PIRATES OF BAR-B-QUE BAY KS
Rating
Contests
First seen
Best ToY finish
Grand champs
Category wins
Overall top-10s
Avg finish
Perfect 180s
Current form
Walk rate
Top-10 streak
Consistency
Strongest meat
Road miles
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
Damn Fine Beef & Swine has finished one call ahead of PIRATES OF BAR-B-QUE BAY 3 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
Squealin N Dealin BBQ has landed one call behind them 3 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
SLAPS BBQ has come out ahead in 35 of their 46 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ in 18 of their 25 shared contests.
🏕️ Happy hunting ground
American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest is their spot: an average finish in the top 14% across 4 visits.
🗡️ Giant slayer
Took the Grand Championship over a 58-team field at 6th Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship.
📅 A June team
Something about June: average finish in the top 21% across 9 contests, versus top 35% the rest of the year.
🃏 Against the odds
Their Grand Championship at Bernard BBQ Battle (Formerly Brew,Blues & Bar-B-Q) (2022-05-13) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 17-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, SLAPS BBQ.
Teams like this (closest power rating, KS first)
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 56 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 180.0000 🔥 | 154.2400 | 171.32 | top 40% |
| Pork Ribs | 59 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 179.4400 | 147.9772 | 171.80 | top 33% |
| Pork | 56 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 177.7144 | 155.9772 | 170.53 | top 42% |
| Brisket | 56 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 180.0000 🔥 | 149.1540 | 169.01 | top 43% |
“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 state / province
| Where | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| KS | 39 | 2 | top 33% |
| MO | 14 | 0 | top 44% |
| OK | 2 | 0 | top 35% |
| MN | 1 | 0 | top 10% |
| IA | 1 | 0 | top 17% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium (20–39) | 10 | 1 | top 37% |
| Large (40+) | 46 | 1 | top 35% |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2023 (17 contests)
- Cooks mostly in KS (41 of 62 contests)
- Most-entered category: Pork Ribs (59 entries)
- First Grand Championship in the data: Bernard BBQ Battle (Formerly Brew,Blues & Bar-B-Q) (2022-05-13)
- Wins it all in 3% of contests
- All-time average overall score: 673.86
- 2 perfect 180s on the books 🔥
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
Category scores over time
Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)
Where they finish (overall)
Best vs average (by meat)
Team of the Year rank by season
Season by season
| Season | Contests | GCs | Category wins | Best overall | Avg overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 682.7196 | 681.03 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 697.6568 | 686.77 |
| 2024 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 705.1200 | 687.29 |
| 2023 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 695.3944 | 686.12 |
| 2022 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 697.6800 | 649.60 |
| 2021 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 698.8116 | 680.60 |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 636.9712 | 634.40 |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-26 | The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship Lenexa, KS | 32 / 157 (679.3484) | 76 (165.1200) | 34 (171.9772) | 41 (170.8456) | 30 (171.4056) |
