BizBeat: Lutz's wins grand champion BBQ award

Lutz's Famous BBQ won top honors among 30 competitors at the first round of the Sam's Club National BBQ Tour in Tucson, Ariz.

Of the four cooking categories, Lutz's team placed first in chicken and brisket, while taking eighth in pork ribs and 10th in pork. The team took home $2,600 for the effort.

"It was a really good win, because the kids (daughter Lauren and son Tony) were with me," Lutz said. "This was the first time we've won a grand champion."

The win qualifies Lutz's team to compete in the second round of the competition in Las Vegas in two weeks, which he plans to do. If they finish in the top 10 there, they can compete at the final event in Bentonville, Ark., where $150,000 in prize money awaits.

Lutz started selling his smoked meats and side dishes out of a trailer beside Lowe's before opening his current restaurant in the Wildwood Crossing in Jefferson City and another location in Columbia. For both locations, a good amount of their business is in catering.

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