Country music star Luke Bryan is the opening act, and the national anthem will be performed by country singer Glen Templeton. Coors is the performance sponsor. Vegas NFR Icon – ProRodeo Hall of Fame barrel racer Charmayne James – will be honored in an arena presentation and a banner will be unveiled in the rafters of the Thomas & Mack Center. Gregg Veneklasen, the recipient of the 2022 PRCA Veterinarian of the Year Award, also will be recognized.
WRANGLER NFR LIVE ON TELEVISION AND INTERNET
The 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo® presented by Teton Ridge airs nightly starting Dec. 1 at 5:45 p.m. PST/8:45 p.m. (EST). The Cowboy Channel is the official network partner of PRORODEO® and the exclusive broadcast and streaming partner of the NFR. Live coverage of the NFR can be found on The Cowboy Channel and RFD-TV through its cable and satellite partners, and online at cowboychannelplus.com.
TV: The Cowboy Channel; Channel 603 (DirecTV), Channel 232 (DISH Network); RFD-TV; Channel 345 (DirecTV); Channel 231 (DISH Network); Sling Tv
Streaming: Fans can purchase an NFR streaming pass for the Cowboy Channel + for $99.99. The pass includes 10 days worth of 24/7 access to a high-definition live stream of the Cowboy Channel, special access to live feeds from the Thomas & Mack Center and access to 2022 NFR video on demand for 30 days.
KAYCEE FEILD CONTINUED TO WORK HIS NFR MAGIC IN ROUND 1
Kaycee Feild left the 2021 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo after becoming the PRCA’s all-time leader in bareback riding world titles with six. A year later, he shows no signs of slowing down.
Feild had an 87.5-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Bronc Riding Nation to win Round 1 of the 2022 Wrangler NFR presented by Teton Ridge before 16,929 spectators Thursday at the Thomas & Mack Center.
“I don’t care who you are or how good you are when you come to this NFR the first round you always have the jitters, you always have that little buzz and butterflies in your gut,”
KAYCEE FEILD
“I don’t think you question your preparation but when you get here, and you rode the horse to your expectations it makes the week way more fun.”
KAYCEE FEILD
Feild, who has won the last two world championships, increased his PRCA record to 28 NFR bareback riding round wins.
EARNINGS STARTED EARLY FOR WRANGLER NFR CONTESTANTS
At the 64th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge, each of the 120 qualifiers received a $10,000 stipend for qualifying for the NFR. Stetson Wright received an additional $10,000 for qualifying in two events – saddle bronc riding and bull riding. The stipend for each NFR contestant counts in the PRCA | RAM World Standings. After Round 1 Thursday, bareback rider Jess Pope was the only new leader in the world standings.
Brazile, Murray, James honored at Inaugural Vegas NFR Icons Tribute Luncheon
ProRodeo Hall of Famers Trevor Brazile, Ty Murray and Charmayne James received more accolades on Thursday. The trio was honored at the Inaugural Vegas NFR Icons Tribute Luncheon at the Virgin Hotel, where they spoke with hosts Butch Knowles and Jeff Medders of The Cowboy Channel. The two announcers are icons themselves as they have been the broadcast team for the NFR for more than 30 years. Brazile was honored in an arena presentation and had a banner unveiled in the rafters of the Thomas & Mack Center on Dec. 1 and the same will be done for James (Dec. 2) and Murray (Dec. 3).
In bareback riding, Orin Larsen has a Round 2 matchup with Frontier Rodeo’s Full Baggage. The horse is the two-time PRCA Bareback Riding Horse of the Year. Fellow NFR qualifier Leighton Berry was 89.5-points on Full Baggage at the San Antonio (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo. Caleb Bennett will go head-to-head with Harper & Morgan Rodeo Co.’s Apollo. The average score on the horse this season was 87 points. Cole Franks went for 88 points on Apollo at the Deadwood (S.D.) Days of ’76 Rodeo in July.
PRCA MEDIA NOTES
In saddle bronc riding, Lefty Holman faces a familiar foe in Round 2 in Four Star Rodeo’s Wall Street. The two have already met twice this season. The latest ride was an 88.5-point trip in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., in late August. Two-time PRCA World Champion Ryder Wright aims to bounce back in Round 2, drawing Summit Pro Rodeo’s Dry Creek. His brother, Stetson Wright, has familiarity, riding the horse to 88 points at the Gooding (Idaho) Pro Rodeo in August.
PRCA MEDIA NOTES
In bull riding, Trey Kimzey hopes to build off of his strong Round 1 performance, matching up with Powder River Rodeo’s Charmer. His tandem partner is no small task. In seven attempts this season, Josh Frost is the only bull rider to land a qualified ride, scoring 88.5 points at the Black Hills Roundup in Belle Fourche, S.D., July 4. Newcomer Maverick Potter has his sights on reaching the pay window for the first time in his career in Las Vegas, pairing with Harper & Morgan Rodeo Co.’s Big Hat. It won’t be easy as Potter looks to do something no bull rider has done in the last three years. In 27 attempts, Big Hat has not allowed a qualified ride, including one from Potter that came back in 2020 at the Pro Tour Finale in Rapid City, S.D.
PRCA MEDIA NOTES
Record times and scores for Round 2 of the Wrangler NFR:
Bareback riding: 90.5 points, Trenten Montero, 2019
Steer wrestling: 3.1 seconds, Luke Branquinho, 2004
Team roping: 3.8 seconds, Turtle Powell/Dakota Kirchenschlager, 2014;
Dustin Egusquiza and Travis Graves, 2020
Saddle bronc riding: 92 points, Cort Scheer, 2018
Tie-down roping: 6.8 seconds, Randall Carlisle, 2013
Barrel racing: 13.54 seconds, Amberleigh Moore, 2017
Bull riding: 95 points, Mike White, 1999; Terry Don West, 2003
PROVIDED COURTESY OF PRORODEO.COM
