They may not be from South Dakota, but the Wright brothers sure looked right at home in bronc riding country.
Ryder, Rusty, and Stetson — the sons of world champion Cody Wright, nephews of Jesse and Spencer, also world champs — have always lived up to the family name, each as talented a bronc rider as the next. And this past week in Rapid City was no exception. All three showed up and showed out at the Central States Fair’s Range Days Rodeo and XTreme Broncs Tour Finale, amassing a good chunk of change to haul back home to Milford, Utah.
Stetson, the reigning All-Around World Champion Cowboy, came out on top at the rodeo. In the final round on Saturday, he rode Burch Rodeo’s Maria Bartiromo for 86 points to split first and second with Logan Cook and pocket $2,217. It was a much-needed win for the young bronc and bull rider who, fighting his way back up the Standings after being out due to injury and surgery complications, hopes to break into the top 15 and compete alongside his brothers in the bronc riding at the NFR for the first time (in 2019 he qualified for the Finals in just the bull riding). As he enters the final month of the ProRodeo season, Stetson sits at No. 19 following his win in Rapid City, with just less than $5,000 separating him from No. 15 man Taos Muncy.
Going 84.5, Rusty took third overall at the rodeo for $1,422 Saturday night. That wasn’t the first check he’d won in Rapid City though. On Thursday, he split second in Round 1 of the XTreme Broncs with brother Ryder and Brody, which earned them each $3,068. Going into the week at No. 15 in the Standings, Rusty now sits at No. 10.
While Ryder joined his brothers on the leaderboard at the Range Days Rodeo, his seventh and eighth place split only earned him about $300. Luckily, two rides on Thursday at the XTreme Broncs Tour Finale made his trip to South Dakota more than worth it. Ryder not only split second in Round 1 of the XTreme Broncs but also took first the finals — with a gorgeous 91.5-point ride on Sutton Rodeos’ South Point — to win the aggregate and Tour Finale title. Those three payouts totaled more than $16,000 for the No. 2 man, who is now about $43,000 behind frontrunner Wyatt Casper.
With a full month of rodeo left before the season cutoff and the Wrights riding strong, it looks like we may see all three brothers at the National Finals this year — and maybe even watch one walk away with that coveted gold buckle.
RELATED:
PRCA Xtreme Broncs Tour Finale Results and Interview with Ryder Wright
Rapid City Rodeo Recap: Highlights, Results, Payouts
Youngest World Champion: Saddle Bronc Rider Ryder Wright
STETSON WRIGHT | RANGE DAYS RODEO | 86.0
RUSTY WRIGHT | XTREME BRONCS ROUND 1 | 86.0
RYDER WRIGHT | XTREME BRONCS FINALS | 91.5
