DALLAS -- The field for the 48th annual National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas moves one step closer to being set tonight when the three-day Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Championship opens at American Airlines Center.
Twelve contestants in eight categories will vie for a final chance to crack the field for the world's richest rodeo: the Nov. 30-Dec. 1 NFR at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Advertisement
The bull-riding field of 15 for the NFR is the most uncertain. Four riders ranked between 16th and 29th will compete here.
Three-time NFR bull rider Mike Moore of Kankakee, Ill., ranked 18th, is among those trying to get to Las Vegas.
Three bareback riders, including 12-time NFR qualifier Larry Sandvick, hope to use Dallas as a stopping point before Las Vegas. ...
Bull rider Fred Boettcher of Rice Lake, Wis., will compete tonight as an alternate, replacing reigning world champion bull rider Matt Austin and first alternate Wesley Silcox, who are injured and cannot compete.
Boettcher is ranked 22nd in the world standings, about $11,000 out of the final qualifying spot for the NFR, but can make it to Las Vegas with a good performance here. ...
Logandale native Matt Shiozawa will compete in calf roping in Texas and the NFR.
• STEER ROPING -- Three-time all-around champion Trevor Brazile won his first event world championship last weekend at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association's world steer roping competition in Hobbs, N.M.
Steer roping is not contested at the NFR.
His two-day earnings of $18,750 put his all-around leading total at $266,096, about $135,000 ahead of eight-time world champion Joe Beaver, who is second. Both are competing in Dallas and will qualify for the NFR.
