Competition BBQ

From 2000 to 2007, Chad and Chris honed their culinary skills side by side in a busy restaurant kitchen that offered everything from classic burgers to sophisticated Italian fare, mastering a diverse range of flavors and techniques. While Chris decided to explore a career outside of the food industry in 2007, Chad continued sharpening his expertise, working in renowned restaurants and developing a top-tier skill set that would later become essential to their joint venture.

 

In 2011, Chris discovered his passion for competition BBQ and quickly made a name for himself on the circuit, earning numerous accolades and building a loyal following who couldn’t get enough of his mouthwatering barbecue. Recognizing the potential to bring their combined talents to a wider audience, Chad and Chris reunited in 2017 to transform Heavy Smoke BBQ from a competition team into a full-fledged business. By blending Chad’s refined kitchen expertise with Chris’s championship-winning BBQ techniques, they crafted a unique menu that goes beyond traditional barbecue, offering a wide variety of flavorful options — all at prices that deliver exceptional value.

 

The year 2020 marked a milestone for Heavy Smoke BBQ with the opening of its very first brick-and-mortar restaurant. Today, whether you’re stopping in for a hearty dine-in experience or grabbing delicious carry-out, you can enjoy award-winning BBQ made with passion, skill, and a commitment to quality.

 

While we are fully dedicated to delivering the best food and service possible to every customer, our roots remain deeply planted in the competitive BBQ world. Follow our journey to see our growing list of awards from competitions and vending events, and be sure to connect with us on social media to join the Heavy Smoke BBQ community and stay up to date on all things BBQ.

Competition Awards

2019 - KCBS Invitational 2019

2019 - KCBS Invitational World Championship

2021 - KCBS Invitational 2021 2

2021 - KCBS Invitational World Championship

2022 - Jack Daniel's Invitational Grand Champion

2022 - Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Grand Champion

2014 - 1st ever GC

2014 - Our First Ever Grand Champion

2015 - Budwieser BBQ Series Grand Champion

2015 - Budweiser BBQ Series Grand Champion

2016 - 2nd Overall SLBS TOY

2016 - 2nd Overall SLBS TOY

2017 - 3rd overall SLBS TOY

2017 - 3rd overall SLBS TOY

2017 - Arcadia GC

2017 - Arcadia Grand Champion

2017 - Oran GC

2017 - Oran Grand Champion

2018 - Marine IL GC

2018 - Marine IL Grand Champion

2018 - Spit On The Water GC

2018 - Spit On The Water Grand Champion

2019 - CCS Fest GC

2019 - CCS Fest Grand Champion

2019 - Collinsville GC and Effingham GC

2019 - Collinsville GC and Effingham Grand Champion

2019 - Edwardsville GC 2019

2019 - Edwardsville Grand Champion

2023 - Smoke On The Osage GC

2023 - Smoke On The Osage Grand Champion

2019 - KCBS TOY 17th Overall 2019

2019 - KCBS TOY 17th Overall

2019 - Peoria GC 2019

2019 - Peoria Grand Champion

2019 - Pros Vs Joes GC

2019 - Pros Vs Joes Grand Champion

2019 - SLBS TOY champion 2019

2019 - SLBS TOY champion

2019 - Smokin With Smithfield GC

2019 - Smokin With Smithfield Grand Champion

2020 - Baldwin City GC

2020 - Baldwin City Grand Champion

2020 - Eureka IL day 2 GC

2020 - Eureka IL day 2 Grand Champion

2020 - Qlathe GC

2020 - Qlathe Grand Champion

2021 - Boo B Que GC

2021 - Boo B Que Grand Champion

2021 - Cape BBQ Fest GC

2021 - Cape BBQ Fest Grand Champion

2021 - Harvest On Fire GC

2021 - Harvest On Fire Grand Champion

2021 - Heritage Days GC 2021

2021 - Heritage Days Grand Champion

2021 - Honor-Q GC

2021 - Honor-Q Grand Champion

2024 - Ribs on the ridge GC

2024 - Ribs on the Ridge Grand Champion

2021 - KCBS Invitational 2021

2021 - KCBS Invitational

2021 - KCBS TOY 3rd overall 2021

2021 - KCBS TOY 3rd Overall

2021 - Smokin In The Creek GC

2021 - Smokin In The Creek Grand Champion

2022 - Heritage Days GC 2022

2022 - Heritage Days Grand Champion

2025 - West Plains GC

2025 - West Plains Grand Champion

2022 - KCBS TOY 3rd overall 2022

2022 - KCBS TOY 3rd Overall

2025 - KCBS Invitational Rib World Champion

2025 - KCBS Invitational Rib World Champion

2022 - Peyton's 1st place burger in Colorado

2022 - Peyton's 1st Place Burger in Colorado

Tell-All Competition BBQ Class by Heavy Smoke

Ready to take your BBQ skills to the next level? Join the pitmasters behind Heavy Smoke BBQ for an exclusive tell-all competition BBQ class where we pull back the curtain on everything it takes to succeed on the circuit. From selecting the right cuts of meat to mastering flavor profiles, timing, and presentation, this class covers it all — no secrets held back. Whether you’re a seasoned griller or just starting out, you’ll learn the exact methods that helped us win championships and turn our passion into a thriving restaurant. Spots are limited, so sign up today and start cooking like a pro!