The infield of Dover International Speedway is going to be packed pork shoulder to shoulder when cooks take to their grills, smokers and other contraptions for the Fifth Annual Diamond State BBQ Saturday, Aug. 21.
Approximately 80 teams are mixing up their best sauces and spices for this Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned competition, where cooks are in it for cash and prizes in beef brisket, pork ribs, chicken and pork shoulder categories.
Most of this year’s teams are repeat competitors, according to Fred Bohn, director of banquets and event coordinator, and more than usual are Delawareans. He classifies barbecuing as a competitive hobby, and one that’s flourishing.
“I think everybody who does barbecue at home, they take pride in it, they think their recipe’s the best,” Bohn said. “It’s really not that intimidating to join a contest so you get a lot of first time teams.”
Dover’s Craig Lyjak and his team the Burning Hot Unknowns are old pros at Dover Downs, having competed there for the past two years. Before they started competing, though, the team of Proctor & Gamble employees were satisfied with cooking up pork in their back yards. Lyjak said that started to change after tasting some mouthwatering ribs and pork shoulder at Diamond State BBQ four years ago. After meeting a group of first-time competitors at another event, Lyjak started thinking he could step up his game and compete, and shortly after that the team was in business.
They’ve taken awards in the majority of the competitions they’ve entered, usually with their pork shoulder, finishing seventh in pork at last year’s Dover contest. This year they want to be top 10 finishers in at least one category and score in the top half overall. Although they love the accolades the fun of it is the camaraderie amongst competitors.
“Although there’s a lot of money up for grabs, if you need anything the people next to you are more than willing to come on over and help you out,” he said.
That was the feeling that Brei Mazzola of Swinging Swiners got when she ducked into the competitors area for the first time. Someone offered Mazzola and her husband some succulent pork that changed their life, or at least their weekends. It made them think they should try competing, so they bought a smoker and thus began the mad scientist-esque work of tweaking and constantly re-thinking concoctions in their back yard.
“I’ve made so many hundreds of versions of brisket,” she said.
Mazzola said they’ve learned a lot since their first competition at Dover Downs two years ago. Like to invite a lot of friends, because after turning in the best meat to the judges you might have up to 40 pounds of food left over, and someone’s got to eat it.
Mazzola’s also picked up tips from the likes of famed barbecue man Tuffy Stone, star of TLC’s “BBQ Pittmasters.” That advice helped land the team’s pork a first place finish in Salisbury, Md.’s Pork in the Park last year.
She said wandering through the competitors’ area and talking to people is a surefire way to pick up tips and get a close-up look at the heart put into the food. The one thing barbecue people love to talk about is barbecue, she said.
Bohn suggests waiting until about 1:30 the day of the event to stop by the competitors stations because they’ll be scurrying around readying for the day before then. After they turn in their submissions, though, friendly groups might just treat visitors to leftovers.
Food lovers can get their fill at concession stands, too, or pick up tips from chef Shawn West during demonstrations.
Bohn said the entertainment aspect has evolved and flourished, and this year has more than ever.
So kids don’t get too bored with all the barbecue talk, Hell on Wheels will be doing BMX stunt demonstrations, and Reptile World’s Michael Schwedick, a staple at Concerts on The Green, will put on two free shows. The Kids’ Zone will feature remote control car races, a stock car simulator, games and more.
Delaware’s Strongest Man contest will make a repeat appearance after debuting at the event last year. Other returning favorites are the Big Boys Toys Show sponsored by the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce, and the Delmarva Chapter Studebaker’s Club muscle car show. Bands Blues Brotherhood, featuring music from the Blues Brothers, and Separate Ways, featuring Journey hits, will add to the festivities.
There also is a philanthropic twist to this year’s party. All aluminum soda cans sold at the event will be collected in recycling bins and donated to Recycling for Eden. Proceeds will go toward Eden Cheslock of Dover, who was recently diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a neuromuscular disease that affects children.
For more information, visit Eden’s page at www.webstarts.com/edencheslock.
Email Sarika Jagtiani at sarika.jagtiani@doverpost.com
