KUDZU Q

KUDZU Q is a competition barbecue team with 23 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2017. They have won 1 Grand Championship, at the Roman Roast on the River (GBC Qualifier) (2013). They are ranked #1458 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#1,458

of 6,477 rated · rankings

Rating

1568

peak 1568 · rated over 23 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Feb 8, 2013

latest Aug 4, 2017 · 4.5 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#200

Master 2013 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve · wins it all 4% of the time

Category wins

6 podiums

Overall top-10s

22% of 23 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 43%

overall standings

Best overall

693.7144 / 720

Master · Roman Roast on the River (GBC Qualifier)

Perfect 180s

Current form

679.12 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 663.64 (+15.48)

Walk rate

91%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.8572

Pork · Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier)

Consistency

±32.49

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 170.24 · weakest Pork (160.67)

Road miles

1,631

across 23 mapped stops · furthest 115 mi

Schedule strength

29%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1539)

Master avg

663.64 / 720

23 Master contests · 1 GC

Storylines (11 found in their record)

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

Giant slayer

33 teams beaten in one weekend

Took the Grand Championship over a 33-team field at Roman Roast on the River (GBC Qualifier).

May 10, 2013

They almost always walk

91% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 21 of 23 contests

A top-10 category call in 91% of their 23 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

693.7144 career-best overall

96.3% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 693.7144 at Roman Roast on the River (GBC Qualifier) — 96.3% of a perfect 720.

Master
May 10, 2013

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

Bubba Q has finished one call ahead of KUDZU Q 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

13–4 behind in the head-to-head

QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N ahead in 76% of their meetings

QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N has come out ahead in 13 of their 17 shared contests.

The weak link

−9.6 points behind their best meat

Pork is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 9.57 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 35% of the time against 48%.

Pork avg 160.67
Chicken avg 170.24
8 calls in 23 entries

The drought

19 contests since the last title

Their last Grand Championship came at Roman Roast on the River (GBC Qualifier) on May 10, 2013 — 19 contests and 13.4 years ago.

last GC May 10, 2013
13.4 years ago

Show 4 more storylines

A strong matchup

11–2 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 85% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ in 11 of their 13 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

10 of 12 shared chicken entries lost

FOGGY BOTTOM BBQ ahead 83% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, FOGGY BOTTOM BBQ has out-cooked them in 10 of 12 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

South Pork has landed one call behind them 2 times.

A May team

Top 31% average finish in May

Something about May: average finish in the top 31% across 3 contests, versus top 43% the rest of the year.

3 May contests
top 43% the rest of the year

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
2014 ↗	Master	#1343 (205 pts)	#975 (360 pts)	#1585 (165 pts)	#1785 (140 pts)	#1452 (195 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#200 (1,403 pts)	#127 (1,589 pts)	#210 (1,284 pts)	#175 (1,384 pts)	#156 (1,520 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to KUDZU Q, each with one reason worth a look.

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

BAR-B-Q 101

#1,452 of the rated field

1568 power rating

Contests: 46
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 24%
Peak: 1583

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to KUDZU Q)

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

rated over 44 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

PORK PULLIN PLOWBOYS

#1,456 of the rated field

1568 power rating

Contests: 25
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 16%
Peak: 1588

Careers of much the same size, 25 contests to 23, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 23 contests
last seen Sep 27, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

Big Boy BBQ Australia

#1,461 of the rated field

1567 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 61%
Peak: 1570

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 18 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 18 contests
last seen Feb 8, 2020

⚔ Compare careers

Dirty Little Pigs BBQ

#1,462 of the rated field

1567 power rating

Contests: 32
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 22%
Peak: 1571

32 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 22% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 32 contests
last seen Aug 28, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

SMOKE N' ASH BBQ

#1,463 of the rated field

1567 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 33%
Peak: 1567

They turned up 9 years after KUDZU Q did, first appearing in 2022.

rated over 16 contests
last seen Jul 9, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Slightly Sauced

#1,457 of the rated field

1568 power rating

Contests: 42
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 12%
Peak: 1576

