Bareback rider Tom McFarland of Wickenburg, Ariz., holds on tight aboard Coconut Roll in Monday's fifth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center. McFarland scored an 82 and finished out of the money, while his friend and traveling buddy Will Lowe won the round. Photo by John Gurzinski.

Tom McFarland says the only reason he's competing in his third National Finals Rodeo is because of the "Wolfpack."

For the second consecutive year, McFarland travels with two-time and reigning bareback riding world champion Will Lowe, Royce Ford and Wes Stevenson.

McFarland said just getting to the Finals was a victory for him. And he owes it to his travel buddies.

"I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for those guys," he said. "I had a terrible winter and couldn't stay healthy. I'd have gone home, but they wouldn't let me."

His pals' camaraderie has helped McFarland earn $70,369 this year, including $6,804 in the NFR.

"I know the Lord will take care of me financially, and if He won't, then my buddies will," McFarland said with a huge grin and bigger laugh.

They're called the "Wolfpack" and it has nothing to do with loyalty to the University of Nevada, Reno. Each has been known to let out a howl after a good ride. Also, if one gets separated from the "pack" at a watering hole after a rodeo, they can use the call to round up the group.

Stevenson won free use of a new van for a year after his performance in a series of J Bar J rodeos on the East Coast last year. It came with four captain's chairs and they installed a bed in the back -- a perfect highway outfit for rodeo athletes to hit the trail.

"Wes had the lease on the van and when he told them we had put about 120,000 miles on it they gave us a pretty deal to buy it," said Ford, the tallest in the group at 6 feet. The others range from 5-5 to 5-9.

"They needed someone who could see over the steering wheel," chided Ford, who has won $100,973 this year, including $10,724 in the Finals.

But it's all in fun.

In rodeo competition they spur each other on.

Lowe, the current money leader from Canyon, Texas, finished first for the third consecutive go-round Monday but had to share the top spot with Jess Davis of Payton, Utah. Each scored 87 in front of a crowd of 17,327 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Stevenson, trying to overcome a $96,000 deficit to Lowe, posted a score of 85 before Lowe rode.

"Hell, I'm fighting Will Lowe for a world title, but it pumps me up and gets my heart really beating when I see him make an outstanding run," said Stevenson, who has won $32,043 at the NFR for a season total of $128,182.

Lowe leads NFR bareback riding with $62,406, pushing his season total to $214,331.

There's no spreadsheet for travel costs; the Wolfpack members take turns replacing tires or filling the tank. "Everything we do is on the shake of a hand," Stevenson said.

And there isn't a jealous bone in the bareback quartet. They cheer hardest for each other.

"I love seeing my buddies do good," said Stevenson, of Kaufman, Texas.

"Yeah, they're the guys I'm competing against, but they're my best buddies and I love seeing them do good."

Neither Ford of Briggsdale, Colo., nor McFarland of Wickenburg, Ariz., received a check in the fifth round.

It's unique for four cowboys to travel together and miraculous they all made it to the pinnacle of rodeo.

But don't think it's all for one and one for all every second.

"We compete when it comes to fishing and golf," said Lowe, who said the group travels with two sets of clubs. "Two guys ride in a cart and share the clubs."

It's the cowboy way.

Lowe might be the leading money winner in the group ,but he tips his hat to Stevenson as the best golfer and McFarland as the best fisherman.

"That's when it gets competitive," Lowe said, a serious look on his face for the first time after his go-round.

For Stevenson, the friendships make the gypsy lifestyle of professional rodeo more tolerable.

"I don't have any brothers, and these guys are as close to brothers that you could have," he said.