PBR Teams: Maverick Days marks the ninth of 12 regular-season events during the fourth PBR Camping World Team Series season. The action inside UBS Arena at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, kicks off Thursday, Sept. 18, at 7:45 p.m. ET, continues Friday, Sept. 19, at 7:45 p.m. ET, and wraps up Saturday, Sept. 20, at 5:45 p.m. ET.
CBS GAMES OF THE WEEK SPOTLIGHT:
CBS Games of the Week air Sunday, Sept. 21, at 3 p.m. ET or 5 p.m. ET on CBS (local markets may vary; check local listings for details). The broadcast will feature two key Day 3 matchups: Carolina Cowboys vs. Texas Rattlers and Florida Freedom vs. New York Mavericks.
The first showdown pits Carolina against Texas in a clash loaded with playoff implications. The Cowboys are fresh off a sweep in Greensboro and leaning on the grit of Derek Kolbaba and the spark of new trade Trey Holston. The Rattlers, meanwhile, are charging behind MVP contender Brady Fielder, whose comeback has only added to their push toward the top three. Texas’ consistency and go-to-work attitude carried them to the Teams Championship in 2023, and they’ll need that same formula in a pivotal late-season test.
In the second feature, No. 1 Florida looks to extend its dominance against the host Mavericks. With MVP frontrunners Thiago Salgado and John Crimber leading the way, the Freedom are chasing their eighth straight win. For New York, it’s the ultimate test — a chance for Marco Rizzo, Leonardo Castro and company to shock the league and turn home dirt into a launching pad for redemption.
STRUGGLING SQUAD
The New York Mavericks (5-18) are still fighting to dig out of the basement, though a pair of wins in their last three games have offered signs of life. Bright spots include Marco Rizzo, Leonardo Castro and Mauricio Gulla Moreira, along with newcomer Alison dos Santos. Rookie of the Year frontrunner Hudson Bolton remains on the horizon, expected to return for the final stretch. Facing a brutal slate of Florida, Carolina and Nashville at home, New York will need to seize momentum from their crowd to keep playoff hopes alive.
Elsewhere near the bottom of the standings, the Kansas City Outlaws have struggled to maintain their early-season spark. Once riding momentum at the top of the standings, they have slipped in the back half of the year. Still, there are glimmers of hope — a fresh trade with Nashville and the possible late-season return of World Champion Cassio Dias could provide the jolt needed to right the ship and revive their season.
REMATCH RECAP
Belmont Park brings a slate of rider-bull reunions that could swing the standings. Alan de Souza meets Eyes On Me, aiming to even the score after a 4.93-second buck-off in their 2024 meeting. Leonardo Castro faces Raider once again, looking to repeat his 85.5-point ride from Cowboy Days in Greensboro just last weekend.
Marco Rizzo draws Hoobastank, the same bull he covered earlier this season at Stampede Days for 84.25 points, while Luciano de Castro renews his battle with Barbarosa in their fourth matchup — the Brazilian holds a 2-for-3 edge. Elsewhere, Ethan Winckler looks to turn the tide against Say When, who has bucked him off twice.
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