Riding a hot streak
6
straight overall top-10s
Currently on a 6-contest overall top-10 run — including 2 straight Grand Championships.
- career best 8
- 2 straight GCs
PUDDLEDUCK BBQ
PUDDLEDUCK BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 50 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2024 and 2026. They have won 7 Grand Championships, most recently at the Mike Gannon BBQ Cookoff (2026), and finished Reserve Grand Champion 3 times. They are ranked #369 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “Puddle Duck BBQ”.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1708
peak 1708 · rated over 35 contests7 invitational or side-series contests not counted
Contests
50
in the data
First seen
May 17, 2024
latest Sep 18, 2026 · 2.3 years on the trail
Grand champs
7
3 reserve · wins it all 14% of the time
Category wins
12
26 podiums
Overall top-10s
25
50% of 50 contests
Best top-10 run
8
straight overall top-10s · 2 straight GCs
Avg finish
top 29%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
5 🔥
Current form
345.09 ▲
last 5 Backyard vs avg 341.16 (+3.93)
Walk rate
82%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±30.73
spread of their Backyard overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 173.38 · weakest Brisket (166.17)
Road miles
6,296
across 50 mapped stops · furthest 506 mi
Schedule strength
67%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1584)
Purse competed for
$272K
listed at 41 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
3 🏅
won from 17 state-championship entries
Master avg
680.10 / 720
5 Master contests · 0 GCs
Backyard avg
341.16 / 360
31 Backyard contests · 7 GCs
Backyard (4-meat) avg
670.75 / 720
1 Backyard (4-meat) contest · 0 GCs
These overall scores sit on different scales (Master out of 720, Backyard out of 360, Backyard (4-meat) out of 720), so they're kept separate — averaging them together would be misleading.
This team cooks the Backyard series — its own boards, records and Team of the Year are here.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Backyard | #2 (1,349 pts) | #4 (1,263 pts) | #1 🏆 (1,331 pts) | — | — |
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #1020 (60 pts) | #393 (541 pts) | #507 (405 pts) | #1067 (60 pts) | #1051 (60 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Backyard | #20 (1,189 pts) | #23 (1,179 pts) | #18 (1,214 pts) | — | — |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #649 (230 pts) | #526 (399 pts) | #483 (475 pts) | #489 (408 pts) | #437 (499 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Backyard | #137 (418 pts) | #192 (268 pts) | #102 (588 pts) | — | — |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #978 (110 pts) | #1242 (60 pts) | #933 (145 pts) | #1170 (75 pts) | #1011 (110 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to PUDDLEDUCK BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
#366 of the rated field
- Contests
- 61
- GCs
- 4
- Top-10s
- 38%
- Peak
- 1708
5–1 in 6 shared contests (83% to PUDDLEDUCK BBQ)
These two have cooked 6 of the same contests — PUDDLEDUCK BBQ ahead 5–1 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.
⚔ Head-to-head#368 of the rated field
- Contests
- 125
- GCs
- 4
- Top-10s
- 28%
- Peak
- 1737
8–2 in 10 shared contests (80% to PUDDLEDUCK BBQ)
A longer road to the same neighbourhood — 125 contests to 50.
