Over the course of the two-day event in mid-February, 40 top riders will appear in the initial round before cutting down to 36 riders for round two, taking on some of the sport’s toughest bulls. After two rounds, the top 10 riders with the highest aggregate scores will take on one final bull for a chance at the event title.
The riders will battle for crucial points toward the Velocity Global Standings, which determine qualification for the season-ending Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals in Corpus Christi, Texas, on May 1–2. At the Velocity Tour Finals, one rider will be crowned the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Champion, and five riders not already qualified will earn coveted spots to compete at the PBR World Finals, beginning May 7 at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.
Eli Vastbinder put together a perfect weekend in 2025 in Lexington, going 3-for-3 en route to claiming the event title. He bested Back Drop in the first round for 82.5 points before hopping on Hollywood the next round for 85 points. He ended the weekend with an 84-point ride on Buz in the Championship Round.
The Velocity Tour has emerged over the past decade as PBR’s fastest-growing tour, experiencing strong attendance growth and reaching fans in 97 cities across the U.S. In 2025, the Velocity Tour hosted more than 370,000 fans, including selling out 18 event days.
