BAREKNUCKLES BBQ

BAREKNUCKLES BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 38 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2018. They have won 1 Grand Championship, at the Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (2016), and finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #742 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#742

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1635

peak 1635 · rated over 38 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Mar 1, 2013

latest May 11, 2018 · 5.2 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#219

Master 2013 · every season

Grand champs

1 reserve · wins it all 3% of the time

Category wins

14 podiums

Overall top-10s

26% of 38 contests

Avg finish

top 39%

overall standings

Best overall

694.2172 / 720

Master · Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

Perfect 180s

1 🔥

Current form

672.22 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 670.39 (+1.83)

Walk rate

71%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

180 🔥

Pork Ribs · Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

Consistency

±11.97

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 168.74 · weakest Brisket (165.76)

Road miles

3,604

across 38 mapped stops · furthest 337 mi

Schedule strength

47%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1562)

State championships

0 🏅

won from 3 state-championship entries

Master avg

670.39 / 720

38 Master contests · 1 GC

Storylines (18 found in their record)

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

The heartbreaker

3.4282 points from the title

Came within 3.4282 points of the Grand Championship at Smokin in the Square (Mar 1, 2013).

Perfect scores on the board

1 perfect 180

1 perfect 180 in the data — every judge at the table handing back a nine, all in pork ribs.

Pork Ribs ×1

Against the odds

23-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings

The ratings favoured the top seed the other 77 times in 100

Their Grand Championship at Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Jun 24, 2016) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 23-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, South Pork.

Giant slayer

30 teams beaten in one weekend

Took the Grand Championship over a 30-team field at Sam's Club National BBQ Tour.

Jun 24, 2016

Happy hunting ground

Top 20% average finish here

SC Festival of Discovery (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) is their spot: an average finish in the top 20% across 4 visits.

4 visits
best finish 9th
average top 20%

They almost always walk

71% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 27 of 38 contests

A top-10 category call in 71% of their 38 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

694.2172 career-best overall

96.4% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 694.2172 at Sam's Club National BBQ Tour — 96.4% of a perfect 720.

Master
Jun 24, 2016

Show 11 more storylines

The one to beat

3× one call ahead of them

MIDNIGHT BURN has finished one call ahead of BAREKNUCKLES BBQ 3 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

18–5 behind in the head-to-head

WAYLON'S WICKEDLY GOOD Q ahead in 78% of their meetings

WAYLON'S WICKEDLY GOOD Q has come out ahead in 18 of their 23 shared contests.

The drought

13 contests since the last title

Their last Grand Championship came at Sam's Club National BBQ Tour on Jun 24, 2016 — 13 contests and 10.3 years ago.

last GC Jun 24, 2016
10.3 years ago

A strong matchup

12–2 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 86% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of HOOTIE-Q in 12 of their 14 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

15 of 23 shared chicken entries lost

WAYLON'S WICKEDLY GOOD Q ahead 65% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, WAYLON'S WICKEDLY GOOD Q has out-cooked them in 15 of 23 shared chicken entries.

Announced themselves early

2nd at their very first contest

Finished 2 of 37 at their very first tracked contest, Smokin in the Square (Mar 1, 2013).

Mar 1, 2013
37-team field

Looking over their shoulder

3× one call behind them

SWIGGIN PIG has landed one call behind them 3 times.

A June team

Top 30% average finish in June

Something about June: average finish in the top 30% across 3 contests, versus top 39% the rest of the year.

3 June contests
top 39% the rest of the year

The long haul

3,604 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 3,604 miles across 38 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 337 miles to Smokin in the Square.

38 mapped stops
furthest 337 mi

The metronome

±1.66% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.66% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 93.1% of a perfect score
38 contests

A standing appointment

5 years running at one contest

They've cooked Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival every year from 2013 to 2017 — the contest they never miss.

5 visits in all
best finish 11th

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
2018 ↗	Master	#861 (360 pts)	#630 (590 pts)	#817 (430 pts)	#809 (425 pts)	#1139 (245 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#794 (473 pts)	#562 (708 pts)	#873 (448 pts)	#960 (388 pts)	#869 (443 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#423 (935 pts)	#565 (715 pts)	#326 (1,120 pts)	#223 (1,365 pts)	#416 (965 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#602 (605 pts)	#601 (650 pts)	#694 (550 pts)	#752 (495 pts)	#619 (610 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#911 (358 pts)	#735 (513 pts)	#1061 (313 pts)	#1050 (318 pts)	#1005 (328 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#219 (1,314 pts)	#230 (1,174 pts)	#146 (1,514 pts)	#229 (1,179 pts)	#255 (1,149 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

