GLENDALE, Ariz. – Throughout the entire 2023 Camping World Team Series season, the Austin Gamblers have very much been an outlier.

Breaking and continuing to extend league records for most event titles (four), game wins (18) and beyond, there’s no doubt they’re “dealt in” to favorable odds and championship aspirations for next month’s 2023 PBR Teams Championship in Las Vegas.

However, coming into this weekend’s PBR Ridge Rider Days, the green and black contingent wasn’t quite finished with their fiery season.

And they definitely aren’t done sticking out from the pack.

But for a team which rosters two of the Top 3-scoring riders on tour, it would be a problem if the Gamblers weren’t sticking out, wouldn’t it?

When you’re a part of the Adriano Moraes and Michael Gaffney-guided organization, it doesn’t matter which time zone you’re from or how far you travel each weekend to battle with the team. Or how many times it might take to complete the task at hand.

It’s always time to punch the clock.

That’s why on Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. the entire team gathered outside the team’s hotel for a morning workout. Running around the Westgate entertainment district which would soon be vacated with thousands of bull riding fans and locals enjoying their weekend around neighboring Desert Diamond Arena, there wasn’t anything in their way of getting a good early stretch in.

Just as the league-leading team entered this weekend’s Ridge Rider Days, rarely opposed at 17-5 on the year and fresh off its fourth event win of the year.

Team building comes in a lot of ways, but the first meal of the day is a foundation.

Austin’s foundation is strong, and when 9:30 rolled around and some calories were burned, the team shared a breakfast together in the hotel’s restaurant, taking another collective step toward greatness.

Sometimes it’s the little things.

With Jose Vitor Leme looking to solidify his second PBR Teams MVP next weekend in Fort Worth, Texas, in as many years when the 5-on-5 circuit concludes its regular season at PBR Rattler Days, the two-time World Champion isn’t just looking to beat teammate Dalton Kasel and Kansas City Outlaws’ standout Cassio Dias when it comes to year-long goals.

He’ll he looking to break another record for the Gamblers (his own), as he looks to surpass last year’s tour-best individual aggregate score (1683.25 points), now just 95.25 points away after logging a nasty 91.5-point ride atop Flapjack Friday night followed up 24 hours later via a flashy 88-point conversion aboard Chateau Montelena’s Montana Jacket.

Coming up just short for Austin, Leme and the Gamblers dropped the opening contest 173.75-173.25 as the Oklahoma Freedom stole the win, thus spoiling what could’ve been a celebratory opening night for J.J. Gotsch and company.

Remaining undeterred and concentrated on their goals, the team pressed the reset button on Saturday morning.

“Did they come in and fail? Of course there’s going to be failures in bull riding, we know that,” Gaffney said.

“We’ve got our one and two, that being Jose and Dalton, and knowing that if they don’t ride, or Dalton is hurt, we have other guys who can step up.”

Continuing their routine, the team parlayed another early run with a complementing breakfast. The only difference this time was they were sitting a few tables away from their eventual night two opponent: The Kansas City Outlaws.

A little friendly competition never hurt anyone. Set to battle against the league’s No. 2, it’s always fun when the stakes are highest for the Gamblers.

But just as team bonding comes in a variety of fashions, so does opposition.

Despite another sincere effort later that evening, Austin eventually dropped a 257.75-177.25 final behind rides from Leme and Rafael dos Santos. Picking up consecutive losses for just the second time all season, Championship Sunday would suddenly be a huge one for the now 17-7 squad.

Needing just two wins throughout the weekend to clinch a regular season title, Gaffney and company suddenly had one remaining opportunity to clinch a first-round bye, let alone regular season honors.

Back to breakfast they went. This time, not thinking about any goals other than the day’s.

Win this matchup. Go 1-0 today and let the rest take care of itself.

Locked in and ready to ride, yet with Kasel continuing to be out of the lineup due to an injury, the Gamblers finally checked that elusive box.

“Quite an exasperation and a hard way to get there, but I’m glad we got there. Between the re-rides, then with Jose coming down the lineup, you’re almost always a shoo-in to put a score on the board, right?”

“Wooohhh,” he said, verbally letting out a breath and letting it all sink it.

“It makes you feel good.”

Handing the Nashville Stampede a 172.25-87.25 loss during Sunday’s opening game, it was an unlikely pair of heroes in Cort McFadden and Ramon de Lima who went the distance for the Gamblers.

Seeing the team survive without the efforts of Leme and Kasel, brighter days are ahead for the league’s No. 1 squad after a bit of an off weekend.

“It gives those other guys, all of them for that matter, that dependency on each other. It’s not just a one or two man show. You’ve got to be able to look down the dugout and say, ‘Are you ready to rock n’ roll?’” Gaffney spelled out.

“That’s what we did last night, giving these other guys some reps. Cort just came off a win in his college rodeo, he was 83 points and said he was feeling good, ready to go in. What a great confidence builder for the youngest guy on our team. Love it.”

But none of the records, glory or any of it matter if they can’t get the job done inside T-Mobile Center Oct. 20-22.

“That’s absolutely how we, and everybody else, looks at it. Each and every game is important, but onto the next day. I think we can look back and be very pleased, like today, everybody on the roster stepping in and being dependable.”

Courtesy of their win over the league’s defending champions Sunday, the team successfully claimed a first-round bye during the PBR Teams Championship inside T-Mobile Arena for the second year in a row.

While there may be a few celebrations had and hugs shared following the team’s win, every man inside Austin’s locker room was sure to come to terms with the underlying truth. The job, still, isn’t done.

Needing one more win next weekend inside Dickies Arena will check another box for Austin, the regular season championship. But ultimately, they won’t be happy until they leave the 2023 PBR Teams Championship with the biggest prize of them all.

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media