The world’s largest BBQ competition is about to fire up. It’s American Royal World Series of BBQ week as nearly 500 teams converge on Kansas Speedway to fill the air with delicious smoke and light their pits feeling unbridled optimism. To preview the event, we visit with six first-time competitors about their hopes, expectations and to learn a bit about their BBQ journeys.

Our first roundtable brings together Wes Garrett of Piglitically Incorrect BBQ out of Brandon, Mississippi; David Lillis of Kansas City’s Barking Dog BBQ and Brian Anglin of Who Dat BBQ out of Vermillion, South Dakota. We then bring in Chad Peterson from Mad Chad’s BBQ from Sioux City, Iowa; Jim Self of Papa Jim’s BBQ of Worden, Illinois; and the husband-wife team of Mike and Nichole Mulkey of Mulkey’s BBQ from St. Louis.

Meanwhile, co-host Lyndal talks about the Tailgate Guys BBQ team’s prep for its first Royal and Steve discusses his cooking week in the backyard, where the judges always give winning scores.

Thanks to our sponsor/marketing partners who make our show possible: Blues Hog BBQ Sauce, Royal Oak Charcoal, The Butcher Shoppe, Iowa BBQ Store, Affordable Income Tax & Payroll, DDR Fabrication, Arkassippi Smoke Live and The Arkassippi Combo, Vietti Marketing, In the Garden of Eden and The BBQ League. Special thanks to Marty “Sign Man” Prather and Domino’s Pizza, an “Official American Royal World Series of BBQ” sponsor of our team.

Have a great BBQ Week!

#SmokeEmIfYouGotEm