Red Hot & Real BBQ Championship

September 18 - 19, 2009

Clovis, California 

The Red Hot & Real BBQ Championship was a competition held in cooperation with the City of Clovis. This 5th annual event drew over 70,000 people of all ages. This event is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society. With the temperatures in the 100’s, it was both hot on the grill and off, but it didn’t dampen the spirit of the BBQ’ers. This event had something for everyone, with hot air balloons ascending each morning in the beautiful blue sky, to crafts, a car show, and of course the smell of BBQ. This event was hosted by Kim and Brent Walton owners of QN4U Restaurant in Clovis, CA.

Friday night after dinner there was a “checker tournament” that raised $155 for “Cancer Sucks!” Chicago/Scottie Johnson’s foundation in the name our beloved Monica Benedict who succumbed to cancer earlier this year. Dave Wiles of Backyard Smoke won the “checker tournament” and the grand prize was a truly grand prize, a huge bottle of “Gentlemen’s Jack” signed “Cancer Sucks!” World Champion Scottie Johnson who won the 2006 Jack Daniel’s World Championship signed and sent it to us as a grand prize.

At the awards, Dave Wiles donated the bottle back so it could be auctioned off. The bidding was fierce and quickly went from $50 to $400. In the end Pit Stop BBQ Pete Weaver’s high bid won the bottle and QN4U added enough money to make the donation $750. Then Pete cracked open the bottle and said “shots” for $5 and people paid 10, 20, 50 dollars for a shot and Pete Weaver and Pam Gram donated that money back as well. Our total was now $1,165. Amazing, but then again so was MONICA!

The competition BBQ awards were next on the agenda with Lindsey Dyson from Save Mart and Darrell Dahlberg from KISS Country radio on hand to pass out the cash prizes and trophies. The Grand Champion winner was Smitty’s Smoke Patrol from Santa Clara, CA with Reserve Grand Champion going to All Hogs go to Heaven from Lancaster, CA. The point separation was incredible with .0004 points between the Grand and Reserve and .0571 between the Reserve and 3^rd place which went to Rhythm n Que from Phoenix, AZ.  Anything Butt was won by Burnt by the Best from Los Angeles, CA.  Other category placing were 18^th in Chicken, 27^th in ribs, 1^st in pull pork, 3^rd in brisket, and 4^th place in the Anything butt category.

This year, in addition to the KCBS Sanctioned competition, on Sunday there was a Great Western Steak Cook Off. Teams received 4-12 oz. Ribeye steaks. Competitors were to turn in two of the four steaks in white turn in-containers or a tray of their choice.  It was a winner take all contest, in which Pam Gram and Pete Weaver from Pit Stop BBQ from Acton, CA won the $500.00 prize. They also won for having “best booth” at the event.