ProRodeo Sports News - Nov.20, 2020

TEAM ROPING HEADER

In the Driver's Seat

Brown poised, ready for world title battle

BY NEAL REID, Special to ProRodeo Sports News T eam roper Luke Brown is hoping 13 proves to be a lucky number for him in December. The Rock Hill, S.C., header will enter the 2020Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, Dec. 3-12 atop the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $89,665, about $20,000 ahead of two-time and reigning World Champion Clay Smith. It will be Brown’s 13th consecutive Wrangler NFR, and he has his sights set on claiming an elusive gold buckle. “It’s a good feeling (to be No. 1) in a weird year,” said Brown, the reserve world champion in 2009, 2013 and 2015. “Whatever happens at the Finals, it takes a lot of luck to win the world. A lot of practice and a little bit of luck, that’s what it takes. If I rope good that week, that’d be great (to win), but to have a good Finals and have enough money to survive another year is the ultimate goal.” If he’s going to become a world champion, Brown will have to do it without his full-time partner, two-time World Champion Patrick Smith, who finished 21st in the world standings. Luckily for Brown, he’ll be paired with the 2020 No. 1 heeler Joseph Harrison, with whom he wonThe American in March. “Patrick roped great all year, and we dang sure didn’t get the lucky breaks when we needed them,” said Brown, who has finished in the top three in the world six times. “I’m very fortunate to be able to rope with (Joseph), and we’ve become good friends the last few years. He’s phenomenal at what he does and is in his prime, and I just need to do my job.” The 46-year-old Brown wonWrangler NFR average titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015. He thinks he and Harrison have what it takes to challenge for the average crown and gold buckles this year. “I bet if I can turn all 10 of them, it’ll work out pretty good,” said Brown, who banked $53,000 in official money for The American triumph. “I’ve been fortunate the last 12 years to have partners so good that it’s on my shoulders how well I do there. If I rope good, I have a good Finals, and if I don’t, it’s all my fault. “I feel like it’ll be that way this year.” A new venue means a longer barrier—an extra two feet, according to Brown—and he said it could take a couple rounds for the Top 15 teams to adjust to a different look at the Wrangler NFR. “It’s a different start, a different run and is more of a regular- season rodeo type of run than a typical NFR run,” Brown said. “The steers are probably going to come left a little more because the barrier is longer and the arena’s so wide. You’re going to have to have a pretty open mind how to go about it.” Just being able to have a championship finale at all, given all the cancellations in sports due to COVID-19, is a blessing for Brown and his fellowWrangler NFR contestants. “I think we’re the luckiest sports people alive,” Brown said. “My hat’s off to the PRCA and everybody who made this happen, and it’s going to be one of the best NFRs ever. There are so many people looking forward to it, and I think it’s going to be the greatest thing that could have happened.”

2020 TEAM ROPING HEADER STANDINGS

1. Luke Brown, Rock Hill, S.C...................... $89,665 2. Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla.................... 69,704 3. Cody Snow, Los Olivos, Calif.. ................... 69,228 4. Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas............... 65,509 5. Dustin Egusquiza, Marianna, Fla................ 64,176 6. Andrew Ward, Edmond, Okla..................... 63,872 7. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont.. ........................ 57,629 8. Charly Crawford, Stephenville, Texas......... 55,229 9. Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn.................. 52,682 10. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz................ 52,542 11. Kolton Schmidt, Barrhead, Alberta............ 51,022 12. Nelson Wyatt, Clanton, Ala........................ 50,692 13. Levi Simpson, Ponoka, Alberta................. 50,398 14. Jeff Flenniken, Caldwell, Idaho.................. 49,391 15. Brenten Hall, Jay, Okla.............................. 47,145 QUOTABLE “I think we’re the luckiest sports people alive. My hat’s off to the PRCA and everybody who made this happen, and it’s going to be one of the best NFRs ever. ” – Luke Brown HEAR IT FROM THE CHAMP Clay Smith

2019 PRCA Team Roping Header World Champion “Our sport of rodeo has been the most normal thing throughout this whole year. I’m pretty thankful to be a part of that and am very glad they’re having a Finals for us to go try to make a salary and hopefully have a chance to win the year-end prize, too.”

Smith

ProRodeo Sports News 11/20/2020

WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

70