LIL' FIDDLER'S

LIL' FIDDLER'S is a competition barbecue team with 48 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2018. They have won 1 Grand Championship, at the Sunflower Barbecue (2013), and finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #1290 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#1,290

of 6,477 rated · rankings

Rating

1580

peak 1605 · rated over 47 contests1 invitational or side-series contest not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Apr 5, 2013

latest Sep 7, 2018 · 5.4 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#245

Master 2013 · every season

Grand champs

1 reserve · wins it all 2% of the time

Category wins

5 podiums

Overall top-10s

21% of 48 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 46%

overall standings

Best overall

687.9884 / 720

Master · Smoke in the Spring

Perfect 180s

Current form

654.61 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 657.22 (-2.62)

Walk rate

52%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176.5600

Chicken · Smoke in the Spring

Consistency

±14.33

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 166.88 · weakest Brisket (162.44)

Road miles

5,177

across 48 mapped stops · furthest 220 mi

Schedule strength

35%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1546)

State championships

0 🏅

won from 2 state-championship entries

Master avg

657.22 / 720

48 Master contests · 1 GC

Storylines (12 found in their record)

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

Giant slayer

34 teams beaten in one weekend

Took the Grand Championship over a 34-team field at Sunflower Barbecue.

Jun 14, 2013

High-water mark

687.9884 career-best overall

95.6% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 687.9884 at Smoke in the Spring — 95.6% of a perfect 720.

Master
Apr 10, 2015

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

KC SMOKE DAWGS has finished one call ahead of LIL' FIDDLER'S 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

19–5 behind in the head-to-head

R BUTTS R SMOKIN ahead in 79% of their meetings

R BUTTS R SMOKIN has come out ahead in 19 of their 24 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.4 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.44 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 27% of the time against 35%.

Brisket avg 162.44
Chicken avg 166.88
13 calls in 48 entries

The drought

43 contests since the last title

Their last Grand Championship came at Sunflower Barbecue on Jun 14, 2013 — 43 contests and 13.3 years ago.

last GC Jun 14, 2013
13.3 years ago

A strong matchup

9–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of UNCLE BO'S BBQ in 9 of their 9 shared contests.

Show 5 more storylines

Chicken nemesis

17 of 24 shared chicken entries lost

R BUTTS R SMOKIN ahead 71% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, R BUTTS R SMOKIN has out-cooked them in 17 of 24 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

3× one call behind them

Sublime BBQ has landed one call behind them 3 times.

The long haul

5,177 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 5,177 miles across 48 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 220 miles to Bikes Blues and BBQ.

48 mapped stops
furthest 220 mi

The metronome

±1.99% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.99% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 91.3% of a perfect score
48 contests

A standing appointment

6 years running at one contest

They've cooked Smoke in the Spring every year from 2013 to 2018 — the contest they never miss.

6 visits in all
best finish 4th

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
2017 ↗	Master	#1383 (181 pts)	#1249 (251 pts)	#1553 (176 pts)	#1703 (136 pts)	#1322 (226 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#745 (501 pts)	#504 (806 pts)	#732 (546 pts)	#929 (411 pts)	#979 (356 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#321 (1,141 pts)	#349 (1,046 pts)	#274 (1,221 pts)	#368 (981 pts)	#410 (916 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#305 (1,175 pts)	#243 (1,300 pts)	#348 (1,039 pts)	#262 (1,244 pts)	#222 (1,414 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#245 (1,224 pts)	#196 (1,304 pts)	#219 (1,249 pts)	#286 (1,010 pts)	#199 (1,330 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to LIL' FIDDLER'S, each with one reason worth a look.

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

POLITICAL PORK

#1,284 of the rated field

1581 power rating

Contests: 65
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 15%
Peak: 1632

3–5 in 8 shared contests (38% to LIL' FIDDLER'S)

These two have cooked 8 of the same contests — POLITICAL PORK ahead 5–3 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 64 contests
last seen May 1, 2021

⚔ Head-to-head

BEAUX HAWG BBQ

#1,287 of the rated field

1580 power rating

Contests: 31
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 3%
Peak: 1592

4–3 in 7 shared contests (57% to LIL' FIDDLER'S)

Fewer contests behind them than LIL' FIDDLER'S has cooked, 31 to 48, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 31 contests
last seen Aug 28, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

777 BBQ

#1,285 of the rated field

1581 power rating

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

7–3 in 10 shared contests (70% to LIL' FIDDLER'S)

They've been 1674 at their best, 93 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 78 contests
last seen Jun 6, 2025

⚔ Head-to-head

FOUR CROWS BBQ

#1,281 of the rated field

1581 power rating

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

1–1 in 2 shared contests (50% to LIL' FIDDLER'S)

Their last contest in the data was back in 2015, 3 years before LIL' FIDDLER'S's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 12 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

PO PO PORK

#1,283 of the rated field

1581 power rating

Contests: 50
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 14%
Peak: 1590

50 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

WAY 2 QUE

#1,280 of the rated field

1581 power rating

Contests: 42
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 21%
Peak: 1591

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

rated over 42 contests
last seen Mar 2, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
R BUTTS R SMOKIN	24	5	19	21%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKING HILLS	20	4	16	20%	⚔ compare
Theslabs.com	19	5	14	26%	⚔ compare
K.C. CAN CREW	18	3	15	17%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' SAUCED	18	1	17	6%	⚔ compare
PELLET ENVY	18	1	17	6%	⚔ compare
DIRT ROAD BBQ	16	0	16	0%	⚔ compare
SMOKERS WILD	15	5	10	33%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' BASTED	15	0	15	0%	⚔ compare
BLUE BUCKET BBQ	14	5	9	36%	⚔ compare
FRONT DOOR GANG	14	4	10	29%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN BAD HABIT	14	4	10	29%	⚔ compare
OLD STYLE BBQ	14	3	11	21%	⚔ compare
SMOKE ON WHEELS	13	4	9	31%	⚔ compare
Four Men and A Pig	13	4	9	31%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	48	17	3	3	176.5600	150.1940	166.88	top 41%
Pork Ribs	48	10	0	1	176.5600	145.6000	163.87	top 48%
Pork	48	9	0	0	173.7028	149.6456	164.03	top 51%
Brisket	48	13	0	1	173.7144	146.2400	162.44	top 47%

“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)	2	0	top 41%
Medium (20–39)	16	1	top 39%
Large (40+)	30	0	top 50%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
KS	23	1	top 43%
MO	21	0	top 51%
AR	4	0	top 39%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Smoke in the Spring	6	4	top 32%	Apr 6, 2018
Big Blue BBQ Championship (TEAMS FULL)	5	8	top 53%	Jun 1, 2018
Butler Chambers Of Commerce BBQ & Hucksters Days	2	11	top 55%	Sep 7, 2018
Bikes Blues & BBQ	2	11	top 36%	Sep 25, 2015
Flint Hills Beef Fest BBQ	2	6	top 54%	Aug 21, 2015
Sugar Mound BBQ Festival	2	25	top 44%	May 23, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2013 16 contests · 1 GC

Contests a season 8 across 6 seasons in the data

Most contests held in KS 23 of 48 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 35 6 of them more than once

First title Jun 14, 2013 Sunflower Barbecue

Opponents faced 1,330 finished ahead 1,421 times, behind 1,468

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

20181 milestone

Sep 7 Most recent contest Butler Chambers Of Commerce BBQ & Hucksters Days

20162 milestones

Apr 8 Career-best single call (Chicken)176.5600 Smoke in the Spring
Jun 3 Peak power rating (1605) Big Blue BBQ Championship

20152 milestones

Apr 10 Career-best overall score687.9884 Smoke in the Spring
Sep 11 First Reserve Championship Butler Chamber of Commerce BBQ & Huckster's Day

20141 milestone

Aug 22 25th tracked contest Flint Hills Beef Fest BBQ

20139 milestones

Apr 5 First tracked contest Smokin' On Big Creek
May 10 First overall past 90% of a perfect score649.7138 Platte City BBQ Cook-Off
Jun 14 First call Sunflower Barbecue
Jun 14 First category win (Chicken) Sunflower Barbecue
Jun 14 First overall top-10 Sunflower Barbecue
Jun 14 First overall podium Sunflower Barbecue
Jun 14 First Grand Championship Sunflower Barbecue
Jun 14 Biggest field won (34 teams) Sunflower Barbecue
Aug 1 10th tracked contest Wheels 'N' Squeels BBQ Challenge

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+16.8	Sunflower Barbecue	Jun 14, 2013
+14.5	Smoke in the Spring	Apr 10, 2015
+12.3	Smoke In The Spring	Apr 11, 2014
+10.7	Smoke in the Spring	Apr 8, 2016
+10.7	Butler Chamber of Commerce BBQ & Huckster's Day	Sep 11, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-8.7	Smokin On Big Creek - Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief	Apr 4, 2014
-8.3	Flint Hills Beef Fest BBQ	Aug 21, 2015
-7.4	34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open	Oct 3, 2013
-6.9	Freedom Feast BBQ Cook-Off	Jun 24, 2016
-6.8	Big Blue BBQ Championship (TEAMS FULL)	Jun 1, 2018

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)
2018	3	0	0	0	67%	top 63%	92.4%	90.1%
2017	3	0	0	0	33%	top 53%	92.4%	91.9%
2016	5	0	0	1	80%	top 45%	94%	90.7%
2015	9	0	3	1	56%	top 39%	95.6%	92.4%
2014	12	0	3	0	67%	top 41%	93.2%	91.5%
2013	16	1	4	1	31%	top 50%	94.3%	90.8%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Sep 7, 2018	Butler Chambers Of Commerce BBQ & Hucksters Days Butler, MO	13 / 19 (644.4340)	9 (168)	15 (160.5600)	15 (157.0512)	13 (158.8228)
Jun 1, 2018	Big Blue BBQ Championship (TEAMS FULL) Marysville, KS	30 / 42 (637.5312)	39 (151.9428)	6 (170.2628)	23 (163.4056)	35 (151.9200)
Apr 6, 2018	Smoke in the Spring Osage City, KS	50 / 103 (665.0172)	13 (176.0116)	67 (162.8228)	44 (167.3828)	72 (158.8000)
Sep 15, 2017	Butler Chambers Of Commerce BBQ & Hucksters Days Butler, MO	11 / 26 (665.5884)	10 (170.2628)	12 (167.4172)	22 (157.0512)	6 (170.8572)
Aug 4, 2017	Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Laurie, MO	25 / 40 (660.4684)	12 (172)	32 (159.3828)	23 (166.2856)	30 (162.8000)
Apr 7, 2017	Smoke in the Spring (WFC Quilfyer) Osage City, KS	53 / 100 (659.2796)	29 (170.8228)	55 (163.4056)	56 (164.5484)	63 (160.5028)
Sep 23, 2016	Bikes Blues and BBQ Fayetteville, AR	16 / 43 (659.8284)	21 (167.9772)	8 (171.9656)	26 (162.2400)	26 (157.6456)
Sep 16, 2016	Butler Chambers Barbeque & Huckster's Day Butler, MO	13 / 21 (631.2684)	8 (162.8456)	13 (156.5256)	11 (160.5256)	14 (151.3716)
Jun 24, 2016	Freedom Feast BBQ Cook-Off Willard, MO	34 / 49 (637.6228)	13 (174.2972)	29 (162.8000)	37 (154.2856)	44 (146.2400)
Jun 3, 2016	Big Blue BBQ Championship Marysville, KS	13 / 30 (658.2056)	1 (176)	12 (163.9656)	15 (162.8572)	21 (155.3828)
Apr 8, 2016	Smoke in the Spring Osage City, KS	14 / 109 (677.0516)	5 (176.5600)	16 (172)	23 (170.2744)	66 (158.2172)
Oct 23, 2015	Fountains Blaze off & Senior Q Independence, MO	5 / 22 (682.8000)	8 (169.7028)	6 (170.8572)	4 (173.7028)	5 (168.5372)
Sep 25, 2015	Bikes Blues & BBQ Fayetteville, AR	11 / 35 (662.6512)	9 (169.6800)	11 (166.2516)	6 (169.6800)	19 (157.0396)
Sep 11, 2015	Butler Chamber of Commerce BBQ & Huckster's Day Butler, MO	2 / 14 (669.0512)	1 (171.4056)	2 (171.4172)	5 (167.4172)	9 (158.8112)
Aug 21, 2015	Flint Hills Beef Fest BBQ Emporia, KS	30 / 36 (646.6284)	34 (157.0744)	12 (167.3828)	31 (159.9312)	24 (162.2400)
Jul 31, 2015	Rossville Tall Corn Festival BBQ Contest Rossville, KS	14 / 46 (669.6568)	9 (170.8456)	8 (170.8228)	35 (161.1656)	16 (166.8228)
Jul 24, 2015	Racing for the BBQ Lees Summit, MO	31 / 63 (660.9824)	25 (167.3712)	42 (159.9428)	40 (164.5256)	19 (169.1428)
Jun 5, 2015	Big Blue BBQ Championship Marysville, KS	17 / 30 (650.7196)	17 (163.9656)	20 (162.2856)	19 (162.7884)	17 (161.6800)
May 23, 2015	Sugar Mound BBQ Festival Mound City, KS	37 / 62 (659.4056)	40 (164.5716)	38 (162.8572)	37 (165.7256)	28 (166.2512)
Apr 10, 2015	Smoke in the Spring Osage City, KS	4 / 97 (687.9884)	22 (169.7028)	4 (176.5600)	13 (171.9772)	14 (169.7484)
Oct 17, 2014	The Fountain's Blaze Off & Senior Q Independence, MO	8 / 25 (660.4572)	5 (170.2972)	23 (150.8000)	5 (171.9772)	6 (167.3828)
Sep 26, 2014	Bikes Blues & BBQ Fayetteville, AR	12 / 30 (671.2568)	13 (170.8112)	4 (176)	19 (165.0856)	19 (159.3600)
Sep 5, 2014	Bates County Barbecue State Championship & Festival 🏅 Butler, MO	16 / 43 (659.2684)	8 (169.6800)	27 (158.8000)	20 (162.2284)	8 (168.5600)
Aug 22, 2014	Flint Hills Beef Fest BBQ Emporia, KS	6 / 25 (669.0168)	11 (167.3828)	11 (163.9656)	7 (168.5256)	5 (169.1428)
