The Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) set Alabama on fire as the top 40 bull riders in the world invaded Birmingham’s BJCC Arena on March 14-15. The world’s best riders took on the toughest bulls that the PBR had to offer for the Pike Electric Invitational, stop #14 on the PBR’s elite Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) tour. In the end, young Oklahoman Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.) took home the coveted event title after riding all three of his bulls for 265.5 points. He collected a check for $30,648 and added valuable points to his 2009 BFTS standings, moving him into the top ten in the world. 

“I just have a positive head on my shoulders right now,” McConnel said from the winner’s circle. “I’ve been feeling better this week because I got on some practice bulls before this weekend. I had an excellent bull in the short-go that I knew I could be over 90 on.”

McConnel rode the bull, Cajun Blast, owned by Circle T Ranch & Rodeo, for 86.25 points. He followed that up with a second place finish in round two after taking on the bull Scaredy Cat of Chad Berger/Denny Hawks for 88.75 points. He entered the Built Ford Tough Championship Round in second place with a total of 175 points and picked the bull, Say I Won’t Gunner, owned by Chad Berger/Clay Struve, in the PBR Bull Draft. McConnel tamed the top animal athlete for 90.5 points, locking up not only the Championship Round victory, but the coveted Pike Electric Invitational event title.

“I’ve been wanting to get one (a win) and I know that I can now,” the Oklahoma bull rider said. “I just wanted to get my first win down and it feels good.”

Young gun McKennon Wimberly (Cool, Texas) took second place after riding all three of his bulls for 262.75 points, adding a check for $14,981.50 to his bank account. PBR fan favorite Wiley Petersen (Fort Hall, Idaho) rode his tenth consecutive bull which helped him take third place in Birmingham. He finished with a total of 262.5 points and a check for $11,230. Taking fourth place was Colorado cowboy Josh Koschel (Greeley, Colo.) who finished the weekend with 261.75 points and collected $6,901.50. Rounding out fifth place was Team Enterprise rider Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) who covered two of his three bulls for 176.75 points and added $7,255.50 to his 2009 earnings.

In the first-ever bull vs. bull match-up, superstar bucking bull Big Tex (Chad Berger/Clay Struve) emerged victorious over 2008 PBR World Champion bull Bones (Teague Bucking Bulls, LLC), winning the $50,000 purse. Big Tex received a score of 46 points while Bones got a score of 45.5 points. Both top animal athletes bucked off their respective riders during the Built Ford Tough Championship Round---Zack Brown (Santa Fe, Texas) got on Big Tex and 2004 PBR World Champ Mike Lee (Decatur, Texas) chose to ride Bones.

Birmingham was stop no. 3 of 9 on the 2009 PBR Bull Team Competition. Fourteen teams have been formed, each competing for their share of a total tour purse of over $500,000 throughout the 2009 season. The team, Mandan Mafia, took first place and the $10,000 check after totaling 134.5 points, beating out second place team, Teague Bucking Bulls, LLC, who ended the event with 133.75 points and a second place check worth $5,000.

The race for PBR’s million dollar world title takes the top 40 bull riders in the world to the Great Northwest for stop #15 on the prestigious BFTS tour. PBR will buck into the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Wash., on March 21-22, showcasing the best bull riders and the toughest bulls in the country. The VERSUS network airs PBR events every Saturday and Sunday evening. Be sure to check www.pbrnow.com for upcoming cities, ticket information, and complete broadcast times.

INJURY REPORT:
No injuries to report.

BEHIND THE CHUTES:
Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s “Ride with the Best” Bonus:
Due to his round two win at the Kansas City Invitational, Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Okla.) was eligible to compete for the $5,000 Enterprise Rent-A-Car “Ride with the Best” bonus during round one of the Pike Electric Invitational. He took on the bull Cruel Dude, but was bucked off before the eight seconds; therefore, Diamond S Bucking Bulls was awarded the $5,000 bonus.

As the winner of round one, Pete Farley (Kempsey, Aus.) was eligible to compete for the $5,000 bonus during the second round of competition. Farley did not make the eight second whistle after taking on the bull, Frank the Tank; therefore, stock contractors, John & Lacey Berger/Clay Struve, took home the $5,000 bonus.

As the winner of round two at the Pike Electric Invitational, Brazilian superstar Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) will be eligible to compete for the $5,000 bonus during round one at the 15th BFTS stop in Tacoma, Wash.

Ford Truck Moment of Truth Bonus:
Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) was in the lead going into the Built Ford Tough Championship Round and did not win the Pike Electric Invitational; therefore, he did not collect the $5,000 bonus. The bonus will be $10,000 at the next event in Tacoma, Wash. It grows by $5,000 each week if it is not claimed. Once claimed, it returns to $5,000.

Ford F-150 Challenge:
As the Pike Electric Invitational event winner, Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.) has qualified for a chance to participate as a Ford F-150 Challenge contestant at the 2009 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals, against all other 2009 Built Ford Tough Series event winners who qualify for the Finals. The Ford F-150 Challenge contestant who finishes the highest in the event aggregate during the 2009 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals will win $50,000 towards the purchase of a brand-new 2009 F-150 truck.

