POLITICAL PORK

POLITICAL PORK is a competition barbecue team with 65 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2021. They have won 1 Grand Championship, at the Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest (2013), and finished Reserve Grand Champion twice. They are ranked #1284 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings and hold 1 all-time KCBS record.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

KCBS records held

1 🥇

highest pork ribs score

Power ranking

#1,284

of 6,477 rated · rankings

Rating

1581

peak 1632 · rated over 64 contests1 invitational or side-series contest not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Feb 22, 2013

latest May 1, 2021 · 8.2 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#240

Master 2013 · every season

Grand champs

2 reserve · wins it all 2% of the time

Category wins

12 podiums

Overall top-10s

15% of 65 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 47%

overall standings

Best overall

697.6684 / 720

Master · Anchor City Cook Off

Perfect 180s

1 🔥

Current form

661.06 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 662.03 (-0.97)

Walk rate

54%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

180 🔥

Pork Ribs · Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest

Consistency

±13.19

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 167.60 · weakest Brisket (163.88)

Road miles

8,309

across 65 mapped stops · furthest 210 mi

Schedule strength

49%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1564)

Purse competed for

$25K

listed at 4 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 6 state-championship entries

Master avg

662.03 / 720

65 Master contests · 1 GC

Storylines (14 found in their record)

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

The heartbreaker

2.8800 points from the title

Came within 2.8800 points of the Grand Championship at Anchor City Cook Off (Oct 12, 2018).

Perfect scores on the board

1 perfect 180

1 perfect 180 in the data — every judge at the table handing back a nine, all in pork ribs.

Pork Ribs ×1

Giant slayer

39 teams beaten in one weekend

Took the Grand Championship over a 39-team field at Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest.

May 3, 2013

High-water mark

697.6684 career-best overall

96.9% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 697.6684 at Anchor City Cook Off — 96.9% of a perfect 720.

Master
Oct 12, 2018

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

SMOKIN O BBQ has finished one call ahead of POLITICAL PORK 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

28–3 behind in the head-to-head

SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ ahead in 90% of their meetings

SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ has come out ahead in 28 of their 31 shared contests.

The drought

61 contests since the last title

Their last Grand Championship came at Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest on May 3, 2013 — 61 contests and 13.4 years ago.

last GC May 3, 2013
13.4 years ago

Show 7 more storylines

A strong matchup

13–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 93% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of T'S SMOKIN PIT in 13 of their 14 shared contests.

The comeback

1.6 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 1.6 years, then back at Columbia Elks BBQ Cookoff (May 1, 2021).

last seen Oct 11, 2019
back May 1, 2021

Pork Ribs nemesis

21 of 31 shared pork ribs entries lost

SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ ahead 68% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ has out-cooked them in 21 of 31 shared pork ribs entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

GILLY'S BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

The long haul

8,309 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 8,309 miles across 65 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 210 miles to Bikes Blues and BBQ.

65 mapped stops
furthest 210 mi

The metronome

±1.83% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.83% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 91.9% of a perfect score
65 contests

A standing appointment

7 years running at one contest

They've cooked BBQ and Fly In on the River every year from 2013 to 2019 — the contest they never miss.

7 visits in all
best finish 12th

Holds 1 KCBS record (on 1 all-time board)

Where this team sits in the all-time KCBS record book. A gold line is a record they hold outright; the rest are boards they are on.

🥇 🍖 Highest pork ribs score 180 one meat, out of 180 · won the category with it · May 3, 2013 · shared with at least 9 others

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
2021 ↗	Master	#1236 (60 pts)	#1286 (60 pts)	#1309 (60 pts)	#1091 (105 pts)	#1150 (85 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#816 (356 pts)	#728 (466 pts)	#787 (411 pts)	#689 (486 pts)	#829 (381 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#463 (761 pts)	#582 (641 pts)	#370 (946 pts)	#518 (706 pts)	#444 (816 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#742 (507 pts)	#764 (517 pts)	#555 (722 pts)	#756 (537 pts)	#901 (417 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#254 (1,308 pts)	#274 (1,213 pts)	#190 (1,478 pts)	#251 (1,293 pts)	#246 (1,318 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1085 (271 pts)	#1233 (246 pts)	#768 (486 pts)	#1138 (291 pts)	#1100 (281 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#365 (1,010 pts)	#447 (845 pts)	#324 (1,085 pts)	#374 (985 pts)	#265 (1,295 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#240 (1,236 pts)	#267 (1,054 pts)	#97 (1,767 pts)	#212 (1,240 pts)	#196 (1,347 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to POLITICAL PORK, each with one reason worth a look.

