Professional bull riding makes Greensboro home

The Carolina Cowboys, a Professional Bull Riders franchise, has moved from Winston-Salem and will now compete at the Greensboro Coliseum. At a recent tryout event in Archdale, Mayor Nancy Vaughan was recognized as an honorary Carolina Cowboy.

The professional bull riders (or PBR) series features eight teams  — including the Texas Rattlers, Nashville Stampede, Missouri Thunder — going head-to-head throughout the year competing for first place. The Carolina Cowboys in its second season are coached by former world champion Jerome Davis, and owned by legendary NASCAR driver Richard Childress. He began the event by making Mayor Nancy Vaughan a member of the team with an official jersey and belt buckle. 

“And I am going to wear this belt buckle to the next city council meeting with a little sass,” said Vaughan.

Childress went on to introduce the new team mascot: a light brown, 1,800 pound, bucking bull, named Mayor Greensbull. Vaughan says the team brings a new source of fun family entertainment, and she adds that the city of Greensboro can brand itself along with the growing franchise.

Carolina Cowboys General manager Austin Dillon — NASCAR driver and Daytona 500 winner — says  this gives unrestricted free agents and new riders an opportunity to show team coaches and general managers what they can do.

“They’re gonna get on bulls the next two days, but then the next day after that they’re gonna do some physical things at our rate shop," says Dillon. "We’re gonna use our gym to do some measurables similar to the NFL combine. You know, trying to bring more to bull riding too. We want to leave the sport better than what we started with and try and bring safety enhancements.”

And will Dillon be riding a bull anytime soon?  

“Nope, I don’t want nothing to do with it," he says. "I’ll stick with the full cage, the harness, everything, the seat belts. I love that, but I do enjoy watching this and pulling for my guys."

Dillon says the goal is to hold two and eventually three events each year in the Triad. The Carolina Cowboys will host its next home competition in late September at the Greensboro Coliseum.