American Buckle Magazine 2023 Volume 2

WELCOME

The only thing hotter than this past summer is this rodeo season. As fall approaches, now is not the time to let your boot off the gas. We’ve watched seasoned veterans put on some of the best rodeo rounds of their careers alongside rookies who are quickly making a name for themselves.

In this Fall Edition, we look into year two of the PBR Camping World Team Series. The regular season is entering its final stretch as the league’s eight teams battle to earn the best seed in the playoffs, leading into a winner-takes-all championship event. The Gamblers currently lead the standings but are only two wins ahead of the second-ranked Oklahoma Freedom. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Outlaws are hanging on for third place. The series battle will all come down to which team can bring its A-game to the PBR Team Series Championship, which will take place October 20-22 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Last December, American Buckle Magazine featured RC Landingham, who, at the time, was just one World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA) Major event win from a million-dollar payday. In December, Landingham became the WCRA’s first-ever Triple Crown winner, making him an overnight millionaire. On the heels of his victory, a new name has emerged and is poised to be next! Just one event stands between saddle bronc rider Isaac Diaz and the honor of becoming the second rodeo athlete to claim the WCRA Triple Crown title, not to mention the life-changing million bucks that come

with the distinction. Our story covers Diaz’s journey and what fans can expect when it all comes down to the wire at Rodeo Carolina in early October.

Believe it or not, we’re just three short months away from the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Every cowboy and cowgirl knows it’s “gotime.” The all-or-nothing mental grind separates the elite from those who can’t quite make the cut. In our PRCA season checkin, we provide our readers with a standings overview for each rodeo category. Look and see where your favorite roper, rider, or racer stands as they compete for a spot in the finals and a chance to take home a coveted gold buckle.

Lastly, we want to show love and thanks to our advertisers. Partnering with great companies that love and support the rodeo community is such a joy. Also, a special thanks to our team here at American Buckle Magazine, who make each edition happen. Be sure to keep an eye out for our upcoming World Finals issue, slated to hit the stands in December.

Blessings,

Chris Dize Publisher

pg. 24

BRITTANY POZZI TONOZZI FEATURE pg. 50

1 Source Media, LLC

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President & Publisher: Chris Dize

Graphic Design: Jon Pharr & Big Wolf Designs

Senior Writer & Editor: Whitney Meers

Contributing photos as follows: Photos Courtesy of the PRCA

Photos Courtesy of WPRA

Photos Courtesy of PBR

Credited Photographer: Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

Copies available for purchase at: Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Books-A-Million

Dings, scratches and scars

When the buzzer sounds, most cowboys end up with a few dings and scratches. Sometimes they’re an easy fix. Sometimes they leave scars.

It’s the same with trucks. Sometimes you fix them and sometimes the scars let you tell a good story one more time. So, when your truck needs patching up, let us know. Because every cowboy needs a ride he can rely on.

RISE HIGH THE GAMBLERS as Series Leaders

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

PBR CAMPING WORLD TEAM SERIES ROUND-UP

The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Camping World Team Series regular season is entering its final stretch as the league’s eight teams battle for spots in the playoffs, and the competition is fierce as the Austin Gamblers strive to maintain their lead. The series will culminate in the championships at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas from October 20-22, and with just a few weeks of competition remaining, the eight teams are all jockeying for the top seed. The Gamblers currently lead the standings but are only two wins ahead of the second-ranked Oklahoma Freedom, while the Kansas City Outlaws are hanging on for third place.

Following a PBR Team Series Draft that took place May 17 as part of the PBR Unleash The Beast World Finals in Fort Worth, the 11-event season kicked off July 24-25 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, at the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo grounds. Throughout the season, each team will have the opportunity to host an event in their city, in addition to the Cheyenne neutral site event and another in Anaheim, California.

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

The PBR Team Series, now in its second year, celebrates bull riding in all its glory with a city-based team approach designed to put fan engagement at the core. The inaugural 2022 PBR Team Series season was “an unqualified success,” according to Sean Gleason, CEO and Commissioner of the PBR. More than 200,000 fans attended Teams events, while millions more tuned in from their homes throughout the country.

Each homestead event consists of three games on three different days, while the events in Cheyenne and Anaheim feature only eight games throughout two nights. Each game consists of five head-to-head matchups. One rider from each team rides a bull for each matchup, and the rider with the higher score on the PBR’s 100-point scale wins the matchup. The team with the most wins in a game wins the game, and the team’s record at the end of the event determines the

event winner. The series then initiates tiebreaker bonus rounds as needed. Wins and losses determine seeding during the championship event, so it’s important for teams to stay at the top of the leaderboard for the best seed.

Last year, in what the rodeo community could only describe as a “Cinderella Story,” the Nashville Stampede rose from last place to dominate the playoffs for the championship title. Bull riders tipped their hats to the Stampede’s star rider Mason Taylor, who won the event average with a score of 87.50 points and earned the event MVP title.

