New York Mavericks Topple Carolina Cowboys in Stunning Nashville Upset
Picture courtesy of: PBR Picture credit: PBRThe New York Mavericks, a team that started the season at the bottom of the standings, proved that odds are just numbers. Listed as +125 underdog by DraftKings, the “Concrete Cowboys” shocked the heavily favored Carolina Cowboys (-165) and a packed Bridgestone Arena on opening night of the 2025 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Teams Series Nashville Stampede Days.
As coach and 2009 PBR World Champion, PBR Kody Lostroh has often said, “it only takes one ride to get out of a slump.” Last night, the Mavericks did just that, delivering a surprising win against one of the league’s top teams.
The momentum began with a standout ride from recent acquisition Bob Mitchell. As the team’s opening rider, Mitchell was matched up with the bull Judgment Day. The bull burst from the chute, bucking aggressively to the left, but Mitchell’s resolve held firm. With a series of powerful kicks and jumps, he weathered the storm, holding on for the full eight seconds. The 85.00-point ride not only put the Mavericks in the lead but set the tone for the entire upset.
Check out the ride here:
Cowboys Answer Back with a Heist from a Young Gun
The Carolina Cowboys had a quick answer for the “Concrete Cowboys,” thanks to their young standout rider Clay Guiton. Paired with the bull Blue Shilhouette, Guiton exploded from the chutes. As the bull bucked powerfully to the right, kicking into Guiton’s hand with every jump, the young rider had an answer for everything. He stayed stuck to his seat, continuing his impressive “heater” and earning the Cowboys a commanding 87.75 points.
The ride gave the Carolina Cowboys the lead and kept the competition razor-thin. Check it out below:
Mavericks Reclaim the Lead with a Daring Ride from Leonardo Castro
The back-and-forth battle continued as Leonardo Castro stepped up for the “Concrete Cowboys,” facing off against Eyes on Me. On paper, the matchup seemed to favor the bull, but Castro had other plans.
As Eyes on Me burst from the chutes and immediately bucked to the right, Castro’s determination was on full display. He countered every jump and kick, remaining steadily in his seat for the full eight seconds. The crowd erupted as the whistle blew, and Castro walked back to the chutes with a hard-earned 87.25 points. His incredible ride not only reclaimed the lead but also put the Mavericks a complete bull ahead of the Carolina Cowboys.
Watch the ride that turned the tide:
Lastly, to close out the game and secure the stunning win for the underdogs was the concrete cowboy, Mason Taylor, against Bone Digger. Taylor may not have been favored in this matchup, but he proved the doubters wrong and reminded everyone that this sport, by its very nature, is unpredictable. As he nodded for the gate to open, Bone Digger bucked to the right with spins, and Mason, weathering the 8 seconds, secured the stunning win with an 85.50-point ride.
Check out the game-winning ride below:
Final Takeaway: Betting on Bull Riding
This thrilling victory perfectly illustrates the unpredictable nature of bull riding. While oddsmakers at DraftKings had the New York Mavericks as significant +125 underdogs and the Carolina Cowboys as sure favorites, the final results proved that on any given night, the script can be torn up.
The Mavericks will now look to carry that momentum into tonight’s matchup. They are once again listed as underdogs, this time at +190 against the league-leading Arizona Ridge Riders, who are -265 favorites.
In other action, the Carolina Cowboys are a slight -120 favorite against the home team Nashville Stampede at -110. DraftKings is predicting a tight match, and after last night’s upset, anything is possible. We’ll find out what happens.
All the action can be watched live tonight on The CW at 8:00 PM ET for the Oklahoma Wildcatters versus the Austin Gamblers and the Texas Rattlers versus the Kansas City Outlaws games.
The PBR Camping World Teams Series continues tomorrow, Sunday, August 17th, with the three matchups from tonight airing on CBS as the “Game of the Week” broadcast:
Florida Freedom vs. Missouri Thunder
Arizona Ridge Riders vs. New York Mavericks
Carolina Cowboys vs Nashville Stampede
May the odds be in your favor!