Show notes
From Amish Dairy Farm to Bull Riding Champion: Marcus Mast's Unlikely Journey to the Top
The Professional Bull Riders Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals are coming to Corpus Christi this Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Hilliard Center Arena, and we sit down with one of the sport's most compelling figures: 2025 Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Champion Marcus Mast, who's chasing his second title and his 15th career event win.
An Unlikely Cowboy Story: Marcus Mast didn't grow up in Texas or Wyoming dreaming of riding bulls. He grew up on an Amish dairy farm in Middlebury, Indiana, where bull riding wasn't even on his radar until his brother Nate started sneaking away to events. This isn't your typical cowboy origin story, and Marcus opens up about how that unique background shaped his approach to one of the most dangerous sports in the world.
From 18-Year-Old Rookie to 150+ Career Rides: We take Marcus back to that 18-year-old kid who won his first jackpot in Van Wert, Ohio. Now, with 155 career rides under his belt and knocking on the door of his 15th event win, he reflects on what about the "pro life" would surprise that younger version of himself the most. The journey from dairy farm to professional arena has been anything but conventional.
Rising from a Career-Ending Wreck: In 2023, Marcus went through a massive wreck that many thought would end his career. Now he's in Corpus Christi fighting for his second Velocity Tour title. We ask the tough question: when he's in the chutes and that gate is about to crack, is that history a weight on his shoulders, or is it the fuel that keeps him on for the full eight seconds?
The Mental Game: Marcus has spent time training with the legendary Gary Leffew, who's famous for teaching the mental side of bull riding. For fans who just see a guy holding on for dear life atop 1,800 pounds of muscle, Marcus reveals one mental trick he uses to stay calm when matched up against some of the toughest bulls in the sport.
The Road to Fort Worth: Five riders leaving Corpus Christi this weekend earn berths to the PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, May 7-10, with only those riders advancing to the second weekend at Dickies Arena May 14-17 where a World Champion will be crowned. As a veteran leader for the Kansas City Outlaws and a top contender, Marcus discusses what it would mean to his legacy to walk into Fort Worth with that second Velocity Tour buckle on his belt.
What to Expect This Weekend: Over the two-day event, 44 of the sport's top qualifying riders—who've traveled coast to coast competing in 25 events throughout the season—will advance to two full rounds taking on some of the toughest bulls in the sport. After two rounds, the top 10 riders with the highest aggregate scores attempt one final bull for a chance at the event title.
Entertainment Beyond the Arena: After the bull riding action, fans get world-class entertainment: Friday night features country star Carly Pearce, while Saturday brings comedy legend Larry The Cable Guy to the stage.
This conversation captures the grit, determination, and mental toughness required to compete at the highest level of professional bull riding. Marcus Mast's journey from an Amish dairy farm in Indiana to championship bull rider defies every stereotype about the sport—and proves that sometimes the most unlikely paths lead to the greatest stories.
PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals - Friday & Saturday, 7 p.m., Hilliard Center Arena, Corpus Christi
BigFrankShow2GO: Where Amish farm kids become bull riding champions and eight seconds can change everything—available on iHeartRadio.
The Professional Bull Riders Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals are coming to Corpus Christi this Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Hilliard Center Arena, and we sit down with one of the sport's most compelling figures: 2025 Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Champion Marcus Mast, who's chasing his second title and his 15th career event win.
An Unlikely Cowboy Story: Marcus Mast didn't grow up in Texas or Wyoming dreaming of riding bulls. He grew up on an Amish dairy farm in Middlebury, Indiana, where bull riding wasn't even on his radar until his brother Nate started sneaking away to events. This isn't your typical cowboy origin story, and Marcus opens up about how that unique background shaped his approach to one of the most dangerous sports in the world.
From 18-Year-Old Rookie to 150+ Career Rides: We take Marcus back to that 18-year-old kid who won his first jackpot in Van Wert, Ohio. Now, with 155 career rides under his belt and knocking on the door of his 15th event win, he reflects on what about the "pro life" would surprise that younger version of himself the most. The journey from dairy farm to professional arena has been anything but conventional.
Rising from a Career-Ending Wreck: In 2023, Marcus went through a massive wreck that many thought would end his career. Now he's in Corpus Christi fighting for his second Velocity Tour title. We ask the tough question: when he's in the chutes and that gate is about to crack, is that history a weight on his shoulders, or is it the fuel that keeps him on for the full eight seconds?
The Mental Game: Marcus has spent time training with the legendary Gary Leffew, who's famous for teaching the mental side of bull riding. For fans who just see a guy holding on for dear life atop 1,800 pounds of muscle, Marcus reveals one mental trick he uses to stay calm when matched up against some of the toughest bulls in the sport.
The Road to Fort Worth: Five riders leaving Corpus Christi this weekend earn berths to the PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, May 7-10, with only those riders advancing to the second weekend at Dickies Arena May 14-17 where a World Champion will be crowned. As a veteran leader for the Kansas City Outlaws and a top contender, Marcus discusses what it would mean to his legacy to walk into Fort Worth with that second Velocity Tour buckle on his belt.
What to Expect This Weekend: Over the two-day event, 44 of the sport's top qualifying riders—who've traveled coast to coast competing in 25 events throughout the season—will advance to two full rounds taking on some of the toughest bulls in the sport. After two rounds, the top 10 riders with the highest aggregate scores attempt one final bull for a chance at the event title.
Entertainment Beyond the Arena: After the bull riding action, fans get world-class entertainment: Friday night features country star Carly Pearce, while Saturday brings comedy legend Larry The Cable Guy to the stage.
This conversation captures the grit, determination, and mental toughness required to compete at the highest level of professional bull riding. Marcus Mast's journey from an Amish dairy farm in Indiana to championship bull rider defies every stereotype about the sport—and proves that sometimes the most unlikely paths lead to the greatest stories.
PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals - Friday & Saturday, 7 p.m., Hilliard Center Arena, Corpus Christi
BigFrankShow2GO: Where Amish farm kids become bull riding champions and eight seconds can change everything—available on iHeartRadio.