PBR Albuquerque: The 2026 PBR Unleash The Beast season storms into Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the 15th premier series event of the year inside The Pit, marking the tour’s 28th visit to one of the sport’s most historic venues and its only stop in New Mexico this season.

Competition begins Friday, March 27, at 6:45 p.m. MT with Round 1, continues Saturday, March 28, at 6:45 p.m. MT with Round 2, and concludes Sunday, March 29, at 1:45 p.m. MT with Round 3 and the Championship Round. All rounds will stream live on Paramount+, while the Monster Energy Team Challenge semifinals will air Sunday on CBS at 12 p.m. ET.

DOWNLOAD GAME NOTES HERE

DOWNLOAD DAYSHEET HERE

DOWNLOAD METC DAYSHEET HERE

HEADED SOUTH

The Unleash The Beast returns to The Pit at a defining moment in the 2026 season, with just a handful of events remaining before the World Finals in Fort Worth.

As the lone premier series stop in New Mexico, Albuquerque annually serves as a proving ground — and with 216 points available across a three-day event, the opportunity for movement in the standings is massive.

With the race tightening and the margin for error shrinking, the tour has officially entered its most critical stretch of the season.

LEADING THE WAY

The world title race remains razor tight heading into Albuquerque.

• No. 1 John Crimber leads the standings for the second straight week and fourth total week this season.
• 317 points separate No. 1 Crimber and No. 10 Marco Rizzo.
• Five different riders have held the No. 1 ranking through 14 events.
• Dalton Kasel and Crimber have each led four weeks, while Sage Steele Kimzey has led three.

Consistency continues to define the contenders:

• Ten different riders have won events this season.
• Kimzey (3 wins), Brady Fielder (2) and Kasel (2) are the only multi-time winners.
• Kimzey, Leandro Zampollo and Alex Cerqueira lead the tour with 21 qualified rides each.

With multiple riders converting at or above 50%, the parity across the field remains undeniable — and with this much talent clustered at the top, one ride can shift everything.

BULL POWER ON DISPLAY

The bulls delivered one of the rankest performances of the season in Indianapolis, setting the tone heading into Albuquerque.

Eight bulls eclipsed the 45-point mark, led by Cherry Shot’s dominant 45.90-point effort.

Other top-performing bulls included Doze You Down, Fire Fight, Ransom, Freedom Fighter, Red Demon, Buck Nasty and Nobody — a reminder that the animal athletes are just as much a factor in shaping the championship race.

NOTABLE RIDERS TO WATCH

Crimber continues to set the pace atop the standings after capitalizing on the Tallahassee Major, where he earned 120 points with a third-place finish. He added points again in Indianapolis and remains firmly in control of the No. 1 position.

Kimzey remains within striking distance at No. 2, leading the tour with three wins this season. His recent surge includes standout rides aboard Elmo (89.35 points) and Lights Out (91.55 points), and he has converted seven of his last 10 outs.

Zampollo sits No. 3 and continues knocking on the door of his first UTB victory. With runner-up finishes in Pittsburgh, Bridgeport and Little Rock, plus a third-place finish in Indianapolis, the Brazilian is one of the most consistent threats on tour.

Jose Vitor Leme finds himself in unfamiliar territory at No. 36, 578.5 points behind the leader. The reigning three-time World Champion has struggled for consistency this season but remains a dangerous contender as he fights to stay above the cut line.

Cort McFadden enters the weekend on the verge of a milestone, needing just three qualified rides to reach 100 on the premier series.

PLAYING ABOVE THE LINE

The UTB roster continues to evolve as Velocity Tour standouts earn opportunities on the premier series.

This weekend’s invites include Cole Brewer, along with Top 5 Velocity Global riders Trace Redd, Wyatt Rogers and Dener Barbosa. Mauricio Moreira, Andy Guzman and Austin Richardson are also in the lineup as alternates.

With continued cuts shaping the roster, every out in Albuquerque carries added weight for those fighting to remain on tour.

MONSTER ENERGY TEAM CHALLENGE — PLAYOFFS BEGIN

The Monster Energy Team Challenge postseason begins in Albuquerque with a semifinal showdown.

• No. 1 Missouri Thunder (4-0) vs. No. 4 Florida Freedom (3-1)

The METC Championship Tournament will unfold across three UTB stops — Albuquerque (March 27), Billings (April 17) and Tacoma (April 24) — as teams battle in elimination-style 7-on-7 matchups to crown the inaugural champion.

REMATCH RECAP

Several familiar matchups return to the dirt in Round 1 in Albuquerque.

Andrew Alvidrez faces DirtyBru once again after being bucked off in 0.98 seconds during the 2024 World Finals.

Brady Fielder draws Ghost Face for the first time since their meeting in Albuquerque in March 2024, which ended in a 2.15-second buckoff.

Callum Miller looks to settle the score against Velvet Revolver after their last matchup resulted in a 4.04-second buckoff during Freedom Days.

Dalton Kasel goes head-to-head with Pegasus again following a 4.43-second buckoff at Rattler Days in September 2025.

Daniel Keeping meets Army Slasher once more after being bucked off in 3.40 seconds earlier this season in Sacramento.

Lucas Divino draws Rockville for the third time in his career, with both previous matchups ending in buckoffs.

With the championship race tightening, these rematches offer riders a chance at redemption as the pressure continues to build in Albuquerque.

FAMILIAR TERRITORY

Albuquerque has long been a cornerstone stop on the Unleash The Beast schedule, producing champions and defining moments.

Paulo Eduardo Rossetto claimed the 2025 title, narrowly edging Eduardo Aparecido after a dominant opening round and consistent performance across the weekend.

With its history, intensity and three-day format, The Pit remains one of the most demanding and prestigious venues on tour.

And in a venue known for separating contenders from the rest, this weekend could reshape the championship race in an instant—catch all the action on Paramount+ and the Monster Energy Team Challenge playoff drama on CBS.

Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media