AFRO SMOKE BBQ

At a glance (everything the results say about this team, in numbers)

Power ranking

#3193

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1500

peak 1514 · rated over 15 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-01-25

latest 2016-05-06

Best ToY finish

#312

Master 2013

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

2 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 15 contests

Avg finish

top 53%

overall standings

Best overall

684.0344 / 720

Master · Rhythm & Ribs

Perfect 180s

Current form

654.43 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 650.25 (+4.19)

Walk rate

60%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176.0572

Chicken · Rhythm & Ribs

Consistency

±18.38

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 165.26 · weakest Brisket (158.99)

Road miles

2,257

mi across 15 mapped stops · furthest 358 mi

Schedule strength

14%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1521)

Master avg

650.25 / 720

15 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (8 found in this team's record)

Each card leads with the number that made it a story — read straight out of their results, no editorialising.

They almost always walk

60% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 9 of 15 contests

A top-10 category call in 60% of their 15 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

684.0344 career-best overall

95.0% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 684.0344 at Rhythm & Ribs — 95.0% of a perfect 720.

Master
2013-10-12

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

LUCKY 13 BARBEQUE has finished one call ahead of AFRO SMOKE BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

13–1 behind in the head-to-head

LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ ahead in 93% of their meetings

LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ has come out ahead in 13 of their 14 shared contests.

The weak link

−6.3 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 6.27 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 27% of the time against 20%.

Brisket avg 158.99
Chicken avg 165.26
4 calls in 15 entries

A strong matchup

6–2 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 75% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of DJS SMOKIN' BBQ in 6 of their 8 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

10 of 13 shared chicken entries lost

Bad Boyz BBQ ahead 77% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, Bad Boyz BBQ has out-cooked them in 10 of 13 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

CHUBBY HUBBY BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The nearest teams in the power rankings, with a different reason on each card — six teams on one rating are rarely on it for the same reason. Rating decides who makes the list; where teams tie on it, the ones this team has actually cooked against come first, then teams at a similar point in their own career. KCBS doesn’t publish where a team is from, so nothing here is inferred from geography.

120 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.

HEAVY D BBQ

#3197 of the rated field

1500 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 33%
Peak: 1543

No shared contest yet.

They've been 1543 at their best, 43 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 15 contests
last seen 2019-06-15

⚔ Head-to-head

The Inked Pig

#3208 of the rated field

1500 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1508

No shared contest yet.

Careers of much the same size, 15 contests to 15, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 15 contests
last seen 2019-04-05

⚔ Head-to-head

BatWing BBQ

#3180 of the rated field

1500 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 13
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 46%
Peak: 1501

No shared contest yet.

13 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 46% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 13 contests
last seen 2024-12-06

⚔ Head-to-head

PEARL SNAPS BBQ

#3201 of the rated field

1500 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 17%
Peak: 1503

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 12 contests
last seen 2019-07-26

⚔ Head-to-head

All Four Aces BBQ

#3177 of the rated field

1501 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 19
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 5%
Peak: 1523

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 19 contests
last seen 2024-06-21

⚔ Head-to-head

Rob's Smokin and Grillin BBQ

#3192 of the rated field

1500 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 21
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 19%
Peak: 1505

No shared contest yet.

Careers of much the same size, 21 contests to 15, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 20 contests
last seen 2026-05-23

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ	14	1	13	7%	⚔ compare
Bad Boyz BBQ	13	2	11	15%	⚔ compare
Your Behind BBQ	11	7	4	64%	⚔ compare
KNIFE PORK AND SPOON	11	5	6	45%	⚔ compare
COW TIPPIN BBQ	10	5	5	50%	⚔ compare
Karnivorous	10	5	5	50%	⚔ compare
I.A.B. 30 BBQ	10	1	9	10%	⚔ compare
Phil the Grill	9	4	5	44%	⚔ compare
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
DJS SMOKIN' BBQ	8	6	2	75%	⚔ compare
OLD SCHOOL BBQ ARIZONA	8	6	2	75%	⚔ compare
TOYS 4 BBQ'N	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare
RANCH 13 BBQ	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare
RUB YOUR MEAT BBQ	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
STEEL CITY BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	15	3	1	176.0572	146.2856	165.26	top 49%
Pork Ribs	15	5	1	172.0000	155.9656	163.38	top 50%
Pork	15	3	0	172.5828	148.0000	162.62	top 56%
Brisket	15	4	0	170.2628	146.8572	158.99	top 57%

“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	Avg finish
AZ	13	top 51%
NV	1	top 71%
CA	1	top 74%

By contest size

Field	Contests	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	1	top 33%
Medium (20–39)	11	top 52%
Large (40+)	3	top 66%

Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	3	8	top 60%	2015-03-20
Northern Arizona BBQ Festival	2	14	top 55%	2014-06-13
Chubby Hubby BBQ Bash	2	13	top 45%	2013-02-16

The story so far (15 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 3.3 yrs 2013-01-25 → 2016-05-06

Busiest season 2013 9 contests

Contests a season 3.8 across 4 seasons in the data

Cooks most in AZ 13 of 15 contests · 3 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 11 3 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 15 entries · 0 wins · 3 calls

Strongest meat Chicken averages 165.26 · weakest Brisket (158.99)

Walk rate 60% a top-10 call in 9 of 15 contests

Overall top-10 rate 27% 4 of 15 contests

Master average 650.25 out of 720 · 15 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 310 266–357 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 2,257 15 mapped stops · furthest 358 mi

Schedule strength 1521 average field rating faced — tougher than 14% of rated contests

Longest layoff 1 yrs 2015-05-01 → 2016-05-06

Power rating 1500 peak 1514 · #3193 of 6,413 rated

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

2013
Jan 25 First tracked contest 5th Annual Lake Havasu Music Brews & BBQ Championship
Feb 15 First call Chubby Hubby BBQ Bash
Feb 15 First overall past 90% of a perfect score650.2854 Chubby Hubby BBQ Bash
May 24 First overall top-10 Memorial Day Salute to Service
Oct 12 Career-best overall score684.0344 Rhythm & Ribs
Oct 12 Career-best single call (Chicken)176.0572 Rhythm & Ribs
2014
Mar 21 10th tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
2015
Mar 20 Peak power rating (1514) Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
2016
May 6 Most recent contest 4th Annual BBQ Throwdown

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+11.8	Memorial Day Salute to Service	2013-05-24
+9.9	2nd Annual Show Low BBQ Throwdown	2014-05-02
+9.4	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2015-03-20
+8	Rhythm & Ribs	2013-10-12
+3.3	Chubby Hubby BBQ Bash	2013-02-16

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-13.4	4th Annual BBQ Throwdown	2016-05-06
-10	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2014-03-21
-7.1	Dana Point State BBQ Championship	2013-10-04
-6.1	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2013-03-22
-4.2	Riverside Resort Casino USA Barbecue Championship	2013-10-31

Category scores over time

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Team of the Year rank by season

Season by season

Season	Contests	Top-10s	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2016	1	0	0%	top 95%	87.4%	87.4%
2015	2	1	50%	top 41%	93.8%	92.5%
2014	3	1	67%	top 57%	92.8%	89.9%
2013	9	2	67%	top 50%	95%	90.3%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2016-05-06	4th Annual BBQ Throwdown Show Low, AZ	37 / 39 (629.0512)	31 (161.7372)	34 (157.7028)	38 (154.2628)	32 (155.3484)
2015-05-01	Show Low BBQ Throwdown Show Low, AZ	19 / 35 (656.4344)	11 (169.1200)	21 (162.2516)	12 (169.7028)	26 (155.3600)
2015-03-20	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Tucson, AZ	8 / 29 (675.3712)	4 (174.8800)	17 (166.8228)	17 (163.4056)	7 (170.2628)
2014-06-13	Northern Arizona BBQ Festival Williams, AZ	23 / 35 (643.3024)	21 (165.1084)	25 (155.9656)	6 (169.7028)	29 (152.5256)
2014-05-02	2nd Annual Show Low BBQ Throwdown Show Low, AZ	8 / 35 (668.0000)	14 (167.4400)	14 (166.2972)	15 (166.8228)	10 (167.4400)
2014-03-21	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Tucson, AZ	25 / 30 (631.2684)	24 (160.5140)	25 (155.9772)	24 (156.5256)	16 (158.2516)
2013-10-31	Riverside Resort Casino USA Barbecue Championship Laughlin, NV	60 / 85 (638.8572)	53 (162.8800)	53 (160.5944)	46 (161.6800)	63 (153.7028)
2013-10-12	Rhythm & Ribs Cottonwood, AZ	5 / 15 (684.0344)	2 (176.0572)	10 (166.2744)	5 (172.5828)	8 (169.1200)
2013-10-04	Dana Point State BBQ Championship Dana Point, CA	73 / 99 (621.6456)	31 (167.3940)	59 (159.3944)	88 (148.0000)	87 (146.8572)
2013-06-14	Northern Arizona BBQ Festival Williams, AZ	14 / 32 (657.1428)	14 (169.1428)	10 (168.0002)	25 (158.8570)	12 (161.1428)
2013-05-24	Memorial Day Salute to Service Mesa, AZ	5 / 29 (665.7140)	18 (163.4284)	2 (172.0000)	11 (166.2856)	9 (164.0000)
2013-03-22	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Tucson, AZ	21 / 30 (627.4282)	14 (162.8572)	10 (162.8570)	26 (152.5712)	24 (149.1428)
2013-02-16	Chubby Hubby BBQ Bash Mesa, AZ	13 / 31 (665.1426)	7 (169.7142)	5 (171.4286)	23 (162.2854)	18 (161.7144)
2013-02-15	Chubby Hubby BBQ Bash Mesa, AZ	14 / 29 (650.2854)	16 (162.2856)	15 (160.5714)	10 (166.2856)	12 (161.1428)
2013-01-25	5th Annual Lake Havasu Music Brews & BBQ Championship Lake Havasu City, AZ	47 / 86 (640.0000)	82 (146.2856)	23 (164.5716)	13 (170.2856)	44 (158.8572)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)

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
2015 ↗	Master	#1190 (239 pts)	#1000 (334 pts)	#1525 (174 pts)	#1379 (219 pts)	#1300 (219 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1082 (280 pts)	#1234 (255 pts)	#1311 (230 pts)	#1004 (345 pts)	#1083 (295 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#312 (981 pts)	#277 (1036 pts)	#251 (1151 pts)	#345 (881 pts)	#347 (891 pts)