The heartbreaker
Came within 3.9768 points of the Grand Championship at 21st Colorado BBQ Challenge (2014-06-13).
Each card leads with the number that made it a story — read straight out of their results, no editorialising.
Came within 3.9768 points of the Grand Championship at 21st Colorado BBQ Challenge (2014-06-13).
In the top 6% of every rated team in the data
A power rating of 1701 puts them #387 of 6,413 rated teams — the top 6% of the field.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 70 times in 100
Their Grand Championship at Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge (2015-08-14) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 30-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, Smoke-A-Holics.
Took the Grand Championship over a 31-team field at Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge.
Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge is their spot: 1 Grand Championship in 3 visits.
A call in 45 of 54 contests
A top-10 category call in 83% of their 54 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.
96.6% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 695.4060 at 21st Colorado BBQ Challenge — 96.6% of a perfect 720.
CRAZY COYOTE has finished one call ahead of 3 LIL' MACS BBQ 3 times — their closest competition in the data.
CLARK CREW BBQ ahead in 95% of their meetings
CLARK CREW BBQ has come out ahead in 21 of their 22 shared contests.
Their last Grand Championship came at Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge on 2015-08-14 — 35 contests and 11.1 years ago.
Ahead in 96% of their meetings
They've finished ahead of Lost Weekend Grill in 27 of their 28 shared contests.
Off the trail for 1.6 years, then back at Wild West BBQ Cook-Off (2021-05-07).
WILD HOGS BBQ has landed one call behind them 3 times.
Something about August: average finish in the top 15% across 11 contests, versus top 31% the rest of the year.
Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 12,184 miles across 54 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 1,079 miles to Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY).
Their overall lands within ±1.84% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.
They've cooked Griller's Cup every year from 2013 to 2016 — the contest they never miss.
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.
One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team 3 LIL' MACS BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-headCareers of much the same size, 72 contests to 54, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Head-to-headThey've been 1750 at their best, 50 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.
⚔ Head-to-headTheir last contest in the data was back in 2019, 4 years before 3 LIL' MACS BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-head60 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 28% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Head-to-headBoth teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.
⚔ Head-to-head| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backdraft BBQ | 41 | 20 | 21 | 49% | ⚔ compare |
| Lost Weekend Grill | 28 | 27 | 1 | 96% | ⚔ compare |
| GRILLIN' BEAVERS | 28 | 21 | 7 | 75% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | 27 | 21 | 6 | 78% | ⚔ compare |
| THE CELTIC PIG | 27 | 12 | 15 | 44% | ⚔ compare |
| BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | 24 | 24 | 0 | 100% | ⚔ compare |
| BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | 24 | 10 | 14 | 42% | ⚔ compare |
| CLARK CREW BBQ | 22 | 1 | 21 | 5% | ⚔ compare |
| PORKY'S PIT CREW | 21 | 16 | 5 | 76% | ⚔ compare |
| JO-BAWB'S BBQ | 21 | 5 | 16 | 24% | ⚔ compare |
| Q LIVE CREW | 20 | 20 | 0 | 100% | ⚔ compare |
| WILD HOGS BBQ | 20 | 14 | 6 | 70% | ⚔ compare |
| PROUD SOULS BARBECUE | 20 | 12 | 8 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN TRIGGERS | 19 | 13 | 6 | 68% | ⚔ compare |
| Big Daddy's Backyard BBQ | 19 | 10 | 9 | 53% | ⚔ compare |
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 54 | 21 | 0 | 7 | 177.7028 | 151.9200 | 168.78 | top 38% |
| Pork Ribs | 54 | 30 | 0 | 6 | 178.2972 | 154.8572 | 169.07 | top 32% |
| Pork | 54 | 22 | 2 | 5 | 176.5600 | 150.2856 | 166.68 | top 40% |
| Brisket | 54 | 21 | 2 | 5 | 178.8572 | 146.2854 | 166.33 | top 36% |
“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.
