The 2008 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Built Ford Tough World Finals presented by Wrangler showcases the greatest bull riding athletes on the planet in Las Vegas as they vie for more than $3.2 million in prize money.  For the fifth time in its 15-year history, the PBR World Finals will span two consecutive weekends, Oct. 31- Nov. 2 and Nov. 6-9, 2008. This marquee event represents the crown jewel of bull riding and culminates the 32-city 2008 Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) tour. 

For the first time ever, both weekends of the PBR World Finals will be held at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) beginning on Thursday, Oct. 31, and concluding on Sunday, Nov. 9, at which time the Built Ford Tough World Champion will be crowned, earning a $1 million bonus in the process.  Tickets start at as little as $15 and can be purchased online at www.unlvtickets.com or by phone at 866.PBR.SHOW.

The Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino will act as the Official Host Hotel of the PBR and will house the year's Top 45 bull riders who qualify for this prestigious event based on money won during the regular season.  The hotel will also play host to the PBR Fan Zone & Marketplace, and two of the Official “Nightclub PBRs” at Moorea Beach.

Fans will be treated to tight race that is sure to be down to the last ride on Sunday’s Championship Round.  The PBR’s current No. 1 man, Guilherme Marchi (Leme, Brazil), is on pace to make 2008 his strongest season to date. He is looking to rewrite the PBR record books as he has recorded 57 successful rides (and counting) in a single season; has maintained a riding percentage of 70 percent (or higher) through the majority of the 2008 season; and has acquired over 11,500 BFTS points in his quest for the 2008 World Title.  With $225,000 available to the winner of the PBR World Finals event, and a $1 million bonus available to the PBR World Champion, could Marchi make 2008 a dream season and collect over $1.5 million in prize money? 

Valdiron de Oliveira (Aparecida de Goiania, Brazil), in his sophomore year with the PBR, currently sits at No. 2 in the world. He has maintained a riding percentage of over 65 percent and with two event titles under his belt in 2008, Oliveira is determined to win his first PBR world title. 

Sitting third in points behind Marchi and Oliveira is Colorado superstar Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.).  The 2005 PBR Rookie of the Year, Lostroh has flourished in Las Vegas and this year should be no different − he has his sights set on winning it all in 2008. 

Rounding out the Top 5 are 2004 World Champ Mike Lee (Decatur, Texas) and fan favorite J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.). Lee is experiencing one of the best seasons of his career, earning more than $294,485 to date in 2008.  Mauney finished the 2007 BFTS season as the third-ranked cowboy in the world, and is looking to better that success this season. Both men’s current rankings justify their status as strong contenders for the 2008 PBR World Championship. 

And never overlook past PBR World Champions, Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.), Ednei Caminhas (Presidente Alves, SP, Brazil) and Adriano Moraes (Cachoeira Paulista, SP, Brazil).  Two-time (2005 & 2007) and reigning PBR World Champion McBride (Elk City, Okla.) is determined to win a third world title. After winning his 2007 title, McBride underwent surgery to reconstruct his left shoulder and was out of competition for half the season. Not long after his return in 2008, McBride was back to his winning ways as he took the event title at the Express Classic in Tulsa, Okla., and Nashville, Tenn. The PBR’s only three-time World Champion (1994, 2001, & 2006), Moraes will be competing in his final PBR World Finals, as he announced earlier in the year that 2008 would be his farewell season.  This will be PBR fans’ last chance to watch him compete as well as Caminhas who is also retiring at the Finals.

For more information on the PBR’s Built Ford Tough World Finals, visit www.pbrworldfinals.com or call Katharine Sherrer at (719) 242-2800 ext. 3372.

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About the PBR:
More than 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on FOX, NBC, ESPN, VERSUS, and on a host of foreign networks across the globe.  With approximately 400 hours of prime time programming annually, PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air, in addition to attracting over one and one half million live event attendees each year with it multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the Copenhagen Bull Riding Challenger Tour, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tour, and the Discovery Tour, designed specifically for entry level contestants.  The PBR is headquartered in Pueblo, Colo., with additional offices in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico.  The PBR prides itself in its 1,000 plus stock contractor relationships and over 1,200 PBR bull riders competing in more than 300 PBR sanctioned competitions in five countries.

