PB&J'S BBQ TEAM

PB&J'S BBQ TEAM is a competition barbecue team with 39 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2018. They have won 3 Grand Championships, most recently at the BBQ Throw Down (2017), and finished Reserve Grand Champion 3 times. They are ranked #567 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “PB+J's BBQ Team”.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#567

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1664

peak 1675 · rated over 38 contests1 invitational or side-series contest not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

May 4, 2013

latest Sep 21, 2018 · 5.4 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#124

Master 2016 · every season

Grand champs

3 reserve · wins it all 8% of the time

Category wins

19 podiums

Overall top-10s

46% of 39 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 36%

overall standings

Best overall

695.9656 / 720

Master · PigMania Lebanon State Championship BBQ & Music Festival ( TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL)

Perfect 180s

Current form

663.68 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 663.10 (+0.58)

Walk rate

82%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

179.4400

Chicken · Bands & BBQ at the Point

Consistency

±16.91

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 168.23 · weakest Brisket (163.67)

Road miles

5,448

across 39 mapped stops · furthest 605 mi

Schedule strength

45%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1558)

State championships

0 🏅

won from 1 state-championship entry

Master avg

663.10 / 720

39 Master contests · 3 GCs

Storylines (18 found in their record)

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

The heartbreaker

1.1660 points from the title

Came within 1.1660 points of the Grand Championship at PigMania Lebanon State Championship BBQ & Music Festival ( TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL) (Sep 1, 2017).

Among the elite

#567 of 6,476 rated teams

In the top 9% of every rated team in the data

A power rating of 1664 puts them #567 of 6,476 rated teams — the top 9% of the field.

rating 1664
peak 1675
38 rated contests

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 Ribstock (Aug 26, 2016) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 23-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, iBQ'n.

Giant slayer

32 teams beaten in one weekend

Took the Grand Championship over a 32-team field at Ribstock.

Aug 26, 2016

Happy hunting ground

Top 13% average finish here

All American BBQ Throwdown is their spot: an average finish in the top 13% across 2 visits.

2 visits
best finish 2nd
average top 13%

They almost always walk

82% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 32 of 39 contests

A top-10 category call in 82% of their 39 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

695.9656 career-best overall

96.7% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 695.9656 at PigMania Lebanon State Championship BBQ & Music Festival ( TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL) — 96.7% of a perfect 720.

Master
Sep 1, 2017

Show 11 more storylines

The one to beat

3× one call ahead of them

SLIPPERY PETE'S BBQ has finished one call ahead of PB&J'S BBQ TEAM 3 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2016 2 Grand Championships

2016 was the year it came together: 13 contests, 2 Grand Championships and 2 category wins, at an average finish in the top 29%.

13 contests
7 overall top-10s
2 category wins
average top 29%

A tough matchup

26–3 behind in the head-to-head

THE REAL SMOKIN ACES ahead in 90% of their meetings

THE REAL SMOKIN ACES has come out ahead in 26 of their 29 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.6 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.56 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 44% of the time against 51%.

Brisket avg 163.67
Chicken avg 168.23
17 calls in 39 entries

The drought

9 contests since the last title

Their last Grand Championship came at BBQ Throw Down on May 19, 2017 — 9 contests and 9.4 years ago.

last GC May 19, 2017
9.4 years ago

A strong matchup

15–6 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 71% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of SWEET RACKS & SMOKIN' BUTTS BBQ in 15 of their 21 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

18 of 29 shared chicken entries lost

THE REAL SMOKIN ACES ahead 62% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, THE REAL SMOKIN ACES has out-cooked them in 18 of 29 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

3× one call behind them

MUTTS & BUTTS BARK-BQ has landed one call behind them 3 times.

An August team

Top 28% average finish in August

Something about August: average finish in the top 28% across 9 contests, versus top 36% the rest of the year.

9 August contests
top 36% the rest of the year

The long haul

5,448 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 5,448 miles across 39 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 605 miles to 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL).

39 mapped stops
furthest 605 mi

The metronome

±2.35% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.35% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 92.1% of a perfect score
39 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	#920 (379 pts)	#909 (429 pts)	#1225 (264 pts)	#969 (384 pts)	#1314 (229 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#124 (1,864 pts)	#108 (1,749 pts)	#248 (1,330 pts)	#92 (1,821 pts)	#217 (1,434 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to PB&J'S BBQ TEAM, each with one reason worth a look.

KOSMOSQ.COM

#568 of the rated field

1664 power rating

Contests: 30
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 43%
Peak: 1667

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to PB&J'S BBQ TEAM)

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

rated over 30 contests
last seen Sep 12, 2019

⚔ Head-to-head

T-Dawg BBQ

#569 of the rated field

1664 power rating

Contests: 37
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 49%
Peak: 1670

Careers of much the same size, 37 contests to 39, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 32 contests
last seen Aug 21, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Q Cartel

#566 of the rated field

1664 power rating

Contests: 25
GCs: 4
Top-10s: 72%
Peak: 1664

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 24 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 24 contests
last seen Sep 4, 2026
on a 4-contest top-10 run

⚔ Compare careers

INDIAN TERRITORY SMOKE

#576 of the rated field

1663 ▼ 1 power rating

Contests: 66
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 38%
Peak: 1692

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to PB&J'S BBQ TEAM)

Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 66 contests, alongside a 38% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 66 contests
last seen Mar 22, 2019

⚔ Head-to-head

The Pig's Pajamas

#565 of the rated field

1664 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 39
GCs: 4
Top-10s: 46%
Peak: 1664

Level with PB&J'S BBQ TEAM on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 38 contests
last seen Jun 24, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

SWEET & SAVORY BBQ

#578 of the rated field

1662 ▼ 1 power rating

Contests: 40
GCs: 7
Top-10s: 73%
Peak: 1694

They've been 1694 at their best, 31 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 37 contests
last seen Oct 27, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
THE REAL SMOKIN ACES	29	3	26	10%	⚔ compare
Mac Attack BBQ	27	14	13	52%	⚔ compare
iBQ'n	26	5	21	19%	⚔ compare
FIREHOUSE SMOKE	23	13	10	57%	⚔ compare
SLIPPERY PETE'S BBQ	22	7	15	32%	⚔ compare
SWEET RACKS & SMOKIN' BUTTS BBQ	21	15	6	71%	⚔ compare
AWW HELL	21	11	10	52%	⚔ compare
HOLY SMOKERS MI	20	14	6	70%	⚔ compare
RUBBED, SMOKED, AND SAUCED BBQ	19	9	10	47%	⚔ compare
BAVARIAN SMOKE BBQ	16	9	7	56%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN' IN THE D	16	7	9	44%	⚔ compare
BIG BROTHERS BBQ	16	4	12	25%	⚔ compare
B&R SMOKE	15	14	1	93%	⚔ compare
BAD WOLF BBQ	15	12	3	80%	⚔ compare
BO B Q BBQ	15	12	3	80%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	39	20	1	7	179.4400	153.1428	168.23	top 34%
Pork Ribs	39	13	0	1	174.8572	148	164.31	top 45%
Pork	39	20	3	9	177.1544	145.1428	166.88	top 36%
Brisket	39	17	0	2	176.5600	141.6344	163.67	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 contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	1	0	top 13%
Medium (20–39)	31	3	top 37%
Large (40+)	7	0	top 36%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
MI	28	3	top 35%
IN	4	0	top 47%
OH	3	0	top 28%
KS	2	0	top 31%
TN	1	0	top 61%
KY	1	0	top 26%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Blues.Brews & Barbecue	3	5	top 36%	Jul 29, 2016
The Rumble on the River presented by TheBBQSuperStore.com	2	11	top 64%	Sep 21, 2018
All American BBQ Throwdown	2	2	top 13%	Aug 4, 2017
37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN)	2	69	top 31%	Oct 29, 2016
Smokin' on the Water	2	14	top 40%	May 2, 2015
Silver Lake Apple BBQ Festival	2	22	top 55%	Sep 12, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2016 13 contests · 2 GCs

Contests a season 6.5 across 6 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MI 28 of 39 contests · 6 states in all

Contests visited 32 6 of them more than once

First title May 20, 2016 2nd Annual Pork in the Park

Opponents faced 959 finished ahead 1,305 times, behind 638

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

20182 milestones

Aug 3 Peak power rating (1675) Westland Area Jaycee's All American BBQ Throwdown
Sep 21 Most recent contest The Rumble on the River presented by TheBBQSuperStore.com

20171 milestone

Sep 1 Career-best overall score695.9656 PigMania Lebanon State Championship BBQ & Music Festival ( TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL)

20166 milestones

May 20 First overall podium 2nd Annual Pork in the Park
May 20 First Grand Championship 2nd Annual Pork in the Park
May 27 First Reserve Championship PigMaina Lima
Aug 26 Biggest field won (32 teams) Ribstock
Sep 2 25th tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Sep 16 Career-best single call (Chicken)179.4400 Bands & BBQ at the Point

20141 milestone

Sep 12 10th tracked contest Silver Lake Apple BBQ Festival

20135 milestones

May 4 First tracked contest Smokin' on the Water
May 4 First overall past 90% of a perfect score653.1430 Smokin' on the Water
Jun 21 First call 5th Annual Auburn Hills Barbecue Cook-off
Jun 21 First overall top-10 5th Annual Auburn Hills Barbecue Cook-off
Aug 9 First category win (Pork) Dam Good BBQ Championship

