beam BBQ Classic — 96.8% of a perfect 720.
BIG BUTTS NEED RUBBIN TOO has finished one call ahead of MIKE 3 times — their closest competition in the data.
2013 was the year it came together: 23 contests, 2 Grand Championships and 4 category wins, at an average finish in the top 20%.
QUAU ahead in 79% of their meetings
QUAU has come out ahead in 11 of their 14 shared contests.
Their last Grand Championship came at Jim Beam BBQ Classic on 2014-10-03 — 12 contests and 11.9 years ago.
Ahead in 93% of their meetings
They've finished ahead of MOOCHEWSOOEY in 13 of their 14 shared contests.
FIRE DANCER BBQ ahead 76% of the time
Even in their strongest meat, FIRE DANCER BBQ has out-cooked them in 13 of 17 shared chicken entries.
Finished 5 of 28 at their very first tracked contest, Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (2013-03-01).
Runner-up for the whole thing 4 times against 3 Grand Championships — close enough to touch it, over and over.
QUAU has landed one call behind them 3 times.
Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 27,669 miles across 65 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 1,289 miles to Bakersfield's Biggest Baddest BBQ Championship.
Their overall lands within ±1.71% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.
Where this team stands in the all-time KCBS record book. A gold line is a record they hold outright; the rest are boards they are on. Rebuilt nightly, so beating one shows up here the next morning.
The nearest teams in the power rankings, with a different reason on each card — six teams on one rating are rarely on it for the same reason. Rating decides who makes the list; where teams tie on it, the ones this team has actually cooked against come first, then teams at a similar point in their own career. KCBS doesn’t publish where a team is from, so nothing here is inferred from geography.
One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team MIKE has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-headThey've been 1795 at their best, 40 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.
⚔ Head-to-headA longer road to the same neighbourhood — 146 contests to 65.
⚔ Head-to-headTheir rating is built on 10 Grand Championships in 71 contests, alongside a 77% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Head-to-headBoth teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.
⚔ Head-to-headRated 2 points above MIKE.
⚔ Head-to-head| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUTCHER BBQ | 18 | 7 | 11 | 39% | ⚔ compare |
| FIRE DANCER BBQ | 17 | 7 | 10 | 41% | ⚔ compare |
| INDIAN TERRITORY SMOKE | 16 | 10 | 6 | 63% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN TRIGGERS | 15 | 12 | 3 | 80% | ⚔ compare |
| BIG BUTTS NEED RUBBIN TOO | 15 | 8 | 7 | 53% | ⚔ compare |
| JO-BAWB'S BBQ | 15 | 8 | 7 | 53% | ⚔ compare |
| 4 LEGS UP BBQ | 15 | 7 | 8 | 47% | ⚔ compare |
| THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | 15 | 7 | 8 | 47% | ⚔ compare |
| MOOCHEWSOOEY | 14 | 13 | 1 | 93% | ⚔ compare |
| LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | 14 | 7 | 7 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| QUAU | 14 | 3 | 11 | 21% | ⚔ compare |
| SPICY SPITFIRE | 13 | 9 | 4 | 69% | ⚔ compare |
| HOG TIDE BAR-B-QUE | 13 | 2 | 11 | 15% | ⚔ compare |
| GIVE IT TO GOD | 12 | 9 | 3 | 75% | ⚔ compare |
| UNCLE BC'S | 12 | 7 | 5 | 58% | ⚔ compare |
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 64 | 38 | 4 | 11 | 180.0000 🔥 | 161.7142 | 170.82 | top 29% |
| Pork Ribs | 64 | 32 | 3 | 9 | 177.7028 | 154.3088 | 167.83 | top 33% |
| Pork | 64 | 35 | 4 | 14 | 180.0000 🔥 | 151.9428 | 169.48 | top 29% |
| Brisket | 64 | 30 | 2 | 7 | 180.0000 🔥 | 142.2858 | 167.11 | top 34% |
“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.
