Clayton Sellars Captures Spanish Fork Xtreme Bulls Victory
By Tracy Renck
The wait is over for Clayton Sellars.
After placing in numerous PRCA Division 1 Xtreme Bulls riding events since 2017, Sellars captured his first Division 1 Xtreme Bulls victory, claiming the title at the Spanish Fork (Utah) Fiesta Days Xtreme Bulls event July 20.
Sellars took top honors with a 90-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Trophy Rack.
“I had never heard of that bull before, but I asked the Frontier Guys about him,” Sellars said. “They said he was a young bull and really bucks and that if I twisted him upright I could win the whole thing, and that’s exactly what happened. I have been second and third in Xtreme Bulls events multiple times, but I never won one of these things, so this is pretty exciting for me.”
This was the second time Spanish Fork hosted a Division 1 Xtreme Bulls event. Eli Vastbinder won the inaugural event last year.
Sellars earned $12,056 for his eight-second performance, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Sellars was 46th in the latest PRCA | RAM World Standings with $10,729.
Boudreaux Campbell finished second Monday with an 87.5-point ride.
“I was out there (Monday night) just hangin’ and bangin’ and rockin’ and rollin’ jump for jump,” said Sellars, 22. “That was a really good bull and really fun to ride. It was pretty enjoyable. When I saw 90 points on the scoreboard it was a huge relief. It was kind of a reassurance that I could still do this. The money I won here is a big help and should give me a big jump in the standings.”
When ProRodeos were halted because of the corona pandemic from mid-March to the third week of May it worked in Sellars’ favor.
The break gave him time to recover from tearing his anterior cruciate ligament and posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Jan. 22 during the Division 1 SWELS – Xtreme Bulls at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
Sellars was injured during his 77.5-point ride on Big Rafter Rodeo’s Road Rage in the long round. Sellars returned to action July 1 at the Black Hills Roundup in Belle Fourche, S.D.
“My knee feels great, no problems at all,” Sellars said. “My leg is a little weaker, and I’m trying to get strength back, but as far as the energy goes, it feels phenomenal. I spent so much time off. It’s been six months since I’ve had a win like this, and to put this win together lets me know I’m still as good as I’ve always been.”
Sellars made his Wrangler National Finals Rodeo debut in 2019, finishing 12th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $158,018.
Sellars placed in two rounds in Las Vegas, highlighted by splitting third in Round 8 with a 91.5-point ride on Big Stone Rodeo Inc.’s Spotted Demon. He earned $28,827 at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The mission for Sellars is to make a return trip to the Wrangler NFR.
“Since I was so far behind, the goal for me is to win every single dollar I can and go to Vegas in 2020,” Sellars said.
Next for Sellars is the Spanish Fork (Utah) Fiesta Days Rodeo, July 21 and Deadwood (S.D.) ’Days of 76 Rodeo, July 23.
“I want to keep my momentum going,” Sellars said.
For more coverage of the Division 1 Xtreme Bulls event in Spanish Fork, Utah, check out the July 24 digital issue of ProRodeo Sports News.
Courtesy of PRCA