J.B. Mauney facts for kids
Mauney in 2013
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | James Burton Mauney |
| Nickname(s) | J.B. |
| Born | January 9, 1987 Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight | 140 pounds (64 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | Rodeo |
| Event(s) | Bull riding |
| Turned pro | 2005 |
| Retired | 2023 |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Highest world ranking | 2015 PBR World Champion 2013 PBR World Champion 2013 PBR World Finals Event Champion 2009 PBR World Finals Event Champion 2009 PBR Challenger Tour Champion 2006 PBR Rookie of the Year 2006 PBR Challenger Tour Champion |
James Burton Mauney (born January 9, 1987) is an American former professional bull rider. He was a top star in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) sport. He won the PBR world championship twice. This happened in 2013 and again in 2015.
Mauney was famous for choosing the hardest bulls to ride. He believed that to be the best, you had to ride the best. Later in his career, people called him "the Dragonslayer." This was because he could ride some of the toughest bulls. Many think he is one of the greatest bull riders ever. He is ranked as the ninth best in PBR history.
Early in his career, he rode in both the PBR and Championship Bull Riding (CBR). He then focused only on the PBR starting in 2006. That same year, he won the PBR Rookie of the Year award. Towards the end of his career, he competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).
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Early Life and Start in Rodeo
James Burton Mauney was born on January 9, 1987. His hometown is Charlotte, North Carolina. He was 13 years old when he rode his first "big" bull. He is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds.
Mauney won titles in the Southern Rodeo Association (SRA). He earned the junior all-around title in 2002. Then, he won the adult all-around title in 2004.
He joined the PBR in 2005. He also joined the PRCA in 2009. In his first year, he was named the 2006 PBR Rookie of the Year.
Riding the Toughest Bulls
Mauney is one of only five riders to successfully ride a bull named Asteroid. Asteroid was the 2012 World Champion bull. Mauney rode him for an amazing 93.50 points in 2012.
For many years, Mauney wore a helmet while riding. But by 2013, he switched to wearing a cowboy hat.
In August 2013, Mauney achieved another huge feat. He became one of only three riders to stay on Bushwacker. Bushwacker was a very famous and difficult bull. Mauney scored 95.25 points on him.
Mauney won the PBR world championship title two times. He also won the PBR World Finals event twice. These wins happened in 2009 and 2013.
On November 5, 2016, Mauney made PBR history. He was the first bull rider to earn over $7 million in his career.
Injuries and Determination
In 2017, Mauney had a serious injury to his right arm. He needed surgery to fix it. His career has been affected by many injuries. However, he always kept riding.
He once said, "It's part of being a cowboy." He explained that once you are in the chute, nothing else matters. You hold on and don't give up until you hit the ground. Mauney also didn't like it when people told him to stop riding.
Later Career and Retirement
In 2019, Mauney tied Justin McBride for the most televised wins in PBR history. By the end of 2020, he had competed in the PBR World Finals 15 times.
Since 2020, Mauney has been a part-owner of Ultimate Bullfighters (UBF). This group focuses on freestyle bullfighting.
In 2021, Mauney decided to focus on the PRCA. He wanted to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). He had joined the PRCA in 2009 but only rode occasionally. In December 2021, he qualified for and competed in his first NFR.
Mauney was on track to qualify for the NFR again in 2023. However, on September 6, he was bucked off a bull named Arctic Assassin. He landed on his head, breaking his neck. He had surgery two days later. Four days after that, Mauney announced his retirement. He said it wasn't how he wanted to end his career.
In early 2024, Mauney bought Arctic Assassin. The bull, also retired, now lives on Mauney's ranch in Stephenville, Texas.
Coaching Career
In 2024, Mauney returned to the PBR as a coach. He became the head coach for the Oklahoma Wildcatters. This is one of the new teams in the PBR Team Series.
Mauney's Legacy in Bull Riding
The PBR and its fans see Mauney as a true legend. In January 2018, he became the third bull rider to reach 500 rides on the Premier Series. He rode a bull named All The Way Up for 87.25 points.
Besides his two world championships, he has 32 PBR Premier Series wins. This ties him with Justin McBride. He also has 75 rides that scored 90 points or more. This is the second-highest number ever. He earned more money than any other bull rider, over $7.6 million.
Mauney was known for always picking the toughest bull. Especially in the championship round, he wanted the hardest challenge. He rode against the famous bull Bushwacker 13 times. Mauney always chose Bushwacker in the elite rounds. He truly believed, "If you are going to be the best, you've got to ride the best."
Justin McBride, another two-time PBR world champion, praised Mauney. He said Mauney was "the best bull rider of his generation." He also said Mauney would be remembered as one of the greatest PBR riders ever.
Personal Life
Mauney was married to Lexie Wiggly from 2012 to 2015. In 2017, he married Samantha Lyne. Samantha is a barrel racer. Her father, Phil Lyne, was a five-time PRCA world champion cowboy.
On January 23, 2019, Mauney and Samantha had their first son. Mauney also has a daughter, born in 2011, from his first marriage.
For most of his life, Mauney lived in Mooresville, North Carolina. His family then lived in Cotulla, Texas, for a few years. In late 2020, Mauney bought land in Stephenville, Texas. In early 2022, he and his family moved there.
Honors and Awards
In 2023, Mauney was ranked No. 9 on the list of the top 30 bull riders in PBR history.
In May 2024, he was honored by being inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame.