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

rated over 42 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
TENACIOUS Q	17	7	10	41%	⚔ compare
QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N	17	4	13	24%	⚔ compare
OLD PLANTATION BBQ	15	4	11	27%	⚔ compare
DIGGIN QUE-GA	14	8	6	57%	⚔ compare
MOYERS COMPETITION BAR-B-Q TEAM	14	2	12	14%	⚔ compare
CHOO CHOO TRAIN BBQ	13	11	2	85%	⚔ compare
HOOTIE-Q	13	10	3	77%	⚔ compare
WICKED QUE	13	3	10	23%	⚔ compare
FOGGY BOTTOM BBQ	12	5	7	42%	⚔ compare
Bubba Q	12	1	11	8%	⚔ compare
DEEP SOUTH BBQ	11	6	5	55%	⚔ compare
JACK'S OLD SOUTH	11	3	8	27%	⚔ compare
CURLY TAILS BBQ	11	3	8	27%	⚔ compare
UNCLE BUD'S BBQ	10	8	2	80%	⚔ compare
CHATTAHOOCHEE QUE	10	5	5	50%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	23	11	0	2	177.7144	160.5028	170.24	top 39%
Pork Ribs	23	7	0	1	174.8572	147.3944	165.57	top 47%
Pork	23	8	0	2	178.8572	20	160.67	top 48%
Brisket	23	7	1	1	177.7144	155.4172	167.16	top 43%

“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
Medium (20–39)	14	1	top 40%
Large (40+)	9	0	top 47%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
GA	22	1	top 42%
TN	1	0	top 51%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival	4	15	0	top 42%	Aug 4, 2017
Roman Roast on the River (SBBQA)	2	1	1	top 29%	May 9, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2013 13 contests · 1 GC

Contests a season 4.6 across 5 seasons in the data

Most contests held in GA 22 of 23 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 19 2 of them more than once

First title May 10, 2013 Roman Roast on the River (GBC Qualifier)

Opponents faced 389 finished ahead 551 times, behind 388

Longest layoff 1 yrs Jul 24, 2015 → Aug 5, 2016

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

20172 milestones

Aug 4 Peak power rating (1568) Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival
Aug 4 Most recent contest Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival

20161 milestone

Aug 5 Career-best single call (Pork)178.8572 Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier)

201310 milestones

Feb 8 First tracked contest Georgia BBQ Championship Throwdown (GBC Qualifier)
Feb 8 First call Georgia BBQ Championship Throwdown (GBC Qualifier)
Feb 8 First overall past 90% of a perfect score659.9994 Georgia BBQ Championship Throwdown (GBC Qualifier)
May 10 First category win (Brisket) Roman Roast on the River (GBC Qualifier)
May 10 First overall top-10 Roman Roast on the River (GBC Qualifier)
May 10 First overall podium Roman Roast on the River (GBC Qualifier)
May 10 First Grand Championship Roman Roast on the River (GBC Qualifier)
May 10 Biggest field won (33 teams) Roman Roast on the River (GBC Qualifier)
May 10 Career-best overall score693.7144 Roman Roast on the River (GBC Qualifier)
Sep 13 10th tracked contest Jug Tavern Festival (GBC Qualifier)

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+16	Roman Roast on the River (GBC Qualifier)	May 10, 2013
+13.2	The National BBQ Cup (SBBQA)	Nov 21, 2014
+10.2	Chattahoochee River BBQ Competition	Jul 24, 2015
+9	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier)	Aug 1, 2014
+8.9	Whole Hawg Happenin'	Sep 28, 2013

