RUN TO THE NFR

NATIONAL FINALS RODEO PREVIEW

Photo: Rod Connor Photo: Phill Kitts

PRESENTED BY: Pendleton Whisky

The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo runs Dec. 1-10 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, and this year’s event will be one to remember. More than $10.9 million is up for grabs, making this year’s event the biggest payout in NFR history.

But it’s about more than just rodeo. Attendees can also visit Cowboy Christmas, the official gift show of the NFR featuring more than 350 vendors, presented by Pendleton Whisky. Pendleton Whisky was developed to honor the ropers and riders in the Pendleton RoundUp, which takes place each year in Pendleton, Oregon, and has grown to embody more than 100 years of rodeo tradition.

“Rodeo is the lifeblood of Pendleton Whisky, and Pendleton is committed to honoring western tradition, as well as supporting western athletics. Continuing to support PRCA, NFR, and the rodeo community is an opportunity to support everyone who believes in the Code of the West and wants to keep the true western tradition alive,” a representative says on behalf of Pendleton Whisky.

Pendleton is the Official Whisky of the PRCA, PBR, and the Western Sports Foundation. Vegas visitors are encouraged to pick up tickets to the 2022 Pendleton Whisky’s Let’er Buck Bucking Stock of the Year awards on Nov. 30, NFR Go Round Buckle Presentations in which Pendleton will gift nightly winners a bottle of whisky,

The brand is also an Official Partner of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Hunter Outdoor Expo, which takes place upstairs from Cowboy Christmas, and the title sponsor for the Rump Chat Podcast, broadcast from the Rump Chat stage at the Hunter Outdoor Expo daily. Pendleton Whisky is title sponsor for Outside the Barrel with Flint Rasmussen, which is open daily to the public throughout the NFR, and is the Official Whisky of Bull Fighters Only, a ticketed event that takes place Dec. 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 at 1:30 p.m.

But with rodeo as the main event, fans should plan to raise a glass of Pendleton to all the talented cowboys and cowgirls competing in the NFR. Here, we present a rundown of the top contenders in every discipline, all vying for coveted World Champion titles at rodeo’s premiere event.

PRCA RECAP

ALL-AROUND

It’s no surprise to see America’s favorite saddle bronc and bull rider Stetson Wright at the top of the All-Around standings this year. With $378,399.88 in qualified earnings, the superstar athlete from rodeo’s favorite legacy family would have to make a disappointing showing not to earn this year’s AllAround title. Wright holds the No. 1 spot in bull riding with earnings of 320,598.78 and the No. 2 spot in saddle bronc with $193,119.85 total payouts, though not all of that counts toward the All-Around title. However, his qualified earnings put him more than $220,000 ahead of No. 2 All-Around contender Taylor Santos, whose No. 7 rank in steer roping and No. 17 rank in tie-down roping have netted him a total of $159,179.29 in qualified money this year.

BULL RIDING

It’s hard to contest the fact that Wright is one of the best bull riders in the world. He enters the NFR with seasonal earnings of more than $90,000 ahead of second-place contender Josh Frost, who has $228,556.82 in qualified money. Though Frost won the NFR’s bull riding event in 2021, it still wasn’t enough to carry him to the World Champion title. That distinction went to Sage Kimzey, who claimed his seventh World Champion buckle last year. But with Kimzey out due to a shoulder injury since June, it may be Frost’s time in the spotlight. Still, he’ll have to have a solid NFR run if he wants to defeat Wright.

SADDLE BRONC

While saddle bronc may be a Wright family tradition, Sage Newman holds the No. 1 position in the event going into the NFR. Big wins at RODEOHOUSTON and the St. Paul Rodeo have helped land him in the number one spot with a staggering $253,190.84 in earnings. The RODEOHOUSTON win alone netted Newman $60,000, allowing him to pull ahead early in the season and continue that stellar run throughout the year. Of course, with so much money at stake in the NFR, it’s still anyone’s to take should Newman fail to bring the heat. He could easily find himself bested by Wright or third-place saddle bronc rider Brody Cress, whose seasonal earnings total $182,644.59.

BAREBACK

This year’s bareback title will almost certainly come down to whichever contender makes the best showing at the NFR. The top three bareback riders will enter the Thomas and Mack with less than $13,000 separating the three of them, which is less than the payout for a single-round third-place placement ($17,255). Consistency will be key here as Cole Reiner, at the top of the standings with $160,970.51, fights to keep down second-place Jess Pope, with $159,259.04 in qualified money, and Caleb Benett, who has $147,290.04 in seasonal earnings.

