Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, N.M.), 18, is clearly no rookie in the ranks of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR). Briscoe captured his second Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler (BFTS) tour title of 2006; the first of which came two weeks ago when he schooled the competition in Fresno, Calif. Replaying the Fresno scenario, Briscoe edged runner-up and two-time PBR World Champion Adriano Moraes (Cachoeira Paulista, Sao Paulo, Brazil) by a mere fraction of a point. Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena was the site of the showdown, which consisted of three intense go rounds of action. The Southern Ford Dealers Invitational concluded the PBR's weekend double header, as Tampa hosted on Friday, Feb. 3 before stop no. 9 rolled through Jacksonville on Feb. 4-5. The second go round and finals for the top 15 qualified athletes airs on OLN on Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. (ET.) from Jacksonville. Visit http://www.pbrnow.com/media/tv/ for the complete broadcast schedule. The BFTS makes uninterrupted stops from now through the end of April, promising bull riding fans one of the most intense and grueling races in national sports to decide who will wear the million dollar PBR crown.
Of his final round match up against Rickey West's bull Scar, Briscoe said, "Scar is actually a young bull that made his debut just the other day and he's been good enough that he was determined to be short round material. I was real happy to have him, you couldn't ask for anything better really. He was rank but he was rideable."
Briscoe's PBR career earnings total an impressive $158,756, in what is only his sophomore season on the tour. He demanded attention last fall at the final 2005 regular season tour stop when he dominated the legendary three-time PBR World Champion Bucking Bull, Little Yellow Jacket, for 92 championship points. Briscoe earned his first trip to the PBR World Finals in 2005 and has been steadily gaining momentum ever since. He is riding 65% of his bulls and sits fourth in the BFTS point standings among the true veterans of professional bull riding. The New Mexico High School Senior is studying via home school courses, which enables him to travel to PBR events.
Briscoe has ridden to first place finishes in the championship rounds of three recent tour stops -- Fresno, Calif.; Sacramento, Calif.; and Oklahoma City, Okla. Incidentally, Briscoe also currently leads the race for the $25,000 Cabela's World's Foremost Ride bonus since he has achieved the highest score of 2006 tour action to date, which he posted in Oklahoma City on Jan. 29. Briscoe earned 93.25 points in Oklahoma City during final round action aboard D&H and Teague Bucking Bulls' legendary bull Mossy Oak Mudslinger. "My riding style never changes but we generally have the very best bulls in the championship rounds and more high scores," said Briscoe.
Briscoe finished out of the money in round two of the Southern Ford Dealers Invitational, but rebounded during the Built Ford Tough Championship Round where he competed 14th in the bucking order. 2005 PBR World Champion Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.) stole the show in the final round with an outstanding 90.25 point effort aboard Kingpen Cattle Company's Cat Man Do. Four men remained in the line up to challenge McBride, however they had each qualified with two scores while McBride had qualified with one. McBride's cumulative score of 178.75 points held the top spot on the leader board until Briscoe's 89.5 performance aboard Scar. As the final man to compete, Moraes needed a score of 88 points in order to overtake Briscoe; however the match up against Hebert Bucking Bulls' Shane yielded 87 points, which was three-quarters of one point shy of what was needed to secure the title.
For more information on the Southern Ford Dealers Invitational or the PBR please contact 719.471.3008 or visit www.pbrnow.com.
BEHIND THE CHUTES:
Mossy Oak Shoot Out: As the first go round winner, reigning PBR World Champion Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.) was awarded the opportunity to compete in the lucrative Mossy Oak Shoot Out where he faced Paradise Farms Rodeo Genetics' Frontier Justice for $25,000. McBride tackled Frontier Justice with seeming ease despite the bull having not been ridden in the past 14 consecutive tour attempts. Frontier Justice has been ridden just 11 times in 56 career outs. When the Mossy Oak Shoot Out reward is claimed, the bonus returns to $5,000.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ride with the Best Bonus: Ross Coleman (Redmond, Ore.) was eligible to compete for the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ride With The Best bonus money in Jacksonville as the winner of the Tampa event. Coleman cashed in for $5,000 in bonus bucks. Beginning in 2006, Enterprise Rent-A-Car will not only award $5,000 to the cowboy if he rides, but the bulls also have a chance to win the $5,000 bounty, which goes to the stock contractor if his bull launches the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ride With The Best bull rider. Tony Sharp's bull MVP II earned the round two bonus in Jacksonville when he unseated Coleman.
Ford Truck Moment of Truth Bonus: Adriano Moraes (Cachoeira Paulista, Sao Paulo, Brazil) led the event going into the Built Ford Tough Championship Round but did not ultimately earn the overall event title. Consequently, the $5,000 Ford Truck Moment of Truth Bonus available in Jacksonville grows to $10,000. When the Built Ford Tough Moment of Truth Bonus is claimed the purse returns to $5,000.
Bud Light Short Go Top Qualifiers Bonus: Andre' Moraes (Agudos, Sao Paulo, Brazil) was awarded the Bud Light Short Go Top Qualifier award of $2,500 since he was the highest advancing rider to qualify for the Built Ford Tough Championship Round that participates in the program by wearing the Bud Light patch.
Ford Super Duty Invitational: As the event winner Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, N.M.) is qualified for a chance to compete at the World Finals, against all other 2006 Built Ford Tough Series event winners, for a 2006 Ford Super Duty Truck. The Ford Super Duty Invitational contestant that finishes the highest in the event aggregate during the 2006 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals will win a brand new Super Duty Truck courtesy of Ford.
Salem National Lease Bull of the Event: Frontier Rodeo Company's 2005 PBR World Champion Bull Big Bucks took top bull honors of the event and as a part of Salem National Lease's exciting bonus programs the bull earned $750. The program awards $750 to the top bull of the event as determined by the PBR judges. Big Bucks earned the same distinction in Tampa on Feb. 3.
Cabela's World's Foremost Ride: Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, N.M.) currently leads the race for the $25,000 Cabela's World's Foremost Ride bonus which will be awarded to the rider who earns the highest score during the 2006 Built Ford Tough Series season. Briscoe posted a 93.25 point score in Jacksonville during final round action aboard D&H and Teague Bucking Bulls' Mossy Oak Mudslinger.
INJURY REPORT:
Rob Bell (Water Valley, Alberta) ' Mild concussion and possible broken jaw. X-rays scheduled for Monday and doubtful to compete.
Southern Ford Dealers Invitational Results:
FIRST ROUND: 1) Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.) 88.5 points on Paradise Farms Rodeo Genetics' Minimus, $2,730; 2) Chris Shivers (Jonesville, La.) 87.75 points on Frontier Rodeo Company's The Rock, $1,950; 3) Ross Coleman (Redmond, Ore.) 87 points on Roy Carter Bucking Bulls' Too Sharp, $1,170; 4) Jay Pahlke (Bismarck, N.D.) 86 points on Frontier Rodeo Company's Smokey Mountain, $780.
SECOND ROUND: Brian Courson (Winter Haven, Fla.) 87.75 points on Hebert Bucking Bulls' Irvine, $2,730; 2) Luke Snyder (Raymore, Mo.) 87.5 points on Tony Sharp's Bullet Proof, $1,950; 3) Chad Denton (Oroville, Calif.) 86 points on Tony Sharp's Sleepy, $1,170; 4) Guilherme Marchi (Leme, Sao Paulo, Brazil) 85.75 points on Roy Carter Bucking Bulls' Captain Hook, $780;
BUILT FORD TOUGH CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND: 1) Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.) 90.25 points on Kingpen Cattle Company's Cat Man Do, $2,730; 2) Chris Shivers (Jonesville, La.) 89.75 points on Lufkin Ranch & Rodeo's Zorro, $1,950; 3) Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, N.M.) 89.5 points on Rickey West's Scar, $1,170; 4) Mike White (De Kalb, Texas) 88.75 points on Frontier Rodeo Company's Kings Court, $780;
OVERALL EVENT STANDINGS: 1) Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, N.M.) 256.25 points, $26,891; 2) Adriano Moraes (Cachoeira Paulista, Sao Paulo, Brazil) 255.5 points, $13,585; 3) Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.) 178.75 points, $40,025; 4) Chris Shivers (Jonesville, La.) 177.5 points, $9,365;
BUILT FORD TOUGH SERIES POINT STANDINGS: 1) Guilherme Marchi (Leme, Sao Paulo, Brazil) 3,267.75 points; 2) Adriano Moraes (Cachoeira Paulista, Sao Paulo, Brazil) 3,228 points; 3) Jody Newberry (Ada, Fla.) 3,197.75 points; 4) Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, N.M.) 3,154 points; 5) Chris Shivers (Jonesville, La.) 2,876.25 points; 6) Ross Coleman (Redmond, Ore.) 2,813.75 points; 7) Justin McBride (Elk City, Fla.) 2,678.75 points; 8) Jared Farley (Kempsey NSW, Australia) 2,242.5 points; 9) Mike Lee (Decatur, Texas) 2,155.25 points; 10) J.W. Hart (Overbrook, Okla.) 2,012.25 points.