FIREWISE BBQ

FIREWISE BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 19 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2017. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 33 at the Grillin' in Grafton (2013), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #1249 of 6,485 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#1,249

of 6,485 rated · rankings

Rating

1583

peak 1591 · rated over 19 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Jun 28, 2013

latest Jul 14, 2017 · 4 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#410

Master 2014 · every season

Grand champs

1 reserve

Category wins

6 podiums

Overall top-10s

42% of 19 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 36%

overall standings

Best overall

675.9084 / 720

Master · Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook off

Perfect 180s

Current form

651.52 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 652.46 (-0.93)

Walk rate

74%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176.5600

Brisket · Casino Queen BBQ Competition

Consistency

±13.87

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Brisket

avg 165.03 · weakest Pork (161.86)

Road miles

2,572

across 19 mapped stops · furthest 352 mi

Schedule strength

31%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1541)

Master avg

652.46 / 720

19 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (12 found in their record)

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

Happy hunting ground

Top 19% average finish here

Grillin' in Grafton is their spot: an average finish in the top 19% across 3 visits.

3 visits
best finish 2nd
average top 19%

They almost always walk

74% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 14 of 19 contests

A top-10 category call in 74% of their 19 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

675.9084 career-best overall

93.9% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 675.9084 at Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook off — 93.9% of a perfect 720.

Master
Oct 23, 2015

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

CRASH TEST SMOKERS has finished one call ahead of FIREWISE BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

9–2 behind in the head-to-head

TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI ahead in 82% of their meetings

TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI has come out ahead in 9 of their 11 shared contests.

A strong matchup

11–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of TOPPGATOR BBQ in 11 of their 11 shared contests.

The comeback

1.5 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 1.5 years, then back at The Great Wisconsin Tune Up BBQ Competition (Apr 28, 2017).

last seen Oct 23, 2015
back Apr 28, 2017

Show 5 more storylines

Brisket nemesis

9 of 14 shared brisket entries lost

CRASH TEST SMOKERS ahead 64% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, CRASH TEST SMOKERS has out-cooked them in 9 of 14 shared brisket entries.

Announced themselves early

2nd at their very first contest

Finished 2 of 33 at their very first tracked contest, Grillin' in Grafton (Jun 28, 2013).

Jun 28, 2013
33-team field

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

BRINGIN' THE HEAT has landed one call behind them 2 times.

A June team

Top 26% average finish in June

Something about June: average finish in the top 26% across 4 contests, versus top 36% the rest of the year.

4 June contests
top 36% the rest of the year

The metronome

±1.93% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.93% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 90.6% of a perfect score
19 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
2017 ↗	Master	#2212 (60 pts)	#2286 (60 pts)	#2304 (60 pts)	#2260 (60 pts)	#2266 (60 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#524 (719 pts)	#518 (749 pts)	#617 (634 pts)	#570 (679 pts)	#472 (799 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#410 (925 pts)	#517 (745 pts)	#465 (855 pts)	#382 (965 pts)	#370 (1,005 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#510 (612 pts)	#792 (412 pts)	#521 (637 pts)	#860 (382 pts)	#447 (712 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to FIREWISE BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

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

Chick Hooven Swine BBQ

#1,250 of the rated field

1583 power rating

Contests: 26
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 35%
Peak: 1646

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to FIREWISE BBQ)

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

rated over 25 contests
last seen Apr 9, 2021

⚔ Head-to-head

BIG CITY BBQ

#1,245 of the rated field

1583 power rating

Contests: 49
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 14%
Peak: 1586

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to FIREWISE BBQ)

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 49 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 49 contests
last seen Aug 30, 2019

⚔ Head-to-head

Smoked Pioneers BBQ Team

#1,248 of the rated field

1583 power rating

Contests: 21
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 81%
Peak: 1592

Careers of much the same size, 21 contests to 19, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 20 contests
last seen Aug 14, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