| Where | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| OK | 18 | 0 | top 27% |
| CO | 10 | 1 | top 26% |
| LA | 6 | 0 | top 22% |
| WY | 4 | 0 | top 13% |
| TN | 4 | 0 | top 14% |
| KY | 3 | 2 | top 9% |
| NV | 3 | 0 | top 19% |
| TX | 2 | 0 | top 13% |
| MT | 2 | 0 | top 15% |
| AR | 2 | 0 | top 31% |
| AL | 2 | 0 | top 15% |
| MI | 1 | 0 | top 40% |
| NE | 1 | 0 | top 20% |
| MO | 1 | 0 | top 36% |
| GA | 1 | 0 | top 34% |
| IL | 1 | 0 | top 11% |
| NC | 1 | 0 | top 19% |
| CA | 1 | 0 | top 11% |
| MS | 1 | 0 | top 24% |
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 3 | 0 | top 25% |
| Medium (20–39) | 33 | 1 | top 26% |
| Large (40+) | 28 | 2 | top 17% |
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Beam BBQ Classic | 3 | 1 | 2 | top 9% | 2015-10-02 |
| Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge | 2 | 4 | 0 | top 19% | 2014-09-12 |
| Smokin' on the Prairie | 2 | 3 | 0 | top 16% | 2014-08-08 |
| Royal Gorge Holy Smoke BBQ Showdown | 2 | 7 | 0 | top 24% | 2014-05-30 |
| High on the Hog Festival | 2 | 4 | 0 | top 8% | 2014-04-18 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +12.9 | Bixby BBQ & Blues Festival | 2013-05-03 |
| +12.9 | Smoke on the Falls | 2013-04-12 |
| +12.5 | Boats, Bands and BBQ | 2013-06-07 |
| +12.2 | Hammond Blues and BBQ | 2013-03-22 |
| +11.3 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | 2013-03-01 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -17.9 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) | 2013-10-11 |
| -9.8 | 2nd Annual Smokin At The Run Shootout | 2015-03-21 |
| -9.2 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | 2015-03-06 |
| -7.3 | 3rd Annual Smokin At The Run | 2015-03-20 |
| -5.6 | Boats, Bands & BBQ | 2014-06-06 |
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | — | — | — |
| 2015 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 71% | top 38% | 95.1% | 93.3% |
| 2014 | 34 | 1 | 25 | 8 | 97% | top 21% | 96.8% | 94.1% |
| 2013 | 23 | 2 | 18 | 4 | 91% | top 20% | 96.4% | 93.4% |
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-07-29 | The Dodge City Days Smokin Saddles BBQ Contest Dodge City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015-10-02 | Jim Beam BBQ Classic Springfield, KY | 10 / 45 (684.5144) | 4 (174.2972) | 14 (173.1200) | 22 (168.5600) | 17 (168.5372) |
| 2015-06-26 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Ypsilanti, MI | 12 / 30 (651.4288) | 4 (171.4400) | 19 (154.3088) | 27 (151.9428) | 3 (173.7372) |
| 2015-05-01 | Bixby BBQ'N Blues Festival Bixby, OK | 14 / 81 (678.8344) | 1 (178.2972) | 22 (166.8344) | 41 (162.8228) | 6 (170.8800) |
| 2015-03-27 | Smokin Blues & BBQ Hammond, LA | 9 / 56 (680.4916) | 18 (169.6800) | 2 (174.8572) | 11 (173.1200) | 32 (162.8344) |
| 2015-03-21 | 2nd Annual Smokin At The Run Shootout Miami, OK | 53 / 82 (674.7200) | 69 (167.3944) | 59 (166.2400) | 38 (170.2628) | 34 (170.8228) |
| 2015-03-20 | 3rd Annual Smokin At The Run Miami, OK | 48 / 87 (669.0284) | 33 (171.9772) | 74 (158.2284) | 27 (171.4172) | 30 (167.4056) |
