The annual Queen Creek PBR closed out the weekend with Billy Stephenson's first event win, despite sustaining a severe injury in the Championship round.
This weekend, PBR took Arizona by the horns as the now annual Queen Creek PBR returned to the Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre. This stop for the PBR Touring Pro Division has become a staple event for Arizona Rodeo fans, as it often closely follows the Mile High PBR in Prescott, Arizona. Families, friends, and riders travel sometimes hours or days to attend this event, and for good reason.
Night 1 ended in a bull shutout, which only served to heighten the excitement going into Night 2. As the riders entered the arena, they came in calling it the “night of redemption,” and so it was. Three Cowboys were able to secure qualified rides on some of the rankest bulls Arizona could offer. Furthermore, after their unbeatable performance on Night 1, many of the bulls fouled their riders, allotting for multiple re-rides throughout the event, which helped to produce the 3 qualified rides.
The weekend’s first qualified ride came from Jadon Fiasco, who secured a 62.1-point ride on the bull called El Fafo, which moved him forward to the Championship round. After this first qualified ride, the arena was electric with excitement as the second 8-second ride soon followed.
Eric Nova, who did not compete in Night 1, came ready to fight as he made an 81.9-point ride on Empty Pockets. This Cowboy doesn’t quit, as he was in Tacoma, Washington the night before riding in the Cooper Tires PBR and traveled the long trek down to Arizona just to compete in Night 2. His bull, Empty Pockets, made sure Eric didn’t leave the arena empty handed. With a strong ride in the Championship round, Eric walked out of the arena as the event’s second place winner.
Overall, night 2 produced a number of memorable rides, but the most so was Billy Stephenson’s 84-point ride, which secured him his first event win of his PBR career to date. Bruised Velvett, one of the event’s highest-scoring bulls, was the bull that Billy was able to best for a full 8-second ride in round one. Unfortunately, Billy was injured by his ride on Slim Shady during the Championship round and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment. His current injuries are unknown, but because there were no qualified rides in the Championship round, his first-place finish is secured.
Once again, Queen Creek has played host to an unforgettable event and has become a career marker for many of the riders present. As the Traveling Pro Division continues its circuit, all eyes are on the scoreboards to see what will happen to the Traveling Pro Division leaderboard as the 2026 season progresses.