PRORODEO Sports News - July 26, 2024

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

DAYS OF ’47 RODEO

Win has Gray climbing PRCA standings Riding High

BY ALEX RILEY, Special to ProRodeo Sports News H ang on. No matter the twist and turns, that was TJ Gray’s focus when he faced off with Andrews Rodeo’s Shockazooloo during the Gold Medal Round of the Days of ’47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City, Utah. It seems simplistic, but for Gray he knew the ride would be extremely difficult. Shockazooloo is regarded as one of the toughest draws in ProRodeo with a 75 percent buckoff rate. For Gray, it was all about hanging on until the whistle sounded and letting everything else sort itself out. “I guess, I just kept trying because he had me bucked off pretty much the whole time,” Gray said with a laugh. “I really thought if you just kept hustling you could probably stay on him, so that was my idea.” The plan worked to perfection as Gray made the eight-second whistle and recorded an 85.5-point ride. The Dairy, Ore., cowboy was one of two ProRodeo competitors to ride both bulls they faced at the rodeo. His ride in the Gold Medal Round was enough to hold off Rawley Johnson (84 points) to claim the title. The result is the latest in a string of big outcomes that has the rising star in position to make his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo this December. Since July started, Gray has continued to pile up earnings with some big victories along the way. Along with Days of ’47, he’s also won the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, and the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo, while earning money at three other stops. Coming into the week of Salt Lake City, Gray was ninth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings, with a little more than $101,400 in earnings. The outcome in Salt Lake City puts another $18,050 in his ledger, which could move him near the top five depending on other results. What’s going right for Gray? That’s a question he hasn’t put much thought into, which might be the reason he’s riding so well. “Honestly, I don’t know. When it goes right, you don’t really think about it too much. I don’t really know what’s going right, I’m just rolling with it,” Gray said. “I keep telling myself, ‘Fear God and nothing else.’ And that’s pretty much my only mindset.” With a guaranteed spot in Las Vegas inching closer to fruition and a lot of momentum on his side, Gray plans to continue keeping it simple. He’s choosing to narrow his focus on the short term rather than get caught up in the bigger picture. It’s a mentality that’s worked thus far. No sense in changing things up now. “I’m definitely getting more confidence and feeling it,” Gray said. “I’m just enjoying one day at a time and not really having any focus on tomorrow and riding for today.”

TOP SCORES

TOP MONEY EARNER TJ Gray ($18,050, bull riding) BAREBACK RIDING

Gray

1. Keenan Hayes ........................ 89 pts. 2. Garrett Shadbolt ....................... 86.5 3. Leighton Berry .......................... 85.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Don Payne ........................... 3.9 sec. 2. Tristan Martin ............................. 4.0 3. Shane Frey .................................. 4.1 TEAM ROPING 1. J. Smith/D. Rich .................. 4.4 sec. 2. S.Carroll/J. Helton ...................... 5.0 3. D. Graham/D. Graham ................. NT SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Brody Wells ........................... 92 pts. 2. Kade Bruno .................................. 91 3. Dawson Hay ............................. 88.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Riley Webb .......................... 7.3 sec. (Tie) Haven Meged ..................... 7.3 3. John Douch ................................ 8.5 BARREL RACING 1. Kassie Mowry .................. 16.75 sec. 2. Taycie Matthews ..................... 16.93 3. Dona Kay Rule ........................ 16.98 BULL RIDING 1. TJ Gray ............................... 85.5 pts. 2. Rawley Johnson .......................... 84 3. Hayes Weight ............................... NS

Complete results/Page 110

Ric Andersen photo

The hot streak TJ Gray has been on continued at the Days of ’47 Rodeo. Gray put together an 85.5-point ride on Andrews Rodeo’s Shockazooloo in the Gold Medal Round to walk away with the win.

ProRodeo Sports News 7/26/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 7/26/2024

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

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