CHEYENNE, Wy. – At the first event of the 2023 PBR (Professional Bull Riding) Camping World Team Series season, the Austin Gamblers rode supreme, going a perfect 2-0 in gameplay to be crowned the event champions in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
“Wow, this win is such a relief,” Austin Gamblers Head Coach Michael Gaffney said. “I take myself back to last year when we left and congregated post-event, it was not pretty. We were really disappointed in our performance and how we left Cheyenne, but we knew what a great team we had. So, in contrast to that negative, it just makes this feel all that much better. Our guys are relatively healthy, we were very fearful that we wouldn’t even have Dalton for the first part of the season and all of them gave 120% with an amazing effort every time this week. That’s all you can ask for as a coach, nothing is going to be handed to us this season and nothing was. Our clutch rider (Jose) came through as always.”
The first matchup of the evening echoed yesterday’s performances for both the Austin Gamblers (2-0) and the Missouri Thunder (0-2), as 2022 Team Series MVP Jose Vitor Leme once again secured the victory for the Gamblers, 89.25 – 0, while a young Missouri roster was shutout for a second-straight game. With the victory, the Gamblers became the first team to collect two wins and put pressure on the Cowboys and Freedom to match them and earn a chance to win the event in extra outs.
The boisterous animal athletes strutted their stuff in the second contest of the evening, as they blanked both the Oklahoma Freedom (1-1) and the Kansas City Outlaws (0-2). It is the first time in PBR Teams’ history that an event has featured multiple double-shutouts, and it is the fourth double-shutout in league history and the third to occur in Cheyenne.
In the highest-scoring matchup of the event, the Texas Rattlers (1-1) took advantage of two great performances from rookies Dawson Gleaves and Creek Young, as both young riders recorded qualified riders during their respective PBR Teams’ debuts, part of a four-ride outing for the Rattlers. The Texas squad cruised to a dominant 347.5 – 87.5 victory over the defending champion Nashville Stampede (0-2).
In the final matchup of the evening, the Carolina Cowboys recorded an impressive 178.5 – 0 victory over the Arizona Ridge Riders (0-2). Sage Kimzey made his presence known with his first ride of the season, a monstrous 90-point performance that gave the Cowboys a lead they would never relinquish.
With two teams left undefeated after the first two games, Carolina and Austin turned to extra outs to determine the winner of the first event of the season. Clutch as always, Leme once again delivered for the Gamblers, posting a magical 90.5-point ride atop I'm Legit Too.
The Cowboys then turned to their own former world champion, Cooper Davis, in an attempt to either win or extend the showdown. Davis rocketed out of the chutes atop Mike's Motive, but he was unable to make the 8 after a heart-stopping 3.13 seconds, leaving the Gamblers victorious.
Thanks to their higher aggregate score, however, the Cowboys took the early lead in the PBR Team Series standings.
The PBR Camping World Team Series next heads to T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, for Outlaw Days, the first team-hosted event of the season, beginning Thursday, August 3, at 7:30 p.m. CDT, Friday, August 4, at 7:30 p.m. CDT and Saturday, August 5, at 6:45 p.m. CDT. Tickets are still available for the three-day event and can be purchased at the box office or online at PBR.com, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.
The game matchups for the opening night of competition for Outlaw Days on August 3 are:
Texas Rattlers at Oklahoma Freedom
Carolina Cowboys at Missouri Thunder
Austin Gamblers at Nashville Stampede
Arizona Ridge Riders at Kansas City Outlaws
PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Cheyenne. On Sunday, July 30, fans can tune in to the CBS Television Network at noon ET (check your local listings) for the CBS Game of the Week, the Carolina Cowboys at the Arizona Ridge Riders. Click here for the latest programming schedule.
SCORE BULLETINS
2022 MVP Leme Once Again Secures an Austin Victory
Austin Gamblers: 89.25
Missouri Thunder: 0
The Austin Gamblers (2-0) defeated the Missouri Thunder (0-2) in the opening game of competition Tuesday evening. Austin Richardson (Dallas, Texas) was bucked off by Zorro (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) in 4.99 seconds, setting the tone for the rest of the contest. The Missouri Thunder’s Felipe Furlan (Sales Oliveira, Brazil) followed suit, as he was unseated by DirtyBru (D&H Cattle Co/Gordon/OK Corralis) in 3.98 seconds. After the next six riders were also unable to post a score, the Gamblers’ Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) was in a position to give his team a late lead for the second straight day. The two-time PBR World Champion locked in, rocketing out of the chutes atop Sugar Smack (Blake Sharp/Chris Utz/Carey Brothers) for an impressive 89.25 points. Thunder closer Joao Lucas Campos (Porto Feliz, Brazil) attempted to respond but was unseated by Falcon Eddie (Lari Crane/Gene Owen), completing Missouri’s second-straight shutout. The Gamblers face off against the Nashville Stampede (0-2) in Kansas City on August 3, while the Thunder look to cover their first bull of the season against the Carolina Cowboys (2-0).
“Being the first team to go 2-for-2 is a relief,” Austin Gamblers Head Coach Michael Gaffney said. “It was extremely stressful as we bucked off one bull, then two, three and four but our anchorman Jose came in and pulled us out. We got a score on the board, and that was enough for the "W". I am thrilled to death, and I think I lost another year off of my life.”
Bulls Blank Both Freedom, Outlaws for Fourth Double-Shutout in League History
Oklahoma Freedom: 0
Kansas City Outlaws: 0
The dominant bovine competitors shut out both the Oklahoma Freedom (1-1) and the Kansas City Outlaws (0-2) in the second matchup of the evening. Eli Vastbinder (Statesville, North Carolina) was unseated by Mikey’s Surprise (Ogden Rach/Hart Cattle Co.) in 5.26 seconds in the first out of the matchup. The Outlaw’s leadoff man Wingson Henrique da Silva (Navirai, Brazil) was also unable to make the 8, as he was bucked off by Flapjack (Parker/OK Corralis/Gordon/D&H Cattle) in 3.01 seconds. Koltin Hevalow’s (Smithville, Missouri) out was awarded a re-ride after the next seven riders were bucked off, giving Wyatt Rogers (Hulbert, Oklahoma) a chance to come off the bench and potentially be the hero for Kansas City. He burst out of the chutes to the roaring Cheyenne faithful, but Detroit Lean (Blake Sharp/Henry Wilson) got the better of the Oklahoman after a hard-fought 6.61 seconds. The double-shutout was the fourth in PBR Teams history and the first time a single event has featured two double-shutouts, as both Nashville and Missouri were shut out in Monday’s matchup. The Oklahoma Freedom (1-1) square off against the Texas Rattlers (1-1) on August 3 in Kansas City, while the Outlaws dance with the Arizona Ridge Riders (0-2), looking to record their first ride of the season in front of their home crowd.
Rattlers Ride Hot Start to Defeat Stampede
Texas Rattlers: 347.5
Nashville Stampede: 87.5
The Texas Rattlers (1-1) defeated the Nashville Stampede (0-2) in the penultimate match of the event. Cody Jesus (Window Rock, Arizona) got the Rattlers out to an early lead, covering Top Shelf (P. Ro Ranch/OK Corralis/Gordon/D&H Cattle) for 88 points. After the Stampede’s Dener Barbosa (Paulo de Faria, Brazil) became the third-straight rider to get bucked off, Dawson Gleaves (Amarillo, Texas) extended the Rattlers’ lead with the first 90-point ride of his career, marked exactly 90 points for his dance with JAG Metals Grand Theft (D&H Cattle Co./Philip Elkins). Bruno Carvalho (Alvares Florence, Brazil) responded for the Stampede, covering the first bull of the new season for the defending World Champions with his ride atop Boomerang (Blake Sharp/Stacy Utz/Rachel Farris/Tristen Jones/Stacey Rickman) for 87.5 points. Texas, now on fire, bolstered their lead in their next two outs, as Creek Young (Rogersville, Missouri) recorded the first ride of his PBR career on 2 Words (Nixon Bucking Bulls) for 85.5 points before Daniel Keeping (Montague, Texas) closed the show for the Rattlers with an 84-point outing atop Wasted Days (Hart Cattle Co/Hale). With their stellar performance Tuesday evening, the Texas Rattlers became the first team to cover four bulls in a single game this season. In Kansas City on August 3, the Rattlers will try to stay hot against the Oklahoma Freedom (1-1), while the Nashville Stampede face off against the unbeaten Austin Gamblers (2-0) in search of their first win of the season.
“This was a great win for us,” Texas Rattlers Head Coach Cody Lambert said. “We wanted to ride them all and I felt like we got a chance to do that. I feel like our team has some real depth to it and we used a couple guys that were new this year and they really showed out.”
Kimzey, Cowboys Off to Perfect Start, Beat the Arizona Ridge Riders
Carolina Cowboys: 178.5
Arizona Ridge Riders: 0
The Carolina Cowboys (2-0) beat the Arizona Ridge Riders (0-2) to conclude the first event of the 2023 PBR Camping World Team Series season. Seven-time PRCA World Champion Sage Steele Kimzey (Strong City, Oklahoma) showed why Carolina selected him with the first overall pick in the 2023 Protected Roster Draft, wowing the raucous Cheyenne crowed with a monstrous 90-point ride atop Reba McEntire’s The Hammer (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger). After four straight buckoffs, Colten Fritzlan (Rifle, Colorado) attempted to break the ice for the Ridge Riders but was bested by Moonlight Party (Jane Clark/Gene Owen), giving Cooper Davis (Jasper, Texas) a chance to extend the Cowboys’ lead. Davis delivered, covering Back Jack (Clay Struve/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger) for 88.5 points. Now in a must-ride situation, Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Spring, Utah) burst out of the cutes atop Brusta (Joe & Nina Webb/Julian/D&H Cattle Co) but was unseated after 3.45 seconds. As both teams head to Kansas City for Outlaw Days August 3 – 5, the No. 1 Cowboys will try to remain unbeaten against the Missouri Thunder (0-2) while the Arizona Ridge Riders attempt to spoil the part for the hometown Kansas City Outlaws (0-2).
WYOMING TEAM STANDINGS:
Here are the current Team standings for the Cheyenne PBR Camping World Team Series event after the second day of competition:
Austin Gamblers, 2-0-0
Carolina Cowboys, 2-0-0
Texas Rattlers, 1-1-0
Oklahoma Freedom, 1-1-0
Kansas City Outlaws, 0-2-0
Arizona Ridge Riders, 0-2-0
Nashville Stampede, 0-2-0
Missouri Thunder, 0-2-0
PBR TEAM SERIES SEASON STANDINGS:
Here are the current Team standings for the regular season after the second day of competition in Cheyenne:
Carolina Cowboys, 2-0-0
Austin Gamblers, 2-0-0
Texas Rattlers, 1-1-0
Oklahoma Freedom, 1-1-0
Kansas City Outlaws, 0-2-0
Arizona Ridge Riders, 0-2-0
Nashville Stampede, 0-2-0
Missouri Thunder, 0-2-0
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media