Nine-time PBR World Finals qualifier Paulo Crimber (Olimpia, SP, Brazil) will not compete at the 2008 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals presented by Wrangler due to injury; therefore, #46 man Ryan McConnel (Cortez, Colo.) will compete in his place.  In addition, seven men qualified as alternates.  They are:  #47 Vince Northrop (Davidson, SK, Canada,); #48 Cody Ford (Stanfield, Ore.); #49 Ned Cross (Midland, Ore.); #50 Rocky McDonald (Col. Juarez, Mexico); #51 Pim Rosa (Paulo de Faria, Brazil); #52 Scott Schiffner (Strathmore, AB, Canada); and #53 Beau Hill (West Glacier, Mont.). 

The PBR World Finals consists of eight rounds of competition.  The first seven rounds feature the top 45 riders randomly matched against the sport’s toughest bulls.  The top 15 riders based upon their total cumulative scores after seven rounds will qualify to compete in one final decisive round of competition, which will take place at the conclusion of the seventh performance on Sunday, November 9. 

The rider with the highest total score on eight bulls will earn the 2008 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals event title.  The PBR World Finals event winner should not be confused with the PBR World Champion.  The 2008 PBR World Champion will be the rider who totals the most Built Ford Tough Series points throughout the course of the entire season including the PBR World Finals.  Both the 2008 World Champion and World Finals event winner will be named on Sunday, November 9. 

Additionally, the PBR is excited to announce its bullfighting and judging crews for the 2008 PBR World Finals.  Each was selected by the top 45 bull riders – one of the highest honors in professional bull riding. 

The 2008 PBR World Finals Dickies DuraBullfighters are Shorty Gorham (Cotulla, Texas), Frank Newsom (Saratoga, Olka.), Joe Baumgartner (Red Bluff, Calif.), and Shane “Mad Dog” Simpson (Block Water, Australia).  Originally, Darrell Diefenbach (Azle, Texas) was selected to work the Finals, but due to a broken leg, he will sit out the two weekends of competition. 

The 2008 PBR World Finals Judging Team is made up of Jim Bob Custer (Wickenburg, Ariz.), KJ Pletcher (Springer, Okla.), Chuck Lambert (Vado, N.M.), Dean Wilson (Stephenville, Texas), and Jeff Shearer (Loma Rica, Calif.) who will be the replay judge. 

For more information about the 2008 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals, the 45 qualifiers, bullfighters, or judges, please visit www.pbrnow.com or contact 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 1.5 million live event attendees each year with its 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.