Wright hopes to pad midseason lead in PRCA at Helldorado Days rodeo

Cody Wright likes driving to Las Vegas from his ranch in Milford, Utah.

And he has had several thousand reasons more for enjoying the four-hour ride home the past few years.

Wright won $148,287 at December's National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center, en route to finishing the year with $247,579, which earned him a second saddle bronc world championship in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

"I'd like to have a rodeo like that every month in Vegas," said Wright, 34.

He hopes to pad his midseason lead in the PRCA standings when he competes Saturday night during the second day of the Elks Helldorado Days Rodeo in a temporary arena built on 10 acres downtown near 7th Street and Stewart Avenue.

Wright, who placed second a year ago at Helldorado, won't leave with as much money as he did after the NFR, and the one-performance event is a day trip instead of a 10-day stay. Still, getting the biggest share of a $7,000 payout in his category in Helldorado could get Wright closer to the $60,000 in earnings he thinks it will take to qualify for a ninth NFR and chance to win a third world title in four years.

"The year has been going good," he said of winning four titles and $44,403 to push his career earnings to more than $1.5 million.

Wright also is saving on travel expenses by sharing costs with his three brothers, who also will compete in Saturday's performance, which will start at 9 p.m. Jesse, 21, ranks 12th in the PRCA, and twin brother Jake is 19th. Alex, 24, is 26th in the season standings.

Jesse Wright finished 2010 ranked fifth after winning $92,927 at the NFR. He got into the 15-man field when rider Rod Hay withdrew because of an injury before the first round.

Other reigning world champions scheduled to compete in Helldorado Days are bareback rider Bobby Mote and steer wrestler Luke Branquinho on Sunday, beginning at 7 p.m.

Three Logandale natives also will compete. Matt Shiozawa, a four-time NFR qualifier, will be in calf roping tonight at 8, and 2008 world champion team roper Randon Adams will pair with younger brother Jay Adams on Sunday.

For information: ProRodeo.com and ElksHelldorado.com.