Round 3 is here and we have had some major shakeups in the standings after a busy Round 2. The biggest news of the day is Stetson Wright’s injury status which is where we will begin our Round 3 Notebook.
Stetson Wright pulls out of 2023 NFR due to injury. It was clear the hamstring injury was bothering Stetson Wright, and late last night it was announced that he will be pulling out of the NFR in both Bareback Riding and Bull Riding. Stetson’s 2023 season comes to an end with $261,626 earned in Saddle Bronc Riding and $378,629 in Bull Riding.
Rocker Steiner wins back-to-back rounds. Rocker has jumped to No. 2 in the Bareback World Standings after winning both rounds to start the rodeo. He now has $214,000 earned on the season and trails Keenan Hayes by less than $70,000.
There were six barrel racing time of 13.71 seconds or faster last night, which was the winning time in Round 1. Stevi Hillman was the fastest of the bunch with a time of 13.62 seconds. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi has yet to win a round, but she has extended her lead in the Barrel Racing World Standings after a second and a fifth-place finish in the first two rounds.
Ky Hamilton trails Stetson Wright by $57,000 heading into Round 3. With Stetson out for the remainder of the NFR, Bull Riding may have become a two-man race between Josh Frost and Ky Hamilton. If Ky is able to make $57,000 more during the NFR he will overtake Stetson for the No. 1 spot. Josh Frost currently trails Hamilton by around $60,000.
Clint Summers and Jake Long join the Gold Buckle Race in Team Roping. Summers and Long have won the first two rounds in Team Roping and have each jumped into the thick of the World Title race. Summers entered the NFR No. 13 in the World Standings on the Head side and is now third place. Long entered No. 10 and has jumped to No. 2 and just $3,000 out of first place. The pair have made over $60,000 in the first two rounds alone.
Tanner Butner entered the top 5 in the World Standings after winning Round 2. Butner was 87 points to win the round in Saddle Bronc Riding. 2022 World Champion Zeke Thurston placed third and is the new No. 1 Bronc Rider after earning $13,000 last night. Thurston holds a lead of $10,000 over Kade Bruno in second.
NFR Round 3 Records:
Bareback Riding: (tie) 91.5 Points, Justin McDaniel-2007, Tim O’Connell-2917, Kaycee Feild-2020
Saddle Bronc Riding: (tie) 90.5 Points, Allen Boore-2020, Lefty Holman-2022
Bull Riding: 94 Points, Colby Yates-2002
Steer Wrestling: 3.1 Seconds, Ricky Huddleston-1985
Team Roping: 3.6 Seconds, Tanner Tomlinson & Patrick Smith-2022
Barrel Racing: 13.11 Seconds, Hailey Kinsel 2017
Tie-Down Toping: 6.6 Seconds, Cody Ohl-2014
