Rule Changes Announced for 2017 BFTS

PUEBLO, Colo. –  In preparing for the 2017 Built Ford Tough Series season,Professional Bull Riders (PBR) has announced several changes affecting the PBR World Champion Bucking Bull, the PBR Bull of the Finals and PBR Stock Contractor of the Year.  The changes will result in an increase of $125,000 in year-end prize money available to PBR stock contractors.

These changes are part of the PBR’s continuing effort to develop the sport and its athletes by regularly reviewing its rules and procedures. These changes will go into effect immediately, starting with the Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden, Jan. 6-8 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

World Champion Bucking Bull (WCBB)

All bulls that compete in the PBR Built Ford Tough Series are eligible to win the PBR World Champion Bucking Bull (WCBB) title, provided they have not been deemed ineligible by PBR.

The WCBB will be determined based on the Top 8 outs during PBR Built Ford Tough Series regular season events plus two outs at the PBR World Finals.  The bull with the highest average bull score across those 10 outs will be crowned the PBR WCBB and earn the $100,000 WCBB bonus.

In the event of a tie between two or more bulls after the 10 outs, the bull with the highest average score across two outs at the World Finals will be named the PBR World Champion Bucking Bull. (If there remains a tie among two or more bulls, the championship bull title will be shared among all bulls tied, and the prize money will be divided evenly among the stock contractors of these bulls.)

PBR will maintain the bull standings during the course of each season on the average of the eight highest bull scores awarded to each bucking bull competing. At the conclusion of the PBR Built Ford Tough Series regular season, the stock contractor for the top three bulls with the highest regular-season average (average of top 8 scores) will receive the following bonuses:

1st:  $25,000
2nd:  $10,000
3rd:  $5,000

PBR Bull of the Finals

PBR is bringing back the award to acknowledge and recognize the highest-performing bull at the PBR World Finals each year.  The PBR Bull of the Finals will now receive a $25,000 bonus.

The PBR Bull of the Finals will be awarded to the bull with the highest average score over two outs at the PBR World Finals. Any bull with two outs at the World Finals is eligible to win PBR Bull of the Finals.

The PBR Livestock Director will select the qualifying bulls for the World Finals, as well as the bulls awarded two outs at the World Finals.

Unless otherwise disqualified, the Top 7 bulls in the final season standings are guaranteed to be awarded two outs at the World Finals.

Stock Contractor Prize Money

The Stock Contractor of the Year is selected by a vote of the Top 40 riders in the current season’s PBR world standings at the conclusion of the 24^thregular season BFTS event. The PBR Stock Contractor of the Year will now receive a year-end $10,000 bonus.