Austin “Lil A” Richardson didn’t grow up chasing spotlights — he chased the rush. The Wilmer, Texas, native was just 12 years old when a friend convinced him to get on a steer at a local jackpot. He stayed on, earned a $75 check, and never looked back. Growing up neighbors with 2008 PBR World Champion Guilherme Marchi, Richardson learned early what it took to make it among the best. By 18, he was competing on the sport’s biggest stages, qualifying for his first PBR World Finals in 2019.

A 2022 PBR Teams second-round draft pick, Richardson helped the Austin Gamblers to the league’s best regular-season record that year, and he remained a key part of the roster when Austin repeated as the 2023 Regular-Season No. 1 Team and finished Teams Championship Runner-Up. Those seasons cemented Richardson as one of the league’s most dynamic young guns before he was traded to the Nashville Stampede, where he quickly became a locker-room leader and reliable spark in the lineup.

Since his debut, Richardson has built a career on resilience. He’s bounced back from more than his share of setbacks — a broken collarbone in 2021, a knee injury in 2024 — but each time, he’s returned sharper and stronger. Along the way, he’s delivered some of the sport’s most electric rides, including a 94.5-point trip on Woopaa in Tulsa (2022), one of the highest scores ever by a young rider.

Off the dirt, Richardson keeps life fast. He runs AK Unlimited LLC, building custom metal homes and shops when he’s not chasing eight seconds. During the week, he’s just as likely to be wake-surfing, golfing, or riding dirt bikes, and he’s been snowboarding since age 11. His dream vacation was to Turks and Caicos, where he says he could live on the beach forever. A self-proclaimed Chick-fil-A loyalist, his favorite consistent pre-ride meal is a No. 1 combo or nuggets, and his go-to gas station pit stop involves a C4 energy drink and Sour Patch Kids.

Richardson blends Texas grit with laid-back swagger. His pump-up song is “Untouchable” by NBA YoungBoy, his first concert was Koe Wetzel at 19, and he’ll name George Strait right alongside NBA YoungBoy as his favorite artists. He says he buys four American Hats a year, always preferring felts over straws — because when you ride like he does, you’re bound to wear a few out.