Lazy E Arena Injury Updates: Kasel Says he is Just Sore Following Bruiser Buckoff
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – 2019 Rookie of the Year Dalton Kasel nearly won the PBR Cooper Tires Invitational, presented by Ariat, on Sunday afternoon before three-time World Champion SweetPro’s Bruiser changed directions at the last second, ripping him to the ground in 7.97 seconds.
The close call went to a video review, and Kasel was not awarded a qualified ride. Meanwhile, CBS Sports Network cameras caught Kasel favoring his groin as he headed back to the locker room once the ruling was in.
Kasel told PBR.com after the event via text message that he was just a little sore and should be good to go for next weekend’s PBR Lucas Oil Invitational, presented by U.S Border Patrol.
The event will conclude live on CBS national television 2 p.m. ET on May 17.
Kasel admitted he was irritated with himself for not finishing the ride and letting the event Sunday come down to a judge’s decision.
“I was irritated about how I didn’t finish,” Kasel said when asked if he was surprised to not get a score. “But to see 8 on the clock and it get overturned sucked. Everyone else watched the replay and said I rode him, then that wasn’t the case and it sucked.”
Regardless, Kasel will likely be a threat to win next weekend following an impressive third-place finish this weekend at the Lazy E Arena.
Kasel rode Milburn Special for 85 points in Round 1 before winning Round 2 Sunday with 90.75 points on Soup in a Group.
The 21-year-old earned 59.5 points towards the world standings and is now ranked 44th overall. Kasel missed the first month of the season recovering from offseason groin surgery. He then tore his right groin at Iron Cowboy in February and just returned to competition two weeks ago.
It was his best showing since winning last season’s regular-season finale in Nampa, Idaho.
In other injury news, Marco Eguchi said he hurt his groin when he was bucked off by Chiseled during the championship round Sunday.
Round 1 co-winner Lucas Divino did not compete in the championship round after spraining his right (riding) hand Sunday in Round 2. Divino was bucked off by Bullseye in 3.53 seconds. According to Dr. Tandy Freeman, Divino is questionable for next week.
Cody Campbell is also questionable for next weekend after missing Sunday’s competition after aggravating a pre-existing chronic right hip problem in Round 1, per Freeman.
Mason Taylor attempted to ride in Round 2 with a left groin strain he sustained in Round 1, but God’s Country bucked him off in 4.71 seconds on Sunday afternoon.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
© 2020 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.