LUCKY'S HAVE BBQ WILL TRAVEL

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

Power ranking

#4017

of 6,413 rated · rankings

Rating

1482

peak 1520 · rated over 12 contests ⓘ

Contests

in the data

First seen

2013-05-10

latest 2019-05-10

Best ToY finish

#506

Master 2013

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

2 podiums

Overall top-10s

of 12 contests

Avg finish

top 60%

overall standings

Best overall

812.4576 / 720

Master · Dodge City Days Barbeque Cook-off

Perfect 180s

Current form

633.16 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 615.92 (+17.23)

Walk rate

50%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

174.2972

Pork Ribs · Dodge City Days Barbeque Cook-off

Consistency

±141.91

std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Pork Ribs

avg 162.70 · weakest Brisket (157.83)

Road miles

1,039

mi across 12 mapped stops · furthest 186 mi

Schedule strength

35%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1546)

State championships

0 🏅

GCs in 1 state-championship entries

Master avg

615.92 / 720

12 Master contests · 0 GCs

⚔ Compare with another team

Storylines (9 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.

High-water mark

812.4576 career-best overall

112.8% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 812.4576 at Dodge City Days Barbeque Cook-off — 112.8% of a perfect 720.

Master
2013-07-26

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

ROCKIN' D BARBEQUE has finished one call ahead of LUCKY'S HAVE BBQ WILL TRAVEL 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2013 their best year

2013 was the year it came together: 5 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 42%.

5 contests
2 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 42%

A tough matchup

8–2 behind in the head-to-head

Backdraft BBQ ahead in 80% of their meetings

Backdraft BBQ has come out ahead in 8 of their 10 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.9 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.87 points below their pork ribs, and turns into a call 25% of the time against 33%.

Brisket avg 157.83
Pork Ribs avg 162.70
3 calls in 12 entries

A strong matchup

3–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 75% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of SMOKIN ARMADILLOS in 3 of their 4 shared contests.

Pork Ribs nemesis

6 of 10 shared pork ribs entries lost

Backdraft BBQ ahead 60% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, Backdraft BBQ has out-cooked them in 6 of 10 shared pork ribs entries.

Boom or bust

±19.71% swing around their own average

Their overall swings ±19.71% 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 85.5% of a perfect score
best 112.8%

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked Wild West BBQ Cook-Off every year from 2016 to 2019 — the contest they never miss.

4 visits in all
best finish 10th

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.

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

KRAZE-E'S BBQ

#4034 of the rated field

1482 ▼ 0 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 12%
Peak: 1505

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to LUCKY'S HAVE BBQ WILL TRAVEL)

One contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team LUCKY'S HAVE BBQ WILL TRAVEL has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 17 contests
last seen 2022-04-29

⚔ Head-to-head

FATBOYSBBQ

#4008 of the rated field

1483 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 33%
Peak: 1513

No shared contest yet.

They've been 1513 at their best, 31 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 12 contests
last seen 2021-07-17

⚔ Head-to-head

Disco Balls BBQ

#4005 of the rated field

1483 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1505

No shared contest yet.

Careers of much the same size, 12 contests to 12, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 12 contests
last seen 2019-06-22

⚔ Head-to-head

BULLETS AND BUTTS

#4003 of the rated field

1483 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1500

No shared contest yet.

12 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 8% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 12 contests
last seen 2017-10-13

⚔ Head-to-head

Nobody

#4009 of the rated field

1483 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 18%
Peak: 1504

No shared contest yet.

They turned up 5 years after LUCKY'S HAVE BBQ WILL TRAVEL did, first appearing in 2018.

rated over 11 contests
last seen 2025-05-09

⚔ Head-to-head

WHITE DOG BBQ

#4000 of the rated field

1483 ▲ 0 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 9%
Peak: 1514

No shared contest yet.

Level with LUCKY'S HAVE BBQ WILL TRAVEL on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 11 contests
last seen 2018-08-24

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
Backdraft BBQ	10	2	8	20%	⚔ compare
GRILLIN' BEAVERS	10	2	8	20%	⚔ compare
SCORCH AND RESQUE	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare
BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
Lost Weekend Grill	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
WILD HOGS BBQ	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
4 LEGS UP BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
WOODY'S Q SHACK	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
JO-BAWB'S BBQ	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare
ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	12	2	0	168.5712	149.0972	159.64	top 66%
Pork Ribs	12	4	1	174.2972	144.4800	162.70	top 47%
Pork	12	4	1	170.2628	152.5944	161.56	top 56%
Brisket	12	3	0	167.4172	141.1088	157.83	top 56%

“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	GCs	Avg finish
CO	10	0	top 65%
KS	2	0	top 37%

By contest size

Field	Contests	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	1	top 71%
Medium (20–39)	10	top 62%
Large (40+)	1	top 34%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Wild West BBQ Cook-Off	4	10	0	top 72%	2019-05-10
Wild West BBQ	3	8	0	top 61%	2015-05-08

The story so far (16 numbers that describe this team)

On the trail 6 yrs 2013-05-10 → 2019-05-10

Busiest season 2013 5 contests

Contests a season 1.7 across 7 seasons in the data

Cooks most in CO 10 of 12 contests · 2 states/provinces in all

Contests visited 7 2 of them cooked more than once

Most-entered meat Chicken 12 entries · 0 wins · 2 calls

Strongest meat Pork Ribs averages 162.70 · weakest Brisket (157.83)

