Here’s World Champion Turtle Powell’s team-by-team pre-Round 9 team roping breakdown from the 2020 Wrangler NFR.
Cody Snow and Junior Nogueira
Round : NT
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: 56,115.39 each
World Standings Earnings: 125,343.45; 114,199.36
World Standings: 6,7
Average: 13; 27.90/4
Turtle’s take: More than anything, they got started off wrong. They feed off momentum and they’re fighting to get through it. It’s hard when you’re there to adjust your expectations. Once you’re roping below your expectations, it’s hard to stay fired up. The next rodeo you’ll go to will pay $2,500, and you’re getting to rope for $26,000.
Clay Smith and Jade Corkill
Round 8: NT
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: 67,961.54 each
World Standings Earnings: 137,665.09 each
World Standings: 4,2
Average: 10, 43.60/6
Turtle’s take: I bet they finish strong. Clay Smith will hit the barrier the next two nights and Jade will rope good. They’ll win on out. I don’t think they’re struggling, they’ve just had some bad nights.
Luke Brown and Joseph Harrison
Round 8: 5.0 +5
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: 65,987.18 each
World Standings Earnings: 155,652.15, 136,286.18
World Standings: 1, 3
Average: 4, 44.80/7
Turtle’s take:
Brenten Hall and Chase Tryan
Round 8: 19.10
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: 43,000 each
World Standings Earnings: 90,144.92 each
World Standings: 13
Average: 11, 47.0/5
Turtle’s take: That team will keep trying to go fast. If they connect they’ll be at the top of the leader board.
Kolton Schmidt and Hunter Koch
Round 8: 5.9
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: 25,653.85 each
World Standings Earnings: 76,675.70 each
World Standings: 15
Average: 15, 13.9/2
Turtle’s take: That’s a really good guy. I feel terrible for them. Sometimes the NFR doesn’t go your way. The first year I ever made it I had a Finals like that. It seems like it can’t get turned around and you want to leave and start over.
Jeff Flenniken and Tyler Worley
Round 8: 5.7
Round Winnings: 6,769.23 each
Total NFR Earnings: 34,115.38 each
World Standings Earnings: 83,506.72, 85,253.05
World Standings: 14
Average: 3, 42.9/7
Turtle’s take: I expect them to just catch. It started off him just turning steers having heck with the barrier. I hope they stay on course with what they’re doing so they can get out of there with the average money. They shouldn’t try to press and miss. They’ll win third in the average. Worley won’t miss and if Flenniken stays hooked they’ll come out of there with good money.
Nelson Wyatt and Levi Lord
Round 8: 4.7
Round Winnings: 13,326.92 each
Total NFR Earnings: 61,544.87 each
World Standings Earnings: 112,236.41, 113,434.91
World Standings: 8
Average: 2, 41.10/7
Turtle’s take: I don’t know either of those kids really good. But I’ve been impressed with Nelson’s horse and the way he’s heading. That team could be the spoilers. They could win the round tonight, and they’re explosive. I kind of feel like, that that team, they press and that kid goes at them and Levi is there. I could see them screwing up the whole deal for the guys at the top. In their position why not? They have an outside chance to win it and they’re very capable of winning the round. They’re also very capable of going and catching two. That Nelson rides a really nice head horse.
Erich Rogers and Paden Bray
Round 8: 9.6
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: 44,692.31 each
World Standings Earnings: 97,233.88 each
World Standings: 10
Average: 1, 69.70/8
Rogers take: He’s a machine. And they’ve got Paden Bray dialed down where he’s just catching.
Chad Masters and Wesley Thorp
Round 8: 10.00
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: 40,038.46 each
World Standings Earnings: 92,720.95 each
World Standings: 12
Average: 5, 53.60/7
Turtle’s take: I really like that little sorrel Chad was riding. I figured he’d do better than he is. I thought they’d be hard to beat there. They’ll win some money in the rounds. Both guys rope really good.
Charly Crawford and Logan Medlin
Round 8: 19.7
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: 40,461.54 each
World Standings Earnings: 95,690.81, 95,082.38
World Standings: 11
Average: 7, 69.40/7
Turtle’s take: I think if Charly hits the barrier like he did on the one he won the round on, they’ll win a little bit. Charly is a business man, he’ll make sure they stay in the average.
Levi Simpson and Shay Carroll
Round 8: 4.7
Round Winnings: 13,326.92
Total NFR Earnings: 51,250.00 each
World Standings Earnings: 101,647.65, 107,517.31
World Standings: 9
Average: 8, 35.80/6
Turtle’s take: Levi is pretty ballsy. He’ll hit the barrier and get it on them, and if Shay can get two feet they’ll win some money.
Clay Tryan and Jake Long
Round 8: —
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: 67,256.41 each
World Standings Earnings: 124,885.70, 130,483.56
World Standings: 7, 5
Average: 12, 17.80/4
Turtle’s take: He’s roped better this week than he has at the Finals in a few years. I thought that team would win a lot more than what they have. I can see CT being in the barrier and Jake Long throwing fast and winning good in the rounds.
Andrew Ward and Buddy Hawkins
Round 8: 4.6
Round Winnings: 20,730.77
Total NFR Earnings: 69,230.77 each
World Standings Earnings: 133,103.07 each
World Standings: 5, 4
Average: 9, 36.60/6
Turtle’s take: Andrew has done a good job for his first year to get there. Buddy’s had a little heck, but as solid as they were all year, they’ll still catch some steers and win some money.
Dustin Egusquiza and Travis Graves
Round 8: 8.9
Round Winnings: 4,230.77
Total NFR Earnings: 87,000 each
World Standings Earnings: 151,176.04, 143,514.01
World Standings: 2, 1
Average: 6, 55.00/7
Turtle’s take: They could win the next two rounds. They’ll be going at the and could give themselves a chance to win the next one.
Colby Lovell and Paul Eaves
Round 8: 4.3
Round Winnings: 26,230.77
Total NFR Earnings: 72,615.39 each
World Standings Earnings: 138,124.03, 128,774.43
World Standings: 3, 6
Average: 14, 47.10/4
Turtle’s take: Hopefully he hit his groove and turns the next two steers like he did last night and there’s still a lot of money to win.
