Sponsor Teams

SMOKE ME SILLY | Robert Vanderipe

This will be our 13th year competing. We have 42 grand championships in about 180 competitions. Competitions have been disappearing in our area but we are ready to get back at it.

GOING YARD BBQ

Going Yard BBQ is a competition BBQ team from the Central Florida area. We have been competing in both FBA and KCBS since 2017. We are a Husband (Chris) and Wife (Charlotte) team. Our BBQ journey started later in life after our children graduated from college. Both of our children played softball and baseball and after chasing them around the US for most of their lives, came to the realization we needed something to fill the void of them leaving the child’s game. Going Yard is a salute to their accomplishments as ball players and was a term we used often in their careers. We are honored to be a part of the Atlanta BBQ Store.

KINGS BBQ - Ryan King

Kings BBQ is a premier food truck and catering service in the North Florida Area. Kings BBQ started competing in Aug of 2020 and is excited about the upcoming 2024 season! Kings BBQ has multiple GC and Reserves GC. Kings BBQ is an active member of the KCBS and FBA.

BAD ROOSTER BBQ - Adam and Taunya Dawkins

Bad Rooster BBQ Team is made up of Adam and Taunya Dawkins from Lavonia, Georgia. Our love of cooking BBQ at home led us to begin competing in KCBS, GBC, and GBA sanctioned events across numerous states. The best part is meeting so many new BBQ friends that become part of your family. We finished 2022 in the GBC TOY 2nd Ribs, 3rd Pork, 7th Brisket , and 11th Chicken. We had the honor of being invited to the Myron Mixon Invitational Hog Drop 2022 and finished out the year strong winning Grand Champion. We can not wait to get the 2024 season started. If you see us out competing please come by to say hello.

HOLD YOUR HORSES - Cary Chasteen

I’m Cary Chasteen with Hold Your Horses BBQ. I learned my love of BBQ from my dad cooking whole hogs every September for neighborhood gatherings. I started competing in 2015 cooking my hometown contest. I’ve cooked GBA,MBN,FBA,SCA,IBCA as well as Memphis in May. So I have gone from cooking one contest my first year to cooking 41 contests in 2021. I also teach and spread bbq love and my knowledge at Recteq Academy. My goal is to help grow the GBC and raise awareness for our chosen charities.

MAYA JANE BBQ | MARK P WETHERELL

Mark Wetherell, along with his wife and parents, represent Maya Jane BBQ Co. of Evans, GA. Starting out with small, unsanctioned BBQ contests, Mark & team decided to enter their first major BBQ competition in 2016 and won their first KCBS Grand Championship just 2 years later. Going on to receive many more awards on the circuit.

OFF THE CHAIN | CHUCK AND CARRIE EAST

Off the Chain is a husband and wife team. Chuck has always been around BBQ from cooking a whole hog for friends and family or making stew with his family. So it made sense while our children were finishing highschool to start judging BBQ. We eventually went on to become Master judges. Once our children left the house, we decided to cook in BBQ competitions. Since we live in Georgia, we mainly cook GBA (Georgia BBQ Association). We have also cooked in KCBS and FBA. We started out on the BBQ competition scene back in 2014 and steadily made our way as the 19th team overall in 2016-2017. We climbed up to 6th overall in 2017-2018 and became Team of the Year in 2020. Last year, we bumped down to team number 3, but feel this will be our best year yet! We have also been top 3 in each of the four categories for four years running. We are looking forward to kicking off the 2024 year!

RESCUE SMOKERS | Robby Royal

My team is named the Rescue Smokers because I am a Paramedic (EMS Director) and Firefighter for my home county in Turner County, GA. My team consists of myself, my wife Stephanie, and occasionally a good friend Dannie Morris. I have been cooking competitively since 1997, but as the Rescue Smokers since 2006. I have won 33 Grand Championship and 24 Reserve Grand Championships including the Georgia State Champion in 2019(GBA), 2013(MBN), 2010(GBA), 2008(GBA) as well as being the Georgia BBQ Association Team of the Year in 2010 & 2016. During that time, we have earned 16 “Perfect Scores". Some of my other accolades include the 2014 BBQ Pitmasters Grand Championship on "BBQ Pitmasters" and 2016 SMOKED Champion, both on Destination America, 2013 Big Pig Jig Grand Champion, and a featured team on the show BBQ Pit Wars in 2015.

