Six-time NFR header and 2009 World Champ Nick Sartain broke down the runs from Round 3 of the 2025 NFR. The 2009 NFR average champ gave some insight into what he expects from teams heading into Round 4.

Jake Smith & Douglas Rich

Round 3: 20.3
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: $68,550.43
World Standings Earnings: $194,087.46; $183,337.45
Average: 29/3; 6
World Standings: 4; 6

Sartain’s take: What’s so hard in there is the whole world’s watching every night. Luckily for those guys, they already made two good runs and won some money. The major thing is, when I was out there roping, I would allow myself one barrier just because if you are not pretty close to that barrier and you’re not in it every night, you’re going to get in trouble before the week’s over. If you’re missing that barrier and them steers are out there and you’re having to throw a little extra rope, you’re going to get to the fence faster and it’s just not going to go good. So, I always gave myself just one barrier to where I’m going to misjudge it, and I’m going to break the barrier. Because the times that I took no-times in there was when I missed the barrier. It gets awful unforgiving in there when you’re late. So, I would say for those guys, at least they’ve got their cattle caught; it’s important. That 20-second run, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t death. Now, if you take a no-time, then you’re down one in the average, and the average is a lot of money for a guy that ropes for a living. For them, just keep mashing on the gas. Hope they draw good.

Dawson Graham & Dillon Graham

Round 3: 3.8
Round Winnings: $29,176.65
Total NFR Earnings: $61,256.26
World Standings Earnings: $193,190.28
Average: 7.9/2; 8/9
World Standings: 5; 3

Sartain’s take: They made a really good run. Dawson had it on him really fast. That’s kind of one of my favorite teams. Dawson had it on him really fast, and Dillon, he made a really good heel shot right off the turn. He was right in good position and his spacing was good, and they made a really nice run.

Tyler Wade & Wesley Thorp

Round 3: 100
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: $10,000
World Standings Earnings: $153,366.47
Average: 100/3; 15
World Standings: 13

Sartain’s take: It almost looked like maybe he might’ve even ticked the side of the box or something because it just looked like when he brought it, it just didn’t look like his normal shot. It almost looked like he hit the side of the box or front of the box with his tip a little bit or something. The best I could remember. But those guys, they’re not going to have any average money coming, but that’s one of the fastest teams. So, if they’re going to get in a little day money fight, they’re going to be okay.

Cyle Denison & Lane Mitchell

Round 3: 100
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: $23,602.63
World Standings Earnings: $165,605.01; $166,634.53
Average: 10.8/2; 10
World Standings: 12; 11

Sartain’s take: They’re down one in the average. I mean, now all you can do is just come back and mash on ’em. Try to max every one of ’em out now best you can. 

Andrew Ward & Jake Long

Round 3: 4.0
Round Winnings: $9,462.70
Total NFR Earnings: $70,521.83
World Standings Earnings: $219,576.58; $217,830.03
Average: 12.3/3; 1
World Standings: 2

Sartain’s take: They were 4.0, and they made a good run. Andrew got a little bit of rope out, but they made a good run for the steer. Maybe the steer was a little stronger, if memory serves me correctly. But they made a good run, and 4.0 is good everywhere. Four-flat all week long here will win you a gold buckle.

Clay Smith & Coleby Payne

Round 3: 4.4
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: $10,000
World Standings Earnings: $168,489.89; $159,293.26
Average: 14.6/2; 13
World Standings: 11; 12

Sartain’s take: They made a good run. There you go. I tried to be 4.5 or under every night. If I can be somewhere around 4.5, then you’re going to place in the softer rounds pretty decent.

Dustin Egusquiza & Levi Lord

Round 3: 100
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: $10,000
World Standings Earnings: $170,703.39; $168,321.88
Average: 13.7/2; 12
World Standings: 10

Sartain’s take: There you go again. Now those go-rounds are going to get really nasty because you got Dustin going at the day monies and out of the average kind of, you got TWade–some of them other guys are long and out. I mean as we go here now, it won’t be long we’ll be halfway. But these rounds are going to get stupid fast now.

Clint Summers & Jade Corkill

Round 3: 4.4
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: $25,376.88
World Standings Earnings: $186,618.49; $186,943.71
Average: 14.2/3; 2
World Standings: 7; 5

Sartain’s take: They’re roping along, good roping, nice and smooth. Everything looks good. They look like they’re doing just what you expect them to do.

Derrick Begay & Colter Todd

Round 3: 4.2
Round Winnings: $5,914.19
Total NFR Earnings: $15,914.19
World Standings Earnings: 8;7
Average: 23.1/3; 5
World Standings: $182,116.13; $179,763.78

Sartain’s take: They got good money, too. I mean, they keep making that run all week long, it’s going to be a huge week for them.

Tanner Tomlinson & Travis Graves

Round 3: 9.4
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: $27,151.14
World Standings Earnings: $210,958.26; $177,070.03
Average: 19.3/3; 4
World Standings: 3;8

Sartain’s take: Well, that doesn’t happen very often. I wouldn’t be too worried about that. That guy, TG, he’s one of the best. So, I wouldn’t think that’s going to happen very often. And Tanner, he’s amazing in short setups. He’s super good, fast and consistent, and I look for them to still have a really nice week.

Kaleb Driggers & Junior Nogueira

Round 3: 3.9
Round Winnings: $15,376.88
Total NFR Earnings: $25,376.88
World Standings Earnings: $223,874.60
Average:17.7/3; 3
World Standings: 1

Sartain’s take: You probably better get ready for more of that. They’ve been awful good all year long for the last few years. They’ve been awful good, and I think they’re just going to keep doing that all week long. I would look for them to really have a big week, looks like.

Lightning Aguilera & Kaden Profili

Round 3: 3.8
Round Winnings: $29,176.65
Total NFR Earnings: $75,844.59
World Standings Earnings: $190,580.35; $189,380.15
Average: 7.8/2; 7
World Standings: 6; 4

Sartain’s take: That was a good run. Got some more day money. That’s awesome for Kaden’s second NFR. It’s just awesome. They got money right there and now you’re off to a good week. Lihgtning’s super fast in there, and Kaden’s doing a good job getting around them and getting ’em stopped. They’re going to keep doing that every night, hopefully.

Kolton Schmidt & Jonathan Torres

Round 3: 3.8
Round Winnings: $29,176.65
Total NFR Earnings: $61,256.26
World Standings Earnings: $181,194.47; $172,928.37
Average: 7.9/2; 8/9
World Standings: 9

Sartain’s take: They made a really good run, an outstanding run, really. Jonathan celebrating on his heel horse look like his horse about jumped out from under him. My advice to him would be careful with that. (Said with a laugh)

Luke Brown & Trey Yates

Round 3: 8.6
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: $10,000
World Standings Earnings: $133,302.92; $133,302.91
Average: 17.8/2; 14
World Standings: 15

Sartain’s take: Missed this run.

Riley Minor & Brady Minor

Round 3: NT
Round Winnings: 0
Total NFR Earnings: $10,000
World Standings Earnings: $135,025.27; $135,025.29
Average: 12.7/2; 11
World Standings: 14

Sartain’s take: That was kind of unexpected. Riley usually does an awful good job of getting out of the barrier and getting ’em headed in here, but they’ll be good. I mean, they can go fast in the day money. So like I said, they’re just another one of those teams that’s going to make the go-rounds really tough as we finish out here.