Built Ford Tough Series
The Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) is the "major league" tour of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) competitions. It is a 30-city event series culminating in the PBR World Finals every year in Las Vegas, Nevada. The top 45 riders of the PBR compete in the BFTS with the rankings determined by points and money won. Only the top 45 riders in the points standings can achieve seeded positions on the tour, while riders below that standard may need to ride on one of the PBR's minor league tours in order to earn his way back onto the BFTS tour. However, the PBR's World Finals will only invite the top 45 riders based on the money they earned. In terms of the top 45 riders (in points), only the top 35 can actually stay on tour, while positions 36-45 can get cut from the tour after every 5 events, making way for any new entries or alternates.
There is a special rule called the World Champion's Exemption, where any former PBR World Champion can compete in any 5 events he chooses (and they don't have to be consecutive), except for the PBR Finals (he still has to earn his way there). He can then stay on tour if he accrues enough points; if not, he'll have to earn his way back on via the lower tours. Before 2007, this rule allowed former champs to compete in as many or few events they chose, with the only stipulation being that they still had to qualify for the PBR finals like everyone else. (The old rule was implemented in 2000.)
This tour was called the Bud Light Cup (BLC) tour until 2003, when the Ford Motor Company became the principal sponsor, using the long-time slogan for their trucks. It started off with 8 events in its inaugural season of 1994, increasing the number of cities visited over the years, with 28 starting in 1999, and increased to 30 in 2005. There will reportedly be 34 BFTS events in 2009, including the World Finals in Las Vegas.
Read more about Built Ford Tough Series: Top 50 PBR Riders
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