The Professional Bull Riders' (PBR) Atlanta Classic, stop number eight on the Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler (BFTS), concluded tonight in front of an enthusiastic Georgia Dome crowd. Jake McIntyre had qualified to compete in two BFTS events prior to visiting the Georgia Dome. McIntyre chalked up a top ten finish in Oklahoma City last weekend, which was his debut appearance on the tour. It took McIntyre three rank bulls and 16 seconds of gut wrenching work to go from virtual anonymity to a "somebody" in the world of professional bull riding. Undaunted by the challenge of facing the toughest bulls in the world, McIntyre capitalized on the opportunity to compete among the elite 45 bull riding athletes in the world, clinching the Atlanta Classic event title and pocketing $29,192 in the process. The Atlanta Classic will air on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) on Tuesday, February 8 at 8:00 p.m. (EST). The 31-city PBR tour drew the curtain in Atlanta on an action-packed weekend, having sold out the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla. before bucking into the Georgia Dome on Saturday.

McIntyre, who turned 24 years old this past New Years Eve, had accumulated $12,845 in PBR career dollars prior to dominating the Atlanta Classic, a feat which enabled him to more than double his previous earnings statistic, raising his season total to $39,075. McIntyre had previously finished among the top ten at three U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour events on his way to earning a coveted position among the top 45. Not intimated by the pressure of performing in one of the largest domes in the country, a determined McIntyre stated during a post event interview, "It's the same game and I focused on that, approaching it like the other PBR events that I've gone to, and it paid off." Of his 92 point trip aboard Mossy Oak Mudslinger during final round action McIntyre said, "I loved him, he fit me really well and felt good."

Paulo Crimber (Olimpia, Sao Paulo, Brazil) entered the Built Ford Tough Championship Round in the commanding number one position after winning the preliminary go round with a stellar 91.5 points aboard the bull Crown of Thorns, owned in partnership by Rinaldo, Hill, and Meek of Colorado. Brazilian talent Guilherme Marchi, the third man to compete in the finals, went to the top of the leader board in the aggregate following an outstanding 90 point score, however six rides later his lead toppled when McIntyre faced Mossy Oak Mudslinger. As the final bull rider to compete in the championship round, Crimber needed 88.5 points to overtake McIntyre. Crimber was unable to conquer D&H Cattle Company's Night Moves, and consequently McIntyre was in a position to celebrate. McIntyre's 179.5 point total on two bulls delivered the win by a comfortable three and one half point margin over Marchi.

Despite his absence from among the roster of championship round qualifiers, Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.) retains his lead in the BFTS point standings with 3,042.5 BFTS points. Fellow Oklahoman Jody Newberry of Ada is lurks a close second with 2,427.5 points. McBride has chalked up an impressive five top five BFTS finishes to date in 2005 and has season earnings totaling $82,313 and PBR career earnings of $1,387,930.

Notorious three-time PBR World Champion Bucking Bull Little Yellow Jacket, owned by Berger Bucking Bulls and Teague Bucking Bulls, captured top bull honors of the event. Finishing in the runner-up position for top bull honors behind Little Yellow Jacket was D&H Cattle Company's Night Moves.

For more information please contact the Professional Bull Riders at 719.471.3008 or visit www.pbrnow.com.

BEHIND THE CHUTES:

Enterprise Ride with the Best Bonus: As the Southern Ford Dealers Invitational event champion in Tampa, Fla. on February 4, Chris Shivers (Jonesville, La.) was eligible to compete for the Enterprise Ride with the Best bonus money in Atlanta. Shivers was unsuccessful in his attempt to cover his first go round draw and consequently did not earn the $5,000 bonus reward.

Ford Truck Moment of Truth Bonus: Paulo Crimber (Olimpia, Sao Paulo, Brazil) led the event going into the Built Ford Tough Championship Round; however he did not successfully win the over-all event title. Consequently, the Ford Truck Moment of Truth bonus grows to $35,000. When the Built Ford Tough Moment of Truth Bonus is claimed the purse returns to $5,000.

Bud Light Short Go Top Qualifiers Bonus: Paulo Crimber (Olimpia, Sao Paulo, Brazil) was awarded the Bud Light Short Go Top Qualifier award of $2,500 since he advanced to the Built Ford Tough Championship Round in the top spot and participates in the program by wearing the Bud Light patch.

INJURY REPORT: No injuries were reported.

The Atlanta Classic Built Ford Tough Series Event Results:

FIRST ROUND: 1) Paulo Crimber (Olimpia, Sao Paulo, Brazil) 91.5 points on Ty Rinaldo/Jesse Hill/Dave Meeks' Crown of Thorns, $2,730; 2/3) Cody Whitney (Asher, Okla.) 88.5 points on Teague Bucking Bulls' Bo Howdy, $1,560; 2/3) Cory McFadden (Coleman, Texas) 88.5 points on Wally Barnette's Splender, $1,560; 4/5) Rogerio Ferreira (Keller, Texas) 88 points on Teague Bucking Bulls' Tarheel, $624; 4/5) Gilbert Carrillo (Stephenville, Texas) 88 points on 3 Triangle Bucking Bulls' Double Ought;

BUILT FORD TOUGH CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND: 1) Jake McIntyre (Zolfo Springs, Fla.) 92 points on Page and Teague Bucking Bulls' Mossy Oak Mudslinger, $2,730; 2) Guilherme Marchi (Leme, Sao Paulo, Brazil) 90 points on Bruce and Butcher Bucking Bulls' Grey Cat, $1,950; 3) Rogerio Ferreira (Keller, Texas) 86 points on Gene Owen Bucking Bulls' Doc Holiday, $1,170;

OVERALL EVENT STANDINGS: 1) Jake McIntyre (Zolfo Springs, Fla.) 179.5 points, $29,192; 2) Guilherme Marchi (Leme, Sao Paulo, Brazil) 176 points, $15,600; 3) Rogerio Ferreira (Keller, Texas) 174 points, $10,944; 4) Paulo Crimber (Olimpia, Sao Paulo, Brazil) 91.5 points, $10,630;

BUILT FORD TOUGH SERIES POINT STANDINGS: 1) Justin McBride (Elk City, Ga.) 3,042.5 points; 2) Jody Newberry (Ada, Ga.) 2,427.5 points; 3) Tony Mendes (Jensen, Utah) 2,160.5 points; 4) Guilherme Marchi (Leme, Sao Paulo, Brazil) 2,147.5 points; 5) Rogerio Ferreira (Keller, Texas) 2,043 points; 6) Cody Whitney (Asher, Okla.) 1,877 points; 7) Chris Shivers (Jonesville, La.) 1,661.5 points; 8) Cory McFadden (Coleman, Texas) 1,449.5 points; 9) Ross Johnson (Alvord, Texas) 1,444 points; 10) Wiley Petersen (Fort Hall, Ida.) 1,267 points.