Dan Johnson made some phone calls that helped get the Nebraska Pork Producers Capital City Ribfest off the ground 12 years ago and he’s been bringing his Johnson’s BBQ to Lincoln for 11 years.

But Johnson hadn’t won anything here until Thursday afternoon when he and his team picked up the Ground Zero Best of Show Award, earning them a banner, a trophy and a check for $1,000.

“I feel great,” Johnson said. “There’s nothing better than winning.”

Johnson’s BBQ of Chesapeake, Va., received 70 out of 80 total points from the four judges, Ground Zero writers Jeff Korbelik, Michael McHale and L. Kent Wolgamott and contest winner Leonard Goeden, who got some help from his wife, Connie.

“They were all good — some a little better,” Goeden said. “It was a tough contest. Let’s put it that way.”

Desperado’s BBQ & Rib Co. of Hinckley, Ohio, and Howlin’ Coyote Southwestern BBQ of Chicago tied for second with 68 points and split the $500 prize. Porky N’ Beans finished in fourth with 67 points.

Goeden, 80, a retired service technician for a natural gas company, got to eat ribs from each of the eight vendors by correctly filling out the  BBQ 101 quiz that was the entry form for the Ground Zero contest.

“I’m always entering something or another,” he said. “My wife won a $900 refrigerator once. We’re not so lucky in keno.”

The ribs were judged on taste, sauce, texture and appearance with a maximum of five points for each category. All the judges had to eat a minimum of eight ribs, about 2/3rds of a slab. Some ate as many as 17.

Goeden said he’d had enough meat after an hour’s worth of chowing down on the St. Louis-cut pork ribs.

“I leave a little reserve for a beer,” he said, patting his belly.

Ribfest continued through 11 p.m. Thursday and was to get back in business at 11 a.m. Friday. The festival runs through Sunday.

The festival had its best Thursday lunch turnout ever, according to Pershing Center manager Tom Lorenz. And Pershing officials and the vendors expect more big crowds. He said he wasn't sure about the turnout Thursday night.

“I don’t know what the numbers were, but it’s good,” Lorenz said. “This is like an old Friday. I’m real happy.”

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com. Reach L. Kent Wolgamott at 473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com.