PUEBLO, Colo. – Looking at the first half of the season, it would’ve been easy to put money down on No. 1 Cassio Dias to run away with what would be his first World Championship and corresponding 2024 PBR Rookie of the Year title, as the electric Brazilian has accomplished all his impressing throughout his first season on tour.
Successfully capturing event titles in four of the circuit’s first 12 events, Dias was riding everything in sight. But since getting a bit banged up a few weekends back, he’s been a shell of his once perfect self.
Just 2-for-7 since posting one of the sport’s rankest rides (an epic 94.75-point dance with No. 1 Man Hater, the very out in which he was injured) the 22-year-old was able to get back into the ride column last weekend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, courtesy of his 8 seconds of work atop Trump Train.
Scored 86.75 points, he was able to turn it into a seventh-place finish on what was a bit of a down week for the pack (and a big win for the bulls!). Advancing to 24-for-44 (54.55%) on the season, he’s got the third-highest average score on tour (87.14 points) while continuing to pace the overall pack with 44 total outs (five more than Koltin Hevalow, who’s got 39 to his name so far).
Numbers aside, just seeing the way he’s been able to enter a competition and absolutely dominate, he continues to serve as the world title frontrunner.
And while he’s got every shot in the world to get some momentum flowing back in his favor Friday night in Little Rock during a showdown with T-Wrecks, it won’t change the fact that both No. 2 John Crimber and No. 3 Dalton Kasel have outperformed Dias over the past few events.
At 25, Kasel may be the oldest of the trio, but he’s also the wisest and most experienced, as Crimber also files into the rookie line, while Kasel already understands what it takes to make a long run into May.
He’s also arguably the hottest of the three right now, despite sitting in the No. 3 spot behind them both.
A bit slow to start the season, Kasel is 7-for-9 throughout his past three events en route to completing the podium sweep just last weekend. Having earned a runner-up effort in Jacksonville, Florida, the talented cowboy parlayed that into his first premier series win of the season the following weekend in Indianapolis, Indiana. Only to follow that effort up with his third-straight Top 3, as he tied Brady Fielder for third place during last weekend’s showdown in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Rather streaky over the past year or so, the Austin Gamblers’ rider has endured his fair share of ups and downs lately, dating back to a rather lengthy buckoff streak to end his second year competing within the PBR Camping World Team Series. Seeing said streak bleed into the start of the 2024 Unleash The Beast season, Kasel credited some off-dirt changes in being able to get things back on track.
RELATED: Unleash The Beast Game Notes: Little Rock 2024
Suddenly just 53.83 UTB points back from Crimber, Kasel is more than capable of surpassing the rookie as soon as this weekend in Little Rock. But if he hopes to delete the remaining 318.33 points separating himself from the top dawg in Dias, he’ll want to get things started in the ride column in Round 1 Friday during his head-to-head dance with TBR’s Buffalo Joe.
Rounding out the trio of intense competitors is somehow already the kid who has been identified as a generational talent for what seems like a while now, in one John Crimber.
Crimber has six rides to Kasel’s seven conversions over the past three events. And with both records featuring just one 8-second out last weekend, makes it safe to say the two have been damn competitive while putting on quite the show.
RELATED: Fielder, Crimber ensure the show must go on
Technically, Crimber recorded two qualified rides last weekend, but with his 86.75-point ride coming during a unique extra round, it only counted in momentum building and at the bank.
Finishing within the Top 10 in six of his last eight appearances, Crimber picked up the first UTB win of his career in Jacksonville, Florida, within his father’s summertime stomping grounds (as his dad, Paulo Crimber, is the head coach of the Florida Freedom) amidst his stretch of fortunate finishes. Throw in three different runner-up finishes leading into the big win and he’s truly been a treat to watch this year.
Set to challenge Man Eater during the opening round, the younger brother of the world’s top-ranked animal athlete in Man Hater, Crimber will have a shot to continue chipping away at the mere 264.5 UTB points which separate him and Dias.
It’s hard to imagine a season-ending scenario down in Fort Worth and Arlington, Texas, where this trio of talents aren’t featured in the world championship drama. And with a powerhouse bovine in two-time YETI World Champion Bull Ridin’ Solo returning to action in the short round for the first time since January (the very bull who owns the highest bull score in PBR Little Rock history: a 47.5-point bull score), you’d be wise to do yourself a favor:
Grab your tickets and head down to the dance or be sure to tune in beginning Friday night as the best bull riders prepare to put on a SHOW in Little Rock!
With Unleash The Beast preparing to invade Simmons Bank Arena Friday night during the 16th event of the 2024 Unleash The Beast campaign March 15-16, let’s take a look at who’s drawing into the lineup during the PBR Little Rock:
ROUND 1 MATCHUPS
Jesse Petri vs. Always Been Crazy
Kyler Oliver vs. Twisted J
Felipe Furlan vs. Fast Flow
Wingson Henrique da Silva vs. Let’s Roll
Joao Paulo Fernandes vs. Calhoun Oil
Ednelio Almeida vs. Whiskey Business
Alex Cerqueira vs. Sweet John
Kaique Pacheco vs. The Agenda
Silvano Alves vs. Firewater
Hunter Ball vs. Watch Out
Kaiden Loud vs. Zeus
Eli Vastbinder vs. Bad Magic
Conner Halverson vs. Rombauer
Keyshawn Whitehorse vs. Double 00 Buck
Mason Taylor vs. Flint Stone
Leonardo Castro vs. Rank Hank
Thiago Salgado vs. Cracker Jack
Mauricio Gulla Moreira vs. Rip
Luciano De Castro vs. Blues Man
Marco Rizzo vs. LA Legs
*Paulo Eduardo Rossetto vs. King Tut
Dener Barbosa vs. Thriller
Wyatt Rogers vs. Goin’ Solo
Marco Eguchi vs. Crime Scene
Ezekiel Mitchell vs. Spendin’ Cash
Callum Miller vs. Rock ‘n Roll
Brady Fielder vs. Fire Zone
Julio Cesar Marques vs. Triple Aught
Alan de Souza vs. Boujee Boy
Joao Ricardo Vieira vs. California Hearthrob
Bob Mitchell vs. Ground Strike
Caden Bunch vs. Heavy Lifting
Koltin Hevalow vs. Woody
Eduardo Aparecido vs. Thunderstruck
Dalton Kasel vs. TBR’s Buffalo Joe
John Crimber vs. Man Eater
Cassio Dias vs. T-Wrecks
* denotes a rematch
OUT BECAUSE OF INJURY/OTHER
Austin Richardson (Injury)
Cody Jesus (Injury)
Sage Kimzey (Injury)
Jose Vitor Leme (Injury)
Jess Lockwood (Injury)
Joao Lucas Campos (Injury)
Dawson Branton (Injury)
Chase Outlaw (Injury)
Marcus Mast (Injury)
Derek Kolbaba (Injury)
Colten Fritzlan (Injury)
Clay Guiton (Injury)
Daylon Swearingen (Injury)
Jake Gardner (Excused absence)
Boudreaux Campbell (Excused absence)
Cort McFadden (Excused absence)
Michael Lane (Excused absence)
ROUND 1 REMATCHES
Paulo Eduardo Rossetto vs. King Tut (1.95 seconds in Los Angeles, California)
DAYLON SWEARINGEN/CLAY GUITON OUT, NO. 15 LEONARDO CASTRO RETURNS
Last competing in Salt Lake City, Utah, more than a month ago, No. 15 Leonardo Castro will be back atop the chutes this weekend in Little Rock as he accepts a challenge from Rank Hank during Friday night’s opening round. Having ridden at least one bull in each of the four premier series contests in which he’s competed in, the 20-year-old has been one of many flashy first-years to storm onto the tour and enjoy some early-career success. Ranked No. 15 entering the PBR Little Rock, he’s already clinched his spot at the 2024 World Finals: Unleash The Beast courtesy of his insane 4-for-4 performance at the second PBR Major of the season in Sacramento, California.
Posting the first, and only, 4-for-4 effort on the season, the youngster was knocking them down left and right out in sunny California as the Kansas City Outlaws product has come a long way since being drafted last spring. While the cowboy represents some additional talent rejoining the tour as it prepares to enter the final third of its 2024 event schedule, several promising and proven riders like Clay Guiton, Daylon Swearingen and beyond are out this weekend due to injuries sustained last weekend. Guiton ended up getting stepped on as the result of an unfortunate buckoff, whereas Swearingen seemed to agitate his shoulder during the Midwest madness. Jose Vitor Leme continues to heal up at home with his sights set on a return before World Finals, while four additional riders are set to miss with differing excused absences, including Jake Garnder, Boudreaux Campbell, Cort McFadden and Michael Lane.
However, as long as there aren’t quirky drastic weather or travel issues, (which, there typically isn’t!), then the pack is primed to put on quite the show after combining for just 13 qualified rides in Milwaukee!
NO. 7 CADEN BUNCH LOOKS TO GO BACK-TO-BACK IN LITTLE ROCK
With eight events remaining before the pack gathers down south to battle it out for the gold buckle, only three contenders have won multiple events in 2024. And with No. 4 Austin Richardson expected to miss the remainder of the season with injury, that leaves just No. 1 Cassio Dias and No. 7 Caden Bunch as the two healthy riders who have already doubled down. With Dias continuing to deal with a bit of an injury, it’s Bunch who looks primed to storm into Little Rock with plenty of momentum after picking up his second win of the season last weekend in Milwaukee.
Winning the whole thing as the only rider to record a pair of qualified rides inside Fiserv Forum, his 2-for-3 performance involved besting both Cookies & Cream for a Round 1-tying win before doubling down aboard Magic Trick for an event-clinching 86.75. Now 5-for-8 throughout his last three events, he’s looked every bit of the star he was last summer for the Florida Freedom, sandwiching an 18th place showing in Indianapolis between a sixth-place effort in Jacksonville, Florida, and his huge victory last weekend in Milwaukee. Not to mention his fourth, ninth and 13th place finishes, respectively earned during his three previous appearances. Placing within the Top 13 in five of the six, while logging at least one conversion per event, he continues to be one of the more consistent athletes on tour since ditching his 17-out buckoff streak in Houston, Texas. Set to dance with Heavy Lifting during a late-round showdown, the 20-year-old Tahlequah, Oklahoma, native will look to stay hot Friday night!
FOLLOW ALONG
Representing the 16th event of the 2024 Unleash The Beast season, the two-day, three-round showcase in North Little Rock, Arkansas, is set to begin Friday, March 15 at 7:45 p.m. CDT, with Round 1 airing live via RidePass on Pluto TV.
Round 2’s action will begin Saturday, March 16 at 6:45 p.m. CDT, followed by the short go, with all of championship Saturday’s action slated to air live on CBS Sports Network on Sunday, March 17 at 3 p.m. CDT
RELATED: Where to Watch: Little Rock
Fans can also catch all three rounds of action on the TUDN Spanish broadcast, with Round 1 set to air on Saturday, March 15 at 2 p.m. CDT and all of championship Saturday’s outs airing on Sunday, March 17 at 2 p.m. CDT.
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 Simmons Bank Arena March 15-16!
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media