MAKIN BACON BBQ

MAKIN BACON BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 20 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2017. Their best overall finish is 3rd of 32 at the Chesapeake Jubilee (2014). They are ranked #1849 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#1,849

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1546

peak 1556 · rated over 20 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Jul 19, 2013

latest Oct 6, 2017 · 4.2 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#407

Master 2014 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

4 podiums

Overall top-10s

30% of 20 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 46%

overall standings

Best overall

665.6804 / 720

Master · 3rd Annual Pickin' N Pullin

Perfect 180s

Current form

643.10 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 638.65 (+4.46)

Walk rate

75%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

173.1428

Brisket · Smokin' on the Track BBQ

Consistency

±18.89

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 160.51 · weakest Pork Ribs (158.41)

Road miles

2,236

across 20 mapped stops · furthest 133 mi

Schedule strength

23%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1532)

Master avg

638.65 / 720

20 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (7 found in their record)

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

They almost always walk

75% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 15 of 20 contests

A top-10 category call in 75% of their 20 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

665.6804 career-best overall

92.5% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 665.6804 at 3rd Annual Pickin' N Pullin — 92.5% of a perfect 720.

Master
Apr 29, 2016

Their season

2014 their best year

2014 was the year it came together: 7 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 0 category wins, at an average finish in the top 36%.

7 contests
4 overall top-10s
0 category wins
average top 36%

A tough matchup

12–1 behind in the head-to-head

Rocks Money Pit BBQ ahead in 92% of their meetings

Rocks Money Pit BBQ has come out ahead in 12 of their 13 shared contests.

A strong matchup

11–1 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 92% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of JAM'N HAMS in 11 of their 12 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

10 of 13 shared chicken entries lost

Rocks Money Pit BBQ ahead 77% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, Rocks Money Pit BBQ has out-cooked them in 10 of 13 shared chicken entries.

A May team

Top 25% average finish in May

Something about May: average finish in the top 25% across 4 contests, versus top 46% the rest of the year.

4 May contests
top 46% the rest of the year

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	#2135 (73 pts)	#2005 (108 pts)	#1707 (143 pts)	#2109 (88 pts)	#2802 (58 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#2037 (100 pts)	#2124 (100 pts)	#1737 (145 pts)	#2061 (110 pts)	#2345 (60 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#650 (563 pts)	#751 (493 pts)	#869 (413 pts)	#565 (683 pts)	#581 (648 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#407 (929 pts)	#490 (789 pts)	#472 (849 pts)	#337 (1,064 pts)	#455 (834 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#575 (540 pts)	#550 (590 pts)	#562 (590 pts)	#710 (470 pts)	#280 (1,065 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

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

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

SWEET N SASSY BBQ COMPANY

#1,854 of the rated field

1545 power rating

Contests: 18
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 17%
Peak: 1545

5–0 in 5 shared contests (100% to MAKIN BACON BBQ)

These two have cooked 5 of the same contests — MAKIN BACON BBQ ahead 5–0 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 18 contests
last seen Oct 13, 2017

⚔ Head-to-head

Geaux 2 bbq

#1,842 of the rated field

1546 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 45%
Peak: 1613

They've been 1613 at their best, 67 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 20 contests
last seen Mar 6, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

1709 BBQ

#1,847 of the rated field

1546 power rating

Contests: 21
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 10%
Peak: 1556

Careers of much the same size, 21 contests to 20, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 21 contests
last seen Aug 13, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

M&G-BBQ

#1,840 of the rated field

1546 power rating

Contests: 22
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 27%
Peak: 1546

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

rated over 22 contests
last seen Sep 7, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

Big Juicy BBQ

#1,855 of the rated field

1545 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 19%
Peak: 1545

They turned up 11 years after MAKIN BACON BBQ did, first appearing in 2024.

rated over 16 contests
last seen Sep 18, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

HD BBQ

#1,859 of the rated field

1545 power rating

Contests: 26
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 31%
Peak: 1545

