6 minute read
Wrangler NFR
By Terry Blake
2020 Wrangler NFR in Review
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In a year such as 2020, there were so many things that were not as they should be when the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo rolled into town. For starters, it was in Arlington, Texas and not its usual home – the Thomas & Mack Center - on the UNLV campus in Las Vegas. There were only a limited number of fans who were allowed to purchase tickets to watch the Super Bowl of rodeo in person and they would be appropriately spaced throughout the arena. The cowboys and cowgirls who earned their spot in the top 15 of the World Standings and the opportunity to compete did so in a season which had been severely limited due to the effects of the Covid-19 virus.
However, there were some things, especially in the bull riding, that were as they should be; or at least as they have been for the past six years. Sage Kimzey was still the top ranked bull rider in the PRCA and had his sights set on a seventh consecutive title as the World Champion Bull Rider.
As the action began with Round 1 on Thursday night, December 3, Stetson Wright made a statement and made sure everyone knew that he was not about to concede another gold buckle to the reigning World Champ, not without a fight, at least.
Wright jumped out and won the first two rounds in very convincing fashion. In the first round, Wright was coupled with the bull Silver Lining (Stockyards Pro Rodeo) and the duo put up a score of 90.5 points. In Round 2, the Milford, Utah cowboy again came out on top with 88.5 ride on Axel (Powder River Rodeo). The other bull riders were not going to sit back and watch Kimzey and Wright battle it out for the gold buckle. Colten Fritzlan, an NFR Rookie, won the third round with 89 points on Angel’s Landing (Bar T Rodeo). Fritzlan placed in six rounds and won the NFR Average with the highest aggregate score, 605 points on seven bulls.
Rounds 4 and 5 saw another bull rider climb his way to the top. Ty Wallace won the fourth round with 89.5 points on Lipps (Hi Lo ProRodeo) and then the fifth round with a 91.5 ride on Freddy Fender (Rafter G Rodeo). Although Wallace began his professional career in 2012 and has had some success in the past. He qualified for the NFR in 2014, 2015 and again in 2017, but the last NFR round win for him came back in 2015. It had to be a relief to get that monkey off his back and pick up another buckle for the go-round win.
Dustin Boquet, a promising young bull rider who was competing in his second NFR, had a rough ten days. He was only able to make the whistle on two out of the ten bulls. The first ride was marked for 89.5 points and enough to win first place and a check for over $26,000. Boquet also got a check for sixth place in Round 9 but came down just shy of the 8 second mark in the tenth round at 7.29 seconds.
Stetson Wright was back on top in Round 7, and not just in the bull riding. Wright won the bull riding and the saddle bronc riding, as well. There was a debate, which may not have been settled for
Bingham was transported to the hospital for treatment and was later reported to have suffered some severe, but not life threatening, injuries. These included broken ribs, sternum, clavicle plus bruised lungs and a bruised heart. It was great to see Bingham out of the hospital and back in the stands watching his comrades compete in the 10th round as the National Finals Rodeo came to a close.
Round 8 found Ty Wallace back on top as he split the round with Roscoe Jarboe as the two both posted rides of 89.5 points. Stetson Wright made sure that he was not forgotten as he made a great ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s bull, Record Rack’s
certain, as to whether that had ever been accomplished before. Wright, with his dry sense of humor, stated that he was the only one who was here now who had ever done it. This young man had his foot on the gas pedal and he wasn’t backing off. Usually, there are some of the event titles that have been clinched
Round 7 was also significant as it was the last time that the great bull, Spotted Demon, would see the bright lights of the arena. Spotted Demon was the PRCA Bull of the Year and the Bull of the Finals in 2018 and was being retired after one last match against Tyler Bingham. The celebration for Spotted Demon’s outstanding career quickly turned into a somber moment as Bingham collided headfirst into Spotted Demon’s skull and his helmet went flying. Knocked unconscious, Bingham fell to the ground, and as the bull chest. Bingham was on the ground for several minutes as the medical team evaluated the situation. Smoke Stack, for 92 points, which was the highest posted score of the NFR. This round win in Round 9 made the fourth time that Wright earned the top score of the night.
came down, his back right foot landed in the middle of Bingham’s by the time the tenth round rolls around. This year was quite different as only the all-around championship had been secured by Stetson Wright and the Barrel Racing had been clinched by Hailey Kinsel. All other events – roughstock and timed event, went down to the last ride or last run to determine the 2020 World Champions. It had to be gut wrenching for the competitors but it filled the arena with anticipation and excitement as the night progressed.
In the bull riding, Sage Kimzey did not have the performance that he had hoped when the NFR began. Kimzey had a good week as he rode five out of the ten bulls. The scores, however, were lower
Colten Fritzlan rides Angel’s Landing (Bar T Rodeo) for 89 points to win Round 3 and then accepts the buckle and saddle as the National Finals Average Champion. PRCA ProRodeo photos by Clay Guardipee (left) and Alaina Stangle (right).
than he needed to compete for the seventh world title. The lower scores did not place high enough in the rounds to rack up enough money for the week to retain his run as the World Champion Bull off to the PRCA, State of Texas, cities of Arlington and Fort Worth
Rider.
Kimzey, the consummate warrior, showed up in Round 10 and put his name at the top of the scoreboard. Kimzey rode Dakota Rodeo’s great bull, Safety Meeting, for 92 points as he tied with Roscoe Jarboe for the round win. Their scores of 92 points matched the high marked ride of the NFR that Stetson Wright had posted the night before in Round 9.
As the dust settled at the end of Round 10, Stetson Wright came out as the victor. He was able to edge out Ty Wallace by a feat that has not occurred since 1998 when Ty Murray won the All-Around and Bull Riding Championships.
In spite of all the challenges that reared its ugly head in 2020, hats margin of $11,341.32.
who worked so diligently to make sure that the NFR could be held and World Champions could be crowned.
With a total NFR earnings of $313,897.42, Stetson Wright won the titles of World Champion All-Around Cowboy and World Champion Bull Rider. By winning the gold buckles for the all-around and a roughstock event in the same year, Wright accomplished a
