PBR TPD visits Alabama, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas

PUEBLO, Colo. - The Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division continues its busy schedule this weekend with events in Alabama, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas.

The Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., will host the TPD on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. It will also host the American Bucking Bull, Inc., American Heritage on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The iconic arena has been home for events since the PBR began 20 years ago.

The TPD will again be a part of the 51st Annual Stonewall Peach Jamboree in Stonewall, Texas. Bull riding begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Tickets are available at www.stonewalltexas.com, and by telephone at (830) 644-2735. Riders entered include Harve Stewart, who is currently ranked No. 13 in the world standings, and Caleb Sanderson, ranked No. 23, as well as 2011 Indian National Finals Rodeo World Champion Shawn Best, Jr., Colby Yates, Clayton Baethge, Elliott Jacoby, Jarrod Craig, Matt Bohon and Josh Faircloth.

The second stop of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Big Bull Tour will take place Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Ala. Tickets are available at the Von Braun Center, by telephone at (800) 745-3000, and at www.Ticketmaster.com.

Hosted by the PBR and two-time PBR Stock Contractor of the Year Jeff Robinson, the RMEF Big Bull Tour consists of five events in June and July. Rooster McKeeman, who won the first RMEF Big Bull Tour event in Asheville, N.C., is entered in Huntsville, along with 2009 PBR Rookie of the Year Cody Nance, Billy Robinson, Chance Roberts, Best, Faircloth and Yates.

The rider who accumulates the most winnings for the five RMEF Big Bull Tour events will be given the opportunity to compete in three Built Ford Tough Series events. The winner will also receive an RMEF signature rifle, a hunt courtesy of RMEF, a full set of Cooper Tires, and a New Holland Rustler utility vehicle. Riders must compete in four of the five events to win the overall title. The final three events are July 14 at Tupelo, Miss., July 19 at Grand Junction, Colo., and July 20-21 at Fort Myers, Fla.

The TPD returns to the Bismarck Civic Center at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available at the Bismarck Civic Center ticket office, by telephone at (800) 745-3000, and at www.Ticketmaster.com. Riders entered in Bismarck include PBR World Champions Kody Lostroh (2009), Mike Lee (2004), and Ednei Caminhas (2002), and current Top 20 riders Austin Meier, Ryan Dirteater, and Robson Palermo. The field also includes fan favorites Ben Jones, who has climbed back into the Top 25 in the BFTS standings after a pair of Top 4 finishes, and Cord McCoy, as well as BFTS regulars Dakota Beck, Cody Campbell, Reese Cates, Dusty Ephrom, Kasey Hayes, Skeeter Kingsolver, and Josh Koschel.

The Touring Pro Division gives riders the opportunity to compete in PBR-sanctioned events while earning money to qualify for the nationally-televised Built Ford Tough Series, which is comprised of the Top 35 bull riders in the world. Every five events on the BFTS, the Top 5 riders (based on money earned) from the TPD are allowed to move into the BFTS.

The BFTS features the world's best and highest-paid bull riders competing against the fiercest bucking bulls on the planet. The TPD allows established veterans and newcomers alike the opportunity to compete against some of the world's best bucking bulls.

The BFTS is televised every week on CBS, CBS Sports Network, NBC, NBC Sports Network and YouTube. BFTS telecasts are produced for the PBR under a multi-year agreement with David Neal Productions, a Los Angeles-based production company led by 34-time Emmy® Award winner and Peabody Award winner David Neal, who serves as executive producer. 

Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division Event Results:
14th Annual Brent Thurman Memorial
June 9 at San Antonio

Final Results
1.         Cody Johnson, 90 points.
2.         Hernald John, 88 points.
3.         Hugo Pederero, 86.5 points.

About the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR)
The PBR is the world's premier bull riding organization. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the PBR. In just two decades, the dream of 20 bull riders has become a global sports phenomenon that is televised worldwide. More than 100 million viewers annually watch primetime PBR programming on networks around the world including CBS, CBS Sports Network, NBC, and NBC Sports Network. The PBR has awarded over $100 million in prize money and 25 riders have earned over $1 million, including Justin McBride with $5.5 million - the most of any Western-sports athlete in history. Nearly 2 million fans attend Built Ford Tough Series and Touring Pro Division events each year. For more information on the PBR, go to www.pbr.com, or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at http://twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at http://www.YouTube.com/PBR.