Florida Freedom deliver commanding victory against Missouri Thunder before capturing weekend's second Shootout Round win
League No. 1 Carolina Cowboys remain undefeated, tie Oklahoma Wildcatters; Austin Gamblers conclude weekend with perfect 3-0 record.
SUNRISE, Fla. – The hometown Florida Freedom concluded their debut PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series homestand in Sunrise, Florida, with a commanding win, defeating the Missouri Thunder by three ride scores inside Amerant Bank Arena, 331.25-85.25.
In their victory, the Freedom went 4-for-5 – the second time this season the Freedom covered 80% of their animal athlete opponents in one game.
"This is fun right here," Freedom closer John Crimber said from the dirt after his team's win. "If it weren't for these fans right here, we wouldn't be getting this W today. I appreciate you all coming out supporting us. I gotta thank my teammates, too. They fire me up. They went out and rode three bulls. I just put the cherry on top."
Crimber is now 7-for-8 on the season and leads the 2024 MVP race.
While Missouri jumped to an early lead in the top of the second compliments of a score from Felipe Furlan, Florida quickly responded in the bottom of the frame as Alex Cerqueira covered Johnny Walker Red to put the Freedom within 4.75 points of tying the game.
Following the out, the Freedom rode lights out as Missouri stumbled. After a Thunder buckoff in the top of the third from Grayson Cole, Florida overtook the game lead by 82.5 points as Joao Lucas Campos rode Eyes On Me with ease.
The Freedom’s momentum continued to roll in the fourth as they responded to Briggs Madsen’s Thunder buckoff with a qualified ride from Elizmar Jeremias on Modelo to clinch the game win early.
After Missouri again bucked off in the fifth, Florida concluded the game with an out that made the crowd inside Amerant Bank Arena erupt in deafening cheer. Florida’s closer and No. 1 draft pick Crimber put the cherry on top of their victory with a game-best, electric 89.5-point ride on Whip.
With the final scoreboard reading a 246-point Florida victory against Missouri, 331.25-85.25, the Freedom concluded their homestand 2-1. They are now 3-4 this season. The win allowed them to climb from No. 8 to No. 6 in the league, now three games behind the No. 1 Carolina Cowboys.
The Thunder will return home having gone 1-2 at PBR Freedom Days, now 3-5 this season.
The red-hot No. 1 Carolina Cowboys remained undefeated, tying the Oklahoma Wildcatters,175.25-175.25 in the season’s first game to end deadlocked.
Carolina jumped to an early lead in the first out, courtesy of a game-best score from opener Cooper Davis, who is now 6-for-7 this season and No. 2 in the MVP race, but Oklahoma clawed within 3 points when leadoff man Eduardo Matos also made the whistle. In the bottom of the third, Oklahoma overtook the game lead by 86 points via a score from Cort McFadden.
Buckoffs from both teams in the fourth set up a crucial fifth frame. Carolina closer Sage Kimzey delivered for the Cowboys, but his 86-point ride on Kenny was only enough to tie the game. While Oklahoma had the chance to win the game in walk-off form, Clay Guiton was unable to answer the call for his squad, brought down in 5.99 seconds by Good.
The tie led Carolina to conclude Freedom Days 1-0-1, now 6-0-1 in 2024, while the Wildcatters left Florida having gone 1-1-1, now 4-3-1 this season. Carolina remained No. 1 in the league, while the Wildcatters climbed from No. 3 to No. 2 in the standings. Carolina leads Oklahoma by two game wins.
The Austin Gamblers continued to ride red-hot Sunday afternoon, defeating the 2022 PBR Teams Champion Nashville Stampede by two ride scores, 258-87, to conclude PBR Freedom Days a perfect 3-0.
After PBR’s animal athletes dominated the game’s first two frames, Austin was the first to strike, as Ezekiel Mitchell rode Pork Chop for 83.25 points in the top of the third, and never looked back. In the top of the fourth Ramon de Lima converted atop Wild Card to grow Austin’s lead to 171.5 points and force Nashville into a must-ride position.
Cody Teel delivered for the Stampede, covering Boo Ray for 87 points to keep his team in the hunt, but Austin’s closer Jose Vitor Leme sealed his team’s win in the very next out as he rode Peanut with ease. The two-time league MVP is now 6-for-7 this season.
Austin is now 4-3 this season, rising from No. 5 to No. 4 in the league, as they turn their attention to next weekend’s event in Brooklyn, New York.
The Nashville Stampede concluded their time inside Amerant Bank Arena having gone 0-2 and are now 3-4 this season. Following Sunday’s game, they slipped from No. 6 to No. 7 in the league.
The Kansas City Outlaws bounced back Sunday afternoon with a victory, holding off the league’s reigning Champion Texas Rattlers by 2.75 points, winning the five-on-five showdown 259-256.25.
João Ricardo Vieira's Thrilling Ride on Bullet! 86.25 Points - Win or Lose, That Was a Great Ride
Kansas City’s Sandro Batista, Koltin Hevalow and Julio Cesar Marques posted consecutive scores in the game’s opening three frames, proving too much for Texas’ Brady Fielder, Marcelo Procopio Pereira and Joao Ricardo Vieira to overcome.
The Outlaws return to Missouri having gone 1-1 at PBR Freedom Days, now 4-3 this season. Their win against Texas allowed them to ride from No. 4 to No. 3 in the league.
The Rattlers were shut out inside Amerant Bank Arena, going 0-2, slipping to 2-5 this season. They remained No. 9 in the league.
PBR Freedom Days then concluded with the Shootout Round, featuring one rider from each of the winning teams. Florida Freedom Head Coach Paulo Crimber was intent on choosing John Crimber for the team’s bonus bull, but the white-hot rider wanted to give the opportunity to Thiago Salgado, who put up a monster 90-point ride on Ridgeway, and the Freedom won the special round with ease. The win marked their second in the Shootout Round, after 18-year-old Crimber dominated on Saturday night.
Merit Street Media broadcast all three days of action from PBR Freedom Days with CBS Television Network carrying the Sunday Game of the Week. Viewers can watch on the Merit+ app or go to https://www.meritstreetmedia.com/channel-finder to find the Merit Street Media cable channel in their 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 five days later.
The PBR Camping World Team Series next travels to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, for Maverick Days, the fourth event of the 2024 season. The event will begin at 7:45 p.m. ET on Friday, August 9 and Saturday, August 10.
The game matchups for the opening night of competition in Brooklyn on August 9 are:
Oklahoma Wildcatters vs. Nashville Stampede
Florida Freedom vs. Arizona Ridge Riders
Texas Rattlers vs. Carolina Cowboys
New York Mavericks vs. Kansas City Outlaws
Note: The Austin Gamblers and Missouri Thunder will have byes on the first night of competition in Brooklyn.
SCORE BULLETINS
Kansas City Outlaws Outlast Texas Rattlers by 2.75 Points to Conclude the PBR Camping World Team Series Event in Sunrise, Florida in Winning Form
Texas Rattlers: 256.25
Kansas City Outlaws: 259
SUNRISE, Fla. – The Kansas City Outlaws concluded their time at the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series’ Freedom Days in Sunrise, Florida, with a victory, outlasting the league’s reigning Champion Texas Rattlers by 2.75 points, 259-256.25, courtesy of three consecutive rides early in the game. The showdown between Texas and Kansas City got underway in fast form.
Texas struck in the top of the first, surging to an 83.75-point lead as Brady Fielder bested Gaucho. Kansas City, however, overtook the lead by 1.5 points in the bottom of the first as Sandro Batista covered Spooky for 85.25 points. In the top of the second, Texas looked to Marcelo Procopio Periera aboard Cajun Brute to give them their second score in as many attempts. Delivering for his team, Periera rode his powerful animal athlete opponent for 86.25 points, to put Texas back ahead by 84.75 points, 170-85.25.
While Texas celebrated, Kansas City Head Coach J.W. Hart challenged the call, believing Periera did not last the requisite 8. PBR’s officials upheld the call, with the score remaining and Kansas City losing their ability to challenge for the remainder of the game. But Texas wouldn’t lead for long. The ride-for-ride battle continued in the bottom of the second, as Koltin Hevalow put the Outlaws back on top by 3 points, 173-170, as he rode Body Roc for 87.75 points.
