PUEBLO, Colo. – L.J. Jenkins has announced his retirement from the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) and the sport of bull riding.
Effective immediately, Jenkins’ retirement will cut short his 11th season on the Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS). The 28-year-old suffered a fractured first cervical vertebra (C1) while competing in Nampa, Idaho, earlier this year in April and hasn’t competed since. During his recovery, doctors confirmed it is best for him to stop riding, which led Jenkins to the decision that it was time to hang up his bull rope.
“Even though I would tell everybody, ‘Yeah, I am ready to retire.’ I thought I had another three or four years,” Jenkins said. “Then this happened and it was the reality of, ‘Hey, I am done.’ It kind of hit hard. I was fortunate I walked out of the arena. I am 28 years old and I had an awesome career. I can be thankful for all of that and be glad I just walked out of there.”
FULL STORY: Jenkins discusses decision to retire
Jenkins was the 2006 PBR World Finals event average winner and qualified for the event 10 times. He ranks 12th on the all-time money earners list with more than $1.8 million earned over the past 11 years (2005-15). He has collected 42 Top-5 finishes, 72 Top-10 finishes and 19 90-points rides during his career, picking up seven BFTS event wins as well.
According to probullstats.com, Jenkins boasts a 44.26 career riding percentage, covering 320 of the 723 bulls he has faced over 243 events on the BFTS. He posted the highest-marked ride of his career in Glendale, Arizona, on March 14, 2010, with 94 points aboard VooDoo Child (Jeff Robinson/Beutler/Bar None/McNeely/Broken N-N).
Jenkins’ final qualified ride of his career came in Seattle in March when he covered Fire Rock for 87.5 points in the Built Ford Tough Championship Round to place second overall in the event.
