CHURCH ROCK, N.M. – For the first time in league history, PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) fastest-growing series, the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, will buck into Church Rock, New Mexico (just outside of Gallup, NM), welcoming fans to the picturesque Red Rock Park Sept. 18 for the PBR Buckin’ At The Rock.
For one night only, some of the best bull riders in the world will battle the sport’s rankest bovine athletes in the ultimate showdown of man vs. beast in one of the most exciting live sporting events to witness.
While the league’s expansion series has never before stopped in Church Rock, the Heart of Indian Country is no stranger to PBR action, having welcomed the developmental Touring Pro Division in both 2006 and 2007. After L.J. Jenkins (Porum, Oklahoma) won the inaugural event in 2006, Jarrod Craig (Hillsboro, Texas) captured the title in PBR’s most recent trip to Gallup in 2007.
Nearby Window Rock, Arizona, has also been home to the wildly popular event PBR Bucking on The Rez. After the Navajo Nation’s own Cody Jesus (Window Rock, Arizona) won the event in 2018, reigning PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) emerged victorious in 2019. Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) related restrictions, the event in Window Rock was not held in 2020 or 2021.
In addition to witnessing the action in breath-taking Red Rock Park, event-goers will be immersed in the rich Navajo Nation culture. PBR has frequently highlighted the league’s deep talent pool of Native American contenders and will continue this effort in Church Rock, inviting five Native riders to compete.
In 2019, PBR made history by fielding an all Native American contingent for the first-ever Global Cup event in the United States. In doing so, the PBR became the first major professional sports league in modern history to showcase such a team at an international level. Some of PBR’s most accomplished Native American riders include 2018 PBR Rookie of the Year Keyshawn Whitehorse (Navajo) and the now-retired Ryan Dirteater (Cherokee).
The Church Rock tour stop will tentatively mark the 19th Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour event of the year, with the series first stopping in cities including Greenville, South Carolina; Lexington, Kentucky; Pensacola, Florida and Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Thus far in 2021, the race for the 2021 PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Championship is off to a fierce start; less than 50 points separate the Top 6 riders in the series standings.
Michael Lane (Tazewell, Virginia) currently holds the No. 1 rank, 22 points ahead of No. 2 Conner Halverson (Gordon, Nebraska). Lane leads the series with two event wins, having also registered six additional Top-10 finishes on the Velocity Tour. The duo is followed by No. 3 Austin Richardson (Stephenville, Texas), No. 4 Manoelito de Souza Junior (Itamira, Brazil) and No. 5 Paulo Lima (Bezerros, Brazil).
The bull riding action for the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour’s Buckin’ At The Rock begins at 7:00 p.m. MDT on Saturday, September 18 at Red Rock Park.
On Saturday evening, all 40 competing riders will attempt one bull each in Round 1. Following the opening round, the Top 10 will then advance to the championship round, where they will attempt one final bull, all in an effort to be crowned the event champion.
Tickets for the event are on sale now.
Advance General Admission tickets are priced at $33, taxes and fees included. Eventgoers are encouraged to purchase their tickets early, with the cost of admission increasing by $7 on event day. They can be purchased online at any time through PBRTIX.com or on event day at the Red Rock Park box office.
Throughout the 2021 season, PBR will continue to commit to providing a safe environment for fans, athletes, employees, and crew by working with its venue partners to implement health and safety protocols for live events while following health guidance from local and state officials.