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

FLAMING PIG

#743 of the rated field

1635 power rating

Contests: 29
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 34%
Peak: 1645

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to BAREKNUCKLES BBQ)

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

rated over 29 contests
last seen Aug 3, 2018

⚔ Head-to-head

Rise N Swine

#741 of the rated field

1636 power rating

Contests: 96
GCs: 3
Top-10s: 25%
Peak: 1715

They've been 1715 at their best, 80 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 93 contests
last seen Jun 20, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

C4-Que

#738 of the rated field

1636 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 61%
Peak: 1637

1–1 in 2 shared contests (50% to BAREKNUCKLES BBQ)

Fewer contests behind them than BAREKNUCKLES BBQ has cooked, 18 to 38, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 18 contests
last seen Sep 18, 2026
on a 3-contest top-10 run

⚔ Head-to-head

Cowboy Q

#734 of the rated field

1636 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 39
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 41%
Peak: 1650

Their rating is built on 2 Grand Championships in 39 contests, alongside a 41% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 38 contests
last seen Jun 6, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

VICIOUS SMOKE

#740 of the rated field

1636 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 36
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 25%
Peak: 1636

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

rated over 35 contests
last seen Aug 17, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

Swine 'N' Roses BBQ

#737 of the rated field

1636 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 46
GCs: 5
Top-10s: 59%
Peak: 1716

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

rated over 45 contests
last seen May 1, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
WAYLON'S WICKEDLY GOOD Q	23	5	18	22%	⚔ compare
WICKED QUE	20	8	12	40%	⚔ compare
Bald Hawg BBQ	20	7	13	35%	⚔ compare
SMOKE THIS	20	6	14	30%	⚔ compare
Killer B's BBQ	20	4	16	20%	⚔ compare
MIDNIGHT BURN	19	7	12	37%	⚔ compare
SAUCED! BBQ TEAM	16	3	13	19%	⚔ compare
HOOTIE-Q	14	12	2	86%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKEHOUSE MAFIA	14	7	7	50%	⚔ compare
OLD PLANTATION BBQ	14	2	12	14%	⚔ compare
SMOKING BUTT HEADS	13	6	7	46%	⚔ compare
MUTTLEY CREW BBQ	13	5	8	38%	⚔ compare
YES, DEAR BBQ	13	3	10	23%	⚔ compare
QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N	13	2	11	15%	⚔ compare
HOT WACHULA'S	13	1	12	8%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	38	15	0	4	177.7144	153.0628	168.74	top 43%
Pork Ribs	38	11	3	4	180 🔥	150.7200	167.74	top 40%
Pork	38	11	0	5	176.5600	153.0628	168.15	top 37%
Brisket	38	9	0	1	178.8572	149.6340	165.76	top 46%

“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
Medium (20–39)	12	1	top 39%
Large (40+)	26	0	top 38%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
GA	24	0	top 43%
NC	6	0	top 45%
SC	6	0	top 26%
AL	1	1	top 3%
FL	1	0	top 5%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival	5	11	top 39%	Aug 4, 2017
WNC BBQ Festival (Smokin in the Valley)	4	5	top 48%	Jul 21, 2017
SC Festival of Discovery (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES)	4	9	top 20%	Jul 6, 2017
Boss Hog State Championship Cook-OFF	3	5	top 42%	May 11, 2018
Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que & Music Festival (GBC Qualifier)	2	27	top 43%	May 26, 2017
Jug Tavern Festival (GBC & SBBQA Qualifier)	2	3	top 28%	Sep 12, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2013 10 contests

Contests a season 6.3 across 6 seasons in the data

Most contests held in GA 24 of 38 contests · 5 states in all

Contests visited 24 6 of them more than once

First title Jun 24, 2016 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

Opponents faced 658 finished ahead 1,175 times, behind 652

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

20182 milestones

May 11 Peak power rating (1635) Boss Hog State Championship Cook-OFF
May 11 Most recent contest Boss Hog State Championship Cook-OFF

20165 milestones

Jun 24 First Grand Championship Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Jun 24 First perfect 180 (Pork Ribs) Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Jun 24 25th tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Jun 24 Biggest field won (30 teams) Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Jun 24 Career-best overall score694.2172 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

20138 milestones

Mar 1 First tracked contest Smokin in the Square
Mar 1 First call Smokin in the Square
Mar 1 First overall top-10 Smokin in the Square
Mar 1 First overall podium Smokin in the Square
Mar 1 First Reserve Championship Smokin in the Square
Mar 1 First overall past 90% of a perfect score677.7142 Smokin in the Square
Aug 2 First category win (Pork Ribs) Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier)
Nov 15 10th tracked contest The National BBQ Cup (GBC Qualifier)

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+16.4	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Jun 24, 2016
+15.2	Smokin in the Square	Mar 1, 2013
+13.3	WNC BBQ Festival	Jul 25, 2014
+13.2	Jug Tavern Festival (GBC Qualifier)	Sep 13, 2013
+11.6	SC Festival of Discovery (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL)	Jul 9, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-8.7	WNC BBQ Festival (Smokin in the Valley)	Jul 21, 2017
-7.6	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier)	Jul 31, 2015
-6.7	Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que (GBC Qualifier)	May 24, 2013
-6.6	Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off (GBC Qualifier)	May 13, 2016
-4	WNC BBQ Festival-	Jul 22, 2016

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	3	0	1	1	100%	top 36%	95.2%	93.4%
2017	5	0	1	0	80%	top 39%	94.8%	93.9%
2016	9	1	2	1	78%	top 43%	96.4%	93.4%
2015	8	0	3	0	63%	top 39%	94.4%	92.7%
2014	3	0	1	0	67%	top 38%	94.9%	93.4%
2013	10	0	2	1	60%	top 36%	95.2%	92.7%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
May 11, 2018	Boss Hog State Championship Cook-OFF 🏅 Waynesboro, GA	5 / 42 (685.6228)	16 (168.5256)	1 (176)	4 (173.1200)	17 (167.9772)
Apr 20, 2018	Barnesville BBQ & Blues Barnesville, GA	15 / 25 (662.7312)	3 (173.1200)	18 (163.9656)	7 (168.5256)	18 (157.1200)
Mar 2, 2018	Sip & Swine BBQ Festival Lawrenceville, GA	22 / 59 (668.9828)	2 (177.7144)	47 (158.8000)	27 (167.3828)	29 (165.0856)
Aug 4, 2017	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival Dillard, GA	13 / 57 (682.7544)	4 (176)	33 (167.3944)	33 (166.2400)	10 (173.1200)
Jul 21, 2017	WNC BBQ Festival (Smokin in the Valley) Maggie Valley, NC	35 / 47 (661.0056)	35 (166.2400)	35 (164)	18 (169.1200)	33 (161.6456)
Jul 6, 2017	SC Festival of Discovery (PALMETTO BBQ SERIES) Greenwood, SC	16 / 89 (678.7772)	10 (173.7144)	19 (171.4056)	22 (170.8228)	42 (162.8344)
Jun 16, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Alpharetta, GA	10 / 28 (679.8512)	7 (173.1200)	5 (174.2744)	16 (167.3828)	20 (165.0740)
May 26, 2017	Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que & Music Festival (GBC Qualifier) Evans, GA	30 / 67 (678.1600)	9 (176.5600)	57 (162.8000)	37 (167.3828)	15 (171.4172)
Sep 23, 2016	Smokin Butts & Tires (GBC Qualifier) Conyers, GA	9 / 25 (677.5996)	14 (167.3828)	3 (173.1428)	11 (167.4056)	8 (169.6684)
Aug 5, 2016	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier) Dillard, GA	17 / 56 (687.9200)	10 (175.4172)	11 (173.1200)	37 (166.2628)	19 (173.1200)
Jul 22, 2016	WNC BBQ Festival- Maggie Valley, NC	30 / 49 (668.4572)	37 (163.3944)	18 (169.1316)	5 (174.2628)	40 (161.6684)
Jul 7, 2016	SC Festival of Discovery Greenwood, SC	15 / 82 (674.1828)	30 (167.3828)	43 (161.6800)	3 (172)	5 (173.1200)
Jul 1, 2016	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Marietta, GA	22 / 30 (678.7316)	12 (171.9888)	13 (171.9772)	12 (171.9656)	27 (162.8000)
Jun 24, 2016	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Birmingham, AL	1 / 30 (694.2172)	27 (162.8000)	1 (180)	2 (176.5600)	5 (174.8572)
May 27, 2016	Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que & Music Festival (GBC Qualifier) Evans, GA	27 / 66 (671.8740)	33 (168.5256)	21 (170.8344)	9 (173.1428)	45 (159.3712)
May 13, 2016	Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off (GBC Qualifier) 🏅 Waynesboro, GA	28 / 41 (636.8456)	38 (153.0628)	39 (150.7200)	5 (169.6800)	16 (163.3828)
Mar 4, 2016	Sip & Swine BBQ Festival (GBC Qualifier) Lawrenceville, GA	30 / 59 (662.1828)	41 (164.5600)	22 (167.9656)	48 (159.9428)	20 (169.7144)
