Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

2008 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

"This was our 'eliminator pen,' and with that set of horses, even the re-rides are set well," said Ford, who has now earned $53,546 at this year's Wrangler NFR. "I kind of just let it roll off and said to myself, 'All right, I'll just go win the round on this one.' I just capitalized on having a good one in this pen. She was just as solid as can be and just angled there to the right, with no ducks or dives, just a straight drop. She made me stay good with my feet, and it worked out."

"I'm drawing really, really well," Knowles said of his recent success. "I made an OK run. There were a couple of guys who made outstanding runs, but their steers weren't as good as mine. I just outdrew them. That steer was supposed to run and be really snappy and fast-handling on the gorund. I got an OK head catch and was just trying to hold on."

Tryan and Petska tied the World Record in their first round win of this NFR. In another record that may be broken, Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith lead the average race and are on pace to crush the average record of 59.1 seconds for 10 head set by Jake Barnes and Clay O'Brien Cooper in 1994. They have a 41.4-second total through eight rounds and need only to finish the final two rounds in less than 17.6 seconds to lower the record mark.

"It's the coolest feeling I've ever had in my roping career," said Tryan. "I got emotional after the run. I threw my hat, and I never do that. I had a feeling tonight that we were going to break the record, which I've never had before in my life, and can't explain why. When I was riding up to the box, I was thinking we were going to get the record. We had a great steer that stayed straight, maybe even stepped to the right a little, which helped us be fast because it helped my horse quicken up a little because he doesn't duck too hard, so it made things happen fast."

"I don't think it's set in yet that we just tied the world record," said Petska. "I got a little emotional at first. I was the same as Travis said, when we started to do the TV interview, I was a little worried that I would choke up. You own a piece of history."

"It was a pretty good feeling, but it was also pretty nerve-wracking when you're sitting there waiting for Cody Wright and Billy Etbauer to ride," said Elshere. "This is the first round I've ever won, and it's a pretty good one for me. She (Surprise Party) bucks and kicks hard, and she feels like she is dropping a mile out there and trying to rip the swells away from you every time, but I was lucky enough to stay under her this time."

"Well, I came from probably the toughest team roping round that's ever been to a – well, the start of the round looked pretty soft in the calf roping," said Brazile. "It ended up picking up the pace, that usually doesn't happen. Previously, that calf had beat everybody out of the chute. He ran hard and was wild on the end of the rope and ran around guys. That calf let me be really aggressive at the line, which let me be at the front of my saddle where I could reach. I put a wrap and a hooey on him because I've got a lot of winning to do."

Sears clinched the Barrel Racing World Championship in this round with her consistent runs during this year's NFR.

"I honestly haven't kept track of my total winnings so far. Actually, I really don't want to know," said the new World Champion Barrel Racer Sears. "I just go out there and concentrate on getting around three barrels and getting a time. That's the job I do and then I wait for what happens."

"I thought I'd fit that bull well," Woolsey said. "I don't mind the bulls who drop and have that power. I try to crawl out over them and stay in front of them. I try to prepare myself for whatever's coming. I'd heard about him (Rusty) from other guys in the locker room, but I'd never been on him. I knew he'd be out around to the left and moving ahead and have a lot of drop. Eliminator bulls don't scare me."

(All Quotes are Courtesy of the PRCA.)

Next stop Round 9...I'll see you there!

Stay Up-To-Date with the Rodeo Newsletter
Contribute in the Rodeo Forum

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5