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This weekend’s Challenger Championship doubles as first BFTS event of 2010

DULUTH, Ga. (November 16, 2009) - A week after the most compelling finish to a Built Ford Tough Series, the best bull riders on the planet are already gearing up for the new season.

This weekend, 55 riders will converge on the state of Georgia for the Challenger Tour Championship, which will also serve as stop number one of 32 on the 2010 Built Ford Tough Series.

The three-day event, which will take place at The Arena at the Gwinnett Center just outside of Atlanta, will feature the Top 40 riders in the world, as well as the Top 15 Challenger qualifiers who are not already ranked in the Top 40.

All 55 riders will compete Friday and Saturday, with the Top 40 from the first two days competing in the third round, trying to qualify for the short go.

Mike Lee leads all comers in the Challenger qualifier standings, with $199,211 in minor-league earnings.

J.B. Mauney, who finished second in the world standings for the second consecutive year, comes into the event second. However, with a payout of $500,000 on the line, this year’s Challenger champion has yet to be determined.

Each round pays out $20,000 to winner, along with $10,000 for second and $7,500 for third place. The average winner will earn $200,000, followed by payouts of $50,000, $30,000 and $20,000.

Although some have questioned the inclusion of the Top 40 riders in the world standings, the combined format still allows for everyone ranked in the Top 40 of the Challenger standings to compete in the Finals.

This year’s World Champion Kody Lostroh will not be competing in the event. He underwent successful elbow surgery just three days after winning his first world title and is recovering at home in Colorado.

In addition to determining the Challenger champion, which is based on money earned, the points from the event will serve as the first points earned for the 2010 BFTS.

Sunday evening the world standings will reflect the first leader on the grueling year-long “Road to Vegas.”

NEWS and NOTES

In the coming days leading up to this weekend’s event, look for profiles on J.B. Mauney and Cody Nance as well as “In the Bull Pen” with Cody Lambert.

—by Keith Ryan Cartwright, PBRNow.com