From a long-awaited return in Tampa to coast-to-coast battles on the Velocity Tour, the PBR calendar never slowed down this week. While the elite tour reclaimed the Sunshine State for the first time in 14 years, rising stars and veterans alike traded momentum from Florida to the Midwest, reshaping standings and setting the tone for the stretch run ahead.
On the Unleash The Beast…
Tampa stepped back into the spotlight — and it delivered. Inside a sold-out Benchmark International Arena, championship rides, 90-point scores, and late-round drama defined Stop No. 6 of the 2026 season.
Jess Lockwood was the story. The two-time World Champion went a perfect 3-for-3 to win PBR Tampa — his first elite tour victory since 2020 — capped by a monster 90.35-point ride on Lights Out in the Championship Round to secure the win and climb to No. 8 in the world standings.
Clay Guiton claimed the Championship Round win with the event’s top score, delivering a 90.90-point ride on Sober Child to become the first rider ever to cover the bull, and finished second overall. Sage Steele Kimzey placed third after rides on Show Biz (85.8) and Sunrise (88.1), before uncharacteristically coming up short against Man Hater in the short round. Dalton Kasel finished fourth, keeping his grip on the UTB world lead as the title fight tightened.
Monster Energy Team Challenge…
Friday night in Tampa also featured another round of Monster Energy Team Challenge action, bringing team-versus-team pressure to the elite tour.
The Texas Rattlers defeated the home-state Florida Freedom, powered by Brady Fielder’s 83.55-point ride on Josey Wales and a strategic re-ride decline by Braidy Randolph, who kept his 70.05-point score aboard Boot Barn’s Skunk Kitty to secure the win.
In the opening matchup, the Missouri Thunder edged the Oklahoma Wildcatters behind Paulo Eduardo Rossetto’s 86.75-point ride on Late Night Toss, improving Missouri to 2-0 and giving them the early lead in Monster Energy Team Challenge standings.
On the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour…
Momentum shifted fast across the Midwest as riders made their move in the Velocity race.
Tulsa: Andy Guzman went a perfect 3-for-3 to win Silencer Shop PBR Tulsa, highlighted by an 88-point ride on Geralt, followed by strong efforts on Deranged Kid and Dang, Dang. Wyatt Rogers also went 3-for-3 to finish second and move to No. 1 in the Velocity standings, while Guilherme Valleiras placed third.
Grand Rapids: At just 18 years old, Elijah Jennings earned the first win of his career, storming to the top of the leaderboard with an 87.60-point ride on Catching Gears to overtake Cole Trivette. Jennings’ breakthrough highlighted a weekend that showcased the next wave of rising talent on tour.
Beyond the Chutes...
The week carried weight beyond the competitions as the sudden passing of PBR fan favorite and legendary bucking bull Cool Whip was felt across the entire sport. The PBR community is mourning the loss of a true icon while lifting H.D. Page up in prayer as he begins his road to recovery.
Through the lens with BullStockMedia
Check out the best photos from Tampa.
Looking ahead
The Unleash The Beast tour rolls into Sacramento (Jan. 29–Feb. 1) at Golden 1 Center, where the margin for error is shrinking and every out carries added weight in a tightening title race. Monster Energy Team Challenge pressure follows, with Missouri arriving as the lone undefeated squad at 2-0 and new matchups ready to reshape early momentum. All Unleash The Beast events stream live on Paramount+.
Sacramento’s Team Challenge slate features the Carolina Cowboys facing the Austin Gamblers in Game 1, before the New York Mavericks meet the Nashville Stampede in a primetime showdown — two games that could swing the race in a hurry.
Meanwhile, the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour keeps the pace relentless, doubling up Jan. 30–31 with events in Greenville, South Carolina, and Nampa, Idaho, as riders fight for critical points, elite tour berths, and a spot at the PBR World Finals. Velocity Tour action is available on RidePass and the PBR App, keeping fans connected from the first chute to the whistle.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media