PUEBLO, Colo. – The Built Ford Tough Series is getting things going following a two-and-a half-month summer break, which featured plenty of shifting in the middle to bottom half of the world standings, this weekend in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Alexandre Cardozo may not have been the biggest winner in terms of movement up the standings this summer, but his first and third-place finishes at the Fort Myers, Florida, Touring Pro Division event are why he earned one of the last spots in the draw for the Battle at the Beau.
Cardozo earned 80 total points toward the world standings with his 3-for-4 performance in Florida to move him to 35th in the world standings.
Without those 80 points, Cardozo would have been 38th in the world and likely not making his way to Biloxi.
Cardozo faces Lieutenant Dan (4-0, BFTS) in Round 1 on Friday night.
No. 36 Douglas Duncan and No. 37 Neil Holmes are in the draw as alternates for Dave Mason (32nd in the world standings), who sustained a concussion at the Sterling, Colorado, TPD event on Tuesday, and Claudio Crisostomo.
Crisostomo, who was in the draw because of his BFTS exemptions, told the PBR Competition Department that he is in Brazil recovering from a shoulder injury.
Duncan is slated to face Double Shot (3-2 BFTS), while Holmes will take on Hercules (0-0, BFTS).
Justin Paton was a last minute addition in the draw to replace Guilherme Marchi (torn bicep). Marchi has not informed the PBR as of Wednesday when he is expected to return to action or if he will elect to undergo surgery.
Emilio Resende is set to make his 2015 BFTS season debut since undergoing multi-ligament right knee surgery following the 2014 Built Ford Tough World Finals. Resende will have seven more exemptions remaining courtesy of his 21st finish in the 2014 world standings.
He has drawn Sand Man (0-0, BFTS) for Round 1.
Sean Willingham is in the draw as a PBR invite despite being ranked 42ndin the world standings. Willingham takes on Fire Kat (0-1, BFTS).
World leader Joao Ricardo Vieira will attempt to build on his lead when he takes on Drunk Chicken (0-0, BFTS).
In injury news, Chase Outlaw (23rd in the world standings) is out for Biloxi, but he is expected to be in Mississippi to meet with Dr. Tandy Freeman to determine when he can return to the BFTS following his right shoulder surgery in March.
Josh Faircloth has one remaining injury exemption and has informed the PBR that he will use it for the PFI Invitational in Springfield, Missouri, on Sept 11.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko.
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