Carrol Lou's Smokehouse

Carrol Lou's Smokehouse is a competition barbecue team with 84 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2016 and 2023. They have won 2 Grand Championships, most recently at the Sunset Hill Kansas City Barbecue Competition (2019), and finished Reserve Grand Champion twice. They are ranked #396 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “Carrol Lous Smokehouse”.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#396

of 6,477 rated · rankings

Rating

1700

peak 1751 · rated over 81 contests3 invitational or side-series contests not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Apr 22, 2016

latest Apr 28, 2023 · 7 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#65

Master 2019 · every season

Grand champs

2 reserve · wins it all 2% of the time

Category wins

39 podiums

Overall top-10s

44% of 84 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 38%

overall standings

Best overall

700.5600 / 720

Master · American Royal World Series of Barbecue-INVITATIONAL CONTEST

Perfect 180s

3 🔥

Current form

679.35 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 668.04 (+11.31)

Walk rate

77%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

180 🔥

Pork · Murphysboro BBQ Cook Off

Consistency

±16.01

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 168.50 · weakest Brisket (164.96)

Road miles

12,780

across 84 mapped stops · furthest 434 mi

Schedule strength

74%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1594)

Purse competed for

$504K

listed at 40 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

2 🏅

won from 44 state-championship entries

Master avg

668.04 / 720

84 Master contests · 2 GCs

Storylines (19 found in their record)

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

The heartbreaker

0.5716 points from the title

Came within 0.5716 points of the Grand Championship at Blues,Brews & Barbecue (Jun 7, 2019).

Among the elite

#396 of 6,477 rated teams

In the top 6% of every rated team in the data

A power rating of 1700 puts them #396 of 6,477 rated teams — the top 6% of the field.

rating 1700
peak 1751
81 rated contests

Perfect scores on the board

3 perfect 180s

3 perfect 180s in the data — every judge at the table handing back a nine, across 2 different meats.

Pork ×2
Chicken ×1

Against the odds

20-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings

The ratings favoured the top seed the other 80 times in 100

Their Grand Championship at Route 66 Smoke Out (May 3, 2019) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 20-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, One2BBQ.

Giant slayer

33 teams beaten in one weekend

Took the Grand Championship over a 33-team field at Route 66 Smoke Out.

May 3, 2019

A multi-meat day

1 contest with 2+ category wins

They've won two or more meats on the same day 1 time — the best of them 2 category wins at I-39 Smokin Car Show (Jul 1, 2017).

Pork Ribs 1st
Brisket 1st

They almost always walk

77% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 65 of 84 contests

A top-10 category call in 77% of their 84 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

Show 12 more storylines

High-water mark

700.5600 career-best overall

97.3% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 700.5600 at American Royal World Series of Barbecue-INVITATIONAL CONTEST — 97.3% of a perfect 720.

Master
Sep 16, 2021

State champions

2 state championships won

They've taken 2 state championships from 44 entries at contests carrying the title.

44 state-championship entries

The one to beat

3× one call ahead of them

SmokinGhost BBQ has finished one call ahead of Carrol Lou's Smokehouse 3 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2019 2 Grand Championships

2019 was the year it came together: 30 contests, 2 Grand Championships and 6 category wins, at an average finish in the top 27%.

30 contests
19 overall top-10s
6 category wins
average top 27%

A tough matchup

39–12 behind in the head-to-head

One2BBQ ahead in 76% of their meetings

One2BBQ has come out ahead in 39 of their 51 shared contests.

The drought

37 contests since the last title

Their last Grand Championship came at Sunset Hill Kansas City Barbecue Competition on May 17, 2019 — 37 contests and 7.4 years ago.

last GC May 17, 2019
7.4 years ago

A strong matchup

38–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 97% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ in 38 of their 39 shared contests.

Looking over their shoulder

3× one call behind them

HEFTY LEFTY BBQ has landed one call behind them 3 times.

