Crimber Turns Up the Heat in Billings, Extends World Standings Lead Ahead of PBR Finals

John Crimber made one hell of a statement Saturday night in Billings, Montana, continuing a late‑season surge that has him looking every bit like a world champion in the making. The 20‑year‑old sensation put together another electric performance, riding two bulls for scores north of the elusive 90‑point mark and reminding the PBR locker room that momentum is firmly on his side with the 2026 World Finals fast approaching.

Crimber finished the event fifth overall, but it was his standout ride aboard Fire Zone in the Championship Round that stole the spotlight. Scoring an emphatic 93.95 points, Crimber not only delivered the second‑highest score of his career, but also extended his lead atop the PBR world standings with just one regular‑season event remaining. When asked afterward how the ride came together, Crimber kept it simple. “Shoot, I don’t even know,” he said with a grin. “I was just hanging loose and hanging on tight.”

The performance marked Crimber’s fourth round win in his last six outs, a run of consistency and confidence that speaks volumes as the pressure ramps up. At an age when most riders are still finding their footing at the top level, Crimber has positioned himself to seize the sport’s ultimate prize — the gold buckle and a $1 million World Champion bonus — when the season culminates next month at AT&T Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.

Monster Energy was once again well‑represented deep into the event, underscoring the brand’s dominance on tour. Joining Crimber in the Championship Round were fellow Monster Energy riders Cassio Dias and Jose Vitor Leme, part of an elite group of just 11 riders who advanced to the final round in Billings. Dias and Leme ultimately finished seventh and eighth in the average, respectively, continuing strong seasons as the playoffs loom.

As the regular season reaches its final stop, the numbers tell an impressive story. Seven Monster Energy riders currently sit inside the Top 30 — Crimber (1), Dalton Kasel (6), Clay Guiton (9), Dias (15), Daylon Swearingen (17), Leme (26), and Kaique Pacheco (29) — all well within position to compete at the PBR World Finals. Collectively, the group represents decades of championship pedigree and elite consistency.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Leme, Dias, Swearingen, and Pacheco are all former PBR World Champions, while Crimber now stands on the brink of joining that exclusive club. If he can close the deal, Crimber would become the fifth of eight Monster Energy riders to capture a world title — further cementing Monster Energy’s place at the top of professional bull riding.

The 18‑event regular season, which began back in December, wraps up next week in Tacoma, Washington. All eyes will be on Crimber as he looks to carry his Billings form into the finale — one last chance to sharpen the blade before the biggest rides of his young career.