2023 Wrangler NFR Round 9 News & Notes
Round 9 – Dec. 15, 2023 Round 9 Daysheet
Star country singer/actress Lainey Wilson is the opening act. American Idol contestant/singer Britnee Kellog will sing the national anthem. The performance sponsor is RAM.
WRANGLER NFR LIVE ON TELEVISION AND INTERNET
The 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo® presented by Teton Ridge airs nightly from Dec. 15-16 at 5:45 p.m. PST/8:45 p.m. (EST). There also was a matinee performance at 12 p.m. (EST) on Dec. 13. To maintain the tradition of the ten rounds of the NFR, an additional make up-round has been added. Due to the tragic events that occurred on the UNLV Campus on Wednesday, Dec. 6, the original starting date – Dec. 7 – was cancelled. 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.
TEAM ROPERS TYLER WADE/WESLEY THORP MAKE WORLD-RECORD TYING RUN TO WIN ROUND 8
If you’re a cowboy, there’s no better place in rodeo to perform your best than the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. That’s exactly what team ropers Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp did during Round 8 Thursday night. The duo tied the world and NFR record with a lightning fast 3.3-second run before 17,616 fans Thursday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. “Honestly, Wesley ropes so good that I just try and set him up every night,” Wade said. “It just happened fast and he’s able to shut the run down so fast. It’s special.” With their $30,706 victory, Wade is second in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $226,834 and Thorp is first in header standings with $233,061. Wade/Thorp now share the world record with Chad Masters/Jade Corkill at the Wrangler NFR Finals Rodeo, 2009; Brock Hanson/Ryan Motes in Nacogdoches, Texas, 2012; Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira at the Wrangler NFR Finals Rodeo, 2017; Clay Smith/Jade Corkill in San Antonio, Texas, 2021 and Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves in Oakley, Utah, 2021.
BULL RIDER T PARKER RETURNS FOR ROUND 9 AFTER SHOULDER INJURY
T Parker, the 2023 Resistol Bull Riding Rookie of the Year, was sidelined at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge with a right shoulder injury and right elbow sprain. Parker initially showed up on the Justin Sportsmedicine injury report after getting bucked off Cowtown Rodeo’s Kingdom in Round 5, Dec. 12. Parker doctor released out of Round 7 Wednesday night and as missed Round 8 Thursday. He’s returning for Round 9 and drew Diamond G Rodeo’s Flight Child. Parker is 11th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $184,336. He has earned $31,544 at the NFR.
NEWS & NOTES
Bareback rider Tanner Aus looks to get back in the top six for the first time since he won Round 6 on Wednesday. He has a golden opportunity in his matchup with Frontier Rodeo’s Painted Smoke. Leighton Berry won Round 4 on the horse with an 87.5-point ride. Rocker Steiner will have a chance for his third go-round win of the Wrangler NFR Friday night. Steiner tangos with Land of Fancy, a standout horse from Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics. Richmond Champion was 87 points on the horse at the Magic Valley Stampede in Filer, Idaho…Saddle bronc rider Tanner Butner hopes to finish the NFR on a high note, seeking his first trip to the pay window since Round 4. The Wyoming cowboy squares off with Andrews Rodeo’s Brutus. Stetson Wright matched up with the horse earlier this season, putting together a 90-point trip at Rodeo Austin (Texas). Brody Cress continues to boast consistency, aiming to capture his sixth-straight paycheck. Cress, who currently sits second in the average, drew a familiar face in Round 9 with Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Resistol’s Toma Jo. The pair matched up in June, riding their way to an 86-point ride…Bull rider Cullen Telfer is looking to hear the eight-second horn for the first time this week, pairing up with Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Fred. Earlier this week, Ky Hamilton collected the Round 4 win on the bull with an 89-point ride. Jordan Hansen has built some momentum heading into Friday’s night performance, collecting two paychecks in the past three rounds. The Canadian cowboy drew Legacy Pro Rodeo’s Grey Eagle. Hansen’s battery mate has only conceded one qualified ride in 12 attempts this season, owning an average stock score of 42.91 points.
Record times and scores for Round 9 of the 2023 Wrangler NFR:
Bareback Riding 90 points, Rowdy Buechner, on Kesler Rodeo’s Sky Reach, 2005; Tim O’Connell, on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Vitalix Ain’t No Angel, 2018
Steer Wrestling 3.2 seconds, Derek Daye, 1993; Cash Myers, 2001; Luke Branquinho, 2007
Team Roping 3.3 seconds, *Chad Masters/Jade Corkill, 2009; Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 2017
Saddle Bronc Riding 92 points, Dan Mortensen, on Kesler Rodeo’s Painted Smile, 2002
Dawson Hay, on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s BDM Mud’s Killer Bee, 2022; Ryder Wright, on Powder River Rodeo’s Show Me Again, 2017
Tie-Down Roping 6.6 seconds, Hunter Herrin, 2015
Barrel Racing 13.34 seconds, Hailey Kinsel, 2022
Bull Riding 95.5 points, Zack Brown, on Terry Walls Rodeo’s Red Alert, 2003
Courtesy of PRCA