Aug 1, 2014	Wheels 'N' Squeels BBQ Challenge Olathe, KS	18 / 70 (664.4796)	23 (167.4172)	39 (163.9884)	29 (165.6800)	16 (167.3940)
Jul 25, 2014	Racing for the BBQ Lee's Summit, MO	34 / 54 (651.8508)	41 (161.6684)	46 (155.9656)	12 (168.5484)	22 (165.6684)
Jul 18, 2014	10th Annual WildBlue BBQ Burlington, KS	22 / 41 (649.5312)	8 (169.6800)	28 (158.2056)	24 (163.9656)	27 (157.6800)
Jun 13, 2014	Tonganoxie Days BBQ Blowout Tonganoxie, KS	23 / 41 (649.5544)	13 (169.1200)	38 (150.2516)	14 (167.3828)	19 (162.8000)
Jun 6, 2014	Big Blue BBQ Championship Marysville, KS	8 / 25 (661.0972)	10 (161.7028)	4 (170.2972)	7 (167.4056)	9 (161.6916)
May 24, 2014	Sugar Mound BBQ Festival Mound City, KS	25 / 87 (666.7884)	62 (160.5484)	24 (166.2744)	25 (168)	9 (171.9656)
Apr 11, 2014	Smoke In The Spring Osage City, KS	11 / 73 (671.3368)	10 (170.8456)	42 (157.6456)	8 (171.4284)	4 (171.4172)
Apr 4, 2014	Smokin On Big Creek - Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief Pleasant Hill, MO	61 / 75 (627.7260)	24 (167.3944)	71 (145.6000)	43 (162.8000)	59 (151.9316)
Oct 25, 2013	Bates County BBQ State Championship 🏅 Butler, MO	9 / 33 (670.2060)	10 (168.5600)	13 (163.9544)	16 (163.9772)	2 (173.7144)
Oct 18, 2013	Fountains Blaze Off and Senior Q Independence, MO	6 / 22 (665.0056)	7 (167.9772)	15 (162.2400)	9 (169.1084)	6 (165.6800)
Oct 3, 2013	34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO	106 / 174 (655.2800)	70 (167.9772)	139 (157.6456)	100 (163.3828)	74 (166.2744)
Oct 3, 2013	34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO	403 / 535 (615.6908)	458 (150.1940)	395 (153.0512)	461 (149.6456)	183 (162.8000)
Sep 20, 2013	Bikes Blues & BBQ Fayetteville, AR	23 / 49 (665.0056)	18 (170.8228)	22 (167.4172)	26 (163.9312)	25 (162.8344)
Aug 23, 2013	Flinthills Beef Fest BBQ Emporia, KS	9 / 26 (673.0512)	18 (163.9772)	6 (170.2744)	12 (166.2512)	4 (172.5484)
Aug 1, 2013	Wheels 'N' Squeels BBQ Challenge Olathe, KS	50 / 74 (642.7660)	16 (170.8688)	41 (162.2744)	57 (158.2512)	63 (151.3716)
Jul 26, 2013	Racing For The BBQ Lee's Summit, MO	24 / 58 (659.8856)	15 (169.6800)	44 (159.4172)	28 (165.1084)	24 (165.6800)
Jul 19, 2013	9th Annual WildBlue BBQ Burlington, KS	24 / 40 (654.7312)	19 (166.8228)	10 (167.9772)	30 (160.5256)	23 (159.4056)
Jul 5, 2013	Crossroads BBQ Cook-off Cameron, MO	22 / 40 (654.2854)	35 (158.2858)	11 (168.5714)	18 (165.1426)	25 (162.2856)
Jun 20, 2013	Rock'n Freedom Seymour, MO	37 / 50 (649.7138)	15 (168.5714)	32 (163.4284)	46 (153.7142)	26 (163.9998)
Jun 14, 2013	Sunflower Barbecue Topeka, KS	1 / 34 (678.8570)	1 (173.7144)	12 (165.7142)	7 (171.4284)	6 (168)
May 31, 2013	Big Blue BBQ Championship Marysville, KS	19 / 30 (641.1422)	26 (155.4284)	12 (165.1428)	17 (161.7142)	15 (158.8568)
May 10, 2013	Platte City BBQ Cook-Off Platte City, MO	21 / 52 (649.7138)	32 (160.5712)	12 (167.4284)	39 (157.7142)	15 (164)
Apr 12, 2013	Smoke In The Spring Osage City, KS	43 / 71 (645.7136)	27 (165.7142)	16 (168.5712)	45 (160.5712)	57 (150.8570)
Apr 5, 2013	Smokin' On Big Creek Pleasant Hill, MO	52 / 74 (637.1424)	63 (153.7140)	29 (165.1430)	59 (157.1426)	43 (161.1428)

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

LIL' FIDDLER'S

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

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (12 found in their record)

Giant slayer

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

The weak link

The drought

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

The long haul

The metronome

A standing appointment

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)