Damian Brennan is heading back to the National Finals Rodeo for the second consecutive year except, this year, the Australian native broke records along the way and will go in as the No. 1 saddle bronc rider in the PRCA World Standings.
“It feels amazing. To even get to the NFR last year was a massive achievment and obviously, you know, you want to keep having good years and keep going back there. It’s pretty exciting to be going back to my second NFR,” Brennan said.
Brennan’s success in the PRCA started his rookie year when he claimed the Resistol Rookie of the Year title and it was followed up during his second year with a fifth-place finish in the World after ten days of the best competition. As for 2024, Brennan has only gotten better.
“I just try not to overthink stuff. My favorite saying is ‘focus on the process and let the outcome take care of itself’ so I just take every horse for what it is, make sure I do my job on every single horse I get on and then let the outcome take care of itself and it’s been going pretty good,” he said.
Among his wins this season are two legs of the Texas Swing, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and RodeoHouston. Not only are these massive wins but Brennan’s first rodeo of the 2024 season was Fort Worth after he spent the holidays back home in Australia.
“It’s incredible. You know, I literally flew over a week before Fort Worth, come from home and won that. And that was my goal too, you know, I’ve got goals written up. I wanted to win $200,000 before the NFR this year and I wanted to win a major rodeo. And I just jumped out there and won Fort Worth and then I got to back it up with Houston and it’s what dreams are made of. And then just kept rolling towards the summer time and got my $200,000 won so yeah, it’s been a great year, " Brennan said.
As Brennan prepares for his next trip to the Thomas and Mack, a Gold Buckle is on his mind. Although he is hoping for a trip on Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics’ The Black Tie, his game plan is what has helped him have such a successful season, take it one horse at a time.
Brennan is the No. 1 man in the World with $280,035 to his name but World Champion Ryder Wright is hot on his trail with Kade Bruno coming in hot at No. 3.
