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Third time's the charm

Attendees at the PBR's annual Stock Contractor Banquet were greeted by a familiar face gracing the podium to accept the Stock Contractor of the Year award. Chad Berger earned the title for the third consecutive year, an honor voted on by the top 40 bull riders in the world.

On average, Berger provides around 25 bulls for any given Built Ford Tough Series event, but he also provides 75 or more bulls at numerous lower-level events across the United States during the year.

"That means everything to me," Berger said in an interview with pbrnow.com. "We try so hard to have a great set of bulls, and when the top 40 guys in the world congratulate you for that, that means everything to me."

Berger still has a major stake left in this World Finals, as his prized bull Big Tex is competing for 2009 world champion bull. Big Tex will next buck in Round Five on Friday evening.

Mama Mauney

The most nervous person in the Thomas & Mack Center on Thursday night wasn't any of the top 40 riders in the world. No, it was one Lynne Mauney — mother of current world no. 2, J.B. Mauney, and mother-in-law to rider Shane Proctor. "Mama Mauney," as she is affectionately known, is a popular presence around Built Ford Tough Series events, but says she can't even bear to watch her son ride. Instead, she turns her head and listens for the crowd reaction before allowing herself to watch the replay.

"I can tell how it's going from the crowd reaction, and if it's going good then I'll let myself watch the replay," Mauney said.

J.B. will have 25 friends and family members here in the arena beginning Friday night, as his East Coast supporters hope for the first world champion from east of the Mississippi. His mother says it's always been a family affair.

"My husband and I would have hocked everything that we owned to get him here," she said prior to the start of Round Four, in which J.B. placed second. If he keeps up the pace here in Las Vegas, the $1 million world prize should keep them from ever having to consider something so drastic again.

Shorter go-round

The PBR announced on Thursday that next year's World Finals will be shortened to a five day affair in Las Vegas and moved up one weekend to accommodate fans and riders. The event is scheduled to take place Wednesday, October 20, to Sunday, October 24, 2010.

"All of the elements — from fan convenience to rider and bull logistics to production issues — just made sense," said PBR Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Randy Bernard. "This is not only the most efficient approach, but it ensures that we can provide our fans with the best overall experience, whether they're here in Las Vegas or watching at home."

The decision seems to be receiving positive early reviews from the bull riders, who sited momentum as one major advantage to five consecutive days of competition. But for current world no. 1 Kody Lostroh, it's another reason altogether.

"I've lived in the country my whole life," said Lostroh. "I'm not a big city type of guy and I freak out here."

Missing in action

Will the real Guilherme Marchi please stand up? The reigning world champion was the hottest rider coming into the 2009 World Finals, hoping to become the first rider to ever repeat in back-to-back years. That is, until he set foot in Las Vegas. Through four rounds Marchi has failed to complete a qualified ride and at times has looked lost in the arena where he found so much success in years past. His most recent buck-off came on the back of Stinger, a bull which had already had his way with the Brazilian earlier in the year. With three regular rounds of competition before the short-go, Marchi will have his work cut out for him if he hopes to stay in the World Finals race.

Batting 1.000

As bad as Guilherme Marchi has been thus far, three riders have been practically unbeatable. Valdiron de Oliveira, J.B. Mauney and Kody Lostroh are all four-for-four and will benefit from solid draft positions heading into Round Five. They're also the top three men in the average, but they have four other riders who are three-for-four hot on their heels. Those men are Canada's Aaron Roy, Brazil's Robson Palermo (who was a bull slap away from being four-for-four on Thursday), pleasant surprise Dustin Elliott and comeback story of the year Ryan McConnel. With Friday's eliminator pen of bulls looming, Round Five looks to be a make or break for the top riders in the average — after all, there's a reason no man has ever ridden all eight bulls at a World Finals before.

Out to pasture

Thursday's Round Four saw the retirement of two top PBR bulls, Zorro and Splat Kat, who have appeared six and four times at the World Finals, respectively. In Zorro's first appearance at the World Finals he made quite the statement, bucking off 1997 world champion Michael Gaffney. And in a nod to the future of the sport, PBR livestock director Cody Lambert placed Zorro's son, Derringer, in the same round.

"I thought it would be really cool to see the future and the history of the PBR at the same time," Lambert said in an interview with pbrnow.com.

Splat Kat was ridden by Ednei Caminhas for 84.75 points in the first flight of the evening, while Zorro showed he's still got it by bucking off Cody Ford in the last out of his career. Zorro's son Derringer proved the bloodline is alive and well by combining with Dustin Elliott for a score of 86.

Make sure to follow ESPN Rodeo + Bull Riding @ www.twitter.com/espnrodeo for live updates from inside the Thomas & Mack Center.

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Check back with ESPN.com and pbrnow.com all week long for continuing coverage of the 2009 PBR World Finals in Las Vegas.