BISMARCK, N.D. – History was made tonight in Bismarck, ND, when bull riders joined teams to compete in five-on-five bull riding games in four preseason matchups in the PBR Team Series – a new league of eight bull riding teams from across the country competing for a national championship.

The preseason for the inaugural PBR Team Series season got underway at Bismarck Event Center, with high-scoring rides in each game this evening.

The league’s two preseason exhibition events in June do not affect the PBR Team Series championship race and standings – a 10-event regular season that begins July 25 with neutral site games in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and culminates in the championship tournament in November. Night two of Dakota Community Bank & Trust PBR Bull Riding Challenge continues Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET, available to fans LIVE on Pluto TV (channel 720).

Carolina Cowboys: 256 points
Texas Rattlers: 173.50 points

The first three outs of the new PBR Team Series began with qualified rides. Game 1 of the Dakota Community Bank & Trust PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Bull Riding started off strong as Carolina Cowboys’ Mason Taylor Maypearl, Texas) opened the night with an 86.25-point ride against Delbert Sr. (Clay Struve/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Paula Gregory). The Texas Rattlers made their first PBR Team Series preseason debut with an 85.25-point ride from Jake Morinec (Mokena, Illinois) and Quickfire (Heald Pro Bulls/Clay Struve/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger). For the third ride of the night, 2022 PBR World Champion Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, NY) dominated Cold Shot (Jeb Fredericks/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger) for 88.25 points, putting the Cowboys 89.25-points ahead of the Rattlers. Quick to respond for the Rattlers, Ednélio Almeida (Cacoal, Brazil) scored 88.25-points aboard Sam I Am (Heald Pro Bulls/Clay Struve/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger). With one ride remaining for each team and one point separating them, Wingson Henrique da Silva (Navirai, Brazil) then made the 8 to lead the Cowboys to a 256-173.50 victory over the Rattlers.

“It was awesome. It was the first game ever for the PBR Team Series, and for us to win it, I’m just excited about our team,” Carolina Cowboys’ coach Jerome Davis said after the historic win. “We’ve got a long way to go, but I’m pretty pumped right now.”

“It’s really cool to be on Jerome’s team; I’ve worked with Jerome my whole life,” added 2022 PBR World Champion Daylon Swearingen. “Same with Austin Dillon; he’s a competitor just like we are, so he carries that mentality to us.”