PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – As the second annual PBR Palm Springs Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) event came to a close on Saturday night, the Missouri Thunder’s 18-year-old rookie Trace Redd (Malad, Idaho) secured his first event win of the 2024 season in front of an energetic sold-out crowd at Acrisure Arena.

Redd took his first step toward the top of the leaderboard in Round 1, claiming the round win after making the 8 aboard Monkey Business (Hawkins Bucking Bulls) for 89 points.

The “Gem State” cowboy then continued the momentum into Round 2 as he bested his bovine opponent Big Pokey (Cooper/ Scruggs Bucking Bulls) to record an 85.5-point ride.

In the championship round, he was matched up with CR’s Brindle T (Mann Creek Buck N’ Bulls) but was unsuccessful, being bucked off after just 3.69 seconds. Despite his best efforts to be the only man to go 3-for-3, he was still able to clinch the event win.

Redd netted 131 Velocity Global points for his weekend in Palm Springs and now sits at No. 20 in the standings.

Velocity Global points contribute to the Velocity Global Standings and determine which new riders are added to the elite Unleash The Beast throughout the season. The Top 3 Velocity Global riders who have not already qualified are also invited to the PBR World Finals in May.

Current Velocity standings leader Ederson Santos (Ilha Solteira, Brazil) collected 94.5 Velocity Global points with a second-place finish.

Santos set his pace early in the weekend after an 84.5-point ride on Happy Hour (Hawkins Bucking Bulls) and a third-place tie in Round 1.

Determined to finish the weekend in Palm Springs with an event title, the Brazilian cowboy, who was paired with Pete’s Dejavu (JD Nix Rodeo Co.) in Round 2, focused all his energy on night two. However, the bovine athlete dominated Santos, showcasing his athletic ability, after just 2.32 seconds.

Despite being dispatched in Round 2, Santos sought redemption in the Championship Round, collecting 85.5 points aboard Hell Storm (Julio Moreno/ Bar CB).

In third place, Dustin Martinez (Canjilon, New Mexico) went 1-for-3 for the weekend in Palm Springs as he registered an 86.5-point ride in the opening round of action, riding Smoked Down (D&H Cattle Company). In Round 2, the New Mexico athlete left the chutes aboard Preston’s Pistol (4B Bucking Bulls). Unfortunately, he was bucked off after only 2.57 seconds.

Hopeful for redemption in the final round, Martinez was paired with Monkey Business. Once again, the animal athletes of the PBR prevailed, dismounting Martinez after only 2.76 seconds.

Despite his less-than-ideal Saturday night in Palm Springs, the cowboy collected 54 Velocity Global points to move to No. 46 in the standings.

In fourth place at Acrisure Arena was home-state rider Aaron Williams (Pismo Beach, California).

In Round 1, Williams burst from the chutes aboard Shot in the Dark (Leffew Bucking Bulls/ Meza). Despite his best efforts, the bull won the matchup, bucking him off after 3.08 seconds.

Looking forward to Round 2, California’s own conquered Smoked Down for 85.5 points.

After his first-place tie in Round 2, the 27-year-old cowboy was hopeful for the championship round when he was matched up against Jump Man (JD Nix Rodeo Co.). However, his formidable bovine opponent quickly conquered this matchup, dismounting Williams after 3.42 seconds.

The weekend earned Williams 44 Velocity Global points. He now sits at No. 67 in the standings.

Rounding out the Top 5 was another local man, Kyle Eaton (Chico, California).

After a third-place tie with Santos in Round 1, where Eaton conquered Misunderstood (Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls) for 84.5 points, he was hopeful going into Round 2 aboard Modoc (Culp Bucking Bulls). Even with the cheers of his home state crowd fueling the energy, Eaton was unseated after 3.26 seconds.

In the championship round, Eaton was paired with Hoof Stock Genetic Mud Train (Canyon Oaks/ JD Nix), but the 25-year-old cowboy was no match, being bucked off after 3.40 seconds.

For his efforts in Palm Springs, he earned 33.5 Velocity Global points as he attempts to climb the Velocity leaderboard.

The talented bull riders of the PWVT will next head to Dayton, Ohio, for PBR Dayton at Nutter Center on March 22-23.

Professional Bull Riders - PBR PALM SPRINGS Acrisure Arena - Palm Springs, California Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points) 1. Trace Redd, 89-85.5-0-174.50-131 Points. 2. Ederson Santos, 84.5-0-85.5-170.00-94.5 Points. 3. Dustin Martinez, 86.5-0-0-86.50-54 Points. 4. Aaron Williams, 0-85.5-0-85.50-44 Points. 5. Kyle Eaton [1], 84.5-0-0-84.50-33.5 Points. 6. Dalton Rudman [2], 0-84-0-84.00-29 Points. 7. Colton Dougherty [2], 81.5-0-0-81.50-21 Points. 8. Marcelo Procopio Pereira, 47-0-0-47.00-11 Points. Qynn Andersen, 0-0-0-0.00 Ednei Caminhas, 0-0-0-0.00 Kyle Eaton [2], 0-0-0-0.00 Weston Davidson, 0-0-0-0.00 Briggs Madsen, 0-0-0-0.00 Nick Tetz, 0-0-0-0.00 Travis Briscoe, 0-0-0-0.00 Dalton Davis, 0-0-0-0.00 Dalton Rudman [1], 0-0-0-0.00 Colton Dougherty [1], 0-0-0-0.00 Edgardo Figueroa, 0-0-0-0.00 Dakota Louis, 0-0-0-0.00 Jaxton Mortensen, 0-0-0-0.00 Wallace Vieira de Oliveira [1], 0-0-0-0.00 Wallace Vieira de Oliveira [2], 0-0-0-0.00 Douglas Lino de Souza, 0-0-0-0.00 Tom Patrick, 0-0-0-0.00 Wyatt Nez, 0-0-0-0.00 Eli Necochea, 0-0-0-0.00 Dalton Shepard, 0-0-0-0.00 Cesar Talamantes, 0-0-0-0.00 William Wright, 0-0-0-0.00 Ben Moran, 0-0-0-0.00 Noah Tedesco, 0-0-0-0.00 Darnell Bahe, 0-0-0-0.00 Michael Andrade, 0-0-0-0.00 Pokey Houghton, 0-0-0-0.00

Photo courtesy of Andre Silva/Bull Stock Media