Bull rider hopes to end U.S. hex in PBR series

By Brett Hoffman

Special to the Star-Telegram

It has been four years since an American has won the Professional Bull Riders world title.

The last was Kody Lostroh in 2009. Since then, the gold buckle has gone to a Brazilian.

Renato Nunes finished No. 1 in 2010 and Silvano Alves, who lives in Decatur, won the past two years.

This season, Alves is attempting to become the first rider to win three consecutive world titles as the PBR celebrates its 20th season. But he’s receiving stiff competition from American Shane Proctor.

After finishing second at last weekend’s tour stop in Kansas City, Mo., Proctor leads the Built Ford Tough Series world race with 4,062.62 points, 702.46 more than Alves.

The two riders face each other Saturday night when the tour stops in Cowboys Stadium. The Arlington show, called the Dickies Iron Cowboy IV, is a bracket-style tournament featuring 24 riders. The winner will receive $50,000 and the opportunity to pocket another $50,000 if he can conquer the show’s bonus bovine, Monster Energy Money Bull Shepherd Hills Tested.

Building a dynasty

Pete Carr is an exceptional stock contractor in his own right.

But after purchasing the Classic Rodeo Co. from longtime producer Scotty Lovelace, Carr, who lives in Dallas, he can offer an amazing line-up of bucking horses and bulls.

Carr purchased Lovelace’s company on Feb. 21. The deal brought together 31 animals that bucked at the 2012 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, according to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

“I think we made a huge jump in the food chain,” said Carr, who served as a sub contractor under Neal and Jim Gay at the Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo earlier this year. “It certainly raises the level of what we have to offer rodeo committees.”

Carr’s combined schedule means producing 33 shows in 13 states this season. The company’s schedule includes Oklahoma’s Richest Rodeo in Guymon, Okla., and the Texas Stampede in Allen.

While purchasing the new company was an emotional high, Carr also had a huge disappointment last week. His prize bareback bronc, MGM Deuces Night, died on Feb. 23 after suffering an episode of colic at the Elgin (Texas) Veterinary Hospital.

MGM Deuces Night was 2012 PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year.

“Losing a horse like that definitely stings,” Carr said.

Reaching a milestone

After earning a $2,981 check for placing in tie-down roping at the San Angelo Rodeo, Tuf Cooper of Decatur became the youngest cowboy to reach $1 million in PRCA career earnings. The defending world champion reached the milestone on Feb. 22, just 22 days after his 23rd birthday, according to the PRCA. It broke the 20-year-old record of 23 years, 9 months set by Ty Murray during the Fourth of July run in 1993.

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