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Cooper-sponsored bull rider Wiley Petersen rode the bull RFD-TV for 90 points to win last weekend's Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series Tampa Invitational. At right, the win earned him a sizable paycheck for the weekend.

Cooper-Sponsored Bull Rider
Wins Tampa Invitational

Perennial top 10 finisher Wiley Petersen out-rode the competition last weekend to win the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series Tampa Invitational in Tampa, Fla.

The Cooper-sponsored rider currently ranks seventh in world standings. In 10 years on the PBR circuit, the 30-year-old Fort Hall, Idaho, native has finished seasons in third, fourth and 10th place in world standings.

Is this early win, in the sixth event of the season, a forecast of his best series ever? Wiley hesitated to look that far ahead.

"I'm a big believer in consistency," said Wiley, who has a reputation for self-effacing humility and integrity. "You just kind of keep doing what you're doing -- and it helps to draw the right bulls. It's a lot of factors coming into play, when it comes to winning, riding bulls. I just try to focus on one bull at a time, and the ride I'm doing. Not worry about whether I'm going to get bucked off, but keep my head in the moment."

Until last Sunday, Wiley hadn’t won a Built Ford Tough Series event since early last year in St. Louis, despite qualifying for five of six short rounds this year, and another nine last season.

Wiley was one of two riders to go three-for-three at the Tampa Invitational. He took the lead with three riders to go when he covered the bull RFD-TV for 90 points. It was his third attempt on the bull after bucking off twice before.

When he's not riding bulls, Wiley rides on Cooper Discoverer H/T Plus tires mounted on his 2008 Ford Expedition. Wiley had nothing but positive things to say about both his tires and the people who make them.

"They're awesome tires," Wiley said. "We wouldn't be able to make it to the bull riding if we didn't have good tires.

"I just want to thank the people of Cooper Tire for making such quality tires. Cooper is definitely a great company to be part of."