FOX RIVER BBQ

FOX RIVER BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 47 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2017. They have won 1 Grand Championship, at the Deaths Door Barbecue (2014). They are ranked #1634 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#1,634

of 6,477 rated · rankings

Rating

1556

peak 1593 · rated over 46 contests1 invitational or side-series contest not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Apr 19, 2013

latest Oct 6, 2017 · 4.5 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#222

Master 2014 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve · wins it all 2% of the time

Category wins

19 podiums

Overall top-10s

26% of 47 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 46%

overall standings

Best overall

683.4516 / 720

Master · Deaths Door Barbecue

Perfect 180s

Current form

651.69 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 650.09 (+1.59)

Walk rate

66%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

175.4516

Chicken · Pig in the Park

Consistency

±13.54

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 163.47 · weakest Brisket (161.71)

Road miles

6,288

across 47 mapped stops · furthest 479 mi

Schedule strength

41%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1554)

Master avg

650.09 / 720

47 Master contests · 1 GC

Storylines (13 found in their record)

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

A multi-meat day

1 contest with 2+ category wins

They've won two or more meats on the same day 1 time — the best of them 2 category wins at Pig in the Park (Jun 20, 2014).

Chicken 1st
Pork 1st

They almost always walk

66% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 31 of 47 contests

A top-10 category call in 66% of their 47 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

683.4516 career-best overall

94.9% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 683.4516 at Deaths Door Barbecue — 94.9% of a perfect 720.

Master
Aug 22, 2014

The one to beat

3× one call ahead of them

CHEFS GONE GRILLIN has finished one call ahead of FOX RIVER BBQ 3 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2014 1 Grand Championship

2014 was the year it came together: 10 contests, 1 Grand Championship and 2 category wins, at an average finish in the top 32%.

10 contests
4 overall top-10s
2 category wins
average top 32%

A tough matchup

35–9 behind in the head-to-head

TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI ahead in 80% of their meetings

TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI has come out ahead in 35 of their 44 shared contests.

The drought

30 contests since the last title

Their last Grand Championship came at Deaths Door Barbecue on Aug 22, 2014 — 30 contests and 12.1 years ago.

last GC Aug 22, 2014
12.1 years ago

Show 6 more storylines

A strong matchup

16–3 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 84% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of DD'S BBQ in 16 of their 19 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

32 of 44 shared chicken entries lost

TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI ahead 73% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI has out-cooked them in 32 of 44 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

5× one call behind them

CRASH TEST SMOKERS has landed one call behind them 5 times.

A September team

Top 31% average finish in September

Something about September: average finish in the top 31% across 3 contests, versus top 46% the rest of the year.

3 September contests
top 46% the rest of the year

The long haul

6,288 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 6,288 miles across 47 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 479 miles to 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Invitational.

47 mapped stops
furthest 479 mi

The metronome

±1.88% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.88% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 90.3% of a perfect score
47 contests

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	#815 (460 pts)	#914 (425 pts)	#952 (400 pts)	#673 (615 pts)	#501 (785 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#761 (490 pts)	#554 (730 pts)	#734 (545 pts)	#814 (480 pts)	#809 (465 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#344 (1,090 pts)	#459 (857 pts)	#250 (1,268 pts)	#246 (1,228 pts)	#267 (1,248 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#222 (1,437 pts)	#213 (1,377 pts)	#272 (1,247 pts)	#147 (1,597 pts)	#272 (1,272 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#272 (1,099 pts)	#225 (1,199 pts)	#226 (1,234 pts)	#299 (989 pts)	#272 (1,089 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to FOX RIVER BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

FAST EDDY'S BBQ

#1,629 of the rated field

1557 power rating

Contests: 6
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 50%
Peak: 1557

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to FOX RIVER BBQ)

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

rated over 6 contests
last seen Oct 3, 2015

⚔ Head-to-head

EGGHEAD-BARBECUE

#1,639 of the rated field

1556 power rating

Contests: 30
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 63%
Peak: 1568

Fewer contests behind them than FOX RIVER BBQ has cooked, 30 to 47, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 30 contests
last seen May 18, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

BREWS BEFORE Q'S

#1,632 of the rated field

1557 power rating

Contests: 27
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 15%
Peak: 1563

Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 27 contests, alongside a 15% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 26 contests
last seen Sep 18, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Ambition Que

#1,630 of the rated field

1557 power rating

Contests: 113
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 17%
Peak: 1637

They've been 1637 at their best, 80 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 113 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

