16 UCW JUNE 7-13, 2017
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
The world of competitive barbecue
is a fierce one. It takes skill, patience
nerves of steel — and an awesome
recipe. It's where Mac's Speed Shop
Head Chef Kevin Kuruc thrives.
Fresh off a win at the Beer, Bourbon
and BBQ Festival in Charlotte, Kuruc
headed to the renowned Memphis
in May barbecue championship. The
Memphis in May World Champion-
ship Barbecue Cooking contest is not
for the faint of heart. Kuruc came out
on top, though, placing second in the
Whole Hog category.
"Whole hog and shoulder are hotly
contested because those are the cat-
egories where a team typically takes
home the Grand Prize. That's why
we are so thrilled with our 2nd Place
in Whole Hog," says Kuruc. "Many
competitors focus totally on compet-
ing. The fact that we compete, place and have
multiple restaurants in multiple
markets makes our Whole Hog victory
particularly sweet."
With 236 teams participating, the competition
was fierce. Kuruc went head to head with some
familiar competitors. The Big Bob Gibson's team
made Memphis in May barbecue history when it
took home its fifth grand champion trophy.
Melissa Cookston's Yazoo's Delta Q took home
its fifth first place in Whole Hog, and 10 Bones
BBQ repeated its first place win from last year in
Ribs. Big Bob's win in Shoulder was its remarka-
ble 10th category victory.
With a recipe this good, it's no wonder Mac's
is thriving. There are currently locations in
Charlotte's Steele Creek area, Lake Norman,
Matthews, and in Greensboro, Greenville, S.C.,
and right here in Fayetteville. Serving up ice-
cold brews alongside mouthwatering
menu items like barbecue (of course),
gourmet burgers, homestyle sides, fill-
ing salads and hearty appetizers, Mac's
is known for its friendly atmosphere
and great-tasting fare.
What started in an old transmission
shop in the South End neighborhood of
Charlotte is now serving up award-win-
ning goodness across the state.
Locally, Mac's is a boon to the com-
munity in more ways than one. This
local watering hole sponsors events
like Hogs & Rags, which not only puts
on a great ride but also donates thou-
sands of dollars each year to worthy
organizations in the community. The
military-friendly venue routinely hosts
events for local units. As a live music
venue, Mac's consistently books local
talent. The Fayetteville restaurant has
also undergone renovations and warmly wel-
comes anyone who is looking for a good meal in
a friendly atmosphere.
Find out more about Mac's at
MacSpeedShop.com.
Mac's Speed Shop Takes Second at World Barbecue Contest
by STEPHANIE CRIDER
PROFILE
Mac's Speed Shop took second place in the Whole Hog category at the Memphis in
May World Barbecue Cooking Contest on May 13.
STEPHANIE CRIDER, Associate
Publisher. COMMENTS? Editor@upand-
comingweekly.com. 910.484.6200
