BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
Damian Brennan has made an impressive rise in his PRCA career. After finishing No. 17 and earning over $90,000 as a rookie in 2022, he followed it up with nearly $300,000 and a No. 5 finish in the World Standings. But 2024 was a different level altogether for the Aussie, as he not only broke the regular season earnings record, but surpassed it by nearly $30,000.
With $280,035, he leads the PRCA World Standings by approximately $29,000 heading into his second NFR.
Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, $26,500
Brennan faced an uphill climb in Fort Worth after placing in only one round of Bracket 7, forcing him into the Wildcard Round. There, he posted his best score of the rodeo to that point with 89.5 points on Birch Bubbles and kept his momentum going with an 89-point ride to win the First Semifinal.
In the Finals, he delivered a 91-point performance on Andrews Rodeo’s All or Nothin, winning by a slim half-point margin over reigning World Champion Zeke Thurston.
Dixie National Rodeo, $5,894
Brennan won a second Playoff Series Rodeo in February when he rode Richie’s High of Dakota Rodeo for 87.5 points in Mississippi.
RodeoHouston, $56,750
Brennan was sensational the entire way in Houston. He won the first two rounds of Super Series 3 and then on Championship Sunday, he was 90 points on Calgary Stampede’s Wild Cherry and 91 points on The Cervi Brothers’ R Watson’s Ed Bishop to take home the $50,000 first place payday.
On his six rides in Houston, Brennan averaged 85.7 points. For the season, he was 84.4 on average, up nearly three points from 2023.
Rodeo Austin, $9,310
Brennan looked like he was going to make it back-to-back Texas Swing wins in March, however, after winning Rounds 1 and 2, he was just 81.5 points in the Finals. Even so, those two rides of 86 and 87.5 points tostart the rodeo both paid him over $4,000.
Greeley Stampede, $9,192
Rides of 87 and 89 points, which tied for the Finals win, put Brennan on top of the Average in Colorado with 176 points on two. Gus Gaillard was the only other cowboy higher than 170, and he came in at 173.5.
Moses Lake Round-Up Rodeo, $6,063
Brennan made his lone 90+ Point Ride outside of the Texas Swing in Washington when he was 90.5 points on Corey & Lange’s Monster to get the win over some tough competition. Splitting second were fellow Top 10 bronc riders Kade Bruno and Lefty Holman with 86.5 points apiece.
Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup, $41,750
Although he finished second to Ryder Wright, Brennan earned more money than any other saddle bronc rider, officially breaking Sage Newman’s PRCA regular-season earnings record. He entered needing around $14,000 to surpass the mark and quickly secured it by placing second in Round 1 and winning Round 2, earning $19,250 on his first two rides. In the Finals, he added another $22,500 with his second-place finish. All three of his rides scored 85 or 85.5 points.
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