Fan Favorite: Team ElJefe Smoke!

You Are The Best

WHAT.
AN.
EXTRAORDINARY.
2026 BBQ SEASON IT AS BEEN FOR FAN FAVORITE BARBECUE TEAM ELJEFE SMOKE!!!

www.ribbqnews.com and www.wiseguysbbq.com send the utmost heartfelt congratulatory wishes to Team ElJefe Smoke; AKA Jeff Kulacz and Dan Swanson on their remarkable, stupendous, tremendous and numerous BBQ competitions accomplishments… The praise, the Hallelujahs, the BRAVOS, and the felicitations are well and truly so entirely deserved!

When I first contacted Jeff and Dan on August 4^th, 2026 to Congratulate them on their recent incredible success at “The Smoke on the Rail” BBQ Contest, Jeff exclaimed: “We added The BBQ Battle in Washington, D.C. where we had a great finish as well as The Smoke on the Rail in New Freedom, PA to our competition schedule in order to have additional opportunities to win our way to the BBQ World Cup in Las Vegas. It was two days of solid cooking for, and we were able to secure our spot! We are absolutely thrilled to have a shot at winning a million dollars!” Dan responded: “I’m still in shock we made the cut!” I asked what Sabrina Swanson’s reaction was to the BBQ World Cup Win which advanced ElJefe Smoke to the Las Vegas competition, Dan said: “Sabrina just said…..VEEGGASSSSSSSSS!” (Sabrina Swanson is not only Dan’s daughter but she is also a BBQ Master, herself!)

NOT-REALLY-A-SPOILER-ALERT: Team ElJefe Smoke shall be participating in the “BBQ World Cup $1,000,000.00 Pitmaster Championship.” The World’s Largest BBQ Expo. 100 Curated Exhibitors. Las Vegas- April 2027 www.bbqunited.com

Practice Cooks and The Start of the 2026 BBQ Season

BBQ season begins well before the first official competition. In fact, many BBQ Teams do not even have an “OFF-Season,” because they are continuously honing their BBQ skills. By March 28th, 2026, ElJefe Smoke was having what they hoped would be their last “Big Meats Practice Day.” Jeff and Dan finalized their recipes for the beginning of the competition season. ElJefe Smoke emphatically work with:

1. Team Humphry’s www.humphreysbbq.com
2. Charbon de bois franc Basques www.charbonbasques.com
3. Nature’s Own Hardwood Charcoal from Basques www.basquescharcoal.com
4. Stump Chunks All-Natural Kindling & Firestarter www.stumpchunks.com
5. Smokin’ Higgz BBQ www.smokinhoggz.com

ElJefe Smoke ALWAYS thanks their partners and sponsors above- in each and every post on Social Media!

The weekend of April 12^th saw ElJefe Smoke at Lake Compounce Campground for the 4^th Southern New England Barbecue Throwdown. On Day 1, Team ElJefe Smoke placed 5^th overall. They kicked off Day 2 at 4:40 AM. Jeff reported, “This weekend we competed in a double contest as well as two 1-meat contests…10 meat entries in 2 days! We had much better weather than last year, but it was quite windy on Day 1! The Southern New England Barbeque Throwdown in Bristol, CT was organized by Campground BBQ and The Kansas City Barbeque Society.”

–Day 1 Results: 5^th overall

• Chicken: 2^nd
• Ribs: 11^th
• Pork: 11^th
• Brisket: 8^th
• –1-Meat Showdown:
• 1 Meat Chicken: 4^th
• 1 Meat Ribs: 7^th

–Day 2 Results: 5^th overall

• Chicken: 2^nd WITH A PERFECT SCORE! 180
• Ribs: 11^th
• Pork: 9^th
• Brisket: 18^th

*Soundtrack for ElJefe’s Post for Southern New England BBQ Throwdown was: “Shakin’ Off The Rust,” by The Blue Stones

New Jersey KnoQ-out

April 18^th finds ElJefe Smoke in Blairstown, NJ starting off the BBQ contest at 5 AM! Once again, on Day 1, our team placed 5^th overall. Day 2 was a bit of a rainy day start at Triplebrook RV and Camp Resort. On April 19^th, El Jefe Smoke posted: “Grand Champions today with a score of 707.3944!!! …Competition was fierce with 3 teams earning 700+ points and 1 team missing by the smallest of margins. This weekend we competed in a double contest as well as a 1-meat rib contest. 9 meat entries in two days! We had to deal with rain most of Day #2.”

