RAPID CITY, S.D. – There are multiple compelling storylines heading into the Gold Buckle Beer Pro Tour Finale tonight at the James Kjerstad Event Center on the Central States Fairgrounds. Tonight, the top 8 in each event will compete in a long go at 7:30 and then 4 advance to the short go for the big money. Among the drama is nothing less than the lead in the All Around World Standings. Stetson Wright is up tonight in both the Saddle Bronc and the Bull Riding and comes into tonight less than $16K behind Tuf Cooper in the All Around, so he will be looking to tighten that up tonight. Stetson comes in to tonight sitting 3rd in the Saddle Bronc and 7th on the Bulls.
Let’s start with the Bareback action tonight where Orin Larsen, ranked 3rd in the world comes in with a main goal of gaining some ground on 2nd, place Kaycee Field, currently about $16,000 ahead of Orin, but not competing tonight. Also up tonight are Tilden Hooper, currently sitting 5th in the world, Richmond Champion (8,) Cole Reiner (11,) Jesse Pope (14), Caleb Bennet (24) and Nate McFadden (33.)
On the Saddle Broncs tonight, Eagle Butte’s Shorty Garrett is in the top 8 for tonight! Shorty comes in tonight sitting 4th in the World, behind Brody Cress and just ahead of Allen Boore who is 5th. Also up is Taos Muncy in 14th. Jake Watson could sure use a big night, he comes into this evening in 22nd, about $12,500 behind Cody DeMoss, who is sitting 15th, but not up tonight.
In the Bull Riding tonight, 5 of the top 10 guys in the World will go, led by the great Sage Kimzey who is leading the world. Brady Portenier is 5th in the World, Stetson Wright is 7th in Saddle Bronc and, remember, competing for the All-Around, Jeff Askey is 9th and Ty Wallace, 10th. Also up tonight Brody Yeary currently sitting 21st, about $6,500 out of 15th, Jeston Meade who is 27th and about $13,500 out-of-the-big-show. Parker Breding comes in 31st and just looking for some extra money to finish his year.
The Tie Down roping for the Finals tonight is led by Haven Meged who comes into tonight 3rd in the World, but only about $400 behind Tuff Cooper who is not up tonight. As many of you know, Shad Mayfield is just running way with the Tie Down Roping heading into Arlington and the NFR. Some of the real drama for tonight is Caddo Lewallen, hanging on to an NFR slot in 14th and Tyson Durfey who comes in 19th, about 6 grand out of the show. Elsewhere, a bunch of other big names as Westyn Hughes is up tonight, he is 5th in the World, Caleb Smidt (7,) Timber Moore (8,) Tyler Milligan (11,) and John Douch.
Ft. Pierre’s Jace Melvin enters the Steer Wrestling tonight with a big opportunity, sitting 9th in the World but less than $10,000 behind second place Jacob Talley who is also up tonight. Also in the Finals tonight are Curtis Cassidy, presently 5th in the World, Jacob Edler 7th, Tanner Brunner (8,) and Ty Erickson sitting 19th and less than 10-thousand from 15th. Finally, Rowdy Parrot has had a good week and is up for the big money this evening.
Some of the top drama for tonight is in the Team Roping where things are crazy-tight to make the NFR. Headers currently ranked 14, 15, 16 are all up tonight with less than 2-thousand dollars separating them and only $497.06 between IN the show at 15th, currently Brenten Hall and OUT at 16th, Chad Masters. It isn’t quite as tight among the Heelers but still super interesting. Guys ranked 13, 14, 17 and 18 will go including number 15, Wesley Thorp and 17, Trey Yates who come into tonight only $864.02 apart. The full line-up in the Team Roping tonight: Goleman Proctor (18) and Ryant Motes (18), both about $6,000 out of 15th, Charly Crawford (8) and Logan medlin (9), Nick Sartain (27) and Joseph Harrison, currently the #2 Heeler in the World, Brenten Hall (15) and Chase Tryan holding on to 14th by less than a thousand dollars, Chad Masters (16) and Wesley Thorp hanging on at 15, Matt Sherwood (14) and Trey Yates (17) also only about a thousand out of the show. Kolton Schmidt (10) and Hunter Koch (13) and, finally, Riley and Brady Minor who come in 24th at Header and 25th at Heeler.
The competition in the barrel racing has been unbelievably tight this week at the Finale. Tonight Ryannn Pedone, who is currently 16 in the World is up in the Finale. She trails Jessica Telford by only $1,396 and Jessica is NOT up tonight. Hard to overstate how big of a night it is tonight for Ryann. Michelle Alley comes in tonight at #19, less than 9-grand out of the NFR. Elsewhere tonight, tons of talent. Hailey Kinsel is currently sitting number 2 in the world, then Dona Kay Rule (4,) Tiany Schuster (5,) Shelley Morgan (7,) Nellie Miller (11,) and Brittney Barnett (13).
So this is it. The top 8 in a long go tonight and then 4 will compete or the huge money, more than $40,000 added in each event here at the Gold Buckle Beer Pro Tour Finale. After the rodeo, it is South Dakota Country Music Royalty when the great Dustin Evans takes over the after party. Tickets still available but we are expecting a full house tonight. Grab some tickets at Pro Rodeo Tour Finale .com.
