FORT WORTH, Texas – With this weekend’s stop representing the 28th time PBR’s premier series has invaded Nampa, Idaho, it’s hard not to revere the approaching Progressive PBR Nampa in another light.
One forged by the hardworking farmers and plainspeople who continue to keep Nampa on the map as a regional agricultural leader.
And with the area considered to be the gateway to Idaho’s wine country, it’s hard not to compare the maturation of a fine-aged wine against the product Nampa-based bull riding fans have seen evolve over the course of nearly three decades now.
Not that the old hats weren’t putting on a show back in the day.
But the way No. 1 Dalton Kasel and No. 2 Brady Fielder have been duking it out for the top dawg honors while seeing top-tier threats like No. 3 John Crimber and No. 4 Sage Steele Kimzey make up some ground en route to keeping their names in the gold buckle hat – it’s clear the approaching iteration of competition inside Ford Idaho Center is set to raise the bar.
Never mind the epic pyro and patented “PBR” explosively etched into the dirt ahead of introductions. Skip past the individual rider welcomes and dramatic Week 22 storylines.
Fans coming out Friday night are interested in seeing the world’s best bull riders go head-to-head with the planet’s rankest animal athletes.
And that’s exactly what they’ll get – All while being graced via the dramatics of one of the tightest set of Unleash The Beast rankings in recent history.
2025 PBR Unleash The Beast Standings:
1. Dalton Kasel (1089 points)
2. Brady Fielder (1053 points)
3. John Crimber (759.5 points)
4. Sage Steele Kimzey (740.75 points)
5. Luciano De Castro (683.83 points)
6. Paulo Eduardo Rossetto (682.25 points)
7. Andrew Alvidrez (587.75 points)
8. Cort McFadden (563.08 points)
9. Keyshawn Whitehorse (505 points)
10. Kaique Pacheco (495 points)
And wouldn’t you know it – The tour’s Top 2-ranked guys in Kasel and Fielder are set to star in the third and final Land.com Texas Cup showdown as the Austin Gamblers and Texas Rattlers prepare to don the spotlight during this weekend’s Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by Camping World.
Serving as their respective squad’s lead-off riders, Kasel is set for a rematch aboard Whip in Round 1, while the Australian contingent in Fielder is primed to dance with Project X moments later.
After winning his second event title of the season last weekend in Billings, Montana, No. 5 Luciano De Castro is worth keeping an eye on starting Friday night as he looks to improve his ride streak to four atop Jolene’s Dream after going 3-for-3 in Week 21.
Yet, it’s a different veteran that we believe could make the most of these final two regular season showcases, as No. 20 Alan de Souza looks to go 3-for-3 all-time aboard Smoke Down in Round 1.
Knowing riders ranked within the Top 15 of the Unleash The Beast standings following next month’s 2025 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast – Eliminations, the Brazilian understands he’s got some more work to do should he want a guaranteed spot inside AT&T Stadium May 17-18.
RELATED: What to Watch For: Can No. 20 Alan de Souza repeat his late-season run from 2024?
With four of the tour’s regulars added to this week’s injury report, including Daylon Swearingen, Kaiden Loud, Elizmar Jeremias and Anderson de Olivera, he’s going to have that much better of a shot to get some sincere points on the board. More importantly, take some sincere points home with him after what he hopes will be another productive shift up north.
With the current Top 2-ranked contenders in the 2025 PBR Rookie of the Year race set to be sidelined this weekend in Jeremias and Olivera, fellow first-year Hudson Bolton has a HUGE opportunity to cut down the 73.5-point differential between he and Jeremias.
And with Oliveira just 93.33 points ahead of Jeremias, Bolton has plenty of reasons to bring his A-game to Ford Idaho Center.
Of course, the idea that he’s ranked No. 31 overall and still flirting with the official World Finals cutline is likely his biggest motivator Friday night as he awaits a dance with Buttercup during the round’s third out.
For all of the bumps and bruises, we’re happy to welcome Boudreaux Campbell back into the fold. But with the Missouri Thunder rider ranked No. 34, he’s going to need to ride some bulls if he wants to be competing inside Cowtown Coliseum May 8-11.
Sage Steele Kimzey is still recovering from a lingering agitation logged a few weeks back.
But when you’re ranked No. 4 in the world and chasing down what would be a career-first PBR World Championship, you’re going to give it a go whenever you can.
And when his Austin Gamblers have an opportunity to capture the Land.com Texas Cup series win over the Texas Rattlers, there wasn’t a chance in the world he wasn’t suiting up, now set to challenge Red Wave during the 6 vs. 6 antics.
Lineups and draw are in for the 22nd 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 Nampa, Idaho, April 18-19, we’re breaking down starting lineups for competition inside Ford Idaho Center (With coverage set to begin at 8 p.m. MT via PBR’s YouTube channel and Ride Pass on Pluto TV).
PBR NAMPA STARTING LINEUPS
Leonardo Castro vs. Buffalo Heifer
Trace Redd vs. Fringe Minority
Hudson Bolton vs. Buttercup
Julio Cesar Marques vs. Irish Car Bomb
*Adriano Salgado vs. No Socks
*Alan de Souza vs. Smoke Down
Thiago Salgado vs. Good Riddance
*Conner Halverson vs. Johnny Rocket
Derek Kolbaba vs. Sucker Pop
Felipe Furlan vs. Dark Water
Ezekiel Mitchell vs. Bamboozle
Clay Guiton vs. Two for the Show
Mauricio Moreira vs. Rogue One
Bruno Carvalho vs. Chasing Shadows
Austin Richardson vs. Blue Magic
Alex Cerqueira vs. Old Yeller
Boudreaux Campbell vs. Pay Pal
Mason Taylor vs. Greasy Bend
Koltin Hevalow vs. Blackstone
Leandro Zampollo vs. Wooderson
*Paulo Eduardo Rossetto vs. Alakazoo
Keyshawn Whitehorse vs. Smooth Violation
Cort McFadden vs. Mr. Wilson
Joao Lucas Campos vs. Destination Unknown
Andrew Alvidrez vs. Muffin Man
Luciano De Castro vs. Jolene’s Dream
Eduardo Aparecido vs. Oyster Creek Brawler
John Crimber vs. Benjamin Ranklin
*Dalton Kasel vs. Whip (METC)
Brady Fielder vs. Project X (METC)
Dener Barbosa vs. Lieutenant Dan (METC)
Daniel Keeping vs. Lock ‘n Load (METC)
Sage Steele Kimzey vs. Red Wave (METC)
Claudio Montanha Jr. vs. Haunted Hotel (METC)
Lucas Divino vs. Deep Creek (METC)
Callum Miller vs. Sky Walker (METC)
*Kaique Pacheco vs. HomeBru (METC)
Marcelo Procopio Pereira vs. The Colonel (METC)
Jose Vitor Leme vs. Buckaroo (METC)
Joao Ricardo Vieira vs. Beef Cake (METC)
*Denotes Rematch
(METC) = Monster Energy Team Challenge matchup
REMATCHES
Adriano Salgado vs. No Socks (85.25 points in Palm Springs, California)
Alan de Souza vs. Smoke Down (85.5 points in Fort Worth, Texas; 86.75 points in Everett, Washington)
Conner Halverson vs. Johnny Rocket (5.78 seconds in Fort Worth, Texas)
Dalton Kasel vs. Whip (4.36 seconds in Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
Kaique Pacheco vs. HomeBru (4.09 seconds in Nampa, Idaho)
Paulo Eduardo Rossetto vs. Alakazoo (86.5 points in Sacramento, California)
OUT DUE TO INJURY/OTHER
Sandro Batista (injury)
Kaiden Loud (injury)
Anderson de Oliveira (injury)
Daylon Swearingen (injury)
Elizmar Jeremias (injury)
FOLLOW ALONG
This weekend’s Progressive PBR Nampa in Nampa, Idaho, is set to begin Friday, April 18 at 7:45 p.m. MT as the best bull riders in the world prepare for battle within Ford Idaho Center.
The action will conclude Saturday, April 19 at 6:45 p.m. MT with the second round, followed by the short go, as riders look to capture crucial late-season UTB points in the race for the 2025 PBR World Championship.
All three rounds of action in Nampa will be available LIVE and FREE via RidePass on Pluto TV, PBR’s YouTube channel, PBR’s mobile app, PBR’s app on connected TVs, including Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, and Google TV, as well as on your favorite web browser at watch.pbr.com. The stream for PBR Nampa begins Friday, April 18 at 8 p.m. MT.
RELATED: Where to Watch: Nampa
CBS Television Network will air this weekend’s Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by Camping World, Land.com Texas Cup matchup between the Austin Gamblers and Texas Rattlers Sunday, April 20 at 10:30 a.m. MT.
Fans can keep an eye on PBR.com and @PBR social media channels for the latest news, scores, wrecks and more!
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media