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+15.6	2nd Annual Pork in the Park	May 20, 2016
+14.1	Taste of Grand Rapids 2014	Jul 25, 2014
+14.1	PigMaina Lima	May 27, 2016
+14	Ribstock	Aug 26, 2016
+13.9	All American BBQ Throwdown	Aug 5, 2016

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-11.6	The Rumble on the River presented by TheBBQSuperStore.com	Sep 21, 2018
-6.6	Buckeye State BBQ Championship	May 17, 2013
-6.3	6th Annual Auburn Hills Barbecue Cook-Off	Jun 20, 2014
-4.9	Rockin BBQ	May 13, 2016
-2.6	7th Annual Auburn Hills Barbecue Cook-off	Jun 19, 2015

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	2	0	67%	top 43%	92.9%	91.8%
2017	7	1	4	1	100%	top 27%	96.7%	93.2%
2016	13	2	7	2	77%	top 29%	95.4%	93.3%
2015	6	0	2	0	83%	top 43%	94.1%	91.7%
2014	5	0	2	0	100%	top 40%	93.3%	91.3%
2013	5	0	1	1	60%	top 51%	91%	88.9%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Sep 21, 2018	The Rumble on the River presented by TheBBQSuperStore.com Grand Haven, MI	23 / 28 (644.9944)	22 (162.8000)	18 (163.9772)	19 (162.8456)	25 (155.3716)
Aug 3, 2018	Westland Area Jaycee's All American BBQ Throwdown Westland, MI	10 / 39 (668.5372)	15 (169.6684)	4 (172.0344)	3 (174.8800)	33 (151.9544)
Jun 22, 2018	10th Annual Auburn Hills Barbecue Cook-Off Auburn Hills, MI	6 / 30 (669.0624)	10 (166.2628)	9 (166.2856)	4 (170.2628)	9 (166.2512)
Oct 13, 2017	Smoke & Ale Fall Festival Chelsea, MI	14 / 32 (657.5996)	10 (165.7028)	15 (161.1200)	11 (163.3712)	8 (167.4056)
Sep 22, 2017	The Rumble on the River presented by TheBBQSuperStore.com Grand Haven, MI	11 / 24 (678.1944)	14 (170.2628)	15 (166.8460)	9 (171.4172)	11 (169.6684)
Sep 8, 2017	Silver Lake Apple BBQ Festival Silver Lake, MI	8 / 28 (670.2400)	12 (167.9656)	10 (166.2628)	8 (169.1200)	15 (166.8916)
Sep 1, 2017	PigMania Lebanon State Championship BBQ & Music Festival ( TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL) 🏅 Lebanon, OH	2 / 40 (695.9656)	11 (171.9656)	6 (174.8572)	1 (177.1544)	10 (171.9884)
Aug 4, 2017	All American BBQ Throwdown Westland, MI	4 / 29 (676.5256)	2 (176)	4 (171.4172)	19 (161.1084)	4 (168)
Jun 23, 2017	9th Annual Auburn Hills Barbecue Cook-off Auburn Hills, MI	15 / 32 (648.4340)	2 (171.9656)	23 (154.2400)	7 (169.1084)	25 (153.1200)
May 19, 2017	BBQ Throw Down Wyandotte, MI	1 / 22 (672.5368)	5 (166.8112)	4 (166.8800)	3 (170.8228)	5 (168.0228)
Oct 29, 2016	37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	137 / 557 (670.2516)	119 (170.3200)	283 (164.5716)	20 (175.4172)	329 (159.9428)
Oct 28, 2016	37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL) unrated Kansas City, KS	69 / 180 (681.5768)	40 (174.8456)	115 (166.2400)	34 (173.1084)	108 (167.3828)
Oct 21, 2016	Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) Lynchburg, TN	59 / 96 (666.8000)	58 (167.4172)	66 (165.7028)	60 (166.2628)	53 (167.4172)
Sep 16, 2016	Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY	8 / 31 (683.9320)	1 (179.4400)	28 (160.5260)	8 (171.9772)	9 (171.9888)
Sep 2, 2016	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Ypsilanti, MI	13 / 30 (671.8856)	7 (174.8456)	24 (158.8116)	3 (174.8456)	16 (163.3828)
Aug 26, 2016	Ribstock Marne, MI	1 / 32 (671.3028)	13 (165.6800)	7 (164.5372)	3 (174.2628)	9 (166.8228)
Aug 5, 2016	All American BBQ Throwdown Westland, MI	2 / 16 (683.9884)	4 (173.1428)	4 (168.5600)	2 (170.8800)	3 (171.4056)