A September team

Top 24% average finish in September

Something about September: average finish in the top 24% across 9 contests, versus top 38% the rest of the year.

9 September contests
top 38% the rest of the year

The long haul

12,780 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 12,780 miles across 84 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 434 miles to KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Championship.

84 mapped stops
furthest 434 mi

The metronome

±2.21% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.21% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 92.8% of a perfect score
84 contests

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked Up In Smoke on the Square every year from 2016 to 2019 — the contest they never miss.

4 visits in all
best finish 9th

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
2022 ↗	Master	#1202 (88 pts)	#1042 (123 pts)	#1666 (58 pts)	#898 (173 pts)	#1151 (108 pts)
2021 ↗	Master	#227 (841 pts)	#155 (1,146 pts)	#260 (821 pts)	#360 (561 pts)	#310 (651 pts)
2020 ↗	Master	#355 (310 pts)	#316 (395 pts)	#239 (510 pts)	#313 (395 pts)	#480 (240 pts)
2019 ↗	Master	#65 (2,067 pts)	#10 (2,428 pts)	#57 (1,972 pts)	#86 (1,771 pts)	#113 (1,653 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#113 (1,825 pts)	#113 (1,717 pts)	#160 (1,495 pts)	#12 (2,422 pts)	#136 (1,613 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#468 (805 pts)	#544 (730 pts)	#335 (1,085 pts)	#333 (1,090 pts)	#309 (1,165 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1055 (303 pts)	#858 (438 pts)	#1093 (313 pts)	#1206 (278 pts)	#973 (358 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Carrol Lou's Smokehouse, each with one reason worth a look.

Dr. Pearl's Medicinal Smoke BBQ Team

#395 of the rated field

1700 power rating

Contests: 73
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 44%
Peak: 1734

They've been 1734 at their best, 34 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 72 contests
last seen Oct 25, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

K & D SMOKERS

#398 of the rated field

1700 power rating

Contests: 60
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 28%
Peak: 1708

Their last contest in the data was back in 2019, 4 years before Carrol Lou's Smokehouse's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 60 contests

⚔ Compare careers

FOWL BUTT BBQ

#397 of the rated field

1700 power rating

Contests: 58
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 40%
Peak: 1730

Fewer contests behind them than Carrol Lou's Smokehouse has cooked, 58 to 84, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 58 contests
last seen Sep 21, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

QUE AND A HALF MEN

#399 of the rated field

1700 power rating

Contests: 54
GCs: 4
Top-10s: 54%
Peak: 1708

Their rating is built on 4 Grand Championships in 54 contests, alongside a 54% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 52 contests
last seen Oct 8, 2016

⚔ Compare careers

Pork Butt Paradise

#400 of the rated field

1700 power rating

Contests: 37
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 68%
Peak: 1711

Level with Carrol Lou's Smokehouse on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 37 contests
last seen Aug 17, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

3 LIL' MACS BBQ

#392 of the rated field

1701 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 54
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 52%
Peak: 1702

2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to Carrol Lou's Smokehouse)

2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team Carrol Lou's Smokehouse has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 53 contests
last seen Jun 16, 2023

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
One2BBQ	51	12	39	24%	⚔ compare
THE BBQ BUS	47	24	23	51%	⚔ compare
SmokinGhost BBQ	45	28	17	62%	⚔ compare
LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ	39	38	1	97%	⚔ compare
BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO.	39	18	21	46%	⚔ compare
QUE U	31	12	19	39%	⚔ compare
Rusty Pig BBQ	30	23	7	77%	⚔ compare
SMOKE FREAKS	28	11	17	39%	⚔ compare
CHANNABILLY BBQ	27	16	11	59%	⚔ compare
Heavy Smoke BBQ	27	6	21	22%	⚔ compare
THE REAL SMOKIN ACES	25	9	16	36%	⚔ compare
BIG "E" BBQ	25	8	17	32%	⚔ compare
CAPTAIN RON'S BREW-N-QUE	24	11	13	46%	⚔ compare
PAPA'S BARBQ	22	20	2	91%	⚔ compare
JaBs BBQ	22	8	14	36%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	84	37	4	11	180 🔥	149.6344	168.50	top 40%
Pork Ribs	84	34	4	8	177.1544	145.6340	166.28	top 40%
Pork	84	32	5	13	180 🔥	147.3600	168.30	top 39%
Brisket	84	24	1	7	178.8572	145.6456	164.96	top 48%

“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)	7	0	top 37%
Medium (20–39)	36	2	top 34%
Large (40+)	41	0	top 42%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
IL	50	1	top 41%
IN	15	1	top 34%
MO	8	0	top 33%
KS	4	0	top 11%
WI	4	0	top 41%
TN	2	0	top 40%
AR	1	0	top 79%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Route 66 Smoke Out	4	1	1	top 27%	May 6, 2022
Effingham -Jam	4	3	0	top 48%	Jul 23, 2021
Up In Smoke on the Square	4	9	0	top 54%	May 31, 2019
Smokin' For Garrett	3	6	0	top 25%	Oct 22, 2021
Rockin BBQ	3	13	0	top 51%	May 29, 2020
Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown	3	12	0	top 41%	Jul 19, 2019
CIBR-BBQ Central Illinois Bragging Right BBQ	3	8	0	top 48%	Oct 12, 2018
WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest (JUDGING FULL)	2	17	0	top 42%	Apr 28, 2023
Covid-Que Relief (Day 2)	2	34	0	top 59%	Jun 20, 2020
Harvest On Fire at The Winery	2	3	0	top 35%	Jul 12, 2019
Johnson County BBQ Challenge	2	4	0	top 29%	Jul 5, 2019
Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 2	2	22	0	top 54%	Jun 22, 2019
Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1	2	5	0	top 25%	Jun 21, 2019
Hog Capital Challenge	2	3	0	top 24%	Jun 14, 2019
I-39 Smokin Car Show	2	5	0	top 26%	Jun 30, 2018
RED, WHITE and BAR-B-Q ( DAY 2)	2	28	0	top 54%	May 26, 2018
Wabash Ribberfest BBQ Championship (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL)	2	19	0	top 76%	Apr 28, 2017

More numbers

Busiest season 2019 30 contests · 2 GCs

Contests a season 10.5 across 8 seasons in the data

Most contests held in IL 50 of 84 contests · 7 states in all

Contests visited 57 17 of them more than once

First title May 3, 2019 Route 66 Smoke Out

Opponents faced 1,539 finished ahead 2,875 times, behind 1,534

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

20231 milestone

Apr 28 Most recent contest WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest (JUDGING FULL)

20211 milestone

Sep 16 Career-best overall score700.5600 American Royal World Series of Barbecue-INVITATIONAL CONTEST

20197 milestones

Mar 22 First perfect 180 (Pork) PigMania Franklin State Championship BBQ Competition
May 3 First Grand Championship Route 66 Smoke Out
May 3 First state championship Route 66 Smoke Out
May 3 Biggest field won (33 teams) Route 66 Smoke Out
May 4 10th category win Smoke on the Water
May 31 50th tracked contest Up In Smoke on the Square
Oct 18 Peak power rating (1751) Best of the Midwest

20183 milestones

May 4 First overall podium Route 66 Smoke Out
May 4 First Reserve Championship Route 66 Smoke Out
Jun 22 25th tracked contest Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1

20174 milestones

Jun 30 First overall top-10 Assumption Fest Smokin Hot BBQ 2nd Annual
Jul 1 First category win (Pork Ribs) I-39 Smokin Car Show
Jul 1 First multi-meat day I-39 Smokin Car Show
Jul 21 10th tracked contest Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (JUDGES FULL)

