NEW YORK CITY – On Friday night at the Monster Energy Buck Off At the Garden, presented by Ariat, at Madison Square Garden, the Texas Rattlers took a bite out of the Big Apple.

The new PBR Camping World Team Series Champions gathered at the world’s most famous arena to receive their championship buckles, celebrating their crowning achievement from two months ago.

The Rattlers were one of the most consistent teams during the 2023 regular season, going 16-12 to secure the No. 3 seed at the PBR Camping World Teams Championship in Las Vegas. Despite narrowly missing a first-round bye, the Rattlers entered Las Vegas with momentum on their side after winning the final regular-season event – their homestand, Rattler Days.

Under the bright lights of Las Vegas, Texas went a perfect 4-0 – including a 4-for-5 showing in the championship game – to clinch the championship.

In New York, it was a night drenched in gold for the entire Rattlers franchise, as the General Manager and Coach of the Year Awards were also handed out – to Chad Blankenship and Cody Lambert, respectively.

“(This is) a fantastic group,” Blankenship said as he accepted his buckle. “I want to thank my fellow GMs, first of all. This is a tremendous honor, and I’m deeply humbled. But this award is a reflection of the strength of the coaching staff and the program that they’ve put together. Our fantastic riders – they’re the best in the business. Our ownership group. I also want to thank my wife and my son, who are here. All of us who work in this PBR space understand what a sacrifice it is for our families, and we’re all grateful.”

Lambert’s honor was especially poignant, as the former bull rider and longtime PBR Director of Livestock has spent his entire life involved in the sport.

“This is my dream job,” Lambert said. “At my age, I wake up all the time wondering, ‘What am I doing here?’ And I feel like this is what I was put here to do.”

Lambert received a standing ovation from his riders as he took the stage to accept his buckle – the world title he never won as an individual.

“Chad mentioned our family,” Lambert said. “My family, they were raised in the bull riding business, they’ve been around it, but I’ve never seen them be as big a bull riding fans as they are now as Rattler fans. And I’ve got to thank the ownership group – I’ve got to thank them for the job they let me have. They hired me, but God brought me to a point to lead these young men to be an example, and to be an example for all bull riders and all men. And I’m just so proud of what they do.”

One of those men is Joao Ricardo Vieira, who was named PBR Camping World Teams Championship MVP after going 4-for-4.

Vieira not only received that buckle in New York City, but the $10,000 check as well.

“It’s so special for me, my career,” Vieira said. “I learned a lot with this team and with Cody Lambert. He’s helped me a lot, and I’m thankful for him believing in me. He’s put me in to ride all the time, and I’m so grateful to help this team.”

His team stood around him as he received his long overdue accolades – Vieira is widely considered one of the best bull riders to never have won a World Championship. At 39 years old, he’s making another go of it this season. Currently ranked No. 13 in the Unleash The Beast World Championship standings, Vieira takes on Train Station in Round 2 (6:30 p.m. ET on RidePass on Pluto TV).

As Vieira pursues a gold buckle, he’ll have some familiar competition.

While Round 1 in New York wasn’t particularly kind to the Rattlers, with just Eli Vastbinder recording a qualified ride (his 84 points on Wooderson has him sitting eighth on the event leaderboard), teammates Cody Jesus and Brady Fielder are No. 4 and 5, respectively, in the standings.

“We talk about it all the time with each other, and I’ve told every one of the guys, the more time they get to spend with Joao, the better they’re going to be,” Lambert said. “I mean, as late as a couple days ago, we had a meeting, and I was explaining the same thing to the guys, that the more time they get to see him embrace the work, embrace the effort, and ride with love in his heart, the better they’re all going to be.”

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media