STEER WRESTLING

This year may be Stetson Jorgenson’s time to shine as he enters the NFR as the world’s top-ranked steer wrestler with $134,660.59 in payouts this year. Jorgenson has qualified for the NFR every year since 2019 but has yet to win a world title. It’s no surprise to see Tyler Waguespack holding No. 2 in the standings and $123,872.85 in earnings as the three-time World Champion and eight-time NFR qualifier is nothing if not consistent. Last year, he placed second at the NFR, which was enough to cement the World Champion title, adding to the titles won in 2016 and 2018. Wins at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo and the San Angelo Cinch Shoot-Out bolstered his season earnings.

TEAM ROPING

Team Roping duo Kaleb Driggers (header) and Junior Nogueira (heeler) continue their run as the team roping dream team going into the NFR, each going into the NFR with $227,877.85 in earnings for the 2022 season. A big win at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo gave them an early-season lift, and they maintained that momentum consistently throughout the season. The two are last year’s World Champions, but Clay Tryan (header) and Jake Long (heeler), who hold second in the team roping standings in each of their positions, are determined not to let Driggers and Nogueira win again without a fight. Still, the duo will have to work hard, as Tryan sits more than $80,000 behind Driggers at the end of the season, and Long has about $100,000 of catching up to do.

TIE-DOWN ROPING

With four NFR qualifications under him, 2020’s tie-down roping World Champion Shad Mayfield sits atop the leaderboard once again after big wins at the Washing State Fair Pro Rodeo and Rodeo Austin, to name a few. With $203,508.08 in earnings, more than $36,000 separate him and second-ranked John Douch. But, with mainstays like Haven Meged, Caleb Smidt, Shane Hanchey, and Tuf Cooper all in contention, all of whom hold at least one World Champion title, Mayfield will have his work cut out for him if he wants to claim that gold buckle once again.

STEER ROPING

The National Finals Steer Roping took place at the Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kansas, from Nov. 4-5. While Cody Lee took first at the event with 123.3 seconds on ten head for a total of $30,349 in prize money, it wasn’t enough to steal the World Champion title from J. Tom Fisher, who placed third in the event and earned $19,884 at the event for a total of $123,476.77 in season earnings.

BARREL RACING

Jordon Briggs won her first WPRA World Barrel Racing in 2021, and her momentum hasn’t slowed her in 2022. She’s the front-runner going to the Thomas & Mack, where she also won the Wrangler NFR average title last year and set a new 10-run record inside the arena with a total time of 136.83 seconds. Now ranked first with $177,779.15 in earnings, she proves she has what it takes to dominate once again. If she can repeat her performance from last year, she’ll most certainly take the title, beating out longtime barrel racing pros like Dona Kay Rule, Hailey Kinsel, and Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi.

BREAKAWAY

The Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping will take place ahead of the NFR, running from Nov. 29-30 at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center in Vegas. The WPRCA’s top 15 breakaway ropers will compete for $250,000 in prizes. All eyes are on Martha Angelone, who leads the pack in regular season earnings with $109,096.71. However, if Angelone fails to maintain consistency throughout the finale event, it could be up to second-ranked Erin Johnson or third-ranked Lari Dee Guy, who trail Angelone in regular season earnings by about $37,000 and $41,000, respectively, to claim the title.

RODEO IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF PENDLETON WHISKY, AND PENDLETON IS COMMITTED TO HONORING WESTERN TRADITION...

-Pendleton Whisky REP

As you celebrate the NFR festivities and the holiday season, enjoy it all with a glass of Pendleton Midnight.

“Midnight is a whisky blend that is aged for over six years in American brandy barrels. Each batch of ninetyproof oak barrel-aged whisky is crafted from premium ingredients and includes notes of leather and warm spices that provide a full-bodied, authentic flavor,” Pendleton Whisky’s rep says.

Fans are also encouraged to try a Rodeo ‘Rita, which anyone can make by swapping tequila for Pendleton Original in margaritas. To learn more about Pendleton Midnight and for more great cocktail recipes from Pendleton Whisky, visit pendletonwhisky.com.

“Pendleton Whisky supports and appreciates all rodeo participants. Our brand is honored to be able to support this great sport and events across the country that give people the opportunity to showcase their skills,” the Pendleton Whisky representative says. “Pendleton Whisky wishes everyone participating at the NFR this year the best of luck!”