Starting lineups, draw revealed for PBR Louisville
Carolina Cowboys, Nashville Stampede set to renew rivalry via Monster Energy Team Challenge March 14.
By James Youness
FORT WORTH, Texas – For as much fun as the premier series pack has enjoyed sharing the event title-capturing love over the past two months or so, Dalton Kasel reminded his competitors that there is, indeed, a gold buckle up for grabs in a mere two months.
And after inking a four-year deal with his Austin Gamblers Friday morning, we can only assume the Muleshoe, Texas, native will be as motivated as ever to stay hot!
Earning his second outright victory and circuit-leading eighth round win of the 2025 campaign, “Mr. 90 Pointer” reclaimed the No. 2 rank inside Simmons Bank Arena, officially just 149 points back from No. 1 Brady Fielder in the ultimate quest for the cup.
Of course, last weekend’s PBR Little Rock also saw the tour-leader expand on his season-best ride streak, advancing his saucy stint to nine-straight conversions as he remains cool, calm and collected ahead of the home stretch.
The Australian talent, now 28-for-40 on the season, has been taking the slow and steady approach lately as he continues to run into cowboys who are having similarly productive weekends, albeit at a spicier rate on the scoresheet.
Whereas Kasel, who’s just 18-for-38, a whopping 10 conversions behind, has been able to lean on some extra points from his rank rides and session victories in closing the gap.
Knowing three of the tour’s Top 11-ranked cowboys are set to miss this weekend’s showdown suggests there could be some additional wiggle room for riders looking to increase their odds of receiving an invite to Cowtown Coliseum May 8-11.
More importantly in the forefront, an opportunity to claim more than $50,000 in prize money inside KFC Yum! Center while drumming up some momentum for the final push into Fort Worth, Texas.
Thankfully for his title odds, No. 3 Sage Steele Kimzey isn’t missing the 17th showdown of the season due to injury, as he and his wife are soon set to welcome their second child into the world.
Likely back atop the chutes next weekend, he’ll resume his journey to compete inside AT&T Stadium May 17-18 just one year after winning the 2024 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast – Championship event itself last spring.
However, both No. 10 Austin Richardson and No. 11 Sandro Batista are out of the draw this time around nursing respective hand and thumb injuries sustained in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Which only paves the way for a few fresh faces to forge their way into the lineup, including a veteran like Eli Vastbinder, who captured an event title last weekend during the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour’s showdown in Lexington, Kentucky.
Having recently planted his flag just a mere 75 miles away from UTB’s Week 17 headquarters, can the 33-year-old bring some of that magic an hour west via his 2025 debut on the top tour during a challenge from Rowdy?
Appearing at his first premier series event since the circuit last visited Louisville, Kentucky, in April of 2024, during the regular season finale, California cowboy Aaron Williams will also perform within the UTB landscape for the first time this season, primed to dance with Yo Mamma in Round 1.
Preparing to compete on U.S. soil for just the second time in his budding career, 19-year-old Brazilian Murilo Henrique de Oliveira will be suiting up for his Carolina Cowboys Friday night as the Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by Camping World, (METC) takes over the final 12 outs of the evening.
Representing his Nashville Stampede while partaking in just his second UTB event of the season (alongside an appearance in Chicago, during Nashville’s METC debut), can a healthy Cody Jesus spring into action and help his blue and yellow squad find the win column?
With the Stampede owning the series-opener, a dominant 251-0 win inside Allstate Arena, they can technically put the finishing touches on the best-of-three series with a win Friday night.
Folks will be lining up to see Kaiden Loud endure the final out of the showcase, as the talented rider has been known to throw down a rank ride or two when he’s feeling himself. But it could come down to the talents of Caden Bunch, Briggs Madsen and company, who would punch themselves a ticket to the second round via conversions, as they’re currently only competing Friday due to the 6 vs. 6 series.
Talk about an opportunity to prove yourself!
Speaking of … a 35-year-old veteran in Claudio Montanha Jr. would appreciate some support this weekend as he looks to secure what would be a third-straight Top 10 finish.
To say we didn’t see this run coming for the aging Brazilian cowboy would be quite the understatement. But here we are, as the old hat remains tied for the fourth-most conversions on tour through 16 showcases.
