BIG PAPA'S COUNTRY KITCHEN

At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)

Power ranking

#1219

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1584

peak 1597 · rated over 22 contests ⓘ

Best runs

straight top-10s

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-02-15

latest 2019-04-12

Best ToY finish

#542

Master 2013

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

6 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 24 contests

Avg finish

top 40%

overall standings

Best overall

693.6800 / 720

Master · Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off

Perfect 180s

Current form

670.05 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 673.45 (-3.39)

Walk rate

79%

contests with a top-10 call

Top-10 streak

best run (overall)

Best single call

177.7144

Pork · World Food Championships - World Barbecue Championship(Competitor's Series)

Consistency

±11.63

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 170.70 · weakest Pork Ribs (166.84)

Road miles

13,986

mi across 24 mapped stops · furthest 1956 mi

Schedule strength

52%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1567)

State championships

0 🏅

GCs in 1 state-championship entries

Master avg

673.45 / 720

22 Master contests · 1 GC

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (15 found in this team's record)

Each card leads with the number that made it a story — read straight out of their results, no editorialising.

Against the odds

28-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings

The ratings favoured the top seed the other 72 times in 100

Their Grand Championship at Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off (2014-08-22) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 28-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA.

Giant slayer

40 teams beaten in one weekend

Took the Grand Championship over a 40-team field at Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off.

2014-08-22

Happy hunting ground

1× Grand Championships here

Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off is their spot: 1 Grand Championship in 2 visits.

2 visits
best finish 1st
average top 11%

They almost always walk

79% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 19 of 24 contests

A top-10 category call in 79% of their 24 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

693.6800 career-best overall

96.3% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 693.6800 at Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off — 96.3% of a perfect 720.

Master
2014-08-22

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA has finished one call ahead of BIG PAPA'S COUNTRY KITCHEN 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2014 1 Grand Championship

2014 was the year it came together: 5 contests, 1 Grand Championship and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 17%.

5 contests
3 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 17%

A tough matchup

8–3 behind in the head-to-head

HOT WACHULA'S ahead in 73% of their meetings

HOT WACHULA'S has come out ahead in 8 of their 11 shared contests.

The drought

17 contests since the last title

Their last Grand Championship came at Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off on 2014-08-22 — 17 contests and 12 years ago.

last GC 2014-08-22
12 years ago

A strong matchup

4–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 80% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of KNIFE PORK AND SPOON in 4 of their 5 shared contests.

Announced themselves early

3rd at their very first contest

Finished 3 of 24 at their very first tracked contest, Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (2013-02-15).

2013-02-15
24-team field

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

HOT WACHULA'S has landed one call behind them 2 times.

An August team

Top 29% average finish in August

Something about August: average finish in the top 29% across 8 contests, versus top 40% the rest of the year.

8 August contests
top 40% the rest of the year

The long haul

13,986 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 13,986 miles across 24 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 1,956 miles to World Food Championships - World Barbecue Championship(Competitor's Series).

24 mapped stops
furthest 1,956 mi

The metronome

±1.62% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.62% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 93.5% of a perfect score
24 contests

Teams like this (closest power rating)

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.

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

Knights of the Holy Grill

#1215 of the rated field

1584 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1584

No shared contest yet.

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 22 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 22 contests
last seen 2026-06-26

⚔ Head-to-head

THE BARKTENDERS

#1224 of the rated field

1584 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 27
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 63%
Peak: 1584

No shared contest yet.

Careers of much the same size, 27 contests to 24, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 25 contests
last seen 2019-03-23

⚔ Head-to-head

BAVARIAN SMOKE BBQ

#1217 of the rated field

1584 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 26
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 42%
Peak: 1593

No shared contest yet.

Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 26 contests, alongside a 42% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 25 contests
last seen 2018-10-12

⚔ Head-to-head

BUSH LEAGUE BBQ (inactive)

#1212 of the rated field

1584 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 26
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 35%
Peak: 1584

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 26 contests
last seen 2017-03-03

⚔ Head-to-head

Gardenvalley Smokers

#1218 of the rated field

1584 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 40%
Peak: 1606

No shared contest yet.

Level with BIG PAPA'S COUNTRY KITCHEN on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 18 contests
last seen 2024-03-01

⚔ Head-to-head

Loose Cannon BBQ

#1216 of the rated field

1584 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 68%
Peak: 1584

No shared contest yet.