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

rated over 26 contests
last seen Oct 3, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
Rocks Money Pit BBQ	13	1	12	8%	⚔ compare
JAM'N HAMS	12	11	1	92%	⚔ compare
Smoke-A-Holics	12	5	7	42%	⚔ compare
WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	12	1	11	8%	⚔ compare
JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS	11	7	4	64%	⚔ compare
Serial Griller	11	3	8	27%	⚔ compare
OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE	11	2	9	18%	⚔ compare
GRAND SLAM BBQ	10	4	6	40%	⚔ compare
PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ	10	3	7	30%	⚔ compare
FRED VEGAS SMOKERS	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
NEW REVOLUTION Q	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
2 RHODIES BBQ	7	6	1	86%	⚔ compare
TAR RIVER BBQ	7	5	2	71%	⚔ compare
SULTANS OF SWINE	7	4	3	57%	⚔ compare
3 EYZ BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	20	3	0	0	170.8112	153.6800	160.51	top 50%
Pork Ribs	20	6	0	0	169.1888	137.1316	158.41	top 48%
Pork	20	7	0	1	172.5828	131.3828	159.92	top 45%
Brisket	20	8	2	3	173.1428	134.2060	159.80	top 39%

“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)	1	top 33%
Medium (20–39)	10	top 50%
Large (40+)	9	top 42%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	GCs	Avg finish	Last visit
Covington Cork & Pork Festival	2	7	0	top 43%	Jun 26, 2015
BBQ Jamboree	2	7	0	top 20%	May 8, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2014 7 contests

Contests a season 4 across 5 seasons in the data

Most contests held in VA 20 of 20 contests

Contests visited 18 2 of them more than once

Opponents faced 331 finished ahead 418 times, behind 299

Longest layoff 1.4 yrs Apr 29, 2016 → Oct 6, 2017

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

20171 milestone

Oct 6 Most recent contest Devon Grube Memorial BBQ Classic

20162 milestones

Apr 29 Career-best overall score665.6804 3rd Annual Pickin' N Pullin
Apr 29 Peak power rating (1556) 3rd Annual Pickin' N Pullin

20143 milestones

May 9 First overall past 90% of a perfect score650.2740 BBQ Jamboree
May 16 First overall podium Chesapeake Jubilee
Jun 27 10th tracked contest Covington Cork & Pork Festival

20135 milestones

Jul 19 First tracked contest Que & Cruz
Aug 23 First call Blue Ridge BBQ and Music Festival
Sep 6 First category win (Brisket) Recovery Fest 2013
Sep 6 First overall top-10 Recovery Fest 2013
Sep 20 Career-best single call (Brisket)173.1428 Smokin' on the Track BBQ

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+14.1	Chesapeake Jubilee	May 16, 2014
+14	BBQ Jamboree	May 9, 2014
+9.8	Covington Cork & Pork Festival	Jun 27, 2014
+7.6	2nd Annual Pickin' N' Pullin BBQ Competition	Apr 17, 2015
+7.5	Recovery Fest 2013	Sep 6, 2013

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-11.6	Blue Ridge BBQ and Music Festival	Aug 23, 2013
-10.6	Devon Grube Memorial BBQ Classic	Oct 6, 2017
-8	Bluemont BBQ Bash & Blackberry Bonanza	Jul 26, 2013
-5.4	Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest	Oct 17, 2014
-2.1	Covington Cork & Pork Festival	Jun 26, 2015