Jul 29, 2016	Blues.Brews & Barbecue Birch Run, MI	5 / 39 (669.6568)	10 (169.1084)	5 (171.4400)	5 (170.8684)	19 (158.2400)
Jun 24, 2016	8th Annual Auburn Hills Barbecue Cookoff Auburn Hills, MI	11 / 30 (657.1088)	7 (170.2628)	17 (159.9888)	16 (160.5828)	9 (166.2744)
Jun 10, 2016	ELF Khurafeh Shrine BBQ Competition and Music Festival Clio, MI	6 / 20 (660)	3 (169.1200)	12 (158.2744)	1 (170.3544)	10 (162.2512)
May 27, 2016	PigMaina Lima Lima, OH	2 / 29 (686.7772)	15 (169.1084)	3 (171.4172)	6 (169.6916)	2 (176.5600)
May 20, 2016	2nd Annual Pork in the Park Wyandotte, MI	1 / 28 (678.8456)	2 (172.5828)	5 (169.1316)	7 (170.2856)	10 (166.8456)
May 13, 2016	Rockin BBQ Warsaw, IN	21 / 28 (647.2800)	10 (169.6684)	28 (150.2516)	19 (162.2400)	15 (165.1200)
Aug 21, 2015	Blues, Brews & Barbecue Birch Run, MI	18 / 33 (640.5144)	24 (156.5256)	15 (164.5828)	30 (147.3944)	6 (172.0116)
Aug 14, 2015	Jimmy's Roadhouse Backyard BBQ Battle Newaygo, MI	7 / 26 (667.9312)	11 (166.8456)	14 (162.2972)	10 (167.3828)	7 (171.4056)
Jun 19, 2015	7th Annual Auburn Hills Barbecue Cook-off Auburn Hills, MI	19 / 32 (646.7884)	21 (161.0856)	14 (166.8800)	23 (161.1200)	23 (157.7028)
May 15, 2015	WBA Pork In The Park Wyandotte, MI	10 / 22 (650.7196)	8 (166.8228)	4 (174.8572)	14 (158.1940)	18 (150.8456)
May 2, 2015	Smokin' on the Water Liberty, IN	14 / 36 (677.0628)	26 (165.1200)	7 (171.4400)	16 (170.8228)	10 (169.6800)
May 1, 2015	Smokin on the Water 2 Liberty, IN	12 / 37 (677.6460)	2 (174.8572)	14 (169.7260)	18 (168.5372)	20 (164.5256)
Sep 12, 2014	Silver Lake Apple BBQ Festival Mears, MI	22 / 43 (649.0056)	28 (160.5372)	13 (168)	38 (149.6228)	8 (170.8456)
Aug 22, 2014	Blues, Brews & Barbecue Birch Run, MI	16 / 39 (667.3716)	5 (172.5600)	16 (165.6916)	7 (170.8572)	28 (158.2628)
Aug 8, 2014	Jimmy's Roadhouse BBQ Championship Newaygo, MI	8 / 32 (668.5712)	2 (176.5828)	19 (163.9772)	14 (165.7256)	16 (162.2856)
Jul 25, 2014	Taste of Grand Rapids 2014 Grand Rapids, MI	6 / 55 (671.4400)	4 (172.5944)	17 (163.4516)	20 (165.1084)	4 (170.2856)
Jun 20, 2014	6th Annual Auburn Hills Barbecue Cook-Off Auburn Hills, MI	23 / 31 (630.1484)	6 (168.5484)	21 (153.6800)	26 (155.3944)	19 (152.5256)
Sep 13, 2013	Silver Lake Apple BBQ Festival Mears, MI	28 / 47 (623.3260)	36 (153.1428)	28 (154.8460)	3 (173.7028)	41 (141.6344)
Aug 9, 2013	Dam Good BBQ Championship Newaygo, MI	15 / 31 (646.2284)	12 (163.9884)	26 (148)	1 (173.7028)	16 (160.5372)
Jun 21, 2013	5th Annual Auburn Hills Barbecue Cook-off Auburn Hills, MI	10 / 30 (655.4284)	8 (165.7142)	12 (162.8570)	4 (170.8570)	17 (156.0002)
May 17, 2013	Buckeye State BBQ Championship West Chester, OH	25 / 35 (623.9998)	18 (161.1428)	22 (160.5712)	34 (145.1428)	19 (157.1430)
May 4, 2013	Smokin' on the Water Liberty, IN	15 / 37 (653.1430)	16 (160)	14 (164)	17 (164)	14 (165.1430)

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

PB&J'S BBQ TEAM

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

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (18 found in their record)

The heartbreaker

Among the elite

Against the odds

Giant slayer

Happy hunting ground

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

The drought

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

An August 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)