Starting Lineups, Draw Revealed for PBR Teams: Cowboy Days
By: James Youness
PUEBLO, Colo. – Year two for the Carolina Cowboys’ 2023 PBR Camping World Team Series season can pretty much be summed up in one word:
Health.
The prioritization of staying and getting healthy, balanced of course with the perils and dangers associated with climbing aboard 1,500-plus lb. animal athletes.
Battling its banged-up, roller-coaster of a season, the 9-10 contingent enters its Cowboy Days homestand ranked No. 5 in the league. Which, when you factor in the team’s continuous usage of Injured Reserve, isn’t all that bad for the checkered flag squad.
View this post on Instagram
But after welcoming a pair of stars in the making via the No. 1 (Sage Steele Kimzey) and No. 2 (Josh Frost) overall selections in May’s draft, only to combine them with a pair of World Champions in Daylon Swearingen and Cooper Davis, the Cowboys were set up to win it all this season.
Add in quality contenders like Boudreaux Campbell and Sandro Batista mixed with some promising youngsters in Flavio Zivieri, Daniel Feitosa, Trey Kimzey and the gang and it’s easy to see why they were, and continue to be, viewed as one of the deepest rosters top to bottom when it comes to talent.
With each of the other seven squads dealing with injuries of their own, the cowboys haven’t received any pity party invites thus far. Heading into Greensboro Coliseum this weekend as the hometown favorites, if anything, the remainder of the league will be looking to knock off the Jerome Davis-led squad as each team continues to traverse this season’s ever-changing standings.
While the team can’t necessarily control its injury-ridden campaign, the Cowboys will need to turn things around sooner than later if they hope to secure a first-round bye during next month’s 2023 PBR Teams Championship.
Beginning Friday night, during its opening matchup against the Arizona Ridge Riders.
Arguably the hottest team through the tour’s last three events, Arizona has posted a perfect 2-0 record against Carolina so far this season. With a roster comprised of a whole lotta’ fire power and some of the most passionate coaches in the game, will the Ridge Riders continue their fiery momentum en route to handing the hometown Cowboys a loss?
Or will a returning Sage Steele Kimzey be able to team up with Cooper Davis and the boys while showing off the team’s new jerseys?
With the 5-on-5 circuit set to invade Greensboro, North Carolina, during the eighth event of the 2023 PBR Camping World Team Series season, let’s take a look at the starting lineups for Friday night’s competition inside Greensboro Coliseum (With action set to begin at 7:45 p.m. ET on Pluto TV).
COWBOY DAYS STARTING LINEUPS
*Denotes a rematch
No. 3 Kansas City Outlaws (10-9) vs. No. 4 Oklahoma Freedom (10-9)
Wingson Henrique da Silva vs. Buffalo Chip (Blake Sharp/Robbie Ray/Doug Wilson)
*Casey Roberts vs. Fierce’s Dirt Nap (Blake Sharp/UB Bucking Co/Fierce Firearms)
Kyler Oliver vs. Buster (Cornwell Bucking Bulls)
Dawson Gleaves vs. Grande Patron (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls)
Koltin Hevalow vs. Cactus Jack (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls)
Bill Henry vs. Magic Potion (K Bar C Bucking Bulls/Daniel Cattle Co.)
Mauricio Gulla Moreira vs. Hunting Trip (Dozier Cattle Co/Martinez Bucking Bulls)
Elizmar Jeremias vs. Sandman (Cornwell Bucking Bulls/Waggoner Bucking Bulls)
Cassio Dias vs. Out of Control (Blake Sharp)
Caden Bunch vs. Hoka Hey (Blake Sharp/Chris Utz/Carey Brothers)
REMATCHES
Casey Roberts vs. Fierce’s Dirt Nap (2.98 seconds in Austin, Texas)
TRANSACTIONS
The Oklahoma Freedom traded Eli Vastbinder and a second-round selection in the 2024 PBR Teams New Rider Draft to the Texas Rattlers in exchange for Dawson Gleaves
The Oklahoma Freedom signed Bill Henry to the Reserve Roster
Outlaws (0-2) vs. Freedom (1-1) Game Preview
Entering Friday night’s showcase-opening matchup with identical 10-9 records, the Oklahoma Freedom and Kansas City Outlaws have a lot to compete for with just three events remaining in the 2023 PBR Camping World Team Series. Meeting in both of the league’s first two events of the season, the teams suffered a double-shutout loss at Cheyenne Frontier Days before combining for just one ride the next weekend in Kansas City, Missouri, as the Outlaws picked up an 89.25-0 win before its home crowd.
Seeing the Freedom make some changes this past week, including trading former team captain Eli Vastbinder and a second-round selection in the 2024 PBR Teams New Rider Draft to the Texas Rattlers in exchange for rookie Dawson Gleaves, the team also lost Chase Outlaw to the Nashville Stampede after Justin McBride’s squad wisely signed the charismatic leader from the Freedom’s reserve roster.
