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Dougherty: ‘I feel like I can ride anything now’

By: Justin Felisko

PUEBLO, Colo. – Just about six months ago, Chase Dougherty made his premier series debut in Nampa, Idaho, during the 2020 Unleash The Beast regular-season finale.

Dougherty had goals of trying to sneak into the 2020 PBR World Finals as a last-minute qualifier, but ultimately he went 1-for-3, and his Finals dreams were dashed.

This year looks like it will be a different story for the 2021 Rookie of the Year contender. Dougherty is up to No. 22 in the PBR world standings, and he tied for the first round win of his premier series career Friday night inside the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa with an 89.25-point effort on Liston.

“It was really good, but I still think it should have been more,” two-time World Champion Justin McBride told Craig Hummer during the CBS Sports Network broadcast. “That was a great ride by Chase right there. Never a comfortable spot, but never in a bad spot either. He kept fighting through it to stay in the middle. That was a really good ride.”

Also riding for 89.25 points was none other than 2020 World Champion Jose Vitor Leme with his 8-second effort on XO.

Dougherty, meanwhile, has ridden three consecutive bulls on the Unleash The Beast dating back to last weekend in Oklahoma City to jump 22 positions in the world rankings. Expectations have been high for Dougherty – the 2018 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo bull riding winner – and he is starting to cash in against the PBR’s toughest competition after dipping his feet into the PBR last season.

Dougherty explained to Kate Harrison on CBS Sports Network that his 91.25-point ride on Detroit Lean in the championship round in Oklahoma City did wonders for his mental game.

“It carried over tremendously,” he said. “Confidence. That is the main thing. I had no confidence until that championship round. I feel like I can ride anything now.”

RELATED: Dougherty becomes newest rider to join Rookie of the Year race

Dougherty has quickly asserted himself as a challenger to Colten Fritzlan, who coincidentally won the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo bull riding event title, in the Rookie of the Year race. Dougherty trails Fritzlan by only 160 points.

Dougherty will head into Saturday night looking to keep his success rolling and knock down his first Unleash The Beast victory about 440 miles east of his hometown of Canby, Oregon. He will first have to get by Soup in a Group (33-14, UTB) in Round 2 to qualify for the championship round.

Fans can catch the finale from Nampa at 11 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network and 8:45 p.m. ET on RidePass.

Professional Bull Riders – PBR NAMPA INVITATIONAL
Nampa, ID, 2021 – Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Jose Vitor Leme, 89.25-0-0-89.25-23 Points.
(tie). Chase Dougherty, 89.25-0-0-89.25-23 Points.
3. Derek Kolbaba, 88-0-0-88.00-17 Points.
4. Kaique Pacheco, 87.75-0-0-87.75-16 Points.
5. João Henrique Lucas, 87.25-0-0-87.25-15 Points.
6. João Ricardo Vieira, 87-0-0-87.00-14 Points.
7. Mauricio Gulla Moreira, 86.75-0-0-86.75-13 Points.
8. Cody Teel, 85.5-0-0-85.50-12 Points.
9. Alex Cerqueira, 84.75-0-0-84.75-11 Points.
Cooper Davis, 0-0-0-0.00
Dener Barbosa, 0-0-0-0.00
Colten Fritzlan, 0-0-0-0.00
Marco Eguchi, 0-0-0-0.00
Rafael Henrique dos Santos, 0-0-0-0.00
Cole Melancon, 0-0-0-0.00
Silvano Alves, 0-0-0-0.00
Keyshawn Whitehorse, 0-0-0-0.00
Junior Patrik Souza, 0-0-0-0.00
Boudreaux Campbell, 0-0-0-0.00
Eduardo Aparecido, 0-0-0-0.00
Taylor Toves, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Nance, 0-0-0-0.00
Marcelo Procopio Pereira, 0-0-0-0.00
Claudio Montanha Jr., 0-0-0-0.00
Austin Richardson, 0-0-0-0.00
Jesse Petri, 0-0-0-0.00
Brennon Eldred, 0-0-0-0.00
Eli Vastbinder, 0-0-0-0.00
Ramon de Lima, 0-0-0-0.00
Andrew Alvidrez, 0-0-0-0.00

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

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