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	1	0	0	100%	top 87%	86.7%	86.7%
2016	1	0	0	100%	top 35%	92.5%	92.5%
2015	5	1	0	100%	top 40%	91.7%	90.1%
2014	7	4	0	57%	top 36%	92.1%	89.4%
2013	6	1	2	67%	top 57%	88.6%	86.4%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Oct 6, 2017	Devon Grube Memorial BBQ Classic Virginia Beach, VA	20 / 23 (624.4120)	13 (165.1200)	8 (164.5716)	17 (160.5144)	23 (134.2060)
Apr 29, 2016	3rd Annual Pickin' N Pullin Lanexa, VA	17 / 48 (665.6804)	17 (168.5372)	9 (169.1544)	15 (168.5716)	25 (159.4172)
Jun 26, 2015	Covington Cork & Pork Festival Covington, VA	15 / 25 (645.6340)	20 (162.2512)	23 (150.8228)	8 (165.7028)	7 (166.8572)
May 15, 2015	Chesapeake Jubilee BBQ Cook-Off Chesapeake, VA	18 / 36 (635.8968)	5 (170.8112)	24 (153.1200)	15 (161.0856)	24 (150.8800)
May 8, 2015	BBQ Jamboree Fredericksburg, VA	19 / 65 (643.8856)	30 (163.3828)	27 (161.6684)	9 (168.5600)	47 (150.2744)
Apr 24, 2015	Saltwater Brew 'N' Que Chincoteague, VA	6 / 18 (658.2056)	14 (157.0740)	5 (164.5488)	8 (165.7028)	4 (170.8800)
Apr 17, 2015	2nd Annual Pickin' N' Pullin BBQ Competition Lanexa, VA	13 / 46 (659.9312)	22 (163.9656)	25 (160.5484)	9 (167.9772)	6 (167.4400)
Oct 17, 2014	Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest Woodstock, VA	27 / 40 (639.9200)	32 (153.6800)	14 (165.7028)	15 (163.4056)	25 (157.1316)
Sep 5, 2014	10th Annual Recovery Fest Richmond, VA	10 / 32 (638.2396)	15 (156.5484)	12 (161.7028)	14 (158.8456)	11 (161.1428)
Aug 22, 2014	VA BBQ Championships Hampton, VA	22 / 43 (618.8340)	9 (162.2400)	37 (137.1316)	17 (160.0112)	18 (159.4512)
Jun 27, 2014	Covington Cork & Pork Festival Covington, VA	7 / 26 (662.9256)	19 (160.5828)	7 (169.1888)	2 (172.5828)	16 (160.5712)
May 16, 2014	Chesapeake Jubilee Chesapeake, VA	3 / 32 (663.4056)	11 (159.4284)	4 (166.8688)	4 (168.5600)	2 (168.5484)
May 9, 2014	BBQ Jamboree Fredericksburg, VA	7 / 64 (650.2740)	7 (166.8456)	18 (161.7028)	8 (166.2972)	25 (155.4284)
Apr 4, 2014	Rockahock's Pickin' and Pullin' Festival Lanexa, VA	22 / 41 (631.3024)	23 (159.9540)	28 (153.1200)	18 (159.9428)	16 (158.2856)
Oct 18, 2013	Autumnfest Woodstock, VA	22 / 40 (627.3372)	13 (162.2856)	31 (149.0860)	29 (153.0628)	10 (162.9028)
Sep 20, 2013	Smokin' on the Track BBQ Shenandoah, VA	11 / 26 (635.9088)	18 (155.3828)	13 (159.4288)	24 (147.9544)	1 (173.1428)
Sep 6, 2013	Recovery Fest 2013 Richmond, VA	9 / 28 (629.1428)	16 (154.8112)	9 (158.8688)	15 (151.4056)	1 (164.0572)
Aug 23, 2013	Blue Ridge BBQ and Music Festival Harrisonburg, VA	25 / 28 (585.0516)	14 (154.8000)	22 (143.9772)	28 (131.3828)	9 (154.8916)
Jul 26, 2013	Bluemont BBQ Bash & Blackberry Bonanza Bluemont, VA	25 / 33 (618.7428)	16 (157.7484)	12 (158.8572)	33 (145.0400)	17 (157.0972)
Jul 19, 2013	Que & Cruz Louisa, VA	21 / 45 (638.1828)	31 (154.8456)	22 (158.2172)	12 (161.7028)	12 (163.4172)

MAKIN BACON 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 (7 found in their record)

They almost always walk

High-water mark

Their season

A tough matchup

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

A May team

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

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)