THE COOPER TIRES TAKE THE MONEY AND RIDE: The Built Ford Tough Series returns to action this weekend in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for the Cooper Tires Take The Money and Ride. Don’t forget to set your lineups, and if you haven’t already, sign up now for your chance to win.
The Biloxi Dream Team included Silvano Alves (Tier A), Valdiron de Oliveira (Tier B), Cody Nance (Tier B), Claudio Cristostomo (Tier C) andEmilio Resende (Tier C), as well as Asteroid, Mick E Mouse and Delco.
RIDER RUNDOWN: Joao Ricardo Vieira is the hottest rider in Tier A and has ridden seven of his past 10 bulls. He is coming off a 2-for-3 performance in Biloxi, Mississippi, and both of his rides were marked 85.75 points or higher. He takes on Spotted Juice in Round 1. Spotted Juice has bucked off J.B. Mauney and Silvano Alves in his last two BFTS outs. Alves gets a rematch against Alcatraz on Friday night after previously riding the bull for 82.5 points. Alves went 3-for-3 in Biloxi and it was his first three-ride showing since April’s event in Billings, Montana. Mike Lee takes on Jack’s Sour Mash, who is making his BFTS debut, and is looking to break out of his current 0-for-4 run. Guilherme Marchi showed a glimpse of the rider that sat atop the world standings for the majority of the first half of the season when he rode Butcher’s Nightmare for 87 points last week. Marchi faces High Times in Round 1. High Times bucked off Douglas Duncan in 2.59 seconds at the Jack Daniel’s Invitational last month. World No. 3 Fabiano Vieira has drawn Cash Ya Out.
Valdiron de Oliveira heads into Allentown following his second BFTS victory of the season. He takes on Fat Chance in Round 1. Cody Nancerode 2 of 3 bulls in Biloxi and it was his first event in the second half this season where he reached the 8-second mark on two or more bulls at one event. Nance has drawn Dream On in Round 1. Gage Gay has ridden at least one bull in seven consecutive events and is matched up against Short Bus. Matt Triplett gets aboard Outlaw in Round 1 as he continues to try to overcome the left hip flexor strain that has plagued him in recent weeks.
Lost in the shuffle last week due to Oliveira’s victory and Joao Ricardo Vieira’s movement in the world standings was the fact that Claudio Crisostomo went 3-for-3 and finished in second place. It was Crisostomo’s highest finish at a BFTS event since placing second in St. Louis. He takes on Banty Rooster. Neil Holmes, who faces Get Western, has continued to impress during his brief showing on the BFTS and he has ridden two or more bulls in two of the three events in which he has competed. Sean Willingham returned to action last week from his dislocated hip. Willingham has a rematch this weekend against Circle City, a bull he rode for 86 points earlier this season in Chicago.
BULL BITS: Mississippi Hippy is one of a few World Finals bulls competing in Allentown and is coming off a 45.25-point outing in Nashville, Tennessee, when he bucked off Joao Ricardo Vieira in 3.33 seconds. King Lopez is also in the Built Ford Tough Championship Round, and is averaging 44.03 points per out on the BFTS. New Holland PowerStarenters Allentown with an average bull score of 43.53 points. Other bulls to watch include Who Dey (43.71) and Who Dat (43.30).
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko.
© 2014 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.