OUTLAW BBQ SMOKERS

#1,252 of the rated field

1582 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 27%
Peak: 1597

22 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 27% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 21 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Live Q or Die

#1,247 of the rated field

1583 power rating

Contests: 21
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 43%
Peak: 1583

They turned up 9 years after FIREWISE BBQ did, first appearing in 2022.

rated over 21 contests
last seen Jul 27, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

THE BARKTENDERS

#1,243 of the rated field

1583 power rating

Contests: 27
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 63%
Peak: 1584

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

rated over 25 contests
last seen Mar 23, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
CRASH TEST SMOKERS	14	6	8	43%	⚔ compare
5 FINGER BBQ	13	6	7	46%	⚔ compare
SMOKE 2 PULL	12	11	1	92%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ	12	4	8	33%	⚔ compare
TOPPGATOR BBQ	11	11	0	100%	⚔ compare
T-MAC SMOKIN	11	3	8	27%	⚔ compare
A FINE SWINE	11	3	8	27%	⚔ compare
TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI	11	2	9	18%	⚔ compare
FAT ANDY'S BBQ	10	7	3	70%	⚔ compare
FOX RIVER BBQ	10	6	4	60%	⚔ compare
Risky Brisket	10	5	5	50%	⚔ compare
BRINGIN' THE HEAT	10	3	7	30%	⚔ compare
A BOY NAMED QUE	9	6	3	67%	⚔ compare
CHEFS GONE GRILLIN	8	5	3	63%	⚔ compare
Freeman Brothers BBQ	8	5	3	63%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	19	5	0	0	172.5944	149.1200	162.96	top 48%
Pork Ribs	19	8	0	1	174.8688	149.1084	162.61	top 40%
Pork	19	3	1	2	171.4400	150.7884	161.86	top 47%
Brisket	19	10	1	3	176.5600	150.8000	165.03	top 33%

“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
Medium (20–39)	9	0	top 35%
Large (40+)	10	0	top 38%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
WI	16	top 36%
IN	1	top 32%
IL	1	top 52%
IA	1	top 29%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Grillin' in Grafton	3	2	top 19%	Jun 26, 2015
Puckaway Pigfest	2	12	top 39%	Sep 5, 2014
Grill Games	2	8	top 20%	Aug 22, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2014 7 contests

Contests a season 4.8 across 4 seasons in the data

Most contests held in WI 16 of 19 contests · 4 states in all

Contests visited 15 3 of them more than once

Opponents faced 363 finished ahead 490 times, behind 269

Longest layoff 1.5 yrs Oct 23, 2015 → Apr 28, 2017

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

20172 milestones

Apr 28 Peak power rating (1591) The Great Wisconsin Tune Up BBQ Competition
Jul 14 Most recent contest Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1

20151 milestone

Oct 23 Career-best overall score675.9084 Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook off

20142 milestones

Sep 5 10th tracked contest Puckaway Pigfest
Oct 17 Career-best single call (Brisket)176.5600 Casino Queen BBQ Competition

20137 milestones

Jun 28 First tracked contest Grillin' in Grafton
Jun 28 First call Grillin' in Grafton
Jun 28 First category win (Brisket) Grillin' in Grafton
Jun 28 First overall top-10 Grillin' in Grafton
Jun 28 First overall podium Grillin' in Grafton
Jun 28 First Reserve Championship Grillin' in Grafton
Jun 28 First overall past 90% of a perfect score658.8576 Grillin' in Grafton

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+15.4	Grillin' in Grafton	Jun 28, 2013
+13.1	Grillin' in Grafton	Jun 27, 2014
+10.4	Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook off	Oct 23, 2015
+9.6	Grill Games	Aug 22, 2014
+9.3	BBQ 4 ASTOP	May 29, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-8.4	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1	Jul 14, 2017
-5.9	The Masters In May - The Classic	May 2, 2015
-4.2	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	Jul 11, 2014
-0.1	Casino Queen BBQ Competition	Oct 17, 2014

