Chase Dougherty’s one and only trip to the National Finals Rodeo came in 2018, and that year he barely missed out on a Gold Buckle.
Now, the Oregon native is returning to the Thomas and Mack as the No. 8 bull rider after years of uncertainty.
The past two seasons, Dougherty has suffered injuries and been sidelined to the point that he was unranked at the end of the regular season. He made sure that in 2024, he remined everyone just what he was capable of.
Cord McCoy’s Xtreme Bull Bash, $5,132
When the 2024 regular season kicked off in October, Dougherty capitalized early. A matchup with McCoy’s Snuggles would be worth 86 points. In November and December, Dougherty entered seven rodeos and won three of them, this one being the richest of that trio.
La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros, $13,764
A sweep in Arizona in February got Dougherty his first PRCA Playoff Series win since 2019. Not only did he sweep, he would be the only one to cover two bulls.
His Round 1 win came in at 88.5 points aboard Andrews Rodeo’s Shockazooloo before he would go 88 in the Finals on a Beutler & Son Rodeo bull called Hysteria.
There was only one other ride marked more than 85 points for the entire event.
Clovis Rodeo, $8,893
During the California Run, Dougherty would put together another 88.5-point ride to split the win in Clovis with Deklan Garland. This one came after he drew Bridwell Pro Rodeo’s Big Salty and would cinch the win by two points.
In 2024, California was one of just two states where he claimed multiple wins, the other being his home state of Oregon.
Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo, $2,197
Four Star Rodeo’s Bit A Bad News would be the name next to Dougherty’s for his first Oregon win of the season, which came by 1.5 points. The $2,000+ he won there proved to be his largest check among six events in May.
Santa Maria Elks Rodeo, $3,918
The month of June got started with another win for Dougherty when he met up with Flying U Rodeo’s Johnny Snack. While it was an 84.5 and not Dougherty’s highest marked ride of the season, it was still enough for the win by three points.
Sisters Rodeo, $6,113
Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Rock On was Doughery’s dance partner at the second Playoff Series Rodeo of the season in Oregon. Dougherty made the eight and the score was his highest marked ride of the regular season at 89.5 points. He strung together two wins in as many weekends to kick off June.
World No. 1 and fellow Oregon native TJ Gray was second with 84.5 points.
Western Stampede, $8,912
Dougherty’s Cowboy Christmas brought him a big win in Utah. The 85.5-point ride on Generations Pro Rodeo’s Smokin Guns sent kickstarted a series of trips to the pay window.
Dougherty pulled checks over the Fourth of July Run from the St. Paul Rodeo, the Oakley Independence Day Rodeo, and the Cody Stampede Xtreme Bulls to win a combined total of almost $20,000.
Calgary Stampede, $29,773
Dougherty’s trip to the great white north was by far his most lucrative rodeo of the season. After getting it started with a Round 1 win in Pool C, he went on to be the No. 2 bull rider advancing to the Semifinals. An 89-point ride in the Semifinals on Calgary Stampede’s Sky Fall landed him in the Finals where he wound up in a ride off with Jeff Askey. After three bulls for each cowboy in one day, they called it and split the win at the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
After the conclusion of Calgary on July 17, Dougherty got on just 13 bulls the rest of the season.
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