Bull Rider Cody Russell Grabs WNFR Open Lead with 90-Point Ride
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – This season, rookie bull rider Cody Russell didn’t have many highlights.
That changed on Friday night.
The Oakdale, Calif., cowboy had the ride of his life at the NFR Open powered by RAM.
Russell had a 90-point ride on Salt River Rodeo’s Big Lights before a rowdy crowd at the mud-drenched Norris Penrose Event Center arena.
Unfortunately for Russell, moments after the eight-second whistle, the ride went wrong for him. He was smashed by the bull in his upper body and then was kicked by Big Lights when he fell to the ground.
“He was just really fast, and he wanted me in there and he wanted me out of there the whole time,” said Russell, 21. “It is hard to ride away from a guy’s hand, but it worked out well. I didn’t mind the mud, but I lost some teeth, and I got me a cool shaving scar now (on his chin).”
When Russell arrived in Colorado Springs for the NFR Open, he had earned less than $3,000 for the season. He will likely at least double that total with his memorable Friday night trip.
The NFR Open concludes Saturday with a noon (MT) matinee performance followed by the Gold Buckle Round at 7 p.m.
The top eight finishers in the average in each event advance to the final round. The eight contestants will be trimmed to four for a sudden-death showdown.
More than 200 of the top rodeo contestants from each of the 12 U.S. and Canadian Circuits, plus national champions from Mexico converged in Colorado Springs, Colo., from July 11-15 for the 2023 NFR Open powered by RAM.
The NFR Open at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo is one of the biggest rodeos of the ProRodeo season with $1 million in payouts to contestants, livestock and other PRCA members.
Other top performers on Friday were bareback rider Trenton Montero (85.5 points on Brookman Rodeo’s SOS); breakaway roper Kendal Pierson (2.6 seconds); steer wrestler Travis Munro (4.6 seconds); team ropers Dan Williams Jr./Todd Hampton (6.8 seconds); saddle bronc rider Statler Wright (85 points on New Star Pro Rodeo’s Pin Cup); tie-down roper J.T. Adamson (9.6 seconds); barrel racer Nellie Miller (18.29 seconds).
The final two performances of the NFR Open will be broadcast live on The Cowboy Channel and stream on the PRCA on The Cowboy Channel Plus App.
Courtesy of PRCA