Tyler Wade called his shot—he knew he and Wