[TN_Gal]

The Professional Bull Riders' Announce Inaugural Dale Jr. PBR Clash


http://www.pbrnow.com/images/dynimg.cfm?ID=3822&T=0
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (October 19, 2006) - The Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) is proud to announce stop number eight on the 2007 Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler (BFTS). The Dale Jr. PBR Clash will rock Charlotte, N.C. on Jan. 26-28 when Charlotte’s Bobcats Arena hosts the stars of the PBR. Lending his name to the event is North Carolina native and NASCAR great, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. The PBR is proud to unite the most popular name in racing with the toughest sport on the planet for an unforgettable weekend of bull riding. The Dale Jr. PBR Clash guarantees cutting edge excitement as the world's greatest bull riders challenge the rankest bulls in the industry. The event promises all the explosive excitement and the adrenaline charged action found on the PBR tour. Two-time PBR World Champion Adriano Moraes (Sao Paulo, Brazil), 2005 PBR World Champion Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.), and PBR superstars like Sean Willingham (Summerville, Ga.), Ross Coleman (Redmond, Ore.), and North Carolinian Brian Canter of Randleman are just a few who will be gunning for the prestigious Dale Jr. PBR Clash title.
“The PBR has some of the toughest bull riders in the world. I’ve been watching the PBR Tour for a while and have befriended a couple of the cowboys on tour,” explained Earnhardt, NASCAR’s most popular driver. “They are great guys, but to do what they do, you not only need to be an excellent athlete, but a little psycho too. I’d much rather be in my race car in a pack going three wide at 200 mph for days, than to climb on a 2000 pound angry bull for eight seconds. I’m really looking forward to being involved with bringing the PBR to Charlotte. It’s going to be a fun weekend in January,” Earnhardt added.
Randy Bernard, Chief Executive Officer of the PBR, stated “I expect this event to be one of the most exciting events on the tour for the fans. Whether you’re a NASCAR fan or a bull riding fan, you’ll get your money’s worth. Dale Jr. is friends with quite a few of the cowboys and I expect that the event will quickly become one of the favorites on tour.”
“I think it’s great that the PBR is attracting interest from people like Dale Jr. He’s one of the most well known and recognized NASCAR personalities of all time, and to have his name on an event is great for the sport and the bull riders,” said Willingham.
Coleman is excited about the pairing and stated, “Not only is Dale Jr. a great friend and a really fun guy to hang out with, but he is a good business person and I look up to him. He is always in the running for a world championship and for him to put his name on a PBR event is awesome. I think this event will be the biggest thing for Charlotte next to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.”
Long time sports marketing executive David Allen, who worked with Earnhardt’s father for over 22 years, is credited with putting Earnhardt Jr. together with the PBR for this event. “This makes me very proud; to be able to get Dale Jr. involved with the PBR. I have been doing business with the PBR since they began over 13 years ago. The PBR is a first class sports league today, and Dale Jr. is the face of NASCAR and I am very proud of the man he has become. Together they represent a very unique sports property, one that will provide a great level of competition and entertainment. Charlotte is in for a real treat,” said Allen.
Ticket prices for the Dale Jr. PBR Clash start at $20 and are available exclusively to TeamPBR members beginning on Monday, Oct. 23, 2006. TeamPBR members enjoy the benefit of premium seating locations that are unavailable to the general public. If you are not currently a TeamPBR member, please visit www.pbrnow.com, or call to join.
TeamPBR members can purchase tickets by calling the PBR office at 1.800.732.1727 and selecting option 1. Tickets will also be available exclusively to fan club members at the TeamPBR booth in Las Vegas during the upcoming World Finals, Oct. 27 through Nov. 5.
Tickets will be available to the general public at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena or online at www.charlottebobcatsarena.com on October 30.
About the Professional Bull Riders, Inc.:
More than 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on FOX, NBC, VERSUS and on a host of foreign networks across the globe. With approximately 500 hours of prime time programming annually PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air, in addition to attracting over one and one half million live event attendees each year with its multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tour, and the Discovery Tour, designed specifically for entry level contestants. The PBR's governing board of directors is comprised of renowned bull riders who have developed the event into a stand alone sport which is experiencing unprecedented growth in global popularity. The PBR is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., and has over 1,200 PBR bull riders compete in more than 300 PBR sanctioned competitions in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico.
For additional information on the Professional Bull Riders, Inc., please visit www.pbrnow.com or call 719.471.3008.