AUSTIN, Texas — Under the glare of Friday night lights at Moody Center, the Austin Gamblers returned home with an 8-3 record and a six-game winning streak, aiming to extend it to seven as Gambler Days kicked off.
The home-dirt showdown pitted Austin against the surging Florida Freedom (7-4), led by 20-year-old phenom John Crimber, the reigning 2024 PBR Teams MVP. Adding to the electricity, three-time world champion José Vítor Leme made his long-awaited return to the Gamblers’ lineup. With two powerhouse teams clashing, the stage was set for a night that lived up to the hype.
Night 1: Top three takeaways
3) The challenge flag that wasn’t there
Justin McBride and the Nashville Stampede have been finding ways to win of late, but Friday brought a moment that may have cost them. On the final ride, McBride believed Cody Jesus made the whistle. He had already used—and lost—his lone challenge earlier, leaving him unable to contest what looked, from a quick angle, like a possible slap. Without multiple replay views, it’s impossible to know. Had the call been overturned in the Stampedes’ favor, it could have been one of the night’s biggest swings. Instead, it was a reminder of how critical every challenge can be in this league.
2) Clay Guiton nearing record territory
Carolina’s Clay Guiton continued to build a standout narrative in the PBR Camping World Team Series. His qualifying streak after Friday stood at nine consecutive rides. With two more he would surpass Daniel Keeping’s all-time mark of 10 straight; an 11th would set the record. If he stays hot, Guiton could make history by weekend’s end at Gambler Days.
1) Arizona’s stunning upset at the hands of Oklahoma
Perhaps the most shocking result came from the top of the standings. The No. 1 Arizona Ridge Riders fell to the No. 9 Oklahoma Wildcatters. J.B. Mauney’s crew can be lethal when everything aligns. The upset reshaped the postseason picture and raised the stakes for Saturday night.
With two full games left this weekend and six regular-season stops ahead, the standings remain razor tight. Every ride and matchup will matter in shaping the postseason picture.
Looking ahead to Night 2
The stage is set for a marquee matchup: the Texas Cup. The Austin Gamblers face their in-state rivals, the Texas Rattlers. Two deep, well-coached rosters will electrify the arena. For Austin, it’s a chance to recalibrate and prove it still has the mix to repeat as Team Series champions in 2025.
Saturday showdown: Texas Cup and records on the line
As attention turns to Saturday at Moody Center—live on The CW Network—several storylines take center stage.
Arizona dropped its third loss of the season on Night 1 and needs a rebound. Meanwhile, Carolina’s Clay Guiton sits one ride from tying Daniel Keeping’s all-time record of 10 consecutive qualified rides. Make the whistle tonight, and he’s level; by Sunday, he could own the mark outright.
Then there’s the Texas Cup: the heated in-state rivalry between the Gamblers and Rattlers. Neither squad looked fully dialed in Friday, though individual efforts kept both competitive. With both teams hungry to make a statement, the clash has the makings of a defining game.
Night 2: Top three takeaways
3) Clay Guiton ties the record
Guiton logged his 10th consecutive qualified ride, tying Keeping’s all-time mark. In the league’s four-year history, few riders have been this consistent across so many outs. Given his form, breaking the record Sunday felt inevitable.
2) Texas Cup struggles
The Texas Cup fell flat offensively. Austin and Texas combined to go 1-for-10. The lone qualified ride came from Austin’s Dener Barbosa, staving off a shutout. While the Gamblers celebrated the rivalry win, the bigger story was the Rattlers’ 0-for-5 night—an off note for a team near the top on season-long consistency.
1) Arizona and Kansas City both take a loss
In a heavyweight tilt, the No. 1 Ridge Riders met the defending regular-season champion Kansas City Outlaws—and neither converted a ride. Both sides walked away with a loss. It was the first time since 2023 a matchup ended with both teams empty-handed. For Arizona, it was especially jarring: after a 9-0 start, three straight losses signal a slide at the wrong time.
