PBR Teams: Stampede Days marks the fourth of 12 regular-season events during the fourth PBR Camping World Team Series season. The action at Bridgestone Arena kicks off Friday, August 15, at 8:45 p.m. ET, continues Saturday, August 16, at 8:00 p.m. ET, and wraps up on Sunday, August 17, at 1:30 p.m. ET.
CBS GAME OF THE WEEK SPOTLIGHT: Sunday’s CBS Game of the Week will showcase three high-stakes matchups: Florida Freedom vs. Missouri Thunder, Arizona Ridge Riders vs. New York Mavericks, and Carolina Cowboys vs. Nashville Stampede.
While Nashville readies to defend home dirt, the MVP spotlight’s swinging toward Florida Freedom’s Thiago Salgado. Sitting atop the standings with 518.75 points and a 6-for-8 record (75%), Salgado is starting his first full weekend wearing the MVP crown — and he’ll be looking to keep that Freedom fire blazing and hold off any cowboy gunning for his spot.
For Carolina, the spotlight is on Murilo Henrique de Oliveira, stepping into the closer role while Derek Kolbaba recovers on IR. Veterans Cooper Davis and Daylon Swearingen will team up with Oliveira to take on the Stampede in Sunday’s finale.
STRUGGLING SQUAD: It’s been a long, dusty trail for the New York Mavericks (1-7) and Oklahoma Wildcatters (1-7), who limp into Nashville tied at the wrong end of the standings. The Mavericks will try to wrangle some momentum Sunday against the red-hot Arizona Ridge Riders, with Marco Rizzo — the self-appointed closer — holding down the anchor spot. Up front, Bob Mitchell, who’s made it clear he wants the No. 1 slot, will try to kick the gate open and set the tone. Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s looking to shake off the dirt in tilts with Texas and Carolina, hoping this is the weekend they finally turn the herd around.
REMATCH RECAP: Friday’s opening night features a rematch between Brady Fielder (Texas Rattlers) and Bucking Bull. Fielder aims to remain perfect against the bull, having converted an 89-point ride when the two met in Chicago in January this year.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media