“Kansas City has always treated me well, but this is the best ever. It feels great. I drew great bulls and when you’re hot, you’re hot,” said Meier. “I am taking it one week at a time and one ride at a time. I just want to stay focused and keep it in perspective. If I can do that and stay healthy then I feel I can win a world title.”
The Oklahoman, who rode Kool-N-Sexy (D&H Cattle Company) for 87.25 points in Round 3, wins $31,604 for the event and moves into third place in the 2010 PBR BFTS season standings. Meier was selected on Saturday to represent the United States in the 2010 PBR World Cup presented by Dickies, the PBR’s premier international event, which comes to the United States for the first time ever on April 16-18 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
“The World Cup is a great honor,” said Meier. “It is the Olympics for bull riding and I feel that we can go to Las Vegas and win for the United States.”
There were four 90-point rides in the Built Ford Tough Championship Round beginning with J. B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.), who scored 90.5 on Big Tex (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Stru). Chris Shivers (Jonesville, La.) took the overall event lead after riding Crosswired (D&H Cattle Co./Clifton Wiggins) for 90.5 points.
Shivers was moved from the top of the leaderboard when Ben Jones (Sunset, Texas) rode Kabookie (Boyd/Floyd Bull Company) for 90 points. It was the second 90-point ride in a row for Jones, who finished first and won $2,730 in Round 3 with 90 points on RFD-TV (Teague Bucking Bulls, LLC/RFDTV, LLC). Jordan Hupp (Cheyenne, Wyo.) then rode Chance (Teague Bucking Bulls, LLC) for 89.5 points and briefly held the event lead before Meier’s ride.
For more information about the PBR, the Built Ford Tough Invitational in Kansas City and all upcoming events on the BFTS Tour, visit www.pbr.com.
INJURY REPORT: Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, N.M.) is doubtful for next week in Glendale, Ariz. with injured ribs while Valdiron de Oliveira (Aparecida de Goiania, GO, Brazil) is questionable with an injured right shoulder.
BEHIND THE CHUTES:
Ford Truck Moment of Truth Bonus:
The Ford Truck Moment of Truth Bonus was not claimed and will be $10,000 in Glendale, Ariz. next week. The bonus grows by $5,000 each week if it is not claimed. Once claimed, it returns to $5,000.
Built Ford Tough Invitational (Kansas City, Mo.):
ROUND ONE: 1) Ned Cross (Midland, Ore.) 89.25 points on Wine Hu (Lightning C Cattle/PBJ Bulls), $7,000. 2) Robson Palermo (Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil) 89 points on Big Iron (4L & Diamond S Rodeo Company), $5,000. 3) Austin Meier (Kinta, Okla.) 88.75 points on Priceless (D&H Cattle Co./L&E Bulls), $3,000. 4) Chris Shivers (Jonesville, La.) 87.75 points on Canadian Cadillac (Walker Bucking Stock Breeders), $2,000. 5) Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) 87.25 points on Big Money (5G Farms Bucking Bulls), $1,200.
ROUND TWO: 1) Robson Palermo (Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil) 89.75 on Hot Stuff (D&H Cattle Company), $2,730. 2/3) Ned Cross (Midland, Ore.) 88.75 on Buffalo Hump (Hebert Bucking Bulls/Barry & Aliceson), $1,560. 2/3) Jody Newberry (Ada, Okla.) 88.75 on Flash Point (Teague Bucking Bulls, LLC), $1,560. 4) Mike Lee (Decatur, Texas) 88.00 points on I’ll Make You Famous (Kooper Branum & Gene Baker). 5) Josh Koschel (Greeley, Colo.) 87.50 points on Dirty Duty (D&H Cattle Company).
ROUND THREE: 1) Ben Jones (Sunset, Texas) 90 on RFD-TV (Teague Bucking Bulls, LLC/RFDTV, LLC), $2,730. 2/3) Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) 88 on Hippy Music (Ravenscroft/Boyd-Floyd Bull Co.), $1,560. 2/3) Josh Koschel (Greeley, Colo.) 88 on Top Diamond (4L & Diamond S Rodeo Company), $1,560. 4/6) Chris Shivers (Jonesville, La.) 87.75 on Pearl Snap (Boyd/Floyd Bull Company). 4/6) Jordan Hupp (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 87.75 on Rock Face (D&H Cattle Company). 4/6) Billy Robinson (Galax, Va.) 87.75 on Bomb Doctor (Boyd/Floyd/Paul Mendell).
BUILT FORD TOUGH CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND: 1) Austin Meier (Kinta, Okla.) 91.5 on Carrillo Cartel (4C’s/Sills/HD Bucking Bulls), $2,730. 2/3) Chris Shivers (Jonesville, La.) 90.5 on Crosswired (D&H Cattle Co./Clifton Wiggins), $1,560. 2/3) J. B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.) 90.5 on Big Tex (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Stru), $1,560. 4) Ben Jones (Sunset, Texas) 90 on Kabookie (Boyd/Floyd Bull Company). 5) Jordan Hupp (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 89.5 on Chance (Teague Bucking Bulls, LLC).
OVERALL EVENT STANDINGS: 1) Austin Meier (Kinta, Okla.) 972.50 points, $31,604.40. 2) Jordan Hupp (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 868.25 points, $14,328.40. 3) Ben Jones (Sunset, Texas) 786.25 points, $12,306.40. 4) Chris Shivers (Jonesville, La.) 761.00 points, $9,620.40. 5) Robson Palermo (Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil) 720.75 points, $12,158.00.
BUILT FORD TOUGH WORLD STANDINGS (The PBR World Champion is based on total Built Ford Tough Series points earned during the season): 1) J. B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.) 4,506.00 points, $149,171.70. 2) Valdiron de Oliveira (Aparecida de Goiania, GO, Brazil) 4,348.25 points, $317,372.33. 3) Austin Meier (Kinta, Okla.) 4,088.50 points, $90,560.90. 4) Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, N.M.) 3,783.75 points, $103,162.69. 5) Josh Koschel (Greeley, Colo.) 3,367.75, $35,978.01.
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About the PBR:
More than 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on FOX, NBC, VERSUS and on a host of foreign networks across the globe. With approximately 400 hours of prime time programming annually PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air, in addition to attracting over one and one half million live event attendees each year with its multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series and Touring Pro Division. The PBR is headquartered in Pueblo, Colo., and has over 1,200 PBR bull riders compete in more than 300 PBR sanctioned competitions in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico.
For more on the PBR, please visit www.pbr.com, www.teampbr.com, www.pbr.tv, www.myspace.com/teampbr, twitter.com/teampbr, www.facebook.com/TeamPBR, or www.pbr.com/worldfinals/.
