PBR | Carlos Garcia wins Busch Light PBR Youngstown before sold-out crowd

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – In front of a sold-out crowd at the Covelli Centre Saturday night, Carlos Garcia went a perfect 3-for-3 to capture his first Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour victory of the 2026 season at Busch Light PBR Youngstown.

The 37-year-old’s win marked his second career Pendleton Whiskey Velocity Tour triumph, adding to his 2021 Fairfax Invitational victory. It was his first event title since winning the Challenger Series stop in Mill Spring, North Carolina, in 2023.

Garcia (Abingdon, Va.) set the tone early, covering Wii for 84.20 points in Friday night’s Round 1.

He backed it up in Saturday’s opening round, adding 82.95 points atop Gone Elvis.

Entering the championship round, Garcia sealed the victory with an 84.30-point ride aboard Blacklist, clinching the Youngstown title.

For his 3-for-3 weekend, Garcia netted 137 Velocity Global points, surging from No. 97 to No. 29 in the Velocity standings.

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

Romario Leite (Brotas, São Paulo, Brazil) finished second after going 2-for-3 across the two-day event.

The 31-year-old first put himself on the leaderboard in Friday night’s opening round, securing second place with an 85.95-point ride aboard Strapper.

Entering Saturday night’s Round 2, Leite covered Crucified for 85.35 points.

In the championship round, Leite rode In Da Club for 66.65 points and was granted a re-ride after the bull was deemed below standard. Needing 80.2 points for the win, he opted to take the re-ride but was bucked off Partyin Solo at 6.61 seconds.

For his efforts, he collected 83 Velocity Global points and climbed from No. 15 to No. 7 in the standings.

Eric Novoa (Vacaville, Calif.) captured third place.

After being bucked off Riser in 1.78 seconds in Friday night’s Round 1, Novoa rebounded in Round 2 on Saturday night with an 86.35-point ride aboard Slow Ride to surge into contention.

In the championship round, he was bucked off Drago at 1.99 seconds but was granted a re-ride. After taking the option on Roc Bottom and being offered another re-ride opportunity, Novoa declined what would have been his fourth bull of the night and secured the third-place finish.

Novoa earned 64 Velocity Global points and now sits at No. 36 in the standings.

Paulo Souza (Mato Grosso, Brazil) finished fourth.

The 29-year-old Brazilian dominated Friday night’s opening round, delivering an 88.95-point ride aboard Plowboy to secure the Round 1 victory.

In Saturday’s Round 2, he was bucked off Pinecone at 1.74 seconds but maintained the No. 3 position in the standings to earn a berth in the championship round.

In the final round, Souza faced Red Light and was offered a re-ride opportunity but declined.

He earned 49 Velocity Global points.

Rounding out the top five was Michael Lane (Tazewell, Va.).

The 35-year-old veteran – the winningest rider in Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour history – was first paired with Airtight in Round 1 and elected to take a re-ride. Aboard Clyde, he was bucked off at 2.20 seconds.

Lane rebounded in Round 2, delivering an 87.30-point ride on Tipsy to remain in contention.

In the championship round, he was bucked off Never Forget at 7.83 seconds and challenged the call, but the decision was upheld.

Lane earned 45 Velocity Global points.

The Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour will head to Reading, Pa., for PBR Reading at Santander Arena March 6-7.

Busch Light PBR Youngstown

Youngstown, Ohio

Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Carlos Garcia, 84.2-82.95-84.3-251.45-137 Points.

2. Romario Leite, 85.95-85.35-0-171.30-83 Points.

3. Eric Novoa, 0-86.35-39.55-125.90-64 Points.

4. Paulo Souza, 88.95-0-0-88.95-49 Points.

5. Michael Lane, 0-87.3-0-87.30-45 Points.