Smoke Masters Mafia

Smoke Masters Mafia is a competition barbecue team with 8 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2018. They have won 1 Grand Championship, at the Racing for the BBQ (2015). They are ranked #3119 of 6,485 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#3,119

of 6,485 rated · rankings

Rating

1503

peak 1519 · rated over 7 contests1 invitational or side-series contest not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Sep 6, 2013

latest Jul 27, 2018 · 4.9 years on the trail

Grand champs

0 reserve · wins it all 13% of the time

Category wins

0 podiums

Overall top-10s

13% of 8 contests

Avg finish

top 60%

overall standings

Best overall

696.0344 / 720

Master · Racing for the BBQ

Perfect 180s

Current form

642.19 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 649.21 (-7.02)

Walk rate

38%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

174.9144

Pork Ribs · Racing for the BBQ

Consistency

±21.38

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 165.71 · weakest Chicken (158.76)

Road miles

across 8 mapped stops

Schedule strength

35%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1547)

Master avg

649.21 / 720

8 Master contests · 1 GC

Storylines (8 found in their record)

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

Against the odds

12-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings

The ratings favoured the top seed the other 88 times in 100

Their Grand Championship at Racing for the BBQ (Jul 24, 2015) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 12-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, DIRT ROAD BBQ.

Giant slayer

63 teams beaten in one weekend

Took the Grand Championship over a 63-team field at Racing for the BBQ.

Jul 24, 2015

High-water mark

696.0344 career-best overall

96.7% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 696.0344 at Racing for the BBQ — 96.7% of a perfect 720.

Master
Jul 24, 2015

A tough matchup

6–1 behind in the head-to-head

SLAPS BBQ ahead in 86% of their meetings

SLAPS BBQ has come out ahead in 6 of their 7 shared contests.

The weak link

−6.9 points behind their best meat

Chicken is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 6.95 points below their pork ribs, and turns into a call 13% of the time against 25%.

Chicken avg 158.76
Pork Ribs avg 165.71
1 call in 8 entries

A strong matchup

3–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 75% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of HI-TECH SMOKERS in 3 of their 4 shared contests.

The comeback

1.7 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 1.7 years, then back at Racing for the BBQ (Jul 27, 2018).

last seen Oct 29, 2016
back Jul 27, 2018

Show 1 more storyline

Pork Ribs nemesis

6 of 7 shared pork ribs entries lost

SLAPS BBQ ahead 86% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, SLAPS BBQ has out-cooked them in 6 of 7 shared pork ribs entries.

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Smoke Masters Mafia, each with one reason worth a look.

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

SMOKED IGUANA BBQ & SAUCE COMPANY

#3,125 of the rated field

1503 power rating

Contests: 7
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1517

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Smoke Masters Mafia)

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

rated over 7 contests
last seen Nov 5, 2025

⚔ Head-to-head

Disciples of Blues & BBQ

#3,122 of the rated field

1503 power rating

Contests: 7
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1513

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Smoke Masters Mafia)

Careers of much the same size, 7 contests to 8, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 7 contests
last seen Sep 15, 2018

⚔ Head-to-head

H QUE

#3,109 of the rated field

1503 power rating

Contests: 6
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1503

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Smoke Masters Mafia)

Level with Smoke Masters Mafia on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 6 contests
last seen Aug 3, 2018

⚔ Head-to-head

RED RIVER BBQ

#3,127 of the rated field

1503 power rating

Contests: 6
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1503

1–2 in 3 shared contests (33% to Smoke Masters Mafia)

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

rated over 5 contests
last seen Oct 29, 2016

⚔ Head-to-head

Black Stack BBQ

#3,101 of the rated field

1503 power rating

Contests: 7
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 14%
Peak: 1513

Careers of much the same size, 7 contests to 8, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 7 contests
last seen Jun 12, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

E Z Q

#3,111 of the rated field

1503 power rating

Contests: 7
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 29%
Peak: 1509

Careers of much the same size, 7 contests to 8, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 7 contests
last seen Oct 4, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SLAPS BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
THUMP & STRUM BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
DIRT ROAD BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare
Smoke on the Water	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
PELLET ENVY	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' SAUCED	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN R BUTTS	5	2	3	40%	⚔ compare
KCQ	5	2	3	40%	⚔ compare
BACKFIRIN' BBQ	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare
BURNT FINGER BBQ	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	8	1	174.8572	142.7544	158.76	top 66%
Pork Ribs	8	2	174.9144	152.5372	165.71	top 43%
Pork	8	0	172.5484	152.5028	160.90	top 68%
Brisket	8	2	173.7144	146.8000	163.83	top 45%