| 2026-04-10 | Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT) Osage City, KS | 60 / 101 (682.7196) | 58 (171.4056) | 60 (170.8228) | 45 (171.9772) | 67 (168.5140) |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest Kansas City, KS | 104 / 158 (681.0168) | 86 (171.9656) | 87 (171.9656) | 108 (168.5600) | 102 (168.5256) |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest Kansas City, KS | 30 / 401 (697.6568) | 30 (177.1428) | 84 (174.2628) | 176 (170.8456) | 52 (175.4056) |
| 2025-11-01 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) Oak Grove, MO | 43 / 50 (673.0172) | 30 (170.8344) | 32 (170.8228) | 43 (165.0972) | 36 (166.2628) |
| 2025-10-31 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) Oak Grove, MO | 21 / 53 (691.3488) | 31 (171.9772) | 30 (170.8344) | 26 (171.9772) | 9 (176.5600) |
| 2025-08-15 | BBQ & Fly-In on the River Excelsior Springs, MO | 25 / 62 (688.4684) | 12 (177.1428) | 12 (174.2744) | 47 (166.2284) | 31 (170.8228) |
| 2025-06-27 | The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship Lenexa, KS | 27 / 159 (682.2400) | 66 (166.8572) | 18 (174.8572) | 58 (167.4172) | 21 (173.1084) |
| 2025-03-21 | 7th Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship Olathe, KS | 14 / 70 (693.6572) | 27 (174.2628) | 16 (173.1200) | 45 (169.7028) | 3 (176.5716) |
| 2024-10-30 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest Kansas City, KS | 109 / 169 (680.4456) | 43 (175.4056) | 77 (171.4172) | 118 (169.6800) | 146 (163.9428) |
| 2024-10-30 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest Kansas City, KS | 65 / 444 (691.9200) | 20 (177.7144) | 46 (176.0000) | 41 (176.5600) | 337 (161.6456) |
| 2024-10-26 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) Oak Grove, MO | 9 / 56 (691.3600) | 2 (178.2972) | 31 (170.2628) | 7 (175.4172) | 33 (167.3828) |
| 2024-10-25 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) Oak Grove, MO | 33 / 53 (679.8856) | 18 (174.8572) | 34 (170.8112) | 44 (167.9772) | 40 (166.2400) |
| 2024-09-13 | Made for KC BBQ Championship (COMPETITORS SERIES) Weston, MO | 23 / 38 (674.1600) | 33 (167.3712) | 10 (172.0000) | 6 (174.2744) | 29 (160.5144) |
| 2024-08-16 | BBQ & Fly-In on the River Excelsior Springs, MO | 15 / 65 (692.4916) | 21 (174.2628) | 9 (175.4172) | 26 (173.1200) | 31 (169.6916) |
| 2024-06-21 | The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship Lenexa, KS | 26 / 172 (677.6568) | 52 (168.5256) | 44 (168.5828) | 50 (168.5484) | 14 (172.0000) |
| 2024-05-10 | Minnesota in May St. Peter, MN | 6 / 58 (693.1088) | 31 (171.9656) | 12 (172.0116) | 3 (177.1544) | 18 (171.9772) |
| 2024-04-05 | Smoke in the Spring Osage City, KS | 38 / 97 (686.7772) | 58 (168.5372) | 57 (168.5600) | 38 (171.9656) | 6 (177.7144) |
| 2024-03-15 | 6th Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship Olathe, KS | 1 / 58 (705.1200) | 6 (177.1428) | 6 (177.1544) | 9 (177.7028) | 7 (173.1200) |
| 2023-10-28 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) Oak Grove, MO | 19 / 40 (687.9200) | 6 (178.8572) | 24 (169.6800) | 4 (176.5600) | 34 (162.8228) |
| 2023-10-28 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT RIBS) Oak Grove, MO | — | — | 12 (169.7144) | — | — |
| 2023-10-27 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) (MASTERS and BACKYARD) Oak Grove, MO | 12 / 47 (695.3944) | 6 (178.8572) | 31 (170.8344) | 16 (173.7028) | 15 (172.0000) |