Take a Bow! Koltin Hevalow's 87.75-Point Ride on Body Roc
Texas’ ride streak came to an end in the top of the third as Daniel Keeping came down in a quick 2.73 seconds on Chupacabra, opening the door for Kansas City to grow their lead to a full ride score. The Outlaws seized the moment, growing their lead to 89 points as Julio Cesar Marques rode Smooth Steel for 86 points, celebrating with his backflip inside Amerant Bank Arena.
Texas failed to answer in the top of the fourth, remaining 89 points behind the Outlaws as Shane Scott proved no match for Ghost Face, hitting the ground in 3.53 seconds. The buckoff gave Kansas City the chance to clinch the game win early in the bottom of the frame. Should they cover, they would pull two ride scores ahead with just one Rattler remaining. In the possible game-winning moment was 2022 PBR Rookie of the Year Bob Mitchell, paired with Washita Red.
After careful preparations in the chutes, Mitchell nodded with confidence, but was sent airborne in 4.11 seconds. Texas then faced a must-ride position in the top of the fifth. The crucial out came down to veteran Joao Ricardo Vieira on Bullet. Vieira burst into the arena inside the home of the NHL’s 2024 Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers, matching the bovine athlete jump-for-jump with ease en route to the whistle. The score, 86.25 points, however, was not enough to propel Texas to the lead, with the Rattlers still trailing by 2.75 points, 256.25-259, with no riders remaining.
With the win in hand, the Outlaws’ closer and reigning PBR World Champion Cassio Dias failed to add more points to their total, whipped to the dirt in 1.39 seconds by Mr. Wilson. When the dust settled, the Kansas City Outlaws won by a margin of 2.75 points, 259-256.25. They left Florida with a 1-1 record, now 4-3 this season. Compliments of the win, they rose from No. 4 to No. 3 in the league. The Rattlers return to the Lone Star State having gone 0-2 at PBR Freedom Days, now 2-5 this season. They remained No. 9 in the league.
Carolina Cowboys and Oklahoma Wildcatters Tie 175.25-175.25 on Final Day of PBR Camping World Team Series Action in Sunrise, Florida
Carolina Cowboys: 175.25
Oklahoma Wildcatters: 175.25
SUNRISE, Fla. – At the third event of the 2024 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series, the No. 1 Carolina Cowboys remain undefeated, tying the Oklahoma Wildcatters 175.25-175.25 on Sunday afternoon in Sunrise, Florida, in the season’s first game to end in a deadlock. Carolina’s opener and 2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis began the game in statement form. Covering Boujee Boy with seeming ease, Davis gave his team a quick 89.25-point lead. He is now 6-for-7 on the season. Oklahoma made their presence known in matching speed, responding in the bottom of the first. Courtesy of an 87.75-point ride from Eduardo Matos on Gas Money, the Wildcatters inched within 1.5 points of the lead.
Eduardo Matos Gets It Done with 87.75 Points on Gas Money
In the top of the second, Carolina was unable to grow their game lead with Derek Kolbaba coming down after a direction change in 4.78 seconds on Quick Show. The buckoff opened the door for Oklahoma to overtake the lead in the bottom of the frame, as the Wildcatters’ Kase Hitt settled in atop Hawk. With his team and Head Coach J.B. Mauney cheering him on from the back of the chutes, Hitt initially appeared centered, but a mid-out direction change by the bull led Hitt to hit the dirt in 5.39 seconds, resulting in no score.
Carolina again stumbled in their third out as Adriano Salgado was bucked off by Smooth Criminal in 2.94 seconds. Oklahoma then overtook the game lead for the first time in the showdown. As Cort McFadden went the distance on Red Dirt for 87.5 points, the Wildcatters surged to an 86-point lead, as the scoreboard read 175.25-89.25. The Cowboys then bucked off in their third straight out, as their fourth man to compete, Daylon Swearingen, was upended in 3.19 seconds by Kodiac. The buckoff gave Oklahoma the chance to clinch the game win early in the bottom of the fourth, with the opportunity to grow their lead to two ride scores with just one Carolina rider remaining.