10 straight overall top-10s says this rating is a moving target.

rated over 16 contests
last seen 2023-09-15

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
HOT WACHULA'S	11	3	8	27%	⚔ compare
WHISKEY BENT BBQ - FL	7	4	3	57%	⚔ compare
MUTTLEY CREW BBQ	6	3	3	50%	⚔ compare
South Pork	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
SAUCED! BBQ TEAM	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
SWIGGIN PIG	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
KNIFE PORK AND SPOON	5	4	1	80%	⚔ compare
QUAU	5	2	3	40%	⚔ compare
QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare
SWEET SMOKE Q	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare
BACKYARD BROS	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare
Organizer Portal	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	22	5	0	0	175.4400	154.7884	167.07	top 55%
Pork Ribs	24	8	0	0	174.2628	153.0856	166.84	top 49%
Pork	24	15	2	4	177.7144	160.0000	170.70	top 29%
Brisket	24	11	2	2	176.5600	157.0972	168.33	top 39%

“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 state / province

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
FL	7	1	top 33%
TN	6	0	top 55%
SC	4	0	top 33%
NV	2	0	top 29%
AL	1	0	top 76%
NJ	1	0	top 35%
GA	1	0	top 13%

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	1	0	top 53%
Medium (20–39)	12	0	top 43%
Large (40+)	9	1	top 34%

Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off	2	1	1	top 11%	2014-08-22
Fire it up Frostproof!	2	7	0	top 53%	2019-04-12
Smokin in McMinnville	2	14	0	top 59%	2018-08-10
*Beach Boogie and BBQ Festival (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES)	2	6	0	top 35%	2017-09-01
Smokin' In McMinnville	2	10	0	top 35%	2016-08-12

The story so far (18 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 6.2 yrs 2013-02-15 → 2019-04-12

Busiest season 2013 6 contests

Contests a season 3.4 across 7 seasons in the data

Cooks most in FL 7 of 24 contests · 7 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 17 5 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Pork Ribs 24 entries · 0 wins · 8 calls

Strongest meat Pork averages 170.70 · weakest Pork Ribs (166.84)

Walk rate 79% a top-10 call in 19 of 24 contests

Overall top-10 rate 46% 11 of 24 contests

Wins it all 4% 1 Grand Championship · 0 reserve

First title 2014-08-22 Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off

Best top-10 run 4 straight contests

Master average 673.45 out of 720 · 22 contests · 1 GC

Opponents faced 661 570–373 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 13,986 24 mapped stops · furthest 1,956 mi

Schedule strength 1567 average field rating faced — tougher than 52% of rated contests

State championships 0 from 1 state-championship entries

Power rating 1584 peak 1597 · #1219 of 6,413 rated

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

2013
Feb 15 First tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Feb 15 First call Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Feb 15 First overall top-10 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Feb 15 First overall podium Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Feb 15 First overall past 90% of a perfect score682.8570 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Nov 7 First category win (Pork) World Food Championships - World Barbecue Championship(Competitor's Series)
Nov 7 Career-best single call (Pork)177.7144 World Food Championships - World Barbecue Championship(Competitor's Series)
2014
Aug 22 First Grand Championship Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off
Aug 22 Biggest field won (40 teams) Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off
Aug 22 Career-best overall score693.6800 Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off
Oct 30 10th tracked contest USA Barbecue Championship
2016
Oct 8 Peak power rating (1597) Smoke on the Water Barbecue Championship
2019
Apr 12 Most recent contest Fire it up Frostproof!

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+16.1	Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off	2014-08-22
+15.5	USA Barbecue Championship	2014-10-30
+13.3	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2013-02-15
+13.1	Beach Boogie and Barbeque	2014-08-29
+9.4	Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off	2013-08-23

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12.7	Fire it up Frostproof!	2019-04-12
-12.6	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional)	2013-09-13
-7.3	World Barbecue Championship	2016-11-11
-4	Smokin in McMinnville	2017-08-11
-2.6	World Food Championships	2015-11-03

Category scores over time

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Team of the Year rank by season