| 2015-03-06 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Shreveport, LA | 15 / 29 (665.5656) | 22 (163.3828) | 17 (165.1200) | 7 (170.8228) | 12 (166.2400) |
| 2014-10-30 | USA Barbecue Championship Laughlin, NV | 17 / 79 (683.3600) | 33 (170.8228) | 19 (171.9772) | 37 (166.2628) | 11 (174.2972) |
| 2014-10-24 | Smokin' the Fort - BBQ & Bluegrass Festival Fort Gibson, OK | 9 / 34 (670.7428) | 7 (173.1084) | 8 (169.6800) | 17 (165.6800) | 16 (162.2744) |
| 2014-10-17 | CASA's Big BBQ Bash Lawton, OK | 2 / 19 (689.6456) | 6 (169.6800) | 1 (177.7028) | 7 (172.5600) | 4 (169.7028) |
| 2014-10-10 | Chillin and Grillin Sand Springs, OK | 5 / 32 (678.7544) | 16 (165.0972) | 2 (176.0000) | 6 (169.6800) | 9 (167.9772) |
| 2014-10-03 | Jim Beam BBQ Classic Springfield, KY | 1 / 44 (697.1088) | 8 (174.2744) | 12 (172.5600) | 14 (170.2744) | 1 (180.0000) |
| 2014-09-26 | The Jim Bowie BBQ Throwdown Vidalia, LA | 3 / 31 (689.6340) | 6 (171.4056) | 1 (177.7028) | 4 (171.4056) | 9 (169.1200) |
| 2014-09-19 | 28th Annual Cherokee Strip Cookoff Ponca City, OK | 11 / 41 (667.9432) | 9 (171.9772) | 25 (159.3944) | 11 (169.1544) | 5 (167.4172) |
| 2014-09-12 | Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge Grand Junction, CO | 4 / 47 (682.8456) | 7 (173.1428) | 4 (172.0000) | 1 (178.8800) | 33 (158.8228) |
| 2014-09-05 | The Great Vegas Gridiron Grill-Off Las Vegas, NV | 2 / 42 (691.3944) | 11 (174.2628) | 7 (171.9888) | 3 (176.5600) | 17 (168.5828) |
| 2014-08-30 | City of Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival Bedford, TX | 12 / 76 (663.8972) | 5 (170.8228) | 46 (158.8344) | 48 (158.8000) | 2 (175.4400) |
| 2014-08-15 | Wyoming State BBQ Championship & Bluegrass Festival Worland, WY | 3 / 25 (673.0512) | 1 (179.4400) | 6 (166.2400) | 15 (160.5256) | 6 (166.8456) |
| 2014-08-12 | Montana State BBQ Championship at Montana Fair Billings, MT | 3 / 26 (665.7256) | 5 (169.7028) | 8 (162.2972) | 6 (170.8800) | 6 (162.8456) |
| 2014-08-08 | Smokin' on the Prairie Gillette, WY | 3 / 25 (687.9772) | 1 (179.4400) | 18 (158.8000) | 2 (178.2972) | 5 (171.4400) |
| 2014-08-01 | The SLV Beat the Heat BBQ, Brews and Chili Competition Alamosa, CO | 5 / 31 (677.1200) | 7 (170.8572) | 3 (172.5944) | 7 (170.2628) | 15 (163.4056) |
| 2014-07-25 | Colorado Rockies Invitational BBQ Championship (Competitor's Series) unrated Denver, CO | 14 / 20 (687.9772) | 10 (172.5944) | 10 (174.2628) | 19 (166.2628) | 8 (174.8572) |
| 2014-07-18 | RiverFest Red White and Que Bellevue, NE | 7 / 35 (681.1200) | 16 (165.7028) | 5 (170.8344) | 1 (176.5828) | 13 (168.0000) |
| 2014-07-11 | 13th Annual Bordertown Bash Fort Smith, AR | 10 / 35 (670.2056) | 19 (164.5600) | 22 (161.1316) | 1 (180.0000) | 15 (164.5140) |
| 2014-07-04 | Que'n In The Park Bryant, AR | 11 / 33 (669.1200) | 15 (167.4172) | 20 (163.3828) | 2 (173.7372) | 14 (164.5828) |
| 2014-06-27 | Hog Wild BBQ & Chrome Fest Chandler, OK | 14 / 37 (673.0056) | 7 (173.1200) | 17 (167.9656) | 13 (168.5372) | 17 (163.3828) |
