PUEBLO, Colo. ― The Back Seat Buckers bulls haven't had their first official event yet, but two BSB owners are already big winners. This past weekend, Tony Kanaan won the Indy 500 and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone won his fight at UFC 160 in Las Vegas.
Kanaan, who owns two Back Seat Buckers bulls with partners, won the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 26. The popular Brazilian had run the race 11 previous times; this was his first win. The race was considered to be one of the best and most exciting Indy 500 races in history with a record-breaking 68 lead changes and overall speed (187.433).
"We've got a great group of BSB owners this season. They come from all walks of life and have all types of careers."
Cerrone, who owns the bull Don't Tell Dana, fought on the main card against KJ Noons at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino on May 26. The talented, lightweight mixed martial arts fighter beat his opponent by unanimous decision and had nearly double the number of strikes as Noons. Cerrone's record improves to 20-5.
"We want to congratulate Tony and Donald," said Brad Boyd, president of American Bucking Bull Inc. "They are both exceptional athletes at the top of their fields and we are honored they are a part of our turnkey bull ownership program and we look forward to seeing them at PBR and ABBI events this season."
If Kanaan and Cerrone's bulls are as talented as their owners, it will be a nail-biting BSB season starting with the first competition in Tulsa, Okla., on August 17. The 2-year-old bulls will be competing against one another for hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money. There will be a final BSB event held in Las Vegas during the PBR World Finals in October.
Last weekend was also an exciting one for the BSB bulls. They bucked for the first time at a practice event inside the arena at their training facility in Stephenville, Texas. Owners were invited to come out and see their animals learn the ropes of competition. There was also an opportunity for owners to learn how to flank their bulls, an option they will have at actual competitions this year.
"We've got a great group of BSB owners this season," said ABBI Vice President Russ Gant. "They come from all walks of life and have all types of careers. Having bucking bulls is exciting for everyone, whether you drive a race car or work in an office. It gets your blood pumping and your adrenaline going to see your animal compete."
To learn more about becoming a stock contractor visit BackSeatBuckers.com or AmericanBuckingBull.com.