DALLAS -- Bull rider Fred Boettcher thought his season was over a week ago when he was about $10,000 shy of qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo, so he offered to drive a dump truck for a friend.

Sherry Cervi isn't accustom to entering the last regular season rodeo without having already clinched a spot in the 10-day NFR, which begins Nov. 30 in Las Vegas.

Both, however, will be in the world's richest rodeo after Sunday afternoon performances on the final day of the Texas Stampede ProRodeo Tour event at American Airlines Center.

Boettcher of Rice Lake, Wis., won the Stampede title and earned $12,583 to move from 23rd to the 15th and earn the final NFR bull riding slot.

Cervi, a two-time world champion barrel racer from Marana, Ariz., had missed the NFR only twice in the past 10 years and never waited until the last weekend of the regular season to make the field.

The final standings are unofficial until the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association can complete a financial audit this week.

"I've never been in this position before, waiting until the last rodeo and having to win to make the NFR," said Cervi, who started the weekend 17th in the world standings. "This makes you appreciate it more."

She rode Tinman on the triangular course to a runner-up finish in Sunday's semifinals, which cut the field in each category from eight to four. She finished by winning the final round later in the afternoon.

"This was tough. I'm just happy to be going there," she said of the NFR, which will be held at the Thomas & Mack Center. "Whatever happens there will be icing on the cake."

For Boettcher, a four-time NFR contestant whose last appearance was two years ago, he seemed stunned to learn he had rallied to make the Finals.

"I'd have just been clearing brush at home and probably going deer hunting," he said.

The only reason Boettcher was in the Stampede field was because reigning world champion Matt Austin had to drop out of the event last week because of an injury.

"It's tough in this sport because Matt won't get paid for this week," said Boettcher, who turns 31 in two weeks.

"I talked to my best friend at home after Saturday night when I knew I'd be riding today and he said, 'What the hell you worried about? Just have fun. You're not even supposed to be there.'

"What a way to end the year," he added.

D.J. Domangue of San Angelo, Texas, also cracked into the NFR bull riding field by winning $19,583 in Texas to move from 16th to ninth.

In team roping, header Chad Masters of Adams, Tenn., and Cole Bigbee of Stephenville, Texas, also slipped into the NFR field. Masters moved from 20th to 15th while Bigbee, a heeler, jumped seven positions to 13th.

Calf roper Cade Swor of Winnie, Texas, placed second at Texas to go from 18th to ninth in the season standings and advance the NFR.

Southern Nevada resident Matt Shiozawa finished out of the money in Texas but will compete in his second NFR as the No. 6 ranked calf roper.