TPD has five events in five states in four days

PUEBLO, Colo. - The Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division will have five events in five states in four days, visiting California, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota and Wyoming.

The TPD will make its annual visit to historic California Rodeo Salinas on Wednesday, one of the largest and most popular events on the TPD schedule. Bull riding begins at 7 p.m. at the Salinas Sports Complex. Tickets are available at www.carodeo.com, and by telephone at (800) 549-4989.

The West Slope Colorado Oil & Gas Lucas Oil TPD will be held on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Mesa County Fairgrounds in Grand Junction, Colo. Grand Junction will be the fourth stop of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Big Bull Tour. Advance tickets begin at $15, and include admission to the fair. Tickets are available at www.MonumentalEvents.com. Tickets will increase $5 on the day of show.

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. 2009 PBR Rookie of the Year Cody Nance has finished first in each of the last two events (Huntsville, Ala., and Tupelo, Miss.). Rooster McKeeman won the first RMEF Big Bull Tour event in Asheville, N.C., and finished third in the second event at Huntsville, Ala.

The rider who accumulates the most winnings for the five 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 event of the RMEF Big Bull Tour will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at Germain Arena in Estero, Fla. Tickets are available at the Capital Bank Box Office, www.Ticketmaster.com and by telephone at (800) 745-3000.

Featuring bulls from three-time PBR Stock Contractor of the Year Chad Berger, the 17th Annual Thunder On Hooves will be on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Pennington County Fairgrounds in Thief River Falls, Minn. Tickets are available at the Thief River Falls Chamber of Commerce, and by telephone at (218) 681-3720.

The TPD will make its annual visit to Afton, Wyo., for the Star Valley Ultimate Bull on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds. Tickets are available at the Star Valley Chamber of Commerce, 2012starvalleypbrultimatebullrodeo.eventbrite.com and by telephone at (800) 426-8833.

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 Built Ford Tough Series will return to action on Aug. 10-11 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla., with the Express Classic Presented By WinStar World Casino. Tickets begin at $12, and are on sale at the Arby's Box Office at the BOK Center, www.BOKCenter.com, Tickets.com outlets and by telephone at (866) 7-BOKCTR. Ticket price will increase $2 on day of show.

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:

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Big Bull Tour
July 14 at Tupelo, Miss.
Final Results (Round 1-Round 2-Total Points)
1. Cody Nance, 87.5-88.5-176 points.
2. Cody Nance, 83-89.5-172.5 points.
3. Corey Bailey, 84-87.5-171.5 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.

Follow Jack Carnefix on Twitter @JackCarnefix.