| 2023-09-27 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023-09-27 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest Kansas City, KS | 151 / 487 (681.6456) | 309 (165.6800) | 99 (173.7028) | 28 (177.7028) | 294 (164.5600) |
| 2023-09-27 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest Kansas City, KS | 79 / 211 (686.7540) | 101 (171.9656) | 69 (173.1200) | 28 (176.0000) | 158 (165.6684) |
| 2023-09-09 | 7th Annual Smoke on the Trails Gardner, KS | 16 / 38 (682.1828) | 1 (180.0000) | 17 (170.8344) | 12 (170.8344) | 24 (160.5140) |
| 2023-08-25 | Smoke on the Bricks Baldwin City, KS | 15 / 44 (683.2912) | 14 (170.8228) | 13 (173.1200) | 25 (165.0856) | 6 (174.2628) |
| 2023-08-12 | 5th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL Mayetta, KS | 50 / 62 (686.1944) | 42 (173.1316) | 38 (172.5600) | 56 (167.3828) | 32 (173.1200) |
| 2023-08-11 | 5th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN Mayetta, KS | 48 / 90 (683.8852) | 45 (171.9656) | 7 (177.1428) | 76 (165.1084) | 48 (169.6684) |
| 2023-08-04 | Que' For a Cause Tahlequah, OK | 9 / 36 (691.9316) | 6 (176.5600) | 2 (176.0116) | 24 (169.6800) | 24 (169.6800) |
| 2023-08-04 | Que' For a Cause (ONE MEAT RIBS) Tahlequah, OK | — | — | 12 (170.2628) | — | — |
| 2023-06-23 | The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship Lenexa, KS | 43 / 167 (668.5256) | 48 (168.0000) | 72 (165.7028) | 81 (165.7028) | 30 (169.1200) |
| 2023-06-09 | Made for KC BBQ Championship (COMPETITORS SERIES) Kansas City, MO | 15 / 44 (681.0284) | 31 (166.8112) | 10 (173.7028) | 6 (175.4172) | 26 (165.0972) |
| 2023-04-07 | Smoke in the Spring Osage City, KS | 16 / 103 (694.7424) | 21 (175.4056) | 32 (173.1084) | 46 (170.8112) | 15 (175.4172) |
| 2023-03-31 | Iowa State BBQ Championship Altoona, IA | 8 / 47 (686.8232) | 4 (176.5600) | 3 (177.1544) | 31 (165.6916) | 27 (167.4172) |
| 2023-03-17 | 5th Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship Olathe, KS | 9 / 68 (695.3484) | 17 (174.8572) | 12 (175.4172) | 17 (174.2628) | 25 (170.8112) |
| 2022-10-29 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship Day 2 Oak Grove, MO | 28 / 32 (669.0172) | 30 (164.5256) | 15 (172.5600) | 28 (165.6916) | 20 (166.2400) |
| 2022-10-28 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship Oak Grove, MO | 19 / 40 (679.8972) | 24 (168.5372) | 2 (177.1428) | 14 (170.8344) | 34 (163.3828) |
| 2022-10-28 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (One Meat Ribs) Oak Grove, MO | — | — | 26 (166.8228) | — | — |
| 2022-10-21 | Border War Barbeque Osawatomie, KS | 13 / 30 (684.4688) | 10 (173.1200) | 6 (174.2744) | 14 (170.8344) | 21 (166.2400) |
| 2022-10-01 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - SIDES Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022-09-29 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - INVITATIONAL CONTEST Kansas City, KS | 105 / 249 (683.3368) | 156 (169.6800) | 85 (172.5484) | 168 (168.5256) | 70 (172.5828) |
| 2022-09-29 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST Kansas City, KS | 15 / 505 (697.6800) | 30 (177.7028) | 16 (177.1772) | 88 (174.2628) | 177 (168.5372) |
| 2022-09-09 | 6th Annual Smoke on the Trails Gardner, KS | 12 / 37 (683.9316) | 17 (170.8344) | 3 (177.1428) | 6 (176.0000) | 27 (159.9544) |
| 2022-08-26 | Smoke on the Bricks Baldwin City, KS | 11 / 48 (688.4684) | 13 (172.5600) | 11 (170.8228) | 19 (168.5256) | 4 (176.5600) |
| 2022-06-24 | The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship Lenexa, KS | 2 / 164 (694.2284) | 16 (173.1200) | 4 (177.1544) | 55 (168.5484) | 6 (175.4056) |
