ProRodeo Sports News - Feb. 21, 2020

PRORODEO SEASON

High-dollar rodeos in March can pay dividends later March to Vegas W.T. Bruce photo Tie-down roper Caleb Smidt won The American in 2019 with a 6.97-second time in the Shoot Out at AT&T Stadium. Smidt had $50,000 of his earnings count toward the PRCA | RAM World Standings, which propelled him to his sixth Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

BY TRACY RENCK C aleb Smidt is aware of what a huge March win can do.

“I’ve enteredThe American and RodeoHouston, and those are the two biggest rodeos we get to all year in one month,” said Smidt, a six-time Wrangler NFR qualifier (2013, 2015-

19). “You’re going to want to draw good and be on your game. I went to 40 rodeos last year instead of 85 or 90 (as a result of winningThe American). It can save you a lot of miles and a lot of drives if you can win $50,000 in one day at The American or two weeks at RodeoHouston. It would dang sure be tough because you’re going up against the top guys in the world, but it can be done.” With the exception of bull riding, every event winner at The American in 2019 qualified for the Wrangler NFR – bareback rider Orin Larsen, steer wrestler Ty Erickson, team ropers Coleman Proctor and Ryan Motes, saddle bronc rider Ryder Wright, and Smidt. “Any time a guy gets an opportunity to go to rodeos likeThe American and RodeoHouston is huge,” Erickson said. “The money that’s available for rodeo cowboys at those kinds of rodeos is great. Being able to

Smidt, who won PRCA tie-down roping world championships in 2015 and 2018, wonThe American in 2019 with a 6.97-second time in the Shoot Out at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, to earn $50,000 in the final that counted toward the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. Qualifying for the covetedWrangler National Finals Rodeo takes talent and visiting the pay window numerous times. If a cowboy can put both of those together during the lucrative month of March, they’re likely to book a trip to Las Vegas, as Smidt did last season. For the second year in PRCA history, winners of The American and RodeoHouston earn $50,000 from each rodeo toward the world standings. The month then concludes with Rodeo Austin, which paid out more than $500,000 in 2019.

ProRodeo Sports News 2/21/2020

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