NFR EIGHTH GO-ROUND SUMMARY

A calculator will come in handy during the last two nights of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Of eight world championships, only two have been clinched after eight go-rounds. The rest are too close to call.

Each Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association season title probably will be determined by payouts from the eight $162,260 purses that reward the Finals' top eight performers in each event.

Trevor Brazile clinched the all-around championship Tuesday after six go-rounds, and Canadian Lindsay Sears wrapped up the barrel racing title Thursday.

BAREBACK RIDING

Bobby Mote's lead in the world standings continues for the second day, but a mistake Thursday realistically put regular-season money leader Steve Dent in better position to win the world title.

After a torrid run in the Finals, Mote didn't have his feet in the proper position when his gate opened for the eighth round, and he was penalized by not being given a score.

That dropped the reigning world champion from second to ninth in the event aggregate. Dent is second.

"I really don't know what happened. I haven't seen a videotape (of the ride yet)," Mote said.

"I've been in this position before when I had to win the last two go-rounds, and now all the pressure is on Steve."

Despite the heated race, Mote was helping Dent get situated on his horse later in the go-round.

Thursday's winner was Royce Ford, who claimed his second go-round after being scored for 87.5 points on Beutler & Son's Stormy Weather.

STEER WRESTLING

Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, Calif., tied for fourth in the round, and his $5,679 check kept him in the lead for NFR and world titles. He is $34,200 ahead of Dean Gorsuch, who tied for second in the round. Gorsuch is fifth in the Finals aggregate.

The go-round was won by Trevor Knowles in 3.6 seconds.

TEAM ROPING

The world championship race was upstaged by a 3.5-second run by Travis Tryan and Cory Petska that tied the PRCA record.

"It's the coolest feeling I've ever had in my roping career," said Tryan, of Billings, Mont. "I got emotional after the run. I threw my hat, and I never do that. When I was riding up to the box, I was thinking we were going to get the record."

Petska, the team's heeler, was surprised with the time.

"I don't think it's set in yet that we just tied the world record," said Petska, of Lexington, Okla. "I got a little emotional at first. When we started to do the TV interview, I was a little worried that I would choke up. You own a piece of history."

In the championship race, Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith continue to lead the aggregate race and are on pace to beat the aggregate record of 59.1 seconds for 10 head set by Jake Barnes and Clay O'Brien Cooper in 1994.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING

J.J. Elshere of Quinn, S.D., won the go-round with a score of 85.5 on Sankey Pro Rodeo's Surprise Party.

Five-time world champion Billy Etbauer continues to lead the world standings with $204,065, but was bucked off for the second night in a row and fell to seventh in the aggregate.

Utah's Cody Wright placed third to cut Etbauer's lead to about $1,000 and climb to second in the aggregate total.

CALF ROPING

Brazile won his second consecutive round by tying his calf in 7.0 seconds and took over the lead in the world standings, knocking Josh Peek from the top spot for the first time in several months.

Brazile has made $44,892 in calf roping in Las Vegas and stands sixth in the aggregate race. Stran Smith leads the aggregate with eight runs in 71.8 seconds.

BULL RIDING

Steve Woolsey, who also won the second round, was one of only two riders to complete eight-second rides. His score of 87 points on Silverado Rodeo's Rusty topped Kanin Asay's 79. The two split $54,000 in unpaid prize money for the round that does not count in the world standings.

"I thought I'd fit that bull well," Woolsey said. "I'd heard about (Rusty) from other guys in the locker room, but I'd never been on him. ... Eliminator bulls don't scare me."

INJURY REPORT

Bareback riders Tilden Hooper and Kelly Timberman are probable for tonight after suffering concussions Thursday. ... Steer wrestler Casey McMillen will compete despite fracturing his right fibula at the knee. ... Calf roper Jerrad Hofstetter will compete in the ninth performance after suffering a lacerated left leg.

JEFF WOLF/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL