LION 'BOUT THE Q

LION 'BOUT THE Q is a competition barbecue team with 25 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2019. Their best overall finish is 3rd of 21 at the Smoke on the River (2014). They are ranked #1330 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#1,330

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1577

peak 1583 · rated over 25 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Feb 22, 2013

latest Jun 21, 2019 · 6.3 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#344

Master 2013 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

11 podiums

Overall top-10s

36% of 25 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 43%

overall standings

Best overall

681.1200 / 720

Master · BBQ, Bikes and Blues

Perfect 180s

Current form

667.46 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 661.87 (+5.59)

Walk rate

96%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

179.4400

Chicken · Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest

Consistency

±12.19

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 166.88 · weakest Pork Ribs (164.67)

Road miles

2,549

across 25 mapped stops · furthest 205 mi

Schedule strength

36%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1548)

Purse competed for

$20K

listed at 2 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 2 state-championship entries

Master avg

661.87 / 720

25 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (10 found in their record)

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

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 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Jul 19, 2013).

Pork Ribs 1st
Pork 1st

They almost always walk

96% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 24 of 25 contests

A top-10 category call in 96% of their 25 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

681.1200 career-best overall

94.6% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 681.1200 at BBQ, Bikes and Blues — 94.6% of a perfect 720.

Master
Apr 26, 2019

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

MONSTER-QUE has finished one call ahead of LION 'BOUT THE Q 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

11–2 behind in the head-to-head

SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ ahead in 85% of their meetings

SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ has come out ahead in 11 of their 13 shared contests.

A strong matchup

7–2 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 78% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of POLITICAL PORK in 7 of their 9 shared contests.

Pork nemesis

11 of 16 shared pork entries lost

SMOKIN' BUTTS ahead 69% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, SMOKIN' BUTTS has out-cooked them in 11 of 16 shared pork entries.

Show 3 more storylines

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

IN DEEP SAUCE has landed one call behind them 2 times.

An April team

Top 30% average finish in April

Something about April: average finish in the top 30% across 5 contests, versus top 43% the rest of the year.

5 April contests
top 43% the rest of the year

The metronome

±1.69% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.69% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 91.9% of a perfect score
25 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
2019 ↗	Master	#1096 (226 pts)	#1272 (186 pts)	#1160 (226 pts)	#1148 (231 pts)	#1063 (261 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1358 (187 pts)	#1974 (112 pts)	#1067 (332 pts)	#1416 (197 pts)	#1131 (292 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1985 (114 pts)	#1531 (184 pts)	#2866 (59 pts)	#2000 (119 pts)	#1574 (174 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#939 (335 pts)	#631 (610 pts)	#1266 (240 pts)	#1281 (240 pts)	#875 (405 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#577 (651 pts)	#620 (616 pts)	#617 (621 pts)	#497 (776 pts)	#680 (546 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#344 (898 pts)	#326 (933 pts)	#339 (893 pts)	#244 (1,138 pts)	#401 (773 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to LION 'BOUT THE Q, each with one reason worth a look.

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

BAMBQ

#1,334 of the rated field

1577 power rating

Contests: 41
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 15%
Peak: 1588

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to LION 'BOUT THE Q)

One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team LION 'BOUT THE Q has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 41 contests
last seen Jul 28, 2023

⚔ Head-to-head

New Pigs on the Block

#1,325 of the rated field

1578 power rating

Contests: 26
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 38%
Peak: 1578

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 25 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 25 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Blowing Smoke BBQ

#1,320 of the rated field

1578 power rating

Contests: 24
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 29%
Peak: 1587

Careers of much the same size, 24 contests to 25, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 24 contests
last seen May 15, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Smokin Reefer BBQ

#1,332 of the rated field

1577 power rating

Contests: 28
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 21%
Peak: 1591

Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 28 contests, alongside a 21% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 28 contests
last seen Sep 30, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

FLYING PORKERS

#1,338 of the rated field

1577 power rating

Contests: 28
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 25%
Peak: 1615

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

rated over 28 contests
last seen Aug 23, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

SOUTHERN SMOKERS

#1,326 of the rated field

1578 power rating

Contests: 28
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 43%
Peak: 1636

