With a mere three regular season showdowns separating the pack from the 2025 PBR World Finals, the drama couldn’t be higher.
By James Youness
FORT WORTH, Texas – This town ain’t big enough for the 41 of us.
Yet, Billings, Montana, continues to be a tour-favorite stop for riders and fans alike.
And with this weekend’s competition marking the 30th time PBR has made a stop in “Magic City”, we know there’s a little extra anticipation baked into the equation as the premier series circuit prepares to put on a late-season show inside First Interstate Arena at MetraPark April 11-12.
Yes, because everybody gets a bit more amped up when Unleash The Beast reconnects with its roots in some of these smaller, more low-key towns.
But more so because the 2025 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast are a mere four weeks away. Which means just three regular season contests separate 40-some of the world’s best bull riders from a chance at ending the season with a check inked for $1,000,000.
And the way No. 1 Dalton Kasel has been riding, somebody is going to have to REALLY WANT IT if they are to chase down the leader of the pack.
Having captured three-consecutive event titles throughout the early spring stretch, Kasel earned a spot in the PBR record books. But it’s the coveted gold buckle up for grabs inside AT&T Stadium that the Muleshoe, Texas, native truly wants.
Bringing a 48.5-point lead over No. 2 Brady Fielder into the Week 21 shootout, Kasel prepares to dance with Regular Joe during the final out of the evening.
As far as the Australian goes, who owns the season’s longest ride streak (13), he’s been just as hot. But with Kasel continuing to knock down some bulls and produce Top 10 finishes rather regularly, he hasn’t been able to reclaim the lead he held for an encouraging eight-week run.
Quite literally the same scenario Kasel was forced to overcome when he was attempting to earn the top dawg rank, himself.
Cowboys don’t always get the best out of their competitors when they are excelling at insane rates. But Fielder has only seemed to have gotten the best out of Kasel this season. And the same could be said in regard to Kasel pushing Fielder to stay hungry.
There’s no doubt these two will likely be duking it out when the tour shifts gears to Cowtown Coliseum. But throughout these final three regular season showdowns, they both understand there are several hundred UTB points up for grabs.
Alongside several other guys who want a shot to be named the 2025 PBR World Champion.
Guys like No. 3 John Crimber, who’s been heating up in his own right after enduring a bit of a mid-season snag when it comes to top-tier performances. We know he’s going to be one of the sport’s biggest talents for quite some time.
The question remains whether he has it in him to chip away at Kasel’s 400-plus-point lead.
Despite appearing questionable to start the week after getting banged up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, No. 4 Sage Steele Kimzey is in the lineup as of Friday morning, so it appears he’ll give it a go Friday night.
And we certainly aren’t ruling out 2022 World Champion Daylon Swearingen from making a run, as the Carolina Cowboys standout has been finding his traction down the home stretch.
Needing to gain 10 more spots before the 2025 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast – Ride For Redemption stage dawns in Fort Worth, Texas, in order to automatically earn a berth to compete inside Jerry World, can the No. 25-ranked rider keep it going this weekend in Billings?
One of this season’s 14 different winners in Austin Richardson is also returning to the fold after sitting the last month out due to an injury. Awaiting a “welcome back” matchup against Lost In The Sauce in Round 1, can Richardson build on his already-established No. 16 rank?
All of Friday night’s action will feature traditional man vs. beast matchups, as the Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by Camping World, is on a rare bye week.
Fear not, as the 6 vs. 6 series will resume in Week 22 when the tour visits Nampa, Idaho, April 18-19.
Lineups and draw are in for the 21st of 23 regular season Unleash The Beast showdowns, so we’re taking a closer look at Friday night’s matchups, rematches and everything you need to know ahead of the weekend’s opening slate!
With the premier series primed to invade Billings, Montana, April 11-12, we’re breaking down starting lineups for competition inside First Interstate Arena at MetraPark (With coverage set to begin at 8 p.m. MT via PBR’s YouTube channel and RidePass on Pluto TV).
PBR BILLINGS STARTING LINEUPS Austin Richardson vs. Lost In The Sauce Leonardo Castro vs. Magic Spider Ezekiel Mitchell vs. Mega Mind Elizmar Jeremias vs. Hunter Julio Cesar Marques vs. Blue Magic Trace Redd vs. Trust Issues Dener Barbosa vs. Destination Unknown Adriano Salgado vs. Muffin Man Leandro Zampollo vs. Smooth Violation Alan de Souza vs. Dark Water Felipe Furlan vs. Bamboozle Vitor Losnake vs. Benjamin Ranklin Lucas Fideles Souza vs. Kill Switch Anderson de Oliveira vs. Where’s the Beef Flavio Zivieri vs. Red Floyd Daylon Swearingen vs. Beef Cake Claudio Montanha Jr. vs. Aircation Conner Halverson vs. Holy Shift Bruno Carvalho vs. The Empire Koltin Hevalow vs. Peanut Hudson Bolton vs. Prince Charming Jose Vitor Leme vs. Rank Hank Joao Lucas Campos vs. Icky Thump Eduardo Aparecido vs. BSC *Kaiden Loud vs. Chute Boss Daniel Keeping vs. Cliff Hanger Derek Kolbaba vs. Brawler Joao Ricardo Vieira vs. Big Red Train Clay Guiton vs. Haunted Hotel Lucas Divino vs. Double Down Callum Miller vs. Vindicated Kaique Pacheco vs. Blowhard Luciano De Castro vs. Night Agent Cort McFadden vs. Kwik Lock Keyshawn Whitehorse vs. Twisted Sister Sage Steele Kimzey vs. Shank Andrew Alvidrez vs. Big X John Crimber vs. Karizma Paulo Eduardo Rossetto vs. Greasy Bend Brady Fielder vs. Lieutenant Dan Dalton Kasel vs. Regular Joe *Denotes Rematch
REMATCHES Kaiden Loud vs. Chute Boss (3.81 seconds in Manchester, New Hampshire)
OUT DUE TO INJURY/OTHER Sandro Batista (injury) Boudreaux Campbell (injury)
FOLLOW ALONG This weekend’s Cooper Tires PBR Billings in Billings, Montana, is set to begin Friday, April 11 at 7:45 p.m. MT as the best bull riders in the world prepare to battle within First Interstate Arena at MetraPark.
The action will conclude Saturday, April 12 at 6:45 p.m. MT with the second round, followed by the short go, as riders look to capture crucial late-season UTB points in the race for the 2025 PBR World Championship.
