PBR Rising Star Takes First BFTS Win of Career!!

GLENDALE, Az. (February 23, 2009) - When the lights dimmed on the Glendale Invitational, stop No. 11 on the Professional Bull Riders’ (PBR) elite Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS), it was Oregon young gun Cody Ford (Stanfield, Ore.) who rode away with the win, proving why he is one of the top 40 bull riders on the prestigious tour. One electrifying performance featured the world’s best riders taking on the rankest bulls in the nation as they wowed the packed crowd at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Ford rode two bulls for a total of 181.75 points, collecting a check for $60,960 as well as valuable points to the 2009 Built Ford Tough Series Worlds Standings. Ford scored 89 points on the bull, Walk the Line, owned by Chad Berger/Clay Struve, taking first place in round one. Going into the Built Ford Tough Championship round, he had the first pick in the PBR Bull draft and chose to ride prize bull Troubadour, owned by Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls. Ford covered the 2008 Reserve World Champion Bucking Bull for 92.75 points, winning not only the short-go, but the first BFTS event of his young career. “This is a dream come true,” Ford said from the Glendale winner’s circle. “When I go to St. Louis, I can go knowing that I belong with the top riders in the world and I can compete with them.” Taking second place in Glendale was two-time PBR World Champion Chris Shivers (Jonesville, La.) who scored total of 178.75 points, adding $14,690 to his 2009 earnings. Finishing third was 2008 PBR World Champion Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) who totaled 177.75 points on two bulls and collected a check for $10,060 while Colorado cowboy Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) rode for a total of 177 points and took home $6,843, inching him closer to the number one spot in the world. Rounding out fifth place was Brazilian superstar Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) who scored 175 points in Glendale and added $5,130 to his 2009 earnings.