⚔ Head-to-head#372 of the rated field
- Contests
- 35
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 49%
- Peak
- 1710
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 35 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careers#365 of the rated field
- Contests
- 38
- GCs
- 2
- Top-10s
- 63%
- Peak
- 1711
Their last contest in the data was back in 2018, 8 years before PUDDLEDUCK BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#370 of the rated field
- Contests
- 31
- GCs
- 4
- Top-10s
- 65%
- Peak
- 1712
Their rating is built on 4 Grand Championships in 31 contests, alongside a 65% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Compare careers#367 of the rated field
- Contests
- 25
- GCs
- 3
- Top-10s
- 76%
- Peak
- 1708
They were already cooking in 2013, 11 years before PUDDLEDUCK BBQ's first contest.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rollin Smoke BBQ | 27 | 16 | 11 | 59% | ⚔ compare |
| LEE LA Q | 21 | 13 | 8 | 62% | ⚔ compare |
| Electro-Que-ted | 20 | 9 | 11 | 45% | ⚔ compare |
| Say My Name BBQ | 18 | 13 | 5 | 72% | ⚔ compare |
| Bentley Que | 18 | 11 | 7 | 61% | ⚔ compare |
| Deviant Smoke | 18 | 11 | 7 | 61% | ⚔ compare |
| Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | 18 | 8 | 10 | 44% | ⚔ compare |
| NORALA BBQ TEAM | 17 | 7 | 10 | 41% | ⚔ compare |
| Wee Daddy's BBQ | 16 | 12 | 4 | 75% | ⚔ compare |
| Pork Life | 15 | 14 | 1 | 93% | ⚔ compare |
| Southern Swine | 15 | 9 | 6 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
| Dogpatch Q | 13 | 10 | 3 | 77% | ⚔ compare |
| Modest Meats | 13 | 10 | 3 | 77% | ⚔ compare |
| Armstrong Smoke & Co. | 11 | 8 | 3 | 73% | ⚔ compare |
| BAD ROOSTER BBQ | 11 | 5 | 5 | 45% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 42 | 21 | 5 | 9 | 180 🔥 | 163.9428 | 173.38 | top 31% |
| Pork Ribs | 42 | 26 | 4 | 12 | 178.8800 | 155.3484 | 172.58 | top 32% |
| Pork | 13 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 180 🔥 | 169.6684 | 172.99 | top 31% |
| Brisket | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 174.2744 | 152.4800 | 166.17 | top 50% |
“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) | 4 | 2 | top 20% |
| Medium (20–39) | 20 | 5 | top 28% |
| Large (40+) | 14 | 0 | top 31% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2) | 2 | 1 | 1 | top 13% | Jul 18, 2026 |
| High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2 | 1 | 1 | top 36% | May 15, 2026 |
| Smoke N for the Kids (Day 2) | 2 | 5 | 0 | top 27% | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2 | 5 | 0 | top 57% | Jun 12, 2026 |
| Singing River Smoke-O-Rama (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2 | 5 | 0 | top 14% | Mar 27, 2026 |
| Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship | 2 | 7 | 0 | top 7% | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Atlanta BBQ Store Classic | 2 | 29 | 0 | top 66% | Nov 14, 2025 |
| WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2 | 5 | 0 | top 19% | Oct 17, 2025 |
| Smoke on the Water Guntersville (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2 | 7 | 0 | top 39% | Sep 12, 2025 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2025
24 contests · 2 GCs
Contests a season
16.7
across 3 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
AL
21 of 50 contests · 9 states in all
Contests visited
29
9 of them more than once
First title
Sep 19, 2025
Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE)
Opponents faced
811
finished ahead 1,448 times, behind 538
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20269 milestones
- First state championship Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2)
- First multi-meat day Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2)
- 10th category win Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2)
- 5th Grand Championship Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2)
- 5th perfect 180 Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2)
- Biggest field won (38 teams) Bands & BBQ at the Point
- 50th tracked contest Mike Gannon BBQ Cookoff
- Peak power rating (1708) Mike Gannon BBQ Cookoff
- Most recent contest Mike Gannon BBQ Cookoff
20258 milestones
- 10th tracked contest Dr. George Smith BBQ Brawl (COMPETITOR SERIES)
- First category win (Pork) High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First perfect 180 (Pork) High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Career-best overall score687.3372 Madison Ribberfest
