ProRodeo Sports News - July 28, 2023

PRORODEO COWBOYS

VIDEO

Worlds Collide PRCA ProRodeo photo John Force, left, a 16-time NHRA nitro Funny Car world champion, shares a moment with Wrangler National Finals Rodeo saddle bronc riding qualifier Kade Bruno. Bruno spent time with John Force Racing at the Mile-High Nationals on July 14 at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo. Recently, two stars from entirely different sports – rodeo and drag racing – converged to share their professions with each other. Standout Top Fuel racer Austin Prock out of the John Force Racing stable, and 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifying saddle bronc rider Kade Bruno met up on their respective turfs. First, Prock visited Bruno on July 13 as he was competing at the NFR Open powered by RAM in Colorado Springs, Colo., which is just over an hour from Bandimere Speedway in Morrison. Bruno showed him the ins-and-outs of rodeo before he rode and then Prock watched from the back of the chutes as Bruno had an 83-point ride on United Pro Rodeo’s Sky Fall at the PRCA-sanctioned national event at the Norris Penrose Event Center. “That was awesome,” Prock said after watching Bruno’s ride. “This sport is cutthroat. It is very similar to drag racing, you have to go out there and be perfect for just a few seconds. You’re on a very unpredictable animal and you have to be on top of it. It is a team sport like drag racing. Your crew chief gives you a good car and you have to show out when it counts. “Kade did that and it was really cool. He had an awesome ride and the judges thought so as well. It was fun getting to know Kade and I’m excited to show him what we do.” BY TRACY RENCK

Prock got that chance as Bruno and his girlfriend, Presley Phillips, ventured to Bandimere Speedway on July 14. Bruno and his girlfriend had never been to a drag race before. Bruno, 23, was able to speak with Prock in the staging lanes before the first qualifying session and then he watched from the starting line as Prock, and his teammate Top Fuel driver Brittany Force made qualifying laps. The experience – especially the noise of the 11,000 horsepower engines and the smell of nitromethane – was something that left a lasting impression on Bruno. “That was crazy, and definitely loud enough for me,” said a smiling Bruno. “The ground was shaking, and I could feel it throughout my whole body and the smell of nitro burned my nose and made my eyes water. That was dang sure an experience you will not get anywhere else. It was cool.” After watching the qualifying runs, Bruno got to see Prock working on his team’s crew in the pits and then he capped off his visit by seeing NHRA legend John Force, a 16-time nitro Funny Car world champ, warm up his car. “At my age, I will wear cowboy boots, but I will not even look at a horse,” John said to Bruno. “I don’t know why I get in this (as he pointed to his Funny Car).” Bruno relished in the drag racing experience with the powerhouse JFR team. Rodeo and drag racing come together with Kade Bruno, John Force Racing

ProRodeo Sports News 7/28/2023

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