Tanner Tomlinson and Patrick Smith Clinch 2022 NFR Average Title in Round 9

Nobody can catch Tomlinson and Smith, no matter what happens in Round 10 of the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

While Tanner Tomlinson and Patrick Smith still have a shot at the 2022 PRCA world title, they [unofficially] clinched the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo average title when they stopped the clock in 4.2 seconds in Round 9 with a time of 49.30 seconds on nine head.

They’ve won a massive $102,570 each in go-round money this week, and they’ll add another $74,149.92 to each of their bank accounts and world standings totals tomorrow when the NFR officially ends. Even if they don’t catch or win a dime in Round 10, they’ll finish the Finals with $271,963.50.

Smith blows a kiss to his family in the stands after clinching in Round 9. His son Eli was too young to remember his last Finals well in 2015, and his wife Christi has been a rock throughout his long career. | Jamie Arviso Photos

Tomlinson and Smith still have a chance to win the world if Driggers and Nogueira drop too far in the average in Round 10, and they also have a chance to beat Andrew Ward and Buddy Hawkins’ NFR aggregate record of 54.7 seconds on 10 head. They’re 49.30 seconds on nine, so they have 5.4 seconds to play with tomorrow. With the average already won, they have the chance to let their hair down in Round 10 to go for the day money, giving themselves a shot at the world title.

Dark Horse: Tomlinson and Smith are Driggers and Nogueira’s Closest Competition

Smith won the average with Matt Tyler at his very first NFR in 2003, and he won it again in 2008 with Trevor Brazile. Now the veteran on the team, Smith got 2020 Resistol Rookie of the Year Tomlinson the average title at his very first NFR.