PUEBLO, Colo. – The come-up can be rough sometimes.

Cowboys have long embraced the southern circuit and Western ways as the show takes its turn touring around the country.

While Unleash The Beast has adventured to the greater Northeast for quite some time now, the PBR Camping World Team Series has yet to venture that way.

So, when the New York Mavericks make their debut Friday, Aug. 9 inside the ever-revered Barclays Center, they understand the lights might be a bit brighter than what the Florida Freedom or Oklahoma Wildcatters experienced.

Partially because they bring just a 2-5 record into their hometown introduction.

But mostly in part to the Empire State’s reputation for top-notch entertainment.

The state’s long list of established championship-capturing contingents.

Set to invade the home of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets this weekend, the Mavericks look to add their name to that list of contenders.

Coming into the Week 4 homestand having captured two wins in their last three outings, the hometown timing couldn’t be better for Head Coach Kody Lostroh and crew.

Picking up their first win of the season during an imperfect battle in Duluth, Georgia, it didn’t matter that the scoreboard read just 85.5-0 courtesy of the franchise’s first-ever conversion.

It meant the 0-4 skid to start the season was over.

It meant the Mavericks were in the win column.

“A win is a win. We’d like to win by riding all five of them, but it’s incremental steps and the guys took a big step tonight and that’s going to go a long way in the confidence bank,” Lostroh shared with Matt West on the Merit Street broadcast following the win.

“Everyone is going to have challenges and I don’t want to whine and complain about ours. We’ve had hell, and that’s part of this sport. Life’s not easy – Bull riding’s damn sure not easy, so you have to roll with the punches and do your best.”

As a former PBR rider himself, Lostroh knows a lot about what this sport requires if you want to be successful. A main reason he was identified early into the 5-on-5 startup process as one of the great minds who would help take this sport and format to the next level.

Having spent the first two PBR Camping World Team Series sessions as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma Freedom, Lostroh already understood what a locker room dynamic can be within the camaraderie-driven landscape. His current task, now three weeks into his team’s first go, is to establish the Maverick mindset and culture despite dealing with a 2-5 start overall.

“This is everything for us. Confidence is everything in this sport,” he said.

“If these guys can get their confidence going, this is going to carry into the future and I’m really excited for them.”

He and his team took another step in the right direction last weekend in Sunrise, Florida, courtesy of a 1-1 showing inside Amerant Bank Arena.

The win over the hometown Florida Freedom had to feel good, as playing spoiler often can.

But it was Braidy Randolph’s 2-for-2 effort that serves as the biggest takeaway for the ailing unit.

“It feels good to win and we’re all coming together as a team,” Randolph shared after the win.

“It’s been a little rocky, we’re not going to lie. But that’s part of it and we’re starting to get it going.”

It was good to see Randolph back in the ride column, as his 0-for-5 start to the season, paired with a broken foot, wasn’t exactly how he was looking to start his season. A bit of a metaphor for the squad, itself.

New York has dealt with several injuries either leading into the season or since it’s started.

Arguably the biggest setback other than Randolph’s bumps and bruises involves Vitor Losnake, who was sent to Injured Reserve after suffering a lower-body injury during a Challenger Series tune-up prior to Week 1. Rookie Maverick Smith got banged up in Sunrise, as well, now questionable for this weekend’s Maverick Days showdown.

And while the team was aware of his own lingering injuries, they selected a youthful standout in Marco Rizzo during the 2024 PBR Teams New Rider Draft, who’s expected to work his way back into the chutes in the next month or so.

“I’ve said before, adversity is a great teacher,” Lostroh shared.

“It’s hard knocks of this sport and I’m glad we’re going through it because it’s going to make these guys stronger, make them better and it’s really bringing the team together. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Watching on as the Wildcatters, who have enjoyed a bit better of a start than New York, were directly thrusted into the limelight as Oklahoma hosted the season-opener in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, July 24-26, the Mavericks understand that they’ll be the stars of the show.

However, behind Head Coach J.B. Mauney and company, the Wildcatters managed a 2-1 record during their hometown debut by securing wins over a pair of solid squads in the defending 2023 PBR Teams Champion Texas Rattlers and two-time regular season Champs in the Austin Gamblers.

And knowing the Freedom were able to exit their own homestand with a matching 2-1 record, earned by securing wins over the Wildcatters and Missouri Thunder last weekend, New York has a reputation to defend when the year one squad enters the build Friday night.

Looking to replicate some similar success when the Mavericks make their awaited debut inside Barclays Center this weekend, New York will need to take down a pair of heavy-hitters in the Kansas City Outlaws (which rosters the likes of 2024 PBR World Champion Cassio Dias) and the trendy Florida Freedom(who are coming off a productive home-opener of their own, thanks to an all-world contender in John Crimber).