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — 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)
2017	2	1	0	50%	top 61%	87.8%	87.5%
2015	6	3	0	67%	top 37%	93.9%	91.3%
2014	7	2	1	86%	top 35%	92.6%	90.8%
2013	4	2	1	75%	top 27%	92.9%	90.9%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Jul 14, 2017	Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1 Green Bay, WI	45 / 58 (628.3428)	48 (155.9312)	39 (156.5144)	45 (157.0972)	41 (158.8000)
Apr 28, 2017	The Great Wisconsin Tune Up BBQ Competition Manawa, WI	10 / 23 (632.3768)	11 (162.2400)	8 (158.7884)	20 (150.7884)	9 (160.5600)
Oct 23, 2015	Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook off Union Grove, WI	6 / 44 (675.9084)	8 (169.1200)	9 (165.6800)	15 (166.2512)	3 (174.8572)
Jul 10, 2015	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Indianapolis, IN	9 / 28 (665.6340)	5 (172.5828)	16 (163.4172)	21 (160.5256)	8 (169.1084)
Jun 26, 2015	Grillin' in Grafton Grafton, WI	14 / 33 (655.3600)	5 (172.5484)	20 (162.3088)	28 (153.0972)	7 (167.4056)
May 29, 2015	BBQ 4 ASTOP Fond du Lac, WI	5 / 23 (661.6228)	12 (166.2400)	8 (162.2744)	2 (169.1084)	10 (164)
May 2, 2015	The Masters In May - The Classic Appleton, WI	32 / 47 (638.1940)	27 (160.5716)	43 (149.1084)	11 (166.2512)	23 (162.2628)
May 1, 2015	The Masters In May Appleton, WI	25 / 57 (645.6000)	26 (162.8456)	16 (163.4516)	44 (155.9200)	28 (163.3828)
Oct 17, 2014	Casino Queen BBQ Competition Greater St. Louis, IL	23 / 44 (660.4568)	40 (154.8112)	19 (165.7028)	22 (163.3828)	5 (176.5600)
Sep 5, 2014	Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI	12 / 40 (662.2400)	29 (159.3828)	10 (165.1200)	5 (170.8456)	11 (166.8916)
Aug 22, 2014	Grill Games Kenosha, WI	8 / 47 (666.7888)	19 (166.8572)	3 (174.8688)	14 (165.6800)	26 (159.3828)
Jul 11, 2014	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Madison, WI	19 / 29 (636.4572)	15 (163.3944)	23 (154.2628)	14 (162.8228)	19 (155.9772)
Jun 27, 2014	Grillin' in Grafton Grafton, WI	3 / 32 (658.8800)	13 (162.9028)	20 (155.4288)	1 (171.4400)	3 (169.1084)
Jun 6, 2014	Poor Que Montello, WI	17 / 38 (634.2288)	31 (149.1200)	15 (159.4288)	18 (160)	4 (165.6800)
May 2, 2014	The Masters in May Fremont, WI	14 / 62 (656.0572)	4 (172.5944)	18 (165.1656)	29 (158.8800)	30 (159.4172)
Sep 6, 2013	Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI	15 / 31 (635.8972)	7 (166.8800)	4 (167.4172)	26 (150.8000)	20 (150.8000)
Aug 23, 2013	Grill Games Kenosha, WI	10 / 43 (654.7772)	31 (154.2400)	7 (169.1544)	20 (160.5600)	4 (170.8228)
Jul 26, 2013	Up in Smoke BBQ Bash Mason City, IA	19 / 66 (669.0400)	39 (163.3944)	19 (168)	17 (169.6800)	14 (167.9656)
Jun 28, 2013	Grillin' in Grafton Grafton, WI	2 / 33 (658.8576)	15 (160.5714)	8 (163.4288)	13 (162.2858)	1 (172.5716)

FIREWISE BBQ

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

Master avg

Storylines (12 found in their record)

Happy hunting ground

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

A strong matchup

The comeback

Brisket nemesis

Announced themselves early

Looking over their shoulder

A June 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 — 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)