Missouri Thunder’s Joao Lucas Campos Wins Event MVP in Front of Home Crowd while Joao Ricardo Vieira Records Career Ride No. 400
RIDGEDALE, M.O. – After the dust settled on Championship Sunday at the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series stop at the scenic Thunder Ridge Nature Arena, the Texas Rattlers stood above the rest, winning Thunder Days for the second consecutive season.
The Rattlers, who went 2–1 in game play this weekend, are the fourth team to win an event this year, joining the Arizona Ridge Riders, Kansas City Outlaws and league-leading Austin Gamblers. With three regular season events remaining, they improved to 10-9, now in second place behind the Gamblers (14-5).
In one of the most thrilling PBR Teams events this season, the Rattlers’ Brady Fielder and Daniel Keeping continued to deliver, both recording two clutch rides this weekend.
Keeping and the Rattlers walked off the Nashville Stampede 248.25–171.25 on Friday but fell to the hometown Missouri Thunder 264.5–89 on Saturday night.
Undeterred, Head Coach Cody Lambert’s squad battled back, ending the Arizona Ridge Riders’ six-game winning streak via a game-winning ride from Keeping to go 2-1 on the weekend and force Extra Outs. In that contest, Rattlers’ veteran Joao Ricardo Vieira recorded his 400th career ride, continuing to prove at 39 years old that he is still one of the best bull riders in the world.
In addition to defeating the Texas Rattlers, the hometown Missouri Thunder rallied behind event MVP Joao Lucas Campos, who led off with a ride for Missouri in all three games. While the team fell to in-state rival Kansas City 172.5–87 in the final game on Friday, Kade Madsen posted a monstrous 90-point ride to help beat the Rattlers Saturday evening.
Now back on track, both Campos and Madsen made the horn again on Sunday to defeat the Oklahoma Freedom 175.75–173.5 and earn a chance to win their homestand.
In Extra Outs, Arizona’s Nick Tetz rocketed out of the gates on Riser but was unable to hang onto the rope past 5.47 seconds.
Next up was Missouri’s Campos looking to win it for the home team. The young Brazilian was thwarted in his attempt to go a perfect 4-for-4 on the weekend by Mike’s Motive in 2.83 seconds with just two outs left.
The Rattlers’ Fielder was the third rider in the extra session, and he delivered, scoring 89 points aboard Lapua to give Texas the lead with just the Carolina Cowboy’s Boudreaux Campbell left in the chutes on Bandito Bug.
Campbell thundered out of the chutes and was in control until a change of direction ousted him after 6.47 seconds, allowing the Texas Rattlers to win the second PBR Teams event at the beautiful Thunder Ridge Natures Arena in as many years. Their 2022 win was a turning point for the Rattlers’ season, in which they finished second in regular season play.
PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Teams Camping World Series action from Ridgedale, Missouri. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.
The PBR Camping World Team Series returns next weekend at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, for three days of action on Friday, September 22, beginning at 7:45 p.m. EDT, Saturday, September 23, at 6:45 p.m. EDT and Sunday, September 24, at 1:45 p.m. EDT.
The game matchups for the opening night of competition in Greensboro on September 22 are:
Kansas City Outlaws @ Oklahoma Freedom
Missouri Thunder @ Austin Gamblers
Texas Rattlers @ Nashville Stampede
Arizona Ridge Riders @ Carolina Cowboys
SCORE BULLETINS
Carolina’s Cooper Davis Outduels Austin’s Lucas Divino and Ridin’ Solo Prevents Jose Vito Leme from Walking Off Win to Secure a Win for the Cowboys
Carolina Cowboys: 85
Austin Gamblers: 83
The powerful animal athletes dominated the first game of Championship Sunday of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series’ Thunder Days, allowing just one ride for each side. When it counted most with the game on the line and Jose Vitor Leme attempting to put the Gamblers ahead on the final out of the night, World Champion Ridin’ Solo put up a 46-point bull score to deny the two-time World Champion rider the win. In Austin’s first out, Dalton Kasel (Muleshoe, Texas) was bucked off for the first time this weekend by Rockville (Blake Sharp/Koe Wetzel/Giovanni/Morris) in 2.34 seconds.
