ProRodeo Sports News - July 23, 2021

Kimzey becomes all-time Division 1 Xtreme Bulls leader by splitting Spanish Fork title History Maker BY TRACY RENCK A fter seeing his six-year run of being PRCA’s Bull Riding World Champion end in 2020 after finishing fifth in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings, bull rider Sage Kimzey came back hungrier than ever in Kimzey will remain in second in the PRCA Xtreme Bulls standings with $54,998. Mauney, meanwhile, moved up to third in the Xtreme Bulls standings with $26,105. Kimzey increased his lead in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $141,948. “There’s pretty much a direct 1-to-1 correlation whenever you look at who is doing well in the (world) standings and who is doing well in the Xtreme Bulls standings,” Kimzey said. “If you want to be at the top of (the world standings) you have to do well at these Xtreme Bulls events.”

2021. “There’s no question about it,” said Kimzey, 26. “It really took me a while to realize the gravity of everything. Last year took all the joy, all the fire, all the desire out of my heart. This year, I’mmore focused and more driven than I have ever been.” The Spanish Fork (Utah) Fiesta Days Xtreme Bulls event July 20 was more evidence of Kimzey’s rejuvenated passion. By splitting the win with J.B. Mauney, Kimzey became the all-time leader in PRCA Xtreme Bulls Division 1 victories with nine. “It is kind of crazy, to be honest,” Kimzey said. “These are premier stand-alone events, and to have nine of them on my resume is pretty special for sure.” Kimzey was tied with Matt Austin for the Division 1 record for career wins. At Spanish Fork, Kimzey shared the win, thanks to his 91-point ride on Powder River Rodeo’s Top Shelf in section one. “I had never been on that bull, but I had seen him around a bunch,” Kimzey said. “The bull really bucked

Mauney entered Tuesday fifth in the world standings and moved up to third place with $95,472 after his Spanish Fork performance. Mauney has been on a heater the last month. He earned $20,920 for winning the Reno Rodeo June 26, added another $17,105 by winning the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 17 and another $11,201 in Spanish Fork. “I went back to having fun, that’s what it boiled down to,” Mauney said. “You ride bulls because it is fun, you don’t do it to make a living when you start out. When you take the fun out of it, it becomes a job. I went back to having fun, and shoot, it seems like it’s working out.” With the split win, Mauney and Kimzey join Clayton Sellars (San Angelo, Texas, and Reno), Fletcher Jowers (Austin, Texas), Dustin Boquet (San Antonio) and T.J. Gray (Del Rio, Texas) as winners on the 2021 Division 1 Xtreme Bulls Tour. 1. Clayton Sellars, Fruitland Park, Fla.. ........ $60,639 2. Sage Kimzey, Salado, Texas....................... 54,998 3. J.B. Mauney, Cotulla, Texas....................... 26,105 4. Dustin Donovan Boquet, Bourg, La............ 25,550 5. Creek Young, Fort Scott, Kan..................... 22,640 6. Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah......................... 21,551 7. Roscoe Jarboe, New Plymouth, Idaho........ 20,246 8. Jordan Wacey Spears, Redding, Calif......... 18,246 9. Brady Portenier, Caldwell, Idaho................ 16,834 10. Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont.................... 16,005 11. T.J. Gray, Dairy, Ore.. .............................. 14,921 12. Boudreaux Campbell, Crockett, Texas. ..... 14,802 13. Trevor Kastner, Roff, Okla........................ 13,288 14. Garrett Smith, Rexburg, Idaho................. 12,937 15. Chance William Schott, McLaughlin, S.D..12,601 Complete results/Page 69 PRCA XTREME BULLS 2021 TOUR STANDINGS (Unofficial as of July 20)

9 The number of career PRCA Division 1 Xtreme Bulls wins by Sage Kimzey with his latest win in Spanish Fork, Utah. Kimzey’s career win list consists of victories in San Antonio, Texas, 2014; Ellensburg, Wash., 2014; Ellensburg, Wash., 2015; Fort Worth, Texas, 2016; Lovington, N.M., 2017; Fort Mohave, Ariz., 2018; Ellensburg, Wash., 2018; Reno, Nev., 2019; Spanish Fork, 2021.

around to the left. He had me moving and working the whole time. I never had a really great seat on him, but it was all good.” Mauney answered with a 91-point ride on Powder River Rodeo’s Flight Risk in section two. “It was about time, this makes me feel a little better to win the Xtreme Bulls,” said Mauney, 34. “That was the third time I had been on that bull and the first time I rode him. He moved into the left, and he was kind of around the end of the gate, and I met him around to the right and (he) had a big ol’ jump back around to the left. Luckily, I was there when the whistle blew.” It was Kimzey’s first Division 1 Xtreme Bulls win since June 20, 2019, when he captured the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo Xtreme Bulls title. Kimzey has won a PRCA-record four Xtreme Bulls Tour titles (2015, 2017-19). Kimzey and Mauney each pocketed $11,201. “I feel like if I’m locked in, I’m the best bull rider in the world,” Kimzey said. “It’s trying to find that day after day and performing to my highest level I possibly can.”

ProRodeo Sports News 7/23/2021

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