The heartbreaker
2.2860
points from the title
Came within 2.2860 points of the Grand Championship at Delaware's Triple Threat BBQ Festival at the Fair (Apr 11, 2014).
FINN'S FINEST BBQ
FINN'S FINEST BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 49 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2018. They have won 3 Grand Championships, most recently at the New Jersey State Barbecue Championship (2016), and finished Reserve Grand Champion 3 times. They are ranked #615 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1657
peak 1662 · rated over 48 contests1 invitational or side-series contest not counted
Contests
49
in the data
First seen
Apr 19, 2013
latest Oct 19, 2018 · 5.5 years on the trail
Grand champs
3
3 reserve · wins it all 6% of the time
Category wins
7
20 podiums
Overall top-10s
13
27% of 49 contests
Best top-10 run
3
straight overall top-10s
Avg finish
top 33%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
649.56
last 5 Master vs avg 649.66 (-0.09)
Walk rate
73%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±29.99
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 165.86 · weakest Pork (161.37)
Road miles
8,297
across 49 mapped stops · furthest 1,038 mi
Schedule strength
36%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1548)
State championships
0 🏅
won from 1 state-championship entry
Master avg
649.66 / 720
49 Master contests · 3 GCs
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 | #351 (1,055 pts) | #350 (1,055 pts) | #301 (1,150 pts) | #577 (695 pts) | #299 (1,190 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #336 (1,083 pts) | #367 (1,033 pts) | #295 (1,193 pts) | #460 (888 pts) | #434 (923 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #311 (1,159 pts) | #221 (1,364 pts) | #440 (859 pts) | #370 (979 pts) | #355 (1,019 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #298 (1,188 pts) | #316 (1,103 pts) | #422 (933 pts) | #211 (1,368 pts) | #467 (803 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #230 (1,284 pts) | #226 (1,194 pts) | #175 (1,399 pts) | #247 (1,124 pts) | #249 (1,159 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to FINN'S FINEST BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
#612 of the rated field
- Contests
- 56
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 36%
- Peak
- 1659
0–2 in 2 shared contests (0% to FINN'S FINEST BBQ)
2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team FINN'S FINEST BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-head#611 of the rated field
- Contests
- 54
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 35%
- Peak
- 1672
4–9 in 13 shared contests (31% to FINN'S FINEST BBQ)
Careers of much the same size, 54 contests to 49, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Head-to-head#616 of the rated field
- Contests
- 47
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 40%
- Peak
- 1674
47 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 40% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careers#613 of the rated field
- Contests
- 25
- GCs
- 2
- Top-10s
- 72%
- Peak
- 1661
Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.
⚔ Compare careers#614 of the rated field
- Contests
- 150
- GCs
- 2
- Top-10s
- 23%
- Peak
- 1693
They've been 1693 at their best, 35 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.
⚔ Compare careers#602 of the rated field
- Contests
- 51
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 22%
- Peak
- 1663
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to FINN'S FINEST BBQ)
Level with FINN'S FINEST BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Head-to-headFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIGHEADED BBQ | 26 | 14 | 12 | 54% | ⚔ compare |
| Uncle Pig's Barbeque Pit | 25 | 13 | 12 | 52% | ⚔ compare |
| SLOWER LOWER BBQ | 23 | 19 | 4 | 83% | ⚔ compare |
| THE BBQ GURU | 22 | 9 | 13 | 41% | ⚔ compare |
| SIR-PORK'S-ALOT BBQ | 21 | 18 | 3 | 86% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN' TEX BBQ | 21 | 15 | 6 | 71% | ⚔ compare |
| ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ | 21 | 8 | 13 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| SAUCE THIS BBQ | 21 | 7 | 14 | 33% | ⚔ compare |
| LO' -N- SLO' BBQ | 21 | 5 | 16 | 24% | ⚔ compare |
| WEEKEND SMOKERS | 20 | 13 | 7 | 65% | ⚔ compare |
| 3 EYZ BBQ | 20 | 6 | 14 | 30% | ⚔ compare |
| SHADY CREW | 19 | 13 | 6 | 68% | ⚔ compare |
| APORKALYPSE NOW | 19 | 3 | 16 | 16% | ⚔ compare |
| WILBUR'S REVENGE | 18 | 13 | 5 | 72% | ⚔ compare |
| BEERBEQUE | 18 | 7 | 11 | 39% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 49 | 16 | 4 | 8 | 177.1428 | 150.7884 | 165.86 | top 34% |
| Pork Ribs | 49 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 177.7028 | 147.9428 | 163.13 | top 35% |
| Pork | 49 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 177.1544 | 147.3600 | 161.37 | top 45% |
| Brisket | 48 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 176.5600 | 145.6456 | 162.61 | top 37% |
“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 18% |
| Medium (20–39) | 10 | 0 | top 40% |
| Large (40+) | 38 | 3 | top 32% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey State Barbecue Championship | 6 | 1 | 1 | top 19% | Jul 14, 2018 |
| Que by the Sea | 4 | 12 | 0 | top 51% | Sep 22, 2018 |
| Smoke in the Valley BBQ competition | 2 | 1 | 1 | top 3% | May 6, 2016 |
| Boo-B-Que | 2 | 23 | 0 | top 41% | Oct 19, 2018 |
| Historic New Castle Colonial BBQ Competition | 2 | 14 | 0 | top 37% | Jun 8, 2018 |
| 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) | 2 | 41 | 0 | top 41% | Sep 1, 2017 |
| Beltway BBQ Showdown | 2 | 11 | 0 | top 51% | Jun 6, 2014 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2017
10 contests
Contests a season
8.2
across 6 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
DE
11 of 49 contests · 9 states in all
Contests visited
36
7 of them more than once
First title
Oct 30, 2015
Boo B Que By the Sea
Opponents faced
1,259
finished ahead 2,019 times, behind 983
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20181 milestone
- Most recent contest Boo-B-Que
20173 milestones
- Career-best overall score689.0400 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL)
- Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)177.7028 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL)
- Peak power rating (1662) Boo-B-Que
20161 milestone
- Biggest field won (65 teams) New Jersey State Barbecue Championship
20153 milestones
- First multi-meat day Ribs & Rides BBQ Festival at Dorney Park
- 25th tracked contest Southern Maryland Brew & BBQ
- First Grand Championship Boo B Que By the Sea
20143 milestones
- First overall podium Delaware's Triple Threat BBQ Festival at the Fair
- First Reserve Championship Delaware's Triple Threat BBQ Festival at the Fair
- First category win (Pork) Smoke in the Valley BBQ Competition
20135 milestones
- First tracked contest Pork in the Park Barbeque Festival
- First call Pork in the Park Barbeque Festival
- First overall top-10 New Jersey State Barbecue Championship
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score670.2056 12th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash
- 10th tracked contest DO AC Smokin' Hot Atlantic City BBQ Championship
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +14.2 | Delaware's Triple Threat BBQ Festival at the Fair | Apr 11, 2014 |
| +14.1 | Boo B Que By the Sea | Oct 30, 2015 |
| +13.4 | 12th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash | Aug 9, 2013 |
| +13.3 | Smoke in the Valley BBQ competition | May 6, 2016 |
| +13 | Smoke in the Valley BBQ Competition | May 9, 2014 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -19.7 | Que by the Sea | Sep 19, 2015 |
| -11.2 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) | Oct 21, 2016 |
| -4.9 | Coal Cracker Smoke & Stoke BBQ Competition | Sep 12, 2014 |
| -4.8 | Beltway BBQ Showdown | Jun 6, 2014 |
| -4.3 | Twin Valley Fire and Smoke | May 19, 2017 |
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 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 50% | top 42% | 90.7% | 89.7% |
| 2017 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 70% | top 31% | 95.7% | 92.2% |
| 2016 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 88% | top 34% | 94.9% | 91.9% |
| 2015 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 78% | top 34% | 92.8% | 88.4% |
| 2014 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 88% | top 33% | 93.3% | 89.7% |
| 2013 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 60% | top 30% | 93.1% | 89.2% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 19, 2018 | Boo-B-Que Rehoboth Beach, DE | 36 / 73 (647.2572) | 35 (164.5256) | 51 (153.0972) | 42 (160.5144) | 19 (169.1200) |
| Sep 22, 2018 | Que by the Sea Seaside Heights, NJ | 15 / 43 (648.9716) | 1 (173.7028) | 17 (161.0972) | 36 (152.4800) | 14 (161.6916) |
| Jul 14, 2018 | New Jersey State Barbecue Championship North Wildwood, NJ | 26 / 64 (634.7316) | 22 (161.6916) | 17 (162.3088) | 36 (157.0856) | 32 (153.6456) |
| Jun 8, 2018 | Historic New Castle Colonial BBQ Competition New Castle, DE | 18 / 42 (652.9940) | 26 (159.4056) | 26 (158.2400) | 21 (162.7884) | 3 (172.5600) |
| Oct 20, 2017 | Boo-B-Que Rehobeth Beach, DE | 23 / 69 (663.8628) | 7 (173.1428) | 14 (170.8228) | 60 (150.2172) | 10 (169.6800) |
| Sep 22, 2017 | Que by the Sea Seaside Heights, NJ | 12 / 43 (661.0056) | 12 (168.5484) | 31 (156.5028) | 9 (166.2744) | 6 (169.6800) |
| Sep 1, 2017 | 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 204 / 407 (661.6228) | 182 (167.4400) | 36 (174.2628) | 291 (160.5600) | 281 (159.3600) |
| Aug 31, 2017 | 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL) unrated Kansas City, KS | 41 / 129 (689.0400) | 62 (171.9772) | 9 (177.7028) | 58 (171.9772) | 90 (167.3828) |
| Jul 28, 2017 | The Great Adirondack BBQ Old Forge, NY | 11 / 30 (646.2400) | 1 (173.7144) | 23 (147.9428) | 18 (157.7028) | 5 (166.8800) |
| Jul 7, 2017 | New Jersey State Barbecue Championship North Wildwood, NJ | 2 / 67 (669.0284) | 11 (167.3828) | 1 (173.7372) | 30 (157.6456) | 9 (170.2628) |
| Jun 9, 2017 | Historic New Castle Colonial BBQ Competition New Castle, DE | 14 / 46 (663.3140) | 37 (156.5256) | 10 (165.7028) | 19 (164.5256) | 4 (176.5600) |
| May 19, 2017 | Twin Valley Fire and Smoke Morgantown, PA | 28 / 53 (648.9596) | 41 (161.6800) | 25 (163.9656) | 27 (162.2284) | 27 (161.0856) |
| Apr 7, 2017 | Boss Frogs BBQ Hurlock, MD | 11 / 45 (665.0400) | 14 (167.4172) | 5 (172.5600) | 41 (154.2400) | 7 (170.8228) |
| Mar 24, 2017 | BBQ Gives Back Urbanna, VA | 15 / 64 (669.0856) | 29 (169.1428) | 17 (168.5600) | 23 (166.8228) | 25 (164.5600) |
| Oct 21, 2016 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) Lynchburg, TN | 83 / 96 (652.9596) | 72 (163.9772) | 33 (171.9656) | 92 (154.2284) | 74 (162.7884) |
| Oct 7, 2016 | Keystone Classic BBQ State Championship 🏅 Harrisburg, PA | 16 / 47 (662.1712) | 13 (169.6800) | 2 (171.4400) | 26 (162.2400) | 26 (158.8112) |
| Sep 17, 2016 | Que by the Sea Seaside Heights, NJ | 19 / 44 (642.8004) | 26 (158.8688) | 32 (150.2516) | 4 (169.7144) | 11 (163.9656) |
| Sep 10, 2016 | Philadelphia's Inaugural Fire Up HOPE Devon, PA | 14 / 33 (655.9084) | 18 (164.5600) | 2 (173.7600) | 17 (159.9428) | 24 (157.6456) |
| Jul 8, 2016 | New Jersey State Barbecue Championship North Wildwood, NJ | 1 / 65 (683.3372) | 2 (171.9656) | 3 (170.2860) | 3 (168.5256) | 3 (172.5600) |
| Jun 10, 2016 | The Historic New Castle Colonial BBQ Competition at Battery Park New Castle, DE | 17 / 39 (651.3256) | 5 (169.6684) | 17 (163.4288) | 32 (154.8000) | 16 (163.4284) |
| May 6, 2016 | Smoke in the Valley BBQ competition Greenlane, PA | 1 / 47 (682.7196) | 3 (176) | 8 (167.3828) | 7 (168.5256) | 7 (170.8112) |
| Apr 8, 2016 | Triple Threat BBQ, Beer and Music Festval Harrington, DE | 16 / 75 (661.0628) | 21 (167.4172) | 12 (169.7028) | 52 (153.0856) | 7 (170.8572) |
