Nance Keeps World Finals Hopes Alive With Sixth-Place Finish in Round 1 in Tulsa
By: Darci Miller
PUEBLO, Colo. – It may have just been one qualified ride, but for Cody Nance, it was a huge monkey off his back, and an even huger step in the right direction.
The 11-time PBR World Finals qualifier is attempting to earn a berth to his 12th edition of the season-culminating event, which is being held for the first time ever in Arlington, Texas, at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 12-15.
But Nance missed the first six months of the 2020 season because of nerve damage in his shoulder suffered at the 2019 PBR World Finals. And the Cody Nance that returned to action in June simply hasn’t been the same.
Prior to the PBR Express Ranches Classic, presented by Bass Pro Shops, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Nance had gone 2-for-12 at the Monster Energy Team Challenge this summer and 2-for-13 on the Unleash The Beast. Heading into Tulsa, he was mired in a five-out buckoff streak, hadn’t earned points at a premier series event since Fort Worth, Texas, in August, and missed last week’s event in Lincoln, Nebraska.
In Round 1 in Tulsa, though, Nance began to turn the tide. He rode Party Star for 85 points and a sixth-place finish in the round, pointing skyward as he celebrated with the socially-distanced crowd in the BOK Center afterwards.
“I just felt really good,” Nance told Colby Yates on RidePass. “I just knew I needed to stay put, and keep riding where I was at. And he threw a little hesitation on me once right there, and heck, I didn’t know which way he was going to go, but that’s where you just ride and react. Keep riding. Thank god it worked out.”
For his efforts, Nance earned six points towards the world standings, improving from No. 114 to No. 102. He is 85.84 points outside the Top 35.
It’s certainly not where he wants to be during the second weekend of October, but he was pleased with his Round 1 draw and knew he was capable of doing some damage.
“I’ve been looking forward all week to getting on that bull,” Nance said. “He’s one of Cory Melton’s bulls, and heck, I used to ride with Cory Melton, so that tells my age a little bit, I guess. So I’ve outgrown that bull a little bit, and he had some moves that I was able to match, and thankfully I’m just blessed to be able to get by him. And heck, yeah, I’ve been working my butt off, and I feel good.
“I knew I had my hands full, knew I’d better bear down, but you know, at this level you’d better bear down on every one of them. They’re all good.”
Nance has drawn Scratch Cat (1-0, UTB) for Round 2. Action begins on CBS Sports Network at 3 p.m. ET and RidePass at 2:45 p.m. ET.
Nance has 10 premier series event wins in his career – none since the Ty Murray Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in March of 2018 – and he’s well within reach of another one.
Perhaps never has he needed one more.
“Don’t count me out, man,” Nance said. “This’ll be my 12th World Finals. I’m looking forward to it.”
ON THE BUBBLE
Several World Champions on the cusp of Top 35 rankings also had big performances on Saturday night as they attempt to earn berths at the World Finals.
Three-time World Champion Silvano Alves rode Cosmic Crazy for 85.25 points and a fifth-place finish in Round 1. Previously ranked No. 39, the seven world points Alves earned helped him climb back inside the Top 35, now tied for the No. 34 ranking with Taylor Toves.
Two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney also rode in Round 1, making the 8-second whistle aboard Firin’ for 83 points. Mauney had been ranked just ahead of Alves at No. 38, and the five points he earned in Round 1 bumped him up to No. 37.
Alves will face Harold’s Genuine Risk (4-4, UTB) in Round 2, while Mauney takes on Godzilla (10-2, UTB).
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