PRCA for the Record: Wrangler NFR Round 8
Trevor Brazile is one name in ProRodeo that needs no introduction. His rodeo résumé is longer than the 10 days of competition at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Among the Texas cowboy’s numerous achievements and records is posting one of the fastest tie-down roping runs in NFR history.
“That’s one of my favorite records since my M.O. is to be smart and consistent, but to know that I could do something like that when needed is really great for the confidence,” Brazile said.
Only two tie-down ropers have stopped the clock in 6.5 seconds at the NFR – Cody Ohl during Round 10 in 2003 and Brazile during Round 8 in 2015.
“I won’t ever forget that one, I bought the calf and raised cows out of her,” Brazile said of the NFR calf he turned into a family pet and named Sally. “She had outrun Matt Shiozawa in a previous round, and I remember thinking I had to get a really good start. It was one of those times when everything lined up and it dominoed so that each step set the next step up perfectly, and it was one of those runs that feels great when it’s over, but when it was happening it felt fast.”
Although he didn’t win the tie-down roping world title in 2015, it was still a successful year for Brazile, as he extended his record total of world championships to 23 with his sixth steer roping gold buckle and record 13th all-around title (record 10th in a row), earning $518,011. He also broke the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping average record with 111.3 seconds on 10 head and set an NFSR earnings record with $121,112. Brazile also ranked second in the world standings in tie-down roping with $228,055 and fourth in team roping with $191,960.
At 43, Brazile is one of only five ProRodeo athletes holding a record in three or more rounds. The Texas titan’s other NFR records are 6.8 seconds in Round 1, 6.7 seconds in Round 7 and 6.5 seconds in Round 8.
“Just like any NFR, you’ll have highlights and rounds where it looks like it’s your first rodeo, so it takes good ones to get your confidence up for the valleys,” Brazile said. “It always helps my confidence more than anything to know I have those records in those rounds since I’m probably known more for being a consistent roper.”
Brazile is fresh off winning his 26th world title after scoring his eighth steer roping world championship at the 2020 NFSR. Brazile’s world titles since his rookie year in 1996 are 14 in all-around (2002-04, 2006-15, 2018), three in tie-down roping (2007, 2009-10), one in team roping (2010) and the eight in steer roping (2003-04, 2006-15, 2019-20).
Although he considers himself to be semi-retired, Brazile continues his winning ways and recently surpassed the $7 million mark in total career earnings thanks to his 23 NFSR qualifications (1997-2015, 2017-20) and 31 qualifications for the Wrangler NFR (tie-down roping in 1999-2011, 2013-15 and 2017-18; and team roping in 1998, 2003-04 and 2006-15).
It will be a long time before anyone comes close to breaking Brazile’s still-moving $7 million record, but there are 15 tie-down ropers with 10 rounds each on the horizon for 150 chances to go faster than Brazile and Ohl.
“I definitely think we will see a 6.4 (-second run) at the NFR someday, and I would dare say we may get way faster than that,” Brazile said. “These guys are getting great and figuring stuff out and have more tools at their disposal, and I’m excited to watch it from here on out.”
This year’s Wrangler NFR competitors will get a different experience with the Finals moving to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
While a different arena means past NFR records likely will remain untouched this year, the best rides and runs of the past remain a good measuring stick as the 120 best ProRodeo athletes kick up dust on a new batch of arena dirt.
Every point counts and a fraction of a second can mean the difference between winning the world or coming in second at the Wrangler NFR.
The following records, and the records for the other nine rounds, could be broken Dec. 3-12. Fans can check with ProRodeo.com for updates throughout the competition and can watch the action unfold live on the PRCA on the Cowboy Channel Plus app.
The NFR Round 8 records are:
Bareback Riding
90 points
Clayton Biglow on Frontier Rodeo’s Showstomper, 2019
Steer Wrestling
3.1 seconds
• Shawn Greenfield, 2004
Team Roping
3.5 seconds
• Travis Tryan/Cory Petska, 2008
Saddle Bronc Riding
92 points
• Ryder Wright on Powder River Rodeo’s Show Me Again, 2017
Tie-down Roping
6.5 seconds
• Trevor Brazile, 2015
Barrel Racing
13.37 seconds
• Amberleigh Moore, 2016
Bull Riding
95 points
• Colby Yates on Big Bend Rodeo’s Unforgiven, 2002
Courtesy of PRCA