OKLAHOMA CITY - Making his Built Ford Tough Series debut tonight is Chase Outlaw.

The newcomer is one of the Top 5 money earners from the Touring Pro Division who will be seeded for at least the next five BFTS events. He's fourth in the TPD standings behind only three Brazilians - Edevaldo Ferreira, Eneas Barbosa and Ademir Candido da Silva - who all earned their money at international events.

Outlaw has already tallied more than $30,000 to earn his spot in Oklahoma City. He has won TPD events in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Kearney, Neb.

His stepbrother Reese Cates said, "If he remains healthy, it will surprise me if he's not Rookie of the Year."

'If he remains healthy, it will surprise me if he's not Rookie of the Year.'

Cates, who will miss his fifth BFTS event after breaking his jaw at a TPD event in Denver, said he would have loved to be at Outlaw's debut, but will have to wait until next week when they travel from Arkansas to Georgia for the first of four stadium events.

The two have known each other since they were small children. Outlaw's father is married to Cates' mother.

"He and I have talked about riding in the PBR and traveling together since we were riding calves," said Cates, who said that Outlaw has the talent and ability to win immediately at the BFTS level.

Cates added, "Now that we are both back around each other, we will both ride better and have more fun."

The 19-year old Outlaw is a five-time Arkansas State Champion bull rider, and won the National High School Rodeo Association Finals in 2009. He was Reserve Champion in 2008.

Sporting perhaps the best name for a bull rider since Ryan Dirteater, Chase Outlaw will make his Built Ford Tough Series debut tonight in Oklahoma City.

VIEIRA OUT: Fabiano Vieira was originally listed in the draw for this week's BFTS event, but his 2012 debut will be delayed at least another week. Vieira, who finished last year ranked fifth in the world despite not making his debut until the sixth event of the year, has been stuck in his home country of Brazil because of issues with his visa.

EXEMPTIONS: Four riders outside of the Top 25 - Colby Yates, 35; Cody Campbell, 38; Elliott Jacoby, 39, and Rubens Barbosa, 43 - are competing this weekend with injury exemptions.

Yates, Campbell and Jacoby are using their last exemptions, while Barbosa has one more.

Last Sunday night, Yates tweeted, "On a bull riding note, last night was good 85pts. #pbrokc this weekend, the only thing get'n cut is a check in my name. #bringiton."

Yates will have to make up 292.5 points to climb into the Top 25, while Campbell is 355.25 points away, and Jacoby, 406 points. Barbosa will have two events to make up a 518.75-point difference.

'This weekend, the only thing get'n cut is a check in my name. #bringiton.'

All four riders will also have to keep up with any points earned by whoever is ranked 25th following this week's event.

BATTERED AND BRUISED: In addition to the four riders competing this week with injury exemptions, there are a dozen who are currently out with injuries. They include Tyler Thomson, Chance Roberts, Pete Farley, Robson Palermo, Shane Proctor, Skeeter Kingsolver and McKennon Wimberly, who all have five exemptions. Wiley Petersen, Pistol Robinson and Cates have four exemptions, while Jody Newberry has three and David Kennedy has two. Newberry announced his retirement last year, but remains listed among those with exemptions.

WHERE THE WIND COMES SWEEPIN' DOWN THE PLAIN: This is the fourth year in a row and the 12th time since 1999 that the BFTS has visited Oklahoma City. The BFTS visited the capital of Oklahoma from 1999-2006. This will be the 32nd stop in Oklahoma, with two more scheduled in 2012 at Tulsa and Thackerville. The PBR made 12 stops in Guthrie from 1996-2004, including two stops in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

ANIMAL WELFARE: The PBR and DAD'S Pet Foods are donating 1,000 pounds of dog and cat food to the Central Oklahoma Humane Society.

The "Official Pet Food" of the PBR, DAD'S Pet Foods looks to donate 1,000 pounds of pet food product to a local humane society, animal rescue, or animal care center in each city the BFTS visits.

The OK Humane Society, 7500 N. Western Ave., is having a special "My Furry Valentine" event this weekend, during which all dogs and cats are free to adopt. The usual adoption fee, $150 for dogs and $75 for cats, will be waived for the special event on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sunday, Feb. 12, from 12-5 p.m.

UP-AND-COMERS: In addition to the Classic bull competition taking place in Round 1, the ABBI will be hosting the first Futurity event of 2012 on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Approximately 30 bulls are expected to compete. Futurity events have 2-year-old bulls bucking with a 25-pound mechanical dummy rather than a rider. After 6 seconds, the dummy is released by remote control.

WHERE TO WATCH: This weekend's action will be televised in HD on NBC Sports Network, formerly Versus, at 9 p.m. ET this Saturday, Feb. 11. There will be an encore airing at 11:59 p.m. ET. CBS Sports Network will air the action on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. ET. There will be encore airings at 10 p.m. ET and again on Monday, Feb. 13 at 9 p.m. ET. Fans will be able to see the action from Friday online in the PBR Live Event Center beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

Veteran broadcaster Craig Hummer will provide the play-by-play. Color commentary will be provided by two-time PBR World Champion Justin McBride, the PBR career earnings leader with $5.5 million -  the most of any western sports athlete in history. Dirt-level interviews will be handled by Leah Garcia.