PUEBLO, Colo. – (1-3) Florida Freedom rookie John Crimber has been one of most-anticipated cowboys to grace PBR competition in its 31 years of existence.

Selected No. 1 overall during the 2024 PBR Teams New Rider Draft in Nashville, Tennessee, he took the next step in completing his prophecy-like path in continuing to serve as one of the industry’s best-known and top-rated riders.

Turning in a No. 2 overall finish during his rookie 2024 Unleash The Beast campaign, his first-year effort was truly a spectacle, and then some.

Seeing the talented Decatur, Texas, native give his all en route to producing countless Top 5 finishes, a career-first premier series victory in his 5-on-5 squad’s home state (Jacksonville, Florida) and plenty of electric 90s, there’s not much more he could’ve done to impress the rest within the first six months of his professional bull riding career.

And while fans, tour executives and riders themselves celebrated alongside the kid as he racked up countless accolades and the rankest of conversions while stepping into the limelight, knocking out countless interviews and making endless event appearances, it still wasn’t enough.

He, surely, did himself and his family some good deeds in entertaining it all. Smiling, always willing to take a moment to grow the sport, represent PBR or just chat it up in general. So the good karma was on his side, just the same.

The only thing standing in his way of knocking his rookie season out of the park?

A man named Cassio Dias, who happened to be participating in his own first season of Unleash The Beast competition.

While it was Dias who captured both the 2024 PBR World Champion and PBR Rookie of the Year honors, Crimber did all he could to push the Brazilian to his limits.

Just as encouraging, he remained a good sport off the dirt and atop the year-end stage when the party inside AT&T Stadium came to a close. Eventually joining Dias on stage (as Crimber accepted his award and check for producing the highest-scored ride of the event: an epic 95-pointer atop Big Bank), Crimber jumped on the mic to share his happiness and excitement for Dias.

Having come just one qualified ride away from potentially clinching what would’ve been his own career-first world title and $1,000,000 check, it speaks volumes to know the kid legitimately celebrated alongside Dias and company.

That specific showdown is all in the past in now.

Yet, that doesn’t mean the two all-stars won’t be competing against each other all summer within the PBR Camping World Team Series.

Both in helping their teams secure some victories and as it pertains to the league’s PBR Teams MVP race, which awards the individual rider with the highest aggregate score at the end of the regular season slate with tons of cash and the ultimate summer series bragging rights.

Dias and his (3-2) Kansas City Outlaws recently just handed the Freedom a dramatic 178.25-89.5 loss last weekend in Duluth, Georgia. Naturally, Crimber delivered for his team, eventually recording an 89.5-point score aboard Bomb Diggity.

But in typical one-up fashion, Dias threw down a 90-point ride atop Ridin’ Salty on his way to securing his team another victory.

And for as much of a fire the close call may have lit underneath the Freedom star, Crimber’s remaining humble and hungry as his squad prepares to host its first-ever Florida-based homestand inside Amerant Arena August 2-4.

Between seeing his good friend and fellow competitor edge him out once again and wanting to put on one hell of a show for the team’s new Florida-based fans and partners, we know the youngster will be fired up and ready to ride.

The biggest question should be poised to his father, Paulo Crimber, in wondering “How can he get more out of the rest of his lineup?”

Elizmar Jeremias sat atop the MVP race at the end of Week 1, courtesy of his 3-for-3 start. However, he experienced a bit of a cold stretch last weekend at the PBR Teams: Duluth showdown, eventually 0-for-2 on the weekend.

RELATED: Week 3 PBR Camping World Team Series power rankings

Caden Bunch, who recorded a quality No. 14 finish during the 2024 UTB season, has the talent to match Crimber ride-for-ride on a good day. But just 1-for-4 in 2024, he hasn’t found his formula quite yet.

We know the team is capable of stringing a few together in the same game, very much on display during their Week 1 involvement in what became the league’s highest-scoring showdown, an eye-popping 448-343.75 game against the Carolina Cowboys.

Unfortunately, the Freedom dropped that game, as Casey Roberts was unable to meet the 8 during his season debut. Doubling down on the bummers, Jeremias and Crimber are the only Florida cowboys who have managed a pair of conversions so far.

While Florida may be bringing just a 1-3 record back home, Crimber has been doing all he can to spark his red, white and blue squad.

A perfect 4-for-4 on the year, he’s been the definition of solid for his squad in 2024.

But as he continues to thrive in the closer spot, three of his four conversions have been logged when his team has already lost the game, including both of the unit’s Week 2 losses.

Which says a lot about how much the Freedom need their riders in the 1-4 spots to perform. But it says even more about a young Crimber, who’s able to still lock in and do his job despite already knowing the outcome of the contest.

Up to 347 aggregate points on the year, Crimber remains ranked No. 3 in the PBR Teams MVP race behind only … well, you guessed it. The same man he barely lost the 2024 PBR World Championship too, Cassio Dias. And Cooper Davis, of course, who’s enjoying one hell of a season, occupying the No. 2 spot.

Drawing an opening night showdown against one of the league’s two new expansion teams in the (1-4) New York Mavericks Friday night, Florida prepares to match up with a unit who’s coming of the franchise’s first-ever win last weekend. But just 2-for-25 as a team so far, they have plenty to learn and much to bond over if they want to make a run to the 2024 PBR Teams Championship.

