CHEYENNE, Wyo. — At the first event of the 2023 PBR (Professional Bull Riding) Camping World Team Series season, the Austin Gamblers rode supreme, going a perfect 2–0 in gameplay to be crowned the event champions in Cheyenne and surge to an early lead in the PBR Teams’ standings.
The first matchup of the evening echoed yesterday’s performances for both the Austin Gamblers (2–0) and the Missouri Thunder (0–2) as 2022 Team Series MVP Jose Vitor Leme once again secured the victory for the Gamblers, 89.25–0, while a young Missouri roster was shut out for a second straight game.
The athletes strutted their stuff in the second contest of the evening as they blanked both the Oklahoma Freedom (1–1) and the Kansas City Outlaws (0–2). It is the first time in PBR Teams’ history that an event has featured multiple double-shutouts, and it is the fourth double-shutout in league history and the third to occur in Cheyenne.
In the highest-scoring matchup of the event, the Texas Rattlers (1–1) took advantage of two great performances from rookies Dawson Gleaves and Creek Young, as both young riders recorded qualified riders during their respective PBR Teams’ debuts, part of a four-ride outing for the Rattlers. The Texas squad cruised to a dominant 347.5–87.5 victory over the defending champion, Nashville Stampede (0–2).
In the final matchup of the evening, the Carolina Cowboys recorded an impressive 178.5–0 victory over the Arizona Ridge Riders (0–2). Sage Kimzey made his presence known with his first ride of the season, a monstrous 90-point performance that gave the Cowboys a lead they would never relinquish.
With two teams left undefeated after the first two games, Carolina and Austin turned to extra outs to determine the winner of the first event of the season. Leme once again delivered for the Gamblers, posting a magical 90.5-point ride.
The Cowboys then turned to their own former world champion, Cooper Davis, in an attempt to either win or extend the showdown. Davis rocketed out of the chutes atop Mike’s Motive, but he was unable to make the 8 after a heart-stopping 3.13 seconds, leaving the Gamblers victorious.
