04.10.14 - Press Releases
Game notes: Billings
The Built Ford Tough Series hits the dirt for the 19th consecutive year in Billings, Mont., with the Stanley Performance in Action Invitational.
By PBR
BACK IN BILLINGS – For the 19th consecutive year, the PBR’s Built Ford Tough Series will stop in Billings, Mont., for The Stanley Performance in Action Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires. Billings is the most-visited, regular-season city for the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series. Competition will begin at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 7:50 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, and 1:50 p.m. on Sunday, April 13 at the Rimrock Auto Arena.
UP NEXT – The BFTS takes a week off for Easter and will travel to Iowa the weekend of April 26-27 for the Des Moines Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires, at the Wells Fargo Arena. The event will take place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, and at 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, April 27.
PAST BILLINGS EVENT WINNERS – Five past World Champions have won this event, including Tuff Hedeman (1995), Cody Hart (1999), two-time World Champion Justin McBride (2005 & 2007), J.B. Mauney (2013) and Troy Dunn (1998), who won in Montana twice. Here is a complete list of winners in Billings:
2013Â Â Â Joao Ricardo Vieira
2012Â Â Â Austin Meier
2011Â Â Â Valdiron de Oliveira
2010Â Â Â Travis Briscoe
2009Â Â Â Michael Manes
2008Â Â Â Zack Brown
2007Â Â Â J. B. Mauney
2006Â Â Â Brian Canter
2005Â Â Â Justin McBride
2004Â Â Â Brian Herman
2003Â Â Â Wiley Petersen
2002Â Â Â Lee Akin
2001Â Â Â Chris Shivers
2000Â Â Â Troy Dunn
1999Â Â Â Troy Dunn
1998Â Â Â Rogerio Ferreira
1997Â Â Â Cody Hart
1996Â Â Â Tuff Hedeman
FORMAT – This weekend, the Top 35 bull riders on the BFTS will compete in Round 1 on Friday, Round 2 on Saturday and Round 3 on Sunday, facing one bull in each round. The riders with the Top 15 scores after three rounds will advance to the Built Ford Tough Championship Round on Sunday for an additional ride and a chance at the $30,000 event title.
PBR 15/15 BUCKING BATTLE – The fifth PBR 15/15 Bucking Battle of the 2014 season will be held immediately following Round 1 on Friday. The PBR 15/15 Bucking Battle features the Top 15 riders in the world competing against the 15 highest-ranked bulls at the event for an additional purse of $21,000. The bulls are randomly assigned a position from 1-15 and the riders are then matched with their bulls based upon their own current rankings in the BFTS standings. BFTS points will be doubled in the PBR 15/15 Bucking Battle with the winner receiving 200 points and second place receiving 180 points, continuing down on a graduated scale to 20 points for 10th place. Points earned count toward the BFTS standings, but DO NOT count toward determining the event winner in Idaho. If a rider fails to make a qualified ride, he does not receive any points or money.
15/15 BUCKING BATTLE SCHEDULE –
Jan. 25 in Oklahoma City, Okla. ~ Marco Eguchi won with a 90.75-point ride on Rango
Feb. 8 in Anaheim, Calif. ~ Joao Ricardo Vieira won with a 90.75-point ride on Shepherd Hills Stockman
March 28 in Fresno, Calif. ~ Silvano Alves won with an 89.5-point ride on Rango
April 4 in Boise, Idaho ~ Fabiano Vieira won with an 89.25-point ride on Cowtown Slinger
April 11 in Billings, Mont., will air on CBS April 12 at 12:30 pm ET
May 3 in Colorado Springs, Colo., will air on CBS May 4 at 2 pm ET
BAD BOY MOWERS BOUNTY BULL -The Professional Bull Riders and Bad Boy Mowers have teamed up to offer $25,000 to any rider who is matched with and successfully rides the Bad Boy Mowers Bounty Bull during each 15/15 Bucking Battle. This weekend, L.J. Jenkins is once again the lucky rider who will go up against Bushwacker for an extra $25,000 on Friday night. This is the third time in Jenkins’ career and second time in three weeks that the Oklahoma rider will face the two-time World Champion Bull. Bushwakcer bucked off Jenkins in 1.45 seconds two weeks ago during the 15/15 in Fresno, Calif.
POSSIBLE POINTS - There are 1,200 possible points available in Billings as the winner of the event will receive 400 points and each of the three round wins is worth 100 points plus the ride score.
PROVIDING PROTECTION - The Dickies® Bullfighters this weekend are Jesse Byrne of Okotoks, Alberta; Shorty Gorham of Cotulla, Texas; and Lyndel Runyan of Sulphur, Okla.
TELEVISION BROADCAST – PBR LIVE will broadcast the Stanley Performance in Action Invitational at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, April 11, 9:50 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 12, and at 3:50 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 13.
The 15/15 Bucking Battle will air on CBS Network Television Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET. CBS Sports Network will broadcast Round 3 and the Built Ford Tough Championship Round on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET.Â
The broadcast will have Craig Hummer providing play-by-play, color commentary from Ty Murray and dirt-level interviews will be handled by Leah Garcia.
BFTS telecasts are produced for the PBR by David Neal Productions, a Los Angeles-based production company led by 34-time Emmy® Award winner and Peabody Award winner David Neal, who serves as executive producer and creative lead.