ProRodeo Sports News - July 22, 2022

EDITOR’S LETTER TRACY RENCK

Brian Gauck photo Fans enjoying rodeo action at the inaugural NFR Open powered by RAM at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Inaugural NFR Open left a lasting impression

A s a veteran of attending several RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo in Guthrie, Okla., in 2014, Kissimmee, Fla., (2016 17, 2019 and 2021), Greeley, Colo., (2020, moved because of COVID-19 pandemic), all the cities and venues had their plusses and minuses. However, after covering the inaugural NFR Open powered by RAM, formerly known as the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo, July 13-16 at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., this scribe was impressed. The first thing that stuck out was the massive crowds. Nearly all four days had sellout crowds of 6,400 spectators. That type of fan draw hasn’t been seen in recent years at the National Circuit Finals Rodeo. Cowboys and cowgirls fueled off the buzz of the crowd and it was definitely a rodeo worthy of contestants attending. Additionally, the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo committee through the work of their workers and volunteers rolled out the red carpet for the contestants. The inaugural NFR Open powered by RAM, is one of the biggest rodeos of the 2022 ProRodeo season, it had $1 million in payouts to contestants, livestock and other PRCAmembers. The NFR Open powered by RAM, is the most prestigious rodeo under the PRCA circuit system and featured two contestants in each event from each of the 12 U.S. circuits, plus Canada, bringing more than 200 contestants to the Norris Penrose Event Center for five rounds of competition. “I love the circuit system and this deal was a lot of fun,” said steer wrestler Kyle Irwin, who won his second career national circuit championship, his first coming in 2014. Irwin, who is a five-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, could be headed to his sixth NFR and first since 2019 after earning $15,534 in Colorado Springs. He moved up to 10th in the PRCA | RAM

World Standings.

The Alabama native wasn’t alone in raking in cash. Fellow NFR qualifier Taylor Santos earned $14,501 as he chases his third trip to the Finals. The cool thing about the NFR Open was to see cowboys who normally toil in obscurity get their moments in the spotlight as champions. There was bareback rider Ty Pope, the younger brother of Jess Pope. Ty, fresh off winning a title at the National College Finals Rodeo in June in Casper, Wyo., won the coveted NFR Open powered by RAM crown. Jess, who has won back-to-back

Tracy Renck is the editor of the ProRodeo

Sports News . He previously served more than seven years as a media coordinator at the PRCA. He has three decades of experience in sports journalism with the last several consumed by ProRodeo.

bareback riding NFR average titles, was at home watching Ty go jump for jump onThe Cowboy Channel while recovery from a right foot injury. “I would rather see him win than me,” Jess said. “It was cool.” Team ropers Blake Hirdes/Dalton Pearce; saddle bronc rider Kade Bruno and bull rider Braidy William Randolph have never had a payday like this. The NFR or at least the dream of qualifying for it is now in focus for these champions. It provided them earnings to – at the very least – stay on the trail through the end of the PRCA regular season on Sept. 30 to continue the quest to the NFR. That opportunity for these cowboys is one of the missions of the NFR Open and that mission was accomplished and many more.

ProRodeo Sports News 7/22/2022

ProRodeo.com

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