Watch the conclusion of all the action in Bismarck Saturday night on RidePass

BISMARCK, N.D. – 2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis, world No. 3 and seven-time PBR World Finals qualifier Chase Outlaw and five-time PRCA champion Sage Kimzey showcased why they all have PhDs in bull riding on Friday night.

The star-studded riders for Team Cooper Tires took night one of Chad Berger’s $125,000 team challenge, presented by Marquis Metal Works, by going a perfect 3-for-3 at the Bismarck Event Center.

“It’s what I expected out of (us),” Davis, the team captain said after capping the night one win with 90.75 points on Midnight Rain. “That was really big, and any time I can be part of a team deal, especially with guys like I’ve got on my team, it makes it all that much more fun. I enjoy having them behind me and I enjoy watching them.”

Team Cooper Tires was the only team to ride every one of its bulls and sits 88 points ahead of Team Diamond Willow Construction (2-for-3) heading into Saturday night’s finale.

Fans can watch the conclusion of the 19^th annual Dakota Community Bank & Trust TPD event, as well as the team challenge, exclusively on RidePass beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Team Dakota Community Bank & Trust (Jess Lockwood, 89.25 points on Catfish John), Team Four Bears Casino & Lodge (Cannon Cravens, 88 points on Sitting Bull), and WSM Auctioneers (Cody Teel, 88 points on Stretch) rounded out the field on night by going 1-for-3.

Team Cooper Tires never looked back after Kimzey opened up the exhibition team-formatted event with 87.75 points aboard Rising Sun.

“Oh, just a nice bull, really,” Kimzey said. “I couldn’t ask for one any better. Good timing. Good warmup bull, really. I’m sure there are going to be even ranker bulls tomorrow. It was a good night for the team though. Got the lead and now it’s just, bottom line, just take care of our job.”

Outlaw put Cooper Tires back into the lead following rides by Cravens and Lucas Divino (90.5 points on Speed Demon) when he conquered Sky Harbor for 89.25 points.

Sky Harbor had bucked Outlaw off last month at the Ty Murray Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“Got him,” Outlaw said. “Felt good. Man, felt like a drop barrel. Rode him good, but he was no day off. That sucker was all there. If I’d have stubbed my toe, he would’ve made me pay for it. I stubbed my toe last time, but this time I had my ducks in a row.”

World leader Jose Vitor Leme refused to let Team Cooper Tires run away with the competition, answering the bell for Team Diamond Willow Construction by riding South Texas Gangster for 89.25 on the second to final ride of the evening.

That put all of the focus and eyes in Bismarck on Davis, the three-time Team USA Global Cup captain who is no stranger to rising to the occasion during team-formatted events.

Davis has been known to put Team USA on his back during past Global Cups, and he would not disappoint Kimzey and Outlaw on Friday night, especially after letting them and Team USA down at this past February’s Global Cup.

The Jasper, Texas, cowboy refused to let Midnight Rain end his team’s night on a sour note like Bad Beagle did at the Global Cup when he bucked Davis off in 4.63 seconds.

“That bull, he bucked,” Davis said. “Kind of felt like Crossfire back in the day, and I kind of felt like Cooper back in the day.”

Davis, who is coming off a 3-for-3 victory in Green Bay two weeks ago, was able to hike his knees up high as he recorded his second 90-point ride at all levels of competition in 2019.

“Most of the time, if I can get my knees up floating like that around there, that’s a pretty good deal,” Davis said.

Reigning Stock Contractor of the Year Chad Berger agreed that Davis looked like vintage Cooper Davis.

“That Cooper Davis rode tonight like when he won the World Championship,” Berger said. “That bull he rode in the long round (Hitman) wasn’t easy, and then he rides that Midnight Rain. He was drifting, bucking, spinning, kicking, and he just rides him like a day off. I thought he should have been 93 and I was not the only one.”

Team Cooper Tires will look to clinch the victory, and $30,000 apiece, by staying perfect on Saturday night.

All three riders agree that they cannot let up, especially knowing the Leme-led Diamond Willow Construction team is only one ride behind.

“Still same mentality,” Kimzey said. “It doesn’t make staying on them any easier, but bottom line, we know exactly what we need to do tomorrow to guarantee a W.”

Outlaw added, “Yep, just got to ride our bulls. One bull at a time.”

Davis will be able to help do his apart against a friendly foe in Catfish John.

Davis has ridden Catfish John four out of six tries, including in 2016 for his World Championship and then in 2017 to clinch Team USA its first Global Cup victory.

“Always glad to have him,” Davis said. “He was really good tonight, so he should be good.”

Catfish John has bested Davis in their last two meetings, but Davis will still be favored to ride him for a fifth time.

Regardless, Davis knows far too well after bucking off Livin Large (6.04 seconds) last year in Berger’s World Champion’s Challenge on the final night of competition that no victory is official until the end.

“Keep your foot on the gas,” Davis concluded. “No brakes. I’ve lost plenty of these deals leading it. They hurt a little bit more that way. Go in leading Saturday night and keep your foot on the gas.”

ROUND 2 DRAW

TEAM COOPER TIRES (3-for-3, 267.75)
Davis vs. Catfish John (66-23, all levels)
Outlaw vs. Smooth Wreck (28-3, all levels)
Kimzey vs. Gambini (47-10, all levels)

TEAM DIAMOND WILLOW CONSTRUCTION (2-for-3, 179.75)
Leme vs. Rising Sun (26-16, all levels)
Castro vs. Sky Harbor (11-3, all levels)
Divino vs. Midnight Rain (19-4, all levels)

TEAM DAKOTA COMMUNITY BANK & TRUST (1-for-3, 89.25)
Lockwood vs. Sitting Bull (18-11, all levels)
Kolbaba vs. Biker Bob (28-6, all levels)
Wright vs. Mason’s Missouri Golden (14-1, all levels)

TEAM FOUR BEARS CASINO & LODGE (1-for-3, 88)
Lawrence vs. Red Dawn (39-10, all levels)
Whitehorse vs. Soup in a Group (27-6, all levels)
Cravens vs. Stretch (24-7, all levels)

TEAM WSM AUCTIONEERS (1-for-3, 88)
Mauney vs. South Texas Gangster (26-11, all levels)
Teel vs. Speed Demon (50-6, all levels)
Frost vs. Wicked Stick (54-9, all levels)

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko