Austin Richardson wins PBR Unleash The Beast Major in New York City to overtake No. 1 Rank in the race for the 2024 World Championship
At the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Unleash The Beast event in New York City, Austin Richardson (Dallas, Texas) delivered a 3-for-4 performance to win the Monster Energy Buck Off at The Garden, presented by Ariat, and overtake the No. 1 rank in the race for the 2024 World Championship.
Richardson’s first career Major victory was his second consecutive event-win after he also rode to victory last weekend in Albany.
“This is the best win in my career,” Richardson said moments after hoisting the event’s iconic Charging Bull trophy. “Madison Square Garden is the most exciting event leading to the World Finals. It’s wonderful being here in New York with this great crowd behind us. We wouldn’t be able to do what we love without the fans.”
Richardson, who rides for the Austin Gamblers in the separate PBR Teams league, traveled to the World’s Most Famous Arena trailing then-No. 1 Cassio Dias (Sao F. de Sales, Brazil) by 73 points.
In Round 1, the reserved Texan was quick to strike, delivering the fourth-best score as he conquered Moonlight Party (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) for 88 points.
He remained redhot in Round 2, again making the requisite 8 as he teamed with Bangarang (Shuler Bucking Bulls) for 86.75 points.
As Championship Sunday got underway, Richardson stumbled in Round 3, bucked off by The Undertaker (Cornwell/Riley/ PCP Bucking Bulls) in a swift 2.33 seconds. However, his first two scores proved enough to punch his ticket to the championship round positioned fourth on the event leaderboard.
While he initially selected Mike’s Motive (Blake Sharp/High Voltage/Wetzel/Knott), the out resulted in a re-ride, renewing Richardson’s rivalry with Canadian-born bovine athlete Moonlight Party.
Nodding confidently, Richardson again matched the bull jump-for-jump, reaching the whistle as the crowd erupted in raucous cheer. Marked 83.5 points, Richardson, who had surged to the event lead, was awarded yet another re-ride as the bull uncharacteristically stopped mid-out.
Richardson elected to keep the score in a business decision that paid dividends. The remaining two riders were both bucked off, cementing the second straight win for the 23-year-old Texan.
Along with a check for $118,650, Richardson also earned a crucial 210 Unleash The Beast points. He overtook Dias for the No. 1 rank in the Unleash The Beast standings, now leading the World Championship race by a mere 20 points.