20163 milestones

Apr 22 First tracked contest Wabash Ribberfest BBQ Championship
Jun 24 First call Assumption Fest Smokin Hot BBQ Contest
Jun 24 First overall past 90% of a perfect score649.0168 Assumption Fest Smokin Hot BBQ Contest

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+15.2	Route 66 Smoke Out	May 4, 2018
+13.6	Polar Bear BBQ Challenge	Feb 23, 2018
+12.9	Hog Capital Challenge	Jun 15, 2018
+12.7	Sunset Hill Kansas City Barbecue Competition	May 17, 2019
+11.7	Route 66 Smoke Out	May 3, 2019

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-16.7	CIBBQ Red Devil Edition Day 2	Jul 18, 2020
-12.1	Rockin BBQ	May 10, 2019
-10.7	Up In smoke on the Square	Jun 3, 2016
-9.3	Harvest On the Fire At the Winery	Jul 10, 2020
-9	Covid-Que Relief (Day 1)	Jun 19, 2020

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)
2023	1	0	0	0	100%	top 46%	93.6%	93.6%
2022	1	0	0	0	100%	top 58%	92.8%	92.8%
2021	8	0	3	0	75%	top 32%	97.3%	93.6%
2020	6	0	0	0	50%	top 58%	93.6%	92.2%
2019	30	2	19	6	80%	top 27%	96.7%	94.1%
2018	25	0	12	5	84%	top 36%	95.3%	92.5%
2017	8	0	3	3	88%	top 53%	93.6%	90.6%
2016	5	0	0	0	40%	top 75%	90.9%	88.5%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Apr 28, 2023	WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest (JUDGING FULL) 🏅 Washington, MO	17 / 37 (674.1940)	5 (174.8456)	23 (164.5600)	26 (166.8228)	19 (167.9656)
May 6, 2022	Route 66 Smoke Out 🏅 Dwight, IL	19 / 33 (667.8628)	12 (171.9656)	28 (153.6344)	6 (174.8800)	15 (167.3828)
Oct 22, 2021	Smokin' For Garrett 🏅 Boonville, IN	6 / 27 (678.2172)	3 (174.2628)	19 (163.3944)	9 (172.0228)	13 (168.5372)
Sep 24, 2021	Praise the Lard Murphysboro BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Murphysboro, IL	19 / 39 (675.9200)	2 (178.2972)	15 (168.5716)	24 (166.2628)	27 (162.7884)
Sep 16, 2021	American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS	84 / 467 (488.4912)	104 (171.4400)	320 (161.7372)	95 (171.4056)	178 (167.3828)
Sep 16, 2021	American Royal World Series of Barbecue-INVITATIONAL CONTEST 🏅 unrated Kansas City, KS	6 / 185 (700.5600)	5 (178.8800)	103 (170.2628)	57 (172.5600)	8 (178.8572)
Jul 23, 2021	Effingham -Jam 🏅 Effingham, IL	17 / 29 (668.5028)	8 (170.8456)	5 (173.1544)	17 (167.4056)	24 (157.0972)
Jul 9, 2021	Harvest On the Fire At the Winery 🏅 Marshall, IL	8 / 38 (682.2400)	5 (174.2628)	8 (170.2972)	20 (166.2744)	9 (171.4056)
May 1, 2021	Route 66 Smoke Out 🏅 Dwight, IL	19 / 44 (668.4684)	21 (168.5600)	20 (164.5372)	11 (169.7028)	24 (165.6684)
Apr 23, 2021	WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest 🏅 Washington, MO	17 / 45 (667.3600)	21 (169.6800)	6 (174.2972)	38 (161.1200)	26 (162.2628)