| Oct 30, 2015 | Boo B Que By the Sea Rehobeth Beach, DE | 1 / 59 (664.4916) | 29 (161.6800) | 32 (159.3944) | 6 (167.9772) | 4 (175.4400) |
| Sep 19, 2015 | Que by the Sea Seaside Heights, NJ | 41 / 41 (471.4056) | 23 (157.6912) | 15 (161.7144) | 32 (152) | — |
| Jul 31, 2015 | Southern Maryland Brew & BBQ Leonardtown, MD | 19 / 54 (655.2684) | 35 (159.3828) | 7 (167.3944) | 24 (162.2284) | 15 (166.2628) |
| Jul 10, 2015 | New Jersey State Barbecue Championship North Wildwood, NJ | 9 / 65 (656.6056) | 13 (165.7256) | 47 (152.0228) | 5 (168.5600) | 5 (170.2972) |
| Jun 27, 2015 | Ribs & Rides BBQ Festival at Dorney Park Allentown, PA | 3 / 17 (668.0460) | 1 (174.8800) | 15 (150.8688) | 5 (166.8800) | 1 (175.4172) |
| Jun 13, 2015 | Sun BBQ Fest Uncasville, CT | 18 / 52 (664.5260) | 7 (171.4400) | 29 (162.8688) | 12 (168.5372) | 23 (161.6800) |
| May 29, 2015 | Pig & A Jig BBQ Festival Snow Hill, MD | 11 / 32 (657.5884) | 2 (177.1428) | 10 (168) | 20 (162.2284) | 25 (150.2172) |
| May 8, 2015 | Smoke in the Valley BBQ Competition & Festival Green Lane, PA | 29 / 57 (635.9200) | 1 (176.5828) | 13 (164.5600) | 47 (147.3600) | 43 (147.4172) |
| Apr 10, 2015 | Triple Threat BBQ Beer and Music Festival Harrington, DE | 21 / 99 (655.9312) | 21 (167.9656) | 41 (161.1544) | 29 (163.9428) | 37 (162.8684) |
| Oct 3, 2014 | Keystone Classic Barbeque Harrisburg, PA | 21 / 53 (645.0400) | 14 (167.4172) | 28 (159.4172) | 31 (157.7028) | 22 (160.5028) |
| Sep 12, 2014 | Coal Cracker Smoke & Stoke BBQ Competition Scranton, PA | 15 / 25 (624.9824) | 9 (162.2628) | 17 (151.9428) | 5 (163.4056) | 21 (147.3712) |
| Jul 11, 2014 | New Jersey State Barbecue Championship North Wildwood, NJ | 30 / 65 (614.0912) | 46 (150.7884) | 8 (163.3828) | 50 (147.3828) | 28 (152.5372) |
| Jun 27, 2014 | Covington Cork & Pork Festival Covington, VA | 8 / 26 (660.4456) | 12 (163.3828) | 6 (170.2972) | 11 (166.2284) | 17 (160.5372) |
| Jun 6, 2014 | Beltway BBQ Showdown Ft. Washington, MD | 24 / 42 (633.5544) | 17 (163.4172) | 19 (159.3944) | 10 (165.0972) | 33 (145.6456) |
| May 30, 2014 | Pig and A Jig BBQ Festival Snow Hill, MD | 8 / 30 (656.4456) | 15 (159.9656) | 5 (169.1660) | 4 (166.2400) | 14 (161.0740) |
| May 9, 2014 | Smoke in the Valley BBQ Competition Green Lane, PA | 2 / 54 (660.0116) | 9 (164.5600) | 28 (152) | 1 (177.1544) | 4 (166.2972) |
| Apr 11, 2014 | Delaware's Triple Threat BBQ Festival at the Fair Harrington, DE | 2 / 109 (671.9656) | 2 (175.4400) | 24 (163.4172) | 2 (173.1772) | 30 (159.9312) |
| Oct 5, 2013 | DO AC Smokin' Hot Atlantic City BBQ Championship Atlantic City, NJ | 30 / 85 (629.0516) | 18 (165.7144) | 47 (153.0972) | 18 (162.2628) | 54 (147.9772) |
| Sep 20, 2013 | Hogs & Hops Dover Dover, DE | 21 / 45 (634.1144) | 17 (163.3828) | 11 (163.3944) | 33 (152.5372) | 21 (154.8000) |
| Aug 16, 2013 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Laurel, MD | 8 / 29 (662.1712) | 6 (171.4172) | 4 (171.4056) | 23 (154.8228) | 10 (164.5256) |
| Aug 9, 2013 | 12th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash Bel Air, MD | 4 / 60 (670.2056) | 7 (168.5372) | 3 (171.4400) | 19 (162.2400) | 8 (167.9884) |
| Jul 12, 2013 | New Jersey State Barbecue Championship North Wildwood, NJ | 7 / 65 (641.0628) | 30 (153.7144) | 7 (165.1200) | 3 (169.1084) | 27 (153.1200) |
| Jun 21, 2013 | BBQ, Bands & Brews Palmyra, VA | 13 / 25 (642.8574) | 7 (164) | 10 (160.5716) | 22 (154.8572) | 7 (163.4286) |
| May 31, 2013 | Beltway BBQ Showdown Ft. Washington, MD | 11 / 25 (641.7142) | 11 (165.1428) | 10 (161.7144) | 18 (152.5714) | 9 (162.2856) |
| May 17, 2013 | Middletown BBQ Cook Off Middletown, DE | 16 / 56 (631.9994) | 25 (156.5714) | 14 (158.2858) | 17 (159.9996) | 17 (157.1426) |
| May 10, 2013 | BBQ Jamboree Fredericksburg, VA | 12 / 60 (637.1426) | 15 (161.7144) | 21 (158.2856) | 20 (157.7140) | 12 (159.4286) |
| Apr 19, 2013 | Pork in the Park Barbeque Festival Salisbury, MD | 27 / 106 (633.1426) | 44 (158.8572) | 73 (148.5714) | 9 (168.5714) | 42 (157.1426) |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.