Just like that, when this weekend's event concludes, one third of the tour's 2024 slate will officially be in the books, as premier series action prepares to bring the world's best bull riders to Tulsa, Oklahoma's BOK Center for the eighth event of the 2024 Unleash The Beast campaign:

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DIAS DAZZLES TO TAKE BACK NO. 1: After sitting in the No. 1 spot in the standings for a month, No. 1 Cassio Dias briefly lost his hold on the top spot to now-No. 2 Austin Richardson after the Texan won back-to-back titles in the Empire State. However, Dias bounced back in Chicago, going a perfect 3-for-3 and winning his premier series-leading third event of the season. The MVP runner-up for the Kansas City Outlaws in the separate PBR Teams league, Dias finished tied for fourth in the first round with an 87-point ride on IHOP. Now on a roll, the Brazilian tied for second in Round 2, scoring 86.75 points on Grey Fox to earn the second pick in the championship pen heading into the final round. Choosing Do Dat Eddie, Dias saved his best for last, storming out of the gates for an event-high-tying 89 points to overtake Cort McFadden, who was making his PBR debut, in the event standings. After the young Texan was bucked off Polar Express in 5.26 seconds, Dias knew he was back on top in the race for a gold buckle. The rising superstar is slated to take on Lansky in Round 1 on Friday

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: While there is only one rematch in Round 1 on Friday, veteran Joao Ricardo Vieira faces King Tut for the first time after facing the animal athlete’s sire, SweetPro’s Bruiser, five times. The Brazilian cowboy went 2-for-5 on the legendary bovine competitor throughout both of their storied careers. Vieira bested Bruiser in the first matchup for 88.75 points in Thackerville, Oklahoma, in August of 2014, but the bull got his revenge at the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada, later that year, bucking him off in 3.4 seconds. In February of 2015 at the Iron Cowboy in Arlington, Texas, Vieira topped Bruiser for a monstrous 90.5 points, going on to win the event. However, the 2023 PBR Brand of Honor inductee once again got his revenge, bucking off the perennial gold buckle contender twice in 2017, first in 6.49 seconds in March, and finally in 6.95 seconds in October. Bruiser was in top form in both outings, marked 46 points in March and 46.25 points in October

NO EXPERIENCE, NO PROBLEM: Rookies continued to shine in the early race for a gold buckle, as three sit in the Top 10 of the Unleash The Beast standings: No. 1 Cassio Dias, No. 9 Julio Cesar Marques and No. 10 Kaiden Loud. Dias once again put together a perfect showcase to take back the top spot in the standings last weekend in Chicago. However, he wasn’t the only rookie to shine in the Windy City, as Cort McFadden went 2-for-3 in his Unleash The Beast debut, finishing fourth. A reserve rider for the Austin Gamblers in PBR Teams, the rookie entered PBR Chicago red-hot, topping 8 of his last 10 bulls. Currently ranked No. 6 in the Velocity Tour standings, the Novice, Texas, native is the son of five-time PBR World Finals qualifier Cory McFadden, who had two very memorable rides against three-time PBR YETI World Champion Bull Yellow Jacket, both resulting in 95+ point scores. Showing he has what it takes to follow in his father’s footsteps, McFadden thundered out of the chutes on Nightmare for 86.75 points in Round 1. The young Texan followed that up by topping Sly for a round-winning 87.25 points in the second round, earning his pick of the pen heading into the championship round. Choosing Polar Express as his final animal athlete opponent, McFadden initially sat tall aboard the powerful bovine competitor but was unseated after a thrilling 5.26 seconds. McFadden faces Sucker Pop in Round 1 on Friday

Fans can tune into Round 1 of the Ranches Classic PBR Tulsa, presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Tulsa via RidePass on Pluto TV Friday night beginning at 7:45 p.m. MT and stay tuned to PBR.com and PBR social media channels for the latest wrecks, text and beyond!