Jul 18, 2020	CIBBQ Red Devil Edition Day 2 🏅 Eureka, IL	22 / 25 (658.7884)	10 (171.4056)	18 (164.5488)	11 (167.4284)	23 (155.4056)
Jul 17, 2020	CIBBQ Red Devil Edition Day 1 🏅 Eureka, IL	11 / 30 (674.2284)	8 (171.4172)	6 (171.9772)	15 (168.5828)	24 (162.2512)
Jul 10, 2020	Harvest On the Fire At the Winery 🏅 Marshall, IL	35 / 53 (661.6228)	28 (167.9656)	7 (170.8572)	35 (164.5372)	47 (158.2628)
Jun 20, 2020	Covid-Que Relief (Day 2) Franklin, IN	34 / 63 (669.6796)	28 (170.2512)	19 (168)	15 (171.4628)	54 (159.9656)
Jun 19, 2020	Covid-Que Relief (Day 1) Franklin, IN	44 / 69 (661.0972)	41 (165.6912)	46 (163.3944)	21 (170.8800)	49 (161.1316)
May 29, 2020	Rockin BBQ 🏅 Warsaw, IN	27 / 66 (658.7768)	33 (164.5140)	32 (164.5716)	39 (161.6684)	22 (168.0228)
Oct 18, 2019	Best of the Midwest 🏅 Union Grove, WI	9 / 52 (669.6340)	14 (167.3828)	6 (174.2744)	22 (164.5484)	25 (163.4284)
Oct 11, 2019	Central Illinois Bragging Rights (CIBR-BBQ) 🏅 Arthur, IL	3 / 43 (692.5028)	4 (175.4056)	16 (166.8344)	4 (176.5600)	8 (173.7028)
Sep 27, 2019	New Albany Blues Brews and BBQ Festival 🏅 New Albany, IN	6 / 23 (681.0516)	4 (173.7144)	4 (173.1316)	12 (166.8228)	13 (167.3828)
Sep 20, 2019	Murphysboro BBQ Cook Off 🏅 Murphysboro, IL	3 / 54 (694.8000)	7 (174.2744)	10 (173.1200)	2 (180)	23 (167.4056)
Sep 12, 2019	40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS	40 / 468 (504.5140)	212 (166.8228)	166 (167.4628)	21 (176)	88 (172)
Sep 12, 2019	40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- INVITATIONAL CONTEST 🏅 unrated Kansas City, KS	17 / 135 (695.9428)	3 (179.4400)	57 (170.8344)	27 (174.2628)	66 (171.4056)
Aug 16, 2019	Evansville BBQ 🏅 Evansville, IN	4 / 19 (682.8000)	1 (177.7028)	10 (161.6800)	3 (174.8572)	6 (168.5600)
Aug 9, 2019	Big Blue Barbecue 🏅 Shelbyville, IN	15 / 29 (673.0288)	26 (163.3944)	6 (171.4172)	15 (169.6800)	12 (168.5372)
Jul 27, 2019	Hannibal Bar-B-Q-Festival 🏅 Hannibal, MO	5 / 18 (678.7656)	6 (173.1084)	6 (167.3944)	9 (169.1428)	6 (169.1200)
Jul 26, 2019	Effingham -Jam 🏅 Effingham, IL	3 / 26 (685.6112)	3 (176.5600)	3 (174.2628)	17 (164.5372)	9 (170.2512)
Jul 19, 2019	Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown 🏅 Peoria, IL	15 / 40 (669.0632)	4 (173.1428)	9 (167.9888)	25 (163.9888)	24 (163.9428)
Jul 12, 2019	Harvest On Fire at The Winery 🏅 Marshall, IL	16 / 31 (668.4456)	21 (166.8228)	11 (166.8228)	11 (169.1200)	13 (165.6800)
Jul 5, 2019	Johnson County BBQ Challenge 🏅 Warrensburg, MO	4 / 37 (681.5996)	5 (175.4056)	4 (173.1428)	21 (166.2284)	14 (166.8228)
Jun 28, 2019	BBQ SmokeDown at Chicagoland 🏅 Joliet, IL	8 / 42 (682.2516)	10 (173.1544)	22 (165.6800)	3 (174.8800)	18 (168.5372)
