BULLNANZA RETURN TO IT’S HISTORIC ROOTS IN OKLAHOMA

BULLNANZA RETURN TO IT’S HISTORIC ROOTS IN OKLAHOMA WITH OKLAHOMA’S RICHEST RODEO IN MID-MAY

-- Tickets for the three-day Western sports extravaganza on Sale March 13 at 10 a.m. CT—

 Oklahoma and the Lazy E Arena will make western sports history in May, when WCRA’s Stampede at The E - “Oklahoma’s Richest Rodeo” combines forces with the renowned Bullnanza.  The blockbuster western sports pairing will bring the Sooner State three days of edge-of-the-seat action from May 14-16 with more than $1.5 million up for grabs.

The inaugural Stampede at The E on Saturday, May 16 will showcase the world’s best rodeo athletes battling it out in “Oklahoma’s Richest Rodeo”. Athletes competing in bareback riding, women’s breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. A collective $1 million will be on the line, with $111,000 being paid out in each discipline and each champion leaving the Lazy E with a $50,000 check.

The event will be the second of four Major rodeos comprising the WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo. Should the victor in any discipline at the Stampede At The E also take the top spot on the podium at the subsequent WCRA Majors during the past Royal City Roundup (February 28) and the two upcoming Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo (July 21-25) and Puget Sound Showdown (August 28) the athlete will be eligible to win an additional $1 million bonus.

Prior to the one-day $1 million event, fans will be captivated for the first time in more than a decade the top 42 bull riders in the world as the elite bull riders of the PBR (Profession Bull Riders) takes over the historic Bullnanza on Friday, May 14.

In 1989 in Guthrie, Oklahoma, world title contender Clint Branger captured the first Bullnanza title, propelling him in the world standings. Branger battled for the title against a 19-year-old new-comer named Ty Murray, who now holds seven all-around world titles. The following year, Branger and Tuff Hedeman tied for the Bullnanza title.

During the most recent Bullnanza in 2009, four-time World Champion JB Mauney locked in the Bullnanza Championship.

Other past Bullnanza winners include: Clint Branger (1989-90, 1992, Tuff Hedeman (1990-91, 1995), Mike Erickson (1993), Terry Don West (1994), Jerome Davis, (1996), Adriano Moraes (1997), Adam Carrillo (1998), Don Ray Howard (1999), Jason Bennett (2000), Dave Samsel (2001), Jim Sharp (2002), Cory Rasch (2003), Lee Akin (2004), Bryan Richardson (2005), Jake Wade (2006), Nathan Tull and T.J. Pitman (2008).

The Stampede at The E begins at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 16. All athletes will go head-to-head in a long round with the top three best runs and rides advancing to a showdown round following an intermission. The top athlete in each discipline from the showdown round will be crowned the Stampede at The E Champion.

Bullnanza begins with Round 1 at 8 p.m. CT on Friday, May 15. All 42 bull riders will get on one bull each in Round 1 while 14 will ride in Round 2. The riders’ individual two-round scores will be totaled with the average top score being the next Bullnanza Champion and earning a piece of the $55,000 purse.  The top nine from the event will advance to the May 16 Stampede at The E for another chance at $50,000 and an event title.

Prior to both of the above-mentioned events, the Lazy E Arena will play host to WCRA’s Bares, Broncs and Barrels on Thursday, May 14 at 8 p.m. The event will feature the top 24 athletes from the WCRA leaderboard in saddle bronc riding and bareback riding with the top 16 barrel racers from the WCRA semi-finals battling for a spot in the one-day $1 million major.

Tickets for all three events are now on sale and start at $25, taxes and fees may apply. They can be purchased at the Lazy E Box Office, online at ticketmaster.com, or by calling the Lazy E direct at (800) 745-3000. 

Athletes from around the globe have the opportunity to compete in the WCRA Major Events Series and compete for the Triple Crown of Rodeo after earning points through the VRQ (Virtual Rodeo Qualifier). Qualifying for the Stampede at The E is currently underway, and athletes can continue nominating until April 12.  ~WCRA Media