Rib Cook-off

Carson City Barbecue Co. won the people's choice award for best ribs at the 15th Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off.

Phil Hyatt and Duane Felker of Carson City Barbecue Co. took the stage with a cheer from the audience as they accepted their trophies.

The award is sponsored by the Spark's Chamber of Commerce and gives rib enthusiasts the opportunity for vote for their favorite. The restaurant won fourth place at the cook-off in 1998. The cook-off is sponsored by John Ascuaga's Nugget.

For the first time in its history, a rib cooker earned back-to-back victories at the cook-off. Jim Clayton of Texas Outlaws Barbecue won first in 2000, 2002 and now 2003.

Kinder's Custom Meats, Inc. captured not only second place in the cook-off but also best sauce. Owner and operator Dan Kinder collected $500 prize money for best sauce and then $3,000 for his second place win

Third place and $2,000 went to Bill and Kim Wall of Bone Daddy's who took first place in 1999.

Fourth place went to a rib cook-off staple, Arizona Barbecue Co., last year's fourth-place winner.

Rounding out the top five was Sweet Meat Cooking Team from Euless, Texas.

More than 46,000 pounds of ribs were eaten over the five-day festival