Walk rate 50% a top-10 call in 6 of 12 contests

Overall top-10 rate 25% 3 of 12 contests

Master average 615.92 out of 720 · 12 contests · 0 GCs

Opponents faced 195 144–205 across every shared overall standing

Road miles 1,039 12 mapped stops · furthest 186 mi

Schedule strength 1546 average field rating faced — tougher than 35% of rated contests

State championships 0 from 1 state-championship entries

Longest layoff 1 yrs 2015-05-08 → 2016-05-13

Power rating 1482 peak 1520 · #4017 of 6,413 rated

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

2013
May 10 First tracked contest Wild West BBQ
May 10 First call Wild West BBQ
May 10 First overall top-10 Wild West BBQ
Jun 7 First overall past 90% of a perfect score654.2852 Boats, Bands and BBQ
Jul 26 Career-best overall score812.4576 Dodge City Days Barbeque Cook-off
Jul 26 Career-best single call (Pork Ribs)174.2972 Dodge City Days Barbeque Cook-off
Aug 2 Peak power rating (1520) United Wireless / Five State Fair BBQ
2017
May 12 10th tracked contest Wild West BBQ Cook Off
2019
May 10 Most recent contest Wild West BBQ Cook-Off

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+9.1	Wild West BBQ	2013-05-10
+8.1	Wild West BBQ Cook Off	2018-05-11
+5	United Wireless / Five State Fair BBQ	2013-08-02
+4.5	Boats, Bands and BBQ	2013-06-07
+1.2	Dodge City Days Barbeque Cook-off	2013-07-26

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-11.2	Wild West BBQ	2015-05-08
-11.1	Wild West BBQ Cook-Off	2019-05-10
-9.3	Wild West BBQ Cook Off	2017-05-12
-5.4	San Luis Valley Beat the Heat Brews, Barbecue & Chili Challenge	2013-09-06
-3.9	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	2014-04-18

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)
2019	1	0	0%	top 93%	85.9%	85.9%
2018	1	1	100%	top 38%	91.3%	91.3%
2017	1	0	0%	top 90%	86.1%	86.1%
2016	1	0	0%	top 67%	90.1%	90.1%
2015	1	0	0%	top 92%	86.3%	86.3%
2014	2	0	0%	top 66%	89%	88.1%
2013	5	2	100%	top 42%	112.8%	95%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2019-05-10	Wild West BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Lamar, CO	26 / 28 (618.6056)	21 (157.0972)	28 (144.4800)	24 (153.6572)	15 (163.3712)
2018-05-11	Wild West BBQ Cook Off Lamar, CO	10 / 26 (657.6684)	22 (157.7028)	4 (171.4056)	10 (165.1772)	10 (163.3828)
2017-05-12	Wild West BBQ Cook Off Lamar, CO	28 / 31 (619.8748)	29 (153.6800)	17 (162.8000)	27 (162.2860)	28 (141.1088)
2016-05-13	Wild West BBQ Cook Off Lamar, CO	22 / 33 (648.5372)	31 (156.5372)	13 (165.1200)	18 (164.0228)	18 (162.8572)
2015-05-08	Wild West BBQ Lamar, CO	24 / 26 (621.0976)	24 (157.1316)	13 (162.8572)	22 (152.5944)	23 (148.5144)
2014-05-09	Wild West BBQ Lamar, CO	19 / 29 (627.9320)	25 (149.0972)	12 (162.8572)	16 (161.7260)	18 (154.2516)
2014-04-18	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Denver, CO	20 / 30 (641.0400)	12 (167.9772)	20 (159.9772)	22 (157.0856)	22 (156.0000)
2013-09-06	San Luis Valley Beat the Heat Brews, Barbecue & Chili Challenge Alamosa, CO	12 / 17 (642.1600)	8 (165.7144)	4 (167.4400)	14 (153.6456)	12 (155.3600)
2013-08-02	United Wireless / Five State Fair BBQ Liberal, KS	10 / 25 (663.3484)	14 (162.2628)	14 (163.4056)	5 (170.2628)	7 (167.4172)
2013-07-26	Dodge City Days Barbeque Cook-off Dodge City, KS	16 / 47 (812.4576)	21 (157.6800)	2 (174.2972)	9 (170.2628)	26 (157.0744)
2013-06-07	Boats, Bands and BBQ Pueblo, CO	15 / 39 (654.2852)	21 (162.2858)	10 (168.5712)	22 (161.7142)	12 (161.7140)
2013-05-10	Wild West BBQ Lamar, CO	8 / 31 (646.8570)	7 (168.5712)	26 (149.1428)	3 (166.2858)	9 (162.8572)

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
2019 ↗	Master	#2564 (53 pts)	#1967 (73 pts)	#2565 (53 pts)	#2487 (58 pts)	#1737 (103 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1499 (126 pts)	#1980 (66 pts)	#1286 (201 pts)	#1567 (126 pts)	#1560 (126 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#2831 (56 pts)	#2839 (56 pts)	#2092 (96 pts)	#2831 (56 pts)	#2825 (56 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#2769 (56 pts)	#2768 (56 pts)	#1935 (111 pts)	#2194 (66 pts)	#2211 (61 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#1522 (164 pts)	#1565 (174 pts)	#1448 (199 pts)	#1592 (169 pts)	#1637 (159 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#506 (614 pts)	#564 (579 pts)	#415 (764 pts)	#434 (739 pts)	#526 (604 pts)