WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Carolina Cowboys made their hometown debut with a bang Friday evening, registering a commanding game win as the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series’ Cowboy Days got underway in Winston-Salem, North Carolina inside LJVM Coliseum.
Going head-to-head against the Missouri Thunder, the Cowboys won their fifth consecutive game, riding three of their five bulls to hand the Thunder a scoreless 261.5-0 defeat. Improving to 9-5 on the season, the Cowboys also rose to No. 2 in the current league standings.
Following Friday evening’s games, there is a new No. 1-ranked team in the PBR Team Series. The Arizona Ridge Riders defeated the Texas Rattlers, presented by Ariat, by one ride score, 258.25-169, and rose from No. 2 to No. 1 in the league rankings. Now 10-4 on the season, they overtook the Austin Gamblers, who backslid to No. 3.
The Gamblers’ fall down the standings came on the spurs of an 86.25-235.5 loss to the Kansas City Outlaws during the opening game of PBR Cowboy Days.
In a game headlined by the fifth 90-point ride in PBR Team Series history, the Oklahoma Freedom defeated the Nashville Stampede 261-0. The monstrous 90.25-point score was delivered by third-round draft pick Chase Outlaw as the team’s lead-off rider.
PBR Cowboy Days continues Saturday, September 10 at 6:45 p.m. ET. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the LJVM Coliseum Box Office or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.
The Carolina Cowboys will also hold a daily, free-to-attend, family-friendly fan festival at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, featuring racing activations, musical performances, cowboy church, local vendors and more.
On Saturday, August 10, the festival will open at 2:00 p.m. The marquee programming will feature a classic car show as curated by American stock car racing personality and long-time Richard Childress Racing staffer Chocolate Myers, and the musical stylings of Elvie Shane.
PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Winston-Salem. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.
Carolina Cowboys: 261.5
Missouri Thunder: 0.00
In their hometown debut, the Carolina Cowboys brought the opening day of PBR Team Series competition in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to an electric conclusion, registering a commanding 261.5-0 victory against the Missouri Thunder.
The win marked the fifth consecutive for the red-hot Carolina Cowboys. As the game got underway in the first, Cody Teel (College Station, Texas) was bested for the Thunder, while Mason Taylor (Maypearl, Texas) earned a re-ride for the Cowboys after the team successfully challenged the trip, which was initially ruled a buckoff.
In the second, after the Thunder’s Andrew Alvidrez (Seminole, Texas) bucked off, 2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis (Jasper, Texas) made his highly anticipated PBR Team Series debut for the Cowboys and attempted his first bull since January as he recovered from two shoulder surgeries.
Matched up with Happy Gambler (Sho-Me Rodeo), Davis was a near picture of perfection, as he reached the requisite 8 for 88.25 points.
After a scoreless third, Taylor attempted his re-ride draw Mike’s Effect (Blake Sharp/Michael Floyd/High Voltage Cattle) ahead of the fourth. Bringing the spirited crowd to a roar, Taylor rode the bull for 86.5 points to propel his team to a 174.75-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Jesse Petri (Dublin, Texas) found himself in a must-ride position as he readied to climb aboard ZZ Top (Lucas Manning Bucking Bulls). While Petri was initially ruled to have made the 8, the trip was sent into an official’s review, and Petri was ruled to have hit the ground in a heart-breaking 7.87 seconds, delivering the victory to the Cowboys.
With two riders left to compete, Wingson Henrique da Silva (Navirai, Brazil) added to the Cowboys’ margin of victory in the bottom of the fourth, converting aboard High Country Hitman (High Country Solutions/JR Phillips) for 86.75 points.
While the final round of outs ended in buckoffs for both contingents, the final scoreboard read a 261.5-0 victory for the Carolina Cowboys. Compliments of the victory, the Carolina Cowboys, who improved to 9-5, rose to No. 2 in the PBR Team Series Standings, while the Missouri Thunder, now 7-7, remained No. 4.
When the Carolina Cowboys’ inaugural homestand continues Saturday, September 10, the Cowboys will take on the new league No. 1 Arizona Ridge Riders, while the Missouri Thunder will attempt to rebound when they play the Nashville Stampede.
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media