NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Joao Paulo Fernandes claimed his fourth event victory and first of the season on the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour after going three-for-three to win GOVX PBR North Charleston by a qualified ride.
Fernandes picked up his first ride of the event Friday night aboard Erner Permer, scoring 85.35 points to sit in third after Round 1. He once again finished with the third-best score in Round 2 with 85.15 points on Pinecone to advance to the Championship Round. Once there, he rode Evil Eyes for 64.30 points and elected not to take the re-ride, a gamble that paid off when no other rider was able to register a third score.
Manoelito de Souza Junior finished runner-up in North Charleston with 174.80 points after riding Delta Line for 86.05 points Friday night and Whiskey Business for 88.75 points on Saturday. He was unable to convert against American Made in the Championship Round, leading to the silver finish.
Souza’s finish elevated him to second in the PWVT standings with 338.00 points, just a half-point shy of sitting tied for first. Kase Hitt remains the tour leader with 338.50 points.
Ezekiel Mitchell finished in the Top 3 for the second week in a row with an aggregate score of 173.10 points over three rounds. After bucking off Friday night, Mitchell scored 86.75 points on Red Bull to qualify for the Championship Round. He rode Fringe Minority for 80.35 points but took a re-ride option on Gunsmoke to increase his score to 86.35 points.
Miguel de Jesus finished fourth with 172.20 points, riding Martini Houdini during the second round for 84.90 points, followed by an 87.30-point ride aboard Spectacular.
Rounding out the Top 5 was Zane Cook with 171.15 points. Cook bested Big Lunch on Friday for 88.35 points before bucking off Rodeo Vegas in Round 2. In the Championship Round, he rode Good for 82.80 points.
PBR’s Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour brings fans three events across the country over the next week with Denver PBR Chute Out at the National Western Stock Show Jan. 12–13. On the weekend, PBR will once again be on two coasts with Kubota PBR Charleston and PBR Ontario taking place Jan. 16–17.
Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour replays are available on RidePass and on the PBR app.