ProRodeo Sports News - July 27, 2018

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compete at this level and the mental toughness. It’s easy to be out here and do whatever it takes when things are going well, but when things aren’t going well that’s when the mental toughness comes in. He doesn’t let mistakes cost him on the next one, he’s the best there is at that.” Outside of the rodeo arena, Smith and Brazile have been partners in an oil business for six years. Their company is named Driven Services. The business deals with safety maintenance using hydro-excavation trucks to keep people in the oilfield safe. Most of the company’s work is in Midland, Texas. In Sheridan, for tie-down roping, Brazile received horsepower from a friend. He borrowed a horse, Ears, fromWyatt Muggli. “I won Ponoka, Sundre and High River (Alberta), and Sheridan on him (Ears),” Brazile said. “That horse has been working well for me. I use Barney (who is 20 years old) in steer roping. I’ve had him for a long time. He just really does his job and he doesn’t make mistakes.” A year ago, Brazile finished second in the world standings in all-around and steer roping, and was eighth in tie-down roping. Now, he’s making a charge up the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. As of July 25, he was second in the all-around race with $123,857, fourth in tie- down roping and fifth in steer roping. Over Cowboy Christmas (June 26-July 10) Brazile earned $23,714 in his three timed events before adding the big haul from Sheridan, which ended July 14. “Everybody puts a lot of emphasis on Cowboy Christmas, and it is great and it is busy, but it doesn’t really slow down,” Brazile said. “You can stay busy the whole month of July and August, it is just one after another. I didn’t go as much in the spring because my kids have their sports that we try to get in. Now, this is the part I like when you’re somewhere

almost every day.” Brazile has 50 combined qualifications in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and ClemMcSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, and he plans on adding to that total in 2018. “If you’re going to be doing it, you want to give yourself a chance to win a world championship,” Brazile said. “I’ve surpassed what I set out to do, but I do this because I love to. I’ve slowed down some practice habits just due to that I can’t practice like I used to. Team roping has been rough this year, and we just haven’t won like we needed to, but when you do three events, you’re always trying to fix one. Very seldom if you do three events are they all going exactly like you want them to.” Brazile and his wife, Shada, have three children – son, Treston, 10; daughters, Style, 8; and Swayzi, 2. Since 2002, Brazile has won every all-around world title except three – those won by Ryan Jarrett (2005), Junior Nogueira (2016) and Brazile’s brother-in-law Tuf Cooper (2017). “The last 10 years it has always been somebody (trying to win the all- around world championship),” Brazile said. “You have to beat who is having their best year that year.” Brazile acknowledged he does enjoy steer roping, an event he has won six world championships in (2006-07, 2011, 2013-2015). “I love the event,” he said. “It means a lot to me because of the tradition of the event.” Without hesitation, Smith believes Brazile is the greatest cowboy. “I think he’s the best of all time,” Smith said. “You’re always going to have people who argue this or that, but to me it is about stats, and nobody even comes close to 23 world championships. That’s the ultimate goal in this sport, a gold buckle, and he has got a lot more than anybody.”

Complete results on Page 56

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Cody DeMoss ........................ 85.5 pts. 2. (tie) Zeke Thurston .......................... 85 J.J. Elshere ...................................... 85 4. Joey Sonnier III ............................ 84.5

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Trevor Brazile ............. 16.6 sec. on two 2. Tyler Milligan ................................ 17.9 3. Clint Kindred ................................. 18.5 4. Kyle Dickens ................................. 18.7

STEER ROPING 1. (tie) Trevor Brazile .... 52.9 sec. on four J. Tom Fisher ................................ 52.9 3. Ty Tillard ....................................... 54.7 4. Coy Thompson ............................. 57.7

BULL RIDING 1. Trevor Kastner .......................... 89 pts. 2. Cole Melancon .............................. 88.5 3. Chase Dougherty .......................... 87.5 4. Joseph McConnel ............................ 85

ProRodeo Sports News 7/27/2018

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