More Money Needed to Burst the Bubble this Year
The price of everything goes up over time, including making the cut into the Top 15 of the WEATHER GUARD® PRCA World Standings. From 2016 to 2017, cowboys had to earn an average of $12,538 more across all events to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER.
Although ground money counted for bull riding this season, it was not the leader for biggest increase in money needed to make the WNFR. Surprisingly, it was tie-down roping that made the biggest increase in total money needed to be earned in the regular season to burst the bubble, jumping up by $21,363.
The following is an event-by-event comparison of 2016 and 2017’s bubble-busting totals. (All of 2017’s totals are unofficial pending an official third party audit.)
Bareback riders had to win at least $19,316 more in 2017 than in 2016 to qualify for the WNFR.
• Bareback riding 2016: $66,798
• Bareback riding 2017: $86,114
Steer wrestlers had to win at least $15,822 more in 2017 than in 2016 to qualify for the WNFR.
• Steer wrestling 2016: $55,370
• Steer wrestling 2017: $71,192
Team roping headers had to win at least $12,122 more in 2017 than in 2016 to qualify for the WNFR.
• Team roping heading 2016: $62,024
• Team roping heading 2017: $74,146
Team roping heeling had to win at least $4,304 more in 2017 than in 2016 to qualify for the WNFR.
• Team roping heeling 2016: $63,702
• Team roping heeling 2017: $68,006
Saddle bronc riders had to win at least $7,554 more in 2017 than in 2016 to qualify for the WNFR.
• Saddle bronc riding 2016: $68,095
• Saddle bronc riding 2017: $75,649
Tie-down ropers had to win at least $21,363 more in 2017 than in 2016 to qualify for the WNFR.
• Tie-down roping 2016: $63,847
• Tie-down roping 2017: $85,210
Steer ropers had to win at least $3,262 more in 2017 than in 2016 to qualify for the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping.
• Steer roping 2016: $38,651
• Steer roping 2017: $41,913
Bull riders had to win at least $7,288 more in 2017 than in 2016 to qualify for the WNFR.
• Bull riding 2016: $80,300
• Bull riding 2017: $ 87,288
Courtesy of PRCA