LYNCHBURG — Scuffletown Smokers from Boonville, Indiana were named Grand Champion at this weekend’s 35th Annual Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue – earning $25,000 and the chance to defend its title at next year’s competition. They won the victory with an overall score of 702.8228.
“Barbecue is a fierce, competitive sport that requires drive, motivation, and a lot of hard work,” said Alby Ransom, pitmaster, Scuffletown Smokers. “We’ve won other big contests over the years, but the one thing missing was The Jack. Being named Grand Champion among some of the best pitmasters in the world is truly a dream.”
Ransom and his uncle Stan Metzger founded Scuffletown Smokers a decade ago after becoming captivated by the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue while volunteering at the event. They have competed ever since with one goal in mind: to earn a spot at The Jack. Ten years later, they take home the top title on their first visit.
“Whiskey makers and pitmasters have a lot in common,” said Chris Fletcher, Master Distiller at the Jack Daniel Distillery. “We both value craft, innovation, and the time-honored tradition of taking it slow. Cheers to Scuffletown Smokers for officially making some of the best barbecue in the world.”
88 teams competed in 2024
Over 67 invitational teams competed for The Jack year from places as close as Mount Pleasant, Tennessee and as far away as Olympia, Washington. Additionally, 21 international team competed from all over the world. Australia, Austria, Belguim, Canada, Costa Rica, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland were all represented.
Barbecue weekend kicked off on Thursday with a new event. Blake Redferrin headlined the first annual BBQ Bash in the Hollow. {To read out interview with Redferrin, click here.} Friday kicked off with the I Know Jack About Grilling Competition and the Parade of Teams.
On Saturday, all 88 teams competed in seven categories – Pork Ribs, Pork Shoulder/Butts, Beef Brisket, Chicken, Dessert, Jack Daniel’s Sauce, and Cook’s Choice/“Home Cookin’ from the Homeland.” To qualify, domestic teams must have won a state championship with a minimum of 25 competing teams, or a competition with more than 50 teams battling in the categories of Pork Ribs, Pork Butts, Chicken and Beef Brisket.
Janky Leg BBQ wins Reserve Grand Champion
The winners were announced on Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. Janky Leg BBQ of Benton, Illinois was named the Reserve Grand Champion, taking home a cash prize of $10,000. Their overall score was a 702.8228.
The Top 10 overall finishers were: 3. Razorracks 702.2512, 4. Triple H BBQ, 701.6912, 5. Loot N’ Booty BBQ, 698.8340, 6. Hot Daddy’s BBQ, 698.2056, 7. LC BBQ, 697.6568, 8. Hot Cole’s BBQ, 696.5372, 9. Pigs & Cows Gone Wild, 695.3600, and 10. Chucky BBQ, 693.0740.
First place in Chicken went to Hot Cole’s BBQ from Galatin, Tennessee.
First place in Pork Ribs went to Razorracks BBQ from Pleasant Plains, Arkansas. First place in Pork also went to Razorracks BBQ.
First place in Beef Brisket went to LC BBQ from Bandera, Texas.
First in Desserts went to Smokin Hoqqz BBQ from Middleboro, Massachusettes. The Cook’s Choice Award also went to Smokin’ Hoqqz.
First place in Sauce went to an international team, Black Forest from Germany.
To see all the scores from Saturday, visit the Kansas City Barbecue Society’s website by clicking here.
The Jack also named their newest Pioneer of Barbecue to John David Wheeler of Memphis. He works with the organization Operation Barbecue Relief, which serve hot meals to those affected by natural disasters. You can learn more about them but clicking here.
Organizers named Tracy Miller as the Volunteer of the Year and the Dedicated Service Award went to the Polish BBQ King Smokers who have competed in 34 of the last 35 Jack Daniel’s Barbecues. The only year they’ve missed was 2020 when international teams couldn’t travel due to COVID.
First place in the Shaken and Stirred Cocktail Competition went to Nathan Richter.
The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint of Ocean Springs, Mississippi won the I Know Jack About Grillin’ Competition.
There were two winners in the Spookiest Home in the Holler competition, where teams decorate their spots in Halloween fun. We Q 4 U from Bowling Green, Kentucky won for the domestic teams and COOKLOUNGE BBQ from Austria won for the international teams.
The Jack will return to Lynchburg’s Wiseman Park on October 10-11 in 2025. •
{The Lynchburg Times is the hometown newspaper of Lynchburg, Tennessee the home of The Jack Daniel Distillery. We get an up-close, insider view of news and events happening in The Holler. If you’ve visited, and would like to follow goings on here in Lynchburg until you return, give us a follow over on Facebook or check out our website.}