Level with LION 'BOUT THE Q on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 28 contests
last seen Jun 21, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SMOKIN' BUTTS	16	6	10	38%	⚔ compare
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE SMOKE	13	6	7	46%	⚔ compare
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ	13	2	11	15%	⚔ compare
ST. LOUIS BLACK IRON BBQ	13	2	11	15%	⚔ compare
SMOKE THIS BBQ MO	11	2	9	18%	⚔ compare
OUTLAW HAWGS BBQ	10	3	7	30%	⚔ compare
PITMASTERIQ BBQ	10	2	8	20%	⚔ compare
POLITICAL PORK	9	7	2	78%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN O BBQ	9	3	6	33%	⚔ compare
BLAZIN' BLUES BBQ	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
IN DEEP SAUCE	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
SALT - PEPPER & 2 SHAKERS	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare
UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	25	10	1	5	179.4400	154.2284	164.72	top 50%
Pork Ribs	25	10	1	1	174.8916	155.4284	164.67	top 45%
Pork	25	11	2	3	175.4172	146.7768	166.88	top 39%
Brisket	25	11	0	2	178.8572	149.1200	165.60	top 42%

“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	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	2	top 35%
Medium (20–39)	17	top 45%
Large (40+)	6	top 38%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
MO	15	top 41%
IL	8	top 40%
IA	2	top 66%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Beardstown Blues,Brews & Barbecue	2	6	top 33%	Jun 8, 2018
Anchor City Cook Off	2	7	top 33%	Oct 14, 2016
Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest	2	6	top 31%	May 1, 2015
Smoke on the River	2	3	top 29%	Sep 5, 2014
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2	15	top 66%	Jul 25, 2014
Knights of Columbus	2	16	top 61%	Jun 20, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2013 8 contests

Contests a season 3.6 across 7 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MO 15 of 25 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 19 6 of them more than once

Opponents faced 402 finished ahead 466 times, behind 316

Longest layoff 1.4 yrs May 15, 2015 → Oct 14, 2016

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

20194 milestones

Apr 26 Career-best overall score681.1200 BBQ, Bikes and Blues
Apr 26 Peak power rating (1583) BBQ, Bikes and Blues
Jun 21 25th tracked contest Ribs on the River
Jun 21 Most recent contest Ribs on the River

20151 milestone

May 1 Career-best single call (Chicken)179.4400 Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest

20142 milestones

May 2 10th tracked contest Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest
Sep 5 First overall podium Smoke on the River

20136 milestones

Feb 22 First tracked contest Polar Bear Challenge
Feb 22 First call Polar Bear Challenge
Apr 19 First overall top-10 Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest
Apr 19 First overall past 90% of a perfect score653.7144 Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest
Jul 19 First category win (Pork Ribs) Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Jul 19 First multi-meat day Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+13.2	Smoke on the River	Sep 5, 2014
+12	Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest	May 1, 2015
+11.8	Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest	Apr 19, 2013
+11.1	6th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest	Apr 11, 2014
+9.6	Beardstown Blues,Brews & Barbecue	Jun 9, 2017