SMOKE SHOW MAFIA | Joseph Puccio

Odum Georgia based Smoke Show Mafia, loving the BBQ life and seeing old friends and new! Hope to see you all at a contest soon!

SMOKIN' SUWANEE SWEETMEATS | TREY AND MEG TERRY

The Smokin' Sweetmeats BBQ Team is made up of Trey and Meg Terry from Monroe, Georgia. Established in 1998 with small family bbq contest fun in mind, we have grown to become a top Georgia state championship team that competes within the KCBS, GBA and GBC competition circuits. The best part of this crazy hobby, is making new friends from many states with the same passion. We hope to see y'all out on the bbq trail!

YES DEAR BBQ | CHAD WARNER

Yes, Dear BBQ is a competition and catering BBQ team competing in KCBS, FBA, and SCBA contests throughout the southeast.

Triple H BBQ | Bill & Andrea Heyen

Triple H BBQ is a husband and wife team based out of Gillespie, Illinois. Pitmasters Bill and Andrea Heyen formed the team in 2015 out of a shared love of camping and cooking and Bill’s strong competitive nature. After trying their hand at local backyard competitions for a few years, in 2018 they transitioned into competing at a professional level with the St Louis BBQ Society, going on to win the 2020 SLBS Team of the Year. With a desire to compete on a larger stage, the decision was made to move to KCBS with a goal of finishing top 25 overall in 2021. Successful in winning multiple Grand Championships throughout the season, getting drawn for the Jack Daniel’s Invitational, and blessed to hear Triple H BBQ called last and be crowned World Champions at the 2021 American Royal Invitational, they ultimately accomplished their goal. Chances are if you’re at a competition in the eastern half of the country, Triple H will be there with their three boys Billy, Colton, & Cooper in tow. Stop by and say hi, they’d love to talk BBQ with you.

SWEET BAYOU | BRADY BAUDIN

My name is Brady Baudin, my bbq team is Sweet Bayou BBQ. I am from Bordelonville,La. I started competition barbecuing in 2014, fell in love with it from the start with a fourth place chicken. I was hooked 100%. I've had multiple grand championships, multiple reserve Grand championships, and many top 10 finishes. I represented the state of Louisiana at the Jack Daniels world championship in 2020 .I cook mostly in a Barbecue Competitors Alliance. A little bit of IBCA, some CBA and KCBS. I am honored to be Part of Atlanta BBQ Store's team!

GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | NORRIS SYDNOR

Competing since 2018. Mid Atlantic BBQ Association Chicken TOY 3 years in a row. Finished Top 10 KCBS Chicken TOY 3 years in a row. 2022 Jack Daniels World Invitational Reserve Grand Champion. Primary Team Members: Norris "Syd" Sydnor, III and wife "Li" Sydnor. based in Mitchellville, MD. Multiple 180s and member of 700 Club.

SHIGGIN AIN'T EASY | JUSTIN SONDERGAARD

Shiggin Ain’t Easy is a family-run Competition BBQ Team from Westland, Michigan. Buddy and Kristin Hammett, along with Justin Sondergaard and Mark Sondergaard, make up the Shiggin Family. Shiggin Aint Easy are members of KCBS and GLBBQA. We have competed in 41 contests over our three years, and have been lucky enough to have seen the overall Top Ten 16 of those times. Of those 16 Top Tens we notched 3-GC’s, 2-700’s, a 180 and multiple category wins so far. We are a competitive team/family that loves taking the next step from year to year. We can’t wait to see what 2024 has to offer.

PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT | WES GARRETT

Started competitive cooking in 2016 out of Central MS with the hope of just hearing our names called once at a sanctioned event. Our very first contest we received two calls and a top 10 overall finish. Since that time, P.I.B.has been a team that threatens for the win at every contest and strives to get better every weekend.

UNCLE PIG'S BARBECUE PIT | Ercole Chila

Ercole Chila of Uncle Pig's Barbecue Pit is a cook Team out of Gibbstown, NJ. Taking home last year's KCBS Master Series Team of Year in 2022, Uncle Pig's Barbecue Pit cook team is a force to be reckoned with!

ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | JASON HARDEE

The Pit Masters of Elite BBQ Smokers are Jason Hardee & Michelle Hardee, a husband and wife BBQ team that have competed in over 140 Barbeque & Grilling events in the past 10+ years all over the Southeast. The Mission of Elite BBQ Smokers is to Share the passion of Competition quality BBQ with everyone.

ONE EYED PIG BBQ | KENNY & MELANIE O’SHIELDS

Kenny, Melanie & Rudy(Cavapoo) O'Shields are a Pro BBQ husband and wife team from Union, SC. They cook 12-15 tournaments a year on the KCBS trail and 3-5 tournaments on SCBA BBQ circuit. They love competition cooking and meeting new folks to add to their BBQ family.

SMOKE CENTRAL BBQ | JASON SINGLETARY

Been competing since 2012 Have 13 Grand Champions and 6 Reserve GC’s in KCBS Competes in KCBS, SCBA, FBS, SCA Competed in Jack Daniels world championship in 2016 Finished 8th overall in the 2021 American Royal

KITH N’ KIN | JOELLE AND DAVID GOAN

We are a husband and wife team that started competing in 2019. Our team name means “friends and family” which is what the BBQ life is all about!

ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS | PAUL AND LYNN KELTNER

BBQ team from Tennessee that has been competing for 10 years cooking across 17 states. KCBS world brisket and pork champions with a Top 10 winning percentage of 82% in 2021. We are appreciate of all the experiences BBQ has created for us over the years and look forward to many more.

Glamping Grillers | Charles and Dawn Beard

We are a husband and wife competition bbq team from Pelahatchie, MS. We have been competing together since 2022. We love traveling across the country to cook and meet other bbq families. GLAMP, BBQ, REPEAT!!

Casual Smokers | Jamie Mintz and team

Entered my first competition in 2019 on a whim and was hooked. 2020, Casual Smokers was formed and followed the SCBA Circuit. Began making friends and getting bits of information here and there and putting in a lot of practice time. By 2022 we finished up the year in 3rd place overall in the Pork Division and 4th overall in Ribs. 2023 we finished 2nd overall in Pork and 5th in Ribs. Looking forward to seeing what 2024 has in store.

Bourbon & Blues BBQ | JP and Colleen Parren

Meet the dynamic duo behind Bourbon & Blues BBQ. Pitmaster JP hails from Prince Frederick, MD, and Colleen is a native of the sweet town of Hershey, PA. JP is a proud US Army veteran and Colleen is a returned Peace Corps volunteer. Currently calling Wilmington, NC, their home, JP and Colleen share a love for live music, travel, and, of course, BBQ. KCBS judges since 2010, their journey took an exciting turn in May 2022 when they ventured into the cooking side of the world of competitive BBQ and competed in their first KCBS Backyard competition in Ripley, WV. They were hooked. In 2023, Bourbon & Blues BBQ clinched the title of KCBS Backyard Team of the Year in chicken and secured a remarkable 2nd place in ribs. They also earned 5th overall in the KCBS Turkey Smoke series. Although they primarily compete in KCBS events, their love for travel and BBQ has already taken them to CBA comps in Texas and FBA events in Florida. Proudly representing The Atlanta BBQ Store, Bourbon & Blues BBQ is fired up and ready to go for their rookie year in the 2024 KCBS Master's series!

Glazed and Infused | Joe Facchine and team

Competing since 2016, Glazed and Infused is a competition BBQ team from southern New Jersey. It is compromised of brothers-in-law, Joe Facchine and Jim Johnson.

Fire At The End Of The Day (FATED BBQ) | Mark and Christine Mastzal

Fire At The End of the Day (FATED BBQ) is a husband and wife team from Northeast Connecticut. Mark and Christine began competing in 2015 with some friends and quickly became hooked. We primarily compete throughout Northeast, cooking on Jambo Pits and Gateway Drums for KCBS and MGrills for SCA. We were recently crowned Overall World Champions at the 2023 American Royal Invitational.

Please see our teams below for this years participants!

Alabama