PUEBLO, Colo. — In 2024, there are quite a few ways bull riders can earn a spot on Unleash The Beast, but there’s something to be said about the old fashion process of working your way up the ranks.

With the PBR Camping World Team Series and international competition providing avenues for riders to compete within the premier series, it’s harder than ever to earn said berth, let alone stay ranked amongst the Top 30-some riders in the world.

With little wiggle room once you do make it to the big show, it’s all about taking advantage of your opportunity once you get it.

If you get it, that is.

Riders waiting for that moment, be it the first instance of their career or the umpteenth time a cowboy has once again risen to elite status, typically find themselves competing within the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour and Touring Pro Division this time of year.

Looking at this week’s personnel ups and downs alone, both No. 36 Jake Morinec (2-for-5 overall; earned 39.5 UTB points for his fourth-place finish in Albany) and No. 40 Guilherme Valleiras (2-for-5 overall; earned 30 UTB points for his sixth-place finish in Albany) are set to compete on the premier series tour for the next two weeks after successfully defending their respective qualifier list positions.

Brazilian standout Joao Henrique Lucas punched a ticket to his first premier series appearance since Feb. 10, 2023 by exiting the WCRA Stampede at the E with an event buckle back on Jan. 3.

Dawson Branton also draws into the Unleash The Beast lineup for the first time since posting an epic sixth-place finish at the 2023 World Finals: Unleash The Beast in Fort Worth, Texas. Pairing a set of victories at the PBR Stockyards Showcase (Nov. 30) and most recently a first-place showcase at the PWVT event in Portland last weekend, he’s got an opportunity to best his No. 31 finish from last season by getting some early-season points in Chicago.

Capturing his career-first PWVT event buckle last weekend in Lexington, Kentucky, during just his seventh-ever appearance at a PBR-sanctioned event, 18-year-old Clay Guiton recorded a fourth-place result at PBR Bullmania (Dec. 31), which also represented his best finish at a Touring Pro Division – USA event thus far, to earn a spot in Friday's draw. His showdown with Nitty Gritty will represent his career-first out on the premier series.

Continuing to sit atop the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour standings, he’s got a 21.5-point lead over the tour’s No. 3-ranked rider, Cort McFadden.

The very same cowboy who just exited the PBR Denver Chute Out at The National Western Stock Show with, count em’, two event buckles, honored by both PBR and TNWSS for his event-best efforts.

“I’m excited. I wish I would’ve rode that last one, but I’m still walking out of here the champ,” McFadden shared center-dirt as he collected his prizes.

“It’s great to do this at the beginning of the year. Getting this win under my belt right at the beginning and then keeping it rolling through the season. It’s a great way to start it.”

Initially teaming up with Too Dirty during a rare Monday night event-opener, McFadden got on the board courtesy of an 86.5-point conversion.

With 90 participants competing in Round 1, punching his ticket to the short go was a step in the right direction, but far from the 19-year-old’s ultimate goal.

Later that week going head-to-head with a bovine athlete named Crazy Times, he reassured the crowd that he was here to compete.

“Really nice bull, but I couldn’t get him to stand up,” he said.

“I finally got him good enough and just went out there and did my job. It’s tough, but when you put your mind to it, you can do anything.”

That’s where some of his time spent with Michael Gaffney and the Austin Gamblers really came in clutch.

“Being a winner. It’s not always about riding style, it’s about being a winner, to them. Putting your mind to things,” McFadden said.

“Since getting drafted by the Gamblers, I’m just making my way into the PBR and I’m loving it. Being around those guys has really excelled my riding beyond measures and I’m ready to keep going; we’re just getting started.”

Eventually edging out runner-up Hunter Ball by just 3.5 points in the overall event aggregate, the rising talent has converted in nine out of his last 10 outs. Quite the wave of momentum heading into his UTB debut!

His heroic performance inside the historic Denver Coliseum this week is far from the beginning of the youngster’s hot streak lately, though.

Having competed at four different Touring Pro Division events since Nov. 30, the Novice, Texas, native hasn’t finished outside of the Top 6 in any of them. Racking up first, second and sixth-place finishes within three PBR Stockyards Showcase events, he was also able to sneak in a third-place result Dec. 16 in Kearney, Nebraska, as his dominant campaign continues.

“The big goal has always been to become a World Champion, but right now it’s qualifying for the PBR World Finals, so that’s what I’m going to do.”

This is the stuff dreams are made of, after all.

Making it to the big show. Competing alongside living legends and having fun the whole way.

Set to dance with Nightmare during Friday night’s opening go, McFadden will hope to extend his hot streak during his career debut on Unleash The Beast Friday night in Chicago.

