The first round of the Professional Bull Riders' (PBR) Built Ford Tough World Finals presented by Wrangler kicked off in electrifying style tonight from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The anticipation of who will be crowned the 2007 PBR World Champion will be answered at the end of round 8 on Sunday, November 4 from the Thomas & Mack Center. Of a threatening field of 10 Brazilian bull riders, six had scored rides during round one with Renato Nunes (Buritama, Sao Paulo, Brazil) leading the pack with a score of 91.75 points on D&H Land and Cattle Company and Junk Bull Co.'s Grey Dog.

"I didn't know anything about the bull tonight," said Nunes through translator, Paulo Crimber. "I knew the bull would go left so I set my rope a little further down so it would stay put. It worked and felt really good. I had no trouble at all."

Nunes has been very successful during the 2007 season with an event win in Tacoma, Wash. He's placed in the top 10 at eight events and in the top 5 at four events during the regular Built Ford Tough Series season. His winning ways continued tonight when he claimed the $20,000 first round victory.

"I was nervous last year at my first (PBR) World Finals," said Nunes. "I feel better this year. I came to win lots of money this year!"

In the race for the most elite crown in professional bull riding is not clinched by Justin McBride yet.  Both Brazilian superstar, Guilherme Marchi (Leme, Sao Paulo, Brazil) and young gun J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.) gained ground on current number one cowboy and 2005 PBR World Champion Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.). McBride bucked off of Diamond S/ExclusiveGenetics.com's Smash Hit.

Marchi was one of the six Brazilian stars who made the required eight second whistle. His ride aboard Kenny Jack/Jerry Hargis's El Presidente yielded him 86.5 points for his performance. Marchi lessened the gap between himself and McBride to 2,141.5 points. Mauney also was rewarded for his effort aboard Flying U/Moreno Bucking Bulls' Werewolf Snuff with 87 points. Mauney moved within 1,591 points toward his quest to become the youngest PBR World Champion. With 6,000 points remaining in the chase for the PBR World Championship, the title is still up for grabs.

The thrilling second round of the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals presented by Wrangler will air LIVE on VERSUS Saturday, October 27 at 9 p.m. ET.

Injury Report:

No injuries to report.

Behind the Chutes:

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ride with Best Bonus

As the winner of the Built Ford Tough Championship Round in Columbus, Ohio, J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.) was eligible for the Enterprise Rent-A-Car "Ride with the Best" bonus money during the first round of the Built Ford Tough World Finals presented by Wrangler. Mauney was successful in the first round aboard Flying U/Moreno Bucking Bulls' Werewolf Snuff thus claiming the $5,000 bonus. Renato Nunes (Buritama, Sao Paulo, Brazil) will be eligible for the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ride with the Best Bonus during Round 2 of the PBR World Finals.

About PBR:

More than 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on FOX, NBC, VERSUS and on a host of foreign networks across the globe. With approximately 500 hours of prime time programming annually PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air, in addition to attracting over one and one half million live event attendees each year with its multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tour, and the Discovery Tour, designed specifically for entry level contestants. The PBR is headquartered in Pueblo, Colo., and has over 1,200 PBR bull riders competing in more than 300 PBR sanctioned competitions in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico.

BUILT FORD TOUGH WORLD FINALS PRESENTED BY WRANGLER RESULTS:

FIRST ROUND: 1) Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, BZ) 91.25 on D&H Cattle Co./Junk Bull Co.'s Grey Dog, $20,000; 2) Kody Lostroh (Longmont, CO) 90.5 on Berger Bucking Bulls' Bad Medicine, $15,000; 3) Brian Canter (Randleman, NC) 89.25 on Diamond K Bucking Bull's Move It, $10,000; 4) Tater Porter (Kenansville, FL) 88.75 on D&H Cattle Co.'s Hustler, $7,500; 5) Austin Meier (Kinta, OK) 88.5 on Double R Bucking Bulls' Sharp Dressed Kid, $5,000; 6) Robson Palermo (Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil) 87.50 on Davis/Wilson/Mayo/Hooker's Dirty Dozen, $4,000; 7) Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, NM) 87.25 on Lane Foltyn & Davis/White's Navasota, $3,000; 8) J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, NC) 87.0 on Flying U/Moreno Bucking Bulls' Werewolf Snuff, $2,500; T9) Ednei Caminhas (P. Alves, Sao Paulo, BZ) 86.5 on Diamond S Bucking Bulls' Okeechobee Spots, $1,850; Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) 86.5 on Kenny Jack/Jerry Hargis' El Presidente, $1,850.

BUILT FORD TOUGH SERIES POINT STANDINGS: 1) Justin McBride (Elk City, OK) 11,505 & $687,175.65; 2) J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.) 9,914.25 & $448,981.75; ; 3) Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) 9,363.75 & $269,107.24; 4) Robson Palermo (Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil) 6,651 & $171,773.66; 5) Paulo Crimber (Olimpia, SP, BZ) 6,617.5 & $107,937.75; 6) Sean Willingham (Summerville, GA) 6,597.50 & $148,127 7) Wiley Petersen (Fort Hall, ID) 6,324 & $133,185.37; 8) Matt Bohon (Cole Camp, MO) 6,312.5 & $143,450.17; 9) Kasey Hayes (Liberal, KS) 5,470 & $264,018.31; 10) Brian Canter (Randleman, NC) 5,445 & $256,517.16.