| 2014-06-20 | Rock'n Freedom Seymour, MO | 12 / 33 (675.8396) | 6 (174.2628) | 7 (169.6800) | 11 (167.3828) | 15 (164.5140) |
| 2014-06-06 | Boats, Bands & BBQ Pueblo, CO | 13 / 29 (649.5772) | 17 (165.0972) | 9 (165.1200) | 15 (159.3828) | 15 (159.9772) |
| 2014-05-30 | Royal Gorge Holy Smoke BBQ Showdown Canon City, CO | 7 / 34 (675.2800) | 9 (170.8344) | 2 (175.4056) | 15 (163.9428) | 12 (165.0972) |
| 2014-05-23 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Hendersonville, TN | 10 / 30 (672.4912) | 22 (164.5372) | 2 (176.0344) | 19 (164.5484) | 13 (167.3712) |
| 2014-05-16 | Grand Lake BBQ Festival Langley, OK | 8 / 33 (680.5028) | 3 (176.0000) | 24 (160.5256) | 11 (169.1200) | 4 (174.8572) |
| 2014-05-09 | Boots & BBQ Festival Claremore, OK | 6 / 29 (689.6572) | 15 (171.4172) | 6 (172.5600) | 2 (179.4400) | 16 (166.2400) |
| 2014-05-02 | Bixby BBQ'N Blues Festival Bixby, OK | 4 / 80 (688.4912) | 3 (176.5600) | 19 (167.9772) | 6 (173.1084) | 6 (170.8456) |
| 2014-04-25 | BBQ Boogie & Blues (SBBQA) Calhoun, GA | 10 / 29 (681.0400) | 2 (180.0000) | 22 (165.6916) | 12 (170.8228) | 18 (164.5256) |
| 2014-04-18 | High on the Hog Festival Winchester, TN | 4 / 62 (693.0972) | 13 (174.2628) | 9 (173.1544) | 20 (169.1200) | 4 (176.5600) |
| 2014-04-11 | Smoke on the Falls Noccalula BBQ Fest Gadsden, AL | 7 / 34 (678.7884) | 13 (169.6800) | 8 (173.1084) | 25 (163.4400) | 8 (172.5600) |
| 2014-04-04 | Stillwater Elks Lodge Blazathon Stillwater, OK | 5 / 40 (638.2744) | 5 (162.8572) | 18 (156.5716) | 14 (154.2628) | 4 (164.5828) |
| 2014-03-28 | Firelake BBQ Cook-off Shawnee, OK | 6 / 43 (675.9084) | 8 (170.2628) | 25 (157.1200) | 2 (178.8572) | 10 (169.6684) |
| 2014-03-15 | Smokin' At The Run Miami, OK | 11 / 72 (691.9316) | 13 (176.0000) | 8 (174.2744) | 10 (175.4172) | 39 (166.2400) |
| 2014-03-14 | Smokin' At The Run Shootout Miami, OK | 10 / 43 (673.5884) | 5 (173.1200) | 20 (165.0856) | 12 (169.7028) | 19 (165.6800) |
| 2014-02-27 | Shotgun Fred BBQ Showdown Huntsville, TX | 4 / 37 (680.5484) | 6 (169.7028) | 4 (168.5256) | 6 (169.7028) | 2 (172.6172) |
| 2013-10-11 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Midwest City, OK | 28 / 30 (659.3600) | 21 (168.5372) | 21 (166.2400) | 21 (165.1428) | 28 (159.4400) |
| 2013-10-04 | Jim Beam BBQ Classic Springfield, KY | 1 / 41 (693.1772) | 3 (178.8572) | 30 (162.8572) | 2 (178.2972) | 7 (173.1656) |
| 2013-09-19 | Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-off Murphysboro, IL | 8 / 76 (679.3028) | 8 (173.7028) | 14 (168.5372) | 7 (173.1200) | 37 (163.9428) |
| 2013-09-13 | Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge Grand Junction, CO | 12 / 42 (667.4056) | 15 (166.8800) | 18 (163.9656) | 31 (157.6800) | 2 (178.8800) |
| 2013-09-06 | San Luis Valley Beat the Heat Brews, Barbecue & Chili Challenge Alamosa, CO | 6 / 17 (663.8856) | 9 (164.5372) | 6 (166.8572) | 10 (165.0856) | 5 (167.4056) |
| 2013-08-30 | Smokin' Brew BBQ Parker, CO | 4 / 53 (684.5256) | 17 (169.1084) | 5 (173.1316) | 4 (174.2856) | 10 (168.0000) |
