Justin Pruitt and Tommy Zuniga didn’t make what they’d consider perfect runs at the Cinch USTRC’s 2025 National Finals of Team Roping — but regardless, the veteran team clocked 27.17 seconds on four head to win the #16.5 Succeed Shootout, earning $28,640 and the top spot as high team back.
Pruitt, from Arkansas, was honest about the pressure in the short round.
“I didn’t score good,” he said. “I was anticipating the start, and I got in a hurry. Luckily, Fonzi bailed me out.”
Fonzi, his 13-year-old gelding, has been a staple in Pruitt’s program since he bought him a few years ago.
“He’s fast, solid and lets me get away with a few mistakes,” Pruitt said. “I love that horse.”
On the heel side, Zuniga came in riding a borrowed horse from a Cody Owen — a horse that had never seen pressure like the USTRC short round.
“I’ve known the horse my whole life, but he’s never been in anything this big,” Zuniga said. “He stepped up. He’s just a great horse.”
The pair kept their reactions muted until it was clear they’d sealed the deal.
“Inside, I was a wreck,” Zuniga admitted. “I was thinking, ‘Did we get him? Did the barrier trip?’”
Pruitt, a father of two and the owner of a trucking business, said the check would go straight to work.
“One of my drivers broke down this week,” he said. “This’ll probably go to fixing that truck.”
Zuniga, who’s in his second year working as an insurance adjuster for AllCat, echoed the sentiment of gratitude. “This was a blessing. Getting to rope at this level, with a friend like Justin — it means a lot.”
The two go way back. Zuniga once lived with Pruitt’s family years ago, and their friendship spans nearly two decades.
For both men, the win was more than a big check. It was a payoff for years of partnership, grit and learning how to manage the nerves when the lights are on.
“Just do your job,” Pruitt said. “Score, catch, finish. That’s the whole game — even when you’re panicking.”
