ST. LOUIS – Here are three things we learned following the Bass Pro Chute Out at the Scottrade Center this weekend.
Wing breaks through with back against the wall
Stormy Wing knew that time was running out on him to gain enough points to remain on the Built Ford Tough Series before facing a possible cut after next weekend’s event in Kansas City.
The 25-year-old arrived in St. Louis 60th in the world standings with only 60 points and had bucked off both his bulls (Slinger Jr. and Spitball) in the first two rounds this weekend.
However, Wing rose to the occasion Sunday and conquered Shoot Out The Lights for 87 points to win Round 3 and earn 100 points toward the world standings.
“I am thankful that I had a good one, I got back and we are going to try and continue it,” Wing said before the Built Ford Tough Championship Round.
Wing was right that he wasn’t done.
He followed up his 87-point ride with 88.5 points on Fire Rock to place second in the championship round for another 60 points toward the world standings.
This weekend is Wing’s first BFTS event with multiple rides since he won his first career-event last year in Oakland, California.
For the weekend, Wing finished in fourth place overall and earned a total of 225 points, 65 of which he earned from finishing fifth in the event average.
Wing heads to Kansas City, which is the last remaining guaranteed BFTS event for last year’s Top 35 riders in the world standings before BFTS draws are based on the 2015 standings, ranked 20th in the world standings.
“It ain’t over yet,” Wing concluded. “That is just one to get me started now. On to the next one. There is always room for improvement.”
Lawrence doesn’t regret his decision
Stetson Lawrence was the only rider to go 4-for-4 in St. Louis, but he still placed second overall because of the amount of event points, which all carry over to the world standings, he earned (450) compared to Kaique Pacheco (490).
Lawrence had earned no event points until the championship round seeing as his first three rides (81.5 points on Grey Wolf, 68 points on Jared Allen’s H4WW Red Terror and 82.25 points on Sundance) all placed him outside of the Top 5 of each round. Riders are awarded points based on where they finish in a round during a BFTS event, as well as the event average.
However, Lawrence nearly pulled off the win after he placed third in the championship round with his 87.75-point ride on Percolator that also helped him earn 400 event points for winning the event average (319.5 points on four bulls).
“I am here to ride bulls and I did my job,” Lawrence said. “There is a guy (Silvano Alves) here that won three gold buckles doing that, so I will keep doing it because them average points are more than anything.
“It is heartbreaking, but oh well.”
Lawrence said he has no regrets about turning down his re-ride option in the second round because he felt he wouldn’t have been able to score high enough on his re-ride to place in Round 2.
“Just like Nathan (Schaper) and I were saying, say I took my re-ride, I would have been 83 or 84 (points) and it wouldn’t change anything,” Lawrence said.
J.W. Harris had placed fifth in Round 2 with 85.25 points, so Lawrence would have had to theoretically score at least 85.25 points to earn any points in Round 2.
Regardless, Lawrence is now the No. 10 bull rider in the world thanks to the 450 points he did earn after beginning the weekend 33rd in the world standings.
Pacheco wins first career BFTS event
Kaique Pacheco earned the first win of his BFTS career by posting two of the highest-scored rides of his young career this weekend after bucking off Ray Charles on Friday night.
“I am very happy because this is the first event I have won,” Pacheco said with the help of Valdiron de Oliveira, who finished third in the event with 310 points, translating. “For me, this is very good because it is important for my confidence to focus and ride these bulls.”
A night after he impressed in the 15/15 Bucking Battle with an 88.5-point ride on Pound The Alarm, Pacheco ripped off an 89.25-point ride on Who Dey to win the championship round Sunday, which gave him enough bonus points to surpass Lawrence’s four-ride performance.
“I was a little bit confused,” Pacheco admitted. “I know a little bit about the points. I know that if you win two go-rounds you may win if a guy rides all four bulls, but does not win a go-round.”
Pacheco’s weekend was at the opposite end of the scoreboard compared to Lawrence. Along with his championship round win, the 20-year-old also won Round 2 on Saturday night by riding Little Red Jacket for a career-high 89.5 points.
His two-round winning scores were the two top rides of the weekend.
He is also now tied for second on the BFTS with J.B. Mauney with three round wins this season.
Pacheco earned 50 points in the third round for his third-place finish after riding Loco Lizard for 86.5 points, and he earned an additional 240 points for finishing second in the event average with a combined ride score of 265.25 points on three bulls.
The 490 total points he earned moves Pacheco to a career-best third in the world standings heading into next weekend’s BFTS event in Kansas City.
Injury Updates
Ryan Dirteater and David Mason were unable to compete in the championship round due to injury.
Dirteater did not ride in the final round after straining his left groin attempting to ride Butcher’s Nightmare in Round 3, and Mason could not get on after he sustained a concussion in the third round during his 84.5-point ride on Amos Moses.
According to Dr. Tandy Freeman, both riders are questionable for Kansas City.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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