PUEBLO, Colo. – Ahead of the 2024 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series season opening on July 12 in Oklahoma City, the league has outlined several new rule changes:
Automatic Reviews will be limited to team challenges when the challenge flag is thrown as well as automatically when the ride clock reads 7.85 seconds or greater and in instances of clock or gate malfunction. When a team’s challenge is overridden, they will lose their challenge. If the challenge is upheld, they’ll keep their flag. Previously, the head judge had greater leeway in reviewing rides. The new rule limiting the number of reviews will speed the flow of games.
The Shootout is a bonus round that will serve as each team’s final out at the conclusion of every event day during the regular season. The day’s winning teams (four unless there is a 0-0 tie when both teams register a loss) will participate with one rider out apiece. This bonus round will pay $10,000, $3,000, and $2,000 for placing in that round only. This bonus money supplements every winning team receiving $20,000 for a win with each losing team receiving $5,000. PBR will also award $2,500 to the rider with the highest extra outs score every event day.
Re-Rides: If a rider gets a re-ride opportunity and the coach puts another rider on the re-ride, then the original rider is eligible for any out for the remainder of the game as if the rider didn’t attempt the first bull (i.e., injury substitution, game substitution after game has been decided, re-ride later in the game, etc.). A rider is eligible to receive only one score in a game.
Rider Availability Classifications will now be used to characterize riders at an event who are not in the starting lineup. When teams turn in their projected starting lineups by midnight each Tuesday, any protected rider at the event who is not listed must have a classification of Probable, Questionable, Doubtful, or Out.
The Great 8 Award will be earned by the rider with highest ride percentage across the entire season based on a minimum of 20 outs. This $25,000 award will complement the full-season MVP, the individual event day MVP Award, and the Extra Out Award.
Excused Absence List will be in effect for athletes to be excused from the league without penalty for a period of time due to unique circumstances. A rider can be placed on the Excused Absence List if he obtains approval from both the league office and his team to be excused from competition.
On Friday night in Oklahoma City, PBR Wildcatters Days, presented by Travel Oklahoma, opens the 2024 PBR Camping World Team Series 12-event regular season.
Merit Street Media will broadcast every ride across all three days of action, beginning Friday, July 12, at 9:00 p.m. EDT, Saturday, July 13, at 9:00 p.m. EDT and Sunday, July 14, at 3:00 p.m. EDT. Viewers can watch on the Merit+ app or go to Merit Street channel-finder to find the Merit Street Media cable channel in your area. On-demand replays of all the PBR Teams action will be available the following day on the Merit+ app. RidePass on Pluto TV will also air Teams replays 5 days later.
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media