Carolina’s Boudreaux Campbell (Crockett, Texas), who had the game-winning ride the night before, was similarly unseated by Rank Frank (Jenkins Cattle Co) after a captivating 6.37 seconds. Finally, the Gamblers’ Lucas Divino (Nova Crixas, Brazil) broke through for 83 points atop Devil’s Revenge (New Frontier Rodeo) to give Austin the lead.
After two more unsuccessful outs, Carolina turned to 2016 PBR World ChampionCooper Davis (Crockett, Texas) to get the team on the board. The Cowboys’ Davis steadied himself before rocketing out of the chutes atop Flashbang (GN Livestock & Bucking Bulls/Lucas Manning Bucking Bulls) making him look like a practice bull for 85 points to give Carolina a two-point lead.
After two consecutive buckoffs, Austin called on closer Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Pardo, Brazil) to steal a win in dramatic fashion. The two-time PBR World Champion readied himself and shot out of the gates atop Ridin’ Solo (Bill McCarty/McCoy Rodeo), who drove his nose into the dirt, nearly stumbling and preventing Leme from establishing any riding rhythm.
After a chaotic 4.8 seconds, Leme was dislodged, giving the Carolina Cowboys (9–10) their second win of the weekend, while the Austin Gamblers (14–5) fell to 1–2 during PBR Thunder Days.
Nashville Veteran Silvano Alves Takes Advantage of Re-ride Opportunity, Walks-off Kansas City Outlaws
Nashville Stampede: 88.25
Kansas City Outlaws: 87
Picking up where their bovine brethren left off in the first game, the bull athletes allowed just two rides in the second matchup of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Thunder Days. After the first three riders were unable to make the 8, Outlaws’ budding superstar Wingson Henrique da Silva (Navirai, Brazil) catapulted out of the gate atop Hou’s Magic (Robison Bucking Bulls) for 87 points and his ninth qualified ride of the year in 15 attempts to give Kansas City the lead.
Seemingly angered by allowing a ride, the powerful animal athletes dispatched the next four cowboys before Nashville’s final rider, Silvano Alves(Pilar do Sul, Brazil), entered the chutes. The three-time PBR World Champion rocketed out of the chutes atop Kevin (Paige Stout/Lukas Banning Bucking Bulls) and posted a gritty 85-point score, not enough to put Nashville ahead and seemingly giving Kansas City the victory. However, the Stampede were offered a re-ride, which they accepted to give Alves another chance to steal a victory.
After the Outlaws’ Cassio Dias (Sao F. de Sales, Brazil), 11 for 15 on the year coming into the out, was bested by Mahan (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) in 3.47 seconds, Alves entered the chutes once again. Now paired with Cliff Hanger (Pioneer Bulls/McCoy Rodeo), the Stampede’s veteran once made the horn in front of a roaring Thunder Ridge Nature Arena, this time for 88.25 points to give Nashville a walk-off victory. It was career ride number 497 for Alves, as well as his fifth career walk-off ride, tying him for the all-time lead.
The victory gave the Nashville Stampede (6–13) their first victory on the weekend, while the Kansas City Outlaws (10–9) dropped to 1-2 at PBR Thunder Days.
Texas Rattlers’ Joao Ricardo Vieira Posts 400th Career Ride, Ends Arizona Win Streak as Rank Pen Shuts Out Ridge Riders
Texas Rattlers: 175.25
Arizona Ridge Riders: 0
In the third game of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Thunder Days, Texas’ veteran Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Brazil) opened the action by recording his 400th career ride atop Whip(Obernagel/Sho-me Rodeo) for 87.5 points, giving the Rattlers an early lead. Arizona looked to respond, but for a third-consecutive game, the dominant bovine competitors refused to allow more than just two rides. The only other rider to break through in the contest was the Rattlers’ Daniel Keeping (Montague, Texas), who posted a game-high 87.75-point ride atop Buffalo Chip (Blake Sharp/Robbie Ray/Doug Wilson) to secure the victory for Texas.
Arizona’s Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Spring, Utah) attempted to put his team on the board in their final out but was bucked off by Centerfold (Blake Sharp/Michael Floyd), leaving the score 175.25–0. Both teams finished 2–1 on the weekend, as the Texas Rattlers (10–9) climbed to No. 3 in the standings while the Arizona Ridge Riders (9–10), whose winning streak ended at six straight games, fell to No. 6.
