LAS VEGAS - Going into Sunday's final round of the PBR World Champion Bull race, Bushwacker had a commanding one-point lead over rival Asteroid.

Had he had an off-day, the high-leaping Asteriod still could have won, despite Bushwacker's 48.5-47.5 advantage.

But it was Asteroid who faltered, hipping himself as he exploded out of the chute with Cord McCoy. Still, he received a very respectable score of 45.0.

Minutes later, Bushwacker made a clean break from the chute, dumped 2009 World Finals average winner J.B. Mauney in 3.58 seconds, and turned in a 47.5.

In a race that was decided on a two-ride aggregate score during the World Finals, Bushwacker clinched the 2011 title with a marking of 96. Asteroid, owned by Circle T Ranch and Rodeo, came in second with a 92.5.

"Bushwacker didn't have his best day this afternoon, but Asteroid fouled himself leaving the chutes, so he sure didn't have his best day," said longtime PBR Livestock Director Cody Lambert. "They are definitely the top two bulls."

'Bushwacker didn't have his best day this afternoon, but Asteroid fouled himself leaving the chutes, so he sure didn't have his best day. They are definitely the top two bulls.'

Smackdown (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Struve/Rosen), who received a 45.5 on Sunday, finished third with a 90.5. RMEF Gunpowder and Lead (Jeff Robinson) came in fourth with a 91.5 after posting a 45.5.

The four athletes vied for the 2011 World Champion Bull title during performances on Friday (Round 3) and Sunday (Built Ford Tough Championship Round/Round 6) at the Thomas & Mack Center.

After turning in lofty scores of 48.5 and 47.5, Bushwacker also became the Mikel Moreno Bull of the PBR World Finals, an award named in honor of a young contractor who died of leukemia in 2006. Mikel's father, Julio, is a co-owner of Bushwacker.

Overall, Bushwacker has been ridden only once out of 29 tries over the past three years on the Built Ford Tough Series. Thiago Paguioto stayed on him at the 2009 PBR World Finals, turning in a score of 89.75 when Bushwacker was a 3-year-old.

Last year, he was 11-0 against the cowboys. In 2011, he was 14-0.

Overall, Bushwacker has an average buckoff time of 3.09 seconds, and an average bull score of 46.02. In 2011, his average buckoff time was 3.26 seconds and his average score was 46.66.

Bushwacker is co-owned Richard Oliveira, and managed by Kent Cox of Dublin, Texas, which is Bushwacker's home when he's not traveling.

Moreno, who has owned numerous high-profile bulls, said Bushwacker, a 5-year-old dark-red horned bovine with a red-white face, has the potential to become a legend.

"I've had the Troubadours, the Whitewaters, and the Reindeers, and he's probably the best one I've ever raised in reality," Moreno said. "I think he'll be the next superstar in the world of bull riding."

That's yet to be determined. But Bushwacker is an unusually talented animal who has created a buzz in the bull riding world with his superior athletic abilities and his high intelligence.

"He has a good trip coming out and really blowing up in the air," Moreno said. "And that's what we want - a bull that will give it 110 percent, which he always does, and try to win the championship."

During a each ride, Bushwacker will make at least a couple of high leaps and then turn back.

"He's real strong when he blow out of there, and when he blows, there's a lot of front end up in the air," Moreno said. "And when he comes down, it's allemande to the left, really hard. Or he has a trip to the right."

Bushwacker also seems to be able to sense when his rider's weight shifts to one side, and he responds by going the opposite direction.

'He feels them and knows where they are. He's a really smart bull.'

"He feels them and knows where they are," Moreno sad. "He's a really smart bull. But for the guys who ride him for those one of two jumps, he really fires."

Before the chute gate opens, Bushwacker is very easy to mount.

"In the chutes, he's real calm," Moreno said. "He'll let you do what you want, pull all of the rope, or whatever you want. But when the gate opens, it's fire. Boy, he's ready for you."

Bushwacker's co-owner Julio Moreno, shown here in Seattle,  also serves as a safety rider for Built Ford Tough Series events.

Moreno said Bushwacker has all of the elements of a superstar bull.

"I would compare him to a Michael Jordan and a Ray Lewis put together," Moreno said. "Michael Jordan was the best there was shooting a basketball and Ray Lewis is the toughest guy in pro football on defense. So, when you put those combinations together, offense and defense, that's everything. Bushwacker is the total package."

Ty Murray, the nine-time World Champion and PBR co-foudner, also believes Bushwacker is something special.

"That bull is everything," Murray said. "He's like Michael Jordan. If you go down the list of attributes that a bull should have, you have to give him an A for all of them. He's big, He's strong. He's fast. He's quick. He's smart. He feels for rider. He has huge jumps and huge kicks. He's really powerful.

"When he lurches forward, it's a big-time lurch. Everything about him is great. He's not a one-trick pony."

Lambert also likes what he sees in Bushwacker.

"He's the total package," Lambert said. "He's gifted athletically. He's big, strong, physical, but he's also a competitor who loves his job. He knows what to do. He stays relaxed until they open that gate, and he explodes."

'He's gifted athletically. He's big, strong, physical, but he's also a competitor who loves his job. He knows what to do. He stays relaxed until they open that gate, and he explodes.'

Lambert said the bull gains lots of ground as he leaps forward.

"He goes a lot farther than a lot of the great bulls do today," Lambert said. "He goes a little farther out of the chute than most bulls do (before he turns back). But in two jumps, he covers more ground than most bulls do in four jumps, because they are such high, long jumps. He's gotten riders in trouble before he turns back."

Bushwacker also has made a big impression on J.W. Hart, the 2002 World Finals average winner who helps with the Versus telecasts. Hart said riders have to endure very hard jumps when they face Bushwacker.

"He really comes off of the ground, and his front end really breaks over hard and brings the intensity," Hart said. "His intensity is head-and-shoulders above everything."

One cowboy who is sold on Bushwacker is Mauney, who has been bucked off of the bull six times in six tries.
 
"He always bucks." Mauney said. "But he bucks a lot different than most bulls do. He's snappy, and one day he'll (turn back) and go left, and then another day he'll go right. He's really athletic. His front feet are coming off of the ground before his before his back feet hit. So he knows what he's doing."

And Bushwacker never lightens up, even when he goes into a spin and the cowboy looks like he just might stay on for the 8-second count.

"He's got a lot of whip once he turns back," Mauney said. "There were a couple of times that I rode him pretty far, and I thought he would level out once he turned back. He's got so much whip to him that you can't get behind. If you do, you're done."