In this smaller, cooler, calmer and very different Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, Saturday’s early announcements hinted at an upset: Five-time grand champion Big Bob Gibson’s team didn’t make the cut for the final three in the shoulder division; neither did Tuffy Stone’s Cool Smoke.

But in the end, four-time grand champion Myron Mixon’s Jack’s Old South won again, tying with Big Bob Gibson as the team with the most wins in festival history.

Teams of Barbecue: Big Bob Gibson’s

“The drive for five, baby! The drive for five,” an ebullient Mixon said after receiving his trophy, which he lifted over his head.

His team won first place in 2001, 2004, 2007, 2017 and this year, all in whole hog.

Teams of Barbecue: Hog Wild-Competition Team

“We came up with a new injection this year,” he said, adding that he also cooked on a new grill that he designed before mentioning a random bit of trivia:

“I’m the mayor of my town. Did you know that? Unadilla, Georgia.”

Mixon is a celebrity pit master who has written cookbooks and been on numerous television shows, including the TLC reality show “BBQ Pitmasters.” He left Saturday night, as did the first place winners of the ribs and shoulder division, with a check for $10,500. In addition, he received $24,000 as the grand champion.

“This is the largest purse ever in the history of the Memphis in May World Championship,” said Randy Blevins, vice president of marketing and programming.

Teams of Barbecue: Moe Cason Barbecue

In total, $142,350 was awarded, about $120,000 from Memphis in May and the remainder from Cattleman’s BBQ Sauce.

The festival, limited to a capacity of about 9,600 daily because of an agreement reached with the Shelby County Health Department in February, was blessed with perfect weather and sell-outs every day. It was atypical because of the mandatory low attendance, the reduced number of teams, and the timing of the closing of the Hernando DeSoto Bridge. On Wednesday, Thursday and most of Friday, river traffic was halted, adding to the easy relaxed atmosphere generally not seen at the rollicking event.

Teams of Barbecue: I Only Smoke When I Drink

Yazoo Delta Q, Melissa Cookston’s local team that has won whole hog five times and been the grand champion twice, came in third, and 2019 division winner Hometown BBQ was second.

And it’s possible a star was born. The Mexican BBQ Team, which first came to Memphis in 2015 and finished dead last in whole hog and has never finished above 16th place, came in second in shoulder.

Emcee Spencer Denton from WMC-TV Channel 5, took time to make a comment before he called them up for their award.

“I’ve heard some good things about this team, their hospitality and their barbecue, too,” he said.

Teams of Barbecue: Mexican BBQ Team

When he announced the name and the two allowed team members took the stage, the rest of the 30-person team started singing “Olé Olé.”

“You guys in Memphis make us feel at home,” said team cook Mario Villarreal. “Thank you.”

The top three winners in whole hog, shoulder and ribs are:

Whole hog

1. Jack’s Old South

2. Hometown BBQ

3. Delta Q

Shoulder

1) Blues Hog

2) Mexican BBQ Team

3) People’s Republic of Swina

Ribs

1. Bluff City Cookers featuring Central City BBQ

2. Smokin’ on the River

3. Sowsed by Noon

The full list of winners is available at memphisinmay.org.