With the Austin Gamblers and Missouri Thunder set to endure opening night bye games, the Mavericks will join the Oklahoma Wildcatters, Nashville Stampede, Texas Rattlers, Carolina Cowboys, Florida Freedom, Arizona Ridge Riders and Kansas City Outlaws in forging an electric opening night showcase Friday night inside Barclays Center.

Eleven of this weekend’s 12 games will air on Merit Street and Merit+ (with Saturday’s “Game of the Week” showdown between the New York Mavericks and Florida Freedom primed to air on CBS Television Network on Sunday, Aug. 11 at Noon EST) ...

… So, be sure to download the Merit+ App and tune into Merit Street for all of this season’s PBR Teams rank rides, wrecks and beyond!

6-0-1 COWBOYS CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WAY AHEAD OF WEEK 4 No matter how you break it down, the Carolina Cowboys are undoubtedly the league’s top contenders with the first quarter of regular season action in the books. Officially 6-0-1 after tying the Oklahoma Wildcatters last week, the Cowboys have to be feeling good about their hot start in the fast lane. With four of the team’s five starting riders currently ranked inside the PBR Teams MVP race, including Daylon Swearingen (No. 19: 3-for-7), Adriano Salgado (No. 14: 3-for-7), Sage Steele Kimzey (No. 6: 5-for-7) and Cooper Davis (6-for-7), it’s apparent the team means business in year three. And if Davis can continue to set the pace as the squad’s standout lead-off rider, they’re primed to be competing at the 2024 PBR Teams Championship in Las Vegas Oct. 18-20.

Facing a desperate (2-5) Texas Rattlers squad Friday night, who recently acquired Mason Taylor from the Nashville Stampede in exchange for Cody Jesus, the Cowboys will need to get three rides on the board, as Cody Lambert will likely have his guys fired up and ready to get back in the win column. The contest against the Rattlers serves as Carolina’s lone matchup of the weekend, as the team will endure a bye game on Saturday night.

RELATED: Trade Analysis: Mason Taylor lands with Texas Rattlers as Cody Jesus heads to Nashville Stampede

CAN JOHN CRIMBER CONTINUE DEFENDING HIS LEAD ATOP PBR TEAMS MVP RACE? It wasn’t a perfect weekend for John Crimber and his Florida Freedom as they exited their hometown showcase with a 2-1 record and pair of Shootout Round Wins. But it was a damn close effort, as the young phenom and friends put on a show inside Amerant Bank Arena.

Going 3-for-4 throughout the three-night showcase, Crimber wowed the crowd as expected, swagging his way around the arena while powering his team back to 3-4 ground on the year. Throwing down progressively ranker scores as the weekend unfolded, Crimber managed 86.5, 89 and 89.5-point efforts as he reclaimed the lead atop the PBR Teams MVP race, now a tour-best 7-for-8 this season. Set to dance with Armageddon in the closer position for his squad once again, can the 18-year-old keep his hot streak going while getting some payback against the Mavericks Friday night, who defeated Florida last weekend in front of their own hometown fans?

2024 PBR TEAMS: MAVERICK DAYS MATCHUPS Friday, August 9: Oklahoma Wildcatters vs. Nashville Stampede Texas Rattlers vs. Carolina Cowboys Florida Freedom vs. Arizona Ridge Riders New York Mavericks vs. Kansas City Outlaws

Saturday, August 10: Kansas City Outlaws vs. Arizona Ridge Riders Texas Rattlers vs. Nashville Stampede Missouri Thunder vs. Austin Gamblers New York Mavericks vs. Florida Freedom

FOLLOW ALONG This weekend’s PBR Teams: Maverick Days showcase in Brooklyn, New York, is set to begin Friday, Aug. 9 at 7:45 p.m. EST as the Oklahoma Wildcatters and Nashville Stampede kick off the two-day showdown inside Barclays Center.

With competition set to conclude Saturday, Aug. 10 at 7:45 p.m. EST, the third of ten homestand events will pit the world’s best riders against each other as we inch closer to the 2024 PBR Teams Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, Oct. 18-20!

RELATED: Where to Watch: Maverick Days

Fans can tune into Merit Street and the Merit+ App on Friday, Aug. 9 beginning at 9 p.m. EST (one hour delay) to take in the four opening night games. The first three games of night two’s slate, airing on Saturday, Aug. 10, will also air live on Merit Street and the Merit+ App starting at 8 p.m. EST (with live pre and postgame PBR Now! coverage surrounding Saturday night’s showdowns!

This season’s third “Game of the Week,” featuring the New York Mavericks and Florida, is set to air on CBS Television Network on Sunday, Aug. 11 at Noon EST.

Spanish broadcasts of all three days of action will also air on TUDN, with night one’s action airing on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 3 p.m. EST and Saturday’s slate airing on Sunday, Aug. 11 at 3 p.m. EST.

Fans can keep an eye on PBR.com and @PBR social media channels for the latest news, scores, wrecks and more! And be sure to download the Merit+ App to watch all of this season’s exclusive action!

Photo courtesy of Leo Loera/Bull Stock Media