2023 WNFR Daysheet, News and Notes, Round 6
Round 6 – Dec. 13, 2023 Round 6 Daysheet
Contemporary music artist Adrian Brannan will perform the national anthem. Pendleton Whisky is the performance sponsor.
WRANGLER NFR LIVE ON TELEVISION AND INTERNET
The 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo® presented by Teton Ridge airs nightly from Dec. 13-16 at 5:45 p.m. PST/8:45 p.m. (EST). There also will be a matinee performance at 12 p.m. (EST) on Dec. 13. 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 is on The Cowboy Channel and RFD-TV through its cable and satellite partners, and online at cowboychannelplus.com.
SUPERSTAR STETSON WRIGHT CLINCHES FIFTH ALL-AROUND TITLE
Stetson Wright has added another world championship to his resume. The Milford, Utah, cowboy clinched his fifth career PRCA All-Around World Championship and eighth overall. Despite being sidelined after Round 2 of the 2023 Wrangler NFR in his two events – saddle bronc riding and bull riding – because of a right hamstring strain, Wright clinched the all-around crown with $479,621.
“This is awesome,” said Wright, 24, about winning the all-around title. “Through everything that happened here recently, the humbling experience that I have been a part of. To know that I blew everybody out of the water so much that I didn’t have to win a penny at the Finals to win this is pretty special. This will be a world title I will not forget. I stopped thinking about world titles after I pulled myself out of the NFR. I just wanted to be healthy, and it is pretty special to win something like that when you’re not even able to finish the richest ten days of the year.”
Wright’s world title collection consists of all-around titles in 2019-23, bull riding (2020, 2022) and saddle bronc riding (2021). Team roping header Nelson Wyatt was the only cowboy who could mathematically catch Wright in the all-around race, but that’s not the case anymore.
Wyatt, a team roping header, is competing at the NFR with heeler Jonathan Torres. Wyatt is second in the all-around standings with $195,489.
ZEKE THURSTON DAZZLES IN ROUND 5 WITH WIN ON CALGARY STAMPEDE’S XPLOSIVE SKIES
These two are definitely no strangers and their familiarity led to even more success on Tuesday night.
Climbing aboard Calgary Stampede’s star horse Xplosive Skies for the fifth time in his career, saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston won Round 5 with a 91-point trip before 17,183 spectators at the Thomas & Mack Center. Thurston earned $30,706 for the victory and moved up to first in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $313,555. The Big Valley, Alberta, cowboy is aiming for his fourth career world championship and second in a row.
NEWS & NOTES
In bareback riding…NFR Average leader Mason Clements will look to reach the pay window for the fourth straight round when he matches up with Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Risky Business. Rocker Steiner won Round 1 on the horse with an 87-point ride. Steiner will have a golden opportunity to get back in the money on Wednesday morning. The 20-year-old has drawn Wayne Vold Rodeo’s True Grit. Reigning PRCA World Champion Jess Pope finished third in Round 1 on True Grit with an 85-point score…In saddle bronc riding, Chase Brooks hopes to capitalize on a great opportunity this morning. Brooks drew Brookman Rodeo’s Ragin’ Lunatic, the horse that Kade Bruno rode to split-round win in Round 1 with an 86.5-point ride. Sage Newman seeks his third paycheck in four rounds, pairing up with Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Chester. The bucking horse boasts nine qualified rides in all nine attempts, highlighted by an 87.5-point trip from fellow NFR rider Brody Cress back in February…In bull riding, Jordan Hansen looks to make the eight-second whistle for the first time in Round 6. The Canadian cowboy will have an opportunity for a big payday, drawing Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Caddy Shack. At the 2022 NFR, fellow competitor Tristen Hutchings notched an 88-point ride in Round 6 to collect the go-round win, marking the only qualified ride in the bull’s career. Jeff Askey hopes to regain his momentum after a strong Round 2 performance. The 35-year-old will square off with Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Con Air. The bull has collected two qualified rides in seven attempts this season, holding an average score of 87.5 points. Jared Parsonage hopped on the bull back in February at the Xtreme Bull Bash (Lufkin, Texas), earning an 88.5-point score.
Record times and scores for Round 6 of the 2023 Wrangler NFR:
Bareback Riding 91 points, Orin Larsen, on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Night Gazer, 2021
Steer Wrestling *3.0 seconds, Bryan Fields, 2001
Team Roping 3.5 seconds, Trevor Brazile/Patrick Smith, 2011, Colby Lovell/Russell Cardoza, 2012
Saddle Bronc Riding 89.5 points, Cort Scheer, on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Sue City Sue, 2018
Zeke Thurston, on Powder River Rodeo’s Miss Chestnut, 2018
Ryder Wright, on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Billie, 2020
Ryder Wright, on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Border Town, 2021
Tie-Down Roping 6.5 seconds, Shad Mayfield, 2022
Barrel Racing 13.37 seconds, Taylor Jacob, 2013
Bull Riding 94 points, Jerome Davis, on Growney Brothers Rodeo’s Dodge RAM
Tough, 1996
Courtesy of PRCA.