Jun 22, 2019	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 2 🏅 Belvidere, IL	26 / 45 (662.1716)	15 (169.1428)	22 (167.3944)	23 (166.8344)	31 (158.8000)
Jun 21, 2019	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1 🏅 Belvidere, IL	5 / 50 (678.1944)	8 (173.1200)	5 (171.4172)	27 (163.9772)	12 (169.6800)
Jun 14, 2019	Hog Capital Challenge 🏅 Kewanee, IL	9 / 25 (665.0628)	2 (178.8572)	9 (169.1316)	5 (171.4284)	23 (145.6456)
Jun 7, 2019	Blues,Brews & Barbecue 🏅 Beardstown, IL	2 / 25 (684.5028)	1 (180)	9 (165.0972)	7 (169.6684)	2 (169.7372)
May 31, 2019	Up In Smoke on the Square 🏅 Lincoln, IL	9 / 36 (672.4684)	5 (173.7028)	24 (161.6572)	19 (165.1200)	5 (171.9884)
May 25, 2019	Red, White, and BBQ- Day 2 🏅 Westmont, IL	22 / 48 (658.1140)	17 (166.8228)	32 (158.8000)	15 (165.6684)	16 (166.8228)
May 24, 2019	Red, White, and BBQ Day 1 🏅 Westmont, IL	11 / 40 (667.8628)	1 (175.4056)	2 (170.8460)	22 (163.9428)	26 (157.6684)
May 17, 2019	Sunset Hill Kansas City Barbecue Competition 🏅 Valparaiso, IN	1 / 20 (687.3944)	1 (178.8572)	4 (169.7144)	12 (166.2400)	3 (172.5828)
May 10, 2019	Rockin BBQ 🏅 Warsaw, IN	32 / 42 (645.0404)	37 (157.6572)	16 (168.5716)	27 (161.7260)	32 (157.0856)
May 4, 2019	Smoke on the Water 🏅 Liberty, IN	9 / 26 (681.0512)	16 (167.3828)	1 (174.2744)	5 (174.2628)	16 (165.1312)
May 3, 2019	Route 66 Smoke Out 🏅 Dwight, IL	1 / 33 (693.6916)	6 (173.1200)	1 (177.1544)	15 (167.9772)	2 (175.4400)
Apr 26, 2019	Smokin For Garrett 🏅 Boonville, IN	7 / 26 (682.2400)	7 (172.5600)	12 (170.2744)	7 (171.9772)	8 (167.4284)
Apr 5, 2019	CCSFest 🏅 Indianapois, IN	6 / 40 (680.5028)	6 (173.1428)	5 (174.8572)	18 (167.3828)	28 (165.1200)
Mar 22, 2019	PigMania Franklin State Championship BBQ Competition 🏅 Franklin, IN	5 / 29 (690.2056)	8 (171.9772)	6 (172)	2 (180)	19 (166.2284)
Mar 8, 2019	Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship 🏅 Nashville, TN	23 / 67 (680.4916)	17 (171.9772)	9 (174.2856)	35 (166.8344)	41 (167.3944)
Feb 8, 2019	KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Championship 🏅 unrated Little Rock, AR	73 / 92 (665.0972)	59 (169.1428)	47 (166.8344)	47 (168.0344)	84 (161.0856)
Nov 9, 2018	Smoke EM IF You Got EM Springfield, MO	5 / 30 (680.0344)	7 (172.5600)	19 (162.2856)	4 (175.4744)	10 (169.7144)
Oct 19, 2018	Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-off Union Grove, WI	7 / 42 (667.9544)	4 (170.2628)	18 (161.1200)	9 (170.8688)	12 (165.7028)
Oct 12, 2018	CIBR-BBQ Central Illinois Bragging Right BBQ Arthur, IL	8 / 45 (673.0400)	17 (168.5256)	5 (171.4172)	5 (172.5600)	31 (160.5372)
