Sue Smith has Full Circle Moment in Colorado Springs with NFR Open Round 1 Win

Barrel racer Sue Smith impresses with huge Round 1 win.

Sue Smith’s first run at the NFR Open cinched her the Round 1 win by a second a half to add $3,000 to her season earnings and put her in the running to return for the Championship Round.

This is an arena Smith has had success in before and the horse it came on is part of what makes her current equine partner stand out.

“His mother is Dash of Centerfold, the horse that I set the arena record on in Cheyenne and actually, when she was a futurity colt there was a futurity here in this arena and I won it on her and then he comes and does this here so I guess it’s all in the family,” Smith said.

The Idaho cowgirl has a game plan to try and duplicate that run in Round 2.

The 2024 season is complete, here are the full standings
With a payday north of $86,000 for the winner in each event, the importance of the NFR Average was unmatched in 2024
Mowry won the RAM Top Gun Award with nearly $300,000 in Las Vegas
After three straight second place finishes, Frost finally got his moment in 2024
Wright put an exclamation point on his 2024 season with 89.5 points on his final horse
Wade/Thorp were 3.8 as the last pair out to seal their Gold Buckles
Struxness entered Round 10 projected No. 4 and walked out with his first career Gold Buckle
Thompson did just enough to squeak out his first career Gold Buckle