“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 state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
MO	6	1	top 52%
KS	2	0	top 83%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Racing for the BBQ	3	1	1	top 52%	Jul 27, 2018
37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)	2	176	0	top 83%	Oct 29, 2016

More numbers

Busiest season 2016 3 contests

Contests a season 1.6 across 5 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MO 6 of 8 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 5 2 of them more than once

First title Jul 24, 2015 Racing for the BBQ

Opponents faced 730 finished ahead 376 times, behind 736

Longest layoff 1.7 yrs Oct 29, 2016 → Jul 27, 2018

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

20181 milestone

Jul 27 Most recent contest Racing for the BBQ

20157 milestones

Jul 24 First overall top-10 Racing for the BBQ
Jul 24 First overall podium Racing for the BBQ
Jul 24 First Grand Championship Racing for the BBQ
Jul 24 Biggest field won (63 teams) Racing for the BBQ
Jul 24 Career-best overall score696.0344 Racing for the BBQ
Jul 24 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)174.9144 Racing for the BBQ
Sep 11 Peak power rating (1519) Independence Fire & Ice BBQ

20133 milestones

Sep 6 First tracked contest Blue Springs Barbeque Blaze-Off
Sep 6 First call Blue Springs Barbeque Blaze-Off
Sep 6 First overall past 90% of a perfect score648.4340 Blue Springs Barbeque Blaze-Off

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+17.7	Racing for the BBQ	Jul 24, 2015
+8.6	Independence Fire & Ice BBQ	Sep 11, 2015
+1	Blue Springs Barbeque Blaze-Off	Sep 6, 2013

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-8.2	Racing for the BBQ	Jul 25, 2014
-7.7	Racing for the BBQ	Jul 27, 2018
-5.7	Racing for the BBQ	Jul 29, 2016
-3.2	37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)	Oct 29, 2016

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	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2018	1	0	0	0%	top 77%	86%	86%
2016	3	0	0	0%	top 80%	90.1%	89.2%
2015	2	1	1	50%	top 15%	96.7%	94.5%
2014	1	0	0	100%	top 80%	88.6%	88.6%
2013	1	0	0	100%	top 50%	90.1%	90.1%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jul 27, 2018	Racing for the BBQ Lee's Summit, MO	51 / 66 (619.3144)	51 (147.9544)	26 (164.6172)	52 (152.5028)	41 (154.2400)
Oct 29, 2016	37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	375 / 557 (640.9604)	539 (142.7544)	286 (164.5488)	399 (159.9544)	51 (173.7028)
Oct 28, 2016	37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL) unrated Kansas City, KS	176 / 180 (637.1088)	173 (157.7488)	177 (152.5372)	169 (160)	115 (166.8228)
Jul 29, 2016	Racing for the BBQ Lee's Summit, MO	41 / 54 (649.0516)	45 (161.1428)	25 (167.3944)	44 (160.5600)	41 (159.9544)
Sep 11, 2015	Independence Fire & Ice BBQ Independence, MO	22 / 76 (664.5372)	22 (167.4628)	15 (169.6916)	35 (162.8228)	27 (164.5600)
Jul 24, 2015	Racing for the BBQ Lees Summit, MO	1 / 63 (696.0344)	9 (174.8572)	7 (174.9144)	13 (172.5484)	8 (173.7144)
Jul 25, 2014	Racing for the BBQ Lee's Summit, MO	43 / 54 (638.2400)	52 (151.3712)	39 (158.2860)	42 (157.7028)	4 (170.8800)
Sep 6, 2013	Blue Springs Barbeque Blaze-Off Blue Springs, MO	36 / 72 (648.4340)	23 (166.8228)	6 (173.7028)	52 (161.1084)	65 (146.8000)

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

Smoke Masters Mafia

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Master avg

Storylines (8 found in their record)

Against the odds

Giant slayer

High-water mark

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Pork Ribs nemesis

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 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)