MIKE WHITE, PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDERS' COMEBACK KID, SENDS MOODY BLUES OUT IN WINNING STYLE

Cory McFadden takes overall lead in race to
PBR Bud Light Cup World Finals event title

LAS VEGAS (October 25, 2002) - Emotions were running high Friday night as Round Two of the Professional Bull Riders' 2002 Bud Light Cup World Finals, presented by Las Vegas and hosted by Caesars Palace, heated up in the Thomas and Mack Center.

With the style and heart of a proven champion, Moody Blues, the 1998 PBR Bull of the Year, gave his farewell PBR performance as he carried bull rider Mike White to a round-winning 91.5 points. It was White's fourth successful attempt on the legendary Moody Blues. The quick-spinning bull owned by Herrington Cattle Company is being retired from competition and will now enjoy life as sire of future bucking bulls.

"Moody Blues has been a top bull for a long, long time," said 26-year-old White. "Hats of to the Herringtons. They invest the money to take care of these bulls. Moody Blues is getting to an age where he needs to be retired before he goes down hill as a competitor."

The Round Two victory was worth $22,000 to White, PBR's 1999 Rookie of the Year. The DeKalb, Texas, athlete failed to score in Round One. However, because only five riders have successfully ridden two bulls, White is sitting seventh in the overall event standings.

White's domination Friday night in Las Vegas marked a long-awaited return to Finals' competition. Four months after being crowned the PRCA's 1999 World Champion Bull Rider, White suffered torn ligaments in the thumb of his riding hand and was sidelined for two months. One month after his return, misfortune struck again, this time in the form of a broken neck. A shattered ankle in December 2000 and a broken arm in 2001 continued his streak of misfortune. White has made a triumphant return in 2002, winning several event titles and more than $170,000 in PBR's regular-season competition.

Texan Cory McFadden is the man to beat in the quest for the PBR 2002 Bud Light Cup World Finals event title. McFadden, 26, boasts 177.5 points on two bulls. His closest competitor is fellow Texan Dave Samsel, who has 174.5 points.The PBR 2002 Bud Light Cup World Finals event title is awarded to the rider with the highest cumulative point total after five rounds of World Finals competition. The fifth and final round concludes Sunday afternoon at Las Vegas' Thomas & Mack Center.

Longtime PBR fan favorite Gilbert Carrillo earned a standing ovation Friday night as he topped D & H Cattle Company's bull Gusto for 90.5 points. Carrillo, 30, suffered a broken neck in late June at a PBR event; enduring surgery and three months of inactivity en route to a World Finals comeback. Carrillo of Stephenville, Texas, finished second Friday night to earn $15,000.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE PBR 2002 BUD LIGHT CUP WORLD FINALS:

Responding to pressure that Mike Lee applied Thursday night, Dan Henricks turned in a much-needed 90 points to finish third in Round Two and maintain his lead in the 2002 PBR Rookie of the Year title chase. Henricks, 21, leads a field of 12 talented rookies competing this week in Las Vegas. After his successful efforts Friday night, Henricks of Logan, Okla., has 5,053 Bud Light Cup Points. Mike Lee, who was bucked off his Round Two bull, is second in the rookie race with 4,854.

Several injuries were sustained in Round Two competition, but none were serious enough to officially force a competitor out of remaining rounds of competition.

After two nights of PBR Bud Light Cup competition, three young-gun rookies - Cory Melton, Craig Sasse and Dan Henricks - are among the Top 10 overall point leaders. The remaining seven riders are seasoned veterans to Las Vegas competition and legends of the sports.