Josh Frost nodded with confidence for the Wildcatters but was ultimately flung to the dirt in 5.51 seconds, opening the door for the league No. 1 Carolina Cowboys to win in come-from-behind fashion. Bursting into the arena inside the home of the NHL’s 2024 Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers, seven-time PRCA Sage Kimzey delivered for the Cowboys, covering Kenny for 86 points to tie the game 175.25-175.25.
The game then came down to Oklahoma’s closer Clay Guiton on Good. Guiton, however, got pulled down overtop of the bull, coming down in 5.99 seconds. With that buckoff, the game ended in a 175.25-175.25 tie, the first of the 2024 PBR Camping World Team Series season. As a result of the game, the Carolina Cowboys went 1-0-1 in Florida and are now 6-0-1 in 2024. They remained No. 1 in the league. The Oklahoma Wildcatters concluded PBR Freedom Days 1-1-1 and are now 4-3-1 in 2024. They rose from No. 3 to No. 2 in the PBR Teams standings, now trailing the Cowboys by two games.
Austin Gamblers Defeat Nashville Stampede by Two Ride Scores to Conclude the PBR Camping World Team Series Event in Sunrise, Florida a Perfect 3-0
Austin Gamblers: 258
Nashville Stampede: 87
SUNRISE, Fla. – The Ausitn Gamblers punctuated their perfect 3-0 weekend at the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series event in Sunrise, Florida, with a two-ride score victory, 258-87, on Sunday against the league’s 2022 Champion Nashville Stampede. PBR’s animal athletes were dominant in the opening two frames with neither Austin nor Nashville finding the whistle. In the top of the third, Austin became the first team to strike. Despite being offered a re-ride the Gamblers kept Ezekiel Mitchell’s 83.25 points earned for his 8 seconds of work aboard Pork Chop. Nashville failed to answer in the bottom of the third as Mason Taylor came down in 2.16 seconds atop the fast-moving The Kraken. The Gamblers’ momentum continued to roll in the top of the fourth as Ramon de Lima grew Austin’s lead to 171.5 points as he bested Wild Card for 88.25 points.
Wild Card is No Match for an Austin Gambler: Ramon de Lima Scores 88.25 Points
The score then forced Nashville into a must-ride position in the bottom of the fourth, trailing by two ride scores with just two Stampede riders remaining to compete. Cody Teel delivered for the Stampede when they needed it most, riding Boo Ray for 87 points to cut Austin’s lead to 84.5 points. While the Stampede staved off a fourth-frame defeat, Austin then had the chance to clinch the game win early in the top of the fifth.
In the potential victory-clinching out was the Gamblers’ closer, and two-time PBR Teams MVP Jose Vitor Leme on Peanut. After careful preparation in the chutes, Leme called for the gate and beat the bull to each jump, reaching the whistle with ease and casually dismounting as if stepping off a curb in comfortable shoes. The 86.5-point score, which brought the electric crowd to its feet, cemented the win for Austin.
The game then concluded with a heart-breaking Nashville buckoff, with three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves unseated in a close 7.16 seconds by Oreo. When the bucking concluded, the Austin Gamblers won by 171 points, 258-87, concluding PBR Freedom Days a perfect 3-0 to improve to 4-3 this season. They rose from No. 5 to No. 4 in the league. The Nashville Stampede will return to Tennessee having gone 0-2 inside Amerant Bank Arena, to slip to 3-4 in 2024 and falling from No. 6 to No. 7 in the league.
Florida Freedom Conclude Debut PBR Camping World Team Series Homestand in Sunrise, Florida with a Dominant Three Ride Score Win Against the Missouri Thunder
Missouri Thunder: 85.25
Florida Freedom: 331.25
SUNRISE, Fla. – The host Florida Freedom concluded their debut PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series homestand in Sunrise, Florida, with a commanding win, defeating the Missouri Thunder by three ride scores inside the home of the NHL’s 2024 Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers. The Freedom went 4-for-5 in their defeat of the Thunder, marking the second time this season they covered 80% of their animal athlete opponents in game play. As the game got underway, Missouri and Florida exchanged buckoffs, as the scoreboard remained 0-0 entering the second.
