⚠️WARNING⚠️ Less than one month remains in the 2022 ProRodeo regular season and a major change in the world standings could be on the way.
With a total payout of $1 million, the NFR Playoff Series Finale, Sept. 8-11, in Puyallup, Washington, will give PRCA team ropers one final shot at qualifying for the 2022 NFR.
If you’re wondering what the NFR Playoff Series is, click here for a fast facts sheet.
Here’s Who Qualifies:
The top 23 in the NFR Playoff Series standings who earned points all season long at Playoff events will get the chance to compete at Puyallup, while the 24th spot will go to the winners of the 2022 NFR Open.
#ICYMI: Blake Hirdes and Dalton Pearce won the NFR Open Team Roping title.
The World Championship Race
PRCA team ropers who qualify for Puyallup in the top 23 of the NFR Playoff Series Standings have a chance to further cement their position in the top 15 of the ProRodeo world standings before the end of September.
Here’s who’s safe:
Headers:
With over $210K in PRCA earnings, Kaleb Driggers holds the No. 1 position in both the world and NFR Playoff Series standings and has secured his place in the top 15.
The richest team roper in ProRodeo, Clay Tryan, will stay in the top 15, as he is currently ranked No. 2 in both the world and Playoff Series standings.
This season has been a dominant one for Andrew Ward as he currently ranks No. 3 in the world and No. 4 in the NFR Playoff Series standings, and will remain in the top 15.
Heelers:
Currently ranked No.1 in the world standings and in the NFR Playoff Series standings, Junior Nogueira has locked in his spot in the top 15 with over $210K in PRCA earnings.
A win at Ellensburg – the last stop on the NFR Playoff Series tour – has boosted Jake Long to No. 2 in the world and No. 5 in the NFR Playoff Series standings, securing a position in the top 15.
As a member of the “catching-ist” team of all time, Buddy Hawkins is No. 3 in the world and No. 4 in the NFR Playoff Series and has earned a spot in the top 15.
The Bubble
PRCA team ropers who rank among the top 23 in the NFR Playoff Series Standings and are on the bubble in the ProRodeo world standings may earn enough money at the NFR Playoff Series Finale in Puyallup to move into the top 15 before the end of September.
Here’s who to watch for:
Headers:
With his win at Ellensburg, Clay Smith rose to No. 14 in the world and is currently ranked No. 5 in the NFR Playoff Series standings, giving him a chance to lock down his spot in the top 15 before the season’s end.
Jake Clay is sitting at No. 15 in the world standings and got into Puyallup ranked No. 23 in the NFR Playoff Series standings, which means he will get one more shot to secure his position in the top 15.
Erich Rogers is just outside of the top 15 in the world standings at No. 16; however, at No. 11 in the NFR Playoff Series standings, he will have a chance at Puyallup to move into the top 15.
Heelers:
Ranked No. 14 in the world standings and No. 13 in the NFR Playoff Series standings, Wesley Thorp will have the opportunity at Puyallup to lock down a spot in the top 15 before the season’s out.
Having risen to No. 15 in the world standings and No. 11 in the NFR Playoff Series, Paden Bray will have a shot at securing his spot in the top 15.
At No. 16 in the world standings, Lane Mitchell is on the bubble, and with his No. 12 ranking in the NFR playoff series standings, he will have a chance to make a big move into the top 15 before the season is over.
The Final Roster:
NFR Playoff Series Standings (updated September 6, 2022):
Headers:
| NFR Playoff Series Rank | Name | Points | World Standings Rank | Earnings |
| 1 | Kaleb Driggers | 10621.40 pts | 1 | $220,395.18 |
| 2 | Clay Tryan | 6650.45 pts | 2 | $143,763.14 |
| 3 | Jr. Dees | 5777.29 pts | 7 | $94,250.69 |
| 4 | Andrew Ward | 5769.14 pts | 3 | $115,338.61 |
| 5 | Clay Smith | 5182.71 pts | 14 | $76,002.18 |
