Chris Shivers Wins $1 Million

11/11/2003

Bull riding history was rewritten today as Chris Shivers (Jonesville, LA) became the first Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) World Champion to earn the Built Ford Tough Million-Dollar Bonus presented by Bud Light. The $2.7 million BFTS World Finals, presented by Las Vegas culminated after four days and five intense go rounds of competition with Shivers defeating closest opponent, Justin McBride (Elk City, OK) by a narrow margin in the final round of action. Millions of viewers watched the compelling world title race unfold live on NBC, while a capacity crowd of 16,500 witnessed the drama live. Shivers and McBride battled back and forth during the Finals as they have through the course of the 2003 season with a mere 665 points separating them going into the fourth go round.

After McBride twisted Cripple Creek Slick Willy of Terry Williams' for 90 points and a tie for third in the fourth round, Shivers rallied to post 89 points aboard Tar Baby belonging to RBL Rodeo Bulls. Shivers and McBride both qualified for the final and fifth go round by placing among the top fifteen, but unaware of the margin separating them, it was unclear to both who would be a millionaire at the end of the day.

The suspense escalated as the duo went neck in neck to attempt their final bulls. Shivers, who failed to ride High Tide of Beutler and SonsRodeo Company in the finals, stated during the post event pressconference, "I thought when my head hit the ground in the short go that I'd lost the million. This has been the longest year of my life, every week's a test and there's 28 events to determine the World Champion so you have to go at it with effort at every one of them."

Having faced the ultimate challenge, both mentally and physically, Shivers hasn't decided where he'll spend his million. Shivers finished the season with $1,318,702 in earnings, while McBride's season dollarstotaled $276,083. Of the points margin through the competition, Shivers and McBride both conceded that they knew it was a heated race but didn't keep a constant tally. Stated Shivers, "there's so much more to worry about before you start counting points so you've just got to stay clear." 

Consistently mastering four of the five bulls run under him in thefour day competition, newcomer Jody Newberry (Ada, OK) secured the prestigious title of BFTS World Finals event champion as well as PBR Rookie of the Year. Newberry clinched both titles in the finals when he mastered Berger, Teague and Taupin's 2002 and 2003 Bull of the Year, Little Yellow Jacket for the go round win. In the past four years, Little Yellow Jacket has an impressive record of having been ridden only nine out of fifty-seven outs, to an outstanding average score of 92.5. Newberry's 94.5 was the high mark of the event and the rookie left Vegas $265,566 dollars richer. 

Fourth go round honors were shared by J.W. Hart (Gainesville, TX) and Jensen, UT cowboy Tony Mendes who topped Roy Carter's Slim Shady and Lovelace's Little White Soldier respectively to earn $18,500 each.