PBR | PBR Teams free agent Dustin Martinez looks to seal the deal at Last Cowboy Standing

PUEBLO, Colo. – Go figure …

Out of the 25 riders who successfully advanced to night two of the Camping World PBR Last Cowboy Standing – Cheyenne Frontier Days, 24 of them are signed to a PBR Teams unit as the circuit approaches the Week 2 slate.

The lone competitor who’s not inked to a 5-on-5 squad?

Dustin Martinez, the event’s current leader, who was able to edge out each of the contest’s other 49 riders as he looks to make a name for himself once again.

Having previously ridden for the Kansas City Outlaws back in 2022 during the league’s inaugural season, he didn’t get many chances with the orange and black squad in year one.

If he can pull off what would be quite the “upset” Tuesday evening at the “Daddy of Them All” and continue to advance through each of the remaining four rounds, we’d guess at least one of the 10 PBR Camping World Team Series squads would consider giving him a look.

Until then, all eyes will be on the 27-year-old Canjilon, New Mexico, native, as he sits atop the event leaderboard courtesy of a Round 1-winning 87-pointer.

Paired against War Daddy during the opening go, his smaller frame (listed on PBR.com at 5-4, 137 lbs.) and spur-forward approach really helped him show off the bull as he took advantage of the opportunity to compete against some of the industry’s top dawgs.

Representing his highest-scored Challenger Series conversion on the season (5-for-20 overall), the effort served as his best out since March 22, where he turned in a quality 87.5-point score during a Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) showcase in Dayton, Ohio.

While it would’ve been easy for in-person attendees and fans watching afar via RidePass on Pluto TV to look past some of the secondary tier of riders and lock in on some of the biggest names on the planet in Cassio Dias and John Crimber …

... Martinez teamed up with guys like Andrei Scoparo (Carolina Cowboys), Callum Miller (Austin Gamblers) and company in adding a few curveballs to the rotation.

Controlling his own destiny when the show resumes its dramatic “ride or go home” format Tuesday night in Cheyenne, Wyoming, he’s set to go head-to-head against Quick Show during the first out of the second section as he looks to parlay his opening round success into an event-long run.

With 25 men preparing to suit up and give everything they’ve got Tuesday evening before a rowdy Frontier Days crowd, only eight of the pack’s riders will advance to Round 3 (prioritizing cowboys who produce qualified rides first, then drawing back based on longest buckoff times, if necessary).

The fourth round will then welcome the contest’s Top 4 performers, with the final two advancing to the ever-coveted Round 5 showdown. A minimum of two contestants will compete in Round 5. If only one rider covers in Round 4, PBR will draw back one rider based on aggregate scores following the completion of Round 4.

Nine of the league’s 10 teams will be represented in some form or fashion when the night begins, with the Missouri Thunder the only squad who saw each of its cowboys buck off Monday night.

The showdown itself is very much an individual competition.

But with the PBR Teams: Duluth showcase a few days away and additional cash up for grabs to the organization which rosters the event’s champion (with the bonus prize set to be awarded to Martinez, himself, should he capture the victory), there’s plenty of reasons for guys to be rooting on their respective teammates while looking to bring home the midweek win.

The remaining riders eligible to compete Tuesday night include:

1. Dustin Martinez 2. Luciano De Castro (Arizona Ridge Riders) 3. John Crimber (Florida Freedom) 4. Ezekiel Mitchell (Austin Gamblers) 5. Conner Halverson (Florida Freedom) 6. Andrei Scoparo (Nashville Stampede) 7. Alex Cerqueira (Florida Freedom) 8. Adriano Salgado (Carolina Cowboys) 9. Keyshawn Whitehorse (Arizona Ridge Riders) 10. Ednelio Almeida (Nashville Stampede) 11. Callum Miller (Austin Gamblers) 12. Eli Vastbinder (Arizona Ridge Riders) 13. Daniel Keeping (Texas Rattlers) 14. Brady Fielder (Texas Rattlers) 15. Koltin Hevalow (Kansas City Outlaws) 16. Cassio Dias (Kansas City Outlaws) 17. Gabriel Morais (Carolina Cowboys) 18. Alan De Souza (Nashville Stampede) 19. Mauricio Moreira (New York Mavericks) 20. Adilson Junior (Carolina Cowboys) 21. Clay Guiton (Oklahoma Wildcatters) 22. Wyatt Rogers (Kansas City Outlaws) 23. Dustin Herman (Oklahoma Wildcatters) 24. Marcelo Procopio Pereira (Texas Rattlers) 25. Julio Cesar Marques (Kansas City Outlaws)

Each of the Arizona Ridge Riders, Carolina Cowboys, Kansas City Outlaws, Florida Freedom and Nashville Stampede have three representatives capable of making some noise when Round 2 rolls around.

However, with all three of the Freedom’s riders having logged qualified rides Monday night, including John Crimber (86.5 points, currently tied for second), Conner Halverson (85.25 points, currently fifth) and veteran Alex Cerqueira (84.25 points, currently tied for seventh), Florida competitors should feel pretty confident heading into the second slate.

With the news that Vitor Losnake suffered quite the brutal lower-body injury over the weekend, the New York Mavericks sure could use some good vibes and will turn to recent free agent signee Mauricio Gulla Moreira to provide a spark for the indigo and red unit Tuesday.

Beginning their inaugural campaign 0-3 during the season-opener in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the Kody Lostroh-guided squad would welcome some momentum heading into Week 2. Even if it came in the form of a few conversions from Moreira, rather than the win overall.

For now, we’ll watch on as the collective Camping World Last Cowboy Standing – Cheyenne Frontier Days pack goes head-to-head with some of the rankest bovines in the business Tuesday night, beginning at 8 p.m. MT via RidePass on Pluto TV!

And when the weekend slate rolls around, fans should be sure to tune into the Merit+ App and Merit Street Media July 26-28 as the PBR Teams drama continues in Week 2!

Photo courtesy of Andre Silva/Bull Stock Media