This year, all eyes were on the Stampede to see whether they can once again bring the heat. Unfortunately, that’s not quite the case, as the Stampede once again finds itself at the bottom of the scoreboard, tied for last with the Missouri Thunder as the series’ lowest-ranked team. The Stampede were 2-8-0 after their homestead event, the Nashville Stampede rodeo, which took place August 18-20.

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

But, if the team could climb out from last place last year, they certainly can again this year, too. Three-time World Champion Silvano Alves and rookie Kaiden Loud made a showing in Nashville to help secure two wins, as the team had none before heading into the weekend. Unfortunately, several of the team members on last year’s championship squad are injured, including 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco. However, this gives Loud and fellow rookies Bruno Carvalho and Alan de Souza the chance to prove themselves alongside Matt Triplett and Ednélio Rodrigues

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

The Austin Gamblers are on fire in the regular season again this year, kicking off things with a bang by going 2-0 in Cheyenne to secure an early lead. The team shows no signs of slowing down. Though the Gamblers were the first team to win eight consecutive games during the 2022 season and were seeded first going into the playoffs, the riders were unable to keep up that momentum during the championship event. However, the Gamblers ended the season first in the overall standings, with team leader and star rider Jose Vitor Leme honored as MVP for the season. It seems that the team is set for a potential repeat season performance, as they were undefeated for seven games straight before falling to the Arizona Ridge Riders during the first night of festivities in Nashville for their only loss of the season so far. The team recently added Rafael Henrique Dos Santos to its roster, quickly rendering him a team starter alongside Leme, Lucas Divino, Ramon de Lima, and Dalton Kasel However, it’s Leme who continues to steal the show with three 90-point rides so far, including a 91-point ride on Brusta in Anaheim in Extra Outs.

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

But, the Oklahoma Freedom is keeping Austin on its toes, holding steady at second place in the standings just two losses behind the series leaders. The PBR Team Series proves it really can just be the luck of the draw sometimes, as the Freedom have had only ten scored rides, behind the Gambers’ 19. So while consistency may not be the name of the game, the riders come through when it counts. All eyes are on Thaigo Salgado, who came through at the Nashville Stampede to help his team earn wins against the Missouri Thunder and the Carolina Cowboys. The Freedom boasts a monster roster that also includes Elizmar Jeremias, Derek Kolbaba, Alex Cerqueira, Eli Vastbender, Briggs Madsen, with Tate Pollmeier and Chase Outlaw on injured reserve.

And while the Freedom and the Gamblers are vying for that top spot, there’s still plenty of time for the Kansas City Outlaws, the Texas Rattlers, or the Carolina Cowboys to claw their way to the top. The season is not even halfway over, so a solid streak from any of these three could propel them to the top. The Outlaws’ Cassio Dias is a force this season, with a 90-point ride on Hunted Down and a 90.75 ride on Tulsa Time, both in Nashville. But with the Carolina Cowboys’ stacked lineup that includes Cooper Davis, Josh Frost, Daylon Swearingen, Sage Steele Kimzey, and Boudreaux Campbell, there’s plenty of time for the team to slide into the lead. And, the competition should continue to keep tabs on the Rattlers which, despite only holding rank four on the leaderboard, are also proving extremely consistent with 20 rides to 50 outs, for more consistency than the first-ranked Austin Gamblers. Unfortunately, overall scores have not quite been high enough in those cases, but as long as they can keep scoring, the team may quietly force its way to the top spot.

There’s still so much more action to come in the 2023 PBR Camping World Team Series, so stay tuned to catch up on all the action. We know you’re going to support your favorite team when the series comes to your city, but don’t forget you can also catch all the action on CBS, CBS Sports Network, and RidePass on Pluto TV. •

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

#1

AUSTIN GAMBLERS

ROSTER:

Jose Vitor Leme

Austin Richardson

Lucas Divino

Ezekiel Mitchell

Ramon de Lima

Dalton Kasel

Adriano Salgado

RECORD: 12-1-0

TEAM STATS

WIN PERCENTAGE: .923

RIDES-OUTS: 25-65

RIDER WINNINGS: $285,749

TEAM WINNINGS: $380,000

GAMES BEHIND: 0

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

#2

KC OUTLAWS

ROSTER:

Kyler Oliver

Bob Mitchell

Marcus Mast

Koltin Hevalow

Cassio Dias

Leonardo Ferreira

Wingson da Silva

RECORD: 8-5-0

WIN PERCENTAGE: .615

RIDES-OUTS: 25-65

RIDER WINNINGS: $231,749

TEAM WINNINGS: $300,00

GAMES BEHIND: 4

Photo: Josh Homer / Bull Stock Media

#3

OKLAHOMA FREEDOM

ROSTER:

