Carolina Cowboys Finish Second at 2024 PBR Camping World Teams Championship

LAS VEGAS – When the dust settled on the 2024 season for the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series, the Carolina Cowboys finished second, narrowly falling to the Austin Gamblers in the Championship Game.

Following a Round 1 bye earned courtesy of the No. 2 finish in the regular season standings, the Carolina Cowboys took on the No. 5 Austin Gamblers in Round 2. Despite a monster 90-point ride from Cooper Davis and a qualified ride from Derek Kolbaba, the Cowboys were not able to stave off defeat by a 4-for-5 effort from Austin, losing 349.76-166.

Via the loss, Carolina turned their focus to the Last Chance Game. Dominating the three-way game, the No. 2 Carolina Cowboys advanced with ease, eliminating the No. 4 Texas Rattlers and No. 6 Missouri Thunder, 178.75-0.00-0.00. Carolina’s postseason dreams were kept alive courtesy of scores from Kolbaba and Davis.

Advancing to Championship Sunday for the first time in team history, Carolina took on the No. 3 Florida Freedom in the Semifinals. Riding with newfound confidence, the Cowboys advanced to their team’s first Championship Game with a one-ride-score, 87.5-point win against the Freedom, 178.25-90.75.

The Cowboys clinched the game win early courtesy of crucial scores from Davis and Daylon Swearingen in the second and fourth frames, coupled with four consecutive buckoffs from Florida.

Following a Gamblers win against the No. 1 Kansas City Outlaws in the first Semifinal game, the Championship Game featured a rematch from the tournament’s Round 2 as Carolina readied to play Austin.

The Championship Game began in rapid fire with the first four outs resulting in scores and the lead changing three times. 

Austin struck first as Kaique Pacheco bested Ah Hell for 88 points, but Carolina responded in the very next out, claiming the lead by 0.75 points when Davis recorded an 88.75-point score on Down Payment.

The Gamblers wouldn’t trail for long. In the top of the second, Austin leapfrogged Carolina by 87.75 points courtesy of an 88.5-point ride registered by Lucas Divino on Big Chew. While Carolina converted in the bottom of the second, with Kolbaba besting Watch Out for 87.5 points, it was not enough to overtake the Gamblers, who led by 0.25 points entering the third.

Austin then hit its first roadblock of the day to launch the middle round of outs. While Ramon de Lima initially appeared centered on Army Slasher, he was brought down in 5.29 seconds, opening the door for Carolina to recapture the lead. Capitalizing on the moment, Carolina elected to keep Adriano Salgado’s 76.25-point ride on Wingman, despite being offered a re-ride. Their third-straight ride had Carolina in the lead by 76 points, 252.5-176.5, entering the fourth.

The Gamblers, however, were on the precipice of an out that would be the go-ahead score that would determine the Championship. Dalton Kasel was marked a tournament-best 92 points on Always Been Crazy, catapulting Austin to the lead by 16 points.

Carolina then found itself needing a score from Swearingen on Norse God, but the 2022 PBR World Champion did not have enough, whipped down in 4.64 seconds.

Via the buckoff, Austin had the chance to cement the game win early in the top of the fifth as Jose Vitor Leme climbed aboard Tijuana Two-Step. A score of 84.25 points or more would clinch the 2024 PBR Teams Championship for Austin. Leme delivered a picture-perfect, 89-point ride, putting the game out of reach for Carolina by 105 points and clinching the Gamblers’ first PBR Teams Championship.

Carolina had one out remaining, but Sage Steele Kimzey was unable to conclude the game in successful form for his team, brought down in a close 7.19 seconds by Manaba.

At the conclusion of the 10 outs, the No. 5 Austin Gamblers earned the 2024 PBR Teams Championship by 105 points, upsetting the No. 2 Carolina Cowboys 357.5-252.5.

On-demand replays of all the 2024 PBR Teams action are available on the Merit+ app. Viewers can watch on the Merit+ app or go to https://www.meritstreetmedia.com/channel-finder to find the Merit Street Media cable channel in their area.

Article reprinted with permission by PBR.COM. Draft Carolina thanks PBR for their cooperation in sharing this article and their assistance with content this season.