But let’s be honest.
The real deal himself, Man Hater, is the ultimate “What to Watch For” contestant, as the 2024 YETI World Champion Bull continues to stamp the history books in real time.
Currently a full TWO POINTS ahead of the tour’s No. 2-ranked bovine, Fast Flow, he’s more or less going to be coasting into a second-straight title. The real thrill lies in who he’ll be matched up with along the way, as he’s a walking home run just waiting to be hit.
And thus, IT’S BULL TIME!!!
Lineups and draw are in for the seventeenth of 23 regular season Unleash The Beast showdowns, so we’re taking a closer look at Friday night’s matchups, rematches and everything you need to know ahead of the weekend’s opening slate!
With the premier series primed to invade Louisville, Kentucky, March 14-15, we’re breaking down starting lineups for competition inside KFC Yum! Center (With coverage set to begin at 8 p.m. ET via PBR’s YouTube channel and Ride Pass on Pluto TV).
PBR LOUISVILLE STARTING LINEUPS Dener Barbosa vs. Wild Card Elizmar Jeremias vs. Bangarang Aaron Williams vs. Yo Mamma *Grayson Cole vs. Sandman Eduardo Aparecido vs. Grey Fox Cort McFadden vs. No Slow Extra Sauce Kaique Pacheco vs. All Hat No Rattle Daniel Keeping vs. El Sicaro Clay Guiton vs. WinRocks Headache Leandro Zampollo vs. Blue Suede Shoes Thiago Salgado vs. Country Club Lucas Divino vs. Cash Goblin Boudreaux Campbell vs. Wicked In a Winning Way Mason Taylor vs. Unhinged Julio Cesar Marques vs. Freedom Fighter Eli Vastbinder vs. Rowdy Vinicius Pinheiro Correa vs. Knucklehead Bruno Carvalho vs. I’ll Make Ya Famous Leonardo Castro vs. Chute Boss Paulo Eduardo Rossetto vs. Prince Charming Claudio Montanha Jr. vs. Holy Shift *Joao Ricardo Vieira vs. Gunsmoke Felipe Furlan vs. Pillow Talk Koltin Hevalow vs. Blue Silhoutte Andrew Alvidrez vs. Tyrone *Keyshawn Whitehorse vs. The Undertaker Luciano De Castro vs. Where’s the Beef John Crimber vs. Chicken Express Dalton Kasel vs. El Chapo Brady Fielder vs. Bull Light Ethan Winckler vs. Money Moves (METC) Anderson de Oliveira vs. Down to Fly (METC) Murilo Henrique de Oliveira vs. Smooth Criminal (METC) Briggs Madsen vs. Lap Dancer (METC) *Adriano Salgado vs. Bayou Bad Boy (METC) Cody Jesus vs. Bad Intentions (METC) Eric Henrique Domingos vs. Pack Rat (METC) Alan de Souza vs. Barbarosa (METC) Dawson Branton vs. Power Trip (METC) Caden Bunch vs. Home Slice (METC) Daylon Swearingen vs. Mr. Koolie (METC) Kaiden Loud vs. Midnight Blues (METC) *Denotes Rematch (METC) = Monster Energy Team Challenge matchup
REMATCHES Adriano Salgado vs. Bayou Bad Boy (3.56 seconds in Greensboro, North Carolina) Grayson Cole vs. Sandman (6.56 seconds in Shipshewana, Indiana) Joao Ricardo Vieira vs. Gunsmoke (87 points in Greensboro, North Carolina) Keyshawn Whitehorse vs. The Undertaker (4.52 seconds in Arlington, Texas)
OUT DUE TO INJURY/OTHER Jose Vitor Leme (injury) Derek Kolbaba (injury) Hudson Bolton (injury) Austin Richardson (injury) Sandro Batista (injury) Sage Steele Kimzey (excused)
FOLLOW ALONG This weekend’s Kubota PBR Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky, is set to begin Friday, March 14 at 7:45 p.m. ET as the world’s top-ranked cowboys prepare to duke it out inside KFC Yum! Center.
Competition will conclude Saturday, March 15 at 6:45 p.m. ET with Round 2, followed by the short go, as riders look to put the finishing touches on the two-day showcase.
