RENO, Nev. – The Reno Event Center was electric on Saturday night as Dawson Branton (Jefferson, Oregon) clinched the first Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) event win of his career at the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Reno Rumble.
After tying for 10th place on Friday night, Branton had an uphill climb on Saturday night to capture the points he needed to rocket up the leaderboard. Only eight cowboys recorded rides in Round 2, as the incredible animal athletes of the PBR conquered the field.
Matched with The Jungle (JQH Bucking Bulls/ Skip & Elaine Jones) for his Round 2 ride, the 21-year-old cowboy made his intentions known with an 86-point score.
Branton became one of only two men to go 3-for-3 and have a flawless weekend as he then bested Bangarang (Shuler Bucking Bulls) for 83.5 points in the final round.
The Oregon cowboy leaves Reno with 124.5 Velocity Global points.
As the only other man to ride all three of his matched bulls throughout the weekend, Utah native Josh Frost (Randlett, Utah) captured second place overall.
In Round 2, Frost was paired with Second Hand Smoke (Lee Bucking Stock) for 79.5 points.
He then set his sights on the championship round, but was tossed around by his bovine opponent Night Shift (Lee Bucking Stock) for a less than ideal 61-point score.
Frost collected 83 Velocity Global points courtesy of his 3-for-3 weekend.
Friday night’s Round 1 winner Austin Richardson (Dallas, Texas) and Chase Wimer (Corning, California) shared third place overall for the weekend after both cowboys went 2-for-3.
In Round 2, Richardson, an Austin Gamblers’ athlete, was dispatched at a mere 0.66 seconds by his bovine opponent Dark Fantasy (Kevin Foreman Bucking Bulls). He was then paired with Figure 8 (Kevin Foreman Bucking Bulls) in the championship round and reclaimed his hot streak after recording an 87.5-point ride score.
Richardson exited northern Neveda with 84.5 Velocity Global points.
Wimer, with his eyes set on an event win, recorded the highest ride score of the weekend with an 89.5-point score against John 14:6 (BMC Bucking Bulls / Jenkins Cattle Co.) thereby securing his place into the championship round. The momentum of two scores on the board were no match for Whip (Team Wyatt), as Wimer was flung to the dirt after just 2.82 seconds.
The California cowboy returns home with 73 Velocity Global points.
Continuing the 2-for-3 streak, Brazilian Claudio Montanha Jr. (Pacaembu, Brazil) rounded out the Top 5 of the Reno Rumble.
After confidently besting his Round 1 matchup, Montanha was no match for Jerry Lee (Shuler Bucking Bulls) in Round 2 with an early departure after 4.46 seconds. Despite the setback, the 33-year-old reminded fans of why they came to the Reno Events Center as he conquered Hey Bartender (JQH Bucking Bulls – Skip & Elaine Jones) for a resounding 83.5 points.
For his efforts, the Brazilian netted 52.5 Velocity Global points.
The talented bull riders of the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour will next head to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the PBR Tractor Supply Co. Classic Jan. 27-28.
PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) - Reno Rumble
Reno Events Center – Reno, Nevada
Name, Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points
1. Dawson Branton, 83-86-83.5-252.50-124.5 Points.
2. Josh Frost, 84-79.5-61-224.50-83 Points.
3. Austin Richardson, 87.5-0-87.5-175.00-84.5 Points.
(tie). Chase Wimer, 85.5-89.5-0-175.00-73 Points.
5. Claudio Montanha Jr., 86-0-83.5-169.50-52.5 Points.
6. Zane Cook, 84-83-0-167.00-39 Points.
(tie). Ramon de Lima, 84-0-83-167.00-39 Points.
8. Francisco Garcia Torres, 83-82.5-0-165.50-29 Points.
9. Guilherme Valleiras, 71-73-0-144.00-8 Points.
10. Levi Gray, 0-86-0-86.00-19.5 Points.
11. Santiago Castellanos [2], 85.5-0-0-85.50-17.5 Points.
12. Aaron Williams [1], 83.5-0-0-83.50-11.5 Points.
(tie). Dustin Martinez, 83.5-0-0-83.50-11.5 Points.
14. Nick Tetz, 0-82.5-0-82.50-14.5 Points.
15. Alvaro Alvarez Aguilar, 80.5-0-0-80.50-8 Points.
16. Anthony Lyons, 80-0-0-80.00-8 Points.
17. Travis Wimberley, 77.5-0-0-77.50-7 Points.
Aaron Williams [2], 0-0-0-0.00
Bill Henry, 0-0-0-0.00
Mason Moody, 0-0-0-0.00
Griffin Smeltzer, 0-0-0-0.00
Ray Mayo, 0-0-0-0.00
Kyle Eaton, 0-0-0-0.00
Colton Dougherty, 0-0-0-0.00
Francisco Morales, 0-0-0-0.00
Santiago Castellanos [1], 0-0-0-0.00
Vinell Mariano, 0-0-0-0.00
Colt Robinson, 0-0-0-0.00
Quinten Panarra, 0-0-0-0.00
Felipe Ruberti, 0-0-0-0.00
Paulo Rodriguez, 0-0-0-0.00
Wyatt Moulton, 0-0-0-0.00
Gabe Jacques, 0-0-0-0.00
Austin Perkins, 0-0-0-0.00
Trevin Bundy, 0-0-0-0.00
Garrett Crist, 0-0-0-0.00
Billy Quillan, 0-0-0-0.00
Brett Gunderson, 0-0-0-0.00
Garrett Hoopes, 0-0-0-0.00
Will Morris, 0-0-0-0.00
Photo courtesy of Andre Silva/Bull Stock Media
