Professional Bull Riders - Brazilian Claims the US Air Force Invitational Title!

By Katharine Sherrer, PBR
Posted Sunday, October 5, 2008

CINCINNATI, Oh. (October 4, 2008) - The U.S. Air Force Invitational presented by Cooper Tires thrilled fans with two action packed performances of the best bull riding in the world. The 30th stop of the elite Professional Bull Riders’ (PBR) Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler (BFTS) made its return appearance to the U.S. Bank Arena for the first of two back-to-back stops in the Buckeye State. In the end, Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) walked away with the U.S. Air Force Invitational title, his second 2008 BFTS event win. <!--[endif]-->

During the first round of competition, Nunes scored 82.25 points after teaming up with the bull, Bad Buddy of Gene Owen/O’Kelly, on Friday night. He followed that up with an 80.5 point ride in round two after he topped Midnight Rambler of Chad Berger/Roger Ward. Consistency paid off after he chose to ride Nasty Mike of Diamond S Bucking Bulls during the Built Ford Tough Championship Round draft and scored an event high score of 91.75 points. Nunes finished with a total score of 254.5 points and was the only man to cover all three of his bulls over the weekend. He easily claimed the U.S. Air Force Invitational and walked away with $30,790 in prize money.

“I am very happy! I needed the money just like every cowboy does, especially going into the World Finals. As I watch the Championship Round, I want every cowboy to ride, but ultimately I always want to finish first,” Nunes stated. This win moved the Brazilian bull rider from seventh to fifth place in the overall 2008 BFTS standings.

Wiley Petersen (Fort Hall, Idaho) continued to make his move on towards the top of the standings by claiming second place overall at the event with 177.5 points. In round one, Petersen received 87.75 points aboard Danny Lemmons’ Splat Kat. In the second round, he was bucked off of Gene Owen/Ravenscroft’s Fist Full of Dollars, but still managed to qualify for the Built Ford Tough Championship Round with only one score. Petersen was the only other man to cover his bull in the Championship Round, scoring 89.75 points aboard Beutler & Son Rodeo Company’s Aches & Pains. Petersen took home a check worth $18,460 for his performance.

Josh Koschel (Loveland, Colo.) did his best to earn a spot at the top of the leader board when he took third place in the overall event standings. In round one, Koschel dominated Rafter G Rodeo Co.’s Road Hazard for 86.75 points. Round two was also successful with an 87.5 score aboard Rock Star of Diamond S Bucking Bulls, putting Koschel in first place going into the Built Ford Tough Championship Round and gave him first pick in the short-go draft. Koschel chose to ride Beutler & Son Rodeo Company’s prize bull, Voodoo Child, but was bucked off before the eight second whistle. He left Cincinnati $10,190 for his efforts.

Fourth place was claimed by up-and-comer Travis Sellers (Wentzville, Mo.) who finished the weekend with a total score of 173.75 points and $6,258. 2002 PBR World Champion Ednei Caminhas (P. Alves, SP, Brazil) rounded out the top five bull riders at the U.S. Air Force Invitational after finishing with 173 points and $4,558 on two bulls.

The PBR Team Challenge was once again a thrilling race in Cincinnati. Twenty-two teams have been formed, each providing $50,000 for the opportunity to win their share of the $1.1 million total competition purse through the 2008 season. The teams known as Boyd - Floyd Bullco.com won the U.S. Air Force Invitational Bull Team Challenge with 221.25 and took home $20,000. Winning second place was good for a check worth $10,000 for Nafzger's Wrangler Bull Team after they finished with 219.25 points.

The race for PBR’s million dollar world title takes the top 45 bull riders in the world to Columbus, Ohio for the Rocky Boots Invitational on October 11-12. 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:

Pim Rosa (Paulo de Faria, Brazil) suffered a calf contusion and a mild concussion after riding Encore of Jeff Robinson/Anchor Bull Company. He is probable for next week.

Josh Koschel (Loveland, Colo.) re-aggravated a sprained thumb. He is questionable for Columbus.

US Air Force Invitational RESULTS

1) Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) 12,844 points, $327,120; 2) Valdiron de Oliveira (Aparecida de Goiania, GO, Brazil) 8,985.75 points, $171,917; 3) J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.) 8,442.75 points, $235,428; 4) Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) 8,411 points, $233,566; 5) Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) 7,329.5 points, $140,754; 6) Mike Lee (Decatur, Texas) 7,061.25 points, $300,985; 7) L.J. Jenkins (Texico, N.M.) 6,739.25 points, $197,677; 8) Ross Coleman (Molalla, Ore.) 6,287.5 points, $76,458; 9) Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, N.M.) 5,601 points, $253,645; 10) Wiley Petersen (Fort Hall, Idaho) 5,553.5 points, $107,697.

BEHIND THE CHUTES:

Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s “Ride with the Best” Bonus:
As the winner of round two at the Out of the Chute Invitational, Zack Brown (Santa Fe, Texas) was eligible to compete for the $5,000 Enterprise Rent-A-Car “Ride with the Best” bonus during round one of US Air Force Invitational. He did not make the required eight second whistle aboard Pearl Snap thus the $5,000 bonus was awarded to Boyd/Floyd Bull Company.

The US Air Force Invitational round one winner, Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, N.M.) was eligible to compete for the bonus during the second round of competition in Cincinnati. Briscoe did not make the eight second whistle on the bull, Charlie’s Star, and consequently, Lufkin Ranch & Rodeo was awarded the $5,000 bonus. As the winner of round two Valdiron de Oliveira (Aparecida de Goiania, GO) will be eligible for the bonus during the first round of competition in Columbus, Ohio.

Ford Truck Moment of Truth Bonus:
Josh Koschel (Loveland, Colo.) was in the lead going into the Built Ford Tough Championship Round and ultimately did not win the U.S. Air Force Invitational event title. As the $5,000 bonus was not claimed, it will increase to $10,000 at the Rocky Boots Invitational in Columbus, Ohio on October 10-11. The bonus grows by $5,000 each week if it is not claimed. Once claimed, it returns to $5,000.

Ford Super Duty Challenge:
As the U.S. Air Force Invitational event winner, Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, BZ) has qualified for a chance to compete at the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals, against all other 2008 Built Ford Tough Series event winners, for $50,000 toward the purchase of a 2009 Ford Super Duty Truck. The Ford Super Duty Challenge contestant who finishes the highest in the event aggregate during the 2008 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals will win the Ford Super Duty Challenge.

Salem NationaLease Bull of the Event:
Spit Fire, owned by G&C Rodeo Livestock LLC, earned Bull of the Event honors with a score of 46.25 points in Cincinnati. This honor is acknowledged by an award of $1,250 going to the top bull of each event as determined by the PBR judges’ bull score.

Cabela’s World’s Foremost Ride:
Renato Nunes recorded the highest marked ride of the event when he scored 91.75 points on Nasty Mike of Diamond S Bucking Bulls during the Built Ford Tough Championship Round of the U.S. Air Force Invitational. Consequently, he earned a $1,000 bonus.

The rider who achieves the highest score at each BFTS regular season event, excluding the PBR World Finals receives a bonus of $1,000 for the accomplishment. The PBR athlete who achieves the highest marked qualifying ride during the entire 2008 BFTS regular season, excluding the PBR World Finals event will receive $25,000, while second and third place finishers will be awarded $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. The bull rider who achieves the highest marked ride through the course of the entire 2008 PBR BFTS World Finals will earn an additional $10,000.

Learn more at www.pbrnow.com