The bubble is about to pop for Unleash The Beast competitors.

We’d never say they had it easy, but the best competitors from last season in the PBR were feeling secure in their Unleash The Beast positions… until now. Not only does this weekend mark a very special event for PBR competitors and fans, but it also marks the last event where the points from last year’s standings will help competitors earn their spots on the UTB tour. 

Watch the 2019 Mason Lowe Memorial PBR Unleash The Beast LIVE on FloRodeo, Feb. 15-16 

The PBR is unique in that the draws for the first few events of the Unleash the Beast tour season are filled with last year’s top competitors, but after this weekend the doors are thrown open and everyone has an even shot of qualifying for the association’s premier tour. 

Watch the 2019 PBR Velocity Tour-Jacksonville LIVE on FloRodeo, Feb. 16

So how does it all work? And who has a chance to move in, or needs to pull up their socks a little higher this weekend?

The System

The first five events of the Unleash the Beast tour featured the top 35 competitors from last year’s standings—with fill-ins as necessary when injuries cause competitors to drop out. After five events, the bottom five competitors were then shuffled out if they didn’t earn enough points to stay above the cut line, or held their spots if they did. 

Now, after the seventh event this weekend, the doors will be thrown wide open and only the competitors who were able to earn enough points to stay within the current top 35 in the world standings will stay. Meaning anyone could move up, and anyone could also be bumped out. 

Competitors who win Velocity Tour events were also given a “guest spot” at Unleash the Beast Tour events and the opportunity to earn the big points the events hold.

Points On The Table

There are a lot of points up for grabs this weekend between three PBR events on U.S. soil this weekend. The Unleash the Beast Tour offers the most points and the quickest way to move up the ranks, but as we’ve seen from many of the competitors in the Velocity Tour and Touring Pro already, it’s not impossible to battle your way up through these second and third tier events.

So let’s take a look at what’s up for grabs:

Unleash The Beast – St. Louis

Aggregate = 400 points for first place.

Rounds = 100 points for first place in each round, including the championship round.

Velocity Tour – Jacksonville

Aggregate = 170 points for first place.

Rounds = 50 points for first place in each round, but points are not awarded in the championship round.

Touring Pro – Choctaw

Aggregate = 60 points for first place.

Rounds = 0 points awarded in the rounds.

Analysis

So who do we think should be a little nervous heading into the weekend and who can breathe easy? Take a look at our analysis of the top competitors in the standings who are competing this weekend to see how everyone stacks up.