OAKLAND, Calif. – Competition barbecue team QUAU is the first-ever Kingsford Points Chase Grand Champion, announced the producers of Kingsford charcoal. The winning team was awarded $25,000 and the honor of being one of the top teams on the competitive barbecue circuit at the 31st annual American Royal Barbecue Competition on Oct. 2.

Kingsford awarded points to barbecue teams from April 16 to Oct. 2 based on how their pork, ribs, chicken and brisket fared at Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS)-sanctioned competitions across the country. KCBS is the world's largest organization of barbecue and grilling enthusiasts with more than 14,000 global members and 300 sanctioned contests, which is why the leading charcoal brand selected this non-profit organization as a partner.

The top team, which earned 653 points over the course of the competition, is from Brimfield, Ill., and includes team captain Michael Wozniak, along with his wife, Beth, and their three children. QUAU has been on the competitive barbecue circuit for 10 years.

The family selected their team name because they used to decorate their booth like a Hawaiian tiki hut for good luck. The team traveled to nearly all 17 Kingsford Points Chase competitions between April and October. Wozniak, whose favorite competition category is chicken, said in addition to participating in multiple contests, he attributes their success to the fact that they were not afraid to keep changing their cooking methods or recipes until they hit on something that worked.