Tate Pollmeier

Eli Vastbinder

Derek Kolbaba

Chase Outlaw

Briggs Madsen

Casey Roberts

Brady Turgeon

Elizar Jeremias

TEAM STATS

RECORD: 8-5-0

WIN PERCENTAGE: .615

RIDES-OUTS: 14-65

RIDER WINNINGS: $184,749

TEAM WINNINGS: $170,000

GAMES BEHIND: 4

#4

CAROLINA COWBOYS

ROSTER:

Sandro Batista

Daylon Swearingen

Boudreaux Campbell

Cooper Davis

Sage Kimzey

Josh Frost

Daniel Feitosa

Trey Kimzey

STATS

RECORD: 7-6-0

WIN PERCENTAGE: .538

RIDES-OUTS: 14-65

RIDER WINNINGS: $176,499

TEAM WINNINGS: $180,000

GAMES BEHIND: 5

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

#5

TEXAS RATTLERS

ROSTER:

Cody Jesus

Joao Ricardo Vieira

Brady Oleson

Braidy Randolph

Daniel Keeping

Creek Young

Dawson Gleaves

Brady Fielder

TEAM STATS

RECORD: 6-7-0

WIN PERCENTAGE: .462

RIDES-OUTS: 24-65

RIDER WINNINGS: $181,000

TEAM WINNINGS: $160,000

GAMES BEHIND: 6

Photo: Andre Silva / Bull Stock Media

#6

ARIZONA RIDGE RIDERS

ROSTER:

Luciano De Castro

Eduardo Aparecido

Chase Dougherty

Vitor Losnake

Keyshawn Whitehorse

Clten Fritzlan

Jeff Askey

TEAM STATS

RECORD: 6-7-0

WIN PERCENTAGE: .308

RIDES-OUTS: 14-65

RIDER WINNINGS: $138,375

TEAM WINNINGS: $110,000

GAMES BEHIND: 8

Photo: Andre Silva / Bull Stock Media

#7

NASHVILLE STAMPEDE

ROSTER:

Kaique Pacheco

Dener Barbosa

Mason Taylor

Ednelio Almeida

Silvano Alves

Kaiden Loud

Bruno Carvalho

Jess Lockwood

TEAM STATS

RECORD: 3-10-0

WIN PERCENTAGE: .231

RIDES-OUTS: 12-65

RIDER WINNINGS: $135,750

TEAM WINNINGS: $100,000

GAMES BEHIND: 9

Photo: Josh Homer / Bull Stock Media

#8

MISSOURI THUNDER

ROSTER:

Andrew Alvidrez

Marcelo Pereira

Luke Parkinson

Joao Lucas Campos

Kade Madsen

Eduardo Matos

Felipe Furlan

Andy Bohl

TEAM STATS

RECORD: 2-11-0

WIN PERCENTAGE: .154

RIDES-OUTS: 9-65

RIDER WINNINGS: $137,750

TEAM WINNINGS: $110,000

GAMES BEHIND: 10

PBR TEAMS PROFILES

Photo: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media

LIFETIME THE RIDE OF A

PRESENTEDBY

WILL ISAAC DIAZ BE THE WCRA TRIPLE CROWN’S NEXT MILLION-DOLLAR MAN?

Just one event stands between saddle bronc rider Isaac Diaz and the honor of becoming the second rodeo athlete to claim the World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA) Triple Crown title, not to mention the life-changing milliondollar payday that comes with the distinction. The seventime NFR qualifier, whose career in the professional saddle bronc circuit spans more than 18 years, recently rode his way into his second Triple Crown-qualifying event at Rodeo Corpus Christi with an 80.5-point score, which was still enough to cinch the win.

The Triple Crown of Rodeo awards is a special bonus that awards $1 million to any one athlete or collection of athletes to earn three consecutive wins at WCRA Major Rodeos. After claiming his first win at last December’s Cowtown Christmas Championship and the second at Rodeo Corpus Christi, he’ll now ride for $1 million at Rodeo Carolina, taking place October 5-8 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina. Last year, bareback rider RC Landingham became the first-ever victor of the Triple Crown of Rodeo after consecutive wins at Rodeo Corpus Christi in Texas, Utah Days of ’47 in Salt Lake City, and the Cowtown Christmas Championship Rodeo in Fort Worth, Texas. And, if it happened for Landingham, there’s no reason it can’t happen for Diaz, too.