THE SNORTIN' BOAR

#1,631 of the rated field

1557 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 24%
Peak: 1557

Level with FOX RIVER BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 17 contests
last seen Jul 20, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

FLAVOR SAVOR

#1,633 of the rated field

1556 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 25%
Peak: 1556

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

rated over 16 contests
last seen Sep 15, 2017

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI	44	9	35	20%	⚔ compare
T-MAC SMOKIN	35	7	28	20%	⚔ compare
Freeman Brothers BBQ	30	16	14	53%	⚔ compare
5 FINGER BBQ	30	11	19	37%	⚔ compare
CHEFS GONE GRILLIN	29	14	15	48%	⚔ compare
CRASH TEST SMOKERS	29	13	16	45%	⚔ compare
THE REAL SMOKIN ACES	26	4	22	15%	⚔ compare
FAT ANDY'S BBQ	25	10	15	40%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ	25	8	17	32%	⚔ compare
TOPPGATOR BBQ	22	14	8	64%	⚔ compare
LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW	22	9	13	41%	⚔ compare
BIG "E" BBQ	21	3	18	14%	⚔ compare
BUCKAROO BBQ	20	9	11	45%	⚔ compare
PLASTERED PORK BBQ	20	7	13	35%	⚔ compare
DD'S BBQ	19	16	3	84%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	47	14	1	4	175.4516	148.5484	163.47	top 50%
Pork Ribs	47	10	1	5	172.5600	144.5716	162.01	top 47%
Pork	47	13	1	6	175.4400	151.3600	162.90	top 46%
Brisket	47	15	0	4	172.6056	145.6456	161.71	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)	1	0	top 53%
Medium (20–39)	21	1	top 40%
Large (40+)	25	0	top 52%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
WI	37	1	top 46%
MO	2	0	top 27%
IA	2	0	top 76%
IL	2	0	top 27%
KY	1	0	top 84%
MN	1	0	top 40%
MI	1	0	top 56%
IN	1	0	top 53%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Puckaway Pigfest	3	10	top 31%	Sep 11, 2015
Grillin' in Grafton	3	6	top 44%	Jun 26, 2015
6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2)	2	27	top 71%	Aug 25, 2017
BBQ 4 ASTOP	2	11	top 50%	May 20, 2016
Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay	2	6	top 34%	Jul 10, 2015
Pig in the Park	2	6	top 25%	Jun 20, 2014
The Masters in May	2	19	top 43%	May 2, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2015 13 contests

Contests a season 9.4 across 5 seasons in the data

Most contests held in WI 37 of 47 contests · 8 states in all

Contests visited 38 7 of them more than once

First title Aug 22, 2014 Deaths Door Barbecue

Opponents faced 1,083 finished ahead 1,564 times, behind 1,040

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

20171 milestone

Oct 6 Most recent contest Jim Beam BBQ Classic

20152 milestones

Jun 12 25th tracked contest Bend of the River CookOut
Oct 3 Peak power rating (1593) 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open

20146 milestones

Apr 3 10th tracked contest 2nd Annual Parkinson's Smoke Out
Jun 20 First multi-meat day Pig in the Park
Jun 20 Career-best single call (Chicken)175.4516 Pig in the Park
Aug 22 First overall podium Deaths Door Barbecue
Aug 22 First Grand Championship Deaths Door Barbecue
Aug 22 Career-best overall score683.4516 Deaths Door Barbecue

20135 milestones

Apr 19 First tracked contest Smoke Over Veishea
May 3 First call The Masters in May
Jun 7 First overall top-10 Poor Que
Jun 7 First overall past 90% of a perfect score648.5714 Poor Que
Jun 28 First category win (Pork Ribs) Grillin' in Grafton

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+13.8	Deaths Door Barbecue	Aug 22, 2014
+12.5	Madison Magazine BBQ Festival	May 16, 2015
+11.7	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1	Jul 14, 2017
+10.7	Poor Que	Jun 7, 2013
+10.5	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay	Jul 11, 2014

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-15.6	The Masters In May - The Classic	May 2, 2015
-9.8	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-1st Heat	Jul 8, 2016
-9.5	Grillin' in Grafton	Jun 26, 2015
-9.4	Jim Beam BBQ Classic	Oct 6, 2017
-8.5	Smoke Over Veishea	Apr 19, 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)
2017	8	0	0	0	50%	top 60%	92.5%	90.4%
2016	7	0	1	0	43%	top 62%	90.6%	89.5%
2015	13	0	3	0	62%	top 46%	94.4%	90.7%
2014	10	1	4	2	80%	top 32%	94.9%	91.2%
2013	9	0	4	1	89%	top 39%	91.2%	89.1%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Oct 6, 2017	Jim Beam BBQ Classic Springfield, KY	37 / 44 (653.0744)	32 (165.1316)	40 (154.2516)	28 (168)	26 (165.6912)
Aug 25, 2017	6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) Washington Island, WI	27 / 39 (648.4800)	33 (155.9656)	20 (165.1544)	33 (156.5028)	3 (170.8572)
Aug 24, 2017	6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 1) Washington Island, WI	29 / 40 (643.2456)	33 (158.7884)	30 (157.6800)	16 (163.9544)	20 (162.8228)
Jul 15, 2017	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2 Green Bay, WI	35 / 49 (647.8972)	17 (169.6800)	35 (162.2628)	29 (163.4172)	42 (152.5372)
Jul 14, 2017	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1 Green Bay, WI	11 / 58 (665.7484)	30 (162.3200)	34 (159.4400)	3 (172)	6 (171.9884)
May 19, 2017	ASTOPâ€™s BBQ 4 ASTOP Fond du Lac, WI	18 / 30 (640.4684)	19 (161.7372)	21 (153.0856)	17 (157.0856)	6 (168.5600)
May 6, 2017	Master In May-The Classic Appleton, WI	19 / 50 (660.6176)	7 (173.2116)	44 (153.1316)	13 (166.2744)	15 (168)
May 5, 2017	The Masters In May (also Big Green Egg challenge) Appleton, WI	38 / 56 (649.6456)	54 (157.6800)	17 (166.2972)	29 (163.9656)	33 (161.7028)
Aug 26, 2016	5th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque Washington Island, WI	27 / 42 (644.4000)	31 (160.4912)	13 (167.9772)	14 (166.8344)	36 (149.0972)
Jul 29, 2016	Birdies Barnyard BBQ Kohler, WI	9 / 17 (649.1316)	8 (169.1200)	11 (160.0344)	9 (162.2744)	10 (157.7028)
Jul 9, 2016	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-2nd Heat Green Bay, WI	41 / 55 (646.7428)	14 (172.0116)	17 (168.5372)	44 (158.2628)	52 (147.9312)
Jul 8, 2016	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-1st Heat Green Bay, WI	53 / 66 (634.2288)	54 (159.4056)	47 (156)	54 (156.0004)	37 (162.8228)
May 20, 2016	BBQ 4 ASTOP Fond du Lac, WI	11 / 28 (652.4916)	4 (170.2744)	17 (158.8344)	13 (162.2972)	14 (161.0856)
Apr 30, 2016	Masters in May- The Classic Appleton, WI	36 / 58 (642.2292)	21 (168.0116)	47 (155.9888)	42 (159.3944)	39 (158.8344)
Apr 29, 2016	Masters in May Appleton, WI	37 / 59 (643.9088)	10 (169.7144)	13 (167.9772)	41 (157.6800)	54 (148.5372)
Oct 3, 2015	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO	105 / 606 (674.2744)	196 (167.4516)	109 (170.8344)	141 (169.1428)	191 (166.8456)
Oct 2, 2015	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Invitational unrated Kansas City, MO	69 / 187 (679.3600)	43 (173.7028)	89 (168.5372)	96 (168.5372)	97 (168.5828)
Sep 11, 2015	Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI	10 / 33 (642.7768)	28 (148.5484)	2 (172.5600)	19 (153.6456)	6 (168.0228)
Aug 28, 2015	4th Annual Deaths Door Barbecue Washington Island, WI	6 / 35 (659.3256)	24 (160.5716)	2 (170.8228)	4 (171.4056)	22 (156.5256)
Jul 31, 2015	Badger Brews & Que Manitowoc, WI	11 / 30 (660.0232)	13 (168.0344)	5 (167.4288)	23 (155.9884)	6 (168.5716)
Jul 10, 2015	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay Green Bay, WI	43 / 80 (644.3884)	69 (150.7884)	30 (163.3828)	5 (173.7144)	48 (156.5028)
Jun 26, 2015	Grillin' in Grafton Grafton, WI	25 / 33 (635.8512)	29 (153.1084)	23 (160.5028)	16 (161.7028)	17 (160.5372)