With the Outlaws opting to relegate early-season starters in Bob Mitchell, Wyatt Rogers and company to its reserve roster, while recently welcoming Leonardo Castro Ferreira back from Injured Reserve, both teams have a refreshed roster and will look to start the Cowboy Days slate off with some conversions.
No. 8 Missouri Thunder (6-13) vs. No. 1 Austin Gamblers (14-5)
Joao Lucas Campos vs. Hunted Down (Martinez Bucking Bulls, LLC)
*Dalton Kasel vs. Doze You Down (Dozier Cattle Co/Martinez Bucking Bulls)
Felipe Furlan vs. Tchoupitoulas (Twisted T/Heavy Hitters)
*Ezekiel Mitchell vs. Patillo Ridge (Tex Brothers Ranch/5S Bucking Bulls)
Paulo Eduardo Rosseto vs. Treble Hooks (Tex Brothers Ranch/5S Bucking Bulls)
Ramon de Lima vs. Smokin’ Joe (Tex Brothers Ranch/5S Bucking Bulls)
Manoelito de Souza Junior vs. Sergeant Matt (Lucas Manning Bucking Bulls)
Rafael dos Santos vs. Wicked Ways (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls)
*Andrew Alvidrez vs. Preachers Kid (K-C Bucking Bulls/RD Cattle)
*Jose Vitor Leme vs. Pelican Punch (Davis Rodeo Ranch)
REMATCHES
Andrew Alvidrez vs. Preachers Kid (1.8 seconds in Jacksonville, Florida; 6.20 seconds in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; 6.79 seconds in Las Vegas, Nevada)
Dalton Kasel vs. Doze You Down (3.27 seconds in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Ezekiel Mitchell vs. Patillo Ridge (2.34 seconds in Newark, New Jersey)
Jose Vitor Leme vs. Pelican Punch (2.38 seconds in Nashville, Tennessee)
Thunder (0-2) vs. Gamblers (2-0) Game Preview
It would be easy to peg this matchup as the David vs. Goliath type with the No. 1 Austin Gamblers set to take on the No. 8 Missouri Thunder. Especially with Austin currently holding a perfect 2-0 record against the young squad. But after seeing the Thunder produce some flashes of greatness last weekend during its homestand in the Ozarks, can Luke Snyder and Ross Coleman get their team revved up to fire on all cylinders again?
Recording his career-first 90-pointer at Thunder Days, Kade Madsen remains a threat to strike at any moment. Leading his team with a 6-for-18 record as the rookie rider continues to adapt to the biggest stage in the industry, he’ll need to stay on the same page as fellow first-year standout Joao Lucas Campos as the young duo hope to build on its first 2-1 showcase of the season.
Across the chutes? A squad featuring both the No. 1 (Jose Vitor Leme) and No. 2 (Dalton Kasel)-ranked riders in this year’s MVP race. Not to mention a league-best 14-5 record, the green and black squad may have earned victories over Missouri in both of this season’s matchups, but after beginning the year with an outstanding 12-1 start, the squad is now 2-4 throughout the past two events, going 1-2 in both Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Ridgedale, Missouri.
If Kasel and Leme can stay healthy for the Gamblers, they’ll be a contender for seasons to come, but with the Thunder continuing to buy into the long-term approach of developing talented prospects, this could become one of the league’s biggest rivalries sooner than later.
No. 2 Texas Rattlers (10-9) vs. No. 7 Nashville Stampede (6-13)
Brady Oleson vs. Sava (Blue Ridge Bucking Bulls)
Chase Outlaw vs. Dang Thang (Davis Rodeo Ranch)
Brady Fielder vs. Little Bit Crazy (Blue Ridge Bucking Bulls)
Joao Henrique Lucas vs. Sundance (Tex Brothers Ranch/5S Bucking Bulls)
Eli Vastbinder vs. Red Head (Dustin Denning)
Mason Moody vs. Bandito Bug (Chris Utz/Carey Brothers/Mike Chaney/Blake Sharp)
Braidy Randolph vs. Red Rocket (Davis Rodeo Ranch)
*Dener Barbosa vs. Whiplash (Blake Sharp/Floyd Lowry/CB & Traci Lee)
Daniel Keeping vs. Mr. Nasty (Blake Sharp/Koe Wetzel/Cody O’Neil)
Silvano Alves vs. Heavy Hitter (Twisted T/Heavy Hitters)
REMATCHES
Dener Barbosa vs. Whiplash (85 points in Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
TRANSACTIONS
The Texas Rattlers traded Dawson Gleaves to the Oklahoma Freedom in exchange for Eli Vastbinder and second-round selection in the 2024 PBR Teams New Rider Draft
The Nashville Stampede claimed Chase Outlaw from the Oklahoma Freedom’s Reserve Roster and signed him to the Protected Roster
The Nashville Stampede released Wellington Ferreira from the Reserve Roster
Rattlers (2-0) vs. Stampede (0-2) Game Preview
As rivalries continue to develop throughout the ever-shifting PBR Camping World Team Series landscape, there’s always a little more fuel added to the fire when teams get to face off in back-to-back fashion. Fresh off posting a 248.25-171.25 victory over the Nashville Stampede last weekend, the Texas Rattlers improved to a perfect 2-0 against the blue and yellow team this season.
