It’s game on for the 2024 NFR with Round 1 kicking off tonight, Dec. 5. Dustin Egusquiza and Levi Lord enter the Thomas & Mack No. 1 in the world with $201,007.70 won on the regular season, but how close is the world standings race?
As we prepare for the 10-head marathon, we crunched the numbers to see what it would take in the rounds for each header and heeler to catch Egusquiza and Lord, as well as how they’ve faired at NFRs past and how, hypothetically, their best NFR appearances on record would put them in the final 2024 world standings.
Headers
| World Standings Entering NFR | Top 15 Headers | Money Won | Money Behind No. 1 | Most Won at Past NFR | Highest Earning Year | If Best Match | Hypothetical Rank |
| 1 | Dustin Egusquiza | 201,007.70 | 104,769.00 | 2017 | 305,776.70 | 4 | |
| 2 | Tyler Wade | 191,737.56 | (9,270.14) | 153,131.00 | 2023 | 344,868.56 | 1 |
| 3 | Kaleb Driggers | 177,360.55 | (23,647.15) | 143,896.00 | 2021 | 321,256.55 | 3 |
| 4 | Coleman Proctor | 155,790.29 | (45,217.41) | 106,231.00 | 2021 | 262,021.29 | 10 |
| 5 | Clint Summers | 143,145.98 | (57,861.72) | 182,517.00 | 2023 | 325,662.98 | 2 |
| 6 | Andrew Ward | 136,581.02 | (64,426.68) | 155,113.00 | 2023 | 291,694.02 | 5 |
| 7 | Jake Smith | 129,366.12 | (71,641.58) | 129,366.12 | 13 | ||
| 8 | J.C. Yeahquo | 126,295.58 | (74,712.12) | 126,295.58 | 14 | ||
| 9 | Brenten Hall | 125,663.15 | (75,344.55) | 148,135.00 | 2019 | 273,798.15 | 8 |
| 10 | Luke Brown | 117,418.34 | (83,589.36) | 162,542.00 | 2023 | 279,960.34 | 7 |
| 11 | Clay Smith | 113,082.90 | (87,924.80) | 174,577.00 | 2018 | 287,659.90 | 6 |
| 12 | Cyle Denison | 108,811.88 | (92,195.82) | 108,811.88 | 15 | ||
| 13 | Erich Rogers | 108,313.26 | (92,694.44) | 131,705.00 | 2017 | 240,018.26 | 11 |
| 14 | Cody Snow | 108,268.78 | (92,738.92) | 161,885.00 | 2019 | 270,153.78 | 9 |
| 15 | Derrick Begay | 105,068.55 | (95,939.15) | 131,010.00 | 2023 | 236,078.55 | 12 |
So, what’s this mean?
Dustin Egusquiza leads the pack with $201,007.70 won on the regular season. He won $104,769 at the 2017 NFR for his highest-earning Finals, and a similar NFR would put him fourth in the world. What would it take for each header to catch him?
Reigning World Champion Tyler Wade sits just $9,270.14 behind him at second. With this year’s round payouts, that equates to winning fourth or better in one round as fourth pays $14,126.88 a man. Wade could also pick up sixth–which pays $5,433.42 a man–twice to cover that deficit. Last year, Wade won $153,131–his highest-earning NFR–en route to the world title, and if he were to win that again this year, he’d (hypothetically speaking, of course) climb to No. 1.
Two-time World Champion Kaleb Driggers is $23,647.15 behind Egusquiza at No. 3. Second in the round pays $26,623.74 a man, which would allow Driggers to pass Egusquiza. Driggers could also benefit from winning sixth in a round and third ($20,103.64 a man) in another. Driggers’ highest-earning NFR came in 2021 when he won a total of $143,896, and if he were to win that again in 2024, he’d finish third in the world.
Coleman Proctor sits fourth in the world standings and $45,217.41 behind Egusquiza. If Proctor won second in a round and third in another, he’d win enough to catch Egusquiza. Winning a round for $33,687.18 per man and placing fourth in another would also do the trick. In 2021, Proctor had his highest-earning NFR of $106,231. If Proctor won that at this year’s NFR, he’d finish 10th.
Clint Summers went on a winning spree at the 2023 NFR, marking his highest-earning Finals with $182,517–the highest of the Top 15 headers. Summers is currently fifth with $143,145.98, so if he replicated his 2023 NFR this year, he’d finish the season second in the world again. As of the morning of Round 1, Summers is $57,861.72 behind Egusquiza, the equivalent of a round win and a second-place finish in another round.
Andrew Ward’s best NFR also came in 2023 when he won $155,113. With his 2024 earnings of $136,581.02, an NFR like last year’s would put Ward fifth in the world. At No. 6 in the world standings, Ward is $64,426.68 behind Egusquiza and would need two go-round wins to catch him.
Jake Smith sits No. 7 in the world standings with $129,366.12 and is an NFR rookie. Smith is $71,641.58 behind Egusquiza, and his best shot at catching him would be two round wins and a sixth-place finish in another round. Smith could also win second in three rounds to catch Egusquiza.
Like Smith, J.C. Yeahquo enters the NFR with a blank slate as a Las Vegas rookie. The No. 8 header is currently $74,712.12 behind Egusquiza with $126,295.58 won on the regular season. Yeahquo would need two round wins and a fifth-place finish to catch him or could win second in three rounds like Smith.
Brenten Hall makes his return to Las Vegas No. 9 in the world with $125,663.15. Hall is currently $75,344.55 behind Egusquiza, and his quickest route to catching him looks like Yeahquo’s: win two rounds and a fifth in another. Hall’s best NFR came in 2019 when he pocketed $148,135. If Hall had a similar NFR in 2024, he’d finish eighth in the world.
Luke Brown had his highest-earning NFR in 2023 winning $162,542. Combined with his 2024 earnings of $117,418.34, a similar trip would put him seventh in the world. Brown is 10th in the world and $83,589.36 behind Egusquiza. Brown would need at least two round wins and a third-place finish to catch him.
Two-time World Champion Clay Smith has the second-highest NFR earnings with $174,577 won at the 2018 NFR. If he were to have a similar NFR this year, he’d finish sixth in the world. With $113,082.90 won on the year at 11th, Smith is $87,924.80 behind Egusquiza. To catch him, Smith needs to win two rounds and pick up second in another.
Louisiana’s Cyle Denison is another NFR first-timer ready to set his earnings high. Denison enters the 2024 NFR No. 12 with $108,811.88 won on the regular season and is $92,195.82 behind Egusquiza. Denison needs two round wins and a second-place finish in another round to catch him.
Erich Rogers is currently $92,694.44 behind Egusquiza with $108,313.26 won on the regular season. Like Denison, Rogers needs to win two rounds and pick up second in another to catch the leader. The No. 13 man in the world, Rogers’ highest-earning NFR was the year he won the world, 2017, when he pocketed $131,705. Another NFR like 2017 would put him 11th in the world.
Cody Snow is making his return to Las Vegas at 14th in the world standings with $108,268.78 won on the year. Snow won $161,885 at the 2019 NFR en route to the aggregate title, and a similar Finals would finish him ninth in the world. Snow is currently $92,738.92 behind Egusquiza and would need to follow in Denison and Rogers’ shoes with two round wins and a second-place finish in another round to catch him.
The reigning NFR champion Derrick Begay rounds out the Top 15 on the head side with $105,068.55 won on the regular season. Last year was also his highest-earning NFR with $131,010 won en route to the NFR title. Begay would round out the year 12th in the world if he had a similar NFR, and is currently $95,939.15 behind Egusquiza. Begay would need three go-round wins to catch the standings leader.
| World Standings Entering NFR | Top 15 Heelers | Money Won | Money Behind No. 1 | Most Won at Past NFR | Highest Earning Year | If Best Match | Hypothetical Rank |
| 1 | Levi Lord | 201,007.70 | 133,685.00 | 2022 | 334,692.70 | 2 | |
| 2 | Wesley Thorp | 191,737.56 | (9,270.14) | 161,885.00 | 2019 | 353,622.56 | 1 |
| 3 | Junior Nogueira | 188,486.30 | (12,521.40) | 143,896.00 | 2021 | 332,382.30 | 3 |
| 4 | Jake Long | 146,583.75 | (54,423.95) | 182,517.00 | 2023 | 329,100.75 | 4 |
| 5 | Logan Medlin | 142,557.08 | (58,450.62) | 106,231.00 | 2021 | 248,788.08 | 9 |
| 6 | Douglas Rich | 129,366.12 | (71,641.58) | 74,227.00 | 2021 | 203,593.12 | 12 |
| 7 | Kaden Profili | 126,836.21 | (74,171.49) | 126,836.21 | 13 | ||
| 8 | Kollin VonAhn | 125,382.46 | (75,625.24) | $152,577 | 2015 | 277,959.46 | 6 |
| 9 | Tanner Braden | 124,958.76 | (76,048.94) | 124,958.76 | 14 | ||
| 10 | Coleby Payne | 122,196.95 | (78,810.75) | 122,196.95 | 15 | ||
| 11 | Jonathan Torres | 117,704.78 | (83,302.92) | 106,329.00 | 2023 | 224,033.78 | 10 |
| 12 | Buddy Hawkins | 114,789.14 | (86,218.56) | 155,113.00 | 2023 | 269,902.14 | 8 |
| 13 | Travis Graves | 112,042.13 | (88,965.57) | 110,269.00 | 2017 | 222,311.13 | 11 |
| 14 | Hunter Koch | 110,279.29 | (90,728.41) | 162,542.00 | 2023 | 272,821.29 | 7 |
| 15 | Paul Eaves | 108,912.27 | (92,095.43) | 174,577.00 | 2018 | 283,489.27 | 5 |
What about for the heelers?