Photo: Alaina Stangle

Photo: Alaina Stangle

Diaz is a three-time WCRA Champion, becoming the first WCRA Saddle Bronc Champion in 2019 by defeating four-time NFR Qualifier Cole Elsher and Gus Gillard. Diaz has won three WCRA events in total, and if he can claim his fourth in North Carolina, he’ll earn a major payday bonus. His smooth, fluid riding style sets him apart in the highly competitive world of saddle bronc, where, on the PRCA circuit, he faces stiff competition from pros like PRCA 2023 saddle bronc season front-runner Sage Newman and 2021 PRCA saddle bronc World Champion Stetson Wright. But Diaz’s drive and commitment to the sport are paying off as he accumulates earnings within the PRCA and the WCRA. Diaz, who was born in California and grew up in Florida but now resides in Desdemona, Texas, near the Stephenville area, has already won more than $122,000 with the WCRA throughout his career. That number is in addition to $1,461,932 in lifetime PRCA earnings in his 18 years with the organization. And while the PRCA number is a decent chunk of change, an overnight million-dollar bonus is certainly preferable to working another decade for the same amount.

That $122,000 also puts him eighth on the WCRA lifetime earnings scoreboard across disciplines. Landingham leads the pack with $1.1 million in earnings, aided in no small part by his $1 million bonus as the bareback Triple Crown champion. However, Diaz’s Triple Crown win would propel him to the top of the organization’s earnings charts. Since its launch in May 2018, the WCRA and its partner organizations have doled out over $15,253,000 to rodeo athletes across disciplines.

“I just gotta kind of play it off like it’s just another rodeo. I know how I function, and I’m not like some guys that feed off of the attention. So I’m going to keep it as mellow and cool as I can, and I’ll perform a little better,” Diaz told the Cowboy Channel after his win in Corpus Christi, where he took home $15,000 for his 80.5-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Cowboy Town for the Triple Crown Round. He admitted at the time that he didn’t think the score would hold, but it was enough to secure him a win and put him on the path to a life-changing amount of money.

I JUST GOTTA KIND OF PLAY IT OFF LIKE IT’S JUST ANOTHER RODEO.

-ISAAC DIAZ

Photo: J Golom Photos

Photo: Kristen Schurr

I KNOW HOW I FUNCTION, AND I’M NOT LIKE SOME GUYS THAT FEED OFF OF THE ATTENTION.

-ISAAC DIAZ

He seems to be playing it cool, and it’s easy to see why Diaz wants to keep a level head as he chases that bonus. Diaz is married to barrel racer Britany Diaz, and the couple have two children. Indeed, as a family man, there’s the inherent desire to ensure you can care for your loved ones, particularly given the unpredictable nature of competitive rodeo. A million-dollar bonus would certainly help with those efforts.

It hasn’t always been easy for the saddle bronc pro. In 2019, during one of his strongest season runs, Diaz suffered an injury in which his lower abdomen and groin muscles ripped from his pelvis. After sitting out for ten weeks of the season, he placed 16th in the rankings, just one spot away from another 2019 NFR qualifier. However, always resilient, the injury didn’t stop him from continuing his fight for another chance at the top.

He’s certainly been putting work into his craft throughout the past year. Diaz is presently the only rodeo athlete with two consecutive WCRA Triple Crown wins under his belt, rendering him the only cowboy eligible for the prize money at Rodeo Carolina. He’s also one of only a dozen riders and ropers with two or more total WCRA Triple Crown event wins within their discipline.

Even without that tasty $1 million payout, Diaz can still bring home a potentially hefty payday in the Carolinas. With guaranteed payouts totaling more than $400,000, the WCRA boasts that “Rodeo Carolina will be the richest rodeo east of the Mississippi River.”

Photo: Brian Gauck

As an organization, the WCRA aims to align all competition levels and qualifies athletes based on points rather than dollars won. This means that a single big payout won’t necessarily immediately skyrocket the athlete to the top of the leaderboard and secure their place in the finals.

The WCRA considers scores and placements across all rodeos, amounting to bonus money for the athletes already competing in rodeos nationwide. The WCRA operates in conjunction with the PBR, with the mission of simply developing additional opportunities for those within the rodeo industry, including athletes, stock contractors, stakeholders, and fans.

All rodeo contestants can apply to participate in the WCRA regardless of affiliation. Participants must nominate the rodeos they attend as WCRA events to qualify for the majors. A PRCA rider can still win money and points as a PRCA member, but points also contribute to the WCRA. The three major events, along with the Women’s Rodeo World Championship, amount to extra opportunities to earn money throughout the year. Diaz and other rodeo athletes embrace the WCRA’s mission by nominating rodeos and collecting points.

It’s an attractive proposition to those like Diaz, who can use it to further their career while participating in their choice of events throughout the season.

Typically, the Triple Crown series invites the WCRA’s top 48 athletes in a timed discipline or 24 in a riding discipline, narrowing it down to seven in a showdown round of six athletes from the qualifying rounds and the Leaderboard first-place athlete. The Triple Crown of Rodeo round comes down to only three athletes. The winner becomes the event Champion and qualifies for the potential Triple Crown run.

