2023 Wrangler WNFR Round 4 News & Notes
Round 4 – Dec. 11, 2023 Round 4 Daysheet
Tonight is Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night. Country singer Chancey Williams is the opening act, and fellow country singer Annie Bosko will perform the national anthem.
WRANGLER NFR LIVE ON TELEVISION AND INTERNET
The 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo® presented by Teton Ridge airs nightly from Dec. 11-16 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 OUT OF WRANGLER NFR WITH HAMSTRING INJURY
Superstar Stetson Wright’s 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo ended after Round 2, Dec. 9. Wright, a seven-time world champion – all-around (2019-22), bull riding (2020, 2022) and saddle bronc riding (2021), was sidelined for the remainder of the NFR with a right hamstring strain. Wright was competing in saddle bronc riding and bull riding. During Round 2 Saturday night, Wright was bucked off Big Rafter’s Wild Valley in saddle bronc riding. Wright didn’t attempt to get on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Bloomer’s Midnight Rider, the bull he drew in Round 2. Wright is on the verge of clinching his fifth all-around world title. He has $479,621 and team roper Nelson Wyatt is second with $182,612. Wyatt is competing at the NFR. Wright remains first in the bull riding PRCA | RAM World Standings with $378,630. Wright is fourth in the saddle bronc riding standings.
RECORD-BREAKING TIE-DOWN ROPER RILEY WEBB SNARES FIRST CAREER NFR ROUND WIN
The memorable, record-breaking regular season by tie-down roper Riley Webb finally spilled over into the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Sunday night. The ultra-talented Denton, Texas, cowboy clocked a lightning fast 6.9-second run to claim the Round 3 victory before 17,625 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center. With his $30,706 payday for his first career NFR Round win, Webb extended his lead in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $327,550.
BAREBACK RIDERS PAY TRIBUTE TO TRENTEN MONTERO IN ROUND 3
During Round 3, the bareback riders wore blue as a tribute to the late Trenten Montero. Montero, who qualified for the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, passed away on Aug. 30, due to injuries he suffered during a ride on Aug. 10 at the Owyhee County Rodeo in Homedale, Idaho. He was 31. “All the bareback riders have been working on a Trenten Montero Foundation to help families in rodeo when a tragedy like this happens in the arena,” said Round 3 winner Mason Clements. “We need those resources whether they be psychological, legal, or financial, that’s what these shirts are going to be used for to have these resources so that these families are taken care of when their cowboy sacrifices everything in the arena.”
NEWS & NOTES
Three-time PRCA World Champion Bareback Rider Tim O’Connell looks to reach the pay window for the first time at the 2023 Wrangler NFR when he gets on Powder River Rodeo’s Two Buck Chuck. Mason Clements punched his NFR ticket on the horse by winning the Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup, Sept. 30. Leighton Berry looks to cash in for the third time in four nights when he gets aboard Frontier Rodeo’s Painted Smoke. Six-time world champion Kaycee Feild rode Painted Smoke to the Fiesta Days Rodeo win this summer with an 89.5-point ride…Saddle bronc rider Lefty Holman eyes the pay window for the third-straight night following his third-place finish in Round 3. The California cowboy drew Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Indian Burn. The horse collected two third place finishes at the 2022 NFR, including Zeke Thurston’s 88-point ride in Round 9. Round 3 winner Sage Newman eyes another strong performance, squaring off with Calgary Stampede’s Birch Bubbles. His matchup boasts an average score of 86.13 points in six qualified rides this season, highlighted by a 90-point trip by Damian Brennan in Ellensburg, Wash.…Bull rider Josh Frost looks to rebound in Round 4 after failing to make the whistle the last two nights. He faces Salt River Rodeo’s Belly Dump, presenting an excellent opportunity for a big payday. In 2022, the bull topped the leaderboard twice at the NFR with a 92-point ride by Stetson Wright in Round 4 and an 89.5-point trip with Trey Holston in Round 9. NFR rookie Hayes Weight seeks his first payday, aboard Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Mr. Wilson’s GR Trailer. The bull has conceded just three qualified rides this season in 18 outs. Ky Hamilton matched up with the bull in September in Albuquerque, notching a 91-point ride.
Record times and scores for Round 4 of the 2023 Wrangler NFR:
Bareback Riding 90.5 points, Will Lowe, on Andrews Rodeo’s Roly Poly, 2004; Ty Breuer, on Brookman Rodeo’s Risky Business, 2017; Tim O’Connell, on Fettig Pro Rodeo’s Pop A Top, 2020
Steer Wrestling 3.1 seconds, Dean Gorsuch, 2013
Team Roping 3.5 seconds, Brady Tryan/Jake Long, 2010
Saddle Bronc Riding 90 points, Jesse Kruse, on Calgary Stampede’s Hell’s Half Ace, 2009; Jesse Wright, on Frontier Rodeo’s Wild Bill, 2012
Tie-Down Roping 6.6 seconds, Cody Ohl, 2009
Barrel Racing 13.46 seconds, Wenda Johnson, 2021
Bull Riding 92 points, Jesse Bail, 2001; Paulo Crimber, on Burns Rodeo’s Black Sabbath, 2004; Stetson Wright, on Salt River Rodeo Company’s Belly Dump, 2022
Courtesy of PRCA