Oct 5, 2018	Harbor-Que Winthrop Harbor, IL	7 / 28 (662.7544)	2 (175.4172)	9 (166.2400)	8 (166.8344)	20 (154.2628)
Sep 7, 2018	Harvest On Fire at The Winery (JUDGES FULL) Marshall, IL	3 / 16 (675.4172)	7 (166.2856)	2 (171.4172)	4 (172.0228)	7 (165.6916)
Aug 18, 2018	McHenry Rotary Blues Brews & BBQ McHenry, IL	8 / 30 (660.4800)	6 (165.6800)	16 (157.6800)	1 (172.5600)	10 (164.5600)
Jul 27, 2018	EffingHam-Jam Effingham, IL	20 / 30 (661.6000)	24 (158.8000)	14 (165.1200)	17 (165.0972)	3 (172.5828)
Jul 20, 2018	Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (JUDGES FULL) Peoria, IL	12 / 43 (671.2684)	28 (165.0856)	23 (163.9428)	7 (173.1200)	15 (169.1200)
Jul 14, 2018	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2 Green Bay, WI	28 / 49 (661.6572)	34 (161.6800)	16 (168.5944)	39 (160.5256)	11 (170.8572)
Jul 13, 2018	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1 Green Bay, WI	39 / 54 (636.5032)	41 (158.8344)	36 (159.9888)	28 (162.2628)	44 (155.4172)
Jul 6, 2018	Johnson County BBQ Challenge (JUDGES FULL) Warrensburg, MO	22 / 47 (663.4288)	22 (167.9772)	22 (167.4172)	4 (174.8916)	36 (153.1428)
Jun 30, 2018	I-39 Smokin Car Show Minonk, IL	7 / 29 (654.1140)	7 (167.9656)	18 (156.4912)	1 (178.2972)	22 (151.3600)
Jun 23, 2018	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 2 Belvidere, IL	22 / 44 (660.4916)	42 (151.9432)	13 (167.4400)	1 (177.7372)	26 (163.3712)
Jun 22, 2018	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Day 1 Belvidere, IL	20 / 51 (666.8684)	17 (169.7144)	23 (165.7600)	39 (158.8456)	8 (172.5484)
Jun 15, 2018	Hog Capital Challenge Kewanee, IL	3 / 25 (678.1828)	11 (167.4056)	4 (170.8344)	17 (161.6456)	2 (178.2972)
Jun 8, 2018	Beardstown Blues,Brews & Barbecue Beardstown, IL	6 / 17 (669.6116)	12 (161.0856)	7 (166.2744)	2 (175.4172)	9 (166.8344)
Jun 1, 2018	Up In smoke on the Square ( WAIT LIST ONLY FOR JUDGES) Lincoln, IL	19 / 40 (644.5148)	39 (149.6344)	20 (160.5716)	2 (170.8572)	11 (163.4516)
May 26, 2018	RED, WHITE and BAR-B-Q ( DAY 2) Westmont, IL	30 / 60 (660.5144)	21 (169.6800)	45 (155.4516)	22 (169.1200)	23 (166.2628)
May 25, 2018	RED, WHITE and BAR-B-Q ( DAY 1) Westmont, IL	28 / 49 (652.5256)	24 (166.8228)	18 (165.1544)	10 (168.5828)	43 (151.9656)
May 11, 2018	Rockin BBQ Warsaw, IN	13 / 37 (666.1712)	27 (162.2744)	19 (163.9312)	3 (174.2628)	14 (165.7028)
May 4, 2018	Route 66 Smoke Out Dwight, IL	2 / 38 (686.2516)	2 (176.5716)	14 (166.2860)	1 (177.7028)	19 (165.6912)
Apr 27, 2018	Smokin For Garrett Boonville, IN	10 / 38 (675.9660)	12 (169.6800)	14 (166.2744)	14 (166.2972)	5 (173.7144)
Apr 20, 2018	Main Street BBQ & Blues Fest Washington, MO	20 / 40 (659.8972)	34 (158.8116)	1 (175.4400)	5 (171.4056)	30 (154.2400)
