GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – In front of a sold-out crowd at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Joseph McConnel (Bloomfield, New Mexico) won the first PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) event of his career at the Grand Rapids Classic. 

On a night where the bulls prevailed, McConnel was the only rider to record a qualified ride in the championship round and one of only 10 to make the 8 in the opening round.

In Round 1, McConnel fired out of the chutes aboard Hitman (C Check Bucking Bulls) to record an 83.5-point score as the crowd cheered and he secured his place on the leaderboard. In the championship round, the young New Mexico cowboy bested Peep Show (Cornwell Bucking Bulls) for 85 points.

He leaves Michigan with $8,000 and 38.33 world points.

In addition to winning the Grand Rapids Classic, McConnel has also earned an invite to PBR’s upcoming Unleash The Beast U.S. Border Patrol Invitational at Enterprise Center in St Louis, Missouri, Feb 22-23.

Veteran PBR rider Venn Johns (Bixby, Oklahoma) finished second, collecting a paycheck for $4,700 along with 27 world points. He rode to the runner-up finish compliments of his 88.5-point ride aboard Blue Print (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) in Round 1. His trip aboard Plum Crazy (Cornwell Bucking Bulls/Circle G) ended after just 1.32 seconds in the championship round, despite a determined effort from the 45-year-old.

Third place went to Pennsylvania rider Devon Weaver (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) for his ride aboard Sugar Boom Boom (Cornwell Bucking Bulls/Circle G) in Round 1 for 87.5 points. Later in the championship round, the East Coast cowboy was dispatched by Off the Chain (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) after 1.71seconds. For his efforts he collected $3,000 and 14 world points.

Indiana’s Marcus Mast (Middlebury, Indiana) finished fourth, backed by an 84-point effort on Down Draft (C Check Bucking Bulls) in the opening round. As the trend of bovine athlete domination in the championship round continued, he was no match for Red Rider (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls), getting bucked off in 5.64 seconds. Mast leaves Michigan with $2,000 and nine world points.

Rounding out the Top 5 was Michigan’s own Hunter Ball (Carsonville, Michigan) and Kyle Jones (Troy, Missouri) in a tie for fifth. While neither Ball nor Jones recorded a qualified ride in the championship round, both riders recorded matching 83.5-point scores in Round 1. Ball’s qualified ride was aboard Pull The Trigger (C Check Bucking Bulls) while Jones made the 8 aboard Game On (C Check Bucking Bulls) For their efforts, both cowboys received $800 and 4.83 world points.

Gubber, a bovine athlete owned by Mike Miller Bucking Bulls, earned top marks for the evening. He received a 43.5-point bull score after bucking off Ball in a mere 1.67 seconds.

The Velocity Tour next travels to Youngstown, Ohio, for the Youngstown Invitational, on Feb. 7-8 at the Covelli Centre.   

Velocity Tour Event Results
Grand Rapids Classic – Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, Michigan 
Name, Round 1-Round 2-Event Aggregate-Event Points
1. Joseph McConnel, 83.5-85-168.50-38.33 Points.
2. Venn Johns, 88.5-0-88.50-27 Points.
3. Devon Weaver, 87.5-0-87.50-14 Points.
4. Marcus Mast, 84-0-84.00-9 Points.
5. Kyle Jones, 83.5-0-83.50-4.83 Points.
(tie). Hunter Ball, 83.5-0-83.50-4.83 Points.
7. Lamar Lehman, 83-0-83.00-3 Points.
8. Jake Lockwood, 82.5-0-82.50
9. Devin Hager, 80-0-80.00
10. Weston Hartman, 77.5-0-77.50