“Chad named that bull after a great friend, Mason Lowe,” Outlaw said at the post-event press conference. “That bull fit him, too. A great big ol’ strong son of a gun. He is one of the strongest bulls I have been on this year. I just thank the Lord we had the right stick ‘em and enough grit in our gas tank to the job done.”

Outlaw said earlier this week in a CBS production meeting that he knew he was facing two choices when it came to the passing of his best friend in the arena back in January.

“With everything, we all know that can happen and the possibility it could happen,” Outlaw said before gently knocking his fist on the table. “I don’t know how you deal with it when it does happen, but you can either let it wreck you or let it motivate you.”

In fact, for as much publicity as Outlaw has received over bouncing back from breaking almost every bone in his face in July 2018 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, it has been his ability to remain mentally strong in the face of emotional anguish that continues to also stand out this year.

Outlaw knew he had the mental wherewithal to ride in memory of his best friend with pure grace, determination and prosperity.

“I am not surprised by that,” Outlaw said. “You have to know you will get through it. If you don’t know you can get through something, you are already beating yourself. That is something where you thank God to give you the ability to remain calm and mentally strong and not quit.”

That does not make it any easier though, and Outlaw admitted that Friday night at T-Mobile Arena was a wave of emotions.

A night earlier, Outlaw had seen his world title hopes dwindle when he accepted a re-ride after putting up a score on Magic Train. He then failed to convert, bucking off Apper’s Mind Freak in 4.10 seconds.

Friday night was a whole different test at the Finals with his best friend on his mind inside the bucking chute.

“It was hard,” Outlaw said just before leaving the arena for the night, pausing to collect his thoughts. “I just try to block all of that out. It was still just another bull. Still, at the end of the day when the job is done it was with a set of pride.”

Outlaw finished 11^th in the round, but that didn’t matter to the majority of people inside the arena. Emotion won out over world title talk in that moment.

“On top of all of the emotions that were in the building from presenting the award, it was all we could want and more,” Abbey said of Outlaw’s ride.

Outlaw was in the locker room when Abbey joined Lockwood and PBR CEO Sean Gleason on the Can-Am Cage during Round 3. Gleason presented the Mason Lowe Memorial Award to Lockwood, which included a plaque and a custom cross necklace that contains remnants of Lowe’s riding boots inside it.

Gleason choked up on stage, and shortly after so too did Abbey, Lockwood and various other riders and PBR personnel behind-the-scenes.

Outlaw eventually had to turn away from the screen to compose himself.

Lockwood said following the event it was emotional being on the Can-Am Cage with Abbey. He knew Mason would want to him to go try and be 90, though, so that is what he went out to do by riding Biker Bob for 92 points for the Round 4 win.

“It is tough getting an award like that and being emotional,” Lockwood said. “That is what our job consists of. Not thinking when we ride, so it was just kind of something you do every day. You have to forget about things for 8 seconds.”

In a small act of kindness, Gleason actually gave Outlaw one of the crosses that have been made for future Mason Lowe Memorial Award winners during rider check-in this week.

There was no ceremony or fame. It was just a quiet side conversation between two men that have tried to be pillars of strength for the riders, fans and staff that have been affected by Lowe’s passing.

“They didn’t have to do that,” Outlaw said. “It really means a lot.”

Outlaw is 1,814.16 points behind world leader Jose Vitor Leme heading into Round 4 (10 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network / 9:40 p.m. ET on RidePass) on Saturday night.

The 27-year-old has drawn Catch My Drift (1-1, UTB).

Win, lose or draw, Abbey is extremely proud of all Outlaw has accomplished in 2019. She knows Mason would be, too.

“I’m honestly speechless,” she said. “He’s kept his chin held high and took the fight to each one no matter what emotions were in his mind. Mason would have definitely told him that there is no reason to quit now or ever, keep the fire rolling.

“And, honestly, Chase would give him the ‘just stay the f*** on, it’s not that hard’ line, because lord knows it wasn’t hard for him.”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko