Parker County Today June 2015 | Page 56

JUNE 2015 PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY at each tour stop. The winning team wins the lion’s share, $20,000, of the money at each event with the points being awarded in a descending scale from twelve to one. One point being earned by the last place team. While all 12 teams (at each event) earn points depending on how they finish, four teams finish “in the money” with $20,000, $12,000, $8,000, and $5,000, being the designated payout during the 2014-2015 season. The second way to qualify for the “winner take all” prize purse available in Cheyenne is through the Cheyenne Challenge format featured at two events, (Jackson, Tennessee and Del Rio, Texas) where the first place winner is automatically qualified for the World Finals. This year’s automatic winners were Cory Melton’s team in Jackson and Jeff Harris’ team in Del Rio. But during the regular season one question is analyzed and consistently debated by the team owners. Do rank bull scores win more often or do high marked ride scores offer 54 the safer goal to gaining points? 626 Karaoke, a son of Wildnights and owned by Elite Buckin Bull’s, Jeri Harmon, shares with #54 Cadillac Red, owned by Benny Cude this season’s record rank bull score, 93 points. Karaoke and Cadillac Red boast the season’s rankest bull score while bucking off their opponents, Josh Barentine and Corey Maier respectively, both in less than 4 seconds. 626 boasts the highest average rank score of 45.3 with 6 outs. The highest marked ride of the bull team season was 93 points earned by Elliot Jacoby on 050 Gold Buckle at the first event of 2015 held in January during the Jackson, Tenn. Bull Team Challenge Mahindra Road to Cheyenne event. This great bucker, a son of Lightening Jack and out of a M17 cow, is owned by Zach Craig and Brett Barrett and flanked by Barrett. WHO DID IT BEST? This year the top scoring team is owned by Mike Rawson, Martinsville, Texas, who surged to the top of the standings after his second place finish on April 28th in Del Rio, Texas, the final stop of the Mahindra Road to Cheyenne Tour. Using 11 different bulls to post 23 qualified ride scores, Rawson earned 35 points to top the leader board for the 2014-15 season. “It’s a challenge to make sure these bulls always perform when the chute opens”, said Rawson. “While we are winning points and money we also have a responsibility to Tuff (Hedeman) and the event producers to make sure the fans see a good show”. Rawson who has been in the winner’s circle nine times since joining the BTC, holds the record for the most first place finishes in the history of this wildly popular team concept. Giving the former stock contractor of the year a run for his money was the second place Championship Pro Rodeo / Elite Buckin Bulls team powered by Zach Craig and Brett Barrett with partner Jeri Harmon. This team earned 33 points during the competitive season. A strong supporter of the CBR, Jeri also owns a stake in Mike White’s Elite Buckin Bulls