01/12/2025
A deeper look at your ba****ck riding Top 15...
1. Rocker Steiner - $303,547.32
Average Score: 85.03
Steiner dominated the ba****ck riding, winning a PRCA-best 15 rodeos, including RodeoHouston, the Greeley Stampede, Spanish Fork Fiesta Days, and the Governor’s Cup. He was also the only ba****ck rider to average more than 85 points per ride. This marks his second consecutive year entering the NFR ranked No. 1.
2. Sam Petersen - $221,901.45
87.5+ Point Rides: 15
The 22-year-old has finished Top 20 each of his first two years in the PRCA and has broken through in a big way to make his first NFR. He finished in the Top 10 in the PRCA in Average Score, Rodeo Wins, 85+ Point Rides, and Total Qualified Rides.
3. Bradlee Miller - $207,474.02
Rodeo Wins: 14
Miller held the No. 1 spot into the Summer before an injury and responded well to end the season by making the Finals in Pendleton and Ellensburg and the Semifinals of the Governor’s Cup. His 14 wins on the year ranks second behind Rocker Steiner and he was one of four ba****ck riders to average more than 84 points.
4. Jess Pope - $203,629.04
85+ Point Rides: 50
Pope has finished in the Top 5 every year since 2020 and won a World Title and two Reserve World Titles along the way. He was second in the PRCA in Average Score and the only one with at least 50 rides of 85 or more points. With three NFR Average titles, he’s always dangerous in Las Vegas.
5. Cole Franks - $200,362.07
Average Score: 84.66
Franks ranked second in the PRCA in 85+ Point Rides and third in Average Score during the regular season. In the 30 NFR Go-Rounds in his career, he has placed in 21 of them.
6. Kade Sonnier - $171,507.03
Rodeo Wins: 13
Sonnier used a fantastic Summer Run to make his second career NFR. He won over $140,000 from Reno on to move up from No. 29 to No. 6 heading into Las Vegas. The only other time Sonnier made the NFR in his career, he finished No. 3 in the World in 2023.
7. Garett Shadbolt - $168,261.06
87.5+ Point Rides: 18
In his fourth career NFR, Shadbolt has a chance for his second career Top 10 after his winningest regular season in ProRodeo. He ranked fifth in the PRCA in Average Score and third in both 85+ Point Rides and 87.5+ Point Rides in the regular season.
8. Dean Thompson - $166,535.63
Qualified Rides: 111
The reigning World Champion is making his third straight trip to the NFR coming off of a year in which he made $412,121 total and won the NFR Average. Thompson has been on a lot of horses this year as his 111 qualified rides top the PRCA.
9. Jacek Frost - $143,543
Qualified Rides: 111
Frost had an incredible surge at the end of the regular season to make his first career NFR. With three weeks left in the regular season, he was No. 23 in the World before he won Pendleton and Puyallup. Prior to this season, he had finished Top 25 in each of his first two ProRodeo seasons.
10. Cooper Cooke - $142,593.79
90+ Point Rides: 4
Powered by his victory at The Calgary Stampede, the 23-year-old has made it two straight NFRs. He needs just $34,000 in Las Vegas to set a new career-high in earnings.
11. Jayco Roper - $139,774.86
Average Score: 83.45
Roper is also making his second NFR appearance and will have some momentum coming in to the Thomas & Mack. He made the Finals in Ellensburg, Pendleton, and the Governor’s Cup to close the regular season.
12. Waylon Bourgeois - $137,863.80
85+ Point Rides: 37
After three straight Top 30 finishes, each one better than the last, Bourgeois has made his first National Finals. He ranked Top 10 in the PRCA in Qualified Rides, Average Score, 85+ Point Rides, 87.5+ Point Rides, and Wins.
13. Wacey Schalla - $136,108.92
87.5+ Point Rides: 10
Schalla was still on the outside of the NFR field at the beginning of September, but jumped three spots with a win at the Roughrider Cup and a second place finish in Puyallup. This year marks his first ba****ck riding trip to the NFR, but he is making his second appearance in the bull riding and is in the mix for the All-Around World Title.
14. Mason Clements - $131,131
Qualified Rides: 83
A man who always seems to find himself on the bubble, Clements is making his fifth trip to the NFR after winning $12,163 in the last 10 days of the regular season.
15. Tilden Hooper - $129,950.66
Average Score: 83.34
After a neck injury kept him out for all of 2023 and part of 2024, Hooper has returned to top form and will be on his way to his 10th NFR. He was No. 21 with just 11 days remaining in the regular season, but won the Roughrider Cup and $9,956 at the Governor’s Cup to lock in his spot.
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