Swearingen Delivers Opening Round Win In Chicago

You can delay his flight, postpone it, cancel it, or even reroute him on another airline, like the postman, Daylon Swearingen always seems to deliver.  

Swearingen did not land in Chicago until 8:45 p.m. Friday night, left his gear bag and other belongings at the O’Hare International baggage claim, took an Uber to All State Arena, borrowed gear from fellow Monster Energy bull rider Boudreaux Campbell — who was leading the opening round average with 87.15 points — and just after 10 p.m., Swearingen climbed in the bucking chute and promptly rode Midnight Magic for 88.25 points and the round-win.  

It was a red-hot, dominating performance by Swearingen, who let loose and spurred with his outside foot and was marked more than three points (45.75) over the bull (42.5) on what was otherwise a cold and blustery night.  

“I really needed this,” Swearingen said afterward.  

As for not letting the late arrival distract him from his goal of winning the event, Swearingen added, “I’m just coming to ride bulls and not thinking about (the delays).”  

Swearingen has proven he is at his best going to the left and Midnight Magic was no match for him as he pushed Boudreaux down into a split for second and third at the conclusion of the first of two days in the Windy City, which was facing its first arctic weather front of the new year.  

Swearingen and Campbell finished Chicago event seventh and eighth in the average, while 2018 World Champion and another Monster Energy teammate, Kaique Pacheco, went 2-for-3 and finished fifth. 

Since returning to competition, Pacheco continued his disciplined approach to bull riding. Friday night he was 83.25 points coupled with 84.25 points on Saturday night for the fifth pick in the Championship Round bull draft. He selected Big Bank.  

Pacheco was bucked off short of the 8-second whistle, but his sixth-place finish moved him one spot out of the Top 10 for the season.  

Pacheco is now 11th in the PBR world standings followed by Campbell, 22nd; Swearingen, 23rd; and two-time World Champion Jose Vitor Leme, 25th.  

Leme has been out with a groin injury and is expected to be back in the lineup this coming weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Derek Kolbaba (back) and Chase Outlaw (leg) remain sidelined with injuries.  

Pacheco, Campbell, Swearingen, and Leme will join the rest of the top-ranked bull riders in the world in Tulsa, Oklahoma, followed by a short trip south to Houston, Texas, to round out the January schedule for the Monster Energy branded elite, televised tour of the PBR.