Music City witnessed a different kind of country superstar as the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) elite Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler (BFTS) tour took over the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn., on August 29-30. Two-time (2005 & 2007) and reigning PBR World Champion Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.) proved he’s back and just as much a force to be reckoned with as he was last year as he scored a total of 268.25 points on three bulls to take the Jack Daniel’s Invitational event title. McBride deposited $41,518 into his bank account and took his second BFTS win in just four events back. Most importantly, McBride increased his season earnings to $95,472 and ensured himself a spot at the upcoming 2008 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals presented by Wrangler this fall in Las Vegas. 

In round one, McBride finished in third place when he rode Handsome Jack of Hebert Bucking Bulls for 88 points. He added another 87.25 points after riding the bull, Chance (Teague Bucking Bulls, LLC) in round two with enough points on two bulls to qualify for the Built Ford Tough Championship Round in the number one position. Thus, he earned the first pick of the bulls during the Bull Draft for the Championship Round. McBride chose Bailey Rodeo Company’s prize bull, Billionaire, for the Championship Round---a bull that bucked him off earlier in the year in Dallas, Texas. He rode him for an event high of 93 points and sealed his second victory of 2008.

“He (Billionaire) is always moving throughout the ride and that’s what he gets so many guys. If you relax one second, it’s over on that bull. You have to stay really aggressive and get at him the whole time. There’s never going to be a comfortable seat on him,” McBride responded when asked about his short-go bull.

As the winner of the Nashville event, McBride found himself as the first participant in the next Zantrex-3 Insta-Shot Grudge Match in Grand Rapids, Mich. He was able to pick his opponent from a list of elite bull riders that included previous World Champions, riders in the Top 10 BFTS standings, and 2008 BFTS event champions. McBride chose Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) for the Grand Rapids Grudge Match. This is the second time McBride has picked Marchi as his Grudge Match opponent, but it will be the first time they will actually ride against each other as McBride was injured before the Edmonton match.

Taking second place overall in Nashville was Oklahoma bull rider Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Okla.), who came into Music City as an alternate. Dirteater covered all three of his bulls for 259.25 points and added $16,380 to his pocketbook. “Being able to compete on the Built Ford Tough Series has been a dream of mine and to come in as an alternate and cover all three of my bulls feels great,” Dirteater commented.

Third place went to number one man Marchi who won $12,270 after he rode two of three bulls for 178 points. Marchi was one of just three men to cover his bull in the Championship Round. Fourth place overall was Sean Willingham (Summerville, Ga.) who covered two of his bulls for a total of 175 points and $7,662. Rounding out fifth place was Brazilian Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) who finished the weekend with 174.5 points and added $5,676 to his 2008 World Standings earnings.

The race for PBR’s million dollar world title takes the top 45 bull riders in the world to Grand Rapids, Mich., on September 12-13 for the U.S. Border Patrol Invitational presented by Cooper Tires. The VERSUS network airs PBR events every Saturday and Sunday evening. Be sure to check www.pbrnow.com for upcoming cities, ticket information, and complete broadcast times.

INJURY REPORT:
Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) strained his groin. He is probable to compete in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Scott Schiffner (Strathmore, ALB, Canada) suffered a concussion. He is probable to compete in Grand Rapids, Mich.

BEHIND THE CHUTES:
Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s “Ride with the Best” Bonus:
As the winner of round two at the Built Ford Tough Invitational presented by Cooper Tires in Glendale, Ariz., Colby Yates (Fort Worth, Texas) was eligible to compete for the $5,000 Enterprise Rent-A-Car “Ride with the Best” bonus during round one of the Jack Daniel’s Invitational. Yates successfully rode the bull, Three Alarm, owned by Frontier Rodeo Company for 86.25 points and took home the $5,000 bonus check.

As the round one winner of the Jack Daniel’s Invitational, Wiley Petersen (Fort Hall, Idaho) was eligible to compete for the $5,000 Enterprise Rent-A-Car “Ride with the Best” bonus during the second round of competition in Nashville. By covering the bull, Fine Wine, owned by Frontier Rodeo Company, Petersen earned a score of 82.75 points and took home the $5,000 bonus. As the winner of round two, Nick Landreneau (Sulphur, La.) will be eligible for the bonus at the next BFTS stop in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Ford Truck Moment of Truth Bonus:
Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.) was in the lead going into the Built Ford Tough Championship Round and won the Jack Daniel’s