PBR Teams standings after Night 2
Florida Freedom — 9-4
Austin Gamblers — 9-4
Arizona Ridge Riders — 9-4
Texas Rattlers — 8-5
Carolina Cowboys — 6-7
Kansas City Outlaws — 6-7
Missouri Thunder — 6-7
Oklahoma Wildcatters — 4-9
Nashville Stampede — 4-9
New York Mavericks — 3-10
Night 2 brought shake-ups that show how quickly the picture can change. Fans are left wondering who will sit atop the standings when the dust settles, who will win MVP, and who will emerge as champions in Las Vegas in October.
Championship Sunday arrives at Gambler Days
As Championship Sunday dawns at stop No. 5 of Gambler Days in Austin, attention turns to matchups that could shape the standings heading into Springfield.
The Carolina Cowboys face the home-team Gamblers, who enter without three of their biggest stars—three-time and reigning PBR world champion José Vítor Leme, seven-time PRCA world champion Sage Kimzey, and 2018 PBR world champion Kaique Pacheco.
Without them, Austin leans on Barbosa and “Mr. 90 Points” Dalton Kasel, plus production from the rest of the lineup, to stay competitive. On home dirt, it’s close to a coin flip, though momentum favors the Cowboys.
Around the league, injuries and absences continue to shape the race. Kansas City is without Sandro Batista, 2024 world champion Cassio Dias and other key riders, fueling recent struggles. Arizona, despite sitting 9-4, has lost three straight and must steady before Thunder Days in Springfield.
Texas, shut out Saturday, looks to rebound behind Brady Fielder, who draws Man Hater—the two-time and reigning PBR world champion bucking bull owned by the late Gene Owen and Jane Clark. A qualified ride could push into the 92–95 range—potentially a Team Series record—and swing Texas’ weekend.
Florida must ride like a No. 1 seed, Texas seeks redemption and Arizona needs to regroup. Today will leave lasting marks on the season.
Championship Sunday: Top three takeaways
No. 3 — Clay Guiton comes down, stays tied at 10
Guiton’s run toward history paused Sunday. Tied with Keeping at 10 straight, the Carolina star never found timing out of the chute and came down. He has faced 12 bulls this season and covered 10—an elite pace through five events. He remains the MVP frontrunner, though 2024 MVP John Crimber is close behind.
No. 2 — Brady Fielder and Man Hater deliver a classic
The Fielder–Man Hater matchup lived up to its billing. The Rattlers star made the whistle and spurred to a 93.75-point ride—one of the top three scores in Team Series history. Some argued it could have pushed 94 or 95. Either way, it was a signature moment for Fielder and Texas.
No. 1 — Florida vs. Texas becomes the game of the 90s
After Fielder’s 93.75, Texas had the edge. Daniel Keeping added another score. Florida answered, going 4-for-5 and producing a game with three 90-point rides among 10 attempts—world-class bull riding at its peak. Florida again showed why it sits atop the standings, while Texas showed resilience and firepower.
Updated standings after Championship Sunday
PBR Camping World Team Series (after Stop No. 5 — Gambler Days, Austin)
Florida Freedom — 10-4
Austin Gamblers — 10-4
Arizona Ridge Riders — 10-4
Texas Rattlers — 8-6
Kansas City Outlaws — 7-7
Carolina Cowboys — 6-8
Missouri Thunder — 6-8
Nashville Stampede — 5-9
Oklahoma Wildcatters — 4-10
New York Mavericks — 3-11
Beyond the dirt
The Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation carries forward the spirit of resilience seen in bull riding—changing lives off the dirt. The foundation provides access to the Action Trackchair, an all-terrain wheelchair designed to give people with mobility challenges the freedom to experience the outdoors.
No insurance covers these devices, and the $25,000 price tag puts them out of reach for many who need them. That is why the foundation exists: to bridge the gap and make the impossible possible.
Whether it’s navigating pastures, rolling through wooded trails or spending time with family where a standard wheelchair can’t go, the Action Trackchair opens doors to independence. It’s not just equipment—it’s freedom and dignity.
To learn more, visit moafoundation.org.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media