Salem NationaLease Bull of the Event:
One of the top five bulls of 2008, All In, owned by Berger/Naccarato/Struve, earned Bull of the Event honors with a score of 46.5 points. This honor is acknowledged by an award of $1,250 going to the top bull of each event as determined by the PBR judges’ bull score.

High-Marked Ride of the Event:
Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.) and Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) recorded the high-marked rides of the Pike Electric Invitational in Birmingham. Ala. McConnel rode the bull Say I Won’t Gunner, owned by Chad Berger/Clay Struve, during the Built Ford Tough Championship Round while Nunes took on the bull, Walk the Line, owned by Chad Berger/Winston Loe, during round two. Both received scores of 90.5 points.

Daisy Rookie of the Year Standings:
The 2009 Daisy Rookie of the Year race is heating up and as of the Pike Electric Invitational, Skeeter Kingsolver (McLouth, Kan.) holds a slight lead over young Aussie Pete Farley (Kempsey, AUS). A rider is considered a rookie in the year he debuts on the elite Built Ford Tough Series tour. The Daisy Rookie is determined by the rider who has won the most money during the year at all PBR events including Challenger events, International events, BFTS events, and the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals.

Pike Electric Invitational RESULTS
ROUND ONE: 1/2/3) Chris Shivers (Jonesville, La.) 88.25 points on Flash Point (Teague Bucking Bulls, LLC), $1,950; 1/2/3) Mike Lee (Decatur, TX) 88.25 points on Outa Da Blue (Circle T Ranch & Rodeo), $1,950; 1/2/3) Pete Farley (Kempsey, AUS) 88.25 points on Cat Man Do (#10 Bucking Bulls), $1,950; 4) Shane Proctor (Grand Coulee, Wash.) 87.5 points on Ryan’s Express (K&K Bucking Bulls); 5) McKennon Wimberley (Cool, TX) 87.25 points on Carolina’s Cat (Walton & Wagoner Bucking Bulls).

ROUND TWO: 1) Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) 90.5 points on Walk the Line (Chad Berger/Winston Loe), $2,730; 2) Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.) 88.75 points on Scaredy Cat (Chad Berger/Denny Hawks), $1,950; 3) Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, N.M.) 88.5 points on Booger Butt (Robinson/Tedesco/Larry the Cable Guy/Broken N-N), $1,170; 4) Zack Brown (Santa Fe, Texas) 88.25 points on Fully Loaded (Chad Berger/Clay Struve); 5) Robson Palermo (Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil) 87.25 points on Gold Bell Wine (Chad Berger/Winston Loe).

BUILT FORD TOUGH CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND: 1) Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.) 90.5 points on Say I Won't Gunner (Chad Berger/Clay Struve), $2,730; 2) Wiley Petersen (Fort Hall, Idaho) 89.25 points on Big Iron (Diamond S Bucking Bulls), $1,950; 3/4) McKennon Wimberly (Cool, Texas) 89 points on Big Coyote (Jeff Robinson Bucking Bulls); 3/4 Josh Koschel (Greeley, Colo.) 89 points on Chance (Teague Bucking Bulls, LLC).

OVERALL EVENT STANDINGS: 1) Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.) 265.5 points, $30,648; 2) McKennon Wimberly (Cool, Texas) 262.75 points, $14,891.50; 3) Wiley Petersen (Fort Hall, Idaho) 262.5 points on $11,230; 4) Josh Koschel (Greeley, Colo.) 261.75 points, $6,901.50; 5) Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) 176.75, $7,255.50.

BUILT FORD TOUGH WORLD STANDINGS: (The PBR World Champion is based on total Built Ford Tough Series points earned through the season)

1) Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) 4,997 points, $163,646.01; 2) J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.) 4,587.5 points, $119,578.61; 3) Wiley Petersen (Fort Hall, Idaho) 4,551 points, $71,589.47; 4) Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) 4,026.75 points, $94,076.78; 5) Robson Palermo (Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil) 3,701.75 points, $57,964.79; 6) Austin Meier (Kinta, Okla.) 3,671.5 points, $52,239.93; 7) Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Okla.) 3,587.25 points, $104,042.14; 8) Zack Brown (Santa Fe, Texas) 3,483.75 points, $80,700.97; 9) Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.) 3,318.75 points, $51,231.29; 10) Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) 3,179.5 points, $59,956.67.

Don’t miss out on any of the action at the 2009 Built Ford Tough World Finals in Las Vegas, Nev. The world-class event will take place on Oct. 30-Nov 1 and Nov. 5-8 at the Thomas & Mack Center---get your tickets NOW at 866.PBR.SHOW or unlvtickets.com!

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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 500 hours of prime time programming annually, PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air, in addition to attracting over 1.7 million live event attendees each year with it multi-tiered event structure which includes the prestigious Built Ford Tough Series, 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.