LION 'BOUT THE Q

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

Power ranking

#1312

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1577

peak 1583 · rated over 25 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-02-22

latest 2019-06-21

Best ToY finish

#344

Master 2013

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

11 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 25 contests

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

Top-10 streak

best run (overall)

Best single call

179.4400

Chicken · Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest

Consistency

±12.19

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork

avg 166.88 · weakest Pork Ribs (164.67)

Road miles

2,549

mi 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 🏅

GCs in 2 state-championship entries

Master avg

661.87 / 720

25 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (10 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.

A multi-meat day

1 contests 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 (2013-07-19).

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
2019-04-26

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.

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

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.

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

BAMBQ

#1311 of the rated field

1577 ▼ 0 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 2023-07-28

⚔ Head-to-head

Blowing Smoke BBQ

#1307 of the rated field

1578 ▲ 0 power rating

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

No shared contest yet.

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 2026-05-15

⚔ Head-to-head

SOUTHERN SMOKERS

#1317 of the rated field

1577 ▼ 0 power rating

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

No shared contest yet.

They've been 1636 at their best, 59 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 28 contests
last seen 2019-06-21

⚔ Head-to-head

MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO.

#1310 of the rated field

1577 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 30
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 43%
Peak: 1632

No shared contest yet.

Their rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 30 contests, alongside a 43% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 29 contests
last seen 2018-07-20

⚔ Head-to-head

303 BBQ

#1309 of the rated field

1577 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 33
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 24%
Peak: 1577

No shared contest yet.

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

rated over 32 contests
last seen 2023-06-16

⚔ Head-to-head

Big Bang BBQ

#1313 of the rated field

1577 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 27%
Peak: 1577

No shared contest yet.

They turned up 5 years after LION 'BOUT THE Q did, first appearing in 2018.

rated over 15 contests
last seen 2019-10-11

⚔ Head-to-head

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
AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare
UNCLE BUB'S BBQ, LLC	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
Double D's BBQ	7	6	1	86%	⚔ 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 state / province

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

By contest size

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

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
*Beardstown Blues,Brews & Barbecue	2	6	top 33%	2018-06-08
Anchor City Cook Off	2	7	top 33%	2016-10-14
Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest	2	6	top 31%	2015-05-01
Smoke on the River	2	3	top 29%	2014-09-05
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2	15	top 66%	2014-07-25
Knights of Columbus	2	16	top 61%	2014-06-20

The story so far (18 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 6.3 yrs 2013-02-22 → 2019-06-21

Busiest season 2013 8 contests

Contests a season 3.6 across 7 seasons in the data

Cooks most in MO 15 of 25 contests · 3 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 19 6 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 25 entries · 1 win · 10 calls

Strongest meat Pork averages 166.88 · weakest Pork Ribs (164.67)

Walk rate 96% a top-10 call in 24 of 25 contests

Overall top-10 rate 36% 9 of 25 contests

Best top-10 run 2 straight contests

Master average 661.87 out of 720 · 25 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 403 466–316 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 2,549 25 mapped stops · furthest 205 mi

Schedule strength 1548 average field rating faced — tougher than 36% of rated contests

Purse competed for $20,400 listed at 2 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships 0 from 2 state-championship entries

Longest layoff 1.4 yrs 2015-05-15 → 2016-10-14

Power rating 1577 peak 1583 · #1312 of 6,413 rated

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

2013
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
2014
May 2 10th tracked contest Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest
Sep 5 First overall podium Smoke on the River
2015
May 1 Career-best single call (Chicken)179.4400 Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest
2019
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

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+13.2	Smoke on the River	2014-09-05
+12	Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest	2015-05-01
+11.8	Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest	2013-04-19
+11.1	6th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest	2014-04-11
+9.6	*Beardstown Blues,Brews & Barbecue	2017-06-09

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-7.1	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2014-07-25
-6.9	Knights of Columbus	2014-06-20
-5.6	Ribs on the River	2019-06-21
-5.3	Polar Bear Challenge	2013-02-22
-4	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2015-05-15

