With a total of 120 of rodeo’s top athletes gathering to battle for their respective World Titles in Las Vegas come December, the back numbers have been assigned and the Top 5 are the best of the best.
From the bottom up, the No. 5 back number will be worn by Oregon’s TJ Gray. Gray has $244,843 in regular season earnings and this is his first qualification to the National Finals Rodeo making this Top 5 call that much sweeter.
The No. 4 back number goes to one of rodeo’s fan favorites, Ryder Wright. The two-time World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider is returning to the NFR for the ninth time and this year, he has $251,262 in regular season earnings and is gunning for that third Gold Buckle.
Resistol Rookie Wacey Schalla will wear No. 3 for ten rounds at his first ever trip to the Thomas and Mack. With $259,672 coming his way just in the bull riding as him in the prime spot for a potential Rookie of the Year title along side a Gold Buckle.
Damian Brennan is the No. 1 saddle bronc rider in the World and in Las Vegas, he will wear the No. 2 back number after he set a new regular season earnings record. He leads the World by just $30,000 with a total of $280,035 to his name so far.
The coveted back number that is No. 1 will go to the one of only two timed event cowboys that will wear a Top 10 back number, Shad Mayfield. A phenomenal year for Mayfield has him heading into Las Vegas with $286,346 already won and he too set a brand new single season earnings record in 2024.
All the action that will be the race for Gold Buckles kicks off with the Back Number Ceremony at the South Point on December 3 with Round 1 following on December 5. You can catch it all on The Cowboy Channel and the Cowboy Channel Plus.
