Round 1 of the National Finals Rodeo begins at Thursday at 8:45 PM ET/5:45 PM CT and you can watch it only on The Cowboy Channel and Cowboy Channel+.
BAREBACK RIDING
Resistol Rookie and NFR first-timer Kade Sonnier has a rematch that is what dreams are made of. He won Cheyenne Frontier Days on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s Irish Eyes and if he makes the same ride again, Sonnier will set the bar.
| Richmond Champion | Cash & Carry |
| Jacob Lees | Scarlett Belle |
| Cole Reiner | She-La |
| Tanner Aus | Sippin Firewater |
| Mason Clements | Night Delta |
| Jesse Pope | True Grit |
| Jayco Roper | Shoutin Shoes |
| Dean Thompson | Cajun Queen |
| Rocker Steiner | Risky Business |
| Orin Larsen | Straight Stick |
| Leighton Berry | On Second Thought |
| Tim O’Connell | Bronc Riding Nation |
| Kade Sonnier | Irish Eyes |
| Clayton Biglow | Renovo Shady Nights |
| Keenan Hayes | Lil Red Hawk |
STEER WRESTLING
Nick Guy picked up the Round 1 win in 2022 with a 3.8-second run and Jesse Brown was second with a 4.0. Dalton Massey has been on fire this regular season, but his NFR competition is tough.
| Don Payne |
| Bridger Anderson |
| Nick Guy |
| Stan Branco |
| Jacob Talley |
| Stephen Culling |
| Cody Devers |
| Dirk Tavenner |
| Dakota Eldridge |
| JD Struxness |
| Ty Erickson |
| Will Lummus |
| Tyler Waguespack |
| Jesse Brown |
| Dalton Massey |
TEAM ROPING
Levi Lord set the pace in Las Vegas in 2022, but with Jr. Dees as his partner. This year, he is roping with Dustin Egusquiza and both know the Thomas & Mack well.
| Luke Brown | Hunter Koch |
| Jake Clay | Tyler Worley |
| Marcus Theriot | Bentley Curry |
| Clay Smith | Paden Bray |
| Clint Summers | Jake Long |
| Andrew Ward | Buddy Hawkins |
| Tanner Tomlinson | Patrick Smith |
| Erich Rogers | Paul Eaves |
| Rhen Richard | Jeremy Buhler |
| Coleman Proctor | Logan MEdlin |
| Dustin Egusquiza | Levi Lord |
| Nelson Wyatt | Jonathon Torres |
| Derrick Begay | Colter Todd |
| Kaleb Driggers | Junior Nogueira |
| Tyler Wade | Wesley Thorp |
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
Sage Newman matched up with Big Stone Rodeo’s Rubels for the Round 1 win in 2022. Brody Cress gets to start his week of with Rubels and Cress finds success in the Thomas and Mack every year.
| Ryder Sanford | Spotted Blues |
| Lefty Holman | Amazon Hills |
| Damian Brennan | Lunatic Party |
| Brody Cress | Rubels |
| Tanner Butner | Jitter Bug |
| Layton Green | Broken Button |
| Chase Brooks | Get Down |
| Wyatt Casper | Little Muffin |
| Ryder Wright | Trump Card |
| Ben Andersen | Hitman |
| Dawson Hay | Pendleton Roundup’s Marquee |
| Zeke Thurston | Vein Reflections |
| Kade Bruno | Ragin’ Lunatic |
| Sage Newman | Cat Walk |
| Stetson Wright | Double Red |
TIE-DOWN ROPING
Caleb Smidt stopped the clock at 7.5 to win the Go-Round by over half a second in 2022 on his way to a second consecutive Gold Buckle and NFR Average Title. Kincade Henry was the next closest cowboy in his NFR debut.
| Tuf Cooper |
| Hunter Herrin |
| John Douch |
| Brushton Minton |
| Beau Cooper |
| Blane Cox |
| Kincade Henry |
| Cory Solomon |
| Caleb Smidt |
| Westyn Hughes |
| Ty Harris |
| Shane Hanchey |
| Haven Meged |
| Shad Mayfield |
| Riley Webb |
BARREL RACING
It is safe to say all eyes will be on Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi tonight. After a regular season full of record breaking runs and big wins, Pozzi Tonozzi’s horsepower is undeniable, the question is, who gets the call on night no. 1?
| Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi |
| Jordon Briggs |
| Emily Beisel |
| Taycie Matthews |
| Lisa Lockhart |
| Kassie Mowry |
| Wenda Johnson |
| Jessica Routier |
| Summer Kosel |
| Ilyssa Riley |
| Sissy Winn |
| Stevi Hillman |
| Hailey Kinsel |
| Sue Smith |
| Paige Jones |
BULL RIDING
Tristen Hutchings took the NFR by storm in 2022 and his Round 1 bull for 2023 might set him up to do it all over again. Hutchings has been 89 on Gladiator’s Hammer to finish second at the Cody Stampede and this rematch could get him his fifth NFR Go-Round win in 11 performances
| Cullen Telfer | Wild Time |
| Jeff Askey | Gone Platinum |
| Cody Teel | Redwood |
| Jared Parsonage | Rodeo Ranch’s Cheddar Biscuit |
| Jordan Hansen | Megavolt |
| Sage Kimzey | Dirty Dave |
| Trey Kimey | Hard Shot |
| T Parker | Rico Suave |
| Hayes Weight | Wicked Sensation |
| Creek Young | County Jail |
| Trey Holston | Love The Grind’s Bouchon |
| Tristen Hutchings | Gladiator’s Hammer |
| Josh Frost | OLS Tubs Ugly Wish |
| Ky Hamilton | Vitalix Theodore |
| Stetson Wright | Hercules |
