As the PBR's Unleash The Beast bucks into Little Rock, Arkansas' Simmons Bank Arena March 3-4 during the 14th event of the 2023 Unleash The Beast campaign, PBR.com is highlighting some of the series’ latest winners, top competitors and beyond as the Unleash The Beast rages on!

KASEL IS KING IN CALI: Dalton Kasel won his fourth career elite tour event in Los Angeles last weekend, going 2-for-3 and catapulting himself from No. 9 to No. 4 in the Unleash The Beast standings. The Texan started his weekend with a 90-point dance with WSM’s Time In A Bottle in Round 1 to secure second place entering Championship Sunday. In Round 2, Kasel lasted the 8 on Kid Knapper for 89.75 points, giving him his choice of bovine athlete opponents in the final round. The 2022 Austin Gamblers star didn’t shy away from a challenge, choosing YETI PBR World Champion Bull race-leader Cool Whip, who had yet to be ridden in 11 outs this year. While Kasel was offered a re-ride after being bucked off in 2.83 seconds, he had already secured the weekend’s event buckle. continuing his west-coast success, he’s won the 15/15 Bucking Battle in Sacramento earlier this season and now has 14 qualified rides in 20 outs in the Golden State, including an incredible five 90-point rides. His performance in Los Angeles also tied him for the most 90-point rides by a rider this season (3) and the most event round wins on tour this season (4). Kasel is currently slated to face Old School Cool in Round 1 in Little Rock on Friday

LEME REMAINS NO. 1: Despite going 0-for-2 in Los Angeles, Jose Vitor Leme maintained his position atop the Unleash The Beast standings for the fourth consecutive week, 102.5 points ahead of Andrew Alvidrez. In Eugene the previous week, Leme went 1-for-2, riding Chiseled for 88.25 points in Round 1 before suffering an injury while being bucked off by Punchy Pete in Round 2 and being unable to compete in the championship round. The Brazilian had his six-out ride streak end in the championship round at the previous UTB event in Tulsa after he had overtaken the No. 1 spot by winning and placing second in the 15/15 Bucking Battle the week before in Sacramento. In the two-time PBR World Champion’s first trip to California this season, he went a perfect 3-for-3, starting with an 85.5-point ride on Havoc in Round 1. Leme saved his best for Championship Sunday, putting up 89.5 points in a dance with Lil Hott in Round 2 before closing out his 26th career elite tour win with an 87.5-point ride on The Right Stuff. In addition to his Sacramento event win, Leme placed second in the 15/15 Bucking Battle by hanging on to Charmer for 86.75 points. It was the second time this season that the Brazilian champion had won an event and placed second in a Bucking Battle during the same weekend, as Leme went 3-for-3 in Chicago and placed second in the 15/15 Bucking Battle with another qualified ride on The Right Stuff, this time for 88 points. Leme, who won last year’s event in Little Rock, is slated to face Ain’t No Joke in Round 1 on Friday 

For all of the statistics, stories and standings heading into  this weekend's PBR U.S. Border Patrol Invitational, be sure to check out this week's Game Notes and stay tuned to PBR.com and PBR social media channels!

Photo courtesy of Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media

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