Mike Lee (Paradise, Texas) battled valiantly through the Professional Bull Riders' (PBR) Built Ford Tough World Finals to capture both the Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) World Finals event title and the Built Ford Tough Million Dollar Bonus awarded the season champion. Lee not only made history by earning the two titles simultaneously with 12,138.24 BFTS points, but also eclipsed the previous PBR regular season earnings record with 2004 winnings totaling $1,435,826.

Lee outdistanced Adriano Moraes (Cachoeira Paulista, Sao Paulo, Brazil) in what was undeniably the most riveting title race in the history of the PBR. Moraes maintained a strangle hold on the BFTS point standings until today's exciting finale, slipping to second place with 10,018 points and $317,910 in season earnings. Said Moraes, "The race was decided because Mike Lee rode his bulls this week. He's the champion and I tip my hat to him. We're all friends here, I still love him and he still loves me."

With characteristic humility, Lee explained his championship strategy, "I have no idea what I've done yet; I just tried to do my job this week. I feel great and I'm no better than anyone else. I stayed calm and blocked the rest of the world out, there were people trying to get me to look at the points (standings) and I wouldn't do it. " Lee was quick to thank his wife Jamie, his close-knit family, as well as his sponsors, most notably the U.S. Army.

Lee's dream season is particularly impressive considering that he suffered a potentially life threatening head injury during May of the 2003 season. "Last year when I came off that injury I came back riding real strong. If it wasn't for the helmet I was wearing at the time I would have died on impact," said Lee. Despite having suffered a sprained left shoulder in September, Lee spent the entire PBR regular season alternating between second and third place position with Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.).

In what turned out to be an electrifying photo finish, Lee dominated his bulls round by thrilling round to earn 621.75 points and secure the World Finals event title which was worth 2,500 crucial series points. Lee was awarded the option of a reride during round seven action, which he accepted. Lee qualified for the Built Ford Tough Championship Round in the top spot as a result of posting an 88.75 score aboard the reride. As PBR President Ty Murray stated in a post-event press conference, "Mike Lee put forth a superb effort throughout this event. I could see that Mike felt that he could cover any bull here which is so inspiring because that's what this sport is all about."

During final round action Lee posted a 93.75 point score aboard Page and Teague Bucking Bulls' Mossy Oak Mudslinger to tie for the go round win, his third of the event, with Michael Gaffney. Gaffney conquered Berger, Teague, and Taupin's three time PBR World Champion, Bull Little Yellow Jacket, on his way to finishing third in the event average behind PBR Rookie of the Year Zack Brown (Chino Hills, Calif.). Brown topped Teague Bucking Bulls' Night Life for 93.25 points and third place in the final round on his way to season earnings totaling $324,321.

The top bull honors of the Built Ford Tough World Finals, as determined by the event judges, were awarded to: 1) Page and Teague's Bucking Bulls' Crossfire Hurricane, $12,500; 2) Ronnie Roach Bucking Bulls' Rooster, $7,500; 3/4) Berger, Teague and Taupin's Little Yellow Jacket, $2,500; 3/4) Teague Bucking Bulls' Night Life, $2,500.

Other Awards Presented During the World Finals:
$10,000 U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company 90-Point Ride Bonus - Justin McBride (9).
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour Venue of the Year -- Bismarck, N.D.
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour Venue of the Year Runners Up - Cheyenne Frontier Days, Springdale, Ark., and Decatur, Texas.
Jimmy Anderson Award - Joe Baumgartner, Rob Smets, Greg Crabtree, and Dennis Johnson.
Jimmy Anderson Award, Barrelman - Flint Rasmussen.
2003 World Finals Announcer Award - Randy Schmutz, Bob Feist, and Brandon Bates.
2003 Mossy Oak Shootout Winner - Ednei Caminhas.
The Brent Thurman/Lane Frost High Marked Ride Award - Mike Lee and Michael Gaffney, 93.75 points.

