Nashville hits 10 wins as Austin, Arizona, Missouri and Carolina shine at PBR Gambler Days
AUSTIN, Texas — Ladies and gentlemen, pull those hats down tight because Friday night at Moody Center delivered the kind of PBR Teams action that can turn a bull-riding arena upside down in eight seconds flat.
The Nashville Stampede became the first team in the 2026 PBR Teams season to reach 10 victories, the hometown Austin Gamblers opened Gambler Days with a win, the Missouri Thunder survived a heart-stopper against Texas, and Arizona and Carolina both kept their winning streaks rolling.
Nashville Stampede Charge to 10-2
The league-leading Stampede improved to 10-2 with an 88.75-0 victory over the Kansas City Outlaws.
And this one came down to one cowboy staying aboard when nobody else could.
Daniel Feitosa of Guaraci, Brazil, matched up with Short Fire in the third frame and found the whistle for 88.75 points.
That was all Nashville needed.
The other nine riders in the matchup hit the dirt before eight seconds, leaving Feitosa’s score standing tall when the dust settled.
The victory was Nashville’s second straight and 10th of the season. Earlier this year, the Stampede put together a team-record eight-game winning streak spanning four events.
Austin Gamblers Give the Home Crowd Something to Cheer About
Now here’s how you open a homestand.
The Austin Gamblers knocked off the Florida Freedom 177.55-87.5, led by the highest-scoring ride of the entire Friday-night card.
Seven-time PRCA world champion Sage Steele Kimzey climbed aboard Smooth Whiskey and delivered a huge 91.25-point ride in the opening frame.
Then came Jose Vitor Leme.
The three-time PBR world champion and 2024 PBR Teams champion rode Pop My Collar for 86.3 points, stretching his qualified-ride streak to seven consecutive games.
Florida’s only answer came from Bruno Carvalho, who entered as a substitute on a re-ride opportunity and covered Tijuana Two-Step for 87.5 points.
Leme continues to lead the PBR Teams MVP race with 883 points. He is the only rider with 10 qualified rides through 12 outs this season.
Missouri Thunder’s Paulo Eduardo Rossetto sits second, 90.1 points behind Leme, with a 9-for-12 record.
Arizona Ridge Riders Keep Rolling
The Arizona Ridge Riders made it three straight wins with a convincing 265.65-89.55 victory over the Oklahoma Wildcatters.
Eduardo Aparecido started the scoring for Arizona with 88.35 points on Max Bet.
Oklahoma’s Kaiden Loud answered back with 89.55 on Joker, briefly putting the Wildcatters ahead.
But Arizona wasn’t done.
Everton Natan da Silva covered J Lazy S for 87.3 points, and Elizmar Jeremias finished the job with a 90-point re-ride aboard Woody.
That gave Jeremias his third 90-point ride of the season and gave Arizona three qualified rides to Oklahoma’s one.
Missouri Thunder Win a Texas-Sized Nail-Biter
If you wanted drama Friday night, this was the matchup.
In a rematch of the 2025 PBR Teams Championship semifinals, the Missouri Thunder edged the Texas Rattlers by just 0.70 points — 268.35 to 267.65.
Paulo Eduardo Rossetto got Missouri started with 88.25 points on Show Me The Money, extending his qualified-ride streak to five.
Texas fired right back.
Brady Fielder went 89.2 on Magic Burner, and Daniel Keeping added 89.05 on Fury.
Then Macaulie Leather changed the whole complexion of the game.
Leather exploded for 91.05 points aboard Black Eyes, pushing Missouri back in front.
Maverick Smith followed with 89.05 on Dirty Bomb.
That left veteran João Ricardo Vieira needing at least 90.15 points for the Texas walk-off.
Vieira rode Husky.
He made the whistle.
The judges posted 89.4.
Close — mighty close — but not enough.
Missouri escaped with its fourth consecutive victory.
Carolina Cowboys Survive by Seven-Tenths
The Carolina Cowboys also kept their streak alive, winning their third straight with an 88.7-88 victory over the New York Mavericks.
Carolina needed only one qualified ride.
Adriano Salgado covered The Heat for 88.7 points in the third frame.
New York didn’t go quietly.
Marco Rizzo, the 2026 PBR Rookie of the Year, made the whistle on El Chapo in the fifth and final frame.
His score?
88 points even.
Seven-tenths short.
That’s bull riding.
Carolina walked away with the win while New York dropped to 1-11.
PBR Teams Standings After Friday in Austin
When the gates closed Friday night, Nashville remained alone at the top:
- Nashville Stampede — 10-2
- Arizona Ridge Riders — 8-4
- Carolina Cowboys — 8-4
- Missouri Thunder — 7-5
- Austin Gamblers — 6-6
- Texas Rattlers — 6-6
- Kansas City Outlaws — 5-7
- Florida Freedom — 5-7
- Oklahoma Wildcatters — 4-8
- New York Mavericks — 1-11
The top four positions remained unchanged after Friday’s competition.
Saturday Night: Back in the Bucking Chutes
Gambler Days presented by Tecovas continues Saturday, Aug. 22, at 6:15 p.m. CT inside Moody Center.
All five Saturday games are scheduled to air live beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT on The CW.
If Friday night was any indication, there won’t be much room for hesitation.
Nashville is trying to stay on top.
Arizona and Carolina are charging.
Missouri has found momentum.
And the hometown Gamblers have a Texas crowd behind them.
So cinch it up, nod your head and get ready — because the PBR Teams race is getting hotter every time that chute gate swings.
