WHEELING, W.V. – At the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour’s (PWVT) PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Wheeling, Ezekiel Mitchell (Rockdale, Texas) emerged victorious after going 2-for-2 at WesBanco Arena on Saturday night.

The good-natured Texan began his weekend by bucking off Old School (J Bar W) in 3.61 seconds in Round 1 on Friday.

Proving his mettle, the veteran rebounded in Round 2, riding Evad Nitram (Dave Martin/Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) for 83 points.

Mitchell then capped his weekend by winning the championship round, sitting tall atop Scars N Stripes (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) for an event-high 85 points.

The victory netted Mitchell 125.5 Velocity Global points.

Trace Redd (Malad, Idaho) finished second.

After bucking off Evad Nitram in 3.76 seconds in Round 1, Redd stormed back to win the second round by riding Tulsa King (Cornwell Bucking Bulls) for 84 points.

In the final out of the contest, the Idahoan rocketed out of the chutes atop Squealin’ Kitty (Dave Martin/Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) but was unseated after 3.27 seconds.

Redd returned home with 78 Velocity Global points.

The final spot on the podium belonged to Conner Halverson (Gordon, Nebraska).

Tasked with Redneck Rumble (Dave Martin/Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) in Round 1, Halverson thundered out of the chutes but couldn’t hang on past 3.92 seconds.

In Round 2, Halverson matched Mitchell by covering Hondo (Luckey E Rodeo) for 83 points.

Seeking his first win on the Velocity Tour this season, the cornhusker cowboy catapulted out of the gate atop Angel’s Envy (CCL Bucking Bulls/Lone Star/Cornwell Bucking Bulls) in the championship round but was bested in 3.11 seconds.

Halverson left WesBanco Arena with 53.5 Velocity Global points.

Round 1 winner Daniel Burke (Taylorsville, North Carolina) finished fourth. 

Burke roared out of the chutes atop Sober Up (K-C Bucking Bulls) for 70 points in the sole ride of the opening round.

The North Carolinian was then bucked off by Riskey Business (J Bar W) in 3.10 seconds in Round 2 and by Bruno (J Bar W) in 1.53 seconds in the final round to end his bid for the event title.

The Tarheel cowboy’s ride netted him 41 Velocity Global points.

The final ride of the weekend belonged to Joao Paulo Fernandes (Hidrolina, Brazil), who finished fifth.

Despite bucking off Scars N Stripes in 2.09 seconds in Round 1, the Brazilian battled back to cover Inaffit (Dave Martin/Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) for 69 points in Round 2.

Paired with Spunky Energy (Bull Team/D&H/Lone Star/Cornwell), Fernandes was unseated after a quick 2.97 seconds in the championship round.

The 1-for-3 performance garnered Fernandes 25 Velocity Global points.

Velocity Global points contribute to the Velocity Global Standings and determine which new riders are added to the elite Unleash The Beast throughout the season. The Top 3 Velocity Global riders who have not already qualified are also invited to the PBR World Finals in May.

In the bull pen, First Class (Dave Martin/Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) was marked 43.5 points to take home the Bull of the Event title.

While the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour bucked in Wheeling and Dayton, Ohio, the elite Unleash The Beast bucked in Palm Desert, California.

PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour
PBR Wheeling
WesBanco Arena – Wheeling, West Virginia
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Ezekiel Mitchell  [2], 0-83-85-168.00-125.5 Points.
2. Trace Redd  [1], 0-84-0-84.00-78 Points.
3. Conner Halverson, 0-83-0-83.00-53.5 Points.
4. Daniel Burke  [1], 70-0-0-70.00-41 Points.
5. João Paulo Fernandes  [2], 0-69-0-69.00-25 Points.
Ezekiel Mitchell  [1], 0-0-0-0.00
Grayson Cole  [1], 0-0-0-0.00
Grayson Cole  [2], 0-0-0-0.00
Trace Redd  [2], 0-0-0-0.00
Cody McCandless, 0-0-0-0.00
Chase Wimer, 0-0-0-0.00
João Paulo Fernandes  [1], 0-0-0-0.00
Tanner Dale  [1], 0-0-0-0.00
Tanner Dale  [2], 0-0-0-0.00
Daniel Burke  [2], 0-0-0-0.00
Casey Roberts, 0-0-0-0.00
Eli Byler, 0-0-0-0.00
Tristen Marshall, 0-0-0-0.00
Bret Timmermans, 0-0-0-0.00
Lance Lara, 0-0-0-0.00
Andrew Stutzman, 0-0-0-0.00
Gustavo Junio Lima, 0-0-0-0.00
Rogerio Oliveira, 0-0-0-0.00
Nick Garramone, 0-0-0-0.00
Justin Van de Kemp, 0-0-0-0.00
Marcos Santos de Miranda, 0-0-0-0.00
Wanderson Jackson, 0-0-0-0.00
Chris Villanueva, 0-0-0-0.00
Diego Henrique, 0-0-0-0.00
Kyle Broadwater, 0-0-0-0.00
Ryder Carpenetti, 0-0-0-0.00
Billy Barnhart, 0-0-0-0.00
Denis Leonel Garcia Vasquez, 0-0-0-0.00

Photo courtesy of James Reuff