PRCA Regular Season Earnings Records Already Being Broken
As the saying goes, records are made to be broken.
Recently, records were set in the PRCA – namely single-season money totals in respective events before the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The PRCA regular season ends on Sept. 30.
Topping the list is team roping. Team roping header Kaleb Driggers ($152,956) and his partner/heeler Junior Nogueira ($152,956) are now the single season earnings record holders in their respective events before the NFR.
The previous records were team roping header Clay Smith, who earned a single-season – before NFR record of $150,512 in 2019 and heeler Travis Graves earned $147,653 in 2010.
Driggers/Nogueira, the reigning world champions, have had an amazing season highlighted by them setting a Cowboy Christmas single-event timed-event earnings mark of $35,152 in July.
A few other single-season earnings records – before the NFR – within reach are in all-around, saddle bronc riding and bull riding.
Stetson Wright was leading the all-around PRCA | RAM World Standings with $298,006 as of Aug. 1. He set the record last year with $320,482 in the all-around standings before the NFR.
Wright also led the Aug. 1 bull riding world standings with $233,913. He has a shot to break Sage Kimzey’s mark of $297,026 set in 2018.
The reason that mark is in reach is because there are some big-time paydays left in the bull riding season, including the Xtreme Bulls event in Ellensburg, Wash., Sept. 3, and the Pendleton Whisky Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale Sept. 12-13 in Pendleton, Ore.
Mix those events in with the inaugural NFR Playoff that will pay out $1 million Sept. 8-11 in Puyallup, Wash., and it is easy to see why, if Wright gets on a hot streak, he could smash records.
Saddle bronc rider Sage Newman has had a career-best year and was leading the Aug. 1 world standings with $191,747. Newman, if he gets in a zone, could eclipse the single-season mark set by Ryder Wright at $224,488 in 2019.
Granted records don’t guarantee gold buckles, but any cowboy enjoys having his name etched in the history books no matter for how long or short it may be.
Staying with the records theme, bareback rider Keenan Hayes has already set two records in the 2022 season.
On Aug. 1, Hayes had earned $81,128 in the PRCA | RAM Rodeo Permit Standings, which is the record for most money won on a PRCA permit for one year. Hayes also already has shattered the record for most money won on a permit for a career in one event not including ground money with $106,109. He also was on his permit in 2021.
As of Aug. 5, there were only 56 days left in the PRCA regular season. In that timespan, rodeo victories will happen and NFR dreams will be realized and yes records will be broken.
Courtesy of PRCA