PBR: Unleash the Beast is the biggest annual series in bull riding — the toughest eight seconds in sports, played out again and again from city to city, pitting the most rugged riders against the baddest bulls. Each two-day stop kicks off with pyrotechnics, but the explosions and flames are quickly outdone by the rides themselves — 35 matchups divided into three rounds of dirt-flinging, arm-flailing and fierce performances by all of the athletes in the arena, human and animal alike. In between, the world's most well-known rodeo clown, the beloved Flint Rasmussen, cuts through the tension with humor tailored to each city. Unleash the Beast brings 750 tons of dirt, 65 tons of steer and 25 tons of steel fencing to every venue on the tour. Each rider faces all of that weight as he competes to qualify for the PBR World Finals, where the winner will walk away with $1 million and the coveted gold belt buckle.

PBR: Unleash the Beast Background

The Professional Bull Riders organization was founded by 20 riders who each brought $1,000 to the table back in 1993. Their goal? To bring their sport to the mainstream, increasing public interest and also prize money for the athletes who risk their lives in the arena. They more than succeeded, boosting annual attendance from 310,000 in 1995 to over 3 million today, while securing major television coverage for their top competitions, while awarding more than $180 million to riders over the years. Though PBR: Unleash the Beast began as the Built Ford Tough Series in 2003, it's been the same gold-standard series throughout, with any rule changes along the way meant to make it a fairer and more thrilling contest. The PBR ranks both bulls and riders, ensuring the best of the best lock horns, so to speak, at every stop.