World Finals Rewind: Round 2 of the 1999 PBR World Finals

By: Darci Miller

PUEBLO, Colo. – In the last 21 years, Round 2 of the 1999 PBR World Finals has stood in a league of its own in the PBR history books.

With eight 90-point rides, it has been dubbed the greatest night of bull riding ever.

In subsequent years, two-time World Champion Justin McBride – who rode Nitro for 91 points – has joked that he went 90-plus and didn’t even place in the Top 5 in the round.

The incredible feat can be seen in its entirety on the PBR’s Facebook page beginning at 5 p.m. ET. Fans can also watch it on-demand on the PBR’s YouTube channel.

While many things have been said about this night in the subsequent years, those who lived it had a one-of-a-kind perspective. Read on to hear what the men involved had to say as one of the most historic nights in bull riding unfolded in front of them.

 
Here is how some of the riders reacted to the night on the television broadcast as the night unfolded.

Terry Don West on his 96-point ride on Promise Land:

“You know, you’ve got over 2,000 pounds of bull. I was overmatched on weight. He’s bigger than my bed. I thought, ‘Oh, he’s so big.’ I thought he was going to have a lot of power. Bucking bull of the year. I wanted to ride him. I said, ‘Lord, I want to ride this bull. Ride with me, Lord.’ And that’s what he did. He got me that bull rode. I got off him. Last year I promised my cousin Tommy Cole back in Oklahoma, I said I would do the chicken dance if I could make a good bull ride. Well, I bucked off in the short round, but that was the chicken dance for my cousin Tommy Cole back in Oklahoma. I’m sure he enjoyed it.”

Chris Shivers on his 96-point ride on Trick or Treat:

“I did (have confidence). When I come here, I decided to take one bull at a time, and bear down and get the job done. And luckily I drew a good one tonight. Last night, the bull kind of run away, but tonight I made up for it.”

 

Justin McBride on his 91-point ride on Nitro:

“That’s just a great bull. He’s been around quite a while now. I remember the year before I got to get in the PBR, I seen Tuff (Hedeman) snap him for 94 points, so I was excited to get to ride a bull that Tuff’s been 94 on.”

Mike White on his 91-point ride on Skat Kat Skoal:

“Last time I got on him he tried to really get me over my rope, and tried pulling me down on his head. This time I more or less sat on my butt, and kind of lifted on my rope, and kind of stayed away from his head, and it worked out great.”

And here is how eight-time PRCA champion and commentator Donnie Gay summed up the night in the moment…

“I’ve never seen as many great rides in one performance in my entire life. We had a 95.5 score, we had two 96 rides, we had two 94 rides, we rode a bull that’s never been ridden. I mean, if you didn’t like this, you don’t have a pulse.”

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