| Where | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| CO | 41 | 1 | top 29% |
| KS | 5 | 0 | top 35% |
| WY | 4 | 0 | top 34% |
| NE | 2 | 0 | top 50% |
| SD | 1 | 0 | top 14% |
| TN | 1 | 0 | top 76% |
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium (20–39) | 31 | 1 | top 33% |
| Large (40+) | 23 | 0 | top 28% |
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Griller's Cup | 4 | 5 | 0 | top 34% | 2016-07-15 |
| Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge | 3 | 1 | 1 | top 13% | 2015-08-14 |
| Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | 3 | 8 | 0 | top 43% | 2017-04-14 |
| Greeley Blues Jam (Day 2) | 2 | 6 | 0 | top 24% | 2022-06-04 |
| Wild West BBQ Cook-Off | 2 | 7 | 0 | top 22% | 2021-05-07 |
| Buskers, Brews & BBQ | 2 | 10 | 0 | top 42% | 2019-06-07 |
| San Luis Valley Beat the Heat BBQ | 2 | 3 | 0 | top 10% | 2018-08-03 |
| 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue(OPEN) | 2 | 52 | 0 | top 25% | 2016-10-29 |
| Smokin' Brew BBQ | 2 | 7 | 0 | top 14% | 2015-09-05 |
| Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge | 2 | 9 | 0 | top 36% | 2014-09-12 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +14.3 | Wild West BBQ | 2013-05-10 |
| +14 | 21st Colorado BBQ Challenge | 2014-06-13 |
| +12.4 | Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge | 2015-08-14 |
| +12.4 | The SLV Beat the Heat BBQ, Brews and Chili Competition | 2014-08-01 |
| +12.1 | Smokin' Brew BBQ | 2013-08-30 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -8.9 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST | 2021-09-16 |
| -8.6 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) | 2016-10-21 |
| -6.2 | 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) | 2018-09-15 |
| -4.9 | National Western BBQ Throwdown | 2019-01-11 |
| -4.6 | 2015 Colorado Rockies Championship | 2015-09-18 |
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 38% | 93.6% | 93.6% |
| 2022 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 100% | top 24% | 96.3% | 95% |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 75% | top 23% | 95.9% | 93.7% |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 80% | top 43% | 93.7% | 92.5% |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 67% | top 33% | 95.3% | 92.8% |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 100% | top 34% | 95.3% | 93.2% |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 63% | top 32% | 95.3% | 93% |
| 2015 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 83% | top 28% | 96.3% | 93.8% |
| 2014 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 86% | top 32% | 96.6% | 93.1% |
| 2013 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 100% | top 31% | 94.8% | 91.5% |
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-16 | Colorado BBQ Challenge 🏅 Frisco, CO | 16 / 42 (673.6116) | 13 (173.1200) | 13 (170.8344) | 26 (162.2744) | 15 (167.3828) |
| 2022-10-22 | Meat Scream BBQ Competition-Day 2 🏅 Westminster, CO | 8 / 31 (684.5028) | 8 (173.1200) | 16 (168.5600) | 5 (172.0000) | 9 (170.8228) |
| 2022-10-21 | Meat Scream BBQ Competition-Day 1 🏅 Westminster, CO | 9 / 32 (679.4172) | 12 (170.2628) | 2 (177.1544) | 20 (166.2972) | 19 (165.7028) |
| 2022-08-26 | Hill City Wine, Brew & BBQ Fest 🏅 Hill City, SD | 4 / 28 (693.6572) | 2 (176.5600) | 17 (168.5716) | 10 (173.1084) | 5 (175.4172) |
| 2022-08-05 | Beat the Heat BBQ & Brews 🏅 Alamosa, CO | 13 / 35 (682.2400) | 14 (168.5256) | 8 (173.7144) | 6 (174.3200) | 19 (165.6800) |
| 2022-06-16 | Frisco BBQ Challenge 🏅 Frisco, CO | 5 / 37 (693.6456) | 2 (177.7028) | 4 (175.4172) | 1 (176.5600) | 15 (163.9656) |
| 2022-06-04 | Greeley Blues Jam (Day 2) 🏅 Greeley, CO | 6 / 34 (684.4916) | 2 (176.5716) | 9 (171.4172) | 14 (167.9772) | 12 (168.5256) |
| 2022-06-03 | Greeley Blues Jam (Day 1) 🏅 Greeley, CO | 10 / 33 (672.4456) | 7 (173.7028) | 3 (174.8572) | 30 (157.6456) | 16 (166.2400) |
| 2021-09-16 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 194 / 467 (666.7656) | 268 (163.9656) | 195 (167.9772) | 74 (172.0000) | 258 (162.8228) |
