American Heroes BBQ wins second straight championship

WORLAND - American Heroes BBQ out of Glenrock earned the overall championship for the second straight year at the Pepsi Wyoming BBQ Championship last Saturday in Worland.

American Heroes BBQ also broke 700 in the win, earning 701.1 points. They finished just ahead of Fergolicious BBQ with 697 points and Clark Crew BBQ with 693 points.

American Heroes BBQ was seventh in chicken, first in pork ribs, 15th in pork and second in brisket and 13th in mystery meat category.

Being from Glenrock, the team also won the Wyoming High Team Overall Championship.

Team cook and owner Brad Mueller said last year was his first-ever championship and this year is his second overall championship, competing in about 10 competitions annually.

He said this year was special because he earned the 700 pin "which is hard to do."

This year he will be competing in the American Royal Invitational in Kansas City and the Jack Daniel World invitational in Tennessee.

He said his favorite meat to cook is still brisket but his second is ribs. "I'm doing really good in ribs," Mueller said. He added that he is learning how to tell when the ribs are done and getting better at tenderness of the meat.

Mueller's daughter Bailey also is a two-time champion, winning for the second straight year the KidsQ event earlier in the day.

Barr's BQ won the James Blake local high overall championship with 634.26 points and overall 21st place, Burnin' the Bone BBQ was 23rd, Chubby Cheeks 24th, Sochie's 25th, 3 Smokin Chicks 26th, Barr's BQ Too 27th and Unruly Smokers 29th.

Kari Barr, owner and cook for Barr's BQ, said she is excited to win the local championship. Barr's BQ won last year with her son Tenn-Ray cooking. This year she was the cook and Tenn-Ray had his own team, Barr's BQ Too.

She said she was part of the first committee under Jim Blake and she has wanted to win this award since she started competing.

"I am beyond excited," she said.

She noted that her brother and father, Larry Hill Jr. and Larry Hill Sr. have also won the award.

"I like putting a gourmet twist on barbecue but I have to tone it down for competitions," Barr said. She added that she likes competing because she enjoys getting together with competitors and family.

Other top honors went to Fergolicious BBQ in chicken; Papa's Pit Crew in pork; Texas Smoke Whisperer in brisket; Bushmaster BBQ in sauce with 11 competitors in the optional category; and Lost Weekend Grill in mystery meat (duck) with 15 teams competing earning Dale Wagner award.

As for the overall festival, Committee Chairman Dave Paxton said, "We had a great weekend, maybe the best ever. Huge success. Teams and judges all had a blast."