STEPHENVILLE, Texas  - "This last weekend we got to see and remember how great Chris Shivers is and was," said Ty Murray in his weekly podcast.

"I think he's going to be a guy to look out for this year."

Last Wednesday, Shivers confirmed that 2012 will be the final season of his illustrious career, and on Saturday, the two-time World Champion won the first of four stadium series events in Atlanta. It was the 23rd Built Ford Tough Series win of his career.

Shivers said Saturday that the past couple seasons have "sucked," but that he's focused on making the most of his final year.

He's currently ranked 11th in the world.

'I think what we saw in Atlanta [from Chris Shivers] is just a preview of what's to come.'

In six events, he's shown flashes of his old self, especially in Atlanta's Built Ford Tough Championship Round, when he covered Delco for 90 points. It was the 93rd time he's been 90 or better.

"I think what we saw in Atlanta is just a preview of what's to come," Murray said.

He also talked about the reemergence of J.B. Mauney.

Mauney is currently the top-ranked rider in the world. In the two weeks since he won in Baltimore, he's finished second and third in the average. He has not finished worse than 13th this year.

The North Carolina native has been in this position in the past, but unlike Shivers, he has yet to finish the season by winning the gold buckle and the $1 million bonus that comes with it.

Mauney could be the beneficiary of having a veteran like Shivers push him when it comes to developing a killer instinct in the arena.

"I was lucky in my career," said Murray, who won nine world titles, including seven all-around titles. "I was around guys that were winners and expected to win every time. That rubs off on you the same way a bad attitude rubs off on you."

Murray added, "J.W. Hart made a good point (during the telecast): Justin McBride was seven seasons in before he won his first world title. That's where J.B.'s at now."

Murray said he loves the gunslinger attitude that Mauney brings to each event, but admits it has both helped and hurt him in the past.

Murray also talked about the dominating performances from Asteroid.

The top-ranked bull will be in Houston this weekend, but Murray is most looking forward to the Arlington, Texas, event in two weeks, when Bushwacker returns to competition and the two bulls face off for the first time since last year's World Finals.

'When Bushwacker is at his best and Asteroid is at his best, I don't know which one to pick. I really don't.'

"To me, it's a coin flip," said Murray, when asked to compare the bulls. "When Bushwacker is at his best and Asteroid is at his best, I don't know which one to pick. I really don't.

"The thing that is going to be interesting to see, to me, are two things: Is Bushwacker going to come back the same as he was? I think he will. I think he can, but that's yet to be seen. The other thing that's real interesting to me, that I think is going to affect the race, is the sense of urgency that Asteroid has."

"Bushwacker is real laidback, really calm, stands in the chute perfectly," Murray continued. "He kind of turns the meter to where he needs it to go. If he can buck a guy off turning it to five, he turns it to five."

On the flipside, Asteroid has some variation to what he does, but he's on 10 every time a rider nods.

UP NEXT: Watch the WinStar World Casino Invitational in Houston next Saturday at 9 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.