Tailgate Guys BBQ Show, Episode 82: Chris Schafer, Nick Davis
Release Date: 09/08/2020
Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast
The American Royal World Series of BBQ is special to many pitmasters, none more so than Darren Warth. A three-time American Royal Open Grand Champion with his Iowa Smokey D’s BBQ, Darren is ready to chase No. 4 this weekend when more than 500 teams converge on Kansas Speedway for the world’s biggest BBQ competition. The man known as the “GOAT” for his two-decade run of success also will be inducted into the BBQ Hall of Fame on Saturday, making it even more special. On Episode 230 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with Darren about the upcoming weekend and reflect a bit on his...
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It’s always a blast to talk open-fire cooking with BBQ Hall of Famer Ray Lampe, better known as “Dr. BBQ.” This is especially true as the American Royal World Series of BBQ nears and on Episode 229 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Ray tells us about what makes the American Royal so special for him, talks Turkey Smoke and gives his thoughts on some of the Class of 2023 BBQ Hall of Famers. Ray also gives us a rundown of his recent trip to Wales where BBQ has become a mainstream way of culinary life. Even the beer is cold these days in Europe. The American Royal theme continues as director...
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Richard Fergola has accomplished a lot of awesome things in competition barbecue, but had never won his hometown KCBS event. That all changed last weekend as Fergolicious BBQ earned Grand Championship honors at Smokin’ on the Trails in Gardner, Kansas. On Episode 228 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we visit with “Fergie” about that, plus plans for a huge day of food, fun and BBQ knowledge that Proud Souls BBQ and Provisions has on tap Friday, Sept. 29 at the American Royal World Series of BBQ. We also welcome Norris Sydnor back to the show after Baltimore-based Good Googly Goo -...
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On Episode 227 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk to the man behind the upcoming Saluting With Smoke BBQ Festival, Sept. 15-17 in Yorkville, Illinois. Sean Young, an Army veteran who is brutally honest about his life struggles after leaving the service in the early 2000s, formed Mission Zero Hundred Hours to help veterans deal with PTSD by connecting them with open-fire cooking. At Saluting With Smoke, five teams with four veterans apiece representing each brand of the military will be mentored by five top professional pitmasters - Sterling Smith, Chris Webb, Lee Hickel, Richard Fergola...
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It might go down in competition BBQ history as the “Basted Triple” or whatever clever phrase you’d like to use. But if Brad Leighninger and Gettin’ Basted win a fourth KCBS Team of the Year, last weekend will be a big reason. On Episode 226 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, Brad joins us to recap his remarkable feat of cooking a Friday-Saturday doubleheader at the Death’s Door Barbecue in northern Wisconsin, where he earned Grand Championship and RGC honors, then making a 12-hour haul to Paola, Kansas, for a Sunday Grand Championship at the Paola Roots Festival. The impressive...
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Chris Davis of Crossed Rifles BBQ from Schertz, Texas, knocked down the Grand Championship at last weekend’s prestigious Red Raiders Challenge in Lubbock with a huge score of 713.16. We visit with the Marine Corps veteran on Episode 225 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast about his journey into competition BBQ, which he credits for helping him cope with PTSD from his time in the military. It’s a common theme for veterans who come on the show and Chris discusses why he thinks open-fire cooking resonates with them. We go to north Texas for our other guest as Shane LeClair of Damn Yankee BBQ...
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On Episode 224 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, it’s a review of the KCBS World Invitational where it was a weekend to remember for Aaron and Christy Stoffer of Man Meat BBQ. Aaron joins me to talk about the team’s Grand Championship, worth $6,000, in the Invitational on Sunday one day after Man Meat scored a whopping 711.4 overall total but had to settle for Reserve Grand Champion behind Smoked & Furious BBQ’s record of 717.71. Aaron talks about his biggest championship to date, how confidence plays a big role in competition success and how the Man Meat BBQ line of rubs and sauces...
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On Episode 223 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we take a trip to southern California to visit with one of the top teams on the West Coast. It was quite a 48-hour period last week for B’ Mackin BBQ out of San Diego as the team got its first-ever draw into The Jack Daniels World BBQ Invitational on Thursday and then won its first Grand Championship of 2023 on Saturday. Brett McKinney and Benny Watsman of B’Mackin BBQ join us to talk about the emotions and excitement, the background of the team and the challenges of competing on the West Coast, where competitions are not easy to find. ...
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Richard Fergola has been on the competition BBQ grind, cooking three KCBS doubleheaders over the last three weekends. We discuss that mental aspect of that, plus much more with the pitmaster of Fergolicious BBQ and Marketing/PR director of Proud Souls BBQ & Provisions on Episode 222 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. “Fergie” says even seasoned veterans like himself can be puzzled by scoring at times and says sometimes you just have to shake your head and move on. He gives us a rundown on the rebranding of his line of seasonings, an upcoming class this weekend he and Sterling Smith are...
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On Episode 221 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast, we talk it over with Curt Wallace from Smoked & Furious BBQ out of Oklahoma City, the No. 4-ranked team in this week’s KCBS Team of the Year standings. Curt tells us about how he got started in competition BBQ and risen into national prominence in a relatively short period of time. We also talk about some bumps in the road how to decipher sub-par scores along the way and the influence of some of his fellow Oklahoma BBQ legends such as David Bouska and Donnie Teel. While no longer technically “Under the Radar,” after capturing their...
info_outlineOn Episode 82 of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Show Podcast, we visit with two pitmasters having outstanding seasons on the KCBS competition trail and the co-hosts discuss their own open-fire adventures along with a sprinkle of sports.
To say Chris Schafer of St. Louis-based Heavy Smoke BBQ has lots of proverbial irons in the fire is an understatement. Heavy Smoke is going back-and-forth with Man Meat BBQ atop the KCBS Team of the Year chase. We visit with Chris about that, plus his line of Heavy Smoke rubs, the decision to open a BBQ restaurant later this fall and his rapidly growing All That For 6 Pieces podcast.
Only in his second year of competitive cooking, Oklahoma firefighter Nick Davis has led Double Barrel BBQ into the top 25 of the KCBS standings. Fresh from a lengthy haul to cook in Augusta, Georgia over Labor Day weekend, we get the lowdown from Nick about Double Barrel’s rapid rise onto the KCBS scene.
Thanks to our sponsors/marketing partners who make the fun possible: Blues Hog, The Butcher Shoppe, Royal Oak Charcoal, The BBQ Central Show, Affordable Income Tax & Payroll, DDR Fabrication, Colaw RV, Code 3 Spices and The BBQ League. Special thanks to Vietti Marketing Group and In the Garden of Eden for supporting our competition efforts.
Have a great week! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm