Where horsepower meets bull power: Carolina Cowboys ignite Greensboro
NASCAR roots, bull riding grit, and a season-shaping weekend in North Carolina.
By James Phillips | COO & Co-Founder, Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation
GREENSBORO, N.C.— What happens when the roar of NASCAR meets the raw power of professional bull riding? You get the Carolina Cowboys — owned and operated by Richard Childress and Austin Dillon — bringing high-octane energy to the bucking chutes in Greensboro, North Carolina.
This past weekend, Cowboy Days lit up the First Horizon Coliseum with three performances — Friday, Saturday, and a Sunday afternoon finale — delivering grit, drama, and momentum shifts that could reshape the 2025 PBR Camping World Team Series season.
On Friday, the home team entered ranked No. 6 and squared off against the No. 5 Missouri Thunder — and made a statement on home dirt momentum to start their homestand. Less than 24 hours later, Saturday brought a crescendo of intensity: broken streaks, razor-close matchups, and a crowd that never sat down. The finale then closed the book on Greensboro, with Jerome Davis' squad recording their third win on the weekend to sweep the Cowboy Days.
Night One — Sept. 12, 2025
Takeaway No. 1 — Arizona Ridge Riders Keep Rolling TheArizona Ridge Riders nearly turned in a perfect game against the Austin Gamblers, going 4-for-5 to the Gamblers’ 3-for-5. With the season at stop No. 8, Arizona is reshaping the top tier of the standings and looking every bit like a contender built for Las Vegas.
Takeaway No. 2 — The Austin Gamblers’ Surprising Skid The Austin Gamblers, preseason favorites to repeat, dropped their third straight. With more World Championships on their roster than any other team, their slide has tightened the standings and opened the door for challengers.
Takeaway No. 3 — Cooper Davis Finds His Slump-Buster Veteran leader Cooper Davis snapped a 1-for-13 stretch with an 85.75-point ride aboard Bucking Bill. The 2016 PBR World Champion looked reset — composed, decisive, confident — and ready to lead Carolina back into contention.
MVP Standings Watch Rare off nights for Thiago Salgado and John Crimber allowed Brady Fielder to close the gap. By the end of Friday, he trailed Salgado by just 71 points, with Crimber 75.5 back.
Night Two — Sept. 13, 2025
Takeaway No. 1 — The Mavericks Finally Find Relief The New York Mavericks snapped a 10-game losing streak, the longest in league history, with a gritty win over the Kansas City Outlaws. The victory wasn’t glamorous, but it was vital — closure that gives them a chance to reset before their upcoming homestand Sept. 18-20 at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY.
Takeaway No. 2 — A Clash That Lived Up to the Hype The Florida Freedom edged out Arizona in a top-tier showdown of 16-5 teams. Young phenom John Crimber sealed the night with a pivotal ride aboard Hoka Hey to keep Florida at the top of the standings.
Takeaway No. 3 — Carolina Proves Tough at Home Without injured 2022 world champion Daylon Swearingen, the Carolina Cowboys gutted out another narrow win. Their resilience gave them two straight on home dirt and kept their season alive.
The Sunday Finale — Sept. 14, 2025
Takeaway No. 1 — Carolina Cowboys Make History at Home The Carolina Cowboys delivered their first 3-0 homestand in franchise history, stretching their winning streak to five. Key rides from Derek Kolbaba and Clay Guitonwith his second career walk-off wining ride sealed the sweep and reshaped Carolina’s season.
Takeaway No. 2 — Florida Outlasts Texas in a Heavyweight Clash TheFlorida Freedom narrowly defeated the Texas Rattlers as Thiago Salgado extended his MVP lead and John Crimber stumbled. The razor-thin win kept Florida perched atop the standings.
Takeaway No. 3 — Mavericks Capitalize on Wildcatters’ Questionable Decision Coach J.B. Mauney’s choice to decline a re-ride backfired on the Oklahoma Wildcatters, and the New York Mavericks seized the chance chance in a back-and-forth game when Marco Rizzo went for 8 on Wingnut for a walk-off win – the Mavericks second straight victory in Greensboro.
Updated Standings:
Florida Freedom — 18-5
Arizona Ridge Riders — 17-6
Austin Gamblers — 16-7
Texas Rattlers — 14-9
Carolina Cowboys — 11-12
Missouri Thunder — 10-13
Kansas City Outlaws — 8-15
Oklahoma Wildcatters — 8-15
Nashville Stampede — 7-16
New York Mavericks — 5-18
Final Thoughts
The Greensboro stop was a season-shaping weekend. Carolina’s sweep, Florida continuing to find ways to win, New York’s long-awaited spark, and the shifting MVP race underscored the urgency of the stretch run. With 12 games left before Las Vegas, the fight for seeding — and survival — is more heated than ever.
All that truly matters: earning a seat inside T-Mobile Arena, Oct. 24-26. History shows once you’re there, anything is possible.
Beyond the Dirt
The Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation embodies the same resilience seen in PBR. Its mission: provide access to the Action Trackchair, a $25,000 all-terrain wheelchair that opens the outdoors to people with mobility challenges.
No insurance covers it, but the foundation bridges the gap — restoring independence, dignity, and freedom. Just as PBR athletes battle eight seconds at a time, the foundation helps others conquer their own obstacles.
To learn more — and to be part of helping someone reclaim that freedom — visit www.moafoundation.org.
