There is a new No. 1 in the world.

Young gun John Crimber has taken over the top spot, overtaking seven-time PRCA World Champion and three-time CBR World Champion Sage Steele Kimzey, who now sits just 28 points behind. At this stage of the season, that margin is razor thin — one ride can change everything.

But the most dramatic movement came from Daylon Swearingen.

Entering Tallahassee ranked No. 30 in the world, Swearingen delivered a statement performance to win the event and surge to No. 15. That kind of jump this late in the season doesn’t just move a rider up the standings — it puts him right back into the conversation.

Now the focus shifts.

Can Swearingen carry that momentum into Indianapolis and break into the Top 10? Because positioning heading into Fort Worth matters — and the closer a rider is to No. 1, the more realistic that climb becomes.

Another rider firmly in the spotlight is Dalton Kasel.

Kasel showed flashes of his potential in Tallahassee, recording one qualified ride and appearing more in rhythm than in recent weeks. But flashes won’t be enough moving forward.

If he intends to reestablish himself in the title race, the trend has to reverse — and it has to start now.

Indianapolis presents that opportunity.

Friday night will also feature the Monster Energy Team Challenge, where the final two playoff positions will be decided in the last regular-season stop before the postseason begins.

The playoff picture is anything but settled. Three teams — the Kansas City Outlaws, Florida Freedom, and Nashville Stampede — are all vying for the final two spots, with multiple scenarios in play depending on how this weekend unfolds.

The Missouri Thunder have already clinched the No. 1 seed after a perfect 4-0 start, while the Austin Gamblers have secured a playoff berth with the No. 2 seed. Florida, meanwhile, has completed its schedule and now sits idle, needing help from either Kansas City or Nashville losses to stay inside the Top 4.

That leaves Friday night as a pressure-packed proving ground. If Kansas City wins and Nashville loses, the Outlaws and Freedom will advance. If Nashville wins and Kansas City loses, the Stampede will punch their ticket alongside Florida. If both teams win, all four squads could finish tied, forcing seeding to come down to total cumulative score — opening the door for dramatic late-round swings to decide who moves on.

Every ride matters, and in some cases, a single qualified ride — or even a few tenths of a point — could be the difference between extending a season or watching it end.

As part of Round 1 competition, the Monster Energy Team Challenge continues to inject a team dynamic into the Unleash The Beast format, operating under standard UTB rules while featuring four-on-four matchups.

Game 1 – Kansas City Outlaws @ Arizona Ridge Riders

Arizona Ridge Riders
• Bruno Carvalho
• Eduardo Aparecido
• Keyshawn Whitehorse
• Luciano De Castro

Kansas City Outlaws
• Alison dos Santos — MUST RIDE TO ADVANCE
• Cassio Dias
• Eric Henrique Domingos — MUST RIDE TO ADVANCE
• Koltin Hevalow

Game 2 – Nashville Stampede @ Carolina Cowboys

Carolina Cowboys
• Daylon Swearingen
• Elizmar Jeremias — MUST RIDE TO ADVANCE
• Jess Lockwood
• Trace Redd

Nashville Stampede
• Alan de Souza
• Austin Richardson — MUST RIDE TO ADVANCE
• Kaiden Loud
• Rogério Venâncio — MUST RIDE TO ADVANCE

Watching in person is a whole lot more fun, and if you’ve never seen Unleash The Beast live and you’re anywhere near Indianapolis, Indiana, tickets are still available.

Secure your seats HERE.

If you can’t make it to Indianapolis, the PBR has you covered. Watch the remainder of the regular season, plus the PBR World Finals, by clicking HERE.

If you would like to follow along during the event, including the Round 1 draw and complete day sheet, that can be found HERE.

Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media