PUEBLO, Colo. – Eight bulls have a chance at the 2014 Professional Bull Riders World Champion bull title this season.
Selected in a vote by the Top 35 bull riders in the world, each bull has competed on the Built Ford Tough Series tour this year and has shown what it takes to be classified as a World Champion. The finalists are Bushwacker (Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls), Mick E Mouse (Marlene Henry), Asteroid (Circle T Ranch & Rodeo), Jared Allen’s Air Time (Jared Allen’s Pro Bull Team), Roy (Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls), I’m A Gangster Too (Jeff Robinson/TNT Bucking Bulls), Fire & Smoke (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Julie Rosen) and Shepherd Hills Tested (Luthy/Duckwall/D&H Cattle/Powder River/Shepherd Hills Cutlery).
The 2014 World Champion Bull will be the bull who accumulates the highest total bull score during the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals on Oct. 22-26 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The winner will be announced on Oct. 26 after the final round of competition.
This will be the fifth consecutive year that Bushwacker has been nominated for the title, dominating on the PBR since his debut in 2009. After earning the award in 2013, this brawny bovine is back to defend his title, bucking off 12 straight riders on the BFTS this season. The final night in Vegas will be the two-time defending world champion bull’s last PBR appearance, as he will retire at his ranch in Oakdale, California, following the World Finals.
2012 World Champion bull Asteroid makes his fourth consecutive appearance as a finalist, picking up his highest mark of the season just last weekend in Biloxi, Mississippi, when he was awarded 47 points for his out. As runner-up in 2013, this bull will attempt to land himself a second world champion title.
This is also I’m A Gangster Too’s fourth nomination, being one of two to be named high-marked bull of the event three times in 2014.
Making 11 appearances this season, Shepherd Hills Tested has been ridden just once for a 90.91 buckoff rate on the BFTS in 2014, earning the second world champion nomination of his career. Although Kasey Hayescovered this bull, he notched one of the Top 5 scores on the season with 91.50 points. Shepherd Hills Tested has a 38-2 record over his four years on the BFTS, and ranks as one of the Top 5 bulls overall on the BFTS.
For the first time, Mick E Mouse, Jared Allen’s Air Time, Roy and Fire & Smoke have all been nominated as a world champion bull contender.
Mick E Mouse is unridden in his BFTS career, including eight buckoffs this season. He earned the high-marked bull of the event while in Sacramento, California, notching the fourth-best bull score overall on the year with 46.75 points.
Air Time has taken care of four out of the five riders he has faced this season, including veteran Hayes, as well as 2013 Rookie of the year and current No. 1 rider Joao Ricardo Vieira for an average bull score of 44.96 overall. He posted the two highest bull scores to date and has earned high-marked bull of the event three time on the season.
Riders are 0-for-4 against Roy in 2014, who holds an 88.89 percent career buckoff rate. He has been ridden just once, facing seven riders total on the BFTS. Roy is one of four bulls to be named high-marked bull of the event more than once this year.
Fire & Smoke is new to the PBR scene, making his debut this past January in Oklahoma City. He has an average bull score of 44.63 and a buckoff rate of 86.96, tossing 12 of the 14 riders he has gone up against. Fabiano Vieira has been the only rider to conquer this bovine, once in Arlington, Texas, and again in Laughlin, Nevada, three weeks ago.
Tickets for the World Finals are on sale starting at $25 at the Thomas & Mack Center box office, www.UNLVTickets.com, and by telephone at (702) 739-FANS (3267).
The World Finals will air live on CBS Sports Network Wednesday through Saturday at 9 p.m. ET and Sunday at 4 p.m. ET.
For more information on the World Finals please visit worldfinals.pbr.com.
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