The Billings stop, scheduled April 17-19 at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark, has emerged as a pivotal late-season event that can reshape individual standings and postseason team seeding ahead of the PBR World Finals in Fort Worth, May 7-17. With two regular-season stops remaining, the two-day Billings format awards 20 go-round points for a win, 80 event aggregate points for first place and nine ride-score bonus points for rides of 90.00 or higher, meaning a single strong weekend can swing a rider’s standing by more than 100 points. Organizers have reshaped the bull pen and are resting some top bulls ahead of the World Finals, a move that could open opportunities for adaptable riders to climb the standings and improve team seeding.

The individual leaderboard entering Billings underscores the event’s import. John Crimber led the standings by 220.5 points over Sage Steele Kimzey, a seven-time PRCA champion, and an 83.5-point gap separated Kimzey from No. 4 Brady Fielder. Fewer than 200 points separated positions No. 2 through No. 10, a group that includes Leandro Zampollo, Alex Cerqueira, Paulo Eduardo Rossetto, Dalton Kasel, Clay Guiton and Cort McFadden. Zampollo is returning from a groin injury, sits third in points and is still seeking his first event win. Daniel Keeping jumped from No. 32 to No. 20 following Sioux Falls, and Dener Barbosa moved into the Top 40 after last weekend’s results. Several riders are managing recent injuries, including Hudson Bolton with rib and groin issues and Kaiden Loud with an ankle concern. Former champion Cassio Dias has struggled after switching back to his Brazilian rope, experiencing a hand pop loose, a hard hit and a trampling, and is slated to draw the bull Black Eyes. Marco Rizzo returns to Billings with his mother one year after breaking his leg at the same event.

Friday’s card in Billings will include the Monster Energy Team Challenge semifinal between No. 2 Austin Gamblers and No. 3 Kansas City Outlaws, with the head-to-head winners advancing to the Team Challenge Championship and the winner slated to play No. 1 Missouri Thunder in Tacoma for the team title. The Unleash The Beast rounds in Billings will air on Paramount+, while the Monster Energy Team Challenge semifinals will be broadcast on CBS. Individual results from Billings will affect regular-season standings and postseason team seeding ahead of the World Finals, raising the stakes for riders and teams at this late-season stop.

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