2022 PRCA Media Guide

Team Roping

put us together for us a reason, and I want to glorify God for this title.” For years, the pair left theThomas &Mack Arena with heartbreak. Driggers finished second three consecutive years from 2016-2018 before finishing third as a team roping header in 2019. For Nogueira, a title remained slightly out of grasp four straight years, finishing second in the heeler standings from 2016-2019. Driggers, a Hoboken, Ga., native, expressed his relief to finally break through. “We have been in this situation a lot and to finally have it go our way is amazing,”said Driggers, 32. “I’m kind of a numbers guy so I kind of had it all

mapped out and knew exactly what we needed to be. Until they came back and told us we had won we still were not sure just because I have been so close so

Nogueira

many times. I have been reserve world champion four times and to finally get over the hump is great and without God we would not be here.” Driggers/Nogueira displayed a strong showing at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The team ropers finished third in the average with a 52.6-second time on nine head, including a Round 4 victory with a 4.1-second run. Driggers had a feeling early in the week that this might be their year. “I had a peaceful

2021 WORLD CHAMPIONS

mindset this entire week,” Driggers said. “I told Junior before it even started, ‘I think this is going to be our week.’ We were just going to rope and leave it all on the table and it worked out in our favor.” They finished the 2021 NFR earning $143,896 each. Driggers topped the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $263,227. His heeling partner, Nogueira, earned $277,612. Nogueira acknowl edged the heartbreak bothered him in the past. His mindset has changed as he began viewing life through a wider prism. “I used to let it bother me a little bit, but now I havemy family, my partner, and we are having a great life,” said Nogueira, 31. “I put all my prayers into this, saying it was my dream to one day to be the best. I don’t feel all that different, but I’m just glad I caught all my steers by two feet and achieved my goal.” – Dagin Renck

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Rod Connor

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2022 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

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