AUSTIN, Texas – The Austin Gamblers started off the inaugural PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series Gambler Days with a bang – winning on Friday and Saturday – but on Sunday afternoon, their eight-game winning streak was brought to an end by the Carolina Cowboys in a tense game that went down to the final out. Recording a 2-1 record at their inaugural homestand, the Gamblers finished third in the event and remain in the No. 1 spot of the 2022 season standings. 

Ready to impress the vociferous hometown crowd, the Austin Gamblers were the stars of the show Friday night, winning their seventh consecutive game by defeating the Nashville Stampede, 260.75-87.25. 

On Saturday, the Gamblers again looked virtually unstoppable in putting up three qualified rides to outlast the No. 7 Ariat Texas Rattlers, 252.75-168.5. 

Sunday’s final game for the Gamblers came down to the world’s top two bull riders, and the Carolina Cowboys prevailed, beating the Gamblers by one bull, 174-84.25. 

In the bonus round, the Carolina Cowboys’ Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York), who earlier had knocked down a crucial fifth-frame ride to cement Sunday’s win over the Gamblers, was the sole rider to receive a score. He rode JAG Metals Grand Theft (D&H Cattle Co./Philip Elkins) for 89.25 points, taking first place in the bonus round. The Austin Gamblers’ Head Coach Michael Gaffney selected Lucas Divino (Nova Crixas, Brazil) to take on Mike’s Magic (Five Star Ranch/BS Cattle), bucked off at 6.87 seconds. The Austin Gamblers finished second in the bonus round, earning 7 bonus points.  

The PBR Team Series will next travel to the LJVM Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for the fourth team-hosted homestand as the Carolina Cowboys welcome the league for PBR Cowboy Days. The event will be on Friday, Sept. 9 at 7:45 p.m. ET, Saturday, Sept. 10 at 6:45 p.m. ET and Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1:45 p.m. ET. 

The game matchups for the opening night of competition in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Sept. 9 are: 

• Kansas City Outlaws @ Austin Gamblers 
• Nashville Stampede @ Oklahoma Freedom 
• Arizona Ridge Riders @ Ariat Texas Rattlers 
• Missouri Thunder @ Carolina Cowboys 

PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Austin. For a behind-the-scenes look at the creation and launch of the new league, tune in to PBR Team Series: Getting the Job Done, presented by ZipRecruiter, Thursdays on PBR RidePass on Pluto TV at 8:30 p.m. ET, starting Sept. 1. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.

Ariat Texas Rattlers: 252.25 
Nashville Stampede: 0 

In the opening game of the last day of competition of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series Gambler Days, two veteran riders knocked down early scores, leading the Ariat Texas Rattlers to dominate the struggling Nashville Stampede, 252.25 – 0.

With both teams entering Sunday with an 0-2 record in Austin, this game would be a determining factor in avoiding the bottom of the team standings.

First out of the chutes for the Stampede was Matt Triplett (Canton, Idaho), who was no match for fast-spinning Jeremiah (Martinez Bucking Bulls), bucked off in 5.06 seconds. In the bottom of the first, 37-year-old Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Brazil) came out strong in a textbook ride into his hand aboard John 14:6 (Braswell Buckers), giving the Rattlers an early lead with 85.75 points.

After another no-score for the Stampede, Ednei Caminhas (Indaiatuba, Brazil), 3-for-9 on this season unfolding 20 years after he won the PBR World Championship, followed suit with another solid ride for the Rattlers with 80.75 points on War Daddy (TNT Bucking Bulls), putting his team two bulls ahead, 166.5 - 0. Given an option for a re-ride, the team opted to keep the score and go two bulls up.

After a scoreless third frame for both teams, the Rattlers looked to secure the victory while the Stampede sought their first qualified ride. In a must-ride situation for the Stampede, Manoelito de Souza Junior (Itamira, Brazil) took on Monkey Blues (M Rafter E/Rockin’ L Bucking Bulls) but was flung down hard at 2.4 seconds, giving the game to the Rattlers, who now focused on adding to their aggregate score.

After an equipment failure aboard Twisted Feather, the Rattlers’ Braidy Randolph (Jonestown, Pennsylvania) earned a re-ride opportunity. After Cody Jesus (Window Rock, Ariz.) was bucked off by Carolina Reaper (Universal Pro Rodeo) in 6.36 seconds, the Rattlers brought Daniel Keeping (Gorman, Texas) off the bench for the re-ride against Dr. X (Universal Pro Rodeo/Pepper/Freeman Cattle Co.). He added 85.75 points to the Rattlers’ lead, sealing the deal against the scoreless Nashville Stampede, 252.25-0.

With this win, the Ariat Texas Rattlers (4-9) improved to 1-2 at PBR Gambler Days, while the Nashville Stampede (3-10) slipped to 0-3.