Missouri Thunder’s Young Core Rolls to Defeat Oklahoma Freedom
Oklahoma Freedom: 173.50
Missouri Thunder: 175.75
The final game of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Thunder Days at the scenic Thunder Ridge Nature Arena was the highest scoring contest of the day. The Freedom’s Alisson de Souza(Taubate, Brazil) kicked off the scoring with a game-high 88.25 points on Exodus (Jane Clark/Gene Owen), becoming the first rider to score a qualified ride on the bull.
The Thunder’s Joao Lucas Campos (Porto Feliz, Brazil) completed a perfect 3-for-3 showing in match play on the weekend with an 87.5-point ride on Out of Control (Blake Sharp) to respond, bringing Missouri within a point of the Freedom. The score remained close until the Thunder’s young gun Kade Madsen (Honeyville, Utah), who had put up a 90-point game- winning score on Saturday night, matched Souza with an 88.25-point ride of his own aboard Dang, Dang (Sho-Me Rodeo) with just two outs to go.
Now down 175.5–88.25 in the fifth, the Freedom turned to Caden Bunch (Tahlequah, Oklahoma) in a must-ride situation. The Oklahoma native roared out of the chutes atop Milk Mustache (Ty Rinaldo TZ Bucking Bulls) and made the horn but was awarded just 85.25 points, 2.25 points short of tying the score and pushing the Missouri Thunder (6–13) to 2–1 on their homestand. After a 1–2 weekend, the Oklahoma Freedom (10–9) fell to No. 4 in the standings.
Ridgedale Team Standings:
Here are the final standings for the PBR Camping World Team Series Thunder Days in Ridgedale, Missouri:
1 Texas Rattlers 2-1-0 – 601.50
2 Arizona Ridge Riders 2-1-0 – 531.25
3 Missouri Thunder 2-1-0 – 527.25
4 Carolina Cowboys 2-1-0 – 338.75
5 Austin Gamblers 1-2-0 – 435.00
6 Nashville Stampede 1-2-0 – 424.50
7 Oklahoma Freedom 1-2-0 – 419.00
8 Kansas City Outlaws 1-2-0 – 348.50
PBR Teams Season Standings:
Here are the current Team standings for the regular season after the final day of competition for PBR Thunder Days in Ridgedale, Missouri:
1 Austin Gamblers 14-5-0 – 3,139.50
2 Texas Rattlers 10-9-0 – 3,205.25
3 Kansas City Outlaws 10-9-0 – 3,038.50
4 Oklahoma Freedom 10-9-0 – 2,056.50
5 Carolina Cowboys 9-10-0 – 2,589.50
6 Arizona Ridge Riders 9-10-0 – 2,258.75
7 Nashville Stampede 6-13-0 – 1,893.00
8 Missouri Thunder 6-13-0 – 1,649.00
About the PBR Camping World Team Series:
The PBR Camping World Team Series is an elite league featuring the world’s top bull riders competing on teams in five-on-five bull riding games during an 11-event season beginning in July and culminating in a Team Championship at T- Mobile Arena in Las Vegas October 20-22. During the 2023 season, the league’s second, each of the eight teams – Austin Gamblers of Austin, TX; Arizona Ridge Riders of Glendale, AZ; Carolina Cowboys of Greensboro, NC; Kanas City Outlaws of Kansas City, MO; Nashville Stampede of Nashville, TN; Oklahoma Freedom of Oklahoma City, OK; Missouri Thunder of Ridgedale, MO; and Texas Rattlers of Fort Worth, TX – will host a three-day homestand. There are also neutral-site games in Cheyenne, WY and Anaheim, CA. The Nashville Stampede are the current 2022 defending champions.
The league format, which launched in July 2022, builds on the existing structure of professional bull riding with the same basic rules for judging and scoring qualified 8-second bull rides. In events staged in a tournament-style format, all teams compete in head-to-head matchups against a different opponent each day. Each game features five riders per team squaring off against another team. Full team rosters are comprised of seven riders on the Protected Roster and five Reserve riders. The team with the highest aggregate score of qualified rides among its riders is declared the winner of each game. The event winner is the team with the most game wins across an events. All PBR Team Series events are carried on either the CBS Television Network, streaming live on Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, or RidePass on Pluto TV.
