Dustin Egusquiza and Travis Graves paired up like old times at the American Contender Tournament East Regional Finals, and their 4.22-second run in the final round won them $10,000 a man and keeps them in the hunt for the $1 million bonus. The East Regional Finals in Lexington, Kentucky, wrapped up the series of Contender Tournament Region Finals Jan. 25-27, 2024.
Qualifiers from American Rodeo East Regional Finals
- Dustin Egusquiza / Travis Graves – 4.22 – $10,000
- Ross Mitchell / Cole Walker – 4.53 – $5,500
- Erich Rogers / Paul Eaves – 4.82 – $2,500
- Coleman Proctor / Levi Lord – 5.28 – $1,500
- Brenten Hall / Kaden Profili – 5.45 – $500
American Rodeo Team Roping Format
The American Contender Tournament Central Region Finals was the second of three Region Finals (West, Central, East). The South Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas hosted the American Western Regional Finals earlier in January, where Pedro Egurrolo and Michael Calmelat got the first Contender win. Canadian brothers Dawson and Dillon Graham won the American Central Regional Finals. The East Region Finals rounded out the Contender Tournament Region Finals Jan. 25-27 in Lexington, Kentucky.
The top five contenders from all three regions will then compete in the Taylor Telecom Arena in Abilene Saturday, Feb. 10, for the chance to compete in The American Rodeo March 9.
What is the American Rodeo Contender Tournament?
The American Contender Tournament West, Central and East Regional Semi-Finals attract qualifiers from both coasts as well as the Central United States to compete in the re-imagined tournament style format in hopes of making it all the way to The Crown Jewel of Rodeo™ —The American Rodeo 2024.
In 2023, more than 2,500 rodeo athletes competed across the country to vie for a chance at the $1-million bonus on the line if they made it to The American Rodeo, earning impressive money along the way. Guaranteed prize money is upwards of $540,000 for the Regional Semi-Finals and Finals.
More from The American Rodeo
- Dawson and Dillon Graham Take OKC American Rodeo Contender Series Qualifier
- Pedro Egurrola and Little Michael Calmelat Jr. Win First of Three 2024 American Rodeo Contender Tournament Region Finals
- Nope, You’re Not Dreaming: Driggers and Nogueira are American Champs AGAIN
- And AGAIN: Ward and Hawkins Continue Reign with American Rodeo Win
