PBF bullfighters getting Dodge Ram tough in west Texas

By Ted Harbin
Posted Monday, December 29, 2008

ODESSA, Texas – All-American Dodge of Midland/Odessa knows what it means to be All-American tough. Now All-American Dodge and the Professional Bullfighters Inc. will show you a whole new way to Grab Life By The Horns.

From the Ram 2500 to the Dakota to the Charger, All-American Dodge is about strength, power, versatility and great service. And that’s just one reason All-American Dodge is in partnership with the PBF Daisy Protection Bullfight World Championships, which will take place Jan. 2-3 and 7-10 in conjunction with the SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo at the Ector County Coliseum.

“This is one of the biggest events to come to the Permian Basin every year,” said Mickey Gaines with All-American Dodge. “We are extremely happy to be the presenting partner.”

At 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, the All-American Dodge team will reward the PBF Daisy Protection Bullfight World Championships qualifiers with the use of the New Dodge Ram 1500s during their stay in the Midland/Odessa region. These are the trucks you are seeing in the Ram Tough Challenge commercials, a fitting truck for these men who literally Grab Life by the Horns.

“We all know that bullfighting is a tough business, and they demand tough trucks,” Gaines said. “That’s why they love driving our Dodge Ram tough trucks while they’re in town for the rodeo.”

The PBF World Championships feature the top five protection-bullfight teams who battled through the rigors of the tough 2008 season to qualify for a chance to win the Daisy Protection Bullfight Tour’s year-end title. Over the six nights of the SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo, these talented bullfighters will use tremendous athleticism and bull savvy to protect the bull riders during the rodeo.

They’ve proven themselves over the course of the 2008 campaign that featured dozens of the toughest protection bullfighters in the business. This up-and-coming spectator sport is proving to be a vital part of the bull-riding way of life, whereby these talented athletes are judged by how well they divert the animals’ attention from the fallen bull riders, and how well they do other aspects of their jobs.

“These guys are the best in the world, bar none,” said Jim McLain Jr., president of the PBF and a longtime bullfighter himself. “I have no doubt in my mind that these guys will be the most aggressive bullfighters the SandHills has ever witnessed. They are the 10 best Protection Bullfighters in the World, bar none.

“We stress the grabs, where the bullfighters get their hands on the bulls to get those bulls’ attention, and every one of these guys will get their hands on a lot of bulls in these World Championships. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve seen it – and we’ve had protection bullfights in Odessa for a long time – you will be amazed at what these guys can do and will do.”

The bullfight teams that qualified for the World Championships are Team All-American Dodge, Dave Jantzi and Toby Inman (Media Partner KICKS-FM and BOB-FM); Team Mann Creek Buck-N-Bulls, Steve Wangler and Jay Brewer (KOSA-CBS 7); Team Cavenders, Dusty Tuckness and Andy Burelle (Cumulus/Lonestar 92.3 FM); Team Daisy, Joe Garretson and Cory Wall (My Country 96.1); and Team Buster’s Well Service, Sam Gress and Wacey Munsell (KBAT 99.9 FM), the defending world champion.

“We became involved with the rodeo years ago, and it has grown into one our biggest sponsorships we do every year,” Gaines said. “It’s the kickoff for the rodeo season and is a great chance for all Permian Basin residents to come out, have a great time and watch the best rodeo between Dallas and El Paso.”