GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. ― The Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series returns to Grand Rapids' Van Andel Arena this weekend for the Grand Rapids Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires. It is the 10^th time the PBR's elite BFTS has stopped in Grand Rapids and the first time since 2008.

Grand Rapids is the 24th stop on the 2013 BFTS schedule and one of only 27 cities to host the series this year. Bull riding begins at 8 p.m. ET on Friday and Saturday.

Tickets, starting at $17.50, are on sale now at the Van Andel Arena box office, www.Ticketmaster.com, and by telephone at (800) 745-3000. For more information visit www.pbr.com.

The nationally-televised BFTS features the Top 35 bull riders in the world and the fiercest bucking bulls in the country. Fans will witness exhilarating 8-second rides and wrecks as the PBR's toughest cowboys risk it all against their opponents, who are more than 100 times their weight in brawn.

In a special round of competition on Friday, the Top 15 bull riders in the world will face off with the Top 15 rankest bulls in the country during the PBR's 15/15 Bucking Battle following Round 1. In addition to double the points for round placement and a $21,000 total purse, rookie Eduardo Aparecido will have a chance to win $111,000 for one ride during this round. Aparecido has been matched with the bounty bull of the round, the Monster Energy Money Bull Great White (Jeff Robinson Bucking Bulls). If he successfully covers Great White, the $111,000 dollar pot ―  which has been growing all season ― will be his.

Other riders scheduled to compete during this two-day event include previous Grand Rapids champion and current No. 2 ranked rider J.B. Mauney, who recently achieved what seemed a nearly impossible feat when he rode Bushwacker during the BFTS event in Tulsa just six weeks ago. After nine attempts throughout his career, Mauney successfully covered the 2011 PBR World Champion Bull and broke the bull's 4-year, 42 consecutive buckoffs streak.

The Grand Rapids Invitational also will showcase five former PBR World Champions, including Silvano Alves (2012, 2011), Renato Nunes (2010), Kody Lostroh (2009), Guilherme Marchi (2008) and Mike Lee (2004). Young guns Jory Markiss and Chase Outlaw, as well as fan favorites L.J. Jenkins and Austin Meier, are also scheduled to compete.

Mauney will go up against BIG TEX "ROCKS" (Jeff Robinson/Bar 3D Bucking Bulls) in the 15/15 Bucking Battle. BIG TEX "ROCKS" has bucked off every rider he has faced this season, including Marchi and Lostroh along the way. He's 8-for-8 in 2013 with an average bull score of 43.94 points.

No. 1 Alves will attempt Jared Allen's H4WW Hot Iron (Phenom Genetics/Jared Allen 69inc.) who has been ridden twice during his seven outs this season for an average bull score of 43.29 points. He's taken down World Champions Nunes and Lostroh already and will be looking to make Alves his third buckoff.                      

2013 marks the 20th anniversary of PBR competition. The season will award over $10 million dollars, including $2.2 million at the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals in Las Vegas, Oct. 23-27, at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Follow Jordan Marie Johnson on Twitter   @_jordan_marie_.