For Diaz, that format will determine whether he’ll walk away from Rodeo Carolina with an extra million to his name. Fortunately, Diaz is also the type to understand that if it doesn’t happen, it may not be part of God’s overall plan. Still, he has a good shot at bringing home the big bucks, and the Carolina crowds will surely cheer him along every step of the way. •

Photo: Brian Gauck

SAGE NEWMAN

#1

PRCA STATS

WOLRD TITLES: 0

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 2

2023 PRCA EARNINGS: $216,431

AGE: 25

MEMBER SINCE: 2017

HOMETOWN: MELSTONE, MT

STETSON WRIGHT

#2

PRCA STATS

WOLRD TITLES: 7

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 7

2023 PRCA EARNINGS: $427,033

AGE: 24

MEMBER SINCE: 2018

HOMETOWN: MIFLORD, UT

PRCA SADDLE BRONC RIDERS

#2

PRCA STATS

WOLRD TITLES: 0

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 2

2023 PRCA EARNINGS: $145,830

AGE: 24

MEMBER SINCE: 2018

HOMETOWN: WEATHERFORD, TX

#4

PRCA STATS

WOLRD TITLES: 3

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 9

2023 PRCA EARNINGS: $132,180

AGE: 31

MEMBER SINCE: 2012

HOMETOWN: ZWINGLE, IA

PRCA BAREBACK RIDERS

STETSON WRIGHT

#1

PRCA STATS

WOLRD TITLES: 7

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 7

2023 PRCA EARNINGS: $427,033

AGE: 24

MEMBER SINCE: 2018

HOMETOWN: MIFLORD, UT

PRCA BULL RIDERS

#2

PRCA STATS

WOLRD TITLES: 0

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 3

2023 PRCA EARNINGS: $202,213

AGE: 23

MEMBER SINCE: 2019

HOMETOWN: MACKAY, QL

CHECK-IN 2023 PRCA SEASON

A LOOK AT WHO’S RIDING, RACING, AND ROPING TO THE TOP OF LEADERBOARDS

DURING THE 2023 SEASON.

It’s been quite a year for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), as the events — and their payouts — seem to keep getting bigger and better. The competition is in full force as the nation’s best riders and ropers fight to make it to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR), set to take place at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas from December 7 to 16.

Photo: Michael Pintar

This year’s top talent includes rookies, veterans, familiar faces, and longtime athletes waiting for their moment to shine. Here, we’ve recapped what’s going on across the PRCA’s nine disciplines and tapped into who seems poised to take home in each, as well as the all-around World Champion title. While some of our season leaders have amassed healthy leads, most will have to maintain discipline and consistency if they want a shot at a gold buckle. For many, it will all come down to what happens in Vegas, where a single bad run could cost a roper or rider that coveted World Champion honor.

Photo: Phil Doyle

PRCA RECAP

ALL-AROUND

It wouldn’t be the PRCA if Stetson Wright weren’t leading the race for the all-around title he’s claimed for the last four years. With over $330,000 in qualified earnings this year alone, Wright is at the top of the leaderboard in bull riding and second in saddle bronc. Wright shows no signs of slowing down, continuing his role as the PRCA wunderkind with seven World Titles and seven NFR qualifications to date. Wright’s 2023 bull riding wins include the Cody Stampede and the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, where he claimed his sixth and seventh rodeo event titles of his career when he took the Frontier Days’ all-around title, too. He’s also earned saddle bronc wins at Rodeo

Austin and San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. It’s no wonder he’s nearly $200,000 ahead of second-ranked Nelson Wyatt, who competes in team roping as a header and tie-down roping. Wyatt and third-ranked Brushton Minton, who competes in tiedown roping, steer wrestling, and team roping as a heeler, will have to work hard to outrank Wright to claim that All-Around Champion distinction. But, of course, all’s fair in love and rodeo, and with plenty of rodeo left in the season and massive payouts on the line at the NFR in December, an injury or losing streak for Wright could make room for either of these competitors to take over that top slot.

BAREBACK

Rookie bareback rider Keenan Hayes is turning heads in the world of bareback, as the top-ranked rider is in his first official year with the PRCA but seems poised to also claim the Resistol Rookie of the Year title in his event. Even the vets can’t keep up with Hayes, whose season so far includes wins at Rodeo Austin, the San Angelo (Texas) Cinch Chute-Out. The young man is proving he has a massive career ahead of him, claiming $208,000 in qualified PRCA earnings this year while not being legally old enough to have a drink to celebrate. Second-ranked Leighton Berry, a two-time NFR qualifier, has his work cut out if he wants to catch up in the season rankings. But, if anyone is capable, it’s Berry, as he’s secured wins at major events, including RodeoHouston and the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. In 2022, Berry finished third in the bareback riding world standings with a total of $267,274 in earnings. If he can keep up his momentum and have a solid NFR run, he’s easily poised to beat that number in 2023. But, he’ll have to keep up his pace, as only a few thousand dollars stand between Berry and rookie Kade Sonnier, who holds the third-place spot in the standings.

