ProRodeo Sports News - October 2, 2020

PRORODEO TOUR FINALE RAPID CITY, S.D. More than he could ask for

Winning the Justin Boots Playoffs in Puyallup, Wash., helped bull rider Jeff Askey make his NFR debut in 2016. Although the name has changed and COVID-19 pushed the event to a new location this year, the Pennsylvania-born cowboy used the Tour Finale to help strengthen his spot in the Top 15. In the battle for a position in the eight-man semifinals, no bull rider covered both of his bulls, so the top eight scores on one head was the deciding factor for advancing at the Tour Finale. Askey’s 80.5-point ride in the first round was the sixth-highest overall, but that’s all he needed to enter the semifinals. He placed third in the semifinals with an 87.5-point ride and was the only bull rider to make a qualified ride in the finals with 82 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Sitting Bull. “Winning this just means I’ll get up early and go to work,” Askey laughed. “But it’s nice to have some money for projects at my fencing business. I have a bunch of work lined up.” Askey picked up $10,934 in Rapid City, which pushed him from 10th to sixth in the world standings. “I was in a position where I had the Finals made no matter what, but you know how rodeo cowboys can be, we’re a little bit greedy,” Askey said. “The more you win, the nicer life you have at home and can do more projects at home. Rodeo doesn’t last forever, so buy up some land and do things like that.” Now living in Eustace, Texas, the 32-year-old will have the option to commute to his fourth NFR, having qualified in 2016 and 2018-19. Aside from sleeping in his own bed, his approach will remain the same at the Finals in Arlington, Texas.

Alaina Stangle photo Bull rider Jeff Askey made the only qualified ride in the four-man finals to win the Tour Finale with 82 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Sitting Bull. Winning the Tour Finale’s saddle bronc riding for the second year in a row by a half-point could prove to be lifechanging for reigning All- AroundWorld Champion StetsonWright. Going into Rapid City, Wright was 18th in the world standings for saddle bronc riding, but he jumped five spots to 13th after earning $7,974 at the Tour Finale. “It all hung on today for me, and from where I was sitting it was either go down spurring or come out on top, so I told my dad (Cody) I would spur regardless of what happens,” Wright said. Only two saddle bronc riders covered their ride in the finals, and Wright edged Shorty Garrett with a 90-point ride on Burch Rodeo’s Lunatic FromHell. As a rookie in 2019, Wright won the Tour Finale when he set the Puyallup, Wash., saddle bronc riding record with a 93.5-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Yesterday’s Delivery. COVID-19 forced the event to move to Rapid City in 2020, but the outcome was the same for the 21-year-old. “I feel like I just won a go-round at the NFR,” saidWright, who will also make the Wrangler NFR in bull riding. “And heading into the NFR I don’t care if I’m starting out in 15th or first place, but first is where I want to end at the NFR – at the end of the rodeo I will be No. 1.” Wright’s 2019 triple-crown dreams were put on hold when he broke his jaw. The 2020 season has brought its share of injuries, too, but Wright still has a shot at a triple crown. “It was injury after injury, it was all a battle that paid off,” Wright said. Stetson Wright Doubling Up

Jackie Jensen photo For the second straight year, Stetson Wright won the ProRodeo Tour Finale.

ProRodeo Sports News 10/2/2020

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