2004 BUILT FORD TOUGH WORLD FINALS CONTRACT PERSONEL:
In-Arena Announcers: Brandon Bates, Randy Schmutz, and Bob Feist
Bullfighters: Greg Crabtree, Rob Smets, Dennis Johnson, Joe Baumgartner, Frank Newsom (Alternate)
Mounted Arena Help: James DeBord and Julio Moreno
Judges: Cody Custer, Jim Bob Custer, Lane Foltyn, and Donald Owens
Chute Bosses: David Fournier and Jeff Shearer

BUILT FORD TOUGH WORLD FINALS RESULTS

SEVENTH ROUND: 1) Zack Brown (Chino Hills, CA) 90 on Sonny Williams' Shock and Awe; 2) Adam Carrillo (Stephenville, TX) 88.75 on Salt River Rodeo Bulls' Midnight Confessions; Jody Newberry (Ada, OK) 88.75 on Salt River Rodeo Bulls' Honkey Cat; Mike Lee (Paradise, TX) 88.75 on Salt River Rodeo Bulls' Geronimo; 5) Lee Akin (Weatherford, OK) 88.50 on Berger/Ryken's Toy Tiger; 6) Paulo Crimber (Olimpia, Sao Paulo, Brazil) 88 on Sharp/Zaunbrecher's Hammer; Tony Mendes (Jensen, UT) 88 on Don Kish Bucking Bulls' Cash; 8) Sean Willingham (Summerville, GA) 87.50 on Robinson/Reed's Barbosa; Cody Whitney (Asher, OK) 87.5 on Gene Owen Bucking Bulls' Doc Holiday; Mike Collins (Adair, OK) 87.5 on Corey & Horst Rodeo Co. Inc's Scare De Cat.

EVENT STANDINGS THROUGH SEVENTH ROUND: 1) Mike Lee (Paradise, TX) 528; 2) Paulo Crimber (Olimpia, SP, BZ) 518.25; 3) Mike White (De Kalb, TX) 501.75; 4) Cody Whitney (Asher, OK) 442.5; 5) Zack Brown (Chino Hills, CA) 441.75; 6) Michael Gaffney (Albuquerque, NM) 429.75; 7) Sean Willingham (Summerville, GA) 425.75; 8) Justin McBride (Elk City, OK) 422; 9) Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, BZ) 417.25; 10) Jody Newberry (Ada, OK) 353.75; 11) Tony Mendes (Jensen, UT) 353.50; 12) Adriano Moraes (Cachoeira Paulista, SP, BZ) 352; 13) Greg Potter (Queensland, AU) 351.75; 14) Ross Coleman (Redmond, OR) 350; 15) Dan Henricks (Logan, OK) 343.

THE BUILT FORD TOUGH SERIES ROUND: 1) Mike Lee (Paradise, TX) 93.75 on Page/Teague Bucking Bulls' Mossy Oak Mudslinger and Michael Gaffney (Albuquerque, NM) 93.75 on Berger/Taupin/Teague Bucking Bulls LLC's Little Yellow Jacket; 3) Zack Brown (Chino Hills, CA) 93.25 on Davis/Coleman/Teague Bucking Bulls LLC's Night Life; 4) Greg Potter (Queensland, AU) 89.75 on Herrington Cattle Co.'s Sling Blade.

WORLD FINALS RESULTS (TOP 15): 1) Mike Lee (Paradise, TX) 621.75; 2) Zach Brown (Chino Hills, CA) 535, ; 3) Michael Gaffney (Albuquerque, NM) 523.50; 4) Paulo Crimber (Olimpia, SP, BZ) 518.25; 5) Mike White (De Kalb, TX) 501.75 ; 6) Cody Whitney (Asher, OK) 442.5; 7) Greg Potter (Queensland, AU) 441.50; 8) Sean Willingham (Summerville, GA) 425.75; 9) Justin McBride (Elk City, OK) 422; 10) Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, BZ) 417.25; 11) Jody Newberry (Ada, OK) 353.75; 12) Tony Mendes (Jensen, UT) 353.50; 13) Adriano Moraes (Cachoeira Paulista, SP, BZ) 352; 14) Ross Coleman (Redmond, OR) 350; 15) Dan Henricks (Logan, OK) 343.

BUILT FORD TOUGH SERIES POINT STANDINGS: 1) Mike Lee (Paradise, TX) 12,138.25, $1,435,826; 2) Adriano Moraes (Cachoeira Paulista, SP, Brazil) 10,018, $317,910; 3) Mike White (DeKalb, TX) 8905.25, $286,934; 4) Justin McBride (Elk City, OK) 8,669.50, $274,285; 5) Greg Potter (Queensland, AU) 7,586.75, $207,116; 6) Zack Brown (Chino Hills, CA) 6,601, $324,321; 7) Ross Coleman (Redmond, OR) 6,358, $145,863; 8) Brendon Clark (Morpeth, NSW Australia) 6,241.75, $163,265; 9) Jody Newberry (Ada, OK) 6,079.25, $132,657; 10) Michael Gaffney (Albuquerque, NM) 5,942, $145,440.