| 2013-08-23 | Wild West BBQ Shoot Out Wendover, NV | 10 / 34 (657.6340) | 6 (169.1200) | 5 (169.1428) | 13 (166.2512) | 27 (153.1200) |
| 2013-08-16 | 9th Annual Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ & Bluegrass Festival Worland, WY | 2 / 25 (670.1828) | 4 (176.5600) | 11 (160.5372) | 5 (162.8228) | 1 (170.2628) |
| 2013-08-14 | Montana State BBQ Championships at Montana Fair Billings, MT | 5 / 26 (663.3712) | 3 (169.1428) | 8 (165.1428) | 5 (163.9772) | 6 (165.1084) |
| 2013-08-09 | Smokin' on the Prairie Gillette, WY | 5 / 25 (664.5144) | 10 (164.5600) | 2 (172.5600) | 2 (170.2628) | 13 (157.1316) |
| 2013-08-02 | Smokin on Route 66 Miami, OK | 5 / 17 (673.6228) | 1 (178.2972) | 13 (161.0972) | 7 (168.5256) | 8 (165.7028) |
| 2013-06-21 | Queen City Cook-Off Clarksville, TN | 3 / 39 (683.9998) | 24 (166.2856) | 18 (166.2856) | 1 (178.8572) | 8 (172.5714) |
| 2013-06-14 | Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival Tryon, NC | 18 / 97 (663.9998) | 45 (162.2858) | 15 (168.0000) | 20 (168.5712) | 30 (165.1428) |
| 2013-06-07 | Boats, Bands and BBQ Pueblo, CO | 1 / 39 (693.1426) | 4 (173.7142) | 8 (170.2858) | 3 (175.4284) | 3 (173.7142) |
| 2013-05-31 | Royal Gorge Holy Smoke BBQ Showdown Canon City, CO | 9 / 33 (647.4284) | 3 (172.5714) | 4 (169.1428) | 11 (163.4284) | 28 (142.2858) |
| 2013-05-17 | Bakersfield's Biggest Baddest BBQ Championship Bakersfield, CA | 7 / 65 (654.8568) | 6 (168.5712) | 9 (166.2856) | 9 (165.7144) | 24 (154.2856) |
| 2013-05-03 | Bixby BBQ & Blues Festival Bixby, OK | 2 / 88 (694.2856) | 3 (180.0000) | 5 (174.2856) | 6 (175.4286) | 32 (164.5714) |
| 2013-04-19 | High on the Hog Festival Winchester, TN | 6 / 60 (682.8568) | 7 (175.4284) | 20 (166.8570) | 8 (172.0000) | 15 (168.5714) |
| 2013-04-12 | Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL | 3 / 34 (680.0000) | 12 (169.7142) | 12 (167.4286) | 7 (168.5714) | 4 (174.2858) |
| 2013-03-29 | Slidell BBQ Challenge Slidell, LA | 11 / 44 (669.7138) | 30 (161.7142) | 13 (167.4284) | 3 (173.1428) | 17 (167.4284) |
| 2013-03-22 | Hammond Blues and BBQ Hammond, LA | 6 / 50 (674.8566) | 30 (165.7140) | 1 (176.5714) | 2 (171.9998) | 33 (160.5714) |
| 2013-03-15 | Don't Be Cruel BBQ Duel Tupelo, MS | 24 / 100 (667.4280) | 58 (163.9998) | 48 (163.9998) | 8 (173.7142) | 43 (165.7142) |
| 2013-03-01 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Baton Rouge, LA | 5 / 28 (676.0000) | 12 (164.5714) | 6 (169.7144) | 4 (173.1428) | 9 (168.5714) |
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #2274 (60 pts) | #2154 (95 pts) | #2349 (60 pts) | #2326 (60 pts) | #2345 (60 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #900 (359 pts) | #763 (484 pts) | #1113 (294 pts) | #1139 (289 pts) | #813 (449 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #47 (2384 pts) | #44 (2224 pts) | #18 (2430 pts) | #9 (2535 pts) | #45 (2229 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #41 (2363 pts) | #46 (2175 pts) | #53 (1986 pts) | #23 (2361 pts) | #93 (1941 pts) |