ProRodeo Sports News - Nov. 22, 2019

WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

A Step Ahead Clay Smith posts record season

BY AMBER BAILLIE F or the last two seasons, team roping roping world championship at the 2018Wran- gler National Finals Rodeo, Smith finished first for a second straight year in the 2019 regular- season standings and is heading to the Finals to defend his title. The Broken Bow, Okla., cowboy enters the Wrangler NFR with a $32,057 lead over No. 2 Kaleb Driggers. His partner, three-time team roping world champion Jade Corkill, is ranked third with $108,638 among heelers. “We’ve won at the right places that paid a little better, and Jade has roped really good for me,” Smith said. “Our horses have been working well, and we’re ready for the NFR.” The pair’s biggest win this season was at the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., where each took home $9,287. Their fastest run in 2019 was in Stephenville, Texas, stopping the clock at 3.7 seconds. “He’s a great partner and doesn’t get upset,” Smith said. “The only time either one of us gets upset is if we don’t do our jobs individually. He’s a good teammate, and I’m glad he’s heeling for me.” Smith also won $10,852 in steer roping, finishing the 2019 regular season second in the all-around world standings, behind rookie StetsonWright. “If I do my job in team roping (at the Wrangler NFR) then it’s possible to win the all-around, which would be awesome,” he said. “But my main focus is to do the best that I can in team roping.” “There are so many rodeos that we go to, that’s probably the biggest thing that has helped me,” he said. Smith’s lead over Driggers is $31,664 more than last year. However, Smith said it doesn’t hold much significance. “It helps but after the first round, things could change,” he said. “It’s nice to know that if you do your job you have a little bit more of a cushion if something goes wrong, but with as much money as the NFR pays every night, you can’t ever think that you’re safe.” Smith will be aboard his longtime horse, Marty, at the Finals. The 28-year-old has been roping with Marty the last few seasons. “I just try to keep him in shape and feeling good,” header Clay Smith has stayed ahead of his competition. After winning his first team Not dwelling as much on his mistakes this year has benefited Smith.

2019 TEAM ROPING HEADER STANDINGS

1. Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla............... $150,512 2. Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga.................. 118,455 3. Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla.................. 104,318 4. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont.. ..................... 103,165 5. Ty Blasingame, Casper, Wyo................... 101,490 6. Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash.................. 97,649 7. Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn................. 95,529 8. Cody Snow, Los Olivos, Calif.. .................. 95,054 9. Brenten Hall, Jay, Okla.............................. 88,927 10. Luke Brown, Rock Hill, S.C....................... 84,939 11. Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz....................... 76,204 12. Tate Kirchenschlager, Yuma, Colo............. 75,738 13. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz................ 73,999 14. Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas.......................... 73,394 15. Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M................... 73,191 QUOTABLE “It’s nice to know that if you do your job you have a little bit more of a cushion if something goes wrong, but with as much money as the NFR pays every night, you can’t ever think that you’re safe.” – Clay Smith

LOOKING TO REPEAT At the 2018 Wrangler NFR, header Clay

Smith and heeler Paul Eaves won their first world championships in their respective events while setting single-season records in their events by finishing with $289,921 each.

Smith said. “He’s been with me ever since I joined the PRCA and has been a great horse.” For Smith, having his 2-year-old son, Jade, at the 2018Wrangler NFR was a special experience. “It was his first NFR and was the biggest highlight for me,” he said. “It’s something that we’ve always wanted to do (win a world championship). We’re glad it happened once and will keep trying to do the best we can. I would love to do it again.” Smith tries to treat the PRCA’s premier championship like just another rodeo. “I try not to put too much emphasis on thinking it’s a bigger deal than what it is,” he said. “We all know that the NFR is a big deal, but I try not to think about it like that. It’s kind of a vacation because you get to rope a steer in the same place for 10 days in a row and you don’t have to do any driving.”

TEAM ROPING - HEADER

ProRodeo Sports News 11/22/2019

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