The Checkered Pig Competition Team Story:
In 2002, Tommy, Lisa, and Pigs R Us entered the Bar-B-Q competition arena. From the beginning they did very well, winning frequently and gaining valuable experience and exposure for both the restaurant and team. In 2003, the name of the competition team changed to Checkered Pig, and the team continued to compete all over the country.In 2004, the Checkered Pig team won the prestigious invitational “superbowl” of Bar-B-Q competitions, the Sparks, Nevada “Best in the West” rib cook off. After winning the competition, Checkered Pig was featured on the Food network, making the team famous for their ribs and sauces nation wide. Further exposure for Checkered Pig on the Travel Channel and Versus Network for their award winning ribs, beef brisket, pork Bar-B-Q, and patented sauces and rubs, attracted people from all over the country to the Pigs R Us restaurant, and necessitated the bottling of the sauces and rubs for distribution.
Checkered Pig has won 17 state Championships and over 250 other awards. They have competed in the Jack Daniels World Chamionships twice, bringing home awards in pork Bar-B-Q and beef brisket. 2014 was a very successful year for Checkered Pig finishing 4th overall in the KCBS(Kansas City Bar-B-Q Society) Team of the Year standings out of 4000 teams.
Checkered Pig Competition Team Awards:
| Competition | Location | Award(s) |
|---|---|---|
2014 | ||
| Lincolnton Hog Happenin | Lincolnton, NC | 2nd Place Overall |
| Blue Ridge BBQ & Music | Tryon, NC | 18th Place Overall |
| Barbourville BBQ Festival | Barbourville, KY | 4th Place Overall |
| Covington Cork & Pork | Covington, VA | 1st Place Overall |
| Festival of Discovery | Greenwood, SC | 16th Place Overall |
| Smoke on the Mountain | Galax, VA | 4th Place Overall |
| Pigs & Pedals | Asheboro, NC | 1st Place Overall |
| Mountain High BBQ Festival | Franklin, NC | 11th Place Overall |
| Wild West BBQ Shoot Out | Wendover, NV | 4th Place Overall |
| The Great Vegas Gridiron Grill Off | Las Vegas, NV | 5th Place Overall |
| Black Dog Music and Que | Floyd, VA | 4th Place Overall |
| Tilley Harley Davidson Biker Blues BBQ | Salisbury, NC | 1st Place Overall |
| Butts and Beans BBQ | Hickory, NC | 4th Place Overall |
| Smokin up the Saddle Club | Chatsworth GA | Grand Champion |
| Smoke N Thunder BBQ Clasic | Rome, GA | Grand Champion 1st place Ribs |
| When Pigs Fly South | Lakeland, FL | 4th Place Overall 1st place Chicken |
2011 | ||
| Smokin’ on the Water | Lakeport, CA | 1st Place Brisket |
| Lincolnton Hog Happenin’ | Lincolnton, NC | Grand Champion 1st Place Ribs 1st Place Pork |
| Smoke on the Mountain VA State BBQ | Galax, VA | 3rd Place Ribs |
| Chesapeake Jubilee | Chesapeake, VA | 1st Place Pork |
| Sam’s Club BBQ Competition | Chesapeake, VA | 1st Place Ribs 1st Place Brisket |
| Eastern Carolina BBQ Throwdown | Rocky Mount, NC | 1st Place Ribs |
2010 | ||
| 14th Annual Firehouse Cookoff | Kings Mountain, NC | 3rd Place Chicken |
| Chesapeake Jubilee BBQ Cookoff | Chesapeake, VA | 4th Place Brisket |
| Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down | Rocky Mount, NC | 1st Place Ribs |
| Hamtown Pork and Fork Festival | Smithfield, VA | Grand Champion 1st Place Ribs |
2009 | ||
| Texas Motor Speedway – Prilosec BBQ Shootout | Fort Worth, TX | 2nd Place Ribs 2nd Place Chicken |
| Lowe’s Motor Speedway – Prilosec BBQ Shootout | Concord, NC | “>
Reserve Grand Champion 1st Place Ribs |
| South Carolina Festival Discovery | Greenwood, NC | Reserve Grand Champion 1st Place Ribs |
| Cue and Cruz | Louisa, VA | 3rd Place Ribs |
| Bristol Prilosec BBQ Shootout | Bristol, TN | 2nd Place Brisket |
| Pickin’ in the Panhandle | Hedgesville, WV | 1st Place Pork 4th Place Brisket |
| Murphysboro Barbecue Cookoff | Murphysboro, IL | Grand Champion 1st Place Brisket 4th Place Ribs |
| 21st Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational | Lynchburg, TN | 4th Place Brisket |
| Diamond State BBQ Championship | Dover, DE | 3rd Place Brisket |
2008 | ||
| Apple City Hog Rally | Murphysboro, IL | Grand Champion Reserve 2nd Place Pork 1st Place Brisket 1st Place Pork |
| Western NC BBQ Festival | Maggie Valley, NC | 1st Place Pork |
| 20th Jack Daniels World Championship | Lynchburg, TN | 4th Place Pork |
| Carolina Fall Fling | Lumberton, NC | Grand Champion 1st Place Ribs 1st Place Chicken 3rd Place Brisket |
| Pigs in the Park | Danville, VA | Reserve Grand Champion |
| Pigs in the Park | Danville, VA | Governors Cup Top Virginia Team |
| Rockin’ Rib Cookoff | Salt Lake City, Utah | Grand Champion |
