Rookie of the Year Contender Petri Fired up to Finish the Job at Iron Cowboy
By: Justin Felisko
FORT WORTH, Texas – Jesse Petri may be a Rookie of the Year contender, but the 23-year-old views himself as much more than just a rider attempting to win top rookie honors or qualify for his first World Finals.
“I feel like I should be here,” Petri said after advancing to Round 2 of the Tractor Supply Co. Iron Cowboy, presented by Ariat, with an 87.5-point ride on DJ Casper. “I feel like I am going to feel the same at the World Finals. I feel like I fit in with this group of guys.
“I am fired up. I need to capitalize tomorrow and get the rest of the bulls rode. I feel great going into tomorrow.”
Petri is the second-highest-ranked rookie slated to compete in Round 2 Sunday at Dickies Arena. He will take on Slingin Lead when Round 2 begins at 2 p.m. ET on CBS national television.
The Dublin, Texas, native arrived in Fort Worth with plenty of confidence after nearly becoming the third rookie in PBR history to win a PBR Major last month in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Petri advanced to Round 4 of Last Cowboy Standing before being eliminated when Marquis Metal Works Draggin Up bucked him off in 5.03 seconds.
Last Cowboy Standing, though, was a confidence booster for Petri and less of a frustration, he explained Saturday night in Fort Worth.
“You know, I try not to think about it when I leave the event,” Petri said. “I thought about the good. I finished fourth at my first Major in Cheyenne. If I think about the buckoffs, that is when I dig myself a hole. I really just kept my head up, focused on the good. I got two bulls rode and was 90 for the first time in the PBR. That is what I focused on. I always try to take the best out of every situation.
“I still had confidence leaving Cheyenne.”
That confidence was on full display in Fort Worth, and Petri now will attempt to finish what he nearly accomplished at Last Cowboy Standing.
Round 2 will begin with 25 riders. Following the second round, the Top 8 riders via aggregate score will then advance to Round 3. Next, Round 4 will consist of the Top 4 riders in the aggregate based upon the previous three rounds.
Essentially, the first four rounds will be cut down from 40 riders to 25 to 8 to 4.
Round 5 will feature every rider that posted a qualified ride in Round 4. A minimum of two riders will compete in Round 5. If only one rider covers in Round 4, then the PBR will bring back one rider (based on aggregate scores following the completion of Round 4).
The rider with the highest score in Round 5 will win the title of Iron Cowboy. If all riders buck off in Round 5, the Iron Cowboy crown will go to the rider with the highest aggregate score among those who attempted a bull in Round 5.
The Iron Cowboy winner receives 150 world points, and the runner-up takes home 94 points.
If the event ends with more than one qualified ride in Round 5, then each rider with a qualified ride in Round 5 will be awarded the world points determined by their final ride scores in Round 5. (The runner-up only receives 94 world points if he rides his bull in Round 5 or if the event winner had also bucked off in Round 5).
If the event ends with no qualified rides in the fifth round, each rider who attempted a bull in the fifth round will be awarded world points (the 150 and 94) based on their aggregate score earned throughout the event.
“This is a really cool event,” Petri said. “The top guy is going to win the big money. You have to stay on and do your job to get the big money, and that is the way it is set up. You can’t just luck out to win it.”
The Iron Cowboy winner receives 150 world points, and the runner-up takes home 94 points.
With Rookie of the Year leader Chase Dougherty out of competition because of a torn UCL in his riding arm and No. 2 rookie Rafael Henrique dos Santos not competing because of five broken ribs, Petri could take over the ROY lead with a victory on Sunday.
“A win would launch me right up into the standings to where I want to be,” Petri concluded. “I feel great, and I think it can happen.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
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