By: James Youness
HOUSTON, Texas — Now the youngest rider on tour after celebrating his 18th birthday just four months ago in October of 2023 and immediately turning pro, Clay Guiton has the industry’s attention after turning in a stunning fifth-place finish last weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Thanks to his pair of 90-point rides (coming in just his fourth and fifth-ever premier series outs) atop Punchy Pete (90 points) and Bandito Bug (90.25 points) inside BOK Center, that is!
Placing himself into arguably the most heated Rookie of the Year race in PBR history, alongside the likes of John Crimber, Sage Steele Kimzey, Caden Bunch, Cort McFadden (the list goes on, trust us), Guiton recognizes he’s surrounded by tons of talent.
But that’s just part of the fun.
“We like to have a good time with all of that stuff, but it’s pretty cool to be the youngest guy on tour and still be able to compete with all of those guys,” Guiton said.
Beginning his UTB career with an 0-for-2 showcase in Chicago, the youngster extended his rideless streak to three Friday night in Tulsa, eventually dispatched in a quick 2.17 seconds.
Thankfully for the 18-year-old talent, that would serve as his final buckoff of the weekend.
“I don’t think I changed anything but I was just being real tense and trying to stay on, not trying to win,” he shared.
“Going into Saturday night last week, I didn’t have anything to lose, so I kind of just let it all hang out. Went to try and win first, and that’s when I ride the best, when I just don’t think about it and go do. Let it all hang out.”
The next best thing apart from seeing your son holding up a “Hi Mom” sign in the crowd?
Getting a call from him moments after recording the biggest ride of his career.
(And the first qualified ride of his premier series slate).
“She had it pulled up on the live feed and said that it came up beside my name with 90 points,” Guiton said.
“She said she started jumping up and down and didn’t know what to think. So, when I got to the locker room I called her and she asked, ‘Were you really 90?’ and I said, ‘Yeah’ and she just couldn’t believe it.”
Watching on from Cherryville, North Carolina, where she and Guiton’s father continue to reside with their 18-year-old turned budding superstar (when he’s not on the road, competing against the greatest talents in the world), it was just the weekend prior in Chicago where the couple got to witness their son perform on the big stage for the first time.
Family is important to each and every one of the riders who find their way to any of PBR’s competitive tours and formats.
But when the ‘rents are still paying the rent, sometimes spreading your wings is the next best flight.
“I’m still living here at home. We’ve got a bunch of bucking bulls. Me and dad take care of them and we have a good time with that,” he added.
“I work out and ride my barrel and all of that during the day when I’m at home. When he gets home from work, we take care of the bulls until dark. We love to do it and it’s a good time.”
Equally important is the concept of time. Or getting to enjoy said down periods between all of the chaos, at the very least. Another similarity Guiton now shares with the best in the world.
“That’s what I like about the PBR. I can come home during the week and kind of regroup. Good or bad, we regroup and then go on and go do the next, so I don’t have to be going constantly. I can still be at home around everything I love.”
A little bit of balance goes a long way, sometimes.
But since tearing up all of the build-up competitions he could out east before turning pro, there’s something to be said about travelling the world while having fun with your buddies, too.
“I was always kind of a good student in school and got to graduate early, so I graduated last December. Over the last year, I’ve really grown a lot as a bull rider,” Guiton shared.
“I went to a few shows for the first time by myself, and that helped me a lot. Last year, going into the fall, I had a National Finals bull riding event every weekend and I won every single Finals there was last year around the east coast.”
Admitting he still needed to reply to at least 30 or so unread text messages as of Wednesday afternoon after producing consecutive flashy outs, there are undoubtedly a few layers of adjusting to success.
But the first task? Re-living it all, this time alongside mom and dad.
“We didn’t really celebrate, but the first thing we did when I got home was watch it on TV. Watched it back there, so that was pretty cool,” he shared.
“I’ve had so many friends and family members reach out this week, my phone is going insane. I’ve been trying to keep up with it, but it’s been a lot to keep up with. And then Instagram, I have a stupid amount of requests. It’s insane.”
Thankfully for the youngster, he’s got plenty of time to iron out the wrinkles.
Set to dance with Washita Red during what will be just his sixth-ever out on Unleash The Beast, fans inside Toyota Center can keep an eye on the red-headed wonder Friday night as he competes in the third premier series event of his budding career.
