BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
After a 24-hour delay, the National Finals Rodeo officially began on Friday night in Las Vegas.
Bareback riding provided the early fireworks courtesy one of who else but Rocker Steiner. He overpowered Risky Business and was marked 87 points to to win Round 1. It was his second Go-Round win in 11 career NFR performances.
It’s my dad’s birthday and last year for his birthday, I got bucked off (Beutler & Son Rodeo’s) Ghost Town, so I had to repay him,” Steiner said. “I didn’t get him a gift, so this is abut the best thing I could think of.”
In steer wrestling, record-setting NFR first-timer Dalton Massey made a statement with a 3.5-second run to close the Go-Round. With four-time World Champion Tyler Waguespack breathing down his neck already with a 3.8-second run, Massey added another $30,706 to bring his total earnings north of $234,000 and extended his lead by $20,000. He leads the PRCA World Standings by about $53,000 after Round 1.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life and I liked my steer tonight and horse worked great, Tanner hazed him great,” Massey said. “It’s going to be a good week.”
Team roping was claimed by Clint Summers/Jake Long, who proved just how close that race is going to be as they both moved up six spots in the PRCA World Standings. They were 4.2 seconds to win $30,706 apiece to edge out Jake Clay/Tyler Worley.
Saddle bronc had probably the most interesting storylines emerge as World No. 1 Stetson Wright bucked off while battling an injury and left the door wide open for Kade Bruno and Zeke Thurston, who entered the NFR No. 3 and 4 respectively. Both Bruno and Thurston were 86.5 points to split the round win and they are now No. 1 and No. 3 in the World. The Top 4 saddle bronc riders - Bruno, Sage Newman, Thurston and Wright - have all made over $250,000 and are all separated by just $6,000 in the World Standings.
In tie-down roping, John Douch was 7.7 seconds on a night when eight cowboys were within 1.2 seconds of each other. Douch started the night No. 13, but moved up to No. 7 because of how close things were between No. 5 and No. 15 entering the NFR. In his first NFR run since 2016, Blane Cox took second with a 7.9.
“The start is very important, I usually don’t start my NFR very good,” he said. “But getting a round win is very exciting to go the rest of the nine rounds.”
Seven cowgirls hit a barrel on Friday, which was more than any round of the 2022 NFR. Sissy Winn emerged victorious with a 13.71-second run and Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi was only four hundredths behind to extend her lead in the World Standings.
In bull riding, Wright’s injury reared his head again as he once again bucked off and once again the two cowboys chasing him took advantage. World No. 2 Ky Hamilton won the round with an 86.5-point ride on Cervi Championship’s Vitalix Theodore and Josh Frost was second with 85.5. Nine bull riders made the white on Friday night.
BAREBACK RIDING
Round 1: 1. Rocker Steiner, 87 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos ‘s Risky Business, $30,706; 2. Clayton Biglow, 85.5, $24,268; 3. Jess Pope, 85, $18,325; 4. (tie) Leighton Berry, Richmond Champion, Keenan Hayes and Jayco Roper, 83.5, $6,438 each.
STEER WRESTLING
Round 1: 1. Dalton Massey, 3.5 seconds, $30,706; 2. Tyler Waguespack, 3.8, $24,268; 3. (tie) Ty Erickson and Don Payne, 4.3, $15,601 each; 5. Dakota Eldridge, 4.5, $7,924; 6. (tie) Nick Guy and J.D. Struxness, 4.6, $2,476 each
TEAM ROPING
Round 1: 1. Clint Summers/Jake Long, 4.2 seconds, $30,706 each; 2. Jake Clay/Tyler Worley, 4.3, $24,268; 3. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.6, $15,601 each; 5. Clay Smith/Paden Bray, 4.8, $7,924; 6. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 5.2, $4,953.
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
Round 1: 1. (tie) Kade Bruno, on Brookman Rodeo ‘s Ragin’ Lunatic, and Zeke Thurston, on Legacy Pro Rodeo ‘s Vein Reflections, 86.5 points, $27,487 each; 3. Ryder Wright, 86, $18,325; 4. (tie) Chase Brooks, Tanner Butner and Brody Cress, 85, $8,585 each.
TIE-DOWN ROPING
Round 1: 1. John Douch, 7.7 seconds, $30,706; 2. Blane Cox, 7.9, $24,268; 3. (tie) Ty Harris and Westyn Hughes, 8.4, $15,601 each; 5. (tie) Cory Solomon and Riley Mason Webb, 8.7, $6,438 each.
BARREL RACING
Round 1: 1. Sissy Winn, 13.71 seconds, $30,706; 2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.75, $24,268; 3. Kassie Mowry, 13.90, $18,325; 4. Paige Jones, 13.97, $12,877; 5. Jessica Routier, 14.05, $7,924; 6. Jordon Briggs, 14.10, $4,953.
BULL RIDING
Round 1: 1. Ky Hamilton, 86.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Vitalix Theodore, $30,706; 2. Josh Frost, 85.5, $24,268; 3. Creek Young, 84.5, $18,325; 4. Cody Teel, 84, $12,877; 5. Trey Holston, 83.5, $7,924; 6. (tie) Trey Kimzey and Sage Kimzey, 82.5, $2,476 each.
