Bull Rider Daylon Swearingen on a Hot Streak
When rodeos gradually started opening after being halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, bull rider Daylon Swearingen was ready to go.
And. it’s showed.
Since PRCA rodeos resumed the third week of May, Swearingen has been on a heater. He had $7,500 count toward the 2020 PRCA | RAM World Standings from the Super Series Finish in Fort Worth, Texas, which concluded May 31.
Swearingen followed that by winning the Coleman (Texas) PRCA Rodeo with a 90.5-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ No. E13 on June 13. He earned $4,343 for that victorious ride.
At the Crossett (Ark.) Riding Club 72nd Annual PRCA Rodeo which concluded June 27, he split second with an 86.5-point ride on Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s John Quick. He earned $1,555.
“That was a younger bull and it was muddy there, but things came together for me,” said Swearingen, 20. “He was a nice bull around to the left. I felt like I was in control the whole time. It was a fun ride.”
In 2019, Swearingen placed third in the bareback riding in Crossett with an 82-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Sweet Maria.
“I’m pretty much just riding bulls now,” Swearingen said.
Swearingen, who made his Wrangler National Finals Rodeo debut last season, was 38th in the June 29 world standings with $14,927.
“Every rodeo I have entered I have tried to make it count,” Swearingen said. “I don’t put any pressure on myself. The success I have had since rodeos have come back has been good motivation to keep me going.”
The next PRCA rodeo for Swearingen is the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Ariz. (July 1). His Fourth of July run will continue in Oakley City, Utah, Cody, Wyo., Mandan, N.D., and Bigfork, Mont.
“I’m excited to go again and travel all over the country,” he said. “The one thing about going to rodeos hard is that when you leave that event you have to move forward and go to the next event. You can’t be worried about what happened in the past.”
A year ago, Swearingen arrived at the NFR in 14th place in the world standings. He finished ninth with $179,799. He earned $67,962 at the Finals, highlighted by winning Round 5 with a 92-point ride on Big Stone Rodeo Inc.’s War Cry. That broke the Round 5 record of 91.5 points by Ryan Brown in 2003.
“It was a really good experience, and I feel like if I can go back this year it’s going to be even better,” Swearingen said. “Everything is going so fast at the NFR, and if I can go back, I want to slow things down. It’s definitely overwhelming. You look forward to going to the NFR your whole life. When you’re doing the practice for the Grand Entry, your horses are getting worked up and you get amped up, and I want to slow things down when I go back.”
Outside of the arena, Swearingen has been busy. Two months ago, he moved to De Kalb, Texas, where he has a 70-acre place.
“When I closed on the place, I came out here and have been working on my place,” he said. “I moved some cows out here and set up a little bull riding arena. I have 53 beef cows, 10 big bulls and 20 yearling calves. While I’m rodeoing, I want to have some beef cows and some practice bulls.”
Courtesy of PRCA