Although you’d never know it by the weather we’ve had recently, the calendar says spring and that’s got competition barbecue teams all across the nation in action. VacMaster is proud to be a sponsor for four successful teams in different regions of the U.S. These teams are not only experiencing great success on the competition circuit but they’re also out there showing off VacMaster to other competitors and to the public out visiting the events.
Rooftop BBQ – Menefee, California
Led by pitmaster Andy Allen, Rooftop BBQ has been on fire in 2013. In only five contests thus far, their awards include 14 finishes in the top ten in chicken, ribs, pork and brisket categories and two times being named Reserve Grand Champion (2nd overall). In these four categories, the team has received a 2nd place chicken score, two 2nd place pork scores, two 2nd place briskets and a 3rd place brisket. This past weekend in the West Coast BBQ Classic in Long Beach, California, Rooftop BBQ finished 14th overall out of 54 teams competing. They are currently ranked 56th in the nation out of more than 2,000 competing teams in the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctioning body. If you’re near Boulder City, NV (May 25) or Temecula, CA (June 22), you can find Rooftop BBQ working hard in competitions and demonstrating VacMaster machines.
Rooftop BBQ displays their prizes from the Stagecoach Music Festival and BBQ in Indio, CA
Deep South BBQ – Cumming, Georgia
Pitmaster Randall Bowman heads team Deep South BBQ and has also done quite well so far this season. In six competitions, Deep South has finished in the top ten twice, including a third place overall. They have finished in the top ten in categories seven times, including a 2nd place pork, 2nd place chicken and a 4th place pork. Bowman’s team is currently ranked 102nd out of more than 2,000 teams in KCBS. You can find Deep South BBQ in the coming weeks competing and demonstrating VacMaster equipment in Marietta, GA (May 18), Ashville, NC (June 8) and Tryon, NC on June 15.
Deep South BBQ competes throughout the southeastern U.S.
R Butts R Smokin – Blue Springs, Missouri
Randy Robinett, one of the Kansas City Area’s many excellent pitmasters, is the head guy with R Butts R Smokin competition team. The weather has played havoc with contests around the Midwest and Randy has cooked in only four events thus far. He has, however, gotten two top ten finishes in those four contests, including a 3rd place. He has a 3rd in ribs and both a 3rd and 4th in pork. Additionally, R Butts R Smokin finished 6th overall at the Kansas city Local Sam’s Club BBQ Tour and qualified for the Sam’s Club Regional event to be held later this year in Oklahoma. Randy is also ranked 127th place in the nation (over 2,000 teams competing so far). You can see Randy and the R Butts R Smokin crew competing and demonstrating VacMaster machines at Lake of the Ozarks, MO (May 17), Mayetta, KS (June 7) and Seymour, MO (June 21).
Randy Robinett, pitmaster of R Butts R Smokin’ demonstrates how the VP112 packages his competition chicken.
3 Men and a Babyback – Montvale, New Jersey
Headed by pitmaster Dana Reed, 3 Men and a Babyback team is just getting started for 2013, having only competed at one event (another was canceled due to Hurricane Sandy destruction from last November). In this event on Staten Island, New York, the team took 2nd place in pork and 2nd place in a people’s choice event. This team also vends barbecue and you can sample their food, see the VacMaster machines and watch them compete upcoming at the Roc City Ribfest in Rochester, NY (May 27) and at Rock, Ribs and Ridges in Vernon, NJ (June 9).
Dana Reed, pitmaster of 3 Men and a Babyback talks VacMaster with passers-by at Staten Island.
For more information about these contests and others in your area, visit the Kansas City Barbeque Society and click on “Events”. Keep in mind some events charge an entry fee, mostly due to some additional festival or event that’s going on. Also, when visiting, be respectful of the teams competing and watch but do not interfere between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM on contest judging day (usually Saturday in most of the country; sometimes Sunday, especially in the northeast).
In the Bag: My Vacmaster 