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Hometown: Bristow, Virginia
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Competing Since: 2012
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Pits: Backwoods Smoker G2, Jambo, Gateway Drum Smoker
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Sponsors:
Big Poppa Smokers, The BBQ Guru, Blues Hog, Smithfield, BBQData.com, Gunter Wilhelm, Mister Brisket​
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Other Hobbies/Interests: Golf, Reading, & all things Unicorns
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Favorite BBQ memory: Winning World BBQ Champion at the World Food Championship
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Who is your biggest rival? The rest of the NBBQL
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Partner In Crime: Lil' General
luke darnell, PITMASTER
2017 KCBS CHICKEN TEAM OF THE YEAR
​
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Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
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Competing Since: 2011
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Pit: Jambo
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Sponsors: The Kansas City BBQ Store, Yeti Coolers, Kosmo's Q
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Hobbies/Interests (other than BBQ): Hunting, Fishing, Racing
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Favorite BBQ memory: Our first GC, which was at a Sam's Club Qualifier in Overland Park, KS
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Who is your biggest rival? Who would you love to beat? I really love to beat Shake 'n Bake BBQ, but it rarely happens. Also, any teams in the National BBQ League.
RYAN & KAren Murphy, PITMASTERs
2018 1st PLACE PERFECT, PERFECT BRISKET AT THE AMERICAN ROYAL INVITATIONAL
2017 2nd PLACE BRISKET IN KCBS TEAM OF THE YEAR
​
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Hometown: Alvarado, Texas
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Pit: Jambo J3
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Hobbies/Interests (other than BBQ): Watching all kinds of sports and fishing
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Favorite BBQ memory: Going overseas and cooking for the military and being the first person to win the Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational two times.
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Who is your biggest rival? Who would you love to beat? All the other cooks at a contest.
johnny trigg, PITMASTER
GRAND CHAMPION OF TLC'S BBQ PITMASTERS, SEASON 3
2000 & 2003 GRAND CHAMPION OF THE JACK DANIELS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
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Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
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Competing Since: 2012
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Pit: Traditional Offset
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Sponsors:
Blues Hog, Royal Oak, Kosmo's Q
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Hobbies/Interests (other than BBQ):
I love golf and all sports. I own a 1979 Mark Twain Boat that I don't get to use because of BBQ, but I love having a boat!
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Favorite Memory: Finishing 2nd Overall on TV Show BBQ Pitmasters
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Who is your biggest rival?
If I had to pick one team I want to beat on a regular basis it would be…..EVERYBODY!
joe pearce, PITMASTER
APPEARANCE ON HIT TV SERIES: BBQ PITMASTERS
2018 RIBS AND BRISKET NBBQL CHAMPION
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Hometown: Branson , Missouri
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Competing Since: 2012
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Pits: Gateway Drum Smokers
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How did you start?
At one point we were out smoking in the backyard and we just decided our BBQ is the best and we were going to go out an prove it
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What do you love about competition BBQ?
You think you've seen it all after a couple hundred contests but you run into something new every week
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Sponsors:
Smithfield, Blues Hog, Gateway Drum Smokers
​
brad leighninger, PITMASTER
2018 KCBS TEAM OF THE YEAR
2018 KING OF THE SMOKER GRAND CHAMPION
​
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Hometown: Yukon, OK
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Competing Since: 2012
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Pits: Jambo & Gateway Drum Smokers
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Sponsors:
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The Kansas City BBQ Store, EAT Barbecue, Snake River Farms, Kosmo Q, Vaughn Wood Products, Cimarron Docs
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Hobbies/Interests (other than BBQ):
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Harley Davidson Motorcycles and Cars​
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Favorite BBQ memories:
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My kids winning their own Kids Que contests​
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Travis Clark, PITMASTER
AMERICAN ROYAL CHAMPION
2017 & 2015 KCBS OVERALL TEAM OF THE YEAR
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Hometown: Omaha, NE
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Competing Since: 2013
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Pits: Jambo Porch Model, 55 gal Gateway Drum Smoker
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How did you start?
