Originally Undrafted, Lawrence Making an Impact for Undefeated Team Cooper Tires
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – Stetson Lawrence was in Guthrie, Oklahoma, three weeks ago when 12 captains for the Monster Energy Team Challenge finished making their picks for the team-oriented bull riding event, which is now underway in Las Vegas.
The captains drafted 36 riders for the Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, and Lawrence was not one of them.
It was a surprise to see Lawrence left off all 12 rosters, and you can bet he was ticked about it.
Even Team Cooper Tires General Manager Cody Lambert gave Lawrence a little bit of a hard time about going undrafted, too.
“I was surprised that he didn’t get picked, and I even teased him a little bit in Guthrie that night after the draft,” Lambert said this week. “He was a little pissed about it. He wasn’t happy about it. But I also knew that he needed a little wakeup call, because he was going 0-fer in Guthrie until that, and he started staying on them.”
The next day, Lawrence took that frustration out inside the Lazy E Arena the best way possible.
He first rode Lil 2 Train for 88 points and then capped off the first half of the Unleash The Beast with a 91.25-point ride on Sky Harbor.
The ride was the second-best of his eight-year career, and it was only the third 90-point ride since he made his premier series debut in 2013.
However, Lawrence left the Lazy E Arena on May 17 unsure if a third-place finish in Guthrie would be enough to earn him a shot if a team wound up with an opening.
Lawrence just planned to get his right knee scoped and take some much-needed time off. That was all he knew was a guarantee.
“I initially thought I would get time off to go home and rest,” Lawrence said. “Enjoy my time off. I think it was Wednesday the next week when Jose messaged me on Instagram and said, ‘Dener (Barbosa) can’t make it and I would like you on my team.’”
The Lawrence addition has worked out pretty well for the undefeated and Division A-leading Team Cooper Tires (3-0).
Lawrence – the No. 17-ranked bull rider in the world – is second on the team in aggregate scores, and his 2-for-5 showing has Cooper Tires in a position to win the Division A title this weekend.
“Those guys had their own ideas of who they wanted on their team,” Lawrence told PBR.com Wednesday about not originally being drafted. “Before Guthrie, I wasn’t riding the greatest, so maybe that is why they didn’t pick me. But it made me step my game up, so it all worked out for me more than anything because I stepped up and did my job in Guthrie and it has carried on to here, and I am back to riding how I should ride. I guess I needed an extra push.
“I have had a chip on my shoulder coming in just to prove that I am good enough to be here and that I should have been picked. That is that. I don’t care anymore. I am on a team.”
Lambert has Lawrence in the starting lineup alongside Leme and six-time PRCA champion Sage Kimzey for Team Cooper Tires’ monster matchup on Friday night against Team Las Vegas (10:40 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network/RidePass).
Lawrence has drawn Chicken and Biscuits (7-0, all levels) and Bubba G (1-0, METC).
Team Cooper Tires and Team Las Vegas are undefeated, and the winner Friday night will take over sole possession of first place in Division A.
The victor will then control its destiny at winning the Division A title and earning the No. 1 Division A seed for Championship Weekend in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on July 10-12.
“It would mean a lot to get that top seed,” Lawrence said. “That bye would mean a lot. That would help us be fresh. If not, we will grind it out and get back to where we need to be.”
The No. 1 seeds of Division A and B, which begins on June 19 in Las Vegas, get automatic byes into the semifinals (July 11) of the Monster Energy Team Challenge playoffs in Sioux Falls.
The No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the final division standings also qualify for the postseason, and they will square off on July 10 in Sioux Falls in first-round matchups.
Team Cooper Tires is well on its way to the postseason, barring a significant drop-off this weekend, and it has clearly been the best team so far at the Pendleton Whisky Let ‘Er Buck Saloon at South Point Arena.
Cooper Tires leads the METC in aggregate score (844), rides (10) and riding percentage (55.6%), and has yet to trail in any game. It also has more four more qualified rides (324 points) than fellow undefeated Team Las Vegas.
The 31-year-old says his knee has also felt much better since Dr. Tandy Freeman scoped it.
“I felt great,” Lawrence said. “I was actually impressed it didn’t hurt at all. The problem is, if I hit it just right, it would swell up, and I haven’t had it swell up at all. I am thankful I finally had the time to do the surgery and it is working out so far.”
Lawrence, who had dinner with Leme Tuesday night, said the members of Team Cooper Tires knows they need to remain focused and not get boastful.
“I don’t think there is any relief in it,” Lawrence said of the team’s strong start. “We all have to stay sharp and do our job every bull we get on. It is not like anybody is relaxed or laid back that we are 3-0 now. We try to go out and win every game and ride every bull we get on. There is no target on our back, we put our own target on our back. We are here to do our job and ride our bulls. Whatever happens, happens. As long as we all try our hardest on every bull, we are happy.”
Team Las Vegas is led by captain and 2019 PRCA All-Around World Champion Stetson Wright. General Manager Ty Murray has Wright, 2017 Canadian Professional Rodeo Association champion Garrett Smith and 2018 National Finals Rodeo event average winner Chase Dougherty in his starting lineup against Cooper Tires.
“They are doing great,” Lawrence said. “I was impressed, honestly, but I didn’t watch many of those other games. It moves quick, and you have to stay ready. It is crazy how fast it happens.”
There is a possibility that Cooper Tires and Las Vegas will play each other again Sunday.
The schedule for Sunday is based on the Division A standings after Saturday night’s competition is complete. The top two teams in the division will play each other, and so too will the No. 3 and No. 4 teams, as well as the No. 5 and No. 6 units.
Lawrence said it is up to all of Team Cooper Tires to contribute if they hope to leave Las Vegas with the Division crown.
“This whole team concept has been going good for us,” Lawrence said. “All of our guys are all in. Jose is all in. Sage. We all will do whatever it takes to get the W.
“It is important for all four of us to step up when we are called to play in the game. We all did it (last week). Yeah, Jose and Sage got a little bit more pressure on them, but those guys don’t look at it that way. Neither do me and Keyshawn (Whitehorse). We are trying to just do our part and ride our bulls and let you talk about all the other stuff.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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