GLENDALE, Ariz. – To open the final regular-season event of the 2024 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series, which will set the playoff matchups for the PBR Teams Championship in Las Vegas, the Missouri Thunder’s Andrew Alvidrez knocked down one of the biggest rides of his career on the final out of the night’s first game to beat the Nashville Stampede 170.75 – 168.

Missouri and Nashville entered the regular-season finale with identical 11-15 records, trying to lock into the Top 6 for a direct berth into Championship Weekend at T-Mobile Arena (Oct. 18-20) and bypass the Ride-In Round between the bottom four at South Point Arena on Oct. 17.

The Thunder, now 12-15, stayed in 6th place, a game ahead of the Stampede, who slipped to 11-16 and are immediately below the cutline for qualifying directly to T-Mobile Arena.

“It feels good,” Alvidrez said after his ride on Thriller for 83.75 points. “We’re going to celebrate for about five minutes. The job’s not done; there’s still a lot more work to do.”

The stunning walk-off win spoiled what was shaping up to be a storybook night for the Stampede’s Chase Outlaw, one of the sport’s most popular riders, who had been sidelined with injury since October 2023. In his 2024 Teams debut, Outlaw looked vintage in scoring 86 points on Hundred Bad Days, temporarily putting Nashville a bull up in the third frame.

“Every one of them is big,” Outlaw said. “The only one that matters is when you’re crawling down in there. I’m just having fun. I thank the Lord for having me get back here. With all the trials and tribulations I’ve been through, you just can’t ever give up.”

The Oklahoma Wildcatters, coming into the contest ranked No. 8 in the standings, upset the fifth-place Austin Gamblers, 171.50–85.50, putting the expansion team in a position to move into the Top 6 on Sunday afternoon in Arizona.

Oklahoma is now 11-15-1, a half-game behind the Missouri Thunder. Austin, already locked into the Top 6, fell to 13-14.

In Game 3, the red-hot, high-scoring Florida Freedom won for the eighth time in their last nine games, putting up four rides to top the league-leading Carolina Cowboys 340.75-262.75.

Florida, previously 0-2 against Carolina this season, improved to 16-10, while the Cowboys slipped to 17-8-1, still a half-game ahead of the No. 2 Kansas City Outlaws. With the win, Florida stays alive for a Top 2 bye on the first night of PBR Teams Championship Weekend in Las Vegas. Both teams are trying to clinch a first-round bye this weekend.

In the night’s final game, the Arizona Ridge Riders, who will be competing in the playoff Ride-In Round at South Point, defeated the New York Mavericks, 173.75–87.5, sending them to the Ride-In Round as well.

The Ridge Riders improved to 9-17, while the Mavericks dropped to 10-16.

In the Shootout Round, Florida’s John Crimber mastered a hard-bucking Umm for 91.25 points, retaking the lead in the 2024 MVP race, sending the Texas Rattlers’ Brady Fielder (who had a bye tonight) back into second place. Crimber, who got on practice bulls three days this past week, put up one of Florida’s four scores earlier in the evening and is now 25-for-38 on the season. The Arizona Ridge Riders’ Colten Fritzlan also rose to the occasion in the bonus round with 88.25 points on Karizma.

The PBR Teams: Ridge Rider Days action continues at Desert Diamond Arena on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 5:45 p.m. MST. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.

Merit Street Media is broadcasting all three days of action from Glendale. 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.

SCORE BULLETINS

Missouri Thunder’s Andrew Alvidrez Walks Off Nashville Stampede to Begin PBR Teams: Ridge Rider Days Friday Night

Nashville Stampede: 168
Missouri Thunder: 170.75

In the opening game of PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Ridge Rider Days, the Missouri Thunder (12-15) walked off the Nashville Stampede (11-16), 170.75-168. The Thunder, now 12-15, stayed in 6th place, a game ahead of the Stampede, who slipped to 11-16 and are right below the cutline for T-Mobile Arena.

Three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves got the bull riding action started on Beef Cake in the top of the first. The veteran roared out of the chutes aboard the powerful bovine competitor but was bested after 5.08 seconds. Paulo Eduardo Rossetto now had an opportunity to give the Thunder an early lead, and the ambidextrous rider rocketed out of the gates on Martini Houdini and made it look easy, sitting tall for 87 points.

