Bull Riding Stars Enter Jackson for Largest Payout in CBR History
2018 CBR Bud Light Classic
JACKSON, TN – January 8, 2018 – Four World Champions and eleven National Finals Rodeo qualifiers left $48,750 in the CBR bank when zero qualified rides were made in the final four man Shoot Out Round in Saturday night’s Road to Cheyenne tour event in Oklahoma. That roll over money has been added to the already doubled purse and the CBR announced today that the supersized payout to bull riders will be approximately $88,000 during the two night bull riding extravaganza this weekend in Jackson. It is the 21st year the CBR Bud Light Classic will open the Oman Arena doors to the fans – doors open at 6 pm with the action beginning at 8 pm both nights.
CBR announced today that with that amount of money up for grabs, the bull riding superstars are aligning with four time World Champion and Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Tuff Hedeman for what one fan called the annual “CBR’s Got Talent” show which gets underway on Friday night for two performances in the only CBR Road to Cheyenne tour stop in the state of Tennessee.
Known as the best talent show in town, the fans will be particularly excited this year as the current CBR World Standings number one ranked bull rider, nineteen year old Boudreaux Campbell will be defending that ranking against NFR superstar Trey Benton III, three World Champions including J.W. Harris, and the man knocking at the door, Navajo World Champion bull rider Cody Jesus who is just 78 points – or one bull – behind Campbell in the 2018 CBR World title race.
“If you couldn’t get to Vegas, they will be right back here in Jackson on Friday and Saturday night,” said Hedeman.
The hometown crowd will no doubt be cheering for former UT Martin graduate and National Finals Rodeo qualifier star Jeff Askey, last year’s event champion, as he attempts to defend the title in Jackson.
Jackson fans are used to the Hedeman produced two hours of adrenaline rushed action on the dirt, but this year in addition to the hottest bull riders and bulls in the business, the show will feature everyone’s favorite funny man and the reigning National Finals Rodeo entertainer Cody Sosebee of Charleston, Arkansas who will be roaming the Oman arena looking for dance partners and giving away merchandise both nights during the live performance.
“There are two things fans want to see, big rides and high scores and CBR provides both in a star studded entertaining event,” said four time World Champion and Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer, Tuff Hedeman who oversees the production.
But according to Hedeman, there are 24 elite bull riders back on the Road to Cheyenne this week including a long list of accomplished riders including Trey Holston, the reigning National High School Rodeo Champion, four former World Champions, Josh Barentine, Cole Echols, Chandler Bownds, and World Champion Mike Lee who will be making his first CBR appearance.
Get ready to cheer these highly decorated champions including Trey Benton, the PRCA’s number two bull rider who challenged the reigning CBR World Champion Sage Kimzey nightly at the super bowl of rodeo winning four rounds and earning $322,208.13 as he finished the number two man in rodeo for 2017. Benton who is from Rock Island, Tex. confirmed he would be in Jackson to compete for one of the few CBR titles he has not won. Benton who hopes the momentum he found in his four round wins and second place finish will carry over on this year’s Road to Cheyenne.
The 2018 CBR Bud Light Classic the sixth stop on the twelve month professional bull riding tour which pays out over a million dollars annually including a $100,000 bonus check to the year-end champion – drawing the elite riders of the sport.
“I am looking forward to returning to action in CBR after Vegas and competing against some of the best in the business is motivating and I plan on keeping my number one ranking, but I will have to earn it – I have had a great season so far winning two CBR events and a round at the NFR, but none of that matters each week on the road, you start over every time you pull your rope” said Campbell.
The CBR’s reigning World Champion, Sage Steele Kimzey became the only bull rider in the PRCA history to break the $400,000 mark in a single season and earned $192,134 at the NFR to give him a PRCA-record for most money won in bull riding in a year at $436,479, smashing his own record that he set of $327,178 in 2015.
The CBR event also includes three unique athletes, the Famous Energy Bullfighters, who will be signing autographs and taking selfies on the concourse before they take the dirt to risk their lives each and every time the chute gate opens. Cowboy live saving, grand pyro introductions, and great family entertainment assure bull riding fans a super-live two hour adrenaline rush show.
Meet and Greet
Come meet, greet and take selfies with former Jackson event Champions and National Finals Rodeo qualifiers Cody Rostockyj and Jeff Askey at the Rustic Soul on Thursday, January 11 at 5 pm – 7 pm. Bring your tee shirts, hats, 8 Second DVDs, or anything else you want the bull riders to autograph.
The CBR Bud Light Classic is the seventh stop of the 16 city CBR Road to Cheyenne tour featuring a field of 24 elite bull riders in two performances. Friday night features a bounty bull format where the highest score from round one will attempt the bounty bull for a $10,000 check. Saturday night is the CBR three round tournament style event ending in a final four Shoot Out round worth at over $78,000 to the riders and $45,000 in competition prize monies for the four legged bucking bull athletes.
Make plans to join us for the CBR World Finals Shoot Out in Cheyenne held at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, CBR World Finals Tickets, in July include a five round two day Shoot Out for the $100,000 bonus check.
Event Location is at the Oman Arena, 179 Lane Ave, Jackson, Tennessee 38305.
Bud Light Classic Tickets are available at Rustic Soule, 1926 Emporium Drive, Jackson, 38305.
Friday night performance – Bud Light Classic Ticketing Link
Saturday night performance Bud Light Classic Ticket Link
Websites: Cbrbull.com; Cfdrodeo.com; EnergyEntertainment.com
For more information contact: Leigh Ann Schroeder, leighann@cbrbull.com or 940.902.1112. Follow Tuff Hedeman on the Official Tuff Hedeman Fan Page on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and @TuffHedeman and CBR on Facebook at Championship Bull Riding, Twitter and Instagram @CBRbull.
Courtesy of CBR