What a great way to end the weekend.  Two best friends who competed all year, making it to the World Finals.  Than having to be neck and neck all week right up until and counting the final ride.  With each walking away with a prize.

JB Mauney and Kody Lostroh made this year’s PBR World Finals an absolute nail biter and one for the PBR record books. They were at the top of the leader board each and every night, separated by mere points all the way through.  Even at the end of the regular round, they had to re-audit the numbers because of how close they were.  That alone was one record.

The short go-around was high anxiety as only two of the first thirteen riders made the full eight seconds.  Both were 90+ rides.  The second to last ride had JB on top of Black Pearl.  Riding him for an amazing 93.75.  The the 17,000 fans in the house went absolutely nuts.  The noise level was off the charts and not a person remained seated…  This ride made JB the only rider to ever ride all eight of his bulls in the World Finals.  Another record in the books.

As we set up for the last ride with Kody on VooDoo Child.  The crowd was still jazzed, on their feet and making more noise about JB’s ride.  It was unbelievable, the electricity and exciment in the air as the chute finally opened up. Kody gave it his usual 110% and hung on as long as he could.

That had to be the longest, slowest and most intense 7.49 seconds in PBR history.  The fans were out of control as he hit the ground.  If they could, they would have stormed the arena and put him back on for the last few moments. An amazing site to see.

In the end, JB got the win for all around average points for the year and Kody took home the big prize.  The Million Dollar check, the gold buckle and the title of PBR World Champion for 2009.

This was the most exciting, tension filled finals I had ever witnessed.  We will recap the whole event in the days to follow…  But it was amazing…  If you only watch one round of PBR on TV This year, make sure its THIS round. And invite your friends to watch with you…This is what PBR is all about.

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What a career this man has had.  Lostroh was PBR’s top rookie in 2004, was sixth in 2006 and 2007.  He finished fifth last year.

Last night’s bull pen featured the Top 20 Classic bulls, including Black Pearl, who has a chance to be the top Classic bull as well as World Champion Bull. The other half of the pen was made of up veteran bulls who have consistently proven themselves over the past few years.

Last night we saw the final rides for PBR veterans Zorro and Splat Kat, both of whom were retired after the night’s out.

This was the sixth time Zorro has been at the Finals. His first time in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center he bucked off Michael Gaffney, who won a world title in 1997. Splat Kat has been competing in the PBR for five years. This was his fourth time at the Finals.

But the night belonged to the crashes.  Several good wrecks happened along with a lot of no rides.  The worst of them was Austin Meier on top (for awhile) Perfect Poison.  See photo…  His reride treated him much better.  The bull Flashpoint gave him a 86.75.  Placing him sixth for the night and just out of the money.

It’s nail biting time as we get down to the last three shows before we get to the short round and crown the World Champion Bull rider.

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