But with the Rattlers trading for Eli Vastbinder this week during one of the biggest swaps of the season, all eyes will be on the 31-year-old rider when he makes his debut with the new squad. Set to dance with Red Head, he’ll look to put his slow 2-for-13 start in year to behind him after joining the No. 2-ranked team, who continues to lead the circuit with 37 qualified rides.
Meanwhile for the defending 2022 PBR Teams Champion Stampede, they’ll attempt to break a tie with the No. 8-ranked Missouri Thunder while welcoming veteran Chase Outlaw to the lineup after signing him earlier this week. While Outlaw has missed a majority of the season due to injury, he’s got a date with Dang Thang Friday night, where he’ll attempt to log his first qualified ride of the season and continue to fuel the belief that the veteran-heavy squad will be in prime form next month during the 2023 PBR Teams Championship inside T-Mobile Arena.
No. 6 Arizona Ridge Riders (9-10) vs. No. 5 Carolina Cowboys (9-10)
Luciano de Castro vs. Roc Solid (K Bar C Bucking Bulls/TCB Ranch)
Boudreaux Campbell vs. Midnight Train (Blake Sharp/Henry Wilson)
Eduardo Aparecido vs. Lapua (Blake Sharp/Floyd/Wilson/High Voltage)
Sandro Batista vs. Knucklehead (K Bar C Bucking Bulls/TCB Ranch)
Nick Tetz vs. Gangster Blues (Blake Sharp/UB Buckin’ Company)
Flavio Zivieri vs. Thin Ice (Blue Ridge Bucking Bulls/M&B)
Leandro Machado vs. Abracadabra (Tex Brothers Ranch/5S Bucking Bulls)
Sage Steele Kimzey vs. Mike’s Motive (Blake Sharp/High Voltage/Wetzel/Knott)
Keyshawn Whitehorse vs. Magic Carpet (K Bar C Bucking Bulls/TCB Ranch)
*Cooper Davis vs. Black As Coal (K Bar C Bucking Bulls/Bull Creek Bucking Bulls)
REMATCHES
Cooper Davis vs. Magic Carpet (4.77 seconds in Kansas City, Missouri)
TRANSACTIONS
The Arizona Ridge Riders added Leandro Machado to the Protected Roster from the Reserve Roster
Ridge Riders (2-0) vs. Cowboys (0-2) Game Preview
After spending its inaugural season based in the greater Winston-Salem area, the Carolina Cowboys are now calling Greensboro Coliseum home, as the team prepares to duke it out with the Arizona Ridge Riders in Friday’s finale. While Sage Steele Kimzey was available to participate early on during last weekend’s event, Head Coach Jerome Davis chose to rest the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 PBR Teams Draft, as his team had already solidified a victory. But when Championship Sunday rolled around, the seven-time PRCA champion made his way to the dirt, albeit after just 2.77 seconds atop Whiplash. Slated to have a shot at a nice score Friday night paired against Mike’s Motive, will the Cowboys be able to champion the ever-occurring injury bug and find success at their home event?
If so, they’ll have to go through the league’s hottest team.
Since starting the season with a miserable 0-7 record, the Ridge Riders have produced a 9-3 record in setting the 5-on-5 circuit ablaze. Receiving regular contributions from Vitor Losnake, Nick Tetz and beyond, Arizona enters the matchup 9-10 overall, now ranked No. 6, albeit the same win totals as the hometown Cowboys. With 2016 World Champion Cooper Davis sporting a 10-for-18 record (while ranking No. 5 in the MVP standings), Arizona can assume they’ll need at least two rides (or an extremely high-marked conversion), to get the job done.
FOLLOW ALONG
This weekend’s competition in Greensboro, North Carolina is set to begin Friday, Sept. 22 at 7:45 p.m. ET as the Kansas City Outlaws and Oklahoma Freedom get the three-day showdown started inside Greensboro Coliseum. With competition set to resume Saturday, Sept. 23 at 6:45 p.m. ET, the sixth of eight homestand events will conclude Sunday, Sept. 24 at 1:45 p.m. ET as the No. 5-ranked Carolina Cowboys look to make an impression within their new digs.
Fans can tune into ViX and RidePass on Pluto TV Friday, Sept. 22 beginning at 8 p.m. ET to take in the four opening night games live, while the first three games from Saturday’s slate are set to begin airing at 6:45 p.m. ET. This Week’s “Game of the Week” will debut on CBS Television Network at 3 p.m. ET, while day three’s action will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network Sunday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. ET, featuring all of this weekend’s Championship Sunday action.
Fans can keep an eye on PBR.com and PBR social media channels for the latest news, scores, wrecks and more!
Photo courtesy of Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media
© 2023 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.