Growing up in Texas, you are born smoking brisket!​
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Favorite BBQ memory:
My 11 year old son competed in his first backyard contest against 48 adult teams and took home Grand Champion.​
BLANE HUNTER, PITMASTER
2017 AMERICAN ROYAL WORLD SERIES OF BBQ OPEN CHAMPION
2017 KING OF THE SMOKER CHAMPION
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Hometown: Desoto, Kansas
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Competing since: 1990
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Claim to fame: Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que & The Kansas City BBQ Store
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Inducted into the American Royal BBQ Hall of Fame in 2017
Jeff stehney, PITMASTER
AMERICAN ROYAL WORLD SERIES OF BBQ INVITATIONAL AND OPEN GRAND CHAMPION
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Hometown: New Haven, MO
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Competing Since: 2012
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Pit: Gateway Drum Smokers
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Sponsors:
Blues Hog, Gateway Drum Smokers, Smithfield
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Hobbies/Interests (other than BBQ):
DJ'ing (aka "DJ Shake"), Basketball
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Words to live by: "If you're not first, you're last!" - Talladega Nights
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Who is your biggest rival?
​It's always great to beat Gettin' Basted!!​
Tim SCHEER, PITMASTER
2017 KCBS TEAM OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP
2017 AMERICAN ROYAL PORK CHAMPION
2016 KCBS PORK TEAM OF THE YEAR
"People look up to me, no matter what, because I'm the tallest man in BBQ!"
THE TALLEST MAN IN BBQ
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Hometown: Gardner, KS
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Competing Since: 2012
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Pits: Myron Mixon Smokers and Green Mountain Grills
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Sponsors: GMG, Miller, BBQData.com, BBQ Guru, Trails West, ACE, Smoke Me BBQ Wood, Smithfield, Royal Oak, Kosmo's Q, Design4Sports, LocalTickets.com
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Hobbies/Interests (other than BBQ): The Florida Gators, tattoos, concerts and of course my family!
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What do you love about competition BBQ: The challenge, the comradely, and the rush of cooking competitively.​
richard Fergola, PITMASTER
APPEARANCES ON HIT TV SERIES:
BBQ PITMASTERS
CHOPPED: Grill Masters
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Hometown: Saint Louis, Missouri
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Competing Since: 2009
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Pits: Ole Hickory Double Wide CTO
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Sponsors: Royal Oak Charcoal and Ole Hickory Pits
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How did you get into competition BBQ?: I started with a restaurant and then went to Memphis in May and was hooked after that.
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What do you love about competition BBQ: I really love seeing and hanging out with friends the most.
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Biggest Rival: I'd love to beat everyone in the NBBQL as they are more experienced than me in competition BBQ. I am however sneaky good at challenges that's where I have a chance!
Mike johnson, PITMASTER
APPEARANCES ON HIT TV SERIES:
BBQ PITMASTERS
OWNER OF SUGARFIRE BBQ
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Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
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Competing Since: 2007
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Pits: Gateway Drum Smokers
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Sponsors: Challenge Butter, Kansas City BBQ Store, YETI
LOREN HILL, PITMASTER
WORLD FOOD CHAMPION 2015
AMERICAN ROYAL INVITATIONAL GRAND CHAMPION 2015
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Hometown: Weslaco, TX
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Competing Since: 2012
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Pits: Jambo Offset Pit
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Sponsors: Western Wood, Big Poppa Smokers, Midland Meat Co., Smithfield
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What do you love about competition BBQ? l love the spirit of competition. Although we are all trying to beat our competitor and come out on top no one hesitates to help another team if they need something. The friendships garnered and the memories made are priceless.
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Hobbies/Interests: Fishing, Hunting. and Golf
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Favorite BBQ Memory: Winning World Food BBQ Champion 2017 in Orange Beach, AL.
fred robles, PITMASTER
WORLD FOOD BBQ CHAMPION 2017
IBCA TOP COOK OF THE YEAR 2016,2017
PERFECT PERFECT BRISKET AMERICAN ROYAL 2017
LIVE COMPETITION EMCEES
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Hometown: Lee's Summit, MO
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Competing Since: 2008
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Pits: Cookshack FEC 100 and PG 500
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Sponsors: Cookshack, BBQr's Delight, Fireboard, Brand Ambassadors for Duluth Trading Company and Weston Products
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Favorite BBQ Memory: Hoisting our 2nd place Memphis in May trophy up over the Mighty Mississippi River; signifying Kansas City is here to play!
jASON & mEGAN DAY
CHOPPED GRILL MASTERS CHAMPION 2017
3RD OVERALL MEMPHIS IN MAY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2018
jASOn's social media
megan's social media
PARTNERS
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