ProRodeo Sports News - June 28, 2019

Kimzey wins eighth Xtreme Bulls Division 1 title Great Eight

$315,811 The money Sage Kimzey has earned in the Xtreme Bulls Tour over his career, a PRCA record. Kimzey has eight Xtreme Bulls Division 1 victories – 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. 93.5 The number of points posted by rookie Stetson Wright on his ride in the short round aboard All In Pro Rodeos’ Smoke Show. Only 10 cowboys have had higher- scored rides than Wright’s ride in the history of the Xtreme Bulls Tour, which began in 2003. Kimzey set the tone for himself in the first roundThursday with an 87.5-point ride on Diamond G Rodeo’s Make-N-Magic. That score tied for second in the round with Dallee Mason. J.W. BY TRACY RENCK A fter winning five consecutive PRCA bull riding world championships, Sage Kimzey is far from content. The Strong City, Okla., cowboy captured the Division 1 Xtreme Bulls crown in Reno, Nev., with a two-head average title of 177.5 points. The win marked history for Kimzey. In addition to it being his first Xtreme Bulls title at Reno, it also marked his eighth career Division 1 Xtreme Bulls title, tying him with Matt Austin for the all-time lead. “This is the first time I’ve ever won the Xtreme Bulls title in Reno so now I can check this off my bucket list,” said Kimzey, 24. “This was a great way for me to kick off my summer run. It seemed to take forever for me to get healthy after last year’s NFR, and now I’m healthy and riding as good as ever. I’m excited to keep my momentum going this summer.” Kimzey arrived in Reno second in the Xtreme Bulls season standings. After earning $12,281 in Reno, Kimzey left Reno in first in the Xtreme Bulls standings with $60,013. Kimzey has won a PRCA-record three Xtreme Bulls championships – 2015, 2017-18. Since the Xtreme Bulls Tour started in 2003, Kanin Asay (2007 and 2012) is the only rider other than Kimzey to win multiple Xtreme Bulls year-end titles. The Reno victory also added to Kimzey’s lead in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings, giving him $123,744 as of June 27.

PRCA XTREME BULLS 2019 TOUR STANDINGS (Unofficial as of June 27) 1. Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla............$60,013 2. Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas........48,452 3. Clayton Sellars, Fruitland Park, Fla.. ......37,404 4. Boudreaux Campbell, Crockett, Texas....25,496 5. Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah................24,059 6. Ruger Piva, Challis, Idaho.....................23,841 7. Dallee Mason, Weiser, Idaho. ................23,466 8. Tristan Mize, Bryan, Texas.....................20,327 9. Trevor Reiste, Linden, Iowa...................18,906 10. Trevor Kastner, Roff, Okla....................16,844 11. Tyler Bingham, Honeyville, Utah..........16,414 12. Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont................15,561 13. J.W. Harris, Goldthwaite, Texas. ..........13,128 14. Lon Danley, Tularosa, N.M...................13,113 15. Trey Kimzey, Strong City, Okla.............12,253 COMPLETE RESULTS ON PAGE 60 The PRCA record for consecutive bull riding world titles of six was set by ProRodeo Hall of Famer Jim Shoulders from 1954- 59. Kimzey will tie that if he wins the 2019 world championship. “I’m not going to let up,” Kimzey said. “Every year, I feel like I’m getting better. My goal is to win another world championship.” Harris won the first round with a 90-point ride on Big Stone Rodeo’s Flying Lowe. “I had never seen that bull before, but he was a good bull and I got a score that put me in a solid position for the short round,” Kimzey said. As the second-to-last rider in the finals, Kimzey took the lead with a 90-point trip on All In Pro Rodeos’ High Razor. “That bull and I had some history together,” Kimzey said. “I rode him in San Antonio a few years ago and had an 87-point ride. I have always liked that bull, and he was great for me again.” Harris was the last cowboy out in the short round but couldn’t overtake Kimzey as he was bucked off Big Stone Rodeo’s Spotted Demon, the 2018 PRCA Bull of the Year. Rookie StetsonWright finished second to Kimzey with 177 points on two head. Wright’s 93.5-point ride to win the short round aboard All In Pro Rodeos’ Smoke Show was noteworthy. Only 10 cowboys have had higher-scored rides thanWright’s in the history of the Xtreme Bulls Tour. “When you do well in the Xtreme Bulls, it goes hand in hand to you doing well in the world standings,” Kimzey said. Other winners on the Xtreme Bulls Division circuit this season are Mason (Fort Worth, Texas, 22-23), Trey Benton III (San Antonio, Feb. 23), Tristan Mize (Fort Mohave, Ariz., March 1-2) and Trevor Reiste (Del Rio, Texas, April 26-27).

Kirt Steinke photo

ProRodeo Sports News 6/28/2019

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