By KARLA POMEROY
Editor
Colorado team takes first at Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ Championship
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Sean Mortimer
Colorado Bulldawg, the overall winners of the BBQ Contest at the BBQ and Bluegrass Festival at the Washakie County Fairgrounds on August 19.
The 19th annual Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ and Bluegrass Festival brought in 27 barbecue teams to compete in the Kansas City Barbecue Society sanctioned contest with Colorado Bulldawg BBQ, Levi and Jessica Stoakes, winning top honors.
Colorado Bulldawg BBQ won the event with 706.24 points, ahead of Piggin' Whiskey in second at 701.66 points and American Heroes (2022 and 2021 champions) with 700.53 points.
Levi Stoakes said this is his first year cooking as the Colorado Bulldawg BBQ team from Windsor, Colorado, having competed in Worland last year under a different name, taking fifth. The team name is in honor of the Stoakes' English bulldog Brisket.
"This is a great location. Dave (Paxton, Committee chairman) puts on a great competition. The support from the community is amazing. To have that park packed for two days is awesome. You don't see that at other locations," Stoakes said.
Stoakes said he began cooking in competitions eight years ago when his wife Jessica bought him a smoker. He was watching barbecue competitions on TV and said, "I can do this."
Colorado Bulldawg BBQ is strictly a competition team and will be competing in 42 KCBS competitions this year. The Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ Championship was the 32nd competition for them this year and the second win.
They are currently fourth in KCBS standings and have qualified for the Jack Daniels World Championship this fall in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
Following the Worland contestthey are headed to Liberal, Kansas, for their next competition.
Colorado Bulldawg BBQ was eighth in ribs. That division was won by Eggspert with 180 points, followed by Smokin Boxers and Parrothead Smokers.
Bulldawg BBQ was fourth in pork. Pork was won by Rocket Boys Pyro with 180 points, second place was Papa's Pit Crew and third was Eggspert.
Bulldawg BBQ was fifth in chicken. American Heroes won the category with 180 points, followed by Whistle Pig BBQ and Smokin Hot Butts BBQ.
In brisket, Bulldawg BBQ took second just behind Piggin' Whiskey with Burnt Trees BBQ third.
The Worland contest also offers two voluntary categories, mystery meat and sauce. This year's mystery meat was pork loin with raspberries. Cluster Chuck BBQ took first among 13 teams competing. Local teams in the top 10 were Sochie's BBQ, eighth, and 2 Smokin' Chicks, ninth.
Papa's Pit Crew took first in sauce with 12 teams competing. Local team Chubby Cheeks BBQ took second in the contest and local team 2 Smokin' Chicks was third. Thermopolis team We Got Your 6 was fourth.
The Wyoming High-Point winner was American Heroes out of Glenrock.
The Local High-Point winner was Crooked L/Chris Leyva. They were 17th in brisket, 24th in pork, 20th in pork ribs; 15th in chicken, 10th in mystery meat and 17th overall.
