Smokin With Smithfield | Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Smokin’ With Smithfield National Barbecue Cup?

A National Barbecue Championship Program seeking to find and crown the unified National Barbecue Champion across major barbecue sanctioning bodies (KCBS, IBCA, FBA, BCA, PNBA, SLBS)*.
It consists of both a year-long Points Chase to identify the top 24 eligible for the Playoffs. It also includes a 3-round Playoffs competition that will take place at the end of 2019.
The Smokin’ With Smithfield National Barbecue Championship is open to all competition barbecue cooks in America 18 years of age or older (16 years old and older for team members) that compete in any competitions sanctioned by any of the following sanctioning bodies: Kansas City Barbeque Society, the International Barbeque Cookers Association, Florida BBQ Association, St. Louis BBQ Society, Barbecue Competitors Alliance, and Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association.*
Team scores will be tracked by BBQData.com across a one-year period of September 1, 2018 through August 31, 2019.
Playoffs: The top 24 teams, based on their points ranking at the end of the Points Chase will be invited to cook off in the quarter finals in New Orleans, LA. Round 1 will consist of 24 teams competing in single elimination competition; eliminating 12 teams. Round 2 will consist of 12 teams competing in single elimination competition; eliminating 6 teams. The third and final round will consist of the remaining 6 competing for the final position of the winner; the Smokin’ With Smithfield National Barbecue Champion. The top 24 teams competing in the Playoffs will be required to agree to additional rules.

How do I sign-up to participate?

Go to www.smokinwithsmithfield.com and complete the registration form. The registration form should be completed by the head cook (primary pit master) who will be the point of contact throughout the competition year.
If you are signing up to be a 2019 Smithfield Committed Cook, you can opt-in to the Smokin’ With Smithfield National Barbecue Championship at that time. You do not need to complete a separate registration for the Championship.

Is there a cost?

It’s free to register your team in the yearlong Points Chase. Should you earn a chance to compete in the top 24 at the Playoffs, you would be responsible for your travel and accommodations to and from the competition.

Why should I sign up? You are showing me my ranking without sign up.

Yes, everyone can view their position in the Leaderboard starting January 2019, but only those who are registered and the chance to compete in the Playoffs. You must be registered by July 1, 2019 to be eligible to participate in the Playoffs.

How do I know how I’m doing?

Beginning in January 2019, you can come back to www.smokinwithsmithfield.com to see the leaderboard that ranks all teams across the country.

I don’t cook very often, does the competition still apply to me?

Of course! This points structure takes into consideration your team’s top 12 competition scores. So even those teams who cook less than 12 competitions per year can participate, they’ll just have less scores to average from.

When and where are the Playoffs?

The Playoffs will take place in New Orleans, LA November 14 – November 17, 2019. The top 24 eligible teams from across the country who registered for the Points Chase are invited to participate. How will the Playoffs work?

This single elimination contest will take place over two days for a chance to win +$50,000 Prize Purse!
- Round 1: 24 teams will be narrowed down to 12.
- Round 2: 12 teams will be narrowed down to 6
- Round 3: 6 teams will be narrowed down to 1 National Champion.

Can team members compete on multiple teams?

No. Team members may compete on only one registered team at a time. If a team member changes teams or drops out of a registered team, the head cook is required to update the team registration information. A limit of five (5) team member changes may be made during the competition season. Team member updates can be made by emailing bbq@smithfield.com.

Can the head cook be changed or replaced?

No. The head cook designated at the time of registration will be the primary point of contact throughout the competition period and cannot be changed or replaced.

How does the leaderboard work?

We have created our points system to level the playing field across ALL participating sanctioned barbecue events. All data scores are received automatically through an independent third party (BBQData.com).

How do we earn points?

For a competition to count for Smokin’ With Smithfield National Barbecue Championship points, it must satisfy the following:

Pro-level barbecue contest sanctioned by KCBS, IBCA, FBA, BCA, PNBA, SLBS*
A competition with 15 or more teams
Take place between the dates of September 1, 2018 – August 31, 2019

Teams who rank within the Top 10 Overall** will earn the following points by place:

1st = 2000 points
2nd = 1500 points
3rd = 1000 points
4th = 750 points
5th = 525 Points
6th = 375 points
7th = 275 points
8th = 200 points
9th = 150 points
10th = 100 points

THEN, those same teams who rank in the top 10 will also earn additional points based on the contest size (i.e. strength of field). Each team will earn additional points to add to their overall score, based on the chart below:

