PRORODEO Sports News - October 3, 2025

6 The number of cowboys who surpassed $3 million in career earnings this season. The list includes Kaleb Driggers, Ryder Wright, Luke Brown, Shane Hanchey, Zeke Thurston and Jake long.

$15,500 The total money earned by steer roper Chet Herren after winning the inaugural steer roping title at the Cinch Playoffs The Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, S.D.

SHORT ROUND

$49,867 The total earnings by bull rider Ky Hamilton after riding four bulls at the Cinch Playoffs The Governor’s Cup presented by Texas Precious Metals in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The announcers at the 2025 Wrangler NFR will be Wayne Brooks, Roger Mooney and Anthony Lucia. The special announcer for the 40th Anniversary of the NFR in Las Vegas will be ProRodeo Hall of Famer Bob Tallman. The NFR is Dec. 4-13 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

FRONTIER RODEO’S CHASE FINNELL RECOVERING AFTER ACCIDENT C hase “Rooster” Finnell is on the road to recovery after an accident while transporting stock for Frontier Ro deo Company on Sept. 18 on the way to Pasadena, Texas.

Brooks is making his 13th appear ance at the NFR, and this will be the ninth appearance at the NFR for Mooney. Lucia, the 2023 and 2024 PRCA Announcer of the Year, will be making his NFR debut. Livestock superintendent John Barnes makes his 20th consecutive

Finnell, the son of Frontier Rodeo Company rodeo man ager Heath Stewart and his wife Shay, had a tire blowout on the semi truck, causing it to go off an overpass and into a concrete wall in Waxahachie, Texas. He was transported to an area hospital with an L2 burst and cuts that required stitches. Finnell underwent surgery on Sept. 19, and Stewart said the surgery was successful. “The surgery went well,”

Wrangler NFR appearance. The assistant livestock su perintendent is Terry Autrey. Raina Hudson is the saddle horse boss. Sunni Deb Backstrom, who was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2021, is the NFR secretary, mark ing the 20th year in a row she has been selected. Jennie Murray is the assistant secretary. Timers are Vicki Pack (first year), Kris Fleener (second year) and Nancy Dorenkamp (third year). Brad Narducci is the music director, and Josh Hilton is the assistant music director. The specialty acts are Tomas Garcilazo, Rider and Beth any Kiesner and Haley Proctor. At the NFSR at the Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kan., Nov. 14-15, Scott Grover will handle the announc ing duties, along with Kory Keeth. This is Grover’s third appearance at the NFSR and second in a row. Keeth is a newcomer to the event. Chute boss John Gwatney is back for his 16th consecu tive trip, and the pickup man is Jason R. King. The NFSR secretary is Crystal Longfellow. The timers are Sandy Gwatney and Marien Woner. Randy Mayer has been selected as the music director. Jessica Blair Fowlkes will be the specialty act at the NFSR for the second time. THE CHUTE BOSSES CAUGHT UP WITH 2023 NFR BAREBACK WORLD CHAMPION KEENAN HAYES The Chute Bosses caught up with 2023 NFR Bareback World Champion Keenan Hayes During his first two years in PRORODEO, Keenan Hayes got off to the hottest start of any bareback rider in the history of the sport. In 2022, he set a PRCA single season Permit earnings

Chase “Rooster” Finnell is re covering after he was involved in an accident while hauling stock for Frontier Rodeo Com pany. (Courtesy photo)

Stewart told the PRORODEO Sports News in a text mes sage. “He had some nerves that were kinked up but they got them straightened out and they were not cut. He has a long recovery but the doctors said it should be 100%.” Frontier Rodeo Company owner Jerry Nelson found out about the crash almost immediately after the accident occurred. He said Stewart thought the injuries sustained in the wreck were more serious at first before he was transported to the hospital. “Chase was reared on the ranch in Oklahoma from the time he was a little kid,” Nelson said. “He’s an integral part of what we do at Frontier Rodeo and his dad runs the ship. I’d just tell everybody to keep praying.” According to Nelson, Frontier Rodeo Company lost sev en bucking bulls and 10 breakaway calves in the accident. A makeshift corral was put in place to keep the remaining stock in place. A veterinarian was called to the scene of the accident to assist first responders with moving the other stock from the trailer to another. CONTRACT PERSONNEL ANNOUNCED FOR WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO, NFSR T he contract personnel for the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the National Finals Steer Roping were announced Wednesday by the PRCA.

18

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS