Justin West enjoyed early success in competition, winning a grand championship in just his third contest. Since that time, the Texan has continued to excel in various sanctioning bodies as Hat Creek Q with perhaps his biggest prize yet the Ribs championship at the recent Houston Livestock Rodeo & BBQ Cookoff. On Episode 152 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Justin about his BBQ journey.

The KCBS season in mid-America gets rolling in March with one of the first big events a doubleheader, March 25-27, in St. Robert, Missouri. Gene Newkirk, one of the organizers of the 3rd annual Kickin’ It On Route 66 BBQ Challenge, fills us in on an event that is on pace to attract more than 50 teams. Gene, the Presiding Commissioner of Pulaski County, also has become quite a cook himself and we ask him about that.

Meanwhile, co-hosts Steve and Lyndal touch on their latest cooking adventures and discuss March Madness, the best month of the year for basketball junkies.

A big thanks to our great sponsor/marketing partners who make Season 4 of the show possible: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Iowa BBQ Store, Fergolicious BBQ, Affordable Financial Services, Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo, Pro Technology Solutions, Vietti Marketing, In the Garden of Eden and Marty “Sign Man” Prather and Domino’s.

We still have room for a couple of more sponsors. Contact me at [email protected] for more info. Have a great BBQ Week and thanks for listening! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm