The Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) sent the top 40 bull riders in the world to The Big Sky State of Montana for three performances of non-stop action on April 17-19. At The NILE Invitational presented by Cooper Tires, stop #18 on the prestigious Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS), Michael Manes (Conway, Ark.) brought the crowd at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark to their feet after totaling 353.5 points, taking home the coveted Billings event title.  He collected a check for $32,118 as well as valuable points in the 2009 Built Ford Tough World Standings.

“This is a dream come true for me,” Manes said from the winner’s circle.  “I don’t know what to say.  Just praise God for this win.”

In round one, Manes rode the bull, Grampa Joe, owned by Berger Bucking Bulls, for 87 points.  He followed that up with another 87 point ride after riding Lil’ Wicked of Chad Berger/Clay Struve.  Manes split first and second place in round three after taking on the bull, Road Daddy, owned by Lacey Berger/Ande Hawks.  He went into the Built Ford Tough Championship Round in second place and chose to ride the bull SoulJa Boy of Priest Creek Ranch during the PBR Bull Draft held at intermission.  He tamed the bull for 91.5 points, splitting first and second in the round.  He totaled 353.5 points on four bulls, taking his first win on the Built Ford Tough Series.

“This was a long time coming,” Manes said.  “I got on a good bull in the short-go and rode him like you’re supposed to ride a bull.  I stayed with Mike Lee a few days before the event, working cattle on the ranch and I was glad to come here this weekend and just take care of business.”

Current no. 1 bull rider in the world Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) finished second overall after totaling 349.75 points and earned $35,382.  Taking third place was young gun Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.) who scored 265.25 points and collected a check for $12,596 while Zack Brown (Santa Fe, Texas) finished fourth place with 263 points and $8,520.  Rounding out fifth place was 2008 PBR World Champion Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) who left Montana with a total of 260 points and $7,350.

The race for PBR’s million dollar world title takes the prestigious BFTS tour to the Cornhusker State for stop #19.  The top 40 bull riders in the world will invade Omaha’s Qwest Center for two nights of non-stop action on April 24-25.  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 three win at the Nampa Invitational in Nampa, Idaho, Cody Campbell (Summerville, Ore.) was eligible to compete for the $5,000 Enterprise Rent-A-Car “Ride with the Best” bonus during round one of The NILE Invitational.  Campbell made the eight-second whistle on the Mankind, owned by Get A Grip Bucking Bulls and took home the $5,000 bonus.

Due to his round one win at The NILE Invitational, Team Enterprise rider Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) was eligible to compete for the $5,000 Enterprise Rent-A-Car “Ride with the Best” bonus during round two.  Because of his qualified ride on the bull, SoulJa Boy, owned by Priest Creek Ranch, he was awarded the $5,000 bonus.

Due to his round two victory, current world no. 1 bull rider Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) was eligible for the bonus during round three of the Billings event.  Because of his qualified ride on Chad Berger/Clay Struve’s bull, Denny Crane, he took home the $5,000 bonus.

As the winners of round three, Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) and Michael Manes (Conway, Ark.) will be eligible for the bonus during round one at the 19th BFTS stop in Omaha, Neb.

Ford Truck Moment of Truth Bonus:
Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) was in the lead going into the Built Ford Tough Championship Round and did not win The NILE Invitational; therefore, he did not collect the $10,000 bonus.  The bonus will grow to $15,000 at the next event in Omaha, Neb.  The event grows by $5,000 each week if it is not claimed.  Once claimed, it returns to $5,000.

Ford F-150 Challenge:
As The NILE Invitational presented by Cooper Tires event winner, ___ 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:
The bull, Big Tex owned by Chad Berger/Clay Struve, earned Bull of the Event honors with a score of 47 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:
Michael Manes (Conway, Ark.) and Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.) recorded the high-marked rides of The NILE Invitational in Billings, Mont.  Both came during the Built Ford Tough Championship Round after they each recorded 91.5 point rides.  Manes rode the bull, SoulJa Boy, owned by Priest Creek Ranch, and McConnel took on Say I Won’t Gunner, owned by Chad Berger/Clay Struve.

Daisy Rookie of the Year Standings:
The 2009 Daisy Rookie of the Year race is going strong and as of The NILE Invitational, Skeeter Kingsolver (McLouth, Kan.) continues to hold 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.

The NILE Invitational presented by Cooper Tires RESULTS
ROUND ONE:  1) Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) 88.75 points on Tire Rama (Chad Berger/Clay Struve), $7,000; 2) Brendon Clark (Morpeth, AUS) 87.75 points on Already Platinum (Prescott & Brathwaite), $5,000; 3) Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) 87.5 points on Cleo’s Pet (Mark Ward), $3,000; 4/5) Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.) 87 points on Water Moccasin (Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls), $1,600; 4/5) Michael Manes (Conway, Ark.) 87 points on Grampa Joe (Berger Bucking Bulls), $1,600.  

ROUND TWO:  1) Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) 91 points on SoulJa Boy (Priest Creek Ranch), $2,730; 2) Zack Brown (Santa Fe, Texas) 88 points on Scaredy Cat (Chad Berger/Denny Hawks), $1,950; 3) L.J. Jenkins (Texico, N.M.) 87.75 points on Live Wire (Chad Berger/Clay Struve), $1,170; 4) Aaron Roy (Asquith, SK, Canada) 87.5 points on Walk the Line (Ian Sissons Bucking Bulls); 5/6/7) Michael Manes (Conway, Ark.) 87 points on Lil’ Wicked (Chad Berger/Clay Struve); 5/6/7) McKennon Wimberly (Cool, Texas) 87 points on Bad Medicine (Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Berger Bucking Bulls); 5/6/7) Wiley Petersen (Fort Hall, Idaho) 87 points on North Dakota Kid (Chad Berger/Jim Quintaine).

ROUND THREE:  1/2) Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) 88 points on Denny Crane (Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Julie Rosen), $2,340; 1/2) Michael Manes (Conway, Ark.) 88 points on Road Daddy (Lacey Berger/Ande Hawks), $2,340; 3) Aaron Roy (Asquith, SK, Canada) 87.5 points on Tire Rama Chad BergerClay Struve), $1,170; 4) Dustin Elliott (North Platte, Neb.) 87.5 points on Jack Be Quick (Chumley Long Cattle Co.); 5/6/7/8) Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, N.M.) 87 points on Snake Oil (Chumley Long Cattle Co.); 5/6/7/8) Ben Jones (Sunset, Texas) 87 points on Blue Smoke (Berger Bucking Bulls); 5/6/7/8) LJ Jenkins (Texico, N.M.) 87 points on Eviction (Robinson/Tedesco); 5/6/7/8) Mike Lee (Decatur, Texas) 87 points on Already Platinum (Prescott & Braithwaite).

BUILT FORD TOUGH CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND:  1/2) Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.) 91.5 points on Say I Won’t Gunner (Chad Berger/Clay Struve), $2,340; 1/2) Michael Manes (Conway, Ark.) 91.5 points on SoulJa Boy (Priest Creek Ranch), $2,340; 3) Zack Brown (Santa Fe, Texas) 90.75 points on All In (Berger/Naccarato/Struve), $1,170; 4) Cody Ford (Stanfield, Ore.) 89.5 poitns on El Presidente (Jeff Robinson/Broken N-N/SkyHawk Rugs); 5) Valdiron de Oliveira (Aparecida de Goiania, GO, Brazil) 89 points on Husker’s Terror (Chad Berger/Jim Quintaine).

OVERALL EVENT STANDINGS:  1) Michael Manes (Conway, Ark.) 353.5 points, $32,118; 2) Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) 349.75 points, $35,382; 3) Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.) 265.25 points, $12,596; 4) Zack Brown (Santa Fe, Texas) 263 points, $8,520; 5) Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) 260 points, $7,350.

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.) 7,923.5 points, $249,679; 2) Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) 6,441.75 points, $140,177; 3) Zack Brown (Santa Fe, Texas) 5,521.75 points, $132,447; 4) J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.) 5,236.75 points, $124,897; 5) Wiley Petersen (Fort Hall, Idaho) 5,072.75 points, $79,427; 6) Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.) 4,887.5 points, $77,900; 7) Valdiron de Oliveira (Aparacide de Goiania, GO, Brazil) 4,378.75 points, $62,729; 8) Robson Palermo (Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil) 4,349.5 points, $64,755; 9) Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) 4,092.75 points, $76,730; 10) Austin Meier (Kinta, Okla.) 3,907.75 points, $52,240.

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!

###

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.