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

777 BBQ

#1,285 of the rated field

1581 power rating

Contests: 78
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 28%
Peak: 1674

1–2 in 3 shared contests (33% to POLITICAL PORK)

These two have cooked 3 of the same contests — 777 BBQ ahead 2–1 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 78 contests
last seen Jun 6, 2025

⚔ Head-to-head

LIL' FIDDLER'S

#1,290 of the rated field

1580 power rating

Contests: 48
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 21%
Peak: 1605

5–3 in 8 shared contests (63% to POLITICAL PORK)

Their last contest in the data was back in 2018, 3 years before POLITICAL PORK's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 47 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

303 BBQ

#1,278 of the rated field

1581 power rating

Contests: 33
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 24%
Peak: 1581

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to POLITICAL PORK)

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 32 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 32 contests
last seen Jun 16, 2023

⚔ Head-to-head

FOUR CROWS BBQ

#1,281 of the rated field

1581 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 46%
Peak: 1581

2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to POLITICAL PORK)

Fewer contests behind them than POLITICAL PORK has cooked, 13 to 65, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Mar 27, 2015

⚔ Head-to-head

LoneStar Que Crew

#1,279 of the rated field

1581 power rating

Contests: 9
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 33%
Peak: 1581

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to POLITICAL PORK)

Level with POLITICAL PORK on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 8 contests
last seen Aug 30, 2019

⚔ Head-to-head

PO PO PORK

#1,283 of the rated field

1581 power rating

Contests: 49
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 14%
Peak: 1590

49 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 14% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 49 contests
last seen Aug 28, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SMOKIN O BBQ	31	8	23	26%	⚔ compare
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ	31	3	28	10%	⚔ compare
SMOKE THIS BBQ MO	29	4	25	14%	⚔ compare
BURNT FINGER BBQ	27	2	25	7%	⚔ compare
S&S BBQ	26	10	16	38%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' BASTED	26	1	25	4%	⚔ compare
Theslabs.com	25	14	11	56%	⚔ compare
SLAPS BBQ	25	2	23	8%	⚔ compare
DIRT ROAD BBQ	23	1	22	4%	⚔ compare
UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC	21	4	17	19%	⚔ compare
VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY	21	2	19	10%	⚔ compare
OUTLAW HAWGS BBQ	20	3	17	15%	⚔ compare
ALL FORKED UP FOR Q	19	7	12	37%	⚔ compare
PITMASTERIQ BBQ	19	3	16	16%	⚔ compare
4 LEGS UP BBQ	18	4	14	22%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	65	11	0	0	175.4400	148.5028	164.90	top 54%
Pork Ribs	65	25	3	5	180 🔥	150.7884	167.60	top 38%
Pork	65	12	0	3	176.5600	147.3944	165.65	top 50%
Brisket	65	10	1	4	179.4400	150.8456	163.88	top 48%

“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 11%
Medium (20–39)	29	1	top 49%
Large (40+)	35	0	top 47%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
MO	58	1	top 47%
IL	3	0	top 33%
IA	2	0	top 68%
KS	1	0	top 64%
AR	1	0	top 53%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
BBQ and Fly In on the River	7	12	0	top 42%	Aug 16, 2019
Anchor City Cook off	5	2	0	top 40%	Oct 11, 2019
Laurie Hillbilly BBQ	3	12	0	top 38%	Aug 4, 2017
Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest	2	1	1	top 22%	May 2, 2014
The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake	2	20	0	top 52%	Apr 12, 2019
Smokin On Big Creek	2	17	0	top 49%	Mar 23, 2018
Apple Blossom Bar-B-Q	2	5	0	top 23%	May 5, 2017
Smokin On Big Creek BBQ Contest Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief	2	24	0	top 41%	Apr 1, 2016
Smoke on the River	2	4	0	top 33%	Sep 5, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2013 18 contests · 1 GC

Contests a season 8.1 across 8 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MO 58 of 65 contests · 5 states in all

Contests visited 47 9 of them more than once

First title May 3, 2013 Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest

Opponents faced 1,977 finished ahead 2,590 times, behind 2,219

Longest layoff 1.6 yrs Oct 11, 2019 → May 1, 2021

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

20211 milestone

May 1 Most recent contest Columbia Elks BBQ Cookoff

20181 milestone

Oct 12 Career-best overall score697.6684 Anchor City Cook Off

20172 milestones

May 5 Peak power rating (1632) Apple Blossom Bar-B-Q
Aug 18 50th tracked contest BBQ and Fly In on the River

20161 milestone

Jul 22 First Reserve Championship Smoking in the Woods

20141 milestone

Sep 19 25th tracked contest Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out

201310 milestones

Feb 22 First tracked contest Polar Bear Challenge
Apr 5 First call Smokin' On Big Creek
Apr 5 First overall past 90% of a perfect score652.5708 Smokin' On Big Creek
May 3 First category win (Pork Ribs) Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest
May 3 First overall top-10 Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest
May 3 First overall podium Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest
May 3 First Grand Championship Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest
May 3 First perfect 180 (Pork Ribs) Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest
May 3 Biggest field won (39 teams) Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest
Jul 19 10th tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+16.5	Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest	May 3, 2013
+14.1	Anchor City Cook Off	Oct 12, 2018
+14	Smoke On The River	Sep 6, 2013
+13.1	Smoking in the Woods	Jul 22, 2016
+10.8	Hermann BBQ & Brats Festival	Sep 27, 2013

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-13	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	May 9, 2014
-10.4	Anchor City Cook off	Oct 11, 2019
-10.2	Columbia Elks BBQ Cookoff	May 1, 2021
-10.2	West Bottoms BBQ Contest	Sep 28, 2019
-8.3	Crossroads BBQ Cook-off	Jul 5, 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)
2021	1	0	0	0	0%	top 85%	92.1%	92.1%
2019	5	0	0	0	40%	top 66%	94%	91.3%
2018	8	0	1	0	38%	top 49%	96.9%	92.4%
2017	6	0	1	0	67%	top 47%	94.9%	92.7%
2016	10	0	5	0	90%	top 29%	95.2%	93.7%
2015	7	0	0	0	43%	top 55%	91.9%	90.9%
2014	10	0	0	1	50%	top 45%	94.8%	91.9%
2013	18	1	3	3	50%	top 48%	95.3%	91.1%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
May 1, 2021	Columbia Elks BBQ Cookoff 🏅 Columbia, MO	33 / 39 (662.8116)	37 (160)	32 (162.2400)	16 (172.0228)	20 (168.5488)
Oct 11, 2019	Anchor City Cook off 🏅 Centralia, MO	19 / 25 (662.2060)	11 (169.7144)	9 (170.8688)	18 (165.7144)	22 (155.9084)
Sep 28, 2019	West Bottoms BBQ Contest 🏅 Kansas City, MO	24 / 29 (651.8744)	9 (173.7144)	28 (150.7884)	15 (173.1200)	28 (154.2516)
Aug 30, 2019	Chamber Low and Slow Barbecue cook off 🏅 Nevada, MO	16 / 22 (651.2800)	17 (158.8000)	18 (158.2172)	11 (169.7028)	16 (164.5600)
Aug 16, 2019	BBQ and Fly In on the River 🏅 Excelsior Springs, MO	24 / 68 (677.1200)	36 (167.9772)	21 (170.8572)	32 (166.8228)	15 (171.4628)
Apr 12, 2019	The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake 🏅 Smithville, MO	35 / 54 (643.7940)	45 (157.6800)	36 (162.2284)	13 (171.9656)	46 (151.9200)
Oct 12, 2018	Anchor City Cook Off Centralia, MO	2 / 33 (697.6684)	9 (170.8228)	2 (177.1428)	4 (176)	4 (173.7028)
Aug 17, 2018	BBQ and Fly In on the River (JUDGES FULL) Excelsior Springs, MO	35 / 57 (654.7768)	39 (161.7028)	33 (162.2628)	12 (172.5600)	41 (158.2512)
Jun 29, 2018	Freedom Fest BBQ Cook-Off Willard, MO	35 / 52 (661.1088)	35 (165.7488)	16 (170.8572)	37 (163.3828)	35 (161.1200)
Jun 1, 2018	7th Annual Smokin on the Lake Monroe City, MO	15 / 29 (655.9540)	18 (163.4400)	12 (167.9772)	11 (166.8456)	21 (157.6912)
May 18, 2018	23rd Annual Platte City BBQ Cook Off at Basswood Resort Platte City, MO	23 / 37 (648.4916)	13 (172.5600)	18 (167.4172)	35 (147.3944)	19 (161.1200)
Apr 13, 2018	The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake Smithville, MO	20 / 51 (669.0400)	33 (162.2744)	17 (170.8228)	22 (167.3828)	12 (168.5600)
Mar 23, 2018	Smokin On Big Creek Pleasant Hill, MO	17 / 39 (667.8744)	27 (162.2400)	6 (171.9772)	27 (161.6800)	4 (171.9772)
Feb 23, 2018	Polar Bear BBQ Challenge Kingdom City, MO	17 / 29 (667.3144)	6 (175.4400)	10 (169.1316)	27 (159.3600)	20 (163.3828)
Sep 1, 2017	38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	259 / 407 (650.1368)	140 (170.2512)	177 (166.8228)	284 (161.0972)	339 (151.9656)
Aug 18, 2017	BBQ and Fly In on the River Excelsior Springs, MO	35 / 65 (661.4968)	25 (168.5256)	7 (173.1200)	52 (157.0628)	35 (162.7884)
Aug 4, 2017	Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Laurie, MO	12 / 40 (680.5028)	16 (171.4172)	11 (169.6800)	11 (171.9656)	21 (167.4400)
Jul 28, 2017	Racing for the BBQ Lee's Summit, MO	25 / 54 (677.0972)	39 (163.4516)	5 (175.4172)	25 (168.5256)	17 (169.7028)
Jun 30, 2017	Grillin and Chillin Chillicothe, MO	20 / 27 (650.1828)	7 (171.9656)	24 (158.2172)	26 (160.0116)	17 (159.9884)
May 5, 2017	Apple Blossom Bar-B-Q St. Joseph, MO	5 / 39 (683.3600)	10 (171.4172)	5 (171.9772)	3 (176.5600)	20 (163.4056)
