ProRodeo Sports News - December 16, 2022

XTREME BULLS TOUR RECAP

The Wright Way Stetson leaves mark on Xtreme Bulls Tour Stetson Wright fueled his charge to win the Xtreme Bulls Tour title and the Pendleton Whisky Xtreme Bulls Finale with his 86-point ride on Muddy Creek Pro Rodeo’s Spyglass. Rod Connor photo

BY TANNER BARTH Y ou’d be hard pressed to find a cowboy that had as dominant of a season as StetsonWright did in ProRodeo in 2022. Wright stacked up wins and broke records it seemed like nearly every week and a two-day stop at the PendletonWhisky Xtreme Bulls Finale in September proved to be no different. The now seven-time PRCAWorld Champion showed off his pedigree by winning not only the Finale championship, but the year-end PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour title as well. He finished the four rounds of competition with 257 points on three head, making him the only cowboy to ride three bulls at the event. “I feel like a lot of guys have had success at these events and even won it a few times in some cases,” saidWright, 23. “I’ve always just seemed to come in second or just couldn’t quite get it done. Finally, this year I got it done and I think it’s because I set myself up in a better spot to do it coming in. I crossed off two in one night, so I’m pretty happy.” The Milford, Utah cowboy, earned an event best $20,648 for his performance. That number proved to be enough to move him into the top spot in the PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour Standings at the conclusion of the event,

edging out fellow NFR qualifier Josh Frost by $10,636. He secured the title in the third round with an 86-point ride on Muddy Creek Pro Rodeo’s Spyglass. “I don’t know how to explain it other than the fact that I just wasn’t worried about winning it. I came in No. 3 in the Xtreme Bulls (Standings), and I had no pressure on myself really,” he said. “I just got to come out here and have fun. We are far from a gold buckle right now, but I’ve set myself up to just keep doing my job.” The accomplishments didn’t stop there for Wright. His payday at the PendletonWhisky Xtreme Bulls Finale bumped his 2022 season total past Sage Kimzey’s regular season bull riding earnings record of $297,026 before the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, which was set in 2018. He said it’s a goal he set out for himself this season. “That was a big goal that I wanted to accomplish,” Wright said. “I’ve won more money this year than I did my first year winning the world (in bull riding in 2020). I just try to win everywhere that I go, and I’ve been pretty lucky this year.” No record is safe aroundWright. “I’ll try to rebreak them if I can. It would mean more to me to break my own record,” he said.

ProRodeo Sports News 12/16/2022

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