- First overall podium Bernard Blues & BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First Reserve Championship Bernard Blues & BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First Grand Championship Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE)
- 25th tracked contest Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE)
20244 milestones
- First tracked contest The High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First call The High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First overall top-10 The High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score345.0972 The High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +15.8 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) | Sep 19, 2025 |
| +15.1 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship | Mar 14, 2025 |
| +15 | Bernard Blues & BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) | Sep 5, 2025 |
| +14.1 | Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) | Oct 10, 2025 |
| +13.4 | Smoke on the Mountain | Jul 25, 2025 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -21.9 | Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) | Jun 12, 2026 |
| -14.2 | Atlanta BBQ Store Classic | Nov 14, 2025 |
| -11.9 | O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 | May 3, 2025 |
| -5.5 | High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) | May 16, 2025 |
| -2.5 | Smoke on the Water Guntersville (BACKYARD ONLY) | Sep 12, 2025 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 21 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 86% | top 21% | 99.2% | 93.5% |
| 2025 | 24 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 83% | top 35% | 98.1% | 95.6% |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 60% | top 31% | 95.9% | 95.2% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2026 | Mike Gannon BBQ Cookoff 🏅 Columbiana, AL | 1 / 16 (341.6572) | 4 (170.8228) | 3 (170.8344) | — | — |
| Sep 11, 2026 | Bands & BBQ at the Point 🏅 Carrollton, KY | 1 / 38 (351.9772) | 3 (176.5600) | 2 (175.4172) | 2 (170.2628) | 1 (171.9772) |
| Aug 15, 2026 | Smoke N for the Kids (Day 2) 🏅 Troy, IL | 5 / 32 (342.8000) | 12 (165.0972) | 1 (177.7028) | — | — |
| Aug 14, 2026 | Smoke N for the Kids (Day 1) 🏅 Troy, IL | 10 / 26 (332.4800) | 12 (165.0972) | 8 (167.3828) | — | — |
| Jul 18, 2026 | Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2) 🏅 Osceola, MO | 1 / 32 (356.5600) | 1 (180) | 1 (176.5600) | — | — |
| Jul 17, 2026 | Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 1) 🏅 Osceola, MO | 7 / 32 (343.3828) | 6 (171.9772) | 9 (171.4056) | — | — |
| Jun 19, 2026 | Rhythm & BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Morris, IL | 18 / 41 (341.6800) | 6 (175.4172) | 28 (166.2628) | — | — |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL | 31 / 31 (176.5600) | 7 (176.5600) | — | — | — |
| May 24, 2026 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Master Series Invitational and the Backyard Series Invitational (Sunday, May 24, 2026) unrated Lebanon, TN | 2 / 82 (354.2744) | 13 (175.4172) | 1 (178.8572) | — | — |
| May 22, 2026 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: World Chicken Finals (Friday, May 22, 2026) unrated Lebanon, TN | — | 19 (175.4288) | — | — | — |
| May 22, 2026 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: World Rib Finals (Friday, May 22, 2026) unrated Lebanon, TN | — | — | 37 (173.7144) | — | — |
| May 15, 2026 | High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Winchester, TN | 1 / 29 (357.1544) | 4 (179.4400) | 2 (177.7144) | — | — |
| May 2, 2026 | O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 Cleveland, AL | 7 / 15 (348.5372) | 5 (176.5600) | 8 (171.9772) | — | — |
| May 1, 2026 | O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1 Cleveland, AL | 1 / 17 (350.8344) | 1 (180) | 11 (170.8344) | — | — |
| Apr 24, 2026 | Marietta River City BBQ (OPEN FORMAT) 🏅 Marietta, OH | 3 / 15 (670.7544) | 11 (167.9772) | 11 (168.5372) | 7 (171.4172) | 9 (162.8228) |
| Apr 24, 2026 | Marietta River City BBQ (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Marietta, OH | — | 1 (176.5600) | — | — | — |
| Mar 27, 2026 | Singing River Smoke-O-Rama (BACKYARD ONLY) Athens, AL | 7 / 43 (348.5488) | 3 (177.7144) | 17 (170.8344) | — | — |
| Mar 20, 2026 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship 🏅 Lebanon, TN | 7 / 125 (349.1316) | 3 (178.8572) | 20 (170.2744) | 23 (169.6684) | — |
| Mar 20, 2026 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Lebanon, TN | — | 15 (176.5600) | — | — | — |
