ProRodeo Sports News - September 17, 2021

FRONTIER DAYS WALLA WALLA, WASH.

Benton wins, enters Top 15

A year after missing out on the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Trey Benton III has once again thrown his hat in the ring to return to Las Vegas. In 2020, he finished 24th in the world, but the train is back on the tracks for Benton this season. The Richards, Texas, bull rider inched closer toward qualifying for his seventh NFR by taking the win at the Walla Walla (Wash.) Frontier Days Rodeo Sept. 5. In the final performance of the rodeo Benton put together an 88.5-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Hou’s Bad News. Of the three qualified rides on that bull this season that was the highest-scored ride. The win inWalla Walla tacked on $3,835 to the 29-year-old’s yearly earnings. The Pacific Northwest payday saw himmove within the Top 15 to 12th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $80,879. Benton has his spot secured for this year’s ProRodeo Tour Finale that’ll take place in Salinas, Calif., Sept. 23-26. The rodeo will pay $1 million to contestants and other PRCAmembers. – Tanner Barth

Thomas Duncan photo Bull rider Trey Benton III had an 88.5-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Hou’s Bad News to get the win in Walla, Walla, Wash., and keep himself in the hunt to make the National Finals Rodeo.

MAGIC VALLEY STAMPEDE FILER, IDAHO

TOUR ROUNDUP Dirk Tavenner is the model of perseverance in the sport of rodeo. The 31-year-old has been a PRCA cardholder since 2009 but has yet to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo. Last season, he missed out on a trip to Arlington for the Wrangler NFR by just $1,560, finishing 16th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. After seven years of being inside the top 30, he finds himself on the doorstep of his first trip to Las Vegas. Tavenner closing in on first NFR with Filer win

“We are sitting in a great spot right now. It feels good, but there’s a lot of rodeo left,” said Tavenner, 31. “I just need to keep running at the barrier and doing what got me to this point in my career.” After a $4,822 payday at the Magic Valley Stampede in Filer, Idaho, Sept. 4, Tavenner was 10th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. “It’s been a great couple of weeks for me, so headed into that run I felt really confident about everything,” said Tavenner, who put together a 3.6-second run in Filer for his 10th go-round win of the season. “I was able to get a good start and make a good run. It was one of those deals where you try not to do too much.” He says the moment he officially punches his ticket to the NFR will be a dream come true. “You know that’s what guys work their whole lives for in the sport, so it would dang sure be cool to finally get it done,” Tavenner said. “I think I owe my wife the 10 days off and a trip to Las Vegas.” – Tanner Barth

Amanda Dilworth photo

After placing 16th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings a year ago, steer wrestler Dirk Tavenner moved up to 10th in the world standings after winning the Magic Valley Stampede in Filer, Idaho.

ProRodeo Sports News 9/17/2021

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