| 2021-08-13 | Milliken BBQ Beef N Bean Day 🏅 Milliken, CO | 7 / 42 (675.9200) | 27 (164.5372) | 8 (171.4172) | 6 (170.2628) | 8 (169.7028) |
| 2021-08-06 | SLV Beat the Heat BBQ 🏅 Alamosa, CO | 4 / 42 (690.8116) | 13 (171.9772) | 6 (175.4172) | 18 (171.4056) | 8 (172.0116) |
| 2021-05-07 | Wild West BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Lamar, CO | 8 / 35 (664.4912) | 14 (167.9656) | 8 (170.8344) | 21 (161.1200) | 13 (164.5712) |
| 2019-09-20 | Constitution Week BBQ & Music Festival 🏅 Grand Lake, CO | 9 / 25 (660.9828) | 12 (166.2744) | 6 (170.8228) | 21 (153.0744) | 4 (170.8112) |
| 2019-09-12 | 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 124 / 468 (674.8572) | 260 (164.0228) | 42 (174.2972) | 261 (164.5372) | 89 (172.0000) |
| 2019-06-14 | 26th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge 🏅 Frisco, CO | 26 / 55 (659.8972) | 4 (175.4056) | 28 (163.9544) | 39 (156.0000) | 25 (164.5372) |
| 2019-06-07 | Buskers, Brews & BBQ 🏅 Aurora, CO | 17 / 38 (669.0400) | 20 (165.1200) | 6 (174.2628) | 20 (164.5600) | 14 (165.0972) |
| 2019-01-11 | National Western BBQ Throwdown 🏅 Denver, CO | 23 / 38 (665.0628) | 33 (160.5600) | 8 (171.9772) | 10 (168.5484) | 21 (163.9772) |
| 2018-09-15 | 39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 269 / 467 (655.3028) | 307 (162.8228) | 261 (165.1084) | 260 (163.3944) | 227 (163.9772) |
| 2018-08-03 | San Luis Valley Beat the Heat BBQ Alamosa, CO | 5 / 41 (686.2860) | 15 (172.5600) | 14 (170.2860) | 9 (172.0000) | 5 (171.4400) |
| 2018-06-15 | 25th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge Frisco, CO | 19 / 62 (663.9544) | 18 (166.2856) | 8 (171.4288) | 25 (166.2628) | 28 (159.9772) |
| 2017-09-22 | BBBrew For Hope Ft.Collins, CO | 11 / 25 (673.0056) | 6 (173.7144) | 6 (170.8344) | 9 (169.6684) | 18 (158.7884) |
| 2017-08-04 | San Luis Valley Beat the Heat BBQ Alamosa, CO | 3 / 44 (686.1944) | 5 (174.2744) | 23 (165.6800) | 3 (176.5600) | 12 (169.6800) |
| 2017-06-16 | 24th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge Frisco, CO | 15 / 59 (675.8512) | 4 (176.5600) | 7 (169.6800) | 21 (167.9656) | 24 (161.6456) |
| 2017-06-09 | Buskers, Brews & BBQ Aurora, CO | 10 / 26 (663.8396) | 8 (172.0000) | 19 (158.2056) | 8 (165.6684) | 9 (167.9656) |
| 2017-04-14 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Fort Collins, CO | 16 / 30 (657.0400) | 21 (161.6800) | 10 (168.5372) | 23 (157.6800) | 5 (169.1428) |
| 2016-10-29 | 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue(OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 119 / 557 (673.0628) | 196 (167.4172) | 172 (168.5372) | 104 (170.8456) | 194 (166.2628) |
| 2016-10-28 | 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue(INVITATIONAL) unrated Kansas City, KS | 52 / 180 (686.2168) | 145 (165.7028) | 10 (177.7028) | 95 (168.5484) | 38 (174.2628) |
| 2016-10-21 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) Lynchburg, TN | 73 / 96 (658.1712) | 73 (163.9656) | 50 (169.6800) | 22 (171.9656) | 89 (152.5600) |
| 2016-07-29 | SanLuis Valley Beat The Heat Brew BBQ & Chili Challenge Alamosa, CO | 6 / 27 (675.3256) | 18 (167.9656) | 3 (171.9772) | 4 (173.1200) | 12 (162.2628) |
| 2016-07-15 | Griller's Cup Laramie, WY | 10 / 27 (666.7200) | 4 (174.2744) | 19 (161.6572) | 22 (156.5028) | 2 (174.2856) |
| 2016-06-17 | 23rd Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge Frisco, CO | 14 / 58 (669.0972) | 31 (163.9656) | 17 (168.0116) | 16 (170.2628) | 13 (166.8572) |
| 2016-05-13 | Wild West BBQ Cook Off Lamar, CO | 7 / 33 (662.7884) | 17 (166.8456) | 5 (172.0000) | 13 (165.1200) | 23 (158.8228) |
| 2016-04-15 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Fort Collins, CO | 8 / 28 (665.6112) | 14 (166.2628) | 4 (173.1316) | 12 (163.9540) | 10 (162.2628) |
| 2015-09-18 | 2015 Colorado Rockies Championship Denver, CO | 27 / 35 (674.7312) | 34 (163.9428) | 20 (169.7028) | 17 (170.2628) | 16 (170.8228) |
| 2015-09-05 | Smokin' Brew BBQ Parker, CO | 7 / 49 (681.0400) | 15 (172.5600) | 24 (163.3828) | 3 (176.5600) | 15 (168.5372) |