| 6 | Rhen Richard | 5020.16 pts | 6 | $96,632.10 |
| 7 | Tanner Tomlinson | 4879.40 pts | 5 | $98,790.79 |
| 8 | Riley Minor | 4869.77 pts | 10 | $84,827.25 |
| 9 | Lightning Aguilera | 4759.67 pts | 12 | $81,147.98 |
| 10 | Coleman Proctor | 4673.95 pts | 8 | $89,129.24 |
| 11 | Erich Rogers | 4562.47 pts | 16 | $75,002.89 |
| 12 | Aaron Tsinigine | 4546.86 pts | 17 | $74,216.92 |
| 13 | Cory Kidd | 4539.09 pts | 18 | $71,371.83 |
| 14 | Cody Snow | 4512.74 pts | 13 | $78,738.98 |
| 15 | Dustin Egusquiza | 4488.43 pts | 4 | $101,655.43 |
| 16 | Luke Brown | 4200.82 pts | 29 | $55,681.04 |
| 17 | Chad Masters | 4141.19 pts | 11 | $82,874.52 |
| 18 | Clint Summers | 4113.95 pts | 28 | $57,017.96 |
| 19 | Coy Rahlmann | 4015.05 pts | 27 | $59,624.36 |
| 20 | Tyler Wade | 3870.80 pts | 9 | $86,348.05 |
| 21 | Jake Clay | 3743.88 pts | 15 | $75,536.63 |
| 22 | Quinn Kesler | 3679.90 pts | 30 | $54,485.01 |
| 23 | Jake Orman | 3456.84 pts | 19 | $71,320.26 |
Heelers:
| NFR Playoff Series Rank | Name | Points | World Standings Rank | Earnings |
| 1 | Junior Nogueira | 10621.4 pts | 1 | $220,395.18 |
| 2 | Jade Corkill | 6485.69 pts | 4 | $109,955.24 |
| 3 | Levi Lord | 5957.62 pts | 8 | $93,968.40 |
| 4 | Buddy Hawkins | 5769.14 pts | 3 | $115,338.61 |
| 5 | Jake Long | 5761.46 pts | 2 | $117,482.30 |
| 6 | Jeremy Buhler | 5020.16 pts | 7 | $97,654.35 |
| 7 | Patrick Smith | 4879.40 pts | 6 | $98,790.79 |
| 8 | Brady Minor | 4869.77 pts | 11 | $84,827.25 |
| 9 | Jonathan Torres | 4711.78 pts | 22 | $67,276.58 |
| 10 | Logan Medlin | 4673.95 pts | 9 | $89,129.24 |
| 11 | Paden Bray | 4562.47 pts | 15 | $73,590.09 |
| 12 | Lane Mitchell | 4539.09 pts | 16 | $72,172.24 |
| 13 | Wesley Thorp | 4512.74 pts | 14 | $78,738.98 |
| 14 | Travis Graves | 4488.43 pts | 5 | $101,655.43 |
| 15 | Hunter Koch | 4200.82 pts | 30 | $55,681.04 |
| 16 | Ross Ashford | 4107.95 pts | 28 | $57,017.96 |
| 17 | Douglas Rich | 4023.15 pts | 27 | $57,697.09 |
| 18 | Trey Yates | 3927.82 pts | 10 | $84,935.37 |
| 19 | Joseph Harrison | 3901.98 pts | 12 | $84,285.44 |
| 20 | Billie Jack Saebens | 3870.13 pts | 17 | $71,669.42 |
| 21 | Caleb Hendrix | 3679.90 pts | 32 | $54,485.01 |
| 22 | Jake Minor | 3670.18 pts | 21 | $68,306.36 |
| 23 | Wyatt Cox | 3567.46 pts | 20 | $68,487.13 |
Check Out the Current World Standings
ProRodeo World Standings (updated September 6, 2022):
Headers:
| World Standings Rank | Name | Earnings |
| 1 | Kaleb Driggers | $220,395.18 |
| 2 | Clay Tryan | $143,763.14 |
| 3 | Andrew Ward | $115,338.61 |
| 4 | Dustin Egusquiza | $101,655.43 |
| 5 | Tanner Tomlinson | $98,790.79 |
| 6 | Rhen Richard | $96,632.10 |
| 7 | Jr. Dees | $94,250.69 |
| 8 | Coleman Proctor | $89,129.24 |
| 9 | Tyler Wade | $86,348.05 |
| 10 | Riley Minor | $84,827.25 |
| 11 | Chad Masters | $82,874.52 |
| 12 | Lightning Aguilera | $81,147.98 |
| 13 | Cody Snow | $78,738.98 |
| 14 | Clay Smith | $76,002.18 |
| 15 | Jake Clay | $75,536.63 |
| 16 | Erich Rogers | $75,002.89 |
| 17 | Aaron Tsinigine | $74,216.92 |
| 18 | Cory Kidd | $71,371.83 |
| 19 | Jake Orman | $71,320.26 |
| 20 | Bubba Buckaloo | $70,471.74 |
Heelers:
| World Standings Rank | Name | Earnings |
| 1 | Junior Nogueira | $220,395.18 |
| 2 | Jake Long | $117,482.30 |
| 3 | Buddy Hawkins | $115,338.61 |
| 4 | Jade Corkill | $109,955.24 |
| 5 | Travis Graves | $101,655.43 |
| 6 | Patrick Smith | $98,790.79 |
| 7 | Jeremy Buhler | $97,654.35 |
| 8 | Levi Lord | $93,968.40 |
| 9 | Logan Medlin | $89,129.24 |
| 10 | Trey Yates | $84,935.37 |
| 11 | Brady Minor | $84,827.25 |
| 12 | Joseph Harrison | $84,285.44 |
| 13 | Paul Eaves | $79,843.77 |
| 14 | Wesley Thorp | $78,738.98 |
| 15 | Paden Bray | $73,590.09 |
| 16 | Lane Mitchell | $72,172.24 |
| 17 | Billie Jack Saebens | $71,669.42 |
| 18 | Brye Crites | $70,793.16 |
| 19 | Tanner Braden | $69,565.03 |
| 20 | Wyatt Cox | $68,487.13 |
