PUEBLO, Colo. – Boudreaux Campbell has smelled victory several times this season, but hasn’t been able to finish the deal, seeing fellow competitors Jose Vitor Leme and Andrew Alvidrez capture five events themselves to begin the Unleash The Beast season.

Beginning the year with a fifth-place showcase in Tucson, Arizona, going 2-for-3 with a pair of near-90-point outings, Campbell knew the 2023 campaign could be a special one. Building on the successful start two weeks later in Minneapolis, he finished runner-up to Alvidrez despite turning in a perfect 3-for-3 effort.

Coming off of a third-place showing in last weekend’s PBR Wrangler Love Live Cowboys Classic 15/15 Bucking battle, Campbell appreciated the success, but it’s event titles he’s seeking at this part of the season as he continues to chase his first gold buckle.

“Every time I ride bulls, the goal is to be the very best one going, that’s always the goal,” a fired-up Campbell shared.

“If you don’t want to be the best, I don’t know why you’re riding. Any good bull rider, any good competitor. If you like to compete, you don’t like losing.”

Admitting the importance of celebrating the rides, Campbell detailed his ability to build on what he’s accomplished so far while not getting caught up in the details.

“You take all of the good stuff and you forget the bad stuff and continue to put in work during the week,” Campbell said. “By the time you walk into that arena Friday night, it’s a different bull, it’s a different arena but it’s still the game goal, 8 seconds.”

While the Crockett, Texas native is only 24, he carries himself like a veteran. Riders around the locker room seem to gravitate toward the natural-born leader for shenanigans and advice alike.

“Growing up, my dad was real tough on me, always made sure I did right, not wrong,” Campbell shared.

“If I ever messed up, he let me know I messed up, that’s for sure. My dad did a great job raising me and made me the bull rider and the man I am today.”

Campbell now enters this weekend’s action as the No. 10-ranked rider after picking up a combined 51 Unleash The Beast points. He’s set to square off against Flyin Wired in Friday night’s Round 1 go as the third rider scheduled to compete.

As the race to be crowned 2023 World Champion continues to heat up, let’s take a look at who’s drawing into the lineup during this weekend’s PBR Express Ranches Invitational, presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

WHO’S IN FOR TULSA Jose Vitor Leme Cooper Davis Kaique Pacheco Dalton Kasel Thiago Salgado Jesse Petri Rafael Jose de Brito Luciano De Castro Boudreaux Campbell Keyshawn Whitehorse Silvano Alves Eduardo Aparecido Casey Roberts Bob Mitchell Wingson Henrique da Silva Joao Ricardo Vieira Koltin Hevalow Manoelito de Souza Junior Braidy Randolph Sandro Batista Dener Barbosa Eli Vastbinder Marcus Mast Rafael Henrique dos Santos Wyatt Rogers Falvio Zivieri Ramon de Lima Alex Cerqueira Maruicio Gulla Moreira Austin Richardson Tyler Manor Adriano Salgado Vitor Losnake Kyler Oliver Chase Dougherty Casey Coulter Afonson Quintino Joao Henrique Lucas Caden Bunch

OUT BECAUSE OF INJURY/OTHER Andrew Alvidrez Daniel Keeping Mason Taylor Brady Oleson Tate Pollmeier Derek Kolbaba Colten Fritzlan Daylon Swearingen Ednei Caminhas Chase Dougherty Marcelo Procopio Pereira Jess Lockwood

WELCOME TO THE BEAST

Joining the field for the next two events courtesy of the qualifier list, Afonso Quintino, a 25-year-old Brazilian, will appear in his first Unleash The Beast event Friday night in Tulsa after registering second and third place finishes in his last two Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour events. Austin Richardson, Flavio Zivieri and Casey Coulter will also return to competition this weekend, courtesy of the qualifier list.

Securing a sixth-place finish while making his UTB debut last weekend, courtesy of his 2-for-3 showcase, newcomer Tyler Manor is set to complete in just his second-ever UTB event this weekend. The impressive 18-year-old bested Karizma for 89 points in Round 1 and doubled down with an 87.75-point out against Back Jack in the second round, eventually bucking off his short round opponent July in 4.17 seconds to spoil his perfect debut. The Portland, Indiana, native still came away with 44 UTB points in his first event with the big dogs and will look to build on it this weekend in Tulsa.

After picking up a fourth-place finish in Sacramento, and corresponding 62.5 UTB points, Ramon de Lima is also set to return to UTB competition this weekend, matched against Bootlegger in Round 1.

LEME HOLDS 115.5-POINT HEADING INTO TULSA

Capturing 187 points in any given weekend is a huge leg up in climbing the Unleash The Beast standings for any rider, but when No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme parlayed a second-place finish in last weekend’s 15/15 Bucking Battle with his third event win of the year, a golden finish at the PBR Wrangler Long Live Cowboys Classic to take home said points, his success in Sacramento thrusted the two-time World Champion into the driver’s seat heading into Tulsa. Now, with No. 2 Andrew Alvidrez set to miss this weekend’s competition in Tulsa, Leme will look to build on his 115.5-point lead over Alvidrez, beginning with a Round 1 matchup against Diamond in the Rough Friday night.  

ROUND 1 REMATCHES

Manoelito de Souza Junior vs. Buster Brown (2.16 seconds at PBR ZipRecruiter Invitational, presented by Ariat in Indianapolis, Indiana) Thiago Salgado vs. Johnny Smooth (3.23 seconds at PBR ZipRecruiter Invitational, presented by Ariat in Indianapolis, Indiana)

FOLLOW ALONG

As this weekend’s action in Tulsa, Oklahoma, quickly approaches, the slate of action is set to begin Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:45 p.m. CT on RidePass on Pluto TV, with Round 2 and the championship round set to conclude Saturday, Feb. 11 beginning at 6:45 p.m. CT. Round 2 will be broadcast on CBS Sunday, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m. CT, while Round 2 and the championship round will air together at 1 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network.

Fans can stay tuned to PBR.com and PBR social media channels throughout the weekend for the latest scores, wrecks, injury updates and beyond as the world’s best bull riders get set to compete at the PBR Express Ranches Invitational, presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Tulsa inside BOK Center Feb. 10-12.

Photo courtesy of Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media