Two new teams Red Rock BBQ and Can Country Outlaw BBQ making their first appearance at Death’s Door BBQ took home the top honors among the 25 teams entered. The Friday and Saturday event was held at the Washington Island Airport. A large crowd was on hand despite the warm and humid weather.
On Friday Red Rock BBQ from Amasa Michigan took home the Grand Championship. Peter Golob and his team dominated the Day 1 competition with finishes of 10th in Chicken, 8th in Pork Ribs, 3rd in Pork and finished with a 1st place in Brisket. The Reserve Grand Champion Award went to Let’s Get Tanck’d of Green Bay WI. Steve Tanck and his team finished 15th in Chicken, 2nd in Pork Ribs, 4th in Pork and 3rd in Brisket. They were less than two points behind the Red Rock BBQ team. Red Rock BBQ totaled 690.8572 while Let’s Get Tanck’d had 687.9998. Rounding out the top five were Shiggin and Grinnin from Delano Minnesota in third, The BBQ Bus of Elmhurst Illinois fourth and rounding out the top five was the Texas Smoke Whisperer team from Midland Texas.
On Saturday in front of a large crowd another first time team to DDBBQ Can Country Outlaw BBQ garnered the Grand Championship. Jason Halterman and his team from St. Louis Missouri came back from a fifteenth place on Friday to claim the top prize. Taking home the Reserve Grand Championship awards was The BBQ Bus. Brian Dwyer cooking with his son stepped up their game from Friday to finish in the runner-up spot. Finishing in third was Porkrastinators out of Woodstock IL followed by the Machete Boys BBQ of Fridley MN and routing the top five was Big E BBQ cooking out of Huntley IL. Thirteen teams from eight states made their first trip to DDBBQ. Topping the list are; The BBQ Bus-Elmhurst IL, Texas Smoke Whisperer- Midland TX,High On The Hawg-Fayetteville Tennessee, Uncle Kenny’s BBQ and Hot Coles BBQ-Clermont Florida, Sloshkosh BBQ-Trinity FL, Can Country Outlaw BBQ-St. Louis MO, Home Farm BBQ-Dyersville-Iowa, Red Rock Cafe- Amasa Michigan, Machete Boys BBQ- Fridley MN, and Hogline-Owatonna MN. Three Wisconsin teams included; Let’s Get Tanck’d-Green Bay WI, Shank-N-Shig BBQ-Rice Lake and Up-N-Smoke Bar-B-Que-Juda WI.
In the dessert category the winner was Wicked Smoke out of Fort Atkinson WI. Finishing in seconds place was High On The Hawg from Fayetteville TN. Third place went to 270 Smokers Lexington VA, fourth was Smokin’ Highwaymen-Sobieski, WI and rounding out the top five finishing fifth was Second Hand Smoke-Appleton WI.
In the Kid’s Que 7-12 year old class the winner was Mara Schilling form Sobieski WI. Second place went to Jaylyn Nikchen of Washington island WI. Contestants in this group cooked hot dogs. Winner of the 13-18 year old group went to William Peters from Rice Lake WI. The runner-up spot went to Nathan Schilling of Sobieski WI. This group cooked hamburger meat.
This great event could not take place without the support of our major sponsors: Smokin with Smithfield, Washington Island Chamber of Commerce, W.I. Electric Cooperative, W.I. Ferry Line, von Steihl Winery, Dancing Goat Distillery, Gordon’s North Star Realty, Lamperts of Sister Bay, Snake River Farms, Mann’s Grocery Store, Door County Medical Center, Quantum PC Services, Grizzly Coolers, Nicolet National Bank, 4 Imprint and Shipyard Island Marina. DDBBQ would also like to thank the rest of our sponsors, teams, judges, volunteers, visitors and especially our committee; Richard Jepsen Chairman, Mary Lynn Anderson, Cathy Meader, Tom Nikolai, Jenny Nickell, Jake Farm and E’lise Haller.
Plans are already underway for the 10th Annual Deaths Door BBQ August 27th, 2022.