| Mar 20, 2026 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT RIBS) Lebanon, TN | — | — | 4 (178.8572) | — | — |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Sip & Swine BBQ Festival 🏅 Lawrenceville, GA | 2 / 44 (353.1316) | 4 (175.4172) | 2 (177.7144) | — | — |
| Nov 14, 2025 | Atlanta BBQ Store Classic 🏅 Cumming, GA | 46 / 56 (671.8284) | 21 (173.1084) | 10 (176.5600) | 41 (169.6800) | 55 (152.4800) |
| Oct 17, 2025 | WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL | 5 / 39 (349.6912) | 12 (170.8112) | 1 (178.8800) | — | — |
| Oct 10, 2025 | Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Scottsboro, AL | 1 / 30 (353.1200) | 1 (178.8572) | 4 (174.2628) | — | — |
| Sep 19, 2025 | The Great Alabama BBQ Cook-off Qualifier "Don't Burn the Brisket" (ONE MEAT BRISKET) Glencoe, AL | — | — | — | — | 2 (174.2744) |
| Sep 19, 2025 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) Glencoe, AL | 1 / 30 (351.9656) | 6 (175.4056) | 4 (176.5600) | 1 (180) | — |
| Sep 12, 2025 | Smoke on the Water Guntersville (BACKYARD ONLY) Guntersville, AL | 16 / 28 (339.9428) | 8 (176.5600) | 25 (163.3828) | — | — |
| Sep 12, 2025 | The Great Alabama BBQ Cook-off Qualifier "Lakeside Pork Fest" (ONE MEAT PORK) Guntersville, AL | — | — | — | 8 (170.8228) | — |
| Sep 12, 2025 | The Great Alabama BBQ Cook-off Qualifier "Battle of the Bones" (ONE MEAT RIBS) Guntersville, AL | — | — | 9 (171.9656) | — | — |
| Sep 5, 2025 | Bernard Blues & BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) Cullman, AL | 2 / 29 (351.9772) | 4 (177.7028) | 3 (174.2744) | — | — |
| Sep 5, 2025 | Bernard Blues & BBQ Cookoff (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Cullman, AL | — | 7 (174.2628) | — | — | — |
| Aug 15, 2025 | Madison Ribberfest 🏅 Madison, IN | 15 / 45 (687.3372) | 26 (170.8228) | 33 (166.2400) | 9 (176.5716) | 10 (173.7028) |
| Jul 25, 2025 | Smoke on the Mountain 🏅 Galax, VA | 4 / 37 (347.4060) | 2 (174.2860) | 4 (173.1200) | — | — |
| Jun 20, 2025 | Poosa Q 🏅 Montgomery, AL | 16 / 42 (341.6572) | 30 (163.9428) | 3 (177.7144) | — | — |
| Jun 13, 2025 | Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL | 5 / 35 (348.5372) | 1 (180) | 15 (168.5372) | — | — |
| May 24, 2025 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025) unrated Lebanon, TN | 88 / 106 (671.8168) | 89 (168.5256) | 90 (167.3828) | 39 (173.1200) | 95 (162.7884) |
| May 23, 2025 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational Anything Molasses (Friday, May 23, 2025) unrated Lebanon, TN | — | — | — | — | — |
| May 23, 2025 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational Ribs (Friday, May 23, 2025) unrated Lebanon, TN | — | — | 53 (155.3484) | — | — |
| May 16, 2025 | High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Winchester, TN | 22 / 32 (333.1084) | 27 (165.7028) | 19 (167.4056) | 1 (180) | — |
| May 3, 2025 | O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 Oneonta, AL | 21 / 23 (333.6228) | 19 (167.3828) | 21 (166.2400) | 7 (174.2628) | — |
| Apr 25, 2025 | Dr. George Smith BBQ Brawl (COMPETITOR SERIES) unrated Murfreesboro, TN | 16 / 31 (507.8740) | 11 (170.8228) | 7 (174.2628) | — | — |
| Apr 11, 2025 | Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition 🏅 Gadsden, AL | 5 / 31 (350.8112) | 7 (175.4056) | 8 (175.4056) | — | — |
| Mar 21, 2025 | Singing River Smoke-O-Rama (BACKYARD ONLY) Athens, AL | 5 / 43 (348.5372) | 18 (170.8228) | 2 (177.7144) | — | — |
| Mar 14, 2025 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship 🏅 Lebanon, TN | 9 / 100 (348.5488) | 20 (173.1200) | 6 (175.4288) | 15 (170.2744) | — |
| Mar 14, 2025 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT RIBS) Lebanon, TN | — | — | 28 (171.9656) | — | — |
| Nov 15, 2024 | Atlanta BBQ Store Classic 🏅 Cuming, GA | 29 / 58 (683.2912) | 11 (176.5600) | 15 (175.4056) | 23 (171.9656) | 50 (159.3600) |
| Oct 18, 2024 | WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL | 13 / 50 (338.7884) | 21 (168.5256) | 13 (170.2628) | — | — |
| Sep 13, 2024 | Smoke on the Water Guntersville (BACKYARD ONLY) Guntersville, AL | 7 / 33 (344.5372) | 19 (167.9772) | 2 (176.5600) | — | — |
| Aug 16, 2024 | Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues 🏅 Madison, IN | 15 / 49 (686.2172) | 30 (169.1200) | 9 (174.2972) | 22 (170.8344) | 15 (171.9656) |
| May 17, 2024 | The High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Winchester, TN | 10 / 39 (345.0972) | 17 (170.8228) | 4 (174.2744) | — | — |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.