| 2022-06-10 | Made for KC BBQ Championship (COMPETITORS SERIES) Kansas City, MO | 3 / 36 (696.5028) | 17 (173.1200) | 7 (174.8572) | 22 (168.5256) | 1 (180.0000) |
| 2022-05-13 | Bernard BBQ Battle (Formerly Brew,Blues & Bar-B-Q) Lansing, KS | 1 / 28 (694.8116) | 1 (177.7144) | 2 (175.4172) | 6 (173.1200) | 7 (168.5600) |
| 2022-04-29 | Red, White, Blue BBQ Competition Topeka, KS | 12 / 77 (693.0628) | 21 (173.1200) | 22 (172.5600) | 28 (169.6800) | 4 (177.7028) |
| 2022-04-08 | Smoke in the Spring Osage City, KS | 15 / 94 (687.9196) | 35 (171.4056) | 13 (174.2856) | 45 (169.6800) | 25 (172.5484) |
| 2022-04-08 | Smoke in the Spring (Steak) Osage City, KS | 4 (172.0456) | — | — | — | — |
| 2022-03-18 | Qlathe BBQ Championship Olathe, KS | 40 / 71 (669.0172) | 50 (163.9656) | 16 (173.1200) | 34 (169.1200) | 47 (162.8116) |
| 2021-11-11 | 3rd Annual KCBS World Invitational - Open Shawnee, OK | 51 / 111 (680.4568) | 62 (169.1084) | 54 (169.1200) | 21 (174.2628) | 62 (167.9656) |
| 2021-10-22 | Border War Barbeque Osawatomie, KS | 7 / 30 (691.3484) | 9 (172.0000) | 23 (165.0856) | 3 (176.5600) | 1 (177.7028) |
| 2021-09-16 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST Kansas City, KS | 183 / 467 (667.9200) | 95 (172.0000) | 289 (163.4288) | 208 (166.2628) | 198 (166.2284) |
| 2021-08-20 | Smoke on the Bricks Baldwin City, KS | 2 / 46 (698.8116) | 9 (173.1200) | 4 (173.7144) | 4 (177.7144) | 6 (174.2628) |
| 2021-08-06 | Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Laurie, MO | 11 / 26 (674.2400) | 7 (173.1544) | 5 (173.1428) | 21 (165.1428) | 19 (162.8000) |
| 2021-06-25 | The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship Lenexa, KS | 9 / 145 (685.1888) | 70 (161.7372) | 3 (179.4400) | 13 (174.2972) | 25 (169.7144) |
| 2021-03-19 | 3rd Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship Olathe, KS | 40 / 70 (666.2056) | 54 (162.8456) | 46 (165.1316) | 38 (168.5140) | 25 (169.7144) |
| 2019-09-12 | 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST Kansas City, KS | 369 / 468 (633.6916) | 382 (157.1432) | 87 (171.4172) | 372 (155.9772) | 414 (149.1540) |
| 2019-06-21 | The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle-Kansas State Championship Lenexa, KS | 109 / 183 (636.9712) | 143 (154.2400) | 129 (154.8000) | 48 (167.9656) | 96 (159.9656) |
| 2019-03-15 | Qlathe BBQ Championship Olathe, KS | 50 / 64 (632.5488) | 48 (158.8000) | 58 (147.9772) | 39 (160.5600) | 31 (165.2116) |
Team of the Year standings (rank per category by season — year links to the full board on kcbs.us)
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #619 (120 pts) | #688 (120 pts) | #733 (120 pts) | #639 (120 pts) | #650 (120 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #414 (495 pts) | #469 (485 pts) | #432 (565 pts) | #479 (420 pts) | #335 (700 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #207 (1015 pts) | #249 (935 pts) | #313 (805 pts) | #245 (905 pts) | #260 (850 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #180 (1100 pts) | #104 (1435 pts) | #143 (1360 pts) | #241 (905 pts) | #262 (825 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #125 (1403 pts) | #210 (1058 pts) | #65 (1695 pts) | #227 (978 pts) | #175 (1150 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #323 (601 pts) | #402 (501 pts) | #402 (511 pts) | #356 (571 pts) | #341 (596 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #1475 (120 pts) | #1597 (120 pts) | #1580 (120 pts) | #1584 (120 pts) | #1539 (120 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #1775 (120 pts) | #1693 (155 pts) | #1512 (185 pts) | #1872 (120 pts) | #1839 (120 pts) |