The only thing that could stand in McBride’s way is his past history in Grand Rapids. Although he won the event title in 2001, injuries have plagued him in the city ever since. In 2003, he left the Great Lake State with broken ribs and a punctured lung. The following year, the Grand Rapids stop left McBride with a broken ankle and in 2007 a bull bucked him off and left him with an injured neck. The 2008 Grand Rapids stop will hopefully play out better for the reigning World Champ. Not only will McBride have two, possibly three rounds of competition, to try and earn the $1,200, he will also have the Grudge Match to compete in where the prize money up for grabs is $15,000.

Though he sat out for seven months recovering from shoulder surgery, McBride returned to competition in June like a man on a mission. So far in four events, he has won two event titles---the first coming in Tulsa, Okla., at the Express Classic presented by Creek Nation Casino and the second at the last BFTS stop, the Jack Daniel’s Invitational in Nashville, Tenn. In 2008, he has earned $95,472, recorded three 90+ point rides, and ridden 8 of his last 11 bulls including Voodoo Child (Beutler & Son Rodeo Company), a bull with a 100% buck-off rate until McBride met up with him.

Make sure to tune-in to VERSUS on Saturday, September 13 at 8 p.m. EST and FOX on Sunday, September 14 (local times will vary) for the U.S. Border Patrol Invitational presented by Cooper Tires and see if McBride can become the richest cowboy in history!!

For more information on the U.S. Border Patrol Invitational presented by Cooper Tires, Justin McBride, or the PBR, please visit www.pbrnow.com or contact Katharine Sherrer at 719 242 2800 ext. 3372.

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About the PBR:
More than 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on FOX, NBC, ESPN, VERSUS, and on a host of foreign networks across the globe. With approximately 400 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 it multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the Copenhagen Bull Riding 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., with additional offices in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. The PBR prides itself in its 1,000 plus stock contractor relationships and over 1,200 PBR bull riders competing in more than 300 PBR sanctioned competitions in five countries.