BBQ in East Texas?

The ACF National Conference is in Dallas this year and some of us are driving down to attend. What I'm looking for are any recommendations of awesome BBQ joints along the I-30 corridor past Little Rock, AR
I'm willing to go 10-15 miles off the interstate for must have Texas style Q.

My only real Texas experience is driving through the Panhandle on I-40, stopping in Amarillo about 15 years ago.

I'm considering, once we get established in Dallas, driving the 2 and a 1/2 hours to Lockhart to try Smitty's, Kreutz and Black's. I likes me some smoked sausage and brisket!

Actually, anything good along the way of the 15 hr. journey would be helpful.

Dano,

Don't have first hand knowledge of any of the locals along your route of flight...but there is a small BBQ chain down that way called "The Rib Crib" that serves up some consistently good "Q". It's not quite "rock star" stuff but for road food it's pretty dern good. There are two in the Little Rock area, right off I-30. Also, for a change of pace try any of the "Wingstop" locations. Pretty righteous wings.