SADDLE BRONC

It may be an all-out war between top-ranked Sage Newman, second-ranked Stetson Wright, and thirdranked Zeke Thurston, as less than $15,000 in earnings stands between the three as they duke it out for their spot at the top of the earnings leaderboard. Two-time NFR qualifier Newman, whose earnings of $215,613 put him at the top of the saddle bronc rankings, placed fifth in the World Standings last year and seems hungry to claim that top spot this time around with wins at RodeoHouston, the Cody Stampede, and New Year’s Eve Buck and Ball in Gillette, Wyoming. But he will have to fight to stay ahead of Wright, who comes from a legendary family of saddle bronc riders, and Thurston, who holds three World titles.

Photo: Phil Doyle

Photo: Phil Doyle

STEER WRESTLING

Dalton Massey is having the best run of his career to lead the steer wrestling leaderboard. For comparison, his 2022 overall earnings were $67,349, while this year’s earnings are over $165,000, thanks partly to a big win at RodeoHouston that bumped him up $50,000. Three-time NFR qualifier Jesse Brown trails with $122,700 for the year so far, and four-time steer wrestling world champion Tyler Waguespack continues to climb the ranks with $118,480 in PRCA prize money.

BULL RIDING

While Stetson Wright continues to clean up with more than $224,000 in PRCA-qualified earnings for bull riding for the season so far, that’s not quite enough of a gap to be confident that second-ranked Ky Hamilton or third-ranked Josh Frost couldn’t steal the lead right out from under him. Hamilton ended 2022 fourth in the world standings after solidifying third place in the event standings at the NFR. So far this year, he’s secured wins at RodeoHouston, the Ute Mountain Round-Up in Cortez, Colorado, and Sister Rodeo in Oregon, just to name a few. In the meantime, three-time NFR qualifier Frost is also having a good year, with wins at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and BULLNANZA in Guthrie, Oklahoma. If he can repeat his 2021 performance at the NFR, where he won the average title, that might be enough to kick Hamilton and Frost out of contention for that World Champion buckle.

Photo: Phil Doyle

Photo: Phil Doyle

TEAM ROPING

It’s no surprise to see Kaleb Driggers rounding out the lead this season with $133,495 in earnings, as the team roping header has claimed the World Champion title the past two years. However, just a few thousand dollars separates second-ranked Dustin Egusquiza and third-ranked Nelson Wyatt. For heelers, it’s no surprise that Driggers’s riding partner, two-time team roping heeler World Champion and 2016’s all-around World Champion Junior Nunes Nogueira, is at the top of the leaderboard with the same earnings as Driggers. Egusquiza’s partner Levi Lord holds the second-place distinction, and Wesley Thorp, who boasts a win this season at the Henderson County First Responders PRCA Rodeo in Athens, Texas, with header Tyler Wade and at the San Angelo Cinch Chute-Out with header Cody Snow, holds the third-ranked spot.

TIE-DOWN ROPING

In tie-down roping, 20-year-old Riley Webb is on a dominating run with wins at RodeoHouston, the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, and the High Desert Stampede, just to name a few. Last year’s Resistol Rookie of the Year in both all-around and tiedown roping is proving he has a monster career ahead of him, as his earnings of more than $229,000 put him nearly $60,000 ahead of 2019 World Champion Haven Meged in the season rank. PRCA veteran roper and 13-time NFR qualifier Shane Hanchey holds steady at third.

Photo: Phil Doyle

Photo: Christopher Thompson

BARREL RACING

It’s always a pleasure to see longtime barrel racing pro Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi at the top of the earnings leaderboard. Pozzi Tonozzi has accumulated more than $192,000 for the season so far. But of course, Jordon Briggs is on a rampage once again after winning the 2021 World Champion title and NFR Average that year and holding the reserve World Champion spot in 2022. Kassie Mowry clearly also has her eyes on the prize, too, edging out barrel racing legend Lisa Lockhart for the third-place slot.

BREAKAWAY ROPING

As breakaway continues to grow, more and more rodeos are adding the event to the lineup and pouring money into the event. Hali Williams leads the charge this season with $121,803.63 in earnings, ahead of Shelby Boisjoli in second with over $114,000 earned this year. Meanwhile, sisters Martha Angelone and Sarah Angelone are battling it out for third and fourth, with just over a thousand in earnings separating them. Martha has $92,928.40, while Sarah has $91,729.42.

