CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Known as the "Championship before the Championship," the return of the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals officially kicked off on the USS Lexington on May 3, with a press conference ahead of what's to come.
The Professional Bull Riders joined Corpus Christi city officials and the Buccaneer Commission to help commemorate the finals with PBR's top-performing bulls and Velocity Tour's most decorated rider, Michael Lane.
The senior vice president of PBR, Robert Simpson, said he is excited for the finals because of all the non-stop action fans can expect and what it means for Buc Days.
"To be aligned with Buc Days and what it stands for, the scholarships, the community effort, we love it," Simpson said. "To be the first major event of Buc Days, it's truly satisfying for our riders and the Professional Bull Riders."
Mayor Paulette Guajardo was also in attendance at the launch event and said it fits perfect with the Buc Days festivities because of the partnership the city now has with PBR.
"It's so good to know that we are reciprocating appreciation of this partnership for the next three years," Guajardo said. "That we're going to be a part of their world and they're going to be a part of us."
Starting on May 3-4, the tour finals will feature 45 of the world's best bull riders at the American Bank Center Arena, where riders will have their final chance to qualify for the PBR World Finals coming up on May 18-19 in Arlington, Texas.
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