Season by season

Season	Contests	GCs	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2019	1	0	0	0	0%	top 76%	90.9%	90.9%
2018	2	0	1	0	100%	top 40%	94.6%	93.7%
2017	2	0	1	1	50%	top 54%	93.6%	93.5%
2016	4	0	1	1	75%	top 52%	95.5%	92.9%
2015	4	0	3	1	100%	top 32%	95.5%	94.5%
2014	5	1	3	0	80%	top 17%	96.3%	94.9%
2013	6	0	2	1	83%	top 41%	94.8%	92.7%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2019-04-12	Fire it up Frostproof! 🏅 Frostproof, FL	19 / 25 (654.6744)	18 (165.0972)	13 (167.3828)	16 (165.0972)	19 (157.0972)
2018-09-01	*Fire it up Frostproof! Frostproof, FL	7 / 24 (681.0396)	10 (169.6800)	13 (170.2856)	7 (171.9656)	9 (169.1084)
2018-08-10	Smokin in McMinnville McMinnville, TN	14 / 28 (668.4572)	24 (159.3828)	17 (164.5488)	9 (172.5600)	7 (171.9656)
2017-09-01	*Beach Boogie and BBQ Festival (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) Myrtle Beach, SC	10 / 25 (671.9088)	20 (161.0972)	16 (167.9888)	10 (167.4056)	1 (175.4172)
2017-08-11	Smokin in McMinnville McMinnville, TN	24 / 35 (674.1944)	30 (164.5716)	17 (171.9772)	19 (169.1084)	22 (168.5372)
2016-11-11	World Barbecue Championship Orange Beach, AL	68 / 89 (658.1256)	64 (166.8228)	75 (161.0972)	63 (163.3828)	52 (166.8228)
2016-10-08	Smoke on the Water Barbecue Championship Atlantic City, NJ	17 / 48 (661.0860)	27 (163.9772)	27 (159.9888)	6 (173.7028)	20 (163.4172)
2016-09-02	Beach Boogie & BBQ Festival Myrtle Beach, SC	9 / 17 (668.4228)	13 (166.8228)	10 (163.9428)	1 (173.7028)	9 (163.9544)
2016-08-12	Smokin' In McMinnville McMinnville, TN	14 / 32 (687.9544)	14 (171.9656)	17 (169.7144)	4 (176.0000)	15 (170.2744)
2015-11-03	World Food Championships Kissimmee, FL	34 / 58 (668.9828)	37 (167.3828)	56 (159.3600)	4 (176.0000)	34 (166.2400)
2015-09-04	Beach Boogie and BBQ Festival Myrtle Beach, SC	6 / 20 (677.7028)	13 (163.9772)	4 (173.1428)	8 (166.3200)	1 (174.2628)
2015-08-14	Atlanta BarB-Que Festival Atlanta, GA	6 / 48 (686.2172)	11 (170.8228)	22 (164.5372)	2 (174.2972)	4 (176.5600)
2015-08-07	Smokin' in McMinnville McMinnville, TN	10 / 37 (687.8624)	4 (175.4056)	8 (174.2628)	15 (170.8228)	23 (167.3712)
2014-11-13	World Food Championships - World Barbecue Championships (Competitiors Series) Las Vegas, NV	—	—	14 (170.2972)	36 (160.0000)	27 (166.2744)
2014-10-30	USA Barbecue Championship Laughlin, NV	7 / 79 (689.1088)	21 (172.5828)	18 (171.9888)	7 (175.4172)	29 (169.1200)
2014-10-24	Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) Lynchburg, TN	42 / 92 (667.8624)	85 (154.7884)	10 (174.2628)	21 (170.8456)	42 (167.9656)
2014-08-29	Beach Boogie and Barbeque Myrtle Beach, SC	4 / 38 (682.8800)	6 (173.1544)	21 (166.8684)	5 (173.1428)	6 (169.7144)
2014-08-22	Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off Amelia Island, FL	1 / 40 (693.6800)	4 (175.4400)	7 (171.9772)	2 (175.4400)	9 (170.8228)
2013-11-07	World Food Championships - World Barbecue Championship(Competitor's Series) Las Vegas, NV	—	—	51 (161.1428)	1 (177.7144)	27 (165.1200)
2013-10-31	Riverside Resort Casino USA Barbecue Championship Laughlin, NV	41 / 85 (658.2284)	48 (164.0000)	77 (153.0856)	23 (168.5828)	8 (172.5600)
2013-09-13	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Hendersonville, TN	28 / 30 (655.2680)	24 (165.6684)	27 (158.8228)	15 (167.3940)	24 (163.3828)
2013-08-23	Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off Amelia Island, FL	9 / 44 (674.7540)	20 (166.8228)	6 (169.7028)	13 (169.1084)	9 (169.1200)
2013-03-01	Smokin in the Square Pensacola, FL	12 / 37 (664.5706)	25 (163.4284)	8 (166.2856)	8 (170.8570)	16 (163.9996)
2013-02-15	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Tampa, FL	3 / 24 (682.8570)	9 (172.5714)	5 (171.4284)	5 (168.0000)	7 (170.8572)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)

Team of the Year standings (rank per category by season — year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Year	Series	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2017 ↗	Master	#1338 (190 pts)	#1722 (135 pts)	#1443 (195 pts)	#1359 (215 pts)	#1002 (350 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#967 (339 pts)	#1207 (274 pts)	#1196 (274 pts)	#621 (649 pts)	#1066 (319 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#745 (470 pts)	#814 (445 pts)	#845 (425 pts)	#739 (510 pts)	#679 (550 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#709 (503 pts)	#913 (393 pts)	#1229 (253 pts)	#812 (453 pts)	#1005 (328 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#542 (580 pts)	#880 (365 pts)	#562 (590 pts)	#608 (545 pts)	#542 (585 pts)