With Unleash The Beast storming into event No. 9 this weekend inside Toyota Center and the world’s best bull riders set to invade Houston, Texas, for two badass nights of rank action Jan. 26-27, let’s take a look at who’s drawing into the lineup during the Kubota PBR Houston, presented by Michelob ULTRA:
ROUND 1 MATCHUPS
*Caden Bunch vs. BoomerangJake Morinec vs. KodiacSilvano Alves vs. YelawolfDaylon Swearingen vs. Don’t Come Easy*Ednelio Almeida vs. Hoka HeyFelipe Furlan vs. Joker’s Alibi*Eli Vastbinder vs. Ninja CowboyCallum Miller vs. Hard CandyDawson Branton vs. Mighty MikeAlex Cerqueira vs. Grey FoxBob Mitchell vs. I’m Your Daddy*Wingson Henrique da Silva vs. BisonJesse Petri vs. Lost PearlMason Taylor vs. Trophy HunterLeonardo Castro Ferreira vs. KennyLuciano De Castro vs. Bomb DiggityClay Guiton vs. Washita RedConner Halverson vs. Stand OffMauricio Gulla Moreira vs. Blazer*Cort McFadden vs. NightmareHunter Ball vs. TchoupitoulasWyatt Rogers vs. Cracker Jack*Joao Henrique Lucas vs. Crazy TimesVitor Losnake vs. Black Tie*Boudreaux Campbell vs. Border CrisisPaulo Eduardo Rossetto vs. HostageSage Steele Kimzey vs. Smooth SteelJohn Crimber vs. The JudgeJulio Cesar Marques vs. Black GoldKoltin Hevalow vs. Risky Business*Kaique Pacheco vs. Moon WalkCody Jesus vs. FlatlinerKaiden Loud vs. Sauced UpBrady Fielder vs. Hotel GunselMarco Rizzo vs. Wall Street TrainEduardo Aparecido vs. White FaceJoao Ricardo Vieira vs. Coca Cola CowboyDalton Kasel vs. RowdyAlan de Souza vs. RorschachCassio Dias vs. Show Me
* denotes a rematch
OUT BECAUSE OF INJURY/OTHER
Austin RichardsonJose Vitor LemeJess LockwoodNick TetzDakota ButtarChase OutlawMarcus MastDerek KolbabaColten FritzlanTate PollmeierBrady OlesonJoao Lucas CamposDawson GleavesBraidy Randolph
ROUND 1 REMATCHES
Boudreaux Campbell vs. Border Crisis (re-ride issued in Nashville, Tennessee)Caden Bunch vs. Boomerang (2.93 seconds in Johnstown, Pennsylvania)Cort McFadden vs. Nightmare (86.75 points in Chicago, Illinois)Ednelio Almeida vs. Hoka Hey (87 points in St. Louis, Missouri)Eli Vastbinder vs. Ninja Cowboy (4.16 seconds in Chicago, Illinois)Joao Henrique Lucas vs. Crazy Times (5.03 seconds in Guthrie, Oklahoma)Kaique Pacheco vs. Moon Walk (79 points in Albuquerque, New Mexico)Wingson Henrique da Silva vs. Bison (86 points in Fort Worth, Texas)
DIAS LOOKS TO KEEP TOP 11 STREAK ALIVE, BUILD ON 123-POINT LEAD IN HOUSTON
With No. 2 Austin Richardson set to miss his first event of the season due to injury, the next closest competitor within the 2024 Unleash The Beast World Championship standings to No. 1 Cassio Dias comes in the form of No. 3 Eduardo Aparecido, who trails Dias by an outstanding 376 UTB points just one-third of the way through the 2024 slate. Able to briefly extend his lead over Richardson last weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma, courtesy of a sixth-place result, he now sits 123 points ahead of Richardson. Absolutely dominant to start the season, he improved his 2024 record to a tour-best 17-for-25 (68%) inside BOK Center as one of seven riders to produce the most entertaining short rounds in PBR history. Initially teaming up with Lansky in Round 1 for a quality 87.75-point journey, it was his championship round dance with Ridin’ Solo that produced a spicy 90.75-point strike that ultimately put an exclamation point on yet another productive showcase. Somehow that 90.75-point mark was only good enough for the round’s fifth-best score, as each of Joao Ricardo Vieira (91.75 points), Dalton Kasel (91.5 points), John Crimber (91.5 points)and Dawson Branton (91.25 points) edged out the talented Brazilian.
39 YEARS, 39 90s FOR VETERAN JOAO RICARDO VIEIRA
Edging out No. 4 Dalton Kasel by a mere .25 points in the event aggregate to win last weekend’s short round, courtesy of an electric 91.75-point journey atop Flyin Wired, Joao Ricardo Vieira has now recorded 39 90-point efforts on the premier series. Notching No. 39 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at age 39 en route to finishing his flawless 3-for-3 showcase with his first event buckle of the season, the talented veteran hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down since winning the 2023 PBR Teams Championship with the Texas Rattlers. If anything, it kicked him into another gear. Now 8-for-16 on Unleash The Beast, the 141.5 UTB points he earned from the big win skyrocketed him to the No. 5 rank, which he’s set to defend Friday night during his Round 1 showdown with Coca Cola Cowboy. After starting last weekend’s performance with a quality 86.75-point conversion dancing with King Tut, the storied cowboy will look to stay hot early in Houston when he bucks during the fourth-from-last out of the evening.
FOLLOW ALONG
The two-day, three-round showcase at Toyota Center is set to begin Friday, Jan. 26 at 7:45 p.m. CST, with Round 1 airing live via RidePass on Pluto TV. Round 2’s action will begin Saturday, Jan. 27 at 6:45 p.m. CST, with all of Championship Saturday’s action airing on CBS Sports Network Saturday evening beginning at 9 p.m. CST.
Fans can stay tuned to PBR.com and PBR social media channels throughout the weekend for the latest scores, wrecks, injury updates and beyond as Unleash The Beast prepares to invade Houston during the ninth event of the 2024 season!
Photo courtesy of Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media
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