PRORODEO Sports News - July 26, 2024

XTREME BULLS SALINAS, CALIF.

Luke Mast holds on to win Salinas X Bulls Survivor

BY ALEX DODD N ine cowboys bucked off in the Mast held on. The Hutchinson, Kan., product finished seventh in the first round to advance and give himself a shot at a big payday. In the short go, Mast hopped on Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Stand By Me for an 85.5-point trip. The ride earned Mast 166.5 points on two head to win the average and boost his confidence. “When you come out on top, you prove to yourself that you can still do it,” Mast told the ProRodeo Sports News . “You try to keep that confidence going and rolling into the next one. It helped it out a lot. I like these short rounds because you ride your first bull and it boosts your confidence into the second one.” After a bit of a cold streak in recent weeks, Mast simplified his approach and the move paid off. “It feels great,” Mast said. “It’s been a little tough here lately but coming out on top here at a big one like this is awesome.” Mast opened with an 81-point ride on All In Pro Rodeos’ Try Me to pocket $561 and move on in the competition. “When I have a rough draw, you just have to ride them for what they are and not override them,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been doing, trying to override them and trying to make them more than they are. “You’ve got to go back to the basics, ride them for what they are, and stay in the middle, and that’s where they’ll pay you.” Josh Frost finished second with an 88-point ride on Four Star Rodeo’s Tin Horn in the first round. Jeter Lawrence finished third with an 87-point ride in Round 1 on Four Star Rodeo’s Westec Joe. In the finals, Mast earned $9,353 and tacked on $7,015 by winning the average title. Mast improved to eighth in PRCA | RAM World Standings with $90,443. He hopes the Xtreme Bulls win will turn the tide and spur him toward his first Wrangler National Finals qualification. “If you try to set traps, it won’t work out because you’ll get out of time with them,” Mast said. “But it’s good to ride them for what they are jump-for-jump, and you’ll get it done that way. It’s been all right. I’ve got faith in this, and it helps a lot. I’ve got to keep praying and keep trying.” finals of the California Rodeo Salinas Big Week Bull Riding Xtreme Bulls on July 17. But Luke

(Unofficial as of July 25) 1. Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah................... ...................$87,513 $87,513 2. Clayton Sellars, Wildwood, Fla.............. . ............53,884 3. Roscoe Jarboe, New Plymouth, Idaho....47,156 4. Luke Mast, Hutchinson, Kan.................. .................45,107 5. Tyler Bingham, Howell, Utah.................. ..................43,122 6. Lukasey Morris, Union City, Okla........... ..........38,742 7. Tristan Mize, Bryan, Texas..................... .....................37,755 8. Creek Young, Rogersville, Mo................ ...............35,992 9. Maverick Smith, Mountain Grove, Mo....34,617 10. Trey Kimzey, Strong City, Okla............. ............30,606 11. Jeter Lawrence, Council Hill, Okla........ .......30,099 12. Trey Holston, Fort Scott, Kan............... ..............28,425 13. Hawk Whitt, Thermopolis, Wyo............ ...........26,624 14. Cannon Cravens, Porum, Okla............. ............26,359 15. Cooper James, Erda, Utah................... ...................25,612 Complete results/Page 101 PRCA XTREME BULLS 2024 TOUR STANDINGS

Luke Mast is presented his Xtreme Bulls champ- ionship buckle by California Rodeo Salinas President Steve Davis.

Ryan Jae photos

Luke Mast picked up his biggest win of the 2024 season at the California Rodeo Salinas Big Week Bull Riding, where he pocketed $16,929 for his 16 seconds of work.

ProRodeo Sports News 7/26/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 7/26/2024

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

52

53