FORT WORTH, Texas – When the dust inside Dickies Arena settled Saturday evening as Round 2 of the 2023 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast came to a close, Austin Richardson had something to build on.
A second-round win at World Finals.
While this edition of the year-end spectacle represents the talented 23-year-old’s fourth appearance at a World Finals event, Saturday night marked the first time he was able to capture a round win.
Breaking his nine-out buckoff streak Saturday, courtesy of his 89.75-point tussle with Black Gold, Richardson made his attempt count after a few minor tweaks to his approach.
After going 0-for-7 last year, his conversion represents his first qualified ride at a season-culminating session since November 7, 2021, when the Dallas, Texas, native bested Jersey Tough for 87.25 points.
RELATED: Dallas's own Austin Richardson wins Round 2 of the 2023 PBR World Finals
“I fixed a few things mentally and physically and just came in here open-minded and ready to do my deal and it went great,” Richardson said following his conversion.
“That bull, I knew of him, I seen him a couple of times. Knew he fit me and all I had to do was give it my all, clear my mind and let my body take care of the work. That’s what happened.”
Easier said than done, of course, the animal athlete absolutely exploded out of the gates, furiously spinning to his right while doing his best to dispatch the cowboy.
But luckily for the Austin Gamblers’ rider, he’s tested his luck before.
“He’s a big strong bull and I’m a little guy, so I have to stay hustling the whole time. I just knew that if I leave out there with him, get there around that first corner and start stretching my way, I knew it would work out and it went perfect. How I planned it.”
When his 89.75-point score was announced to the crowd, Dickies Arena went crazy as he jumped 2022 PBR Canada Nick Tetz on the leaderboard.
Joined by the ever-festive Flint Rasmussen, the hometown kid did his best Griddy celebration, skipping across the dirt in celebration.
“It gives me all of the confidence in the world. Especially riding a rank bull, and it’s just the beginning of the Finals, so if I can get four more, five more bulls rode just like how I did tonight, it would be great,” he shared.
“There’s a lot of money up for grabs. If I could finish this year at the World Finals like I did at the beginning of the season, it would work out perfect and I would win a bunch of money and have some fun.”
Sitting even with Derek Kolbaba atop the overall event’s standings, who bested Top Shelf for an identical mark just 24 hours before, he’ll look to stay in the ride column Sunday, May 14 in hopes of chasing what would be his first-ever World Finals event title when Weekend One concludes, beginning at 1:45 p.m. CST.
“It would be the biggest highlight of my career so far. That’s what I dream of: coming to World Finals and kicking ass. That’d be a dream come true. I can’t win a world title, but I can come in here and compete with these guys and win the world event, that would be a dream come true.”
There wasn’t a long nap, an extra-special meal or anything out of the ordinary that fueled Richardson, either.
He was just in his groove Saturday.
“I just felt good. I was lucky enough to have a good pick coming into there, (the second-round bull draft), I think I was ninth pick or something, and this round of bulls is really tough, some of the rankest ones. I had a pretty good pick spot and I chose a bull that I knew I could ride and that fits my style. It just all worked out.”
Less than 45 minutes from his house and with several family members and friends in attendance, he was able to stay locked in when it was his turn to leave the chutes.
“I’m just treating it as a practice pen. It’s right down the road from my house, so just keeping it cool,” he concluded.
“Going to my buddy Maverick’s house roping and bucking bulls. Just keeping it simple and having fun with it. I’m staying here in Fort Worth for the first weekend, then I’ll go home for a couple of days and then next weekend, I’ll stay here. Just trying to think of it as going to a different practice pen right down the road, that’s it. I try not to have all these lights and everything distract me, just keeping it simple.”
Photo courtesy of Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media