Levi Lord leads the heelers into the 2024 NFR with $201,007.70 won on the regular season. His highest-earning NFR came in 2022 when he pocketed $133,685. Combine that with his 2024 earnings and he would hypothetically finish the year second. Here’s what the rest of the Top 15 heelers would need in order to catch him.
Reigning and two-time World Champion Wesley Thorp is just $9,270.14 behind Lord with $191,737.56 won on the regular season. Like his header Tyler Wade, Thorp would need to win fourth or better in one round or pick up sixth twice to cover that deficit. Thorp’s highest-earning NFR came with his first gold buckle in 2019 when he won $161,885. Another NFR like 2019 could win Thorp his third gold buckle.
Junior Nogueira is also in search of his third team roping gold buckle, entering the 2024 NFR No. 3 in the world with $188,486.30 won on the regular season. Nogueira had his highest-earning NFR in 2021, winning $143,896, which combined with his 2024 earnings would finish him third in the world. Nogueira enters the Finals $12,521.40 behind Lord which can be made up with a fourth-place finish in one round or by winning sixth in a round and fifth in another.
Jake Long’s also no stranger to a high-paying NFR. Long pocketed $182,517 at the 2023 NFR, and a similar trip would keep him at fourth in the world. Long has $146,583.75 won on the regular season and is $54,423.95 behind Lord. Long needs to win a round and second in another to catch Lord.
Logan Medlin enters Las Vegas fifth in the world with $142,557.08 won on the regular season and is $58,450.62 behind Lord. Like Long, a round win and a second-place finish would be enough for Medlin to catch Lord. Medlin had his richest Finals in 2021 when he won $106,231, which would finish him ninth in the world this year.
It’s been three years since Douglas Rich last roped inside the Thomas & Mack (2021), and he enters his second NFR at sixth in the world with $129,366.12 won on the regular season. Rich is currently $71,641.58 behind Lord at No. 1, which equates to two round wins and a sixth-place finish in another, or picking up second in three rounds. Rich pocketed $74,227 at his first NFR, and a similar Finals would put him 12th in the world.
Kaden Profili is the first of three NFR rookies on the heel side, coming into Vegas No. 7 with $126,836.21 won on the year. Profili is $74,171.49 behind Lord, and would need two round wins and a fifth-place finish to catch him or could win second in three rounds.
Two-time World Champ Kollin VonAhn is making his NFR reappearance, nine years since his last trip and his second gold buckle. VonAhn enters Las Vegas No. 8 in the world with $125,382.46 won on the regular season. His last NFR appearance was also his richest, pocketing $152,577. Combined with his 2024 current earnings, a similar Finals would put him sixth in the world. VonAhn is also $75,625.24 behind Lord, so he would need two round wins and a fifth-place finish in another to catch him.
Tanner Braden enters his first NFR with $124,958.76 won on the regular season at ninth in the standings. Braden is $76,048.94 behind Lord and would need two round wins and a fifth-place finish to catch him.
Like Braden, Coleby Payne will make his first run inside the Thomas & Mack tonight. Payne is currently $78,810.75 behind Lord at 10th in the world with $122,196.95 won on the regular season. Two go-round wins and a fourth-place finish in another would help him catch Lord.
Jonathan Torres kicks off his third NFR $83,302.92 behind Lord. At least two round wins and a third-place finish in another round would help Torres catch Lord as he sits 11th in the world with $117,704.78. Last year’s NFR was Torres’ richest, pocketing $106,329. Combined with his current earnings, a similar trip would put Torres 10th in the world.
Buddy Hawkins’ richest NFR also came in 2023 when he picked up $155,113. Combined with the $114,789.14 he has won on the 2024 season, another Finals like last year would finish Hawkins eighth in the world. Hawkins also sits $86,218.56 behind Lord, which can be made up with two round wins and a second-place finish in another.
Travis Graves missed the 2023 NFR, but he’s back in 2024 at No. 13 with $112,042.13 won on the regular season. Graves is currently $88,965.57 behind Lord and, like Hawkins, could use two round wins and a second-place finish in another to catch him. Graves’ had his highest-earning NFR in 2017 when he won the aggregate and $110,269. A similar Finals would put him 11th in the world standings.
Hunter Koch won $162,542 at the 2023 NFR, his highest-earning Finals yet. Combine that with his current $110,279.29 won on the 2024 season and he’d finish seventh in the world. Koch is currently $90,728.41 behind Lord and would need to win two rounds and second in another to catch him.
Two-time World Champ Paul Eaves enters the NFR with $108,912.27 won on the regular season, putting him $92,095.43 behind Lord. Two round wins and a second-place finish in another would close that gap. Eaves had his richest NFR in 2018 when he pocketed $174,577 to win his first gold buckle. A big trip like 2018 would push him to fifth in the world.
