It has become an annual event, over the past 21 years, as the Professional Bull Riders make a stop in Tulsa. This year, it was the first time for the Velocity Tour to visit the BOK Center, on Friday and Saturday nights.
As I’ve written in the past, this is something my daughter and I look forward to doing together each year, and this year was no different. Being in the media, and wanting to take photos for the Tulsa Beacon, we always have front row seats, near the pens, and are very close to the action. So much so this time around, that we ended up with quite a bit of dirt in our face from the fractious bulls that came within two feet of us. Thanks to hockey boards and a pole barrier that separates us from the bulls.
On the first night of the competition, Tahlequah native Caden Bunch tied for the lead with Jaxton Mortensen (Chino Valley, Az.) at 84.5 points. Following 40 rides in the first round, only six riders were able to stay atop the bull for the required eight seconds, to qualify for a score. Bunch achieved his score atop Black Ops from Lucky Clover Cattle Ranch. Mortensen did it on the back of Renegade (Hale/Vella/ Ogden/Hart).
On Saturday night, in front of a record-setting, sold-out crowd inside the BOK Center, Bunch sealed his victory by going a perfect 3-for-3 to win the debut Walmart Health & Wellness PBR Tulsa. In the second round, Bunch outlasted Virg (Cross 33 Cattle/Daylon Swearingen) for 83.5.
Bunch then won the event with the top score of the championship round, riding Bandito (Sho-Me Rodeo/Wyloh) for 83 points. With the win, Bunch earned a crucial 148 points in the race for the 2025 Velocity Tour Championship.
Mortensen finished with scores in 2-of-3 rounds and finishing in second place with 80.5 Velocity Global points. In round 2, Mortensen topped Shakira (Folsom Point Bucking Bull) for 81.5 points. Mortensen’s hopes of beating Bunch, however, were cut short when he was bucked off Dirty Hairy Deeds (Campbell Cattle Co./Cannon Cattle Co.) in a quick 1.58 seconds in the championship round.
The PBR event is always a fun time and it sure does draw large crowds each year. Just from the fans in the stands that participated in contests during pauses in the action, there were people in town from all around Oklahoma, as well as Texas, Arkansas and Kansas.
TULSA BEACON RADIO
Tune in to “Tulsa Beacon Weekend” radio show every week, featuring interviews with local and national level guests, talking about everything from politics to family issues. The guests this week will be Todd and Julie Huston, and Julio Socorro with Miller-Motte College. The show airs on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CST on 970am KCFO.