TheProfessional Bull Riders (PBR) rumble into Auburn Hills, Michigan for a two-day event atThe Palace of Auburn Hills, April 14 and 15. The PBR Built Ford ToughInvitational is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings. Theevent will air at 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday on OLN. (All TV times arelisted as Eastern Time.) Be sure to check your local listings for mre details.
The Built FordTough Invitational is the 20th stop on the PBR's 2006 season of the31-city elite Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler. The world's elite45 bull riders will test their skills in a head to head battle with the topbucking bulls in the business - all for a chance at the PBR's covetedmillion-dollar bonus that comes with the PBR World Champion title. Through 19events, the battle for the 2006 PBR World Champion title continues tointensify. The point standings are packed with past World Champions, two-timeWorld Champion Adriano Moraes (Sao Paulo, Brazil)and 2004 World Champion Mike Lee arebattling for the top spot on the leader board with only 131 points separatingthe two. 2005 PBR World Finals Champion GuilhermeMarchi currently is number three with JodyNewberry (Ada, Okla.)moving into fourth by recently finishing third in Billings, Mont. Two-time World Champion Chris Shivers (Jonesville,La.) is also a threat for the2006 title. Shivers became the first man to earn $3 million in career totalsearlier this year with an event win in Charleston,S.C. Other top contendersappearing in Auburn Hills are 18 year-old sensation Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, N.M.) and Oklahomacowboy and current #18 in points standings J.W.Hart (Overbrook). Hart is known as the PBR's "Iron Man" holding the recordfor the most consecutive events attended at 197. He's also the only man to have qualified for all 12 PBR World Finals.
The PBR BuiltFord Tough Invitational promises an up-close and personal look at the world'sgreatest bull riders, the world's rankest bulls, and tons of dirt,pyrotechnics, fireworks, and rock-n-roll excitement. Tickets start at just $20and upgrade to $30, $50, and $100 and are available at The Palace of Auburn Hills BoxOffice, all Ticketmasteroutlets, online at ticketmaster.com or by calling 248-645-6666 to charge by phone.
For moreinformation on the PBR Built Ford Tough Invitational or the PBR, please contactMegan Darnell at 719-471-3008 extension 3173 or mdarnell@pbrnow.com.
AboutPBR:
More than 104 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on NBC, OLN and on ahost of foreign networks across the globe. With over 500 hours of prime timeprogramming annually PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air, inaddition to attracting over one million live event attendees each year with itsmulti-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Seriespresented by Wrangler, the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour, theEnterprise Rent-A-Car Tour, and the Discovery Tour, designed specificallyfor entry level contestants. The PBR's governing board of directors iscomprised of renowned bull riders who have developed the event into a standalone sport which is experiencing unprecedented growth in global popularity.The PBR is headquartered in ColoradoSprings, Colo., andhas over 600 athletes competing in more than 100 PBR sanctioned competitions.