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	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
2019-06-21	Ribs on the River 🏅 Louisiana, MO	16 / 26 (667.9888)	20 (161.7028)	15 (166.8460)	8 (172.5600)	14 (166.8800)
2019-04-26	BBQ, Bikes and Blues 🏅 Washington, MO	11 / 39 (681.1200)	15 (169.1656)	12 (169.6800)	20 (167.4172)	8 (174.8572)
2018-06-15	*Hog Capital Challenge Kewanee, IL	10 / 25 (659.8628)	21 (158.2284)	6 (169.1316)	9 (166.2628)	12 (166.2400)
2018-06-08	*Beardstown Blues,Brews & Barbecue Beardstown, IL	7 / 17 (669.0516)	2 (173.7372)	6 (166.8344)	16 (153.0628)	3 (175.4172)
2017-06-30	*Grillin and Chillin Chillicothe, MO	18 / 27 (659.2912)	27 (154.2284)	7 (169.7028)	11 (169.6684)	12 (165.6916)
2017-06-09	*Beardstown Blues,Brews & Barbecue Beardstown, IL	6 / 24 (672.5028)	13 (166.2744)	16 (161.0856)	16 (166.2856)	2 (178.8572)
2017-04-21	Main Street BBQ & Blues Fest Washington, MO	17 / 40 (668.5600)	32 (159.3828)	6 (170.2744)	22 (164.0000)	6 (174.9028)
2016-10-14	Anchor City Cook Off Centralia, MO	14 / 34 (669.5772)	5 (171.4056)	27 (158.2288)	13 (167.9772)	6 (171.9656)
2015-05-15	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour St. Charles, MO	19 / 30 (643.3480)	23 (161.1312)	15 (164.0000)	28 (146.7768)	6 (171.4400)
2015-05-01	Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest Columbia, MO	6 / 37 (679.9888)	1 (179.4400)	22 (161.1200)	12 (169.6800)	10 (169.7488)
2015-04-17	7th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO	22 / 49 (655.4512)	2 (174.3772)	32 (159.3828)	36 (154.8228)	17 (166.8684)
2014-09-05	Smoke on the River Quincy, IL	3 / 21 (679.9656)	2 (172.5484)	4 (167.9772)	5 (173.1428)	10 (166.2972)
2014-07-25	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)
2014-06-20	Knights of Columbus Quincy, IL	18 / 25 (658.7312)	20 (162.2400)	6 (170.8228)	8 (168.5256)	17 (157.1428)
2014-05-17	Smokin on the Lake Monroe City, MO	12 / 25 (664.4684)	17 (162.8572)	18 (167.4056)	15 (167.3828)	8 (166.8228)
2014-05-02	Columbia Elks Lodge #594 BBQ Contest Columbia, MO	16 / 35 (664.5028)	19 (166.8228)	31 (159.3484)	7 (171.4400)	13 (166.8916)
2014-04-11	6th Annual Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO	8 / 46 (676.5828)	10 (169.7488)	23 (161.6912)	3 (175.4172)	13 (169.7256)
2013-10-11	Anchor City Cook Off Centralia, MO	7 / 29 (669.1316)	9 (168.5600)	4 (170.8572)	1 (173.1200)	20 (156.5944)
2013-09-06	Smoke On The River Quincy, IL	12 / 28 (654.7652)	4 (167.9884)	13 (164.0000)	13 (166.2512)	19 (156.5256)
2013-08-23	Up In Smoke on the Square Lincoln, IL	17 / 46 (664.5600)	34 (158.8344)	19 (164.0000)	5 (174.3200)	15 (167.4056)
2013-07-19	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)
2013-06-21	Knights of Columbus Quincy, IL	16 / 32 (631.4280)	10 (160.5714)	13 (155.4284)	12 (163.9998)	22 (151.4284)
2013-05-17	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)
2013-04-19	Main Street BBQ & Bluesfest Washington, MO	8 / 50 (653.7144)	31 (154.8572)	9 (166.2856)	17 (164.0000)	5 (168.5716)
2013-02-22	Polar Bear Challenge Columbia, MO	31 / 46 (647.9996)	38 (157.7138)	38 (156.5716)	10 (169.7142)	28 (164.0000)

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
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 (1138 pts)	#401 (773 pts)