WNFR: Round 9 Highlights and Dollar Talk

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo: Round 9 Highlights and Dollar Talk

By: Bobbi LeAnn

To begin round 9 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada, Texas Country artist Aaron Watson was the opening act and performed his tribute song to the late World Champion Bull Rider Lane Frost.

In the bareback riding, expectant father Ryan Gray celebrated the upcoming birth of his first child by collecting his fifth check and first round win of the Finals. Gray and Lacy, his wife of seven years, have a due date of January 4^th. He rode for 85.5 points on J Bar J’s Smack Daddy, a wildly active bucking horse that helped Casey Colletti to win in Round 6. Gray has won $47,476 at the Finals and is third in the world with $155,763. Gray’s usual consistency has produced a mostly satisfying Final for him.

Kaleb Driggers and Travis Graves claimed their first round win of the Finals with a time of 3.6 seconds. They’re second in the world standings, but ninth in the average. Driggers and Graves had a rough first couple of rounds; however, during round 9 they decided to let it all hang out.

Cody Wright

 Cody Wright broke through in the saddle bronc riding to claim his first round win, after watching his younger brothers- Jake and Jesse Wright- win five rounds. Jake Wright has four of those round wins, but missed his horse out in round 9, damaging his chance of winning his first gold buckle, after brother Jesse won the title last year. Cody Wright was the world champ in 2008 and 2010, and entered the Finals leading the standings, but Jake has taken over the top spot in money won. Cody Wright is ninth in the average, and Jake Wright slipped in sixth after Friday.

Chad Ferley, third in the world standings and third in the average, has a good chance of winning his second gold buckle, the first coming in 2006. The 33-year-old Ferley won the second round and collected checks in rounds 6-9 to move into a contending position.

Shane Hanchey took a big step toward his first world championship by winning the tie-down roping in round 9 in 7.4 seconds. The 24-year-old is roping at his fourth WNFR, with a best finish of third in 2010. Hanchey, who also won Round 1, is second in the world standings and first in the average with 71.7 seconds on nine head. Trevor Brazile, the 19-time gold buckle winner who is second in the average with 74.4 seconds and fourth in the world standings, was fifth in the round. It’ll be tough for Brazile to beat Hanchey.

First-time WNFR qualifier Stan Branco won the fast-paced steer wrestling in 3.5 seconds, his first round win. Dan Gorsuch, who has an inside track for the world title was among four bulldoggers who tied for third through sixth in 3.7 seconds.

Barrel racer Lisa Lockhart got her second round win of the Finals with a time of 13.65 seconds. She’s fourth in the average and fifth in the world standings. Sherry Cervi tied for third with 13.89 seconds. She leads the average, has an advantage of more than $44,000 in the world standings and has all but wrapped up her fourth world championship

The gritty, confident cowboy who won a share of Round 9 Friday night is now known as four-time World Champion Bull Rider J.W. Harris. For the 27-year –old Texan, it is mission accomplished. Harris clinched his fourth world title in six years before 17,951 screaming fans at the Thomas and Mack Center. It wasn’t unexpected, since he’s led the bull riding standings most of the year, but it was satisfying for the man who hadn’t won the title the last two years. Harris rode Wild Card Rodeo’s Little Shyster for 87.5 points, tying Trevor Kastner, who rode D&H Cattle’s Fire Show for the round win. Both collected $16,677 and that – combined with Harris clinching at least second in the average- was enough to secure Harris’ coveted gold buckle. He previously won three straight world titles form 2008-2010.Cody Teel, who won rounds 7 and 8, is the average leader in the bull riding. Shane Proctor is third, but 107 points behind Harris. Harris closed the year on a roll, winning the Justin Boots playoffs in Puyallup, Washington, and the Justin Boots Championship in Omaha, Nebraska. He won both of those prestigious events in 2012 also. Harris was bucked off in rounds 7 and 8 of the NFR, equaling his worst streak of the season..

Cervi leads the Ram Truck Top Gun Award standings with $103,315. Jake Wright is second ($87,440), followed by Hanchey ($86,989), tie-down roper Cody Ohl ($85,478), Harris ($83,684) and barrel racer Taylor Jacob ($82,432).