ProRodeo Sports News - May 15, 2020

COWBOYS & BUSINESS

In Tow

Photo courtesy Erich Rogers

Erich Rogers uses a tow truck to pick up a disabled truck.

World champion team roper Rogers operating tow truck

BY TRACY RENCK W orld champion PRCA team roping header by day, tow-truck driver by night. That’s not exactly the script for Erich Rogers, but it’s close. Rogers, who won the team roping header world title with heeler Cory Petska in 2017, has been working on a limited basis for Elite Towing in Casa Grande, Ariz., for his friend Shane Wilcox. “When I would get done roping in the afternoons, I would go hang out over at his shop and chill, and a couple of times I started going on calls with him to hang out,” Rogers said. “There were a few times he needed another driver, and I would jump in and help him.” When rodeos began postponing and canceling in the middle of March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rogers knew who he needed to call. “When this pandemic started, I needed a job,” said Rogers, who has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo the last nine seasons. “I called and told (Shane) the

rodeo was canceled in Houston and all the rodeos were being canceled. I told him I needed a job, and he said, ‘When are you going to be here (in Casa Grande)?’ I told him I would be there in the morning, and he said work started at 8 (o’clock). I told him I would be there at 7:59.” Wilcox remembered the phone call well. “He called me and said Houston got canceled,” Wilcox said. “I told him, that isn’t good, so now what? He said he was headed home and needed a job. I told him we start at 8, don’t be late. If he tells me he’s going to do something, he’s going to do it. He showed up, and I think he took a Snapchat that morning with his feet on the desk at 7:50 and said, ‘I beat you here, boss.’” Competing in the rodeo arena and towing cars are vastly different careers, but Rogers enjoys the change of scenery. “It’s pretty cool being a rodeo star and (when) you go tow vehicles and see other people, they don’t know who you are,” he said. “You’re just someone sitting in work clothes to them. You’re there to tow their car. At first, I was just doing this for fun, and now I’m on the payroll. During this time, it

“During this time, it seemed like everybody was having a hard time keeping a job or getting a job, and I was able to call a guy like Shane.” – ERICH ROGERS

ProRodeo Sports News 5/15/2020

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