To start the second frame, Cody Jesus took on Shazam, but he was offered a re-ride after the bull fouled him while bucking out of the chutes. Trey Kimzey then made his 2024 PBR Teams debut on Ruthless for the Missouri Thunder, but he couldn’t convert, bucking off in 4.43 seconds.

Looking to get points on the board for the Stampede, Alan de Souza took on Dr. Cool to start the third, giving the nod with just three seconds remaining on the chute clock. He made the 8 for 82 points, and the team declined a re-ride opportunity in order to get on the board.

Sticking with the Stampede, the team turned to a veteran making his much-anticipated 2024 PBR Teams debut as Chase Outlaw battled Hundred Bad Days. Outlaw roared out of the gate and sat tall to give the Stampede the lead, covering the elite animal athlete for 86 points. It was Outlaw’s first qualified ride on the premier series since Oct. 5, 2023.

Now behind for the first time in the game, Casey Roberts attempted to take back the lead for the Thunder on Mighty Mike, but he was marked for a slap after 7.69 seconds. Taking advantage of the Stampede’s re-ride opportunity, Kaiden Loud took on Ah Hell to try and extend Nashville’s lead. However, the young Texan couldn’t hang on after 6.66 seconds, leaving the door open for Missouri’s Felipe Furlan to take back the lead for the Thunder. The Brazilian stormed out of the chutes aboard Goin’ Solo but was immediately thrown forward after just 0.58 seconds.

Stampede closer Anderson de Oliveira then had an opportunity to close out the game on Bulletin, but he failed to do so, as he was thrown off to the left after 3.15 seconds. With the game on the line, Andrew Alvidrez battled Thriller in the final out of the game. The Missouri captain came through, converting for 83.75 points in his second career walk-off ride.

Both teams have a bye Saturday night.

Austin’s Leme Has His Walk-off Ride Overturned After Challenge to Give Oklahoma Stunning Victory in the Second Game of PBR Teams: Ridge Rider Days

Oklahoma Wildcatters: 171.5Austin Gamblers: 85.5

Friday night’s second game at the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series stop at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, ended with the Oklahoma Wildcatters (11-15-1) upsetting the Austin Gamblers (13-14), 171.5-85.5. Oklahoma is now 11-15-1, staying alive for the Top 6, a half-game behind Missouri. Austin, already locked into the Top 6, fell to 13-14.

Eduardo Matos took on Johnny’s After Party to begin the second game of the night and got the Wildcatters out to an early 86.25-point lead to begin the game. Austin’s Kaique Pacheco immediately responded aboard Jerry’s Special, recovering after a shaky start to post an 85.5-point score.

Looking to capitalize on Oklahoma’s early lead, Bob Mitchell roared out of the chutes on Midnight City in the top of the second, but he was bucked off after 3.41 seconds. Lucas Divino then had a chance to give the Gamblers their first lead of the game on Shank, who was a perfect 15-0 entering Glendale. The powerful bovine competitor moved to 16-0, quickly bucking off the veteran Brazilian in 2.27 seconds.

With six outs remaining in the game, Cort McFadden took on Tropic Thunder for the Wildcatters, and the elite animal athlete quickly dispatched the Texan in 3.56 seconds. Callum Miller shared a chute with Blowhard to end the third frame and saw his buckoff streak extended to nine after his shoulder slammed into the bull’s horns at the 7.13-second mark.

Looking to apply pressure on the Austin Gamblers, Clay Guiton rocketed out of the chutes on Show Glo for the Wildcatters in the top of the fourth, but he was immediately offered a re-ride after the bull fouled him getting out of the gate. That gave veteran Ramon de Lima an opportunity to give Austin the lead aboard First Class, but he was also fouled and awarded a re-ride opportunity.

The Oklahoma Wildcatters’ Hagen Braswell next leaped out of the chutes on Joy’s Bang Bang, but he was flung off after 4.10 seconds. Next up was Austin’s closer Jose Vitor Leme, who entered Ridge Rider Days ranked No. 3 in the MVP race as he looked to win the award for the third consecutive season. The two-time PBR World Champion rocketed out of the chutes on Brindle Badger and was given Austin’s second re-ride opportunity of the game after the bull kicked the chutes after several seconds.

