By Ted Harbin
Justin has been doing a little extra work around his Porum, Okla., home recently. In fact, he’s carried it into the arena.
Justin has been putting in some time preparing to ride bulls; for those who don’t know, the 2008 bareback riding world champion is truly an all-around cowboy, and from what a bunch of folks are telling me, he’s an outstanding bull rider. I haven’t seen it in person, but I don’t doubt it.
Justin competed in the Championship Bull Riders event in Lubbock, Texas, on Saturday night, his first bull in competition since January 2008. He’d gotten on several practice bulls over the past couple of weeks and was excited about things.
“It feels good,” McDaniel said Friday night in Lovington, N.M., where he competed in bareback riding at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. “I feel like I’m riding good. We’ll see, I guess.”
So why does a four-time NFR qualifier – who has twice won the average at ProRodeo’s championship – want to ride bulls?
“I just love it,” JMac said.
So McDaniel got in the CBR Cinch Tour event in Lubbock and tested his skills against some of the best bull riders in the business.
“I warmed one up, then he quit me and bucked me down,” McDaniel said, referring the bull having a good start before quitting the bucking action midway through the eight-second ride.
That’s just a new beginning for JMac, who won the all-around title at the Fort Smith, Ark., ProRodeo the first of June by earning money in both bareback riding and team roping. McDaniel is a cowboy, and he’s living a dream.