We’ve given you a glimpse into the season so far, but with more than a month of PRCA events left in the season and much more at stake at the NFR, the National Finals Steer Roping, and the National Finals Breakaway Roping, there’s sure to be plenty of breakouts, upsets, and underdog success stories. Though the main event is still months away, it’s not too early to start planning your trip to Las Vegas to see all the action in person at the NFR. •

Photo: Gina Roberge

Photo: Phil Doyle

PRCA TIE-DOWN ROPERS

#1 RILEY WEBB

WORLD TITLES: 0

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 1

2023 PRCA EARNINGS: $299,091

AGE: 20

MEMBER SINCE: 2021

HOMETOWN: DENTON, TX

HAVEN MEGED

#2

PRCA STATS

WORLD TITLES: 1

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 3

2023 PRCA EARNINGS: $172,254

AGE: 24

MEMBER SINCE: 2018

HOMETOWN: MILES CITY, MT

JESSE BROWN

PRCA STATS

WORLD TITLES: 0

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 3

2023 PRCA EARNINGS: $57,717

AGE: 30

MEMBER SINCE: 2016

HOMETOWN: BAKER CITY, OR

TYLER WAGUESPACK

#2

PRCA STATS

WORLD TITLES: 4

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 8

2023 PRCA EARNINGS: $118,470

AGE: 32

MEMBER SINCE: 2011

PRCA STEER WRESTLERS

BARREL RACING LEGEND BRITTANY POZZI TONOZZI’S SHOWS

NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN

In the competitive world of barrel racing, few will go down in history as being as driven and dedicated to the sport as Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi. With over two decades on the professional barrel racing circuit, Pozzi Tonozzi

is a two-time World Champion barrel racer and 16-time National Finals of Rodeo (NFR) qualifier. Her career trajectory proves that persistence pays off. With a story 20 years in the making, 2023 may be Pozzi Tonozzi’s best year yet.

After all these years, the Lampasas, Texas, rodeo athlete still puts up a strong showing. Pozzi Tonozzi has already secured over $208,000 in earnings for the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) 2023 regular-season earnings, putting her ahead of secondplace barrel racer Jordon Briggs by more than $67,000. With a month left in the season and those massive NFR payments come December, the possibility of an upset — but right now, it looks like Pozzi Tonozzi’s well on her way to claiming her third World Champion title.

This year, she crossed the $3 million lifetime earnings mark. Pozzi Tonozzi is one of just a few WPRA riders to earn that distinction, securing her place alongside other barrel racing vets Sherry Cervi and Lisa Lockhart.

That amount puts her second for the record WPRA regular season earnings. And, with a month left in the season, there’s a strong chance she could beat the regular season earnings record, which Tiany Schuster set in 2017 with earnings of $250,378.

Photo: Phil Doyle

And, if she wraps up the season with a bang and has a solid run at the NFR, she could also defeat reigning World Champion Hailey Kinsel’s overall earnings record for the year inclusive of NFR money, which Kinsel set with $350,700 won in 2018. Kinsel also holds the second-place record, with $349,076 won in 2020.

If Pozzi Tonozzi manages to bring home that World Champion title, it would not only be her third gold buckle but also her first in 14 years. She secured her first World Champion title in 2007 and her second in 2009. In 2020, she was the WPRA Reserve World Champion, aided in part by $114,500 in NFR earnings, which she netted by placing fourth in the average in a total time of 175.23 seconds on ten runs, placing in four rounds. However, it wasn’t enough to put her ahead of Kinsel’s near-record World Champion earnings that year.

Pozzi Tonozzi also took the NFR average title in 2010. So, while she has numerous credits and distinctions — including a spot in the WPRA Hall of Fame — it’s been some time since she’s claimed the top spot.

Now, all eyes are on Pozzi Tonozzi to see if she’ll not only beat the regular-season earnings record but will be able to draw on luck, skill, and God’s grace to earn that third World Champion title.

2X WORLD CHAMPION

Photo: Phil Doyle

A YEAR TO REMEMBER

It’s been a heck of a year for Pozzi Tonozzi, who is married to team roper Garrett Tonozzi and mother to a 6-year-old daughter named Tinlee.

Last year, Pozzi Tonozzi had a decent run, ending the season and her NFR run with a total of $154,160.67 in WPRA earnings and 11th place in the overall standings. And while that’s undoubtedly a stellar run, her current earnings for 2023 would have already secured her at least third place in the WPRA World Championship overall standings had she earned the same amount last year.

But 2022 also marked a readjustment period for Pozzi Tonozzi. In May of that year, she announced via Facebook that she had lost her mare Ima Famous Babe, whom she called “Katniss.” Katniss will retain a legacy as one of the greatest barrel racing horses in WPRA history.

However, the readjustment has encouraged her to push her limits. Throughout the 2023 season, she’s claimed wins at numerous major rodeos, many atop Jets Top Gun, known as “Benny.” Benny is a 2015 gelding owned and bred by Busby Quarter Horses, and she’s ridden to all her major wins this season.

In Reno, she and Benny not only took the win but also set the arena record with 16.70 seconds in the Short Round. It was a significant win for her, as she’s won nearly every major title but had never won Reno, a rodeo she credits Reno with starting her career 20 years ago. The win in Calgary at 17.13 seconds netted her a cool $50,000. She also won the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City, where she was the last rider and swooped in to stop the clock in 16.79 seconds for the win. Each of these events marked a first-time win for Pozzi Tonozzi throughout her decades-long career.

