ProRodeo Sports News - December 16, 2022

RAM TOP GUN AWARD Top Money Winner

BY TRACY RENCK N o matter what ZekeThurston does the rest of his decorated ProRodeo career he will likely never forget about the 2022Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. Thurston, who hails from Big Valley, Alberta, won the PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding World Championship – the third of his career – the NFR average title and he was also captured the RAMTop Gun Award for the first time in his career by earning $256,078. The Top Gun Award was created in 2010 and is given to the contestant who wins the most money at the Wrangler NFR in one event. Barrel racer Hailey Kinsel set the record for most money earned by a Top Gun earner at the 2020Wrangler NFR at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, taking home $270,615. “I really didn’t see that coming,” said Thurston captures third world title, first RAM Top Gun Award

Brad Ness, president of Commemorative Firearms, left, and Mike Orman, president of RAM Rodeo, far right, celebrate with saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston after Round 10 when he won the RAM Top Gun Award. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Click Thompson

Thurston about winning the Top Gun honor. “I split (the Round 10 win) and I thought Stetson (Wright) had it (the Top Gun Award) wrapped up. He had to ride his bull and place (in Round 10) and he put out a solid effort, but they bucked him off, and I guess I won the Top Gun. That’s incredible. I never dreamed that was going to happen.” As the 2022 Top Gun winner, Thurston received a $20,000 voucher for a RAM vehicle, a one-of-a-kind RAMTop Gun-branded firearm fromCommemorative Firearms and a custom Top Gun buckle fromMontana Silversmiths. Thurston is the first saddle bronc rider to win the Top Gun Award and the first Canadian to be a recipient of the award. Thurston, 28, was making his eighth appearance at the Wrangler NFR. Thurston clinched the Top Gun honor by splitting the Round 10 win with his 89.5-point ride on Andrews Rodeo’s All or Nothin. That ride earned him $23,007 and allowed him to win the NFR average, world championship and Top Gun honor. Bull rider StetsonWright was second in the Top Gun standings with $237,812, not counting ground money. “It was absolutely an amazing (NFR),” Thurston said. “I drew great horses, and I rode them to the best of my ability. I’m just so blessed. It couldn’t have gone any better.”

PAST RECIPIENTS 2010: Trevor Brazile, tie-down roping & team roping, $211,509

2011: Kaycee Feild, bareback riding, $179,327 2012: Mary Walker, barrel racing, $146,941 2013: Sherry Cervi, barrel racing, $155,899 2014: Sage Kimzey, bull riding, $175,466 2015: Steven Peebles, bareback riding, $234,054 2016: Tyler Waguespack, steer wrestling, $213,218 2017: Marcos Costa, tie-down roping, $195,519 2018: Chase Dougherty, bull riding, $209,058 2019: Clayton Biglow, bareback riding, $243,891

2020: Hailey Kinsel, barrel racer, $270,615 2021: Kaycee Feild, bareback rider, $231,564 * 2010 was the only year that money earned in multiple events counted toward the RAM Top Gun.

ProRodeo Sports News 12/16/2022

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