Professional Bull Riders' 2003 Built Ford Tough Series enjoyed its eighth consecutive sold-out Saturday night as a standing-room-only crowd in the Tacoma Dome witnessed some of the fiercest action and most incredible sportsmanship of the 2003 season.

Mike White, last weekend's event champion in Albuquerque, N. M., made an electrifying 94.5-point ride on Don Kish's bull Splinter in the Built Ford Tough Championship Round to propel himself into the lead for the Tacoma Classic title. Only one man ' White's life-long friend Chris Shivers ' stood in 26-year-old White's way of winning his third event championship of the 2003 season. But there was a catch.

Shivers, in order to steal the event title out from under White, would have to ride Berger, Teague & Taupin's famed bull Little Yellow Jacket. Prior to Saturday's showdown in Tacoma, the 1,600-pound defending PBR Bull of the Year boasted a 3'0 record against Shivers. Little Yellow Jacket also is the bull that 24-year-old Shivers, the sole qualifier for the Bud Light Million-Dollar Bounty presented by Ford Trucks, will attempt to ride April 19th in Colorado Springs for a $1 million bonus.

After White selflessly pulled Shivers' rope and helped him prepare for his ride, Shivers exploded from the chute on Little Yellow Jacket.

'I was rooting for him the whole time,' said White, who now lives in DeKalb, Texas, but grew up in Louisiana with Shivers. 'I wanted to see him do it. I didn't think twice about what it meant for me. I wanted to see him ride that bull.'

The ride lasted 6.5 seconds before Shivers hit the ground and his hopes of a fourth event title dissolved. The title went to White, who rode two bulls for 182 points. White earned $28,670 for his Tacoma Classic win. With three 2003 event titles to his name, White is now tied with Shivers for the most single event titles earned this season.

Michael Gaffney, PBR's 1997 World Champion, and Canadian Kelly Armstrong tied for second place behind White with 175.5 points each on two bulls.

Shivers, because he failed to earn a score in the Built Ford Tough Championship Round, finished sixth overall in Tacoma, but he gained 288 Built Ford Tough Series points to slightly cushion his lead over No. 2-ranked Justin McBride. Last week McBride moved to within 63.5 points of Shivers, who was forced out of competition in Albuquerque due to a concussion sustained a week earlier.

McBride bucked off his Round One bull in Tacoma and, therefore, did not add any points to his annual total. Shivers currently has 4,644 points compared to McBride's tally of 4,292.5.

White's recent winning streak has him sitting fourth in the Built Ford Tough Points Standings with 3,214 points. The rider who wins the 2003 PBR World Championship receives $1 million as the recipient of the Built Ford Tough Million-Dollar Bonus presented by Bud Light.

'I'd like to see Chris (Shivers) and I both become millionaires this year,' said White. 'I want to win the $1 million by reaching my main goal of becoming a PBR World Champion. And I want to see Chris ride Little Yellow Jacket for a million bucks in Colorado Springs. I know he can ride him'I just hope he does it when it really counts.'

OTHER NOTES FROM THE TACOMA CLASSIC:

HealthSouth Sports Medicine Injury Report: B.J. Kramps sustained a laceration below his left eye. The laceration required sutures. He also sustained a slightly injured wrist. He is probable for next week's competition in Baltimore, Md.

RESULTS FROM THE TACOMA CLASSIC (UNOFFICIAL AS OF 3/22/03):

ROUND ONE: 1) Chris Shivers, Jonesville, La., 88 points on Don Kish's bull Fireball, $2,730; 2) (tie) Brent Vincent, Sulphur, La.; Mike White, DeKalb, Texas; and Clint Craig, Mena, Ark.; 87.5, $1,300 each.

BUILT FORD TOUGH CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND: 1) Mike White, DeKalb, Texas, 94.5 points on Don Kish's bull Splinter, $2,730; 2) Michael Gaffney, Corrales, N.M., 91, $1,950; 3) Kelly Armstrong, Big Valley, Alberta, 89, $1,170.

TOTAL SCORE IN TWO ROUNDS AND TOTAL EVENT MONEY EARNED: 1) Mike White, DeKalb, Texas, 182 points, $28,670; 2) (tie) Michael Gaffney, Corrales, N.M., 175.5, $12,840, and Kelly Armstrong, Big Valley, Alberta, 175.5, $11,833.

BUILT FORD TOUGH SERIES POINTS (AS OF MARCH 22, 2003): 1) Chris Shivers, 4,644 points; 2) Justin McBride, 4,292.5; 3) Mike Lee, 3,472.5; 4) Mike White, 3,214; 5) Owen Washburn, 3,070.5; 6) J.W. Hart, 2,940.5; 7) Ednei Caminhas, 2,842.5; 8) Ross Coleman, 2,671.5; 9) Mike Collins, 2,554.5; 10) Jim Sharp, 2,470.5.