Tate Pollmeier took on I’m Legit Too in Oklahoma’s first re-ride opportunity and barely hung on to extend the Wildcatters’ lead, scoring 85.25 points. The Gamblers then had Ramon de Lima return to the chutes to take on Peanut in their first re-ride opportunity, but he was immediately flipped off after 2.58 seconds.

Now in a very familiar situation, Jose Vitor Leme, who had a league-best 11 career walk-off rides entering Ridge Rider Days, took on Buckshot in a must-ride situation. The Brazilian superstar appeared to have converted in the clutch once again, but Wildcatters Head Coach J.B. Mauney immediately called for a challenge, and Leme’s ride was overturned after replay showed his shoulder brushed the bull at the 2.36-second mark.

On Saturday, Austin attempts to bounce back against the Carolina Cowboys (17-8-1), while Oklahoma tries to keep it rolling against the Arizona Ridge Riders (9-17).

Florida Freedom Hang On to Defeat League-Leading Carolina Cowboys to Stay in the Hunt For First-Round Bye In Las Vegas

Carolina Cowboys: 262.75
Florida Freedom: 340.75

The Florida Freedom (16-10) edged the Carolina Cowboys (17-8-1), 340.75-262.75, in the third game of the third annual PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams: Ridge Rider Days on Friday night.

The game began with Sage Kimzey taking on CR’s Brindle T, and Carolina was awarded a re-ride opportunity after the bull both kicked the chutes and slipped to his side. Alex Cerqueira had no such issues with Buckle Down, giving Florida an early lead in the bottom of the first with an 84.75-point ride.

Finding themselves in an early hole, the Cowboys turned to Dawson Branton to respond on Ram Jam, but he lost the rope after 6.60 seconds. In the bottom of the second, Florida’s Joao Lucas Campos had a chance to extend the Freedom’s lead on Twisted Sister. The Brazilian took advantage, riding the powerful bovine competitor for 89.25 points.

Now down two ride scores to none with four bulls left, Carolina’s Adriano Salgado returned to competition after missing all of September with a groin injury, taking on Redline. Like Outlaw’s return in the opening game, Salgado showed no rust, covering the elite animal athlete for 87.75 points to get the Cowboys on the board. Staying with Carolina, Kimzey returned to the top of the chutes and hopped on Renegade, easily making the 8 to convert in the Cowboys’ re-ride opportunity and giving Carolina the lead with an 88-point ride.

Looking to move his team to a perfect 3-for-3, Eric Henrique Domingos thundered out of the gate on Red Bull, but he couldn't convert, bucking off after 3.53 seconds. Carolina then turned to Daylon Swearingen, and the 2022 PBR World Champion extended his team’s lead, riding Bugsy in the animal athlete’s debut for 87 points.

Now finding themselves down a ride score, the Florida Freedom turned to Thiago Salgado, who roared out of the gate on Lanksy and took back the lead for Florida with an 89.5-point ride. In a must-ride situation, Carolina closer Cooper Davis catapulted out of the chutes on Seth Wadley’s No Bull but was offered a re-ride opportunity to extend the game.

In the meantime, Florida closer John Crimber rocketed out of the gate on Where’s The Whiskey to extend the Freedom’s lead with just Carolina’s re-ride opportunity left. He somehow hung on for 77.25 points while horizontal to the ground for the final three seconds of his ride. Davis now took on Snuggles for Carolina’s re-ride opportunity, but the 2016 PBR World Champion couldn’t convert, bucking off after a heartbreaking 7.05 seconds, leaving Florida victorious.

The surging Freedom take on the Kansas City Outlaws (17-9) in a critical matchup Saturday night, while Carolina attempts to rebound against the red-hot Texas Rattlers (15-11).

Ridge Riders Cover Two to Win Home Opener Against New York Mavericks to Conclude Gameplay at PBR Teams: Ridge Rider Days on Friday Night

New York Mavericks: 87.5
Arizona Ridge Riders: 173.75

In the final game of PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Teams: Ridge Rider Days Friday night, the Arizona Ridge Riders (9-17) bested the New York Mavericks (10-16), 173.75-87.5.

The visiting Mavericks began the game with Leandro Machado taking on Pricky Ricky, and the powerful bovine competitor immediately seized the upper hand, bucking Machado off in 1.27 seconds. Nick Tetz was the first rider to go for Arizona, and he was offered a re-ride after he was fouled by the aptly named T-Wrecks in the home team’s opening out.

The second frame began with Mauricio Moreira taking on Kill Switch with two pink pacifiers tied to the back of his vest after finding out he’s expecting two baby girls last weekend in Fort Worth, Texas. Similar to Tetz in the bottom of the first, Moreira was offered a re-ride opportunity after being fouled by his animal athlete opponent. Arizona’s Eduardo Aparecido was the first to make the 8 in the final game Friday night, giving the home team an early lead by riding Foul Play for 89.25 points.

Sticking with Arizona, veteran Dener Barbosa extended the Ridge Riders’ lead by covering Smooth Steel for 84.5 points. The Mavericks turned to Ederson Santos to respond aboard Mongo. The Brazilian rocketed out of the gate and initially sat tall before the powerful bovine competitor flipped him over the front after 5.61 seconds. JaCauy Hale was paired with Crazy Times for the Ridge Riders’ re-ride opportunity, but the Arizonan couldn’t take advantage, hitting the dirt hard after 6.83 seconds.

Still down two ride scores, New York turned to Leonardo Castro to attempt to break through on Taz, but he slipped to the left after 6.42 seconds, leaving the Mavericks in a must-ride situation. Sticking with New York, Mason Taylor took the Mavericks’ re-ride opportunity on Chuck, and the Texan kept his team in the game, breaking through for 87.5 points.

With two bulls remaining for the home team, Bruno Carvalho was given the first opportunity to clinch the win for Arizona on Preston’s Pistol. Giving the nod with nine seconds on the chute clock, the Brazilian initially sat tall before getting stuck in the well and losing the rope after 6.21 seconds. New York’s Maverick Smith then catapulted out of the chutes on Dan-O, but he bucked off after 5.12 seconds to secure the win for Arizona. With the game already in hand, Keyshawn Whitehorse stormed out of the chutes on Lasher, but he couldn’t hold on after 2.50 seconds.

Arizona attempts to remain perfect at home against the Oklahoma Wildcatters (11-15-1) Saturday night, while New York hopes to bounce back against the Austin Gamblers (13-14).

GLENDALE TEAM STANDINGS – OCT. 4:

Here are the Team standings for the first day of competition for PBR Teams: Ridge Rider Days:

1. Florida Freedom, 1-0-0-340.751. Arizona Ridge Riders, 0-1-0-173.75
1. Oklahoma Wildcatters, 1-0-0-171.5
1. Missouri Thunder, 1-0-0- 170.75
5. Carolina Cowboys, 0-1-0-262.75
6. Nashville Stampede, 0-1-0, 168
7. New York Mavericks, 0-1-0-87.5
8. Austin Gamblers, 0-1-0-85.5

PBR TEAMS SEASON STANDINGS:

Here are the current Team standings for the regular season after the first day of competition at the PBR Teams: Ridge Rider Days:

1. Carolina Cowboys, 17-8-1-5,3882. Kansas City Outlaws, 17-9-0-5,718.5
3. Florida Freedom, 16-10-0-5,308
4. Texas Rattlers, 15-11-0-5,207.5
5. Austin Gamblers, 13-14-0-4,442.25
6. Missouri Thunder, 12-15-0-4,176.75
7. Oklahoma Wildcatters, 11-15-1-3,922
8. Nashville Stampede, 11-16-0-3,697
9. New York Mavericks, 10-16-0-2,672.75
10. Arizona Ridge Riders, 9-17-0-4,624.25

OCT. 5 GAME SCHEDULE:

Here are the game matchups for the second day of the PBR Camping World Team Series in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday, Oct. 5:

Texas Rattlers @ Carolina Cowboys
Kansas City Outlaws @ Florida Freedom
Austin Gamblers @ New York Mavericks
Oklahoma Wildcatters @ Arizona Ridge Riders

Note: The Missouri Thunder and Nashville Stampede will have byes on Oct. 5.

Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media