50 SHADES OF QUE

50 SHADES OF QUE is a competition barbecue team with 46 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2021. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 22 at the Fountains Blaze Off and Senior Q (2013), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #364 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#364

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1709

peak 1716 · rated over 46 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Mar 15, 2013

latest Sep 16, 2021 · 8.5 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#216

Master 2013 · every season

Grand champs

1 reserve

Category wins

13 podiums

Overall top-10s

35% of 46 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 30%

overall standings

Best overall

693.0740 / 720

Master · The Best Damn BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake

Perfect 180s

Current form

669.60 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 665.58 (+4.02)

Walk rate

65%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

179.4400

Chicken · Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

Consistency

±29.96

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 169.41 · weakest Pork (166.47)

Road miles

3,020

across 46 mapped stops · furthest 303 mi

Schedule strength

47%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1561)

Purse competed for

$137K

listed at 3 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 3 state-championship entries

Master avg

665.58 / 720

46 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (14 found in their record)

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

Among the elite

#364 of 6,491 rated teams

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

A power rating of 1709 puts them #364 of 6,491 rated teams — the top 6% of the field.

rating 1709
peak 1716
46 rated contests

Happy hunting ground

Top 16% average finish here

Platte City BBQ Cook-Off is their spot: an average finish in the top 16% across 2 visits.

2 visits
best finish 6th
average top 16%

They almost always walk

65% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 30 of 46 contests

A top-10 category call in 65% of their 46 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

693.0740 career-best overall

96.3% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 693.0740 at The Best Damn BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake — 96.3% of a perfect 720.

Master
Apr 7, 2017

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

Smoke Me Tender BBQ has finished one call ahead of 50 SHADES OF QUE 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2017 their best year

2017 was the year it came together: 3 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 1 category win, at an average finish in the top 20%.

3 contests
1 overall top-10
1 category win
average top 20%

A tough matchup

23–6 behind in the head-to-head

DIRT ROAD BBQ ahead in 79% of their meetings

DIRT ROAD BBQ has come out ahead in 23 of their 29 shared contests.

Show 7 more storylines

A strong matchup

17–7 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 71% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of Sons of a Brisket in 17 of their 24 shared contests.

The comeback

2 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2 years, then back at American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST (Sep 16, 2021).

last seen Sep 12, 2019
back Sep 16, 2021

Chicken nemesis

19 of 29 shared chicken entries lost

DIRT ROAD BBQ ahead 66% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, DIRT ROAD BBQ has out-cooked them in 19 of 29 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

BURNT AT BOTH ENDZ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

Boom or bust

±9.51% swing around their own average

Their overall swings ±9.51% of a perfect score around its own average — when it lands they're dangerous, and when it doesn't the weekend is gone by lunch.

averages 91.2% of a perfect score
best 96.3%

A May team

Top 15% average finish in May

Something about May: average finish in the top 15% across 3 contests, versus top 30% the rest of the year.

3 May contests
top 30% the rest of the year

The long haul

3,020 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 3,020 miles across 46 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 303 miles to Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional).

46 mapped stops
furthest 303 mi

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
2019 ↗	Master	#1196 (190 pts)	#988 (285 pts)	#1347 (170 pts)	#1513 (130 pts)	#1385 (155 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#282 (1,225 pts)	#326 (1,105 pts)	#278 (1,235 pts)	#566 (720 pts)	#412 (970 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#973 (318 pts)	#987 (343 pts)	#1171 (268 pts)	#1382 (218 pts)	#914 (383 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#239 (1,385 pts)	#216 (1,375 pts)	#216 (1,401 pts)	#311 (1,117 pts)	#204 (1,470 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#216 (1,337 pts)	#110 (1,662 pts)	#180 (1,386 pts)	#158 (1,448 pts)	#263 (1,122 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to 50 SHADES OF QUE, each with one reason worth a look.

CROOKED PIGS

#365 of the rated field

1709 power rating

Contests: 60
GCs: 5
Top-10s: 50%
Peak: 1709

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to 50 SHADES OF QUE)

One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team 50 SHADES OF QUE has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 53 contests
last seen Oct 9, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ

#363 of the rated field

1710 power rating

Contests: 83
GCs: 6
Top-10s: 45%
Peak: 1768

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to 50 SHADES OF QUE)

They've been 1768 at their best, 59 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 82 contests
last seen Jul 19, 2024

⚔ Head-to-head

PIRATES OF BAR-B-QUE BAY

#356 of the rated field

1710 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 66
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 21%
Peak: 1715

2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to 50 SHADES OF QUE)

A longer road to the same neighbourhood — 66 contests to 46.

rated over 55 contests
last seen Sep 30, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

TEAM AMERICA

#367 of the rated field

1708 ▼ 1 power rating

Contests: 38
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 63%
Peak: 1711

1–1 in 2 shared contests (50% to 50 SHADES OF QUE)

Their last contest in the data was back in 2018, 3 years before 50 SHADES OF QUE's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 36 contests

⚔ Head-to-head

PIGGIN' WHISKEY O.G

#360 of the rated field

1710 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 64
GCs: 3
Top-10s: 44%
Peak: 1748

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to 50 SHADES OF QUE)

Their rating is built on 3 Grand Championships in 64 contests, alongside a 44% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 59 contests
last seen Sep 29, 2022

⚔ Head-to-head

Priorville BBQ

#368 of the rated field

1708 ▼ 1 power rating

Contests: 25
GCs: 3
Top-10s: 76%
Peak: 1708

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to 50 SHADES OF QUE)

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

rated over 24 contests
last seen Sep 21, 2019

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
DIRT ROAD BBQ	29	6	23	21%	⚔ compare
BURNT FINGER BBQ	28	10	18	36%	⚔ compare
Theslabs.com	27	14	13	52%	⚔ compare
SLAPS BBQ	26	14	12	54%	⚔ compare
GETTIN' BASTED	25	5	20	20%	⚔ compare
Sons of a Brisket	24	17	7	71%	⚔ compare
THUMP & STRUM BBQ	24	12	12	50%	⚔ compare
NICKLE BOYS BBQ	21	11	10	52%	⚔ compare
JAESTAR BBQ	21	6	15	29%	⚔ compare
SMOKE THIS BBQ MO	19	12	7	63%	⚔ compare
SMOOTH SMOKE	19	9	10	47%	⚔ compare
VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY	19	6	13	32%	⚔ compare
PELLET ENVY	19	5	14	26%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN O BBQ	16	12	4	75%	⚔ compare
HUNKA HUNKA BURNIN' RUB	16	10	6	63%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	46	18	1	4	179.4400	149.1430	169.41	top 32%
Pork Ribs	46	12	1	5	176.5944	150.2744	166.72	top 38%
Pork	46	6	1	2	179.4400	154.2516	166.47	top 44%
Brisket	45	14	2	2	177.7144	144.5144	166.61	top 35%

“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)	11	0	top 30%
Large (40+)	35	0	top 30%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
MO	32	top 28%
KS	8	top 23%
OK	5	top 55%
AR	1	top 29%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Smokin' on the Summit	3	7	top 40%	Jun 5, 2015
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional)	2	18	top 70%	Sep 23, 2016
BBQ and Fly In on the River	2	5	top 24%	Aug 19, 2016
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2	6	top 26%	Sep 11, 2015
Platte City BBQ Cook-Off	2	6	top 16%	May 16, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2014 14 contests

Contests a season 5.8 across 8 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MO 32 of 46 contests · 4 states in all

Contests visited 40 5 of them more than once

Opponents faced 2,334 finished ahead 4,330 times, behind 1,598

Longest layoff 2 yrs Sep 12, 2019 → Sep 16, 2021

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

20211 milestone

Sep 16 Most recent contest American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST

20191 milestone

Sep 12 Peak power rating (1716) 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST

20171 milestone

Apr 7 Career-best overall score693.0740 The Best Damn BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake

20161 milestone

Apr 29 Career-best single call (Chicken)179.4400 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

20141 milestone

Sep 12 25th tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

20138 milestones

Mar 15 First tracked contest NKC MO State BBQ Championship
Mar 15 First overall past 90% of a perfect score648.5712 NKC MO State BBQ Championship
Apr 26 First call Smokin' In The Creek
May 10 First overall top-10 Platte City BBQ Cook-Off
Sep 6 10th tracked contest Blue Springs Barbeque Blaze-Off
Oct 18 First category win (Pork) Fountains Blaze Off and Senior Q
Oct 18 First overall podium Fountains Blaze Off and Senior Q
Oct 18 First Reserve Championship Fountains Blaze Off and Senior Q

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+13.5	Smokin On Big Creek BBQ Contest Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief	Apr 1, 2016
+13	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Apr 29, 2016
+13	Fountains Blaze Off and Senior Q	Oct 18, 2013
+11.9	SMOKIN on the Summit	Jun 7, 2013
+10.6	Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest	May 2, 2014

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-20.6	Smokin' on the Summit	Jun 5, 2015
-10.2	Smokin' At The Run Shootout	Mar 14, 2014
-9.6	Smokin' On Big Creek	Apr 5, 2013
-8.6	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional)	Sep 19, 2014
-6.8	American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST	Sep 16, 2021

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	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2021	1	0	0	0%	top 32%	32.4%	32.4%
2019	2	0	0	50%	top 15%	94.6%	94.2%
2018	1	0	0	0%	top 40%	92.8%	92.8%
2017	3	1	1	67%	top 20%	96.3%	95.2%
2016	8	5	3	75%	top 21%	96%	95%
2015	4	1	0	50%	top 42%	94.3%	87.3%
2014	14	5	0	71%	top 34%	95.4%	92.5%
2013	13	4	1	69%	top 32%	94.8%	91.8%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Sep 16, 2021	American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS	150 / 467 (174.8456)	376 (157.0856)	265 (165.0856)	384 (155.9200)	131 (169.1428)
Sep 12, 2019	40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue- OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS	19 / 468 (510.8800)	11 (177.7028)	294 (162.8228)	163 (168.5600)	246 (163.3712)
Apr 26, 2019	Smokin In The Creek BBQ Contest 🏅 Sugar Creek, MO	11 / 42 (675.3484)	8 (174.2972)	15 (167.9772)	23 (166.2628)	18 (166.8112)
Sep 15, 2018	39th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	185 / 467 (667.9084)	319 (162.2628)	222 (166.8112)	163 (168)	94 (170.8344)
Sep 1, 2017	38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	56 / 407 (685.0744)	64 (174.2628)	287 (159.9544)	36 (175.4400)	24 (175.4172)
Jul 28, 2017	Racing for the BBQ Lee's Summit, MO	22 / 54 (678.2056)	8 (175.4056)	34 (165.0972)	16 (170.8456)	25 (166.8572)
Apr 7, 2017	The Best Damn BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake Smithville, MO	3 / 54 (693.0740)	7 (175.4172)	14 (171.4056)	17 (171.4056)	1 (174.8456)
Oct 29, 2016	37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS	98 / 557 (676.4916)	217 (166.8344)	61 (172.5944)	137 (169.6800)	169 (167.3828)
Sep 23, 2016	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Midwest City, OK	18 / 30 (676.5144)	14 (171.4172)	2 (176.5944)	27 (165.6800)	28 (162.8228)
Sep 9, 2016	Independence Fire & Ice BBQ Independence, MO	5 / 76 (686.8116)	12 (172.5600)	4 (175.4400)	23 (170.8344)	23 (167.9772)
Aug 19, 2016	BBQ and Fly In on the River Excelsior Springs, MO	5 / 56 (691.3484)	26 (169.1084)	20 (171.4172)	10 (173.1200)	1 (177.7028)
Jul 22, 2016	The Kansas Smithfield Guinea Pig Desoto, KS	16 / 49 (686.2744)	12 (176)	16 (173.1428)	37 (166.8572)	20 (170.2744)
Jun 18, 2016	Smoke out in the Valley Buckner, MO	7 / 30 (679.9544)	6 (174.8800)	15 (168.5372)	17 (165.6800)	5 (170.8572)
Apr 29, 2016	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Overland Park, KS	3 / 30 (686.1940)	1 (179.4400)	10 (169.1084)	11 (167.9656)	6 (169.6800)
Apr 1, 2016	Smokin On Big Creek BBQ Contest Benefiting Operation BBQ Relief Pleasant Hill, MO	4 / 72 (689.7144)	6 (176)	1 (176)	13 (172.5944)	24 (165.1200)
Oct 3, 2015	36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO	66 / 606 (678.8344)	227 (166.3200)	35 (174.8572)	203 (167.3944)	117 (170.2628)
Sep 11, 2015	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour N. Kansas City, MO	9 / 28 (676.5372)	9 (171.4284)	8 (170.2744)	16 (166.8460)	13 (167.9884)
Jun 5, 2015	Smokin' on the Summit Lee's Summit, MO	78 / 78 (488.5144)	43 (158.8344)	16 (168)	39 (161.6800)	—
Apr 10, 2015	The Best Damn BBQ Contest Smithville, MO	13 / 52 (669.6912)	9 (172)	38 (161.7256)	32 (162.8000)	4 (173.1656)
Oct 2, 2014	35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO	186 / 552 (663.9312)	173 (168.5600)	333 (161.1084)	428 (156.5484)	10 (177.7144)
Sep 19, 2014	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Midwest City, OK	23 / 29 (659.9548)	21 (168.0116)	12 (168.5600)	22 (167.3944)	26 (155.9888)
Sep 12, 2014	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour N. Kansas City, MO	6 / 30 (678.7996)	15 (169.1084)	17 (164)	2 (176)	8 (169.6912)
Aug 22, 2014	Holy Smoke BBQ Contest Liberty, MO	4 / 29 (672.5028)	5 (170.8684)	5 (169.6800)	11 (163.9544)	4 (168)
Aug 8, 2014	Balloons & BBQ Festival at Kansas Speedway Kansas City, KS	19 / 53 (667.3372)	13 (172)	10 (170.8228)	49 (154.2516)	12 (170.2628)
Jul 25, 2014	Racing for the BBQ Lee's Summit, MO	26 / 54 (655.9428)	6 (175.4056)	41 (157.7372)	36 (161.1200)	28 (161.6800)
Jun 21, 2014	Buckner Smoke Out in the Valley Buckner, MO	13 / 35 (650.1600)	15 (162.8000)	12 (164)	17 (163.4172)	17 (159.9428)
Jun 6, 2014	Smokin on the Summit Lee's Summit, MO	7 / 79 (674.2284)	16 (168.5828)	21 (167.3944)	25 (163.9884)	5 (174.2628)
May 16, 2014	Platte City BBQ Cook-Off Platte City, MO	6 / 50 (678.2400)	12 (169.1200)	5 (171.4400)	18 (168)	15 (169.6800)
May 2, 2014	Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest St. Joseph, MO	5 / 33 (671.4168)	12 (165.1084)	2 (170.8800)	8 (167.4628)	6 (167.9656)
Apr 11, 2014	The Best Dam BBQ Contest at Smithville Lake Smithville, MO	21 / 54 (652.9708)	27 (163.4056)	25 (163.9312)	45 (157.6456)	10 (167.9884)
Mar 28, 2014	Firelake BBQ Cook-off Shawnee, OK	12 / 43 (667.3260)	3 (175.4172)	26 (157.1088)	26 (162.2400)	6 (172.5600)
Mar 15, 2014	Smokin' At The Run Miami, OK	18 / 72 (686.7772)	37 (171.4172)	15 (173.1316)	34 (170.2628)	21 (171.9656)
Mar 14, 2014	Smokin' At The Run Shootout Miami, OK	35 / 43 (639.8516)	25 (166.2628)	33 (158.2516)	36 (157.6800)	35 (157.6572)
Oct 18, 2013	Fountains Blaze Off and Senior Q Independence, MO	2 / 22 (682.8228)	12 (163.9772)	3 (168.5828)	1 (179.4400)	4 (170.8228)
Oct 3, 2013	34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO	147 / 535 (654.2056)	250 (161.7256)	22 (173.7028)	20 (174.2628)	460 (144.5144)
Sep 20, 2013	Bikes Blues & BBQ Fayetteville, AR	14 / 49 (679.9544)	3 (178.8572)	2 (176.5716)	33 (160.5256)	19 (164)
Sep 6, 2013	Blue Springs Barbeque Blaze-Off Blue Springs, MO	15 / 72 (673.6572)	10 (173.7028)	28 (164.5600)	12 (173.7144)	31 (161.6800)
Aug 16, 2013	BBQ and Fly In on the River Excelsior Springs, MO	26 / 66 (656.4800)	4 (174.2628)	44 (158.2744)	44 (161.6800)	28 (162.2628)
Jul 26, 2013	Racing For The BBQ Lee's Summit, MO	28 / 58 (657.7376)	29 (164.0116)	54 (150.2744)	4 (176)	13 (167.4516)
Jul 5, 2013	Crossroads BBQ Cook-off Cameron, MO	15 / 40 (664.5714)	2 (178.2858)	29 (157.7144)	32 (159.4284)	8 (169.1428)
Jul 3, 2013	Liberty 4th Fest BBQ Contest Liberty, MO	10 / 30 (665.7136)	6 (169.1426)	6 (172.0002)	13 (165.1424)	16 (159.4284)
Jun 7, 2013	SMOKIN on the Summit Lees Summit, MO	10 / 81 (663.4278)	25 (163.9998)	14 (167.9998)	13 (168.5712)	24 (162.8570)
May 10, 2013	Platte City BBQ Cook-Off Platte City, MO	10 / 52 (661.1430)	9 (168)	14 (166.8572)	6 (170.2858)	39 (156)
Apr 26, 2013	Smokin' In The Creek Sugar Creek, MO	12 / 41 (655.4282)	6 (168.5714)	33 (154.2856)	17 (166.2856)	14 (166.2856)
Apr 5, 2013	Smokin' On Big Creek Pleasant Hill, MO	59 / 74 (627.4286)	71 (149.1430)	55 (154.2858)	22 (168)	55 (155.9998)
Mar 15, 2013	NKC MO State BBQ Championship N. Kansas City, MO	23 / 79 (648.5712)	30 (161.7144)	11 (169.1426)	45 (156.5714)	25 (161.1428)

50 SHADES OF QUE

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 (14 found in their record)

Among the elite

Happy hunting ground

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

A strong matchup

The comeback

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

Boom or bust

A May team

The long haul

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)