Oct 14, 2016	Anchor City Cook Off Centralia, MO	7 / 34 (674.1712)	18 (165.6684)	13 (167.9772)	15 (166.8228)	4 (173.7028)
Sep 23, 2016	Bikes Blues and BBQ Fayetteville, AR	23 / 43 (649.6684)	31 (161.6800)	5 (172.5828)	23 (164.5600)	36 (150.8456)
Sep 9, 2016	Independence Fire & Ice BBQ Independence, MO	12 / 76 (681.0628)	11 (172.5600)	17 (171.9772)	48 (164.5256)	11 (172)
Sep 2, 2016	Rockin Apples Festival Appleton City, MO	8 / 23 (683.9200)	5 (175.4172)	3 (174.8572)	15 (165.6800)	12 (167.9656)
Aug 19, 2016	BBQ and Fly In on the River Excelsior Springs, MO	16 / 56 (682.2172)	8 (173.7144)	7 (176.0116)	32 (165.6800)	19 (166.8112)
Aug 5, 2016	Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Laurie, MO	19 / 50 (674.1716)	29 (164.5372)	29 (165.6916)	2 (176.5600)	20 (167.3828)
Jul 22, 2016	Smoking in the Woods Kingdom City, MO	2 / 18 (685.0972)	12 (167.4172)	5 (169.6800)	4 (171.4172)	2 (176.5828)
Jun 3, 2016	Hott Butts BBQ Contest Boonville, MO	5 / 22 (674.7656)	7 (167.4056)	4 (172.5484)	15 (163.3944)	2 (171.4172)
May 6, 2016	Apple Blossom Bar-B-Q St. Joseph, MO	10 / 31 (673.6916)	11 (168)	5 (173.1544)	2 (173.1200)	20 (159.4172)
Apr 1, 2016	Smokin On Big Creek BBQ Contest Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief Pleasant Hill, MO	24 / 72 (668.4572)	8 (174.2972)	21 (166.2400)	19 (170.8228)	49 (157.0972)
Oct 9, 2015	Anchor City Cook Off Centralia, MO	12 / 20 (657.5884)	14 (165.1084)	8 (167.9772)	13 (169.7028)	14 (154.8000)
Oct 3, 2015	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO	361 / 606 (645.5656)	466 (157.1312)	145 (169.6800)	355 (162.2516)	407 (156.5028)
Aug 14, 2015	BBQ and Fly In on the River Excelsior Springs, MO	33 / 67 (661.0740)	30 (165.1656)	8 (172.6060)	39 (163.3712)	42 (159.9312)
Jul 10, 2015	8th Annual Wellsville BBQ Cookoff Wellsville, MO	18 / 31 (661.5884)	23 (163.3828)	7 (169.7028)	21 (162.8228)	16 (165.6800)
Jun 5, 2015	Smokin' on the Summit Lee's Summit, MO	24 / 78 (649.1888)	47 (157.1200)	18 (167.4400)	45 (160)	26 (164.6288)
May 1, 2015	Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest Columbia, MO	28 / 37 (644.3888)	23 (165.0972)	34 (151.3716)	21 (165.6800)	25 (162.2400)
Apr 3, 2015	Smokin On Big Creek BBQ Contest Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief (Judges Full) Pleasant Hill, MO	35 / 71 (661.0516)	57 (157.6456)	15 (170.2860)	18 (171.4172)	41 (161.7028)
Oct 17, 2014	Casino Queen BBQ Competition Greater St. Louis, IL	14 / 44 (669.1084)	13 (170.8800)	9 (170.8456)	36 (157.0856)	14 (170.2972)
Oct 2, 2014	35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO	201 / 552 (662.7656)	408 (158.8456)	399 (157.6572)	83 (172)	40 (174.2628)
Sep 26, 2014	Hermann Bar-BQ and Brats Festival Hermann, MO	23 / 37 (659.3828)	23 (164.5488)	20 (165.7144)	20 (163.9768)	19 (165.1428)
Sep 19, 2014	Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out Kearney, MO	12 / 49 (682.7772)	21 (169.7144)	5 (174.2628)	19 (167.3828)	7 (171.4172)
Sep 5, 2014	Smoke on the River Quincy, IL	11 / 21 (661.0628)	14 (163.3944)	16 (162.2400)	8 (168.0228)	8 (167.4056)
Aug 15, 2014	BBQ and Fly In on the River Excelsior Springs, MO	12 / 51 (670.1944)	33 (160.5144)	12 (168.5600)	37 (161.6800)	1 (179.4400)
Jul 11, 2014	7th Annual Wellsville BBQ Cookoff Wellsville, MO	18 / 41 (663.3372)	31 (162.2972)	30 (159.9428)	6 (172.5600)	14 (168.5372)
May 9, 2014	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour St. Charles, MO	28 / 30 (640.9828)	30 (152.5600)	22 (163.9772)	21 (165.0856)	24 (159.3600)