Mar 9, 2018	Smoke on the Shores Nashville, TN	39 / 87 (673.0056)	65 (163.3944)	16 (173.1200)	12 (174.2628)	59 (162.2284)
Feb 23, 2018	Polar Bear BBQ Challenge Kingdom City, MO	8 / 29 (678.8456)	13 (169.7372)	11 (168.5600)	8 (172)	12 (168.5484)
Oct 13, 2017	CIBR-BBQ Central Illinois Bragging Right BBQ Arthur, IL	25 / 41 (651.3832)	36 (151.3600)	35 (155.9772)	7 (170.8916)	4 (173.1544)
Oct 6, 2017	Decatur's Smokin BBQ Festival (JUDGES FULL) Decatur, IL	9 / 30 (674.2740)	26 (158.8684)	5 (170.2972)	1 (179.4400)	17 (165.6684)
Jul 28, 2017	EffingHam-Jam Effingham, IL	20 / 35 (638.7084)	31 (157.1200)	32 (149.0628)	3 (173.7028)	18 (158.8228)
Jul 21, 2017	Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (JUDGES FULL) Peoria, IL	28 / 48 (632.4112)	22 (163.3828)	40 (148.5828)	14 (163.3828)	24 (157.0628)
Jul 1, 2017	I-39 Smokin Car Show Minonk, IL	5 / 18 (658.2396)	14 (155.3484)	1 (175.4744)	16 (153.1312)	1 (174.2856)
Jun 30, 2017	Assumption Fest Smokin Hot BBQ 2nd Annual Assumption, IL	8 / 16 (657.1080)	13 (158.8456)	5 (168.0228)	14 (159.9540)	2 (170.2856)
Jun 2, 2017	Up In smoke on the Square Lincoln, IL	16 / 32 (666.7884)	21 (164.5256)	3 (173.1772)	27 (160.4912)	10 (168.5944)
Apr 28, 2017	Wabash Ribberfest BBQ Championship (TEAMS AND JUDGES FULL) Mt.Carmel, IL	26 / 29 (638.1480)	4 (172.0228)	24 (154.2056)	26 (154.2512)	24 (157.6684)
Oct 14, 2016	CIBR-BBQ Central Illinois Bragging Right BBQ Authur, IL	36 / 55 (654.1944)	42 (161.6800)	46 (156.5372)	30 (163.9656)	9 (172.0116)
Sep 23, 2016	Murphysboro BBQ Cookoff Murphysboro, IL	49 / 64 (648.4572)	48 (163.3828)	43 (162.8344)	54 (159.9772)	37 (162.2628)
Jun 24, 2016	Assumption Fest Smokin Hot BBQ Contest Assumption, IL	14 / 18 (649.0168)	4 (172)	12 (159.9428)	17 (158.2284)	14 (158.8456)
Jun 3, 2016	Up In smoke on the Square Lincoln, IL	48 / 52 (614.1028)	29 (164.5488)	51 (145.6340)	50 (147.3600)	35 (156.5600)
Apr 22, 2016	Wabash Ribberfest BBQ Championship Mt. Carmel, IL	19 / 30 (619.9308)	11 (161.6912)	19 (156.5828)	21 (155.4056)	26 (146.2512)

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

Carrol Lou's Smokehouse

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

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (19 found in their record)

The heartbreaker

Among the elite

Perfect scores on the board

Against the odds

Giant slayer

A multi-meat day

They almost always walk

High-water mark

State champions

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The drought

A strong matchup

Looking over their shoulder

A September 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)