texas – RV BBQ Trail

Huntsville, TX
February 15 & 16, 2019

Pick-up trucks, longhorn steer skulls, and BBQ smokers; why we must be in Texas!

“Shotgun Fred” Pirkle passed away from ALS on March 9, 2012. Before passing, he asked several old friends to make sure that a KCBS sanctioned BBQ Cook-Off took place in Huntsville, Texas each year to raise scholarship funds to be added to his Scholarship Endowment for Sam Houston State University.

Ben Pruitt, one of those ol’ friends and the Shotgun Fred BBQ Showdown organizer, ensured the legacy continued at the Huntsville Fairgrounds. Thirty-three teams competed for Texas BBQ bragging rights, drawing Master Series teams from as far away as Australia and Alberta, Canada!

Grand Champion went to Rio Valley Meats BBQ, with a walloping 704.5! Tiny E BBQ won Reserve GC scoring a 699.9. Boomerang BBQ, Iowa Smoky D’s BBQ, and Clark Crew BBQ were other notables in the top ten.

Grand Champions! Rio Valley Meats BBQ scored a 700 pin with a 704.4 score.
Reserve Grand Champion, Tiny E BBQ, with a 699.9 score.

We loved the stories from “behind the scenes” … such as the Shotgun Fred BBQ Showdown awards created by Ben Pruitt, a talented woodworker. The wooden plaques for top finishers had a one-piece arrow through the ‘bullseye’ on the plaque. Everyone asked how he did it, his response, “you give me the secret to your BBQ, and I’ll tell you how I did it” … so, it remains a mystery! Note the RGC trophy; just off the mark!

Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Trophies… guess which one is which!
Wood maker, Ben Pruitt, constructed these one-of-a-kind trophies… how’d he get that one piece arrow through that little hole?!

The event brought out some newbies, including the Sigma Chi Fraternity, Frat Boys, from local Sam Houston State University sponsored by local rancher Scott Whitehead. Upon asking one of their multiple members why they were located so far from everyone else, his response was, “it’s best for everybody.” Fun and BBQ, a great combo! These guys could be tomorrows GC’s!

Scott Whitehead, Frat Boys BBQ sponsor, and coach.
Frat Boys BBQ… choose a site way far away from the rest of the teams! Can you say ‘Party Time?’

Shotgun Fred BBQ Showdown is an excellent event with friendly folks at a great venue hosted by Huntsville, TX! This event has room to grow and the right people to make it happen! BBQ Teams should consider entering this event in the future.