| 2015-08-14 | Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge Conifer, CO | 1 / 31 (693.0744) | 6 (171.9656) | 6 (169.6916) | 2 (174.8456) | 2 (176.5716) |
| 2015-07-17 | Griller's Cup Laramie, WY | 5 / 29 (679.3716) | 7 (170.8456) | 10 (166.8344) | 4 (170.2744) | 6 (171.4172) |
| 2015-06-19 | 22nd Colorado BBQ Challenge Frisco, CO | 7 / 58 (677.0860) | 29 (165.1084) | 9 (171.4288) | 25 (161.6916) | 1 (178.8572) |
| 2015-04-17 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Fort Collins, CO | 14 / 30 (646.7316) | 25 (151.9200) | 7 (165.7144) | 23 (157.1200) | 2 (171.9772) |
| 2014-09-12 | Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge Grand Junction, CO | 24 / 47 (659.3832) | 9 (172.5944) | 33 (158.8116) | 29 (163.4172) | 18 (164.5600) |
| 2014-08-15 | Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge Conifer, CO | 4 / 43 (682.8344) | 3 (173.1428) | 11 (168.5600) | 6 (169.7144) | 7 (171.4172) |
| 2014-08-01 | The SLV Beat the Heat BBQ, Brews and Chili Competition Alamosa, CO | 4 / 31 (680.5832) | 13 (168.5944) | 2 (173.1544) | 6 (170.2972) | 7 (168.5372) |
| 2014-07-16 | Griller's Cup Laramie, WY | 11 / 26 (662.7884) | 17 (163.4284) | 11 (169.1316) | 8 (171.9656) | 16 (158.2628) |
| 2014-06-13 | 21st Colorado BBQ Challenge Frisco, CO | 2 / 55 (695.4060) | 3 (175.4516) | 5 (173.7144) | 6 (174.2628) | 8 (171.9772) |
| 2014-05-02 | North Platte Honky Tonk BBQ Festival North Platte, NE | 12 / 25 (659.3600) | 15 (157.0972) | 10 (167.4172) | 7 (167.4400) | 10 (167.4056) |
| 2014-04-18 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Denver, CO | 16 / 30 (653.5428) | 11 (167.9772) | 13 (164.5256) | 19 (161.6800) | 16 (159.3600) |
| 2013-09-13 | Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge Grand Junction, CO | 9 / 42 (671.3484) | 4 (173.7028) | 5 (173.7028) | 28 (158.8000) | 14 (165.1428) |
| 2013-08-30 | Smokin' Brew BBQ Parker, CO | 7 / 53 (682.7884) | 7 (173.1084) | 2 (178.2972) | 11 (169.6800) | 20 (161.7028) |
| 2013-08-16 | Conifer Mountain BBQ Challenge Conifer, CO | 9 / 33 (663.9084) | 3 (171.9772) | 3 (169.6800) | 6 (170.2856) | 21 (151.9656) |
| 2013-07-19 | Griller's Cup Laramie, WY | 13 / 33 (658.6968) | 7 (171.4056) | 24 (158.2172) | 10 (169.1200) | 18 (159.9540) |
| 2013-05-31 | Royal Gorge Holy Smoke BBQ Showdown Canon City, CO | 12 / 33 (646.2854) | 17 (161.1430) | 24 (156.5712) | 20 (154.8570) | 1 (173.7142) |
| 2013-05-10 | Wild West BBQ Lamar, CO | 3 / 31 (663.9994) | 11 (165.7142) | 14 (160.5712) | 1 (170.8570) | 5 (166.8570) |
| 2013-03-29 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Thornton, CO | 14 / 30 (641.1428) | 3 (169.1428) | 23 (154.8572) | 26 (150.2856) | 6 (166.8572) |
| 2013-03-22 | Heatin' Up the Bricks Kearney, NE | 21 / 40 (641.7140) | 11 (167.4286) | 4 (172.0000) | 34 (156.0000) | 37 (146.2854) |
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #1087 (105 pts) | #1011 (120 pts) | #1118 (120 pts) | #1287 (60 pts) | #1109 (110 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #185 (1108 pts) | #133 (1323 pts) | #175 (1193 pts) | #208 (1023 pts) | #278 (833 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #329 (590 pts) | #520 (355 pts) | #380 (545 pts) | #461 (410 pts) | #410 (490 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #1887 (70 pts) | #2049 (60 pts) | #1399 (155 pts) | #1496 (135 pts) | #1868 (80 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #902 (335 pts) | #1089 (265 pts) | #977 (330 pts) | #1087 (265 pts) | #987 (305 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #568 (691 pts) | #505 (781 pts) | #667 (611 pts) | #612 (661 pts) | #677 (591 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #479 (840 pts) | #601 (675 pts) | #396 (990 pts) | #556 (730 pts) | #508 (805 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #388 (960 pts) | #626 (615 pts) | #521 (755 pts) | #404 (920 pts) | #289 (1180 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #419 (906 pts) | #389 (966 pts) | #512 (771 pts) | #467 (831 pts) | #487 (771 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #301 (1024 pts) | #220 (1219 pts) | #250 (1154 pts) | #353 (869 pts) | #306 (999 pts) |