For years, Gary Prater has been trying to win the best BBQ competition at Smokin’ in McMinnville.The Prater’s BBQ team finally won Friday night, but with Prater not in attendance. He was was working at his new restaurant in Manchester, a fact family members were quick to point out.“He could never do it, but we brought it home,” said his niece Stephanie George.By winning the People’s Choice category, which was determined by popular vote of people sampling the BBQ, Prater’s won $1,000 for My Heart Beats for Shelby. It’s a charity to benefit Shelby Steakley, 21, who went into sudden cardiac arrest July 21 and spent 15 days at Vanderbilt Medical Center.“Three weeks ago I didn’t know if she’d be here with me,” said her mother Tisha Steakley.