The Missouri Thunder entered Freedom Days with their eyes on the prize, and after a hard-fought 173.25-172.25 win over the Nashville Stampede on Day 1, they were riding high into Day 2. But things took a turn on Day 2, as the Austin Gamblers came out swinging, and the Thunder found themselves on the wrong end of a 245-175.75 loss.

Despite the setback, the Thunder are far from out of the race. They’ve got the determination and talent to bounce back, and there were some bright spots on Day 2. Jett Harkins, in his PBR Teams debut, posted a solid 86.25 points on Karla’s Pure Country, showing that the Thunder still have plenty of fight in them. But despite his strong ride, the team struggled to string together enough qualified rides to keep up with the Gamblers.

The day started off rough for the Thunder as Andrew Alvidrez bucked off Scooter Tooter in 5.02 seconds, and Maverick Smith was unable to make a qualified ride on Mr. Jimmy, posting a 7.34-second buck-off. Felipe Furlan, the backbone of the Thunder, rode Workin' Man for an impressive 89.50 points, with a bull score of 43.50, but Furlan was later sidelined after dislocating his arm. With Furlan out for the rest of the event, the Thunder were forced to regroup on the fly, but these guys don’t quit.

Boudreaux Campbell, always a steady hand in the locker room, bucked off Always Been Crazy in 7.10 seconds. He earned a re-ride after a chute foul challenge, but Trace Redd couldn’t make it count, bucking off UTZ BesTex Smokestack in 4.87 seconds with a bull score of 43.75. With Maverick Smith unable to post a qualified ride, the Thunder finished Day 2 with only two qualified rides—Furlan's and Harkins', totaling 175.75 points, far behind the Gamblers’ 245.

It feels like every time the Thunder catch a glimmer of sunlight—a solid MVP ride or a big win—the injuries pull them back. But with Day 3 coming in hot, we'll see if the Thunder can string together a storm and make their move.

Looking ahead to the showdown with the Oklahoma Wildcatters, the Thunder will need to dig deep. Miguel de Jesus, who has been cleared from concussion protocol, is set to return in place of Furlan on Day 3. His return is a crucial piece of the puzzle, and the Thunder will rely on him, along with Jett Harkins, Boudreaux Campbell and Maverick Smith, to find their rhythm and deliver a complete performance.

The Thunder need this win to finish 2-1 and put themselves in the win column. With JB Mauney and the Wildcatters standing in their way, they’ll have to fight hard and finish strong. There’s no room for mistakes—this is their chance to prove they’ve got what it takes to close out the weekend on a high note.

Where to Watch Day 3:
Catch all the action on Sunday, August 10, starting at 2:00 p.m. ET from Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL. The event will be live on The CW, so be sure to tune in for all the thrilling moments as these teams battle it out for the top spot.

CBS Games of the Week
If you’re looking for even more PBR action, don’t miss the Games of the Week, airing on CBS at 12:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 10. This special broadcast will feature three exciting Day 2 matchups:

• Nashville Stampede vs. Kansas City Outlaws

• Arizona Ridge Riders vs. Texas Rattlers

• New York Mavericks vs. Florida Freedom