2022 Wrangler WNFR Round 3 News & Notes
Round 3 – Dec. 3, 2022 Round 3 Daysheet
Country music star Lainey Wilson is the opening act, and the national anthem will be performed by country singer Dan Smalley. Hesston by Massey Ferguson is the performance sponsor. Vegas NFR Icon – ProRodeo Hall of Famer Ty Murray – will be honored in an arena presentation and a banner will be unveiled in the rafters of the Thomas & Mack Center.
WRANGLER NFR LIVE ON TELEVISION AND INTERNET
The 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo® presented by Teton Ridge airs nightly starting on Dec. 1 at 5:45 p.m. PST/8:45 p.m. (EST). The Cowboy Channel is the official network partner of PRORODEO® and the exclusive broadcast and streaming partner of the NFR. Live coverage of the NFR can be found on The Cowboy Channel and RFD-TV through its cable and satellite partners, and online at cowboychannelplus.com.
STETSON WRIGHT MAKES HISTORY BY WINNING ROUND 2 IN BULL RIDING
Add another line to the ever-growing impressive resume of Stetson Wright. Wright, with his 88-point winning bull ride on Dakota Rodeo’s Pookie Holler in Round 2 Friday night, became the youngest cowboy in PRCA history to surpass the $2 million dollar mark in career earnings. Wright, who is 23 years-old and 240 days, upped his unofficial career earnings to $2,050,520. “To cross that $2 million dollar mark, it’s special,” Wright said. “I’m speechless. When I hear something like that, it makes me emotional. I’m the luckiest guy on the planet.” Wright has won five world titles – three in all-around (2019-21) and one in bull riding (2020) and one in saddle bronc riding (2021). Wright earned $49,666 with his bull riding victory and $7,462 by placing fifth in saddle bronc riding.
BULL RIDER REID OFTEDAHL OUT OF 2022 NFR AFTER ROUND 2 INJURY
Bull rider Reid Oftedahl was injured during Round 2 while aboard Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Under the Influence. Oftedahl, who is from Raymond, Minn., was thrown forward and hit the bull’s head and tossed to the arena dirt. Oftedahl, who was wearing a helmet, was diagnosed with a closed head injury by the Justin Sportsmedicine Team and was transported for further evaluation. Dr. Tandy Freeman, co-medical director, and orthopedic surgeon for the Justin Sportsmedicine team, provided ProRodeo Sports News with the following update Saturday morning. “He was admitted to the ICU at UMC Trauma Center (Friday night, Dec. 2), with a head injury and neck injury and he’s in stable condition and they will be doing further evaluation on him today (Dec. 3),” Freeman said. “What I can tell you is that he is out of competition for the remainder of the rodeo.” Oftedahl, 28, was making his Wrangler NFR debut in 2022. He qualified in the No. 15 spot in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $97,944. Stay tuned to www.prorodeo.com for updates on Oftedahl’s condition.
NEWS & NOTES
Bareback riding NFR newcomer Rocker Steiner matches up with Championship Pro Rodeo’s Frontier Coffee Rocks. Cole Reiner was 90 points on the horse in January at the Fort Worth (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo. Tilden Hooper takes on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s San Angelo Sam. Fellow NFR bareback rider Jess Pope was 88 points on San Angelo Sam at RodeoHouston, March 18…In saddle bronc riding, eight-time NFR qualifier Zeke Thurston gets on J Bar J’s Straight Jacket. Two-time PRCA World Champion Ryder Wright had a 91.5-point trip on the horse at the Xtreme Broncs Finals in Rapid City, S.D., Aug. 21. Canadian Kole Ashbacher looks to make some noise by matching up with Burch Rodeo’s Lunatic From Hell. Ashbacher has failed to reach the pay window in each of the first two nights, his battery mate tonight may change his fortunes. The 2018 Pendleton Whisky’s Let ‘er Buck Bucking Stock of the Year winner had another strong outing in 2022, posting an average score of 88 points in 13 qualified rides … Bull rider Jared Parsonage aims to reach the pay window for the first time in his career, drawing Powder River Rodeo’s Chiseled. The two-time Pendleton Whisky’s Let ‘er Buck Bucking Bull of the Year winner (2020, and 2021) bucked off all four bull riders on him this year, while boasting a stock score of 45 points. Two-time NFR qualifier Josh Frost looks to regain his footing in Round 3, matching up with Frontier Rodeo’s Gladiator’s Hammer. The bull finished third in the running for this year’s Pendleton Whisky’s Let ‘er Buck Bucking Bull of the Year, collecting an average score of 90 points in three qualified rides. Fellow NFR competitor Garrett Smith rode him to a 91-point ride at the Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo in May.
Record times and scores for Round 3 of the Wrangler NFR:
Bareback riding: 91.5 points, Justin McDaniel, 2007
Tim O’Connell, 2017
Kaycee Feild, 2020
Steer wrestling: 3.1 seconds, Ricky Huddleston, 1985
Team roping: 3.7 seconds, Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, 2019
Saddle bronc riding: 90.5 points, Allen Boore, 2020
Tie-down roping: 6.6 seconds, Cody Ohl, 2013
Barrel racing: 13.11 seconds, Hailey Kinsel, 2017
Bull riding: 94 points, Colby Yates, 2002
Courtesy of PRCA