Round 6 will feature the best pen of steers at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The round should get fast, and Dustin Bird, who has $953,269 in PRCA career earnings and five NFR go-round wins to his name, knows a thing about fast rounds in the Thomas & Mack. Bird breaks down what fans should look for going into the sixth round of the NFR.
Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira
Round 5: 5.1, +5
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $53,012.81
World Standings Earnings: $167,964.48 (Driggers); $168,948.33 (Nogueira)
Average: 1, 27.80/5
World Standings: 2
Bird’s take: Honestly, I think Kaleb has roped really comfortable. I don’t want him to try to win first from here on out. He’s roped good and looked comfortable all week—I want him to stay that way. Junior is going to get 95-percent of them, he just got a bad start last night it looked like. Yahtzee looks so good right now, and that’s going in Driggers’ favor.
Clay Smith and Paul Eaves
Round 5: 3.80
Round Winnings: $26,230.77
Total NFR Earnings: $66,128.20
World Standings Earnings: $181,472.75
Average: 5, 17.40/4
World Standings: 1
Bird’s take: I pick them for the go-round again. I don’t think Paul could have heeled him any faster than he did last night. They’re comfortable after their mess up in the first round.
Dustin Egusquiza and Kory Koontz
Round 5: 4.00
Round Winnings: $13,326.92
Total NFR Earnings: $23,326.92
World Standings Earnings: $129,722.95
Average: 11, 22.8/3
Bird’s take: Dustin got the monkey off his back last night. Dawg got tight last night, but if he can get around one and heel them faster, they’re 3.6. They’re another good pick for the go-round.
World Standings: 6 (Egusquiza), 8 (Koontz)
Chad Masters and Joseph Harrison
Round 5: 4.10
Round Winnings: $6,769.23
Total NFR Earnings: $34,961.54
World Standings Earnings: $120,303.68 (Masters); $139,476.58 (Harrison)
Average: 9, 32.10/4
World Standings: 11 (Masters); 4 (Harrison)
Bird’s take: Last night he heeled as fast as you could heel him. I was very surprised it was only 4.1 last night. I thought it looked faster than that. Chad’s getting more comfortable going into it. Knowing his partner is going to throw fast means he doesn’t have to take all of the risk.
Aaron Tsinigine and Trey Yates
Round 5: 5.20
Round Winnings: $4,230.77
Total NFR Earnings: $43,423.08
World Standings Earnings: $127,467.57 (Tsinigine); $141,862.02 (Yates)
Average: 2, 28.90/5
World Standings: 8 (Tsinigine); 3 (Yates)
Bird’s take: I thought Smudge came back too much the first couple rounds. And now with the horse change, he’s head better than anybody. He’s handling them on a short rope and giving Trey a good shot every night. They’re in a groove.
Clay Tryan and Travis Graves
Round 5: NT
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $25,794.87
World Standings Earnings: $122,784.90 (Tryan); $118,927.76 (Graves)
Average: 12, 23.80/3
World Standings: 9 (Tryan); 10 (Graves)
Bird’s take: Man, I thought TG heeled the heck out of him last night and just lost him. They really need to push the issue and go for a go-round and take a few more chances and win some more in the rounds.
Cody Snow and Wesley Thorp
Round 5: 4.3, +5
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $41,730.77
World Standings Earnings: $133,593.50 (Snow); $129,904.17 (Thorp)
Average: 7, 25.10/4
World Standings: 4 (Snow); 7 (Thorp)
Bird’s take: In their position, they don’t have to go right over the chute and win every day money, but they can win four or five more times and win fourth in the average.
Derrick Begay and Cory Petska
Round 5: 3.9, +5
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $36,230.77
World Standings Earnings: $121,067.92 (Begay); $127,524.80 (Petska)
Average: 3, 42.20/5
World Standings: 10 (Begay); 9 (Petska)
Bird’s take: I think Begay deserves a world title. He’s got enough partner behind him. He doesn’t look quite as comfortable right outside the chute as I’d like him to, but he’s giving Cory a chance. A couple more go-round wins and they’ll be in it.
Bubba Buckaloo and Chase Tryan
Round 5: NT
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $39,121.79
World Standings Earnings: $127,989.78 (Buckaloo); $107,405.60 (Tryan)
Average: 13, 9.20/2
World Standings: 7 (Buckaloo); 12 (Tryan)
Bird’s take: Bubba missed the barrier a night or two, and he needs to take a breath and relax and enjoy every moment. He can give Chase an opportunity to win good money.
Luke Brown and Jake Long
Round 5: NT
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $47,653.84
World Standings Earnings: $130,756.01
Average: 10, 13.10/3
World Standings: 5 (Brown); 6 (Long)
Bird’s take: I felt bad for Luke last night when he lost his rope. He had enough to turn the steer off, but he ended up losing his rope. I thought he had it over the top of it, and when he took the jerk, he whipped him out there and Jake already had him heeled. If they draw good tonight, they’ll get the day money.
Riley Minor and Brady Minor
Round 5: 3.90
Round Winnings: $20,730.77
Total NFR Earnings: $57,807.69
World Standings Earnings: $139,361.44 (Riley); $138,168.82 (Brady)
Average: 6, 22.00/4
World Standings: 3 (Riley); 5 (Brady)
Bird’s take: Riley had one bobble the first night, and then after that, he’s done awesome. He’s kind of like where Erich Rogers was last year, where he can take a higher-percentage shot and still be fast. I think they’ll place the last few nights.
Erich Rogers and Clint Summers
Round 5: 4.00
Round Winnings: $13,326.92
Total NFR Earnings: $30,096.15
World Standings Earnings: $98,450.37 (Rogers); $109,563.12 (Summers)
Average: 8, 31.00/4
World Standings: 13 (Rogers); 11 (Summers)
Bird’s take: I think Rogers has drawn on the stronger end of them. You can see how much ability he has because he’s made four out of five look easy. Clint has done a really good job for being a rookie and made some really good shots. If Rogers gets a good go at this one, there’s no telling how fast they’ll be.
Tyler Wade and Cole Davison
Round 5: 8.60
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $10,000
World Standings Earnings: $83,145.02 (Wade); $76,251.57 (Davison)
Average: 15, 18.00/2
World Standings: 15
Bird’s take: TWade has stuck some good steers, but Cole doesn’t seem to be getting a good enough start and getting far enough down the arena. If he can do that, his shot will be a lot easier. He’s half a stride late. But they can be super fast.
Lane Ivy and Buddy Hawkins
Round 5: 4.9, +5
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $36,230.77
World Standings Earnings: $103,688.38 (Ivy); $100,681.78 (Hawkins)
Average: 14, 13.00/2
World Standings: 12 (Ivy); 13 (Hawkins)
Bird’s take: I think Ivy has looked pretty good the last couple nights. There will be more of that and give Buddy some chances there.
Rhen Richard and Quinn Kesler
Round 5: 4.50, +5
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $$27,557.69
World Standings Earnings: $92,789.71 (Richard); $88,906.45 (Kesler
Average: 4, 43.20/5
World Standings: 14
Bird’s take: Rhen has done good, I think. He’s getting a good start and sticking some steers. Quinn has heeled a couple good ones. They’ll keep catching all the way through. The buckskin of Rhen’s is given him better and better goes as the week goes on.