–Day 2 Results: GRAND CHAMPION

• Chicken: 1^st with a perfect score! 180
• Ribs: 8^th
• Pork: 1^st
• Brisket: 3^rd

*Soundtracks for ElJefe’s Posts for New Jersey KnoQ-out were: “Watch Out Now,” by The Beatnuts and “Big Dawgs,” by Hanumankind

Smokin’ Butts, Ribs and Chicken Wings at Home

On April 26^th ElJefe Smoke prepared “Bedazzled Butts,” utilizing www.gulfcoastsmoke.com “Southern HOTsptality cooked in “Humphrey’s BBQ Qube’d Pint.” Jeff regularly smokes chicken

wings for both his friends and family and is always ready to prepare many French fries or mashed potatoes as accompaniments, as well as provide various dipping sauces….and of course, a BONFIRE! Jeff receives rave reviews when he uses PS seasonings www.psseasoning.com and ElJefe Smoke declares: “The Best Rub on the Planet: Smokin’ Hoggz BBQ,” www.smokinhoggz.com The ribs look DIVINE, DELECTABLE, AND DELICIOUS whilst covered in Smokin’ Hoggz Rub!

The Grand American BBQ World Championship Invitational in New Paltz, New York

Saturday at 4:45 AM was another rainy start to the competition on May 2^nd held at The Ulster County Fairground. ElJefe Smoke posted: “This weekend we competed in a double contest as well as two 1-meat contests…10 meat entries in three days! The “Grand Am” was a 3 day BBQ festival that also included a World Championship and New York State Championship, sanctioned by The Kansas City Barbeque Society.”

–Day 1 Results: 16^th overall

• Chicken: 16^th
• Ribs: 15^th
• Pork: 41^st
• Brisket: 9^th
• –1-meat Showdown:
• 1-meat Chicken: 11^th
• 1-meat Ribs: 4^th

–Day 2 Results: 31^st

• Chicken: 39^th
• Ribs: 38^th
• Pork: 6^th
• Brisket: 48^th

*Soundtrack for ElJefe’s Post: “The Bug,” by Dire Straits
“Sometimes you’re the windshield…
Sometimes you’re the bug…
Sometimes it all comes together…
Sometimes you’re fallin’ love…
Sometimes you’re a Louisville Slugger…
Sometimes you’re the ball…
Sometimes it all comes together…Sometimes you’re goin’ a lose it all…”

May 8^th; May 17^th; Weekend of May 22^nd  thru May 24^th : Where was ElJefe Smoke?

Afterword, Jeff was a guest on The Wise Guys BBQ Podcast on the May 8^th Episode: www.wiseguysbbq.com Then, ElJefe Smoke was at The Wrentham Legion Post 225 at 4:30 AM playing “That Smell,” by Lynyrd Skynyrd wishing fellow competitors The Best of Luck! On Friday Night, May 22^nd Jeff got a roaring fire pit going quickly with #StumpChunks as he relaxed for a moment with an Oblivion New England IPA! May 23^rd saw Jeff right back in action smoking wings on his Humphrey’s BBQ Smoker whilst imbibing upon a Mass Riot! Jeff smoked Chicken and Waffle Wings along with Buffalo Wings. May 24^th’s menu was quite a bit of fried chicken and mashed potatoes!…as well as a salad! “Limp Brisket Bar-B-Que” commented; “Looks Finger Lickin’ Good, Colonel Jefe Hehe!” and Charles Baldwin from Wise Guys BBQ commented “WOW!” Then, the respite was over and ElJefe Smoke was back on the grind!

