Chance Schott’s ride in Wednesday’s Xtreme Bulls event at the Cody Stampede was the longest 8 seconds of his life. But with cowboy after cowboy bucking off early, the McLaughlin, South Dakota, native knew he had a chance to win the event if he stayed on long enough.

That’s easier said than done, so Schott did everything he could to keep his composure.

“I just tried to keep hustling during that ride,” he said. “I was a little behind at a couple points, but I kept shuffling my hips and had to keep hustling.”

While they were the longest seconds Schott has experienced, they were also the most rewarding. The rider managed to stay on for the full time, earning a score of 89 for the PRCA rookie’s first career Xtreme Bulls win and taking home $8,498.

The 22-year-old admitted that the 8-second mark came at the right time, as Fred, a MoBetta Rodeo bull, threw him off shortly afterwards.

“That buzzer, I’ve been keeping it close, and I need to ride a little longer than that, but I was thankful that it came when it did,” Schott said.

Wednesday’s action marked the beginning of the 2021 Cody Stampede, with the weekend wrapping up on July 4. Two other riders lasted 8 seconds: Parker Breding of Edgar, Montana, took second place and $7,011 with an 87.5-point ride while Jordan Spears of Redding, California, posted an 85-point ride and earned $5,736.

The feeling was surreal for Schott, who got his first win on such a grand stage before the most patriotic weekend of the year.

“This means the world to me,” he said. “This is a big one to win. This is going to be the perfect way to start my Fourth of July run. My confidence is through the roof right now, and I’m excited to see what the rest of the Cowboy Christmas holds.”