With the premier series gaining some serious momentum, already heading into its seventh event of the 2024 Unleash The Beast season this weekend in the Windy City Jan. 12-13, let’s take a look at who’s drawing into the lineup during this weekend’s Tractor Supply Co. PBR Chicago:

ROUND 1 MATCHUPS Bob Mitchell vs. Texas Twist Flavio Zivieri vs. Street Fighter John Crimber vs. Crunch Time Wingson Henrique da Silva vs. Havoc Cort McFadden vs. Nightmare Mauricio Gulla Moreira vs. Jeremiah Dener Barbosa vs. Redwing Ezekiel Mitchell vs. Comm Mason Taylor vs. Ninja Cowboy Joao Lucas Campos vs. Big Tasty Wyatt Rogers vs. Caesar Jesse Petri vs. Desert Twister Daylon Swearingen vs. Midnight Magic Ednelio Almeida vs. Yellowstone Keyshawn Whitehorse vs. I’ll Make Ya Famous Joao Henrique Lucas vs. Big Show Jake Morinec vs. Shameless Alex Cerqueira vs. Rank Frank Lucas Divino vs. Burt Braidy Randolph vs. Karma Kaique Pacheco vs. Half Baked *Silvano Alves vs. Viper Brady Oleson vs. Coco Briggs Madsen vs. Ridin’ Salty Clay Guiton vs. Nitty Gritty Paulo Eduardo Rossetto vs. High Noon *Boudreaux Campbell vs. Skeeter Peter *Eli Vastbinder vs. Whatever Guilherme Valleiras vs. Oilfield Outlaw’s Yellow Feather Felipe Furlan vs. Summertime Blues Vitor Losnake vs. Reinstate Hank Sage Steele Kimzey vs. Stand Off Conner Halverson vs. Puckered Up Caden Bunch vs. Total Air Kaiden Loud vs. God Bless America Brady Fielder vs. Crime Time Eduardo Aparecido vs. Rooster Julio Cesar Marques vs. My Bad Cody Jesus vs. Pearl Action Koltin Hevalow vs. Badger Alan de Souza vs. Grey Fox Cassio Dias vs. IHOP Austin Richardson vs. Slingin’ It

* denotes a rematch

OUT BECAUSE OF INJURY/OTHER Dalton Kasel Jose Vitor Leme Jess Lockwood Nick Tetz Dakota Buttar Chase Outlaw Marcus Mast Derek Kolbaba Colten Fritzlan Tate Pollmeier Luciano De Castro Dawson Gleaves Dawson Branton Joao Ricardo Vieira

ROUND 1 REMATCHES Boudreaux Campbell vs. Skeeter Peeter (4.29 seconds in Guthrie, Oklahoma; 4.66 seconds in Nampa, Idaho) Eli Vastbinder vs. Whatever (5.26 seconds in Tucson, Arizona) Silvano Alves vs. Viper (86 points in Tulsa, Oklahoma; 3.58 seconds in Little Rock, Arkansas)

CAN NO. 1 AUSTIN RICHARDSON PULL OF A THREEPEAT? Three in a row is the heat check, so when No. 1 Austin Richardson prepares to go head-to-head with Slingin’ It during the final out of Friday night, he knows exactly what’s at stake. Having netted $183,857 in winnings already through just six appearances this season (nearly one third of his lifetime prize payouts earned with PBR), Richardson has the chance to complete the rare UTB threepeat this weekend in Chicago. Picking up his second-straight event buckle last weekend in New York City, Richardson turned in a 3-for-4 performance, edging out now No. 4 Dalton Kasel (who’s expected to miss this weekend’s competition) by a mere 1.25 points. First pairing up with Moonlight Party in Round 1 for 88 points, Richardson kept his ride streak alive by besting Bangarang for 86.75 points. Seeing the streak come to an end at five, The Undertaker added a win to his column, dispatching the cowboy in a quick 2.33 seconds. Resilient and able to seal the deal in dramatic fashion, Richardson threw down an 83.5-point ride, while Kasel bucked off, thus securing a career-high 218 UTB points and personal-best check for $118,650 (almost $70k more than his previous).

TOP 15 SET TO DAZZLE IN WINDY CITY With this weekend’s opening round featuring 45 riders, 14 of the world’s Top 15 cowboys are primed to compete inside of Allstate Arena Friday, as Dalton Kasel represents the lone missing puzzle piece. Slated to be taped and later aired on Saturday, Jan. 13 at Noon via CBS Television Network, the Top 15-ranked riders will attempt to put on quite the show while representing the premier series’ top talents on national television! Included within the bunch are a trio of productive UTB rookies in No. 2 Cassio Dias, No. 7 Julio Cesar Marques and No. 10 Kaiden Loud, who will look to continue their spicy year-one efforts as the tour gets set to invade the Windy City!

RELATED: Where to Watch: Chicago

FOLLOW ALONG The two-day, three-round showcase inside Allstate Arena is set to begin Friday, Jan. 12 at 7:45 p.m. CST, with Round 1 airing live via RidePass on Pluto TV. The Top 15-ranked riders from the opening round will air separately on CBS Television Network at Noon CST on Saturday, Jan. 13.

Round 2’s slate will begin Saturday, Jan. 13 at 6:45 p.m. CST, with all of Championship Saturday’s action later airing on CBS Sports Network beginning at 10 p.m. CST.

Fans can stay tuned to PBR.com and PBR social media channels throughout the weekend for the latest scores, wrecks, injury updates and beyond as Unleash The Beast prepares to invade Chicago during the seventh event of the 2024 season!

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media