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-15.6	Calhoun KOA's (GBC Qualifier)	Dec 6, 2013
-5.4	Smokin on the River (GBC & SBBQA Qualifier)	Apr 3, 2014
-3.8	Jug Tavern Festival (GBC Qualifier)	Sep 13, 2013
-3.1	Classic City BBQ Fest & Tailgate Show (GBC Qualifier)	Aug 16, 2013
-2.2	Cornelia Apple Blossom BBQ Festival (SBBQA)	Apr 18, 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)
2017	2	0	0	0	100%	top 49%	93.8%	93.8%
2016	1	0	0	0	100%	top 48%	94.3%	94.3%
2015	1	0	1	0	100%	top 25%	94.4%	94.4%
2014	6	0	0	0	83%	top 47%	95.5%	92.5%
2013	13	1	4	1	92%	top 41%	96.3%	91.4%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Aug 4, 2017	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival Dillard, GA	26 / 57 (675.3256)	16 (173.7028)	8 (173.7144)	52 (159.9428)	24 (167.9656)
Jun 23, 2017	Blount County BBQ Bash Maryville, TN	18 / 35 (674.7888)	23 (167.9888)	17 (167.4172)	10 (170.8228)	14 (168.5600)
Aug 5, 2016	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier) Dillard, GA	27 / 56 (678.7660)	37 (168.5372)	40 (163.3944)	2 (178.8572)	30 (167.9772)
Jul 24, 2015	Chattahoochee River BBQ Competition Carrollton, GA	7 / 28 (679.3600)	11 (171.4172)	15 (165.0972)	10 (169.7028)	4 (173.1428)
Nov 21, 2014	The National BBQ Cup (SBBQA) Cumming, GA	14 / 86 (687.3488)	4 (177.7144)	8 (174.8572)	33 (169.6800)	57 (165.0972)
Oct 10, 2014	Rock'n Ribville Lawrenceville, GA	11 / 20 (664.4112)	3 (174.2628)	10 (165.0972)	10 (167.3828)	15 (157.6684)
Aug 1, 2014	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier) Dillard, GA	15 / 56 (674.2288)	5 (176.5716)	18 (169.1428)	26 (167.3828)	39 (161.1316)
May 9, 2014	Roman Roast on the River (SBBQA) Rome, GA	21 / 38 (668.3996)	19 (169.1084)	17 (168.5372)	18 (167.3828)	25 (163.3712)
Apr 18, 2014	Cornelia Apple Blossom BBQ Festival (SBBQA) Cornelia, GA	16 / 27 (665.5884)	26 (161.1200)	13 (168.5372)	25 (162.2284)	8 (173.7028)
Apr 3, 2014	Smokin on the River (GBC & SBBQA Qualifier) Summerville, GA	20 / 30 (636.3540)	7 (170.8228)	28 (147.3944)	23 (155.3484)	12 (162.7884)
Dec 6, 2013	Calhoun KOA's (GBC Qualifier) Calhoun, GA	64 / 65 (522.1712)	54 (163.9656)	43 (163.9428)	64 (20)	11 (174.2628)
Oct 12, 2013	Smoke-n-Thunder BBQ Classic Rome, GA	7 / 25 (684.4796)	10 (173.1084)	5 (174.2628)	2 (176)	18 (161.1084)
Sep 28, 2013	Whole Hawg Happenin' Marietta, GA	7 / 30 (678.2172)	4 (176)	7 (171.4172)	16 (165.6800)	15 (165.1200)
Sep 13, 2013	Jug Tavern Festival (GBC Qualifier) Winder, GA	25 / 43 (658.1716)	9 (173.7144)	19 (165.0856)	24 (163.9544)	36 (155.4172)
Aug 23, 2013	Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival (GBC Qualifier) Kennesaw, GA	14 / 54 (662.7200)	33 (161.6684)	12 (166.8344)	26 (162.2400)	6 (171.9772)
Aug 16, 2013	Classic City BBQ Fest & Tailgate Show (GBC Qualifier) Athens, GA	20 / 34 (652.3888)	24 (160.5028)	26 (158.2172)	27 (160.5372)	7 (173.1316)
Aug 2, 2013	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier) Dillard, GA	29 / 61 (670.7200)	6 (175.4056)	50 (157.0628)	41 (164.5488)	13 (173.7028)
Jun 7, 2013	Covered Bridge 'Que (GBC Qualifier) Euharlee, GA	9 / 39 (674.2852)	13 (169.7142)	12 (166.8572)	20 (166.8570)	9 (170.8568)
May 17, 2013	Hawgin' on Lanier (GBC Qualifier) Gainesville, GA	13 / 37 (667.9998)	15 (169.1428)	27 (161.1428)	5 (173.1428)	22 (164.5714)
May 10, 2013	Roman Roast on the River (GBC Qualifier) Rome, GA	1 / 33 (693.7144)	2 (174.8572)	3 (172.5716)	15 (168.5712)	1 (177.7144)
Apr 19, 2013	Cornelia Apple Blossom BBQ Festivals (GBC Qualifier) Cornelia, GA	12 / 36 (675.9998)	7 (172)	25 (161.7144)	6 (171.4284)	13 (170.8570)
Apr 5, 2013	Smokin on the River Chattooga's BBQ Cook-Off (GBC Qualifier) Summerville, GA	23 / 41 (658.2852)	6 (170.8570)	29 (159.4284)	4 (171.9998)	31 (156)
Feb 8, 2013	Georgia BBQ Championship Throwdown (GBC Qualifier) Young Harris, GA	13 / 33 (659.9994)	25 (163.4284)	10 (166.2858)	15 (161.7140)	9 (168.5712)

KUDZU Q

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 (11 found in their record)

Giant slayer

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

The weak link

The drought

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

A May team

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)