The Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) made history in 2004 when it crowned Mike Lee (Paradise, Texas) as the World Champion on October 31st. For the first time ever, the World Champion also captured the PBR's Built Ford Tough World Finals. Lee earned the two titles simultaneously with 12,138.25 BFTS points, and he also surpassed the previous PBR regular Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) season earnings record with 2004 winnings totaling $1,435,826.

When asked about his winning strategy, Lee stated, "I have no idea what I've done yet; I just tried to do my job this week. I feel great and I'm no better than anyone else. I stayed calm and blocked the rest of the world out, there were people trying to get me to look at the points (standings), and I wouldn't do it."

Ross Johnson clinched top honors for the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC) Challenger season. Johnson won $64,438 on the season and captured three Challenger event titles in Decatur, Texas, Gallup, New Mexico, and Salinas, California. "Winning the Challenger season title is one of the biggest honors I've received in the PBR. I had to work very hard and travel many miles. It was one of the goals I set for the year and to achieve it-it's great and exciting!"

The 2004 U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. Challenger Finals presented by Enterprise was won by PBR veteran J.W. Hart (Marietta, Okla.) on October 9th in Columbus, Ohio. Hart captured the $114,500 purse and secured a spot at the Built Ford Tough World Finals. Hart rode with a broken leg and had a boot specially made for the Challenger Finals. States Hart, "I had my back against the wall coming into Finals because I was ranked 48th, and I had to do well to make the PBR World Finals. Having a broken leg and then to clinch the title, it sure made it special."

PBR Rookie of the Year honors went to Zack Brown (Chino Hills, Calif.) who earned $324,321 on the season and captured two BFTS event titles in Reno, Nev. and Laughlin, Nev. "My goal this year was to win Rookie of the Year. There's so much competition in the PBR. Having accomplished it, it feels great," states Brown.

Little Yellow Jacket owned in partnership by Berger/Taupin/Teague Bucking Bulls became the only bull in PBR history to capture World Champion Bull honors for three consecutive years. Little Yellow Jacket has been ridden only 10 times in 73 BFTS attempts to an average score of 93 points. Incidentally, in addition to producing the record setting bull Little Yellow Jacket, the Bergers also produced and promoted the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour Venue of the Year held in their home state of Bismarck, N.D. The event is managed by Chad and Sarah Berger in coordination with their family. Stated Sarah Berger, "It is an honor to be involved with the PBR and to receive such prestigious awards both for Little Yellow Jacket's accomplishments and for our annual Challenger Tour event. Both the bull business and the event business are challenging, however we are proud to bring the PBR to our community."

Honors for the Stock Contractor of the Year went to Dillon and H.D. Page of D & H Cattle Company. This is the fourth consecutive year that the father/son team has won the award. States Dillon Page, "This one is the icing on the cake. It tells us that we worked hard to have the best set of bulls, and they [the bull riders and judges] appreciate us. It's another award we feel blessed to have."

The PBR in coordination with the American Bucking Bull, Inc. (ABBI) held the first ever Bucking Bull Classic and World Finals Futurity. The Bucking Bull Classic featured the top 3 and 4 year-old bulls ridden by 45 contestants from the PBR's Enterprise Tour. Big Deal of Page, Buck, and Shippy won top honors and earned $108,000 with the highest bull total after two rounds of 272.75 points.

The inaugural World Finals Futurity featured many of the best two-year-old bucking bulls, born between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2002. The two-year-old bulls were bucked with a small mechanical "dummy," which simulates a bull rider and is programmed to come off of the bull automatically after six seconds has elapsed. It was D & H Cattle Company's two-year-old bull Stray Kitty that topped the field of 61 entries to earn a $20,000 paycheck.

Mike Matt (Stuart, Okla.) dominated the World Bullfighting Championships earning $15,000 as well as a Bob Berg trophy buckle and a Tony Chytka Sculpture. The 40-second freestyle competition allowed the bullfighters to showcase their skills as they faced Mexican fighting bulls. The bullfighter was evaluated based upon the aptitude he displayed in controlling and maneuvering his 1,200 pound opponent.

This year's Ring of Honor awards were presented to David Fournier and Charles Sampson. The Ring of Honor award is determined annually by the PBR Board of Directors and recognizes men who have not only made an impact on the sport with their bull riding accomplishments, but also with their work and dedication outside the arena. Each recipient was presented gold Rings of Honor on behalf of the PBR Board of Directors.

Fournier, who was a founding PBR member and served on the PBR Board of Directors in 1995, received the Ring of Honor during an in-arena ceremony on Friday, October 29th during the PBR World Finals. Fournier is a 7 time NFR qualifier and 4 time PBR World Finals qualifier who spends his time these days raising bucking bulls and cutting horses as well as spending time with his family.

An in arena ceremony held during the Saturday, October 30th performance of the Finals honored Sampson with his Ring of Honor. Among his numerous accomplishments in the sport of bull riding, Sampson was the first Black PRCA World Champion Bull Rider. He earned the title in 1982 and went on to be recognized by former President Ronald Reagan. Sampson stays involved with the sport by conducting bull riding clinics as well as lectures on rodeo and bull riding. He also mentors inner-city kids and is involved with the Boys and Girls Club organization.

Other Awards Presented During the World Finals:

$10,000 U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company 90-Point Ride Bonus - Justin McBride (9, 90-point rides).

Bud Light Top Qualifier - Mike White (DeKalb, Texas) (4 event wins); $22,500 bonus.

2004 Mossy Oak Shootout Winner - Ednei Caminhas.

The Brent Thurman/Lane Frost High Marked World Finals Ride Award - Mike Lee and Michael Gaffney, 93.75 points.

Glen Keeley Award - Rob Bell (Most money earned during the season by a Canadian bull rider) $61,400.

U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour Venue of the Year -- Bismarck, N.D.

Jimmy Anderson Award, Bullfighters - Joe Baumgartner, Rob Smets, Greg Crabtree, and Dennis Johnson.

Jimmy Anderson Award, Barrelman - Flint Rasmussen.

2004 World Finals Announcer Award - Randy Schmutz, Bob Feist, and Brandon Bates.

Top bull of the Built Ford Tough World Finals -- Crossfire Hurricane of Page and Teague's Bucking Bulls. ($12,500 bonus)

2004 BUILT FORD TOUGH SERIES POINT STANDINGS: 1) Mike Lee (Paradise, Texas) 12,138.25, $1,435,826; 2) Adriano Moraes (Cachoeira Paulista, SP, Brazil) 10,018, $317,910; 3) Mike White (DeKalb, Texas) 8905.25, $286,934; 4) Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.) 8,669.50, $274,285; 5) Greg Potter (Queensland, AU) 7,586.75, $207,116; 6) Zack Brown (Chino Hills, Calif.) 6,601, $324,321; 7) Ross Coleman (Redmond, Ore.) 6,358, $145,863; 8) Brendon Clark (Morpeth, NSW Australia) 6,241.75, $163,265; 9) Jody Newberry (Ada, Okla.) 6,079.25, $132,657; 10) Michael Gaffney (Albuquerque, N.M.) 5,942, $145,440.

Over 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on NBC, OLN, and in Spanish on Telemundo. With over 450 hours of prime time programming annually PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air, in addition to attracting over one million live event attendees each year with its multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour, and the Humps N Horns Tour, designed specifically for entry level contestants. The PBR's governing board of directors is comprised of renowned bull riders who have developed the event into a stand alone sport which is experiencing unprecedented growth in global popularity. The PBR is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., and has over 600 athletes competing in more than 100 PBR sanctioned competitions.