Brito earns second Challenger Series event win at Koben Puckett PBR
Texas Rattlers veteran bests competition, extends Challenger Series points lead.
PUEBLO, Colo. – When the Texas Rattlers signed Rafael Jose de Brito, he was a bit of an unknown commodity.
At 30 years old, Brito, the 2011 Ekip Rozeta champion in Brazil, never really intended to come to the United States. However, he began to consider making the late-career jump during the COVID-19 pandemic behind the encouragement of his wife as rodeos throughout Brazil were shut down.
The Potirendaba, Brazil native made his PBR debut on U.S. soil in March, going 4-for-13 at Touring Pro Division events and one Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour appearance.
Good friend Joao Ricardo Vieira, drafted in the second round by the Carolina Cowboys and then acquired by the Rattlers in a blockbuster draft-night trade, appealed to Head Coach Cody Lambert on Brito’s behalf. He sent Lambert some videos of Brito’s riding, and Brito ultimately decided to sign with the Rattlers after also weighing an offer from the Carolina Cowboys.
"I told Cody Lambert to pick Rafael and Ednelio (Almeida) to be alternate guys for the team," Vieira said at the time. "Rafael has been very good in Brazil, and he is 30. He has good experience, and he is a talent to ride bulls. His daddy rides bulls good. His family is famous for bull riding. Ednelio is a great bull rider too. I hope these two guys help the team to win."
RELATED: Brito shows promise in Evansville victory
Since then, Brito has been on a tear.
He won his very first Challenger Series event in Evansville, Indiana, just days after signing with the Rattlers. He went 2-for-3 with a 90-point ride on Screamin Demon in Round 1 to kick off his summer, and he’s stayed hot.
Brito followed his first-place finish in Evansville with a second-place finish at Bulls on the Beach in Ocean City, Maryland, and now has another win under his belt.
Brito went 2-for-2 to win the Koben Puckett PBR in Amarillo, Texas. The Koben Puckett PBR, formerly a staple in the Touring Pro Division, raises money for the Press On Foundation and individuals recovering from spinal cord injuries.
In Round 1, Brito rode Upper Cut for 88 points. He followed that up with a championship round-winning 88.5 points on Hey Bartender.
Brito earned 44 Challenger Series points for his efforts, extending his lead atop the Challenger Series standings to 43.5 points over No. 2 Deklan Garland.
Finishing second was Thiago Salgado of the Nashville Stampede, who also went 2-for-2. He rode Mosby for 84.5 points in Round 1 and Combustion for 87 points in the championship round.
Lawson Nobbs (1-for-2) finished third, while Trevor Kastner (1-for-2) and Carlos Gomes Junior (1-for-2) tied for fourth place to round out the Top 5.
Also this weekend, Marcus Mast of the Kansas City Outlaws won Bull Bash at the MEC in Shipshewana, Indiana, and the Missouri Thunder’s Colten Fritzlan won PBR Sunday at Cowtown, part of the Challenger Series’ summer residency at the historic Cowtown Coliseum.
NEXT UP
This week, the Challenger Series has five events on the docket in five different states.
On Wednesday, July 13, Erick, Oklahoma, hosts the Nothin’ But Try Ranch PBR. On July 15-16, Thunder on Hooves hits Thief River Falls, Minnesota, and Buckin’ In The Ozarks comes to Springdale, Arkansas. On July 16, Livingston, Montana, hosts the Livingston Classic, while the Challenger Series residency at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, continues with PBR Sunday at Cowtown. Catch all the action from Cowtown on RidePass on Pluto TV at 3 p.m. ET.