After Boudreaux Campbell was brought down in a hard-fought 2.24 seconds by Soul King for the Thunder, Florida opener Caden Bunch was whipped down in 3.99 seconds by a fast-moving Alibi. Missouri then broke the deadlock score in the top of the second, surging to an early 85.25-point lead courtesy of an 8-second effort by Felipe Furlan on Hoka Hey. The Paulo Crimber-led Florida Freedom then looked to Alex Cerqueira on Johnny Walker Red to deliver the home team their first points. After being put on the clock, Cerqueira nodded with just 3 seconds remaining, and was initially deemed to have bucked off at the 7.83-second mark. The out, however, came with dramatics, as both a re-ride flag and challenge flag from the Freedom hit the dirt inside Amerant Bank Arena.
PBR’s officials investigating the Freedom’s challenge, believing that Cerqueira had made the requisite 8, awarded Cerqueira and the Freedom an 80.5-point score. Florida then declined the re-ride opportunity, inching within 4.75 points of the lead as the scoreboard read 85.25-80.5 entering the third. Missouri’s momentum came to a halt in the top of the third as Grayson Cole was called for a slap on Muddy Jake at the 5.97-second mark. Florida continued to roll in the bottom of the frame. Joao Lucas Campos bested Eyes On Me for 87.25 points, putting the Freedom on top for the first time by 82.5 points.
Following a Missouri buckoff in the top of the fourth, as Briggs Madsen was hurtled to the ground in 5.42 seconds by Sundance, Florida had the chance to clinch the game win early in the bottom of the frame should they convert. In the possible game-winning moment was Elizmar Jeremias on Modelo. With his team cheering him on at full force, Jeremias burst into the arena, matching the bull jump-for-jump en route to the whistle.
Marked 74 points, with Florida declining the re-ride option, the qualified ride cemented the win for the host Freedom. Missouri was unable to reverse their fortunes in the bottom of the fifth as their closer Paulo Eduardo Rossetto was bucked off in 4.86 seconds by Firewater. Florida’s closer then concluded their final game inside Amerant Bank Arena in dominant form.
The Sunshine State goes WILD! John Crimber Dominates Whip with 89.5 Points for the Freedom
Teenage phenom and generational talent John Crimber rode Whip for a game best 89.5 points, leading the Freedom to beat the Thunder by a commanding 246 points, 331.25-85.25. Crimber is now 7-for-8 on the season and leads the 2024 MVP race. The Florida Freedom concluded their debut homestand in the Sunshine State having gone 2-1 and are now 3-4 in 2024. The win allowed them to rise two positions in the league standings from No. 8 to No. 6. The Missouri Thunder left Amerant Bank Arena having gone 1-2, now 3-5 this season. They fell from No. 7 to No. 8 in the PBR Teams standings.
SUNRISE TEAM STANDINGS – AUGUST 4:
Here are the Team standings for the third day of competition for the PBR Camping World Team Series event in Sunrise, Florida:
1. Florida Freedom, 1-0-0-421.25
2. Kansas City Outlaws, 1-0-0-259
3. Austin Gamblers, 1-0-0-258
4. Oklahoma Wildcatters, 0-0-1-175.25
5. Carolina Cowboys, 0-0-1-175.25
6. Texas Rattlers, 0-1-0-256.25
7. Nashville Stampede, 0-1-0-87
8. Missouri Thunder, 0-1-0-85.25
*Note: The Arizona Ridge Riders and New York Mavericks had byes on August 4.
PBR TEAMS SEASON STANDINGS:
Here are the current Team standings for the regular season after the third day of competition for PBR Freedom Days in Sunrise, Florida:
1. Carolina Cowboys, 6-0-1-1,659.25
2. Oklahoma Wildcatters, 4-3-1-1,435.75
3. Kansas City Outlaws, 4-3-0-1,312.5
4. Austin Gamblers, 4-3-0-1,298.5
5. Arizona Ridge Riders, 4-3-0-1,291.75
6. Florida Freedom, 3-4-0-1,269.25
7. Nashville Stampede, 3-4-0-1,029.75
8. Missouri Thunder, 3-5-0-1,045.25
9. Texas Rattlers, 2-5-0-1,038.75
10. New York Mavericks, 2-5-0-513.75
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media