Jun 12, 2015	Bend of the River CookOut Mankato, MN	17 / 42 (663.9888)	22 (166.2972)	22 (165.1316)	19 (164.5600)	17 (168)
May 29, 2015	BBQ 4 ASTOP Fond du Lac, WI	14 / 23 (643.9316)	13 (165.7488)	20 (154.8000)	22 (151.9772)	3 (171.4056)
May 16, 2015	Madison Magazine BBQ Festival Madison, WI	4 / 29 (669.7256)	14 (163.4172)	16 (162.2856)	3 (171.4400)	3 (172.5828)
May 2, 2015	The Masters In May - The Classic Appleton, WI	45 / 47 (612.9828)	42 (152.5028)	22 (161.1544)	42 (153.6800)	45 (145.6456)
May 1, 2015	The Masters In May Appleton, WI	23 / 57 (646.8460)	9 (169.1544)	34 (154.2628)	25 (161.7144)	32 (161.7144)
Apr 24, 2015	Central Iowa Expo BBQ Boone, IA	31 / 42 (659.4060)	27 (166.2744)	10 (169.1316)	10 (170.2628)	40 (153.7372)
Oct 17, 2014	9th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q Libertyville, IL	15 / 42 (657.7604)	3 (174.8572)	25 (161.1316)	26 (158.3088)	17 (163.4628)
Sep 5, 2014	Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI	11 / 40 (663.9544)	35 (154.8000)	4 (171.4516)	4 (172.5600)	14 (165.1428)
Aug 22, 2014	Deaths Door Barbecue Washington Island, WI	1 / 27 (683.4516)	4 (172.5832)	10 (162.8228)	3 (175.4400)	4 (172.6056)
Aug 8, 2014	Jimmy's Roadhouse BBQ Championship Newaygo, MI	18 / 32 (657.7368)	12 (168)	26 (154.8340)	6 (169.7372)	12 (165.1656)
Jul 11, 2014	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay Green Bay, WI	6 / 42 (655.4288)	8 (163.4628)	16 (162.2628)	15 (161.6916)	6 (168.0116)
Jun 27, 2014	Grillin' in Grafton Grafton, WI	6 / 32 (657.1428)	21 (158.2628)	3 (169.7144)	3 (170.9144)	16 (158.2512)
Jun 20, 2014	Pig in the Park Whitewater, WI	6 / 26 (658.2400)	1 (175.4516)	13 (159.3828)	1 (175.4400)	23 (147.9656)
Jun 13, 2014	Hog and Steer Barbecue Competition & Festival Oconomowoc, WI	13 / 22 (633.5660)	19 (150.8116)	7 (161.1316)	20 (151.3600)	3 (170.2628)
May 2, 2014	The Masters in May Fremont, WI	19 / 62 (648.5032)	32 (160.5144)	32 (159.9772)	12 (167.4516)	24 (160.5600)
Apr 3, 2014	2nd Annual Parkinson's Smoke Out Evansville, IN	34 / 64 (648.3768)	50 (158.8000)	28 (163.3828)	33 (163.3712)	27 (162.8228)
Oct 18, 2013	8th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q (TEAMS FULL) Libertyville, IL	10 / 54 (649.0284)	10 (165.7144)	13 (164)	20 (158.2284)	14 (161.0856)
Sep 6, 2013	Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI	11 / 31 (649.6000)	9 (166.2628)	17 (158.2744)	16 (158.2400)	10 (166.8228)
Aug 23, 2013	Death's Door Barbecue Washington Island, WI	7 / 28 (656.4460)	9 (167.9888)	13 (157.6456)	3 (166.8344)	7 (163.9772)
Jul 5, 2013	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Madison, WI	16 / 30 (640.5704)	3 (169.7142)	12 (161.7142)	15 (159.4282)	29 (149.7138)
Jun 28, 2013	Grillin' in Grafton Grafton, WI	12 / 33 (647.9998)	30 (150.2856)	1 (170.2858)	9 (164)	8 (163.4284)
Jun 14, 2013	Pig in the Park Whitewater, WI	8 / 29 (636.5714)	18 (158.2858)	3 (165.7144)	18 (154.2854)	11 (158.2858)
Jun 7, 2013	Poor Que Montello, WI	8 / 39 (648.5714)	3 (167.9998)	16 (157.1430)	20 (161.1428)	12 (162.2858)
May 3, 2013	The Masters in May Fremont, WI	27 / 48 (617.1430)	21 (158.8570)	42 (144.5716)	34 (152)	10 (161.7144)
Apr 19, 2013	Smoke Over Veishea Ames, IA	28 / 36 (629.1428)	27 (161.1428)	22 (161.7144)	29 (154.2856)	32 (152)

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

FOX RIVER BBQ

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 (13 found in their record)

A multi-meat day

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The drought

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

A September team

The long haul

The metronome

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)