Eleven-Time World Finals Qualifier Oliveira Wins in Casper to Climb 78 Positions in World Standings

By: Kacie Albert

CASPER, Wyo. – The two-weekend, four-event marathon of PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour action in Casper, Wyoming, at the Casper Events Center came to a dramatic conclusion Saturday evening as 11-time PBR World Finals qualifier Valdiron de Oliveira (Balcimo, Brazil) delivered a flawless 2-for-2 performance to capture his first event victory since August 2016.

The weathered, 41-year-old veteran began the event on a strong note, making the 8 for 83.5 points aboard Smoke Train (Bull Action Sports-Aces).

Continuing the momentum, Oliveira then delivered the high-marked ride of the event when he covered Omaha Beach (Hensen Owen Team 1) for a head-turning 89 points in the championship round.

Oliveira’s flawless performance earned him $4,064.81 in addition to a crucial 37 world points. He additionally earned an invited to compete on the elite PBR Unleash The Beast in Nampa, Idaho, on Oct. 16-17 at the PBR Cooper Tires Take The Money and Ride, presented by Union Home Mortgage.

After beginning the event ranked No. 144 in the world, Oliveira surged 78 positions to No. 66. He is now within 61 points of the Top 35 and a berth to the 12th PBR World Finals of his career, slated to debut in Arlington, Texas, at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 12-15.

As the only other rider to go a perfect 2-for-2, Leonardo Lima (Vale do Paraiso, Brazil) was second, collecting a paycheck for $3,361.88 and 27.5 world points.

Lima punched his ticket to the event’s talent-packed championship round after tying for second in Round 1 courtesy of his 87-point ride aboard Star Child (Lightning Livestock).

Determined to ascend to the top of the leaderboard, the 26-year-old once again made the 8, this time marked 84.5 points on Jungle Fire (Torres Brothers Bucking Bulls LLC), the second-best score of the final round.

Despite falling just short of his career-first PBR event win, Lima gained crucial ground in the world standings as he seeks his first-ever qualification to the PBR World Finals when they are held inside the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys in mid-November.

Lima, who was ranked No. 213 in the world prior to the Saturday evening event, is now No. 86 and within 77.5 points of the Top 35.

Third was Round 1 winner Chase Dougherty (Canby, Oregon).

The gritty Oregon cowboy dominated the opening round courtesy of his 88.5-point trip on Shameless (Cunningham/Scoggins), however was unable to remain perfect when he was bested by Night Shift (Lee/Praus/Thompson) in a heartbreaking 7.11 seconds in the championship round.

Dougherty left the Casper Events Center $2,017.13 richer, having also netted 17 world points. He climbed from No. 61 to No. 50 in the world, positioning himself within 37.5 points of the Top 35 and his first-ever trip to the PBR World Finals.

Grayon Cole (New Riggold, Pennsylvania) parlayed an 87-point ride on Newsom (Barrett Bucking Stock) in Round 1 to a fourth-place finish overall.

The Top-5 finish earned him $1,314.19 and 9.5 world points.

Cole is now ranked No. 61 in the world, climbing six spots from No. 67 at event’s start.

Rounding out the Top 5 was Pedro Fonseca (Itapui, Brazil) in fifth, collecting a check for $696.83 and six world points.

His efforts were highlighted by an 86-point trip on Rag Doll (Tom Baker Bucking Bulls) in Round 1.

In the bull pen, Night Shift, who denied Dougherty the event win, was the high-marked bull of the night. The impressive bovine athlete was marked 44.5 points for his 7.11 seconds of work.

Fans can relive all the action the four PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour events held in the Cowboy State on Sunday, October 11 at 8:00 a.m. EST on RidePass, at RidePass.com or via the RidePass app available on iOS, Android and Roku.

The PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour will next travel to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center on Nov. 6-7 for the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals, presented by First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard, when four riders will earn berths to compete at the 2020 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast in Arlington, Texas at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 12-15.

PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour – PBR Casper Invitational, driven by Wyoming Ford Dealers
Casper Events Center – Casper, Wyoming
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Valdiron de Oliveira, 83.5-89-172.50-37 Points.
2. Leonardo Lima, 87-84.5-171.50-27.5 Points.
3. Chase Dougherty, 88.5-0-88.50-17 Points.
4. Grayson Cole, 87-0-87.00-9.5 Points.
5. Pedro Fonseca, 86-0-86.00-6 Points.
6. Alex Cardozo, 85.5-0-85.50-3.5 Points.
(tie). Ryan McConnel, 85.5-0-85.50-3.5 Points.
8. Laramie Craigen, 85-0-85.00-1 Points.
9. Francisco Garcia Torres, 84-0-84.00
10. Manoelito Junior, 83.5-0-83.50
11. Romildo Rodrigues, 83-0-83.00
Bradley Brittain, 0-0-0.00
Keith Hall, 0-0-0.00
Luciano De Castro, 0-0-0.00
Devon Weaver, 0-0-0.00
Andre da Cruz de Souza, 0-0-0.00
Eli Vastbinder, 0-0-0.00
Kyle Jones, 0-0-0.00
Tyler Werner, 0-0-0.00
Gage Gay, 0-0-0.00
Javier Garcia, 0-0-0.00
Ky Hamilton, 0-0-0.00
Venn Johns, 0-0-0.00
Rubens Barbosa, 0-0-0.00
Hunter Ball, 0-0-0.00
Francisco Morales, 0-0-0.00
Zac Harris, 0-0-0.00
Kache Moosman, 0-0-0.00
Sean Willingham, 0-0-0.00
Caleb Christian, 0-0-0.00
Thor Hoefer II, 0-0-0.00
Dalton Rudman, 0-0-0.00
Dylan Madsen, 0-0-0.00
J.T. Pettitt, 0-0-0.00
Trace Brown, 0-0-0.00
Albert Lebaron, 0-0-0.00
Alvaro Aguilar Alvarez, 0-0-0.00
Weston Hartman, 0-0-0.00
Ruger Piva, 0-0-0.00
Cody Jones, 0-0-0.00
Devin Hutchinson, 0-0-0.00
Anthony Hopen, 0-0-0.00
J.T. Stevens, 0-0-0.00
Chuy Ortega, 0-0-0.00
Marty Custer, 0-0-0.00

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