It was a beautiful scene in Raleigh for the 2018 Whole Hog Barbecue Championship with blue skies, the sound of bluegrass music in the air and the scent of barbecue wafting from the 28 barbecue tents lined up on South Street. Top pitmasters from across the state were competing for the top prize and a beautiful new trophy that would proclaim him or her as the 2018 Whole Hog Barbecue Champion. The event was part of the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival in downtown Raleigh at end of September.
In the end, Chris Fineran of Beach Boys Barbecue bested his fellow chefs to take home the top trophy for the second time. He won the state championship in 2016. In all, 13 different cooks got a call on Saturday to come forward to accept a trophy and/or prize money. Here are this year’s winners:
On-Site Culinary:
- 1st: Chris Fineran – Beach Boys Barbecue
- 2nd: Ernest Twisdale – Grillfather Cooking Team
- 3rd: Wesley Bowers – Getting Piggy With It
Left to right: Ernest Twisdale, Chris Fineran and Wesley Bowers
Crispy Skin Division:
- 1st: Chris Fineran – Beach Boys Barbecue
- 2nd: Wesley Bowers – Getting Piggy With It
- 3rd: David Grandy – Lazy Days
Blind Taste Division:
- 1st: Mark Copeland/Billy Perry – Pocosin Boys
- 2nd: Ashley Wheeler – Smokin’ Black Jack BBQ
- 3rd TIE: Bobby Prescott – BP Country Cookers & Kevin Peterson – Showtime’s Legit BBQ
Sauce Division:
- 1st: Kevin Peterson – Showtime’s Legit BBQ
- 2nd: Morgan Garner – Back Woods Boy BBQ
- 3rd: Lee Meeks – Carolina Caviar
People’s Choice:
- 1st: David Hoffman – Grilling Palms BBQ
- 2nd: Ashley Wheeler – Smokin’ Black Jack BBQ
- 3rd: Brooke South – Purdy in Pink Cookin’ Team