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-7.1	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Jul 25, 2014
-6.9	Knights of Columbus	Jun 20, 2014
-5.6	Ribs on the River	Jun 21, 2019
-5.3	Polar Bear Challenge	Feb 22, 2013
-4	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	May 15, 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	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2019	2	0	0	100%	top 45%	94.6%	93.7%
2018	2	2	0	100%	top 41%	92.9%	92.3%
2017	3	1	0	100%	top 45%	93.4%	92.6%
2016	1	0	0	100%	top 41%	93%	93%
2015	3	1	1	100%	top 41%	94.4%	91.6%
2014	6	2	0	83%	top 46%	94.4%	92.3%
2013	8	3	3	100%	top 40%	92.9%	90.9%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jun 21, 2019	Ribs on the River 🏅 Louisiana, MO	16 / 26 (667.9888)	20 (161.7028)	15 (166.8460)	8 (172.5600)	14 (166.8800)
Apr 26, 2019	BBQ, Bikes and Blues 🏅 Washington, MO	11 / 39 (681.1200)	15 (169.1656)	12 (169.6800)	20 (167.4172)	8 (174.8572)
Jun 15, 2018	Hog Capital Challenge Kewanee, IL	10 / 25 (659.8628)	21 (158.2284)	6 (169.1316)	9 (166.2628)	12 (166.2400)
Jun 8, 2018	Beardstown Blues,Brews & Barbecue Beardstown, IL	7 / 17 (669.0516)	2 (173.7372)	6 (166.8344)	16 (153.0628)	3 (175.4172)
Jun 30, 2017	Grillin and Chillin Chillicothe, MO	18 / 27 (659.2912)	27 (154.2284)	7 (169.7028)	11 (169.6684)	12 (165.6916)
Jun 9, 2017	Beardstown Blues,Brews & Barbecue Beardstown, IL	6 / 24 (672.5028)	13 (166.2744)	16 (161.0856)	16 (166.2856)	2 (178.8572)
Apr 21, 2017	Main Street BBQ & Blues Fest Washington, MO	17 / 40 (668.5600)	32 (159.3828)	6 (170.2744)	22 (164)	6 (174.9028)
Oct 14, 2016	Anchor City Cook Off Centralia, MO	14 / 34 (669.5772)	5 (171.4056)	27 (158.2288)	13 (167.9772)	6 (171.9656)
May 15, 2015	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour St. Charles, MO	19 / 30 (643.3480)	23 (161.1312)	15 (164)	28 (146.7768)	6 (171.4400)
May 1, 2015	Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest Columbia, MO	6 / 37 (679.9888)	1 (179.4400)	22 (161.1200)	12 (169.6800)	10 (169.7488)
Apr 17, 2015	7th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO	22 / 49 (655.4512)	2 (174.3772)	32 (159.3828)	36 (154.8228)	17 (166.8684)
Sep 5, 2014	Smoke on the River Quincy, IL	3 / 21 (679.9656)	2 (172.5484)	4 (167.9772)	5 (173.1428)	10 (166.2972)
Jul 25, 2014	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Des Moines, IA	23 / 29 (642.2748)	24 (159.4060)	17 (164.0688)	13 (164.5372)	24 (154.2628)
Jun 20, 2014	Knights of Columbus Quincy, IL	18 / 25 (658.7312)	20 (162.2400)	6 (170.8228)	8 (168.5256)	17 (157.1428)
May 17, 2014	Smokin on the Lake Monroe City, MO	12 / 25 (664.4684)	17 (162.8572)	18 (167.4056)	15 (167.3828)	8 (166.8228)
May 2, 2014	Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest Columbia, MO	16 / 35 (664.5028)	19 (166.8228)	31 (159.3484)	7 (171.4400)	13 (166.8916)
Apr 11, 2014	6th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO	8 / 46 (676.5828)	10 (169.7488)	23 (161.6912)	3 (175.4172)	13 (169.7256)
Oct 11, 2013	Anchor City Cook Off Centralia, MO	7 / 29 (669.1316)	9 (168.5600)	4 (170.8572)	1 (173.1200)	20 (156.5944)
Sep 6, 2013	Smoke On The River Quincy, IL	12 / 28 (654.7652)	4 (167.9884)	13 (164)	13 (166.2512)	19 (156.5256)
Aug 23, 2013	Up In Smoke on the Square Lincoln, IL	17 / 46 (664.5600)	34 (158.8344)	19 (164)	5 (174.3200)	15 (167.4056)
Jul 19, 2013	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Des Moines, IA	15 / 28 (656.5488)	24 (158.2628)	1 (174.8916)	1 (174.2744)	27 (149.1200)
Jun 21, 2013	Knights of Columbus Quincy, IL	16 / 32 (631.4280)	10 (160.5714)	13 (155.4284)	12 (163.9998)	22 (151.4284)
May 17, 2013	3rd Annual Smokin on the Lake Monroe City, MO	5 / 17 (655.4280)	2 (168.5712)	9 (157.1428)	5 (167.4284)	7 (162.2856)
Apr 19, 2013	Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO	8 / 50 (653.7144)	31 (154.8572)	9 (166.2856)	17 (164)	5 (168.5716)
Feb 22, 2013	Polar Bear Challenge Columbia, MO	31 / 46 (647.9996)	38 (157.7138)	38 (156.5716)	10 (169.7142)	28 (164)

LION 'BOUT THE Q

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 (10 found in their record)

A multi-meat day

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

A strong matchup

Pork nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

An April team

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)