FORT WORTH, Texas – The first Eliminations stage of the 2024 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) World Finals: Unleash The Beast witnessed a remarkable performance from rising star John Crimber. The No. 2 ranked rider, hailing from Decatur, Texas, delivered clutch rides while the top-ranked contender faced a setback due to injury. Over two consecutive days at Cowtown Coliseum, the teenage sensation, John Crimber, secured round wins, strengthening his hold on the No. 2 position and moving closer to potentially becoming the youngest World Champion in PBR history.
After a challenging start to Eliminations, going 0-for-2 in the initial rounds, the 18-year-old prodigy, John Crimber, regained his stride on Saturday evening. He tied for the Round 3 victory by expertly riding Brown Bomber (Culp Bucking Bulls) for an impressive 89.25 points.
John Crimber continued his dominant form into Sunday, once again topping the round leaderboard. This time, he conquered Ugly This (Cord McCoy/McCoy Rodeo) with a score of 89.75 points in Round 4.
This score resulted in a three-way tie for the Round 4 win for John Crimber, ultimately positioning him in second place at the conclusion of the PBR World Finals – Eliminations.
John Crimber accumulated a significant 253 Unleash The Beast points and $127,833.33 throughout the four days of competition. This performance notably narrowed the gap between him and No. 1 ranked Cassio Dias (Sao F. de Sales, Brazil). Starting Eliminations 560.5 points behind Dias, John Crimber now trails his fellow Brazilian rookie by a closer margin of 487.5 points. Anticipated to be a top pick in the upcoming 2024 PBR Teams New Rider Draft in late May, Crimber’s performance at Eliminations has solidified his status as a major contender.
As John Crimber prepares for the Championship rounds inside AT&T Stadium on May 18-19, the stakes are high. With a maximum of 756 Unleash The Beast points available, the top four riders, including John Crimber, remain firmly in the running for the coveted 2024 PBR World Championship title.
Dias, despite being sidelined on Sunday due to an injury sustained after a 5.78-second buckoff from Norse God (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) in Round 3, still managed to finish third at Eliminations. He earned 180 Unleash The Beast points by successfully riding Sava (Risen Cattle Co.) for 86.75 points in Round 1 and Ricky Vaughn (WinRock/D&H Cattle/Buck Cattle) for 88 points in Round 2.
The other top contenders also experienced varied results at Eliminations. No. 3 Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil) tied for 12th, earning 88 Unleash The Beast points, while No. 4 Dalton Kasel (Muleshoe, Texas) faced a tougher event, going 0-for-4. Aparecido will head to AT&T Stadium 686.33 points behind Dias, and Kasel will begin the Championship 751.33 points behind the leader.
Kaiden Loud (Kaufman, Texas) emerged as the winner of the Eliminations stage, being the only rider to achieve 3 successful rides out of 4. Loud’s victory earned him 379 Unleash The Beast points and $219,833.33, propelling him from No. 20 to No. 6 in the Unleash The Beast standings and securing his place in the Championship rounds.
Joining Dias, Crimber, Aparecido, Kasel, and Loud in the Championship from the Unleash The Beast standings are: No. 5 Alan de Souza (Taubate, Brazil), No. 7 Koltin Hevalow (Smithville, Missouri), No. 9 Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil), No. 10 Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Brazil), No. 11 Brady Fielder (Clermont, Queensland, Australia), No. 12 Thiago Salgado (Navirai, Brazil), No. 13 Caden Bunch (Tahlequah, Oklahoma), No. 14 Leonardo Castro (Cassilandia, Brazil), No. 15 Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York), and No. 16 Cort McFadden (Novice, Texas).
Five additional riders, Dener Barbosa (Paulo de Faria, Brazil), Andrew Alvidrez (Seminole, Texas), Sage Steele Kimzey (Strong City, Oklahoma), Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) and Claudio Montanha Jr. (Ribeirao dos Indios, Brazil) advanced to the Championship based on their Eliminations performance.
In the bull standings, No. 1 Man Hater (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) remained at the top, but No. 2 Red Demon (Universal Pro Rodeo/Rachel & Dustin Powell/Delmas/Williams) closed the gap with an impressive out. Cool Whip (Julian/Staci Addison/D&H Cattle/Crooked W) tied the record for consecutive buckoffs on the premier series with his 42nd, matching three-time World Champion Bull Bushwacker’s streak.
The PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast continues with Ride for Redemption on May 15-16 in Fort Worth, determining the final five spots for the Championship at AT&T Stadium on May 18-19, where the 2024 PBR World Champion will be crowned. John Crimber‘s strong showing at the Eliminations stage sets the stage for an exciting Championship event, as he aims to capitalize on his momentum and challenge for the World Championship title.
