New York and Chicago pizza may have quite the rivalry, but New Yorker Daylon Swearingen got along with the Windy City just fine. Plus, 2019 World Champion Bull Smooth Operator looks like his old World Champion self, and 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco… well, also looks like his old World Champion self. Miss a moment of the action this weekend? Here’s what happened around the PBR.
On the Unleash The Beast…
Daylon Swearingen is coming into 2020 hot, winning the Chicago Invitational for his career-first premier series victory.
Also coming into 2020 hot? The 2019 YETI World Champion Bull Smooth Operator, whose first out of the season scored 46.75 points.
Speaking of former World Champions, remember Kaique Pacheco? Yeah, he’s back to the world No. 1 spot.
2019 World Champion Jess Lockwood also found himself in the winner’s circle in Chicago after his Round 1 victory.
And the man who challenged Lockwood in 2019, Jose Vitor Leme, is also quietly having a stellar start to his 2020 season.
Ryan Dirteater won Round 2, and he’s thinking big picture. His goal: a gold buckle.
Derek Kolbaba’s arrival in Chicago got a little hairy thanks to a winter storm and a cancelled flight, but once he landed, he made it count.
On the injury front, Cooper Davis has a fracture in his neck and could be out 6-12 weeks, Cannon Cravens is questionable for Manchester and more.
Meanwhile, on the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour…
The Lockwoods know how to win, and taking his turn in the spotlight was younger brother Jake Lockwood, who won his first-ever Velocity Tour event in Reno.
Through the lens with Andy Watson and BullStockMedia
Check out the best photos from day one and day two in Chicago.
Social spotlight
Babies and buckles. Does it get any better?
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by @ cannoncravens on Jan 11, 2020 at 8:12pm PST
The man knows what he’s talking about.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Fabiano Vieira (@fvieirapbr) on Jan 11, 2020 at 5:41pm PST
It’s been a long time coming, but Sean Willingham is nearing his return.
View this post on Instagram
Getting a customized brace made for my leg. Should be ready by @pbr velocity Knoxville in feb
A post shared by Sean Willingham (@seanwillingham4) on Jan 10, 2020 at 7:53am PST
Looking ahead
The Velocity Tour heads to Denver, Colorado, for the Denver Chute Out on Jan. 13-15 (RidePass, 9 p.m. ET on Jan. 13-15) followed by Baltimore, Maryland, for the Baltimore Invitational on Jan. 17-18 (RidePass, 8 p.m. ET on Jan. 17 and 7 pm. ET on Jan. 18) and Portland, Oregon, for the Portland Classic on Jan. 18 (RidePass, 10 p.m. ET on Jan. 18).
The premier series rolls on in Manchester, New Hampshire, for the Manchester Invitational on Jan. 18-19 (RidePass, Jan. 18 at 6:45 p.m. ET and Jan. 19 at 1:45 p.m. ET, and CBS Sports Network on Jan. 19 at 8 p.m. ET).