Crockett, Texas Native Boudreaux Campbell Turns in Season-Best Performance in Houston
By: James Youness
HOUSTON, Texas – Everybody loves a good hometown hero story.
So, naturally, each time Crockett, Texas, native Boudreaux Campbell appeared on the screen inside Toyota Center, the crowd went wild.
Which ended up being an insane five times throughout the two-day event, as the home state kid opted into re-ride attempts in both the first and championship rounds.
Thankfully for the 25-year-old, his 87.75-point strike in Round 2 was good enough to earn him a season-best sixth-place finish down south.
Despite seven of this weekend’s competitors hailing from the Lone Star State, Campbell was somehow the lone cowboy to convert. With plenty of Austin Gamblers and Texas Rattlers fans in attendance, it was the Carolina Cowboys’ standout who got the job done after a less-than-perfect start to his 2024 season.
Entering the Kubota PBR Houston, presented by Michelob ULTRA ranked No. 24 overall, Campbell knew he had some work to do.
Another reason the rider was met with a bit of relief and satisfaction following his 8 seconds of success.
“It feels great. I have a lot of family and friends here. My whole family pretty much. My dad, my stepmom, my girlfriend. Everybody is in the stands cheering me on, so it’s been nice,” he shared in an appreciative manner.
“It’s just pretty cool to get one rode. I’ve been struggling here lately, so just getting one under my belt and riding him that easy. When it’s a solid bull that bucks that hard, it always feels good, so I just have to keep it rolling.”
While his effort represented his first Top 6 result of the season, he’s been in his fair share of event leaderboard races throughout the campaign, now set to host its 10th event of the UTB season (already?!) next weekend in Sacramento, California (the second of three PBR majors in 2024).
Able to secure quality finishes inside the Top 15 in four previous events (including 8th, 9th, 10th and 15th), he exited the ninth showdown of the season with a welcomed 40 UTB points and No. 18 ranking.
Turning in quality one and two-ride events on the regular, he hasn’t changed much in his routine or approach, but did weigh in on some of the up-and-coming talents he and the pack will have to continue to give their best against.
“There’s a bunch of 18, 19-year-old kids coming up right now and they’re not holding back. They’re whooping all of our old guys’ asses,” he shared with a laugh.
“I just have to keep riding like I know how to. I was that age once too, coming up. I was in the same boat, so it ain’t no different being 25 now. I just have to keep riding and stay healthy and keep the hammer down.”
Thinking about his Rookie of the Year campaign was far from the only throwback memories Campbell unlocked Saturday night.
As he and the 11 other short round competitors prepared for the championship bull draft, the in-arena feed cut over to the tour’s host interviewing a kind woman.
Met with a roar of applause for her work as an educator, she would eventually share the very reason that brought her out to Toyota Center in the first place.
She was Campbell’s first-grade teacher!
“Boudreaux was such a sweetheart,” the Bear Branch Elementary educator shared.
“I’m glad he’s a bull rider though, because he wouldn’t sit still for 8 seconds!”
Waking up Friday morning just an hour and a half from the venue, he assumed there would be a few surprise guests that he’d welcome. But receiving support from an old friend he hadn’t seen in more than a decade was not on the betting board!
As to whether or not he knew he wanted to be a bull rider back in his elementary days?
“Oh yeah, for sure. I’ve never had a plan b,” he concluded.
“It’s always been bull riding and rodeo, and I’ve never looked back.”
Now 7-for-24 (28.57%) on the season, Campbell will look to bring some momentum from his season-best effort out west when the tour invades Golden 1 Center Feb. 2-4 for three nights of rank action!
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