PUEBLO, Colo. – Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and CURT, a leading manufacturer of custom-fit trailer hitches exclusively made in the USA, announced today that CURT will become the Official Trailer Hitch of the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, the sport’s premier expansion tour.

The multi-year partnership is the Wisconsin-based company’s first sports sponsorship.

As the Exclusive Trailer Hitch and Official “Qualified Ride” Sponsor of the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, CURT will be a visible presence in the Velocity Tour’s 31 events across 20 U.S. states beginning with the season-launch double-up events in Lexington, Kentucky, (January 5-6) and Portland, Oregon, (January 6).

CURT will also be the event entitlement partner of the tour’s event in North Charleston, South Carolina.

“We know that PBR fans enjoy coming to our events in big trucks and also hauling stuff – from bulls and horses to campers and recreational vehicles, which makes PBR the ideal platform for CURT’s first sports sponsorship,” said Josh Baker, Chief Revenue Officer, PBR. “We are thrilled to support a company that makes their products here in America grow their brand into a household name.”

“Joining forces with PBR on the national stage is an exhilarating opportunity to create an unforgettable experience for fans and riders alike,” expressed Kristi Feeney, Director of Marketing for Aftermarket Automotive. “At CURT, we are deeply rooted in the principles of hard work, determination and resilience. These shared values, combined with the vibrant, family-focused atmosphere of PBR, make for a seamless fit with our towing-centric brand.”

If a utility trailer or recreational vehicle needs to be towed, PBR fans are more likely to own a truck to tow it. PBR fans are 87% more likely than the general U.S. population 18 years or older to own a camper or RV, 104% more likely to own an ATV, 110% more likely to own a watercraft and 141% more likely to own a snowmobile, according to YouGov Profiles+.

The PBR’s Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, which began in 2014, is PBR’s fastest-growing tour, bringing the excitement and top-levels of cowboy and bovine talent that fans have come to expect from the sport, headlined by a historic 12 double-up event weekends. Every Velocity Tour event is carried on PBR RidePass on Pluto TV, PBR’s flagship digital network.

The partnership announcement with CURT comes on the spurs of one of the organization’s most dynamic individual seasons in 2023, as the PBR Velocity Tour broke and reset numerous attendance and competition records in its most successful season to date. In 2023, the expansion Velocity Tour hosted more than 289,000 fans, setting 21 event attendance records, while selling out 17 events.

Photo courtesy of Andre Silva/Bull Stock Media