PUEBLO, Colo. ― The Academy of Country Music Awards recently announced the eight semi-finalists for the 2013 New Artist of the Year award. Among the list of newcomers is the featured performer who will open for the Professional Bull Riders’ Dr. Pepper Iron Cowboy V at AT&T Stadium, March 1, country star Justin Moore.

Recently, and for the second time in his career, Moore debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart and No. 2 on the all-genre chart with his album OFF THE BEATEN PATH.

For the sixth consecutive year, the newcomer category for the 49^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be voted on by the fans through VoteACM.com and GACtv.com/ACM. Fans can vote from Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 12 p.m. ET until Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 3 p.m. ET and their votes will determine the Top 3 finalists.

PBR is encouraging fans to help Moore become one of the Top 3 finalists who will compete for the New Artist of the Year honor. The ultimate winner will be determined by a combination of fan and professional membership votes and announced live during the 49^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards broadcast on CBS on Sunday, April 6, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Moore announced in October at the 2013 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals via video that he would play a concert to open the Iron Cowboy V. His performance begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 1. The concert is included in the purchase of a ticket to Iron Cowboy V; however, fans can purchase up-close-and-personal dirt access for the concert at $25. Tickets for the Iron Cowboy V and dirt access are available at the AT&T Stadium Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745 3000. They range in price from $20 to $150. 

The bull riding competition starts at 8 p.m., following the Justin Moore concert.

Iron Cowboy V is the only bracket-style event on the PBR’s elite Built Ford Tough Series featuring the PBR’s best 24 riders competing head-to-head for a total purse of $150,000. The winner will receive $50,000, and the opportunity to win an additional $50,000 if he can ride a World Champion Bull contender in the bonus round. He could potentially go home with $100,000 for one night of riding!

The final rounds of the Iron Cowboy V will air on CBS Network television at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 2. The BFTS is televised every week on CBS, CBS Sports Network and networks around the world. 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.