The same could be said for the Freedom, who will look to Crimber to lead them into battle Friday, August 2 as the second homestand event of the 2024 PBR Teams season approaches!

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

Eleven of this weekend’s 12 games will air on Merit Street and Merit+ (with Saturday’s “Game of the Week” showdown between the Oklahoma Wildcatters and Florida Freedom primed to air on CBS Television Network on Sunday 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 and get ready for some 5-on-5 entertainment!

UNSTOPPABLE COWBOYS PREPARED FOR DANCES WITH THUNDER, WILDCATTERS All eyes may be on the Florida Freedom (as the team prepares to host its first-ever Florida-based homestand event) and the Austin Gamblers (who have an uncharacteristic 1-3 record heading into Week 3) when it comes to the dramatic storylines set to play out inside Amerant Bank Arena. But it’s the Carolina Cowboys who may be performing in the brightest of lights, as Jerome Davis and company are set to defend their flawless 5-0 record Friday night. Drawing a matchup against the (1-3) Missouri Thunder, can Cooper Davis, Daylon Swearingen and Sage Steele Kimzey continue their hot starts? Will Derek Kolbaba and Adriano Salgado continue to step up while serving as some of the top-performing depth riders in the league again?

Bringing the highest combined aggregate team score (1222 points), best record (5-0), highest average game score (244.4), best ride percentage (56%), most qualified rides (14) and the only team with two riders in the top five of the PBR Teams MVP race (Cooper Davis: second, Sage Steele Kimzey: fourth), it’s rather obvious they’re on the fast track to the winner’s circle if the team can stay healthy throughout the 12-week regular season. For now, they need to concentrate on defeating a Thunder team who benched its pair of established veterans in Boudreaux Campbell and Andrew Alvidrez during the team’s big win Sunday. While Campbell ended up getting in on the fun via a re-ride and Alvidrez represented the squad in the Shootout Round, they’ll be rested up and motivated to knock off the league’s top dawgs. The question remains: will they be able to get the job done? Or will Carolina continue its undefeated start to 2024?

MAVERICKS ENTER WEEK 3 WITH MOMENTUM FOLLOWING FRANCHISE-FIRST WIN Beginning the season on a down 0-4 stretch isn’t the way any of the league’s 10 squads want to start season three. For one of the two expansion squads in the New York Mavericks, they especially can’t afford such a skid as they get their year one efforts off the ground. So, when the new kids on the block were able to secure their franchise’s first-ever win Sunday afternoon in Duluth, you could practically hear Kody Lostroh and friends breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Leandro Machado has only participated in two PBR Teams outs this season. One of them sticks out a bit more than the other, as it was his second go which resulted in getting his team into the winner’s circle. Dancing with Black 6 for a quality 85.5-point score, the journey was exactly what the Mavericks needed. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t a record-breaker. But it was enough to deliver a win. And at the end of the day, that’s all the Mavericks needed. Set to challenge the hometown Florida Freedom Friday night during the evening’s finale of a showdown, can Braidy Randolph step up and record what would be his first conversion with New York? Nursing a broken foot, as communicated on the Merit Street broadcast a few times last week, their ace hasn’t looked healthy but has been gutting it out in trying to spark some momentum for the Mavericks. Regardless of who steps up, they’ll need at least one conversion to get the job done, as we know Crimber has been perfect so far in 2024.

2024 PBR TEAMS: FREEDOM DAYS MATCHUPS Friday, August 2: Oklahoma Wildcatters vs. Kansas City Outlaws Austin Gamblers vs. Arizona Ridge Riders Missouri Thunder vs. Carolina Cowboys New York Mavericks vs. Florida Freedom Saturday, August 3: Texas Rattlers vs. Austin Gamblers New York Mavericks vs. Arizona Ridge Riders Nashville Stampede vs. Missouri Thunder Oklahoma Wildcatters vs. Florida Freedom Sunday, August 4: Texas Rattlers vs. Kansas City Outlaws Oklahoma Wildcatters vs. Carolina Cowboys Nashville Stampede vs. Austin Gamblers Florida Freedom vs. Missouri Thunder FOLLOW ALONG This weekend’s PBR Teams: Freedom Days showcase in Sunrise, Florida is set to begin Friday, Aug. 2 at 7:45 p.m. EST as the Oklahoma Wildcatters and Kansas City Outlaws kick off the three-day showdown inside Amerant Bank Arena.

With competition set to resume Saturday, Aug. 3 at 7:45 p.m. EST, the second of ten homestand events will conclude Sunday, Aug. 4 at 2:45 p.m. EST as squads look to close out the weekend in the win column!

Fans can tune into Merit Street Media and the Merit+ App on Friday, Aug. 2 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. 3, will also air on Merit Street Media and the Merit+ App starting at 9 p.m. EST, while Sunday’s entire slate of games will be broadcast on Merit Street Media and the Merit+ App beginning at 3 p.m. EST.

RELATED: Where to Watch: Freedom Days

This season’s second “Game of the Week,” featuring the Oklahoma Wildcatters and Florida Freedom, is set to air on CBS Television Network on Sunday, Aug. 4 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. 3 at 3 p.m. EST, Saturday’s games airing on Sunday, Aug. 4 at 3 p.m. EST and all of Sunday’s showdowns set to be shown at 3 p.m. EST on Monday, Aug. 5.

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 Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media