What Everyone Needs To Know at Half Way Point of NFR

Here are the interesting facts and notable numbers for fans watching the NFR.

Round No. 5 of the Wrangler National Finals wrapped up last night with records being broken and a champion determined. The action has been intense with animals and athletes alike competing at their best.

In the runaway race, Stetson Wright has claimed his fifth consecutive PRCA All-Around World Championship without winning a dime at the NFR. Wright from Milford, Utah was unfortunately sidelined after the saddle bronc riding in round two with a right hamstring strain and will not compete for the rest of the NFR. The cowboy had already amassed $479,621 toward the all-around standings and made it impossible for any other cowboy to catch him.

According to the PRCA, Wright said, “This is awesome. To know that I blew everybody out of the water so much that I didn’t have to win a penny at the Finals in order to win this is pretty special. This will be a world title I will not forget.”

In nearly equally amazing news, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi’s dream year continues. The Lampasas, Texas barrel racer is the only NFR contestant to have placed in all five NFR rounds. While she is not the overall Top Gun standings leader, Tonozzi has won $102,119 in just five days. Her world standings total has jumped to $372,682 which is nearly $170k more than second place, Emily Beisel. Sissy Winn has been living up to her name as well in Las Vegas. The Chapman Ranch, Texas lady has moved from 11th in the world standings all the way to No. 4.

The cowboys making the biggest moves in the standings so far include Mason Clements in the bareback riding who has jumped from his initial position of 11th all the way to fifth in the world standings. 

In the steer wrestling, Stan Branco started at 12 and has landed in the No. 5 spot while fellow competitor JD Struxness went all the way from No. 6 to No. 2 last night with his round win. 

The team roping story has been Clint Summers and Jake Long who have won three of five rounds. The pair started at 13th and 10th respectively and have moved all the way to the No. 1 position. 

Tanner Butner started the week ranked No. 11 and has ridden his way to No. 5 in the saddle broncs. 

The tie-down ropers are keeping things pretty much the same with one exception, Tuf Cooper. Cooper came into the finals in the 15th position and has worked his way to No. 7. 

The bull riding shows Sage Kimzey jumping all the way from No. 10 to No. 5 with a lot more money on the line.

Fans and contestants alike gasped last night when the final cowboy to compete was knocked out and motionless on the arena floor. The report as of late last night is that the Ram Top Gun and bull riding world standing leader, Ky Hamilton will not be competing in round 6 for sure and round 7 is questionable. The Australian cowboy suffered a concussion and was treated and evaluated at the University Medical Trauma Center in Las Vegas.

The Ram Top Gun award goes to the cowboy or cowgirl who wins the most money over the 10 rounds in Las Vegas. There are currently four individuals who have exceeded the $100k mark for the finals. The current leaders are:

1. Ky Hamilton, $114,005.58
2. Clint Summers, $102,119.23
3. Jake Long, $102,119.23
4. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $102,119.23
5. Riley Webb, $95,680.79

With five more rounds to go, there is plenty to be won and almost all of the championships are still up for grabs but here are your projected world champions at the halfway mark:

Bareback Riding – Keenan Hayes, 425.5/5

Saddle Bronc Riding – Zeke Thurston, 433.0/5

Bull Riding – Ky Hamilton, 341.0/4

Steer Wrestling – Dalton Massey, 21.6/5

Team Roping Header – Andrew Ward, 28.0/5

Team Roping Heeler – Buddy Hawkins, 28.0/5

Tie Down Roping – Riley Webb, 39.9/5

Barrel Racing – Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi – 68.27/5