The New Hampshire State Championship

Spacious Skies Seven Maples Campground in Portsmouth, New Hampshire was the June 7^th and June 8^th setting for The NH State Championship sanctioned by Champions Barbecue Alliance www.cbabbq.com Jeff and Dan placed 6^th overall in their first Champions Barbecue Alliance contest with a 777+ score. “We got calls in Chicken, Ribs and Brisket. Thanks to Sabrina Swanson (as mentioned previously, a BBQ Phenom in her own right!) for joining the team this weekend and cooking with us!” ElJefe reports that “Texas showed up huge and swept us this weekend!” but of course, the contest was great fun and in a super location, and it also featured a “Women of the Pit Contest,” which was won by Heidi Benevides Pereira!

Bristol BBQ Bash and The Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle

June 13^th and 14^th found Team ElJefe Smoke at Lake Compounce Campground in Bristol, CT for the Bristol BBQ Bash. The BBQ competition was sanctioned by The Kansas City Barbeque Society. ElJefe Smoke posted: “We placed 4^th overall. We placed 1^st in Chicken with a perfect score—180!…8^th in Ribs, 13^th in Pork, and 9^th in Brisket. Saturday, we entered the Chicken and Ribs Showdown and finished 4^th in Ribs and 13^th in Chicken.”

*Soundtrack for The Bristol BBQ Bash Post was, “Funky Duck,” by “Vulfpeck”

On June 29^th Dan and Jeff could be found in Washington D.C.! ElJefe Smoke recapped their event: “This weekend we competed in The Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle in Washington, D.C. organized by Andrew Shaffer and team which was sanctioned by The Kansas City Barbeque Society. We placed 5^th overall with 4^th in Chicken, 16^th in Ribs, 1^st in Pork with PERFECT SCORE—180…and 17^th in Brisket. We were US Soy Combine Grand Champions (highest combined score in Chicken, Ribs, and Pork.) We finished 4^th overall in the National Pork Board BBQ Championship (combined Ribs & Pork.) On Saturday we competed in some ancillaries with our best finish being in Open Steak with a Perfect Score—180—for 2^nd place. Congratulations to all that got calls! Huge Congratulations to our friends who hit the mother-load; Jack, Royal, and BWC—Grand Champion “Titans of BBQ,” and Reserve Grand Champion “SweetBelly’s BBQ!” We made a brand-new friend and now have another reason to go back to Texas. Good times with our neighbors Aaron & Mama of “Texas Oil Dust LLC.” We also squeezed in a quick trip over to see “The Reverend Payton’s Big Damn Band,” while Kate was collecting our ancillary trophy—LOL!”

*Soundtrack for The Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle Post was; “Clap Your Hands,” by “The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band!”

*ElJefe Smoke was located at Four Town Fair on July 19^th in Somers, CT…as usual, up and running at 4:45 AM and wishing good luck to all competitors!

TAAAAA-DAAAAA!!! THE SMOKE ON THE RAIL BBQ CONTEST H2

Recapping The Smoke on the Rail BBQ Contest, held in New Freedom, Pa on July 25^th and July 26^th: “This weekend we competed in The Smoke on the Rail BBQ contest which was organized by Andrew Shaffer and sanctioned by The Kansas City Barbeque Society. Day 1 Results; 5^th overall, Chicken: 4^th, Ribs: 28^th, Pork: 6^th, Brisket: 19^th.

—DAY 2 Results: 2^nd overall; Reserve Grand Champion

• Chicken: 2^nd
• Ribs: 3^rd
• Pork: 14^th
• Brisket: 3^rd

Combined Day 1 &Day 2= RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION

“Reserve Grand Champion Today with a 706.2628 score…Combining our Day 1 score/points and our Day 2 score/points got us to Reserve Grand Champion for the weekend which has earned us a qualifying spot in the BBQ WORLD CUP & EXPO and a chance to win $1 Million in the Spring of 2027 in Las Vegas, Nevada!”

