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Top PBR Stories of 2020

By: Justin Felisko

PUEBLO, Colo. – 2020 will forever be remembered as a year like none other, and it brought a series of unexpected challenges, twists and turns to the PBR’s 27th season.

The 2021 Unleash The Beast: American Roots Edition is set to begin on Jan. 16 in Ocala, Florida, with the PBR Monster Energy Invitational.

Until then, though, let’s get ready for the New Year with a look back at eight of the most-read PBR.com stories in 2020.

Most of all, a heartfelt thank you for visiting PBR.com throughout 2020, and we look forward to providing you with more content in 2021.

Vieira’s faith, family and friends continue to fuel his remarkable ongoing recovery

 

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A post shared by Fabiano Vieira (@fvieirapbr)

Fabiano Vieira has continued to show tremendous determination in overcoming two severe brain injuries and a skull fracture that he sustained on July 1 at the Touring Pro Division event in Stamford, Texas, that led to a 56-day stint in the hospital.

PBR fans intently followed Vieira’s wife Jilian’s updates throughout the summer as her husband continued to slowly battle back from his serious injuries until ultimately being released from the hospital on Aug. 25.

Fabiano continues to rehab at Fit-N-Wise Rehabilitation and Performance Center in Decatur, Texas, and his friends and family believe his recovery is nothing short of a miracle.

The 2020 PBR World Finals is relocated to AT&T Stadium

 
PBR CEO and Commissioner Sean Gleason had to lead the PBR through endless hurdles to continue to keep the organization’s 2020 season going strong. One of his final battles of the 2020 season was finding a home for the PBR World Finals when it became clear the PBR would not be given health clearance by officials in Las Vegas to host its annual season-ending event.

Gleason, therefore, quickly got things in motion to move the Finals to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as the Dallas Cowboys and the entire Dallas-Fort Worth region welcomed the PBR to town.

Texas-native bull riders were especially excited for the opportunity to win a World Finals in Arlington, and Boudreaux Campbell would be the surprising winner once the final bulls were bucked inside the prestigious NFL stadium.

PBR fans mourn the loss of World Champion Bull contender Air Support

The PBR community was shocked and saddened when Braun Bucking Bulls announced that world No. 1 bull Air Support passed away on June 16. Air Support was 5-0 with a 45.75-point average bull score and had been the high-marked bull at four events in the first half.

Air Support had positioned himself as the frontrunner for the 2020 YETI World Champion Bull title, and he had begun to establish himself as a fan favorite, much like his father Air Time was.

The 5-year-old may have been a ferocious competitor in the arena, but he was a cherished and loved gentle giant at home who is sorely missed.

PBR launches The Monster Energy Team Challenge

 
In another innovative move by Gleason and the PBR, the organization created a 48-rider, 12-team bull riding team competition following the first half of the Unleash The Beast that aired on CBS national television, CBS Sports Network and RidePass.

The Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, began as a made-for-television event in a private setting with a custom soundstage and LED screens at the South Point Arena in Las Vegas. Following four weekends of the team-formatted bull riding competition in June, the METC concluded in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on July 10-12. Championship Weekend inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center was one of the first sporting events in the United States to have a limited number of fans in attendance and featured the PBR’s Be Cowboy Safe plan.

Team Cooper Tires captain Jose Vitor Leme was sensational at the METC, going 9-for-12 to win the $10,000 Built Ford Tough MVP title. Leme joined forces with six-time PRCA champion Sage Kimzey, 2018 Rookie of the Year Keyshawn Whitehorse and 2014 PBR Canada champion Stetson Lawrence to win the inaugural championship. Team Cooper Tires defeated Team Pendleton Whisky 177.25-0 in the title game.

Riders react to competing in private setting at Gwinnett Invitational

 
The PBR was one of the final professional sports leagues to host an event as the COVID-19 pandemic began to cancel events all across the United States this past March.

What has since become far from abnormal, PBR riders competed on March 14-15 in an empty arena in Duluth, Georgia.

Dener Barbosa would win the event, and within days the PBR shut down its season for 41 days as the world began to grapple with the increasing severity of what was unfolding.

Team USA makes history inside AT&T Stadium

 
Coach Justin McBride led the Team USA Eagles to Global Cup history by becoming the first country to win the Global Cup on home soil. The Eagles gritted out a 6-for-16 performance to defeat Team Australia by 9.25 points and Team Brazil by 88 points inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in February. Host countries were a previous combined 0-7 at the PBR Global Cup/World Cup.

Two-time World Champion Jess Lockwood and Cole Melancon, one of a handful of last-minute replacements for the Eagles, stepped up to lead the Americans to a victory to end Team Brazil’s pursuit of three consecutive Global Cup titles.

J.B. Mauney misses first half of the season, but still qualifies for 15th World Finals

 
Two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney made a bold claim before making his 2020 season debut in August following a seven-month recovery from right reconstructive shoulder surgery.

“If I can’t make the Finals in half a year, I need to quit riding bulls,” Mauney said.

It was dicey for a little bit in the second half, but Mauney ultimately qualified for his 15th consecutive World Finals with three consecutive Top-4 finishes in October. Mauney nearly won a PBR-record 33rd premier series event of his career in Nampa, Idaho, if not for a 7.25-second buckoff against I’m Legit Too.

A humble path to gold buckle greatness for 2020 World Champion Jose Vitor Leme

 
Jose Vitor Leme was the story of 2020 inside the arena as the 24-year-old finally got over the World Championship hurdle and won his first world title.

Leme ended 2020 with a league-high seven UTB event wins, 16 round victories and a league-best 67.69% riding average (44-for-65).

Whether he was riding Woopaa, Chiseled or Smooth Operator, Leme brought fans to their feet inside arenas or jumping off their couch at home watching him on CBS Sports Network and RidePass.

One can only hope for more memorable rides in 2021!

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

© 2020 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.

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