May 2, 2014	Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest St. Joseph, MO	14 / 33 (656.4228)	16 (162.2400)	11 (165.1200)	16 (164.5256)	11 (164.5372)
Apr 4, 2014	Smokin On Big Creek - Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief Pleasant Hill, MO	33 / 75 (654.1944)	33 (165.7028)	26 (166.2744)	29 (166.2744)	51 (155.9428)
Nov 8, 2013	1st Annual BBQ BIVOUAC St. James, MO	15 / 33 (663.8400)	20 (165.0856)	22 (162.8000)	5 (171.4172)	14 (164.5372)
Oct 11, 2013	Anchor City Cook Off Centralia, MO	11 / 29 (666.1940)	8 (168.5600)	1 (173.7028)	18 (162.2284)	16 (161.7028)
Oct 3, 2013	34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO	125 / 174 (646.7312)	103 (165.1200)	119 (160.5256)	95 (163.9656)	139 (157.1200)
Oct 3, 2013	34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO	143 / 535 (654.7540)	32 (173.1084)	101 (166.8916)	332 (157.6684)	289 (157.0856)
Sep 27, 2013	Hermann BBQ & Brats Festival Hermann, MO	7 / 39 (666.2400)	27 (162.2744)	4 (173.1428)	9 (169.7028)	15 (161.1200)
Sep 6, 2013	Smoke On The River Quincy, IL	4 / 28 (675.9772)	11 (166.2856)	4 (169.1316)	4 (170.8572)	5 (169.7028)
Aug 16, 2013	BBQ and Fly In on the River Excelsior Springs, MO	30 / 66 (648.9484)	60 (149.0628)	26 (163.9656)	11 (170.8228)	19 (165.0972)
Aug 2, 2013	Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Laurie, MO	23 / 51 (652.9712)	34 (160.5256)	24 (163.3828)	37 (159.9428)	11 (169.1200)
Jul 19, 2013	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Des Moines, IA	20 / 28 (652.4916)	28 (148.5028)	4 (172.5600)	10 (168.5716)	15 (162.8572)
Jul 12, 2013	6th Annual Wellsville BBQ Cookoff Wellsville, MO	23 / 42 (654.1948)	23 (164.5716)	29 (159.4176)	25 (162.2400)	14 (167.9656)
Jul 5, 2013	Crossroads BBQ Cook-off Cameron, MO	32 / 40 (638.8566)	17 (166.2856)	33 (155.9998)	39 (150.2856)	12 (166.2856)
Jun 20, 2013	Rock'n Freedom Seymour, MO	26 / 50 (662.8566)	23 (166.8570)	1 (178.8572)	43 (156.5712)	33 (160.5712)
May 25, 2013	Smokin' In The Junction West Des Moines, IA	23 / 36 (652.5714)	8 (170.2858)	24 (163.4286)	32 (158.8570)	22 (160)
May 17, 2013	Lake of the Ozarks Blues & BBQ Weekend Lake of the Ozarks, MO	31 / 41 (642.8568)	29 (163.4284)	14 (166.8570)	37 (148.5714)	20 (164)
May 3, 2013	Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest St. Joseph, MO	1 / 39 (686.2852)	25 (162.2854)	1 (180)	6 (171.9998)	2 (172)
Apr 19, 2013	Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO	15 / 50 (643.4284)	27 (157.1428)	16 (163.4286)	18 (163.9998)	20 (158.8572)
Apr 5, 2013	Smokin' On Big Creek Pleasant Hill, MO	40 / 74 (652.5708)	70 (149.7140)	4 (176.5714)	30 (166.8570)	47 (159.4284)
Feb 22, 2013	Polar Bear Challenge Columbia, MO	32 / 46 (647.9996)	14 (168)	28 (161.1428)	18 (166.8570)	44 (151.9998)

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

POLITICAL PORK

At a glance (the record in numbers)

KCBS records held

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 (14 found in their record)

The heartbreaker

Perfect scores on the board

Giant slayer

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

The drought

A strong matchup

The comeback

Pork Ribs nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

The long haul

The metronome

A standing appointment

Holds 1 KCBS record (on 1 all-time board)

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)