The 2020 NFR field is set. Take a look at the standings in all events as we near the “Super Bowl” of Rodeo in Arlington, Texas. There are familiar names at the top of the standings like Sage Kimzey and Hailey Kinsel, rookies looking to make a name for themselves like Cole Reiner, and first-time NFR qualifiers who are about to have their lives changed like Chad Rutherford. (Click on the event title to see the full list of 2020 contestants)
Bareback Standings: At the top of the standings sits a familiar name. Tim O’Connell is looking to win his fourth World Championship after winning three in a row from 2016-2018. O’Connell was dethroned by last year’s world champion Clayton Biglow, who currently sits in fifth place. Looking at the bubble, Chad Rutherford sits in 15th place and just locked in his first ever NFR qualification after a career full of ups and downs.
Saddle Bronc: Wyatt Casper has created a big cushion at the top of the leaderboard, leading second-place Ryder Wright by over $33,000. Casper joined the PRCA in 2015 and this will be his first NFR qualification. The biggest surprises of the standings may be the 2019 All-Around world champion Stetson Wright and 2019 Saddle Bronc World Champion Zeke Thurston. Stetson needed a big closing month of the 2020 season to secure an NFR qualification and Thurston sits in ninth place after winning the Gold Buckle last season.
Team Roping (Headers): 12-time NFR qualifier Luke Brown sits more than $20,000 ahead of the field as he looks to secure his first world title. Brown finished in seventh place in the world standings in 2019. 2018 and 2019 World Champion, Clay Smith, sits in second place and will be looking to win his third straight World Title.
Team Roping (Heelers): The heeling world title race is incredibly close heading into the 2020 Wrangler NFR, with less than $600 separating first-place Joseph Harrison and second-place Jade Corkill. That’s not all, 14 of the 15 heelers competing at the Wrangler NFR are within $20,000 of the No. 1 spot, meaning each round can completely change the world title picture.
Steer Wrestling: Matt Reeves is a seven-time NFR qualifier and has made over $1 million in his career, but if you ask him, there is still one box to check. Reeves is looking to win his first World Championship and is in good shape to do just that. He will enter the 2020 NFR more than $25,000 ahead of Jacob Talley who sits in second place.
Bull Riding: One thing has been certain over the last six years of ProRodeo bull riding, it’s that the world title race will go through Sage Kimzey. This year is no different. Kimzey enters the 2020 Wrangler NFR with more than $92,000, but he was not alone in holding down the top spot throughout the year. A couple of young bull riders made their mark this season as 22-year-old Boudreaux Campbell and 20-year-old Ky Hamilton each had stretches with the No. 1 ranking this year.
Barrel Racing: 13-time NFR qualifier Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi is looking to win her third World Championship and her first since 2009 but will have to fight off the two-time reigning World Champion Hailey Kinsel to do so. Kinsel is looking for her third straight title and currently sits just over $7,000 out of first place. Dona Kay Rule made headlines last year qualifying for her first-ever NFR at the age of 61. This year she has her sights set a little higher than her seventh-place finish. Rule rounds out the top three and is $18,272.07 out of first place.
Tie-Down Roping: No event in ProRodeo has a bigger gap between first and second place than tie-down roping. Shad Mayfield, the 20-year-old sensation has opened up a lead of almost $90,000 on second-place Tuf Cooper. There are plenty of familiar names trying to run down Mayfield. Haven Meged, the 2019 world champion, sits in third, and 23-year-old Tyler Milligan is in fourth after a second-place finish at the Gold Buckle Beer ProRodeo Tour Finale. Milligan finished behind 2016 world champion Tyson Durfey, who shot up from No. 20 to No. 12 in the standings by winning the ProRodeo Tour Finale.