Oct 9, 2015	Rock'n Ribville Lawrenceville, GA	8 / 26 (670.1944)	17 (161.6800)	6 (170.3088)	2 (174.2628)	12 (163.9428)
Jul 31, 2015	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier) Dillard, GA	40 / 55 (657.5312)	43 (166.2400)	45 (159.3828)	26 (168.5256)	33 (163.3828)
Jul 24, 2015	WNC BBQ Festival Maggie Valley, NC	23 / 49 (666.7200)	27 (166.8228)	31 (162.8116)	20 (167.4056)	12 (169.6800)
Jul 9, 2015	SC Festival of Discovery (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL) Greenwood, SC	9 / 90 (679.3256)	43 (166.2400)	13 (170.2628)	13 (171.9656)	15 (170.8572)
Jun 5, 2015	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Asheville, NC	15 / 30 (672.4912)	6 (174.2628)	24 (159.4172)	17 (168)	8 (170.8112)
May 29, 2015	Piggin' in the Park Woodruff, SC	8 / 23 (667.9312)	7 (172)	14 (161.7028)	3 (169.1428)	9 (165.0856)
May 22, 2015	Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que (GBC Qualifier) Evans, GA	11 / 65 (677.0628)	3 (177.7028)	18 (169.7372)	22 (167.3828)	48 (162.2400)
May 8, 2015	Boss Hog State Championship Cook-Off (GBC Qualifier) 🏅 Waynesboro, GA	18 / 39 (645.5084)	24 (160.5028)	8 (167.9772)	28 (153.0628)	16 (163.9656)
Sep 12, 2014	Jug Tavern Festival (GBC & SBBQA Qualifier) Winder, GA	21 / 42 (667.8860)	18 (170.8572)	18 (168.5372)	31 (162.2400)	21 (166.2516)
Aug 1, 2014	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier) Dillard, GA	30 / 56 (665.5996)	6 (176.5600)	21 (167.9656)	14 (171.4400)	53 (149.6340)
Jul 25, 2014	WNC BBQ Festival Maggie Valley, NC	5 / 46 (683.3596)	4 (172.5600)	16 (167.9884)	15 (169.1084)	8 (173.7028)
Nov 15, 2013	The National BBQ Cup (GBC Qualifier) Cumming, GA	44 / 79 (666.1484)	55 (165.1200)	25 (170.8228)	16 (171.9656)	68 (158.2400)
Sep 13, 2013	Jug Tavern Festival (GBC Qualifier) Winder, GA	3 / 43 (683.3140)	13 (171.9656)	7 (170.8228)	19 (166.2628)	5 (174.2628)
Aug 2, 2013	Dillard Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival (GBC Qualifier) Dillard, GA	11 / 61 (685.6460)	52 (159.9428)	1 (177.1544)	22 (169.6916)	3 (178.8572)
Jul 26, 2013	WNC Barbeque Festival Maggie Valley, NC	13 / 48 (668.4568)	2 (174.2628)	4 (173.7372)	41 (155.9312)	22 (164.5256)
Jul 11, 2013	SC Festival of Discovery Greenwood, SC	25 / 78 (654.7312)	49 (158.8112)	8 (170.2744)	15 (167.3828)	41 (158.2628)
May 31, 2013	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour N. Charleston, SC	12 / 27 (654.8568)	8 (170.8570)	17 (164)	7 (165.7142)	18 (154.2856)
May 24, 2013	Papa Joe's Banjo-B-Que (GBC Qualifier) Evans, GA	34 / 47 (656.5708)	30 (165.7140)	34 (162.8570)	27 (164)	27 (163.9998)
May 10, 2013	Boss Hog Cook-Off (GBC Qualifier) Waynesboro, GA	18 / 41 (656.5706)	30 (162.2856)	12 (165.7140)	26 (160.5712)	12 (167.9998)
Apr 19, 2013	Cornelia Apple Blossom BBQ Festivals (GBC Qualifier) Cornelia, GA	19 / 36 (667.4278)	14 (168.5714)	15 (168.5712)	14 (168.5712)	25 (161.7140)
Mar 1, 2013	Smokin in the Square Pensacola, FL	2 / 37 (677.7142)	9 (169.7144)	7 (166.8572)	2 (176)	14 (165.1426)

BAREKNUCKLES BBQ

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

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

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (18 found in their record)

The heartbreaker

Perfect scores on the board

Against the odds

Giant slayer

Happy hunting ground

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

The drought

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

Announced themselves early

Looking over their shoulder

A June team

The long haul

The metronome

A standing appointment

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)