In early August, she and Benny won Dodge City, and in mid-August, she took her second championship win at the Caldwell Night Rodeo with a total of 50.90 seconds in three runs. That event added $10,068 to her bottom line and rolled her over the $200,000 mark, pushing her into the second-highest regular-season earnings in the WPRA’s history. She’s also cumulatively won more money at the rodeo than any other contestant to date.

She’s also secured several runner-up placements with Babe On The Chase, better known as “Birdie,” whom she raised and trained.

And, of course, Pozzi Tonozzi takes it all in stride with her signature upbeat attitude and messages of positivity and generosity.

NO STOPPING POZZI TONOZZI

It’s not hard to see that Pozzi Tonozzi lives and breathes barrel racing. And, while many barrel racers learn the ropes as part of a family rodeo tradition, Pozzi Tonozzi’s upbringing was much different. She recently shared a social media video that she didn’t grow up in a rodeo family. Instead, her pathway into barrel racing began as an obsession with horses. In the video, she explained how, at eight years old, she used to circle classified ads for horses to show off to the family. And, while it’s not uncommon for young girls to go through a short period of wanting to own and ride a horse, the fact that her obsession continued for several years eventually showed it was much more than a phase.

After learning to ride and several years of training, Pozzi Tonozzi went pro at 19. In 2003, she was the first rookie to enter the NFR ranked number one. She finished the season in seventh place that year.

That was just the beginning of Pozzi’s Tonozzi’s remarkable career. But for the barrel racing superstar, it’s more than collecting wins.

Photo: Phil Doyle

NFR QUALIFIER

Her life-long obsession with horses spans far behind barrel racing itself. Drawing on her love of horses and her platform as a barrel racing star, she’s built a successful business helping to breed, train, condition, and rehabilitate horses. When she’s not busy riding, she and her husband run Conquer Equine, proving that their passion for these beautiful creatures runs deep.

Even if Pozzi Tonozzi doesn’t land that third buckle, she should no doubt be proud of another epic season in a career for the ages. But Pozzi Tonozzi’s 2023 may soon go down in the rodeo record books thanks to her numerous wins, record-breaking runs, and overall consistency.

With hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake at the NFR, a dominating run from any qualifier could quickly push her out of the top rank. But consistency is among Pozzi Tonozzi’s biggest strengths. Always cool under pressure when it counts, it’s hard to imagine Pozzi Tonozzi’s season-long momentum failing in the season’s final stretch. That means barrel racing fans should watch for a rockstar run at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas come December 7. •

Photo: Clay Guardipee

Photo: David Thomas

#1 BRITTANY POZZI

TONOZZI

WPRA STATS

WOLRD TITLES: 2

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 16

CAREER EARNINGS: $2,851,662

AGE: 39

MEMBER SINCE: 2003

HOMETOWN: LAMPASAS, TX

WPRA BARREL RACERS

JORDAN BRIGGS

#2

WPRA STATS

WOLRD TITLES: 1

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 3

CAREER EARNINGS: $718,771

AGE: 28

MEMBER SINCE: 2015

HOMETOWN: TOLAR, TX

WPRA BARREL RACERS

#1 SHELBY BOISJOLI

WPRA STATS

WOLRD TITLES: 0

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 3

CAREER EARNINGS: $273,952

AGE: 25

MEMBER SINCE: 2020

HOMETOWN: STEPHENVILLE, TX

MARTHA ANGELONE

PRCA STATS

WPRA STATS

WORLD TITLES: 1

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 3

CAREER EARNINGS: $351,543

AGE: 27

MEMBER SINCE: 2018

HOMETOWN: STEPHENVILLE, TX

CALEB #1

DRIGGERS

PRCA STATS

WOLRD TITLES: 2

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 10

2023 PRCA EARNINGS: $133,495

AGE: 33

MEMBER SINCE: 2008

HOMETOWN: HOBOKEN, GA

#2 DUSTIN EGUSQUIZA

PRCA STATS

WOLRD TITLES: 0

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 5

2023 PRCA EARNINGS: $131,427

AGE: 27

MEMBER SINCE: 2016

HOMETOWN: MARIANNA, FL

PRCA TEAM ROPING HEADERS

JUNIOR NOGUEI RA

#1

PRCA STATS

WORLD TITLES: 3

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 9

2023 PRCA EARNINGS: $133,495

AGE: 32

MEMBER SINCE: 2014

HOMETOWN: PRESIDENTE PRUDENTE, SP

#2 LEVI LORD

PRCA STATS

WOLRD TITLES: 0

NFR QUALIFICATIONS: 2

2023 PRCA EARNINGS: $131,427

AGE: 27

MEMBER SINCE: 2014

HOMETOWN: STURGIS, SD

PRCA TEAM ROPING HEELERS