FAIRFAX, Va. – EagleBank Arena erupted every time home state cowboy Michael Lane was introduced this weekend during the U.S. Border Patrol Invitational.
The only two people that Lane was looking for every time he made the 8-second mark, though, were his forever supportive wife, Brook, and his precious 5-week old daughter, Allie-Michael.
“I’m loving being a father,” Lane said on Sunday afternoon. “It’s a whole different meaning to life, so I have a lot more to ride for now. I couldn’t do it without (Brook). Through the lows, she’s there. Through the highs, she’s there. She’s my rock. She’s who I go to when I’m having trouble, and she’s who I go to when we’re having fun.
“She’s everything.”
Brook was on the edge of her seat this weekend as her husband was putting forth the best event of his career. And Allie-Michael may still be too young to be cheering on her dad just yet, but someday she will be able to watch the videos of her dad’s memorable weekend.
Lane capped his 3-for-3, third-place finish in Fairfax by riding Peep Show for 86.25 points.
“I’ve always expected to compete this well, so it’s not surprising to me to finally be able to do what I knew I could do,” Lane said. “It’s nothing, man. I’ll just keep doing it and keep going out on the same way I have been.”
The third-place finish (290 points) pushed Lane into a close-to-firm position for the 2019 PBR World Finals (Nov. 6-10).
Lane is now ranked No. 29 in the world standings after beginning the weekend sitting in 40th.
The Tazewell, Virginia, native didn’t blink an eye when asked about sitting outside of the Top 35 prior to the beginning of the championship round.
Lane entered the final round in fifth place following an 84-point ride on Dirty Laundry in Round 1 and 83-point ride on Lonesome Trail in Round 2.
“Oh, I’m going to make the World Finals,” Lane said as he prepared his bull rope.
Lane now leads No. 38 Scottie Knapp by 270 points for the last World Finals qualification spot with three Unleash The Beast events remaining, beginning with the Minneapolis Invitational on Oct. 4-5-.
“I’ve been here for so long, and been in this predicament,” Lane said. “If you get to thinking about it, then you’re creating something that you don’t have to. I still think like we’ve got 10 more events, 20 more events. I don’t care. I’m just riding my bulls and putting in my most every time and knowing that whether it works out or not, I tried my hardest, and I’m going to try my hardest next time.”
Lane said he appreciated the ovation he received from the Virginia faithful all weekend long.
“I hear them holler a little louder than normal, but everything’s still the same,” Lane said. “Still just riding bulls.”
Lane added that there is no question he has become more determined and focused since Allie-Michael was born on August 16.
“You know, I could say no, but yeah, for sure, because I want her to be able to have what she wants in life,” Lane said. “Me doing good riding bulls will get her that. So I’m not just riding for me no more and trying to help myself, I’m actually helping her, too.”
Lane – the No. 6-ranked rider on the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour – will head to the Velocity stop next weekend in Portland, Maine, with the UTB on a one-week hiatus.
Fans can watch the event exclusively on RidePass on Friday and Saturday night.
The star-studded event is going to feature the Top 4 riders in the world standings – Jose Vitor Leme, Jess Lockwood, Chase Outlaw and Joao Ricardo Vieira.
That does not bother Lane one bit.
He welcomes seeing the top riders come down to the Velocity Tour on UTB off weekends.
“Us guys know it don’t matter who it is, you’ve still got to do your job,” Lane concluded. “You’ve got to show up and ride your bulls. I don’t think it really makes a difference.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko