LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the fifth time in as many years, PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour will buck into Lexington, Kentucky, returning to the iconic Rupp Arena on February 5, 2022, with the PBR Lexington Invitational.
For one night only, some of the best bull riders in the world will battle the sport’s rankest bovine athletes in the ultimate showdown of man vs. beast in one of the most exciting live sporting events to witness.
In 2021, one rider, Eli Vastbinder (Statesville, North Carolina), earned a crucial victory on the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour in the Bluegrass State that set him on a trajectory for what is unfurling to be his career-best campaign.
Going a perfect 3-for-3 inside the home of the Kentucky Wildcats, the North Carolina native advanced to Round 2 after recording an 82-point score on Flea Flicker in the opening round of action.
Continuing the momentum, Vastbinder remained flawless in the second round when he made the requisite 8 aboard Mr. Wyers for 84.5 points.
Vastbinder then secured the victory in the final round when he became the lone contender to cover all three of his bovine athlete opponents during the two-night bull riding, riding Newsom for 76.5 points.
For his efforts, Vastbinder earned a critical 31 world points. After beginning the event ranked No. 62 in the world, he surged 35 positions to No. 27.
Earning a seeded position on the elite Unleash The Beast courtesy of the golden effort, Vastbinder has been a consistent presence on the tour ever since. He is presently No. 19 in the world, a Top 5 contender for the prestigious Rookie of the Year honor, and has qualified for his career-first PBR World Finals.
Vastbinder was the second rider in as many years to parlay a win on the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour in Lexington into a career-defining season.
In 2020, Cole Melancon (Paris, Texas) and Lindomar Lino (Anapolis, Brazil) tied for the event win. Both riders collected crucial world points, and each earned a berth to compete on the elite Unleash The Beast for the Iron Cowboy Major at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.
Capitalizing on the opportunity, Melancon parlayed his elite tour invite into yet another victory, becoming just the second rookie in the sport’s history to win a PBR Major when he was crowned the Iron Cowboy. Earning a $123,407.69 payday along with 200 world points, Melancon skyrocketed from No. 29 to No. 6 in the world.
Narrowly edged out for the Rookie of the Year honor at season’s end, Melancon concluded 2020 a career-high No. 10 in the world.
Other past event winners include 2019 PBR Lexington Invitational Champion Stormy Wing (Dalhart, Texas) and Keyshawn Whitehorse, who won the event en route to being anointed the 2018 PBR Rookie of the Year.
The Lexington tour stop will tentatively mark the 10th Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour event of the year, with PBR’s fastest-growing tour first stopping in cities including Portland, Oregon; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Jacksonville, Florida; and North Charleston, South Carolina.
The bull riding action for the 2022 PBR Lexington Invitational begins at 7:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, February 5, at Rupp Arena.
On Saturday evening, all 40 competing riders will attempt one bull each in Round 1. Following the opening round, the Top 15 will then advance to the championship round, where they will attempt one final bull, all in an effort to be crowned the event champion.
Tickets for the one-day event go on sale Friday, November 5 at 10:00 a.m. EDT and start at $15, taxes and fees not included. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the Rupp Arena Box Office, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.
PBR Elite Seats are available for $175 for avid fans who want an exclusive VIP experience while enjoying the world’s top bull riding circuit. These tickets offer the best seats in the venue, a question-and-answer presentation with some of the top bull riders and stock contractors in the world, $10 concession voucher, souvenir credential and lanyard, and post-event photo opportunity from the dirt.
For an enhanced PBR experience, fans can purchase add-on PBR Premium Experiences which will include the Elite Experience on Saturday, February 5.
The Elite Experience, available for $50, will include a Q&A session with a select group of the league’s top riders, bullfighters and stock contractors, photo opportunity, and commemorative credential and lanyard.
For more information on PBR Premium Experiences or to purchase the Elite Experience for the PBR Lexington Invitational in Kentucky, visit https://pbr.com/tickets/premium-experiences/.
