ProRodeo Sports News 2022 Wrangler NFR Preview Issue

EARNINGS

Money Talks Multiple cowboys

BY TRACY RENCK B ack in 1996, the smash hit movie “Jerry Magu ire” hit the big screen starring TomCruise and Cuba Gooding Jr. Cruise, “Jerry Maguire” is a sports agent who has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it. He decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent agent and the only athlete – Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rod Tidwell, played by Gooding Jr., stays with him and his former colleague. During a phone conversation in the flick, Maguire with plenty of encouragement from Tidwell ends up yelling “ShowMe the Money!” in regard to a new contract for Tidwell. Fast-forward to 2022, and multiple cowboys were cashing checks and showing record-breaking money in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings – pre-Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The 2022 single-season record-breaking money earners are superstar StetsonWright in all-around and bull riding with $378,340 and $320,599. Wright set the all-around record at $320,482 in 2021 and Sage Kimzey had the bull riding mark at $297,026 in 2018. “That was a big goal that I wanted to accomplish,” break pre-NFR earnings marks

Wright said surpassing Kimzey’s record. “I’ve won more money this year than I did my first year winning the world (in bull riding in 2020). I just try to win everywhere that I go, and I’ve been pretty lucky this year.” Around StetsonWright no record seems to be off limits, including the ones he already owns. “I’ll try to re-break them if I can. It means more to me to break my own record,” he said. Team ropers and partners header Kaleb Driggers and heeler Junior Nogueira – the reigning PRCAWorld Champions in heading and heeling earned $227,878 each during the regular season smashing the previous records in heading of $150,512 in 2019 by Clay Smith and the top heeler mark by Travis Graves at $147,653 in 2010. “We’ve both got some really good horses that give us a boost of confidence and makes our jobs easier,” Driggers said. “This season, things just kind of went our way and I couldn’t be happier.” Nogueira concurred with his partner. “We weren’t even trying to break any sort of record this year,” Nogueira said. “We always have a goal of trying to break records, but not really trying to chase it. I was just out there trying to do my job.” Saddle bronc rider Sage Newman had a magical regular season as

Saddle bronc rider Sage Newman carries the momentum of his record-breaking season into the Wrangler NFR. Newman is aiming to win his first gold buckle. Chuck Miner photo

RECORD BREAKERS Below are the cowboys who set PRCA regular season earnings records in their respective events before the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. All-around: Stetson Wright ............................. $378,340 Team Roping header: Kaleb Driggers ............. $227,878 Team Roping heeler: Junior Nogueira ............ $227,878 Saddle bronc rider: Sage Newman ................. $253,191 Tie-down roper: Shad Mayfield ..................... $203,508 Bull rider: Stetson Wright ............................... $320,599

ProRodeo Sports News 11/18/2022

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