Crimber Chasing History: “I Want to Be the Youngest World Champion”

John Crimber has been here before — close enough to taste it, yet still chasing the one prize that has eluded him.

Now 20 years old, the second‑generation bull rider once again finds himself positioned to capture his first PBR World Championship, but this time feels different. Unlike previous seasons, Crimber enters the 2026 PBR World Finals with momentum, confidence, and a proven winning formula honed during back‑to‑back MVP campaigns in the 2024 and 2025 PBR Team Series.

The difference is simple — and significant.

A gold buckle.
A $1 million bonus.
And a place in history.

“I don’t worry about nothing but doing my job and letting God take care of it,” said Crimber, who finished second in the world standings in 2024 before placing fourth a year ago. “I just go ride bulls and trust the rest will work out.”

Crimber has done exactly that all season.

The third‑year professional has spent the past six weeks atop the world standings and has held the No. 1 position following nine of the 18 regular‑season events. Wins in Sacramento, California, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, have anchored one of the most consistent seasons on tour.

Through 18 events, Crimber has covered 28 of 49 bulls, posting an impressive 57.14 percent riding average — one of the best marks among the title contenders.

“If you expect great things, great things happen — I want to win every time,” Crimber said. “Gosh dang I love bull riding. I trust God’s plan each and every weekend.”

His season highlight came in Billings, Montana, where his 92.95‑point ride aboard Fire Zone marked the second‑highest score of the year and served as a reminder of his ceiling when everything clicks.

The pressure now turns toward Fort Worth, Texas, where the PBR World Finals begin.

Rounds 1 through 4 will take place over four days at historic Cowtown Coliseum beginning Thursday, May 7, before the competition shifts across town to Dickies Arena from May 14–17. Following eight rounds of competition, the Top 15 riders in the aggregate will advance to the Championship Round.

The stakes are massive. In addition to a $1 million bonus awarded to the World Champion, the Finals will pay $50,000 for each round win and $500,000 to the Finals event winner. With a maximum of 1,031 points available over the two weekends, the title race remains wide open.

Crimber currently sits 169.5 points clear of the second‑ranked rider, while the Top 10 are separated by just 570.5 points. Round wins carry 50 points, the event win is worth 500, and additional points are awarded based on ride scores — making every second on every bull critical.

“I want to come into the Finals feeling the best I can,” Crimber said. “As long as I’m healthy when it comes Finals time, that’s when I’ll be feeling the best. I’ll be taking every opportunity to go out there and have fun.”

Despite the math and pressure, Crimber welcomes the competition.

“Everybody is riding really good right now and it makes me want to step up my game,” he said. “It’s going to be a fun race for sure.”

If Crimber can finish the job, the payoff extends far beyond numbers.

A world title would make him the youngest PBR World Champion in history — and the youngest since Jess Lockwood captured his first championship in 2017.

For Crimber, the moment has been a lifetime in the making.

“When I was 12 years old, I was dreaming of being here,” said Crimber, who grew up in Texas wearing chaps and a protective vest everywhere he went. His father, former bull rider Paulo Crimber, even bought him a small bucking chute for Christmas when he was just a little kid.

“I always loved bulls and being around the sport,” he said. “If I wasn’t a bull rider, I really don’t know what else I’d be.”

Now, standing on the brink of history, Crimber knows what’s at stake.

“I want to be the youngest World Champion,” he said. “This is my last shot — I better make it count.”