# Of Teams	Bonus Points for Top 10 Overall Finish	# Of Teams	Bonus Points for Top 10 Overall Finish
15	60	71	217
16	64	72	219
17	68	73	221
18	72	74	223
19	76	75	225
20	80	76	226
21	84	77	227
22	88	78	228
23	92	79	229
24	96	80	230
25	100	81	231
26	103	82	232
27	106	83	233
28	109	84	234
29	112	85	235
30	115	86	236
31	118	87	237
32	121	88	238
33	124	89	239
34	127	90	240
35	130	91	241
36	133	92	242
37	136	93	243
38	139	94	244
39	142	95	245
40	145	96	246
41	148	97	247
42	151	98	248
43	154	99	249
44	157	100	250
45	160	101	251
46	163	102	252
47	166	103	253
48	169	104	254
49	172	105	255
50	175	106	256
51	177	107	257
52	179	108	258
53	181	109	259
54	183	110	260
55	185	111	261
56	187	112	262
57	189	113	263
58	191	114	264
59	193	115	265
60	195	116	266
61	197	117	267
62	199	118	268
63	201	119	269
64	203	120	270
65	205	121	271
66	207	122	272
67	209	123	273
68	211	124	274
69	213	125 or more	275

How many contests will count?

Only the top twelve (12) scores received by a registered team during the Competition Scoring Period will count towards that team’s overall score in the Competition.

*It’s important to note that the points system above takes into consideration the varying points structures that exist currently for each of the following sanctioning bodies: KCBS, IBCA, FBA, BCA, PNBA, SLBS.

**Please note that points are not awarded for specific category but rather points for Overall place only.

More Questions? Email us at bbq@smithfield.com.

Registration Terms & Conditions available at www.smokinwithsmithfield.com.

REGISTRATION TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Eligibility: The Smithfield "Smokin' with Smithfield National Barbecue Championship Points Chase" Competition (the "Competition") is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia and whose Primary Pit Master (head cook as designated at the time of registration) is at least eighteen (18) years old and all other team members are at least sixteen (16) years old at the time of registration. The Competition is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited. Employees, officers and directors of BBQData.com and members of their immediate families (spouses and parents, children and siblings and their spouses), and/or those living in the same household of such individual, are not eligible to participate. Participation constitutes each team member's full and unconditional agreement to these Terms and Conditions and Sponsor's decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Competition.

Sponsor: Smithfield Foods Inc., 200 Commerce Street, Smithfield, VA 23430.

Timing: The following table outlines the key dates of the Competition:

Registration Period

September 13, 2018 – July 1, 2019

Teams must register during the Registration Period in order for their scores to count towards eligibility for the Smokin' With Smithfield National Barbecue Championship Playoffs.

Competition Scoring Period

September 1, 2018 – August 1, 2019

During this time, team scores in sanctioned competitions will be reported to BBQData.com and tracked on the Competition Website (defined below).

Deadline to Register

11:59 p.m. ET on July 1, 2019

Deadline for teams to register for their scores to count towards eligibility for the Smokin' With Smithfield National Barbecue Championship Playoffs.

Scoring Lock-In Date

Within 10 days after specific competition

Period of time the Sponsor will verify and, if necessary, update team scores as reported during the Competition Scoring Period based on data received from the Sanctioning Bodies.

Playoff Team Announcement

On or about September 15, 2019

Date when the Sponsor will announce the 24 registered teams who are eligible to compete in the Smokin' With Smithfield National Barbecue Championship Playoffs.

How to Play: During the Registration Period, one (1) team member from each team competing in a barbecue competition conducted by one of the participating Sanctioning Bodies (defined below) must complete the registration form on www.smokinwithsmithfield.com (such member will be the "Primary Pit Master"). The participating Sanctioning Bodies include only Kansas City Barbecue Society, International Barbecue Cookers Association and Florida BBQ Association, Barbecue Competitors Alliance, Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association, and St. Louis Barbecue Society (collectively, the "Sanctioning Bodies"). The Primary Pit Master must obtain consent and agreement to these Terms and Conditions from all of his/her team members prior to registration in the Competition. If any team member is under the age of eighteen (18) or the age of majority in his/her state of residence, the Primary Pit Master must receive express consent from such member's parent or legal guardian and agrees to provide written documentation of such consent to Sponsor at Sponsor's request. The Primary Pit Master must complete the registration form within the Registration Period in order for his/her team to be eligible to compete in the Smokin' with Smithfield National Barbecue Championship Playoffs ("Playoffs") to be held in 2019. Teams may only register once in this Competition – any duplicate registrations will be voided. Team members may only compete in one registered team during the Competition Scoring Period.The Primary Pit Master hereby agrees to update the team registration information in the event any team members change during the course of the Competition Scoring Period, it being understood that the Primary Pit Master cannot be changed or replaced. Any changes to contact information of the team members, including the Primary Pit Master, must be communicated in writing to Sponsor as soon as possible, but no later than June 15, 2019. Changes must be made by email or in writing and sent to bbq@smithfield.com with the following information: name of team registered for Competition, name of team member being added/removed and effective date of change, and the name of your Primary Pit Master. Limit of five (5) team member changes during the time period leading up June 15, 2019.

Scoring: During the Competition Scoring Period, Sponsor will collect data from BBQData.com in connection with participating Barbecue competitions held during such period by the Sanctioning Bodies. BBQData.com will work in cooperation with the Sanctioning Bodies to identify and allocate points for each team participating in sanctioned Barbecue competitions based on BBQData.com's scoring algorithm, designed to ensure fairness given the variables of each Barbecue competition (described in more detail below).

The teams who rank in the top 10 Overall at each Barbecue competition held by a Sanctioning Body will earn the following points initial points by place in the BBQData.com database:
1st = 2000 points
2nd = 1500 points
3rd = 1000 points
4th = 750 points
5th = 525 Points
6th = 375 points
7th = 275 points
8th = 200 points
9th = 150 points
10th = 100 points

Then, these top 10 teams will also be allocated additional points in the BBQData.com database based on the Barbecue competition's size. BBQData.com will add points to their score based on an algorithm that factors in the number of participating teams and size of the overall Barbecue competition.
BBQData.com will update its scoreboard regularly to show each team's ranking based on the scoring described above. Sponsor will also display a scoreboard based on BBQData.com's reporting on its www.smokinwithsmithfield.com webpage. Registration in the Competitions is not required for BBQData.com or Sponsor to post a team's score.
At the end of the Competition Scoring Period (and subsequent Scoring Lock-In Date, if necessary and as determined by Sponsor in its discretion), Sponsor will identify the twenty-four (24) teams that (i) successfully registered for the Competition during the Registration Period, and (ii) accumulated the highest scores during the Competition Scoring Period (subject to any set-offs by the Scoring Lock-In Date) (collectively, the potential "Competition Finalists"). Only the top twelve (12) scores received by a registered team during the Competition Scoring Period will count towards that team's overall score in the Competition.The potential Competition Finalists must review and agree to the terms of participation for the Smokin' with Smithfield National Barbecue Championship prior to being named as a Competition Finalist. Once confirmed by Sponsor, the Competition Finalists will receive the title of a "Smokin' with Smithfield National Barbecue Championship Points Chase Winner" and will be invited to participate in the Smithfield "Smokin' with Smithfield National Barbecue Championship Playoffs" in New Orleans, LA in November 2019 (more information regarding the Playoffs will be communicated to the potential Competition Finalists upon notice). In the event any of the potential Competition Finalists do not wish to participate, are unable to participate in the Playoffs, fail to comply with these Registration Terms and Conditions or fail to return requested Playoff documentation by the deadlines set by the Sponsor, then such potential Competition Finalist may be disqualified and the eligible team(s) with the next highest scores from the Competition Scoring Period will be invited until there are a total of twenty four (24) teams competing in the Playoffs.

Release/Publicity: By registering for the Competition, you agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor, the Sanctioning Bodies, BBQData.com, and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, distributors, advertising/promotion agencies, and prize suppliers, and each of their respective parent companies and each such company's officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the "Released Parties") from and against any claim or cause of action, including, but not limited to, personal injury, death, or damage to or loss of property, arising out of participation in the Competition and for claims based on publicity rights and intellectual property rights, defamation or invasion of privacy. Except where prohibited, participation in the Competition constitutes each team member's consent to Sponsor's and its agents' use of the team's name, team member names, and team imagery submitted to the Sanctioning Body, and/or hometown and state of the team and its members for purposes of conducting the Competition and for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration. In the event that any team or team member engages in any unsportsmanlike, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate conduct during the Competition, Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify the team member or the entire team. Sponsor and the Sanctioning Bodies are not responsible for any disputes, disagreements, miscommunications or other acts or omissions among team members in connection with the Competition. Sponsor's decisions in connection with the Competition are final and binding.

Limitations of Liability: The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by registered team members, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Competition; (2) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software (including, without limitation, technical failures of BBQData.com and its scoring algorithm); (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Competition; (4) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Competition, processing of entries, or tracking of scores; (5) late, lost, undeliverable, damaged or stolen communications; or (6) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant's participation in the Competition.

General Conditions: Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the Competition, or any part of it, if any technical failures, computer glitches, fraud, human error or any other factor impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Competition, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry/registration process, score collection or the operation of the Competition or to be acting in violation of these Terms and Conditions of this or any other promotion or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Competition may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsor's failure to enforce any term of these Terms and Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. Sponsor reserves the right to amend or modify these Terms and Conditions at any time.

Disputes: Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Competition shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the State or Federal courts located in Virginia; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Competition, but in no event attorneys' fees; and (3) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, indirect, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Terms and Conditions, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Competition, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Virginia.

Entrant's Personal Information: Information collected from entrants is subject to Sponsor's Privacy Policy http://www.smithfield.com/privacy-policy/ and BBQ Data's Privacy Policy https://bbqdata.com/privacy_policy.