“Day 2 RGC, overall RGC, and punched our ticket to the BWC!”

*Soundtrack for ElJefe Smoke’s RGC and BWC Qualifier Post is: “O, Pennsyltucky!” by “Mischief Brew.”

“We’re Heading to THE JACK!”

Last week, ElJefe Smoke announced:

 “Officially selected for the 2026 Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational BBQ Contest.

New Hampshire Home State.”

The Soundtrack for this auspicious update post is: “Back in the Game,” by “Airbourne.”

As always, ElJefe Smoke sent out huge Congratulations to all other New England Teams who were invited to The Jack. Fortuitously, Jeff had texted me the following message when I asked for any quotes that I may use for this article regarding me Telling/Reminding the ENTIRE BBQ WORLD—how utterly BELOVED Team ElJefe Smoke is, and Jeff responded: “We’ll see if we hit the trifecta this week. They are having The Bung Draw for The Jack. So far, we are in The American Royal Invitational & Open, and The BBQ World Cup. Need our bung pulled to make it back to The Jack.”

AND HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT? A MERE WEEK LATER, AND TEAM ELJEFE SMOKE HAS INDEED HIT THE TRIFECTA! IT COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TO A BETTER TEAM. Jeff Kulacz and Dan Swanson are brilliant and diligent competitors. They are unwavering in their devotion and dedication to their BBQ craft. They are tireless in their pursuit of BBQ excellence. But MORE importantly; Jeff and Dan are: Kind, Thoughtful, Conscientious, and Generous people. They are Gracious with their time and are Hospitable in imparting their BBQ Knowledge to anyone who seeks their counsel. Obviously, it bears repeating that Jeff and Dan are also WICKED SMART…and Humorous. Affable and Amiable. Need it be restated that I am “A FANGIRL” of ElJefe Smoke? I shall gladly reiterate: ElJefe Smoke is: All That and A Bag of Chips, The Real McCoy, The Bee’s Knees, The Cream of the Crop, The Cat’s Pajamas, The Crème de la Crème, and every other expression of sheer excellence. Kudos, Congrats, and Hats Off to You, My Friends, Team ElJefe Smoke…everyone at www.ribbqnews.com  and www.wiseguysbbq.com are ROOTING for you and CHEERING YOU ON!

Whoot, Whoot and Applause, Applause!

*Post Script:

**You may visit ElJefe Smoke’s Social Media Pages on Facebook and Instagram to travel along with The Fan Favorite Team during their upcoming electrifying and gripping adventures!

 ***Additionally, you may read ElJefe Smoke’s synopsis of the August 8^th, 2026, “Trillium BBQ Throwdown,” hosted by Trillium Brewing Company, in Canton, MA.

**** Q: “What does GETTING YOUR BUNG PULLED MEAN?”

Answer: In the niche BBQ Community, in figurative slang such as that of competitive BBQ circuits, “getting your bung pulled” means being selected or drawn in a lottery-style selection process—specifically the random drawing of barrel bungs to determine championship competitors.

The literal meaning of a “bung” is “a stopper,” i.e., a tight cork, rubber, or wooden plug used to seal a barrel holding liquids such as whiskey, beer, or wine.

Kristen Porcaro

From childhood, Kristen Murray Porcaro has always been a Wordsmith. Currently, she is “A Meat Adjacent” ardent contributing writer for The RI BBQ News Platforms. With her Fantastic Fiancé who is an IT Architect by day and an after-hours Chef “For Fun,” as well as with her Phenomenal Bestie who is a flight attendant, she relishes in and avails herself of a superfluity of “FOODIE ADVENTURES,” and exhilarating travel. Additionally, Kristen is immensely fascinated by the Art of Mixology and avidly participates in as many “Cocktail and Mixology” Seminars, Tastings, Lectures, and Classes as possible.

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