NASHVILLE –  When the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Stampede Days kicked off Friday night inside Bridgestone Arena, the race to be crowned the inaugural PBR Team Series Champions intensified as the league’s top team was upset, a rising contingent won their fourth straight game and a streaky team of top talents recorded a string of qualified rides putting the entire league on notice.

In the opening game in Music City, the Ariat Texas Rattlers earned a crucial victory, upsetting the No. 1 Missouri Thunder 174.25-0.

Backed by a strong start to the game, logging back-to-back qualified rides, the Kansas City Outlaws won the second game of PBR Stampede Days, beating the Oklahoma Freedom 174.75-87.25.

In a clutch fifth-frame ride, Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) propelled the Austin Gamblers to the team’s fourth-consecutive victory, defeating the Arizona Ridge Riders 175.25-85.25.

The final game of the evening featured the hometown debut of the Nashville Stampede, the city’s newest professional sports team. Despite a quick start to the game, as both Kaique Pacheco and Thiago Salgado converted in the contingent’s opening two outs, the Stampede inevitably fell to the Carolina Cowboys 324-176.25.

In the game, the Cowboys went a near perfect 4-for-5, covering 80% of their bulls.

PBR Stampede Days continues Saturday, August 20 at 6:45 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the Bridgestone Arena Box Office, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.

Prior to Saturday’s event, Stampede Days will host free-to-attend, family-friendly programming at the Bridgestone Arena Plaza starting at 11:00 a.m. CT. The musical performers include: John Haywood (11: 00 a.m.), Carson Beyer (12:00 p.m.), Kimberly Kelly (1:00 p.m.), Will Jones (2:30 p.m.), Mae Estes (3:30 p.m.) and Chancie Neal (4:15 p.m.).

In addition to musical acts on Aug. 20, fan fest patrons will be able to take part in three line-dancing lessons (2:00 p.m., 3:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.) under the instruction of Darcy Leasure, a featured professional from the Wildhorse Saloon.

PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Nashville, Tennessee. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.

Austin Gamblers: 175.25

Arizona Ridge Riders: 85.25

The Austin Gamblers kept their win streak alive Friday evening in Nashville, Tennessee, outlasting the Arizona Ridge Riders 175.25-85.25 to earn their fourth consecutive game win in the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series.

After a scoreless two rounds to begin the game, with the Gamblers awarded a re-ride in the first frame, the game intensified as Lucas Divino (Nova Crixas, Brazil) was up for Austin, and Sandro Batista (Pedra Preta, Brazil) readied to represent the Ridge Riders.

Divino put the first points on the board, riding Twisted Feather (Blake Sharp/Micheal Floyd/Cain Kobert) for 87.75 points.

While Batista was fast to answer, covering Tiger (Blake Sharp/Henry Wilson) for 85.25 points, it was not enough to take the lead, and the Gamblers entered the fourth frame 2.5 points ahead. As the game entered the final stretch, Austin Richardson (Dallas, Texas) and Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Spring, Utah) were unable to convert for their teams, making the fifth frame game-deciding.

No stranger to must-ride situations, two-time PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) was in the closer position for the Gamblers. Rising to the occasion, Leme matched JoJo (Gene Owen Bucking Bulls) jump-for-jump, reaching the whistle and awarded a critical 87.5 points as the electric crowd burst into cheer.

As the final rider out, Ridge Riders’ Luciano De Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) needed a score in excess of 90 points to earn the win. While Castro appeared to have covered Big Bank (Universal Pro Rodeo), the Gamblers challenged the call, sending the out into review.

After replay, Castro was determined to have slapped the bull at 0.6 seconds, earning him no points, and cementing the 175.25-85.25 win for the Austin Gamblers.

On the second night of action for PBR Stampede Days, the Gamblers (5-3) will look for their fifth straight win when they play the Carolina Cowboys (4-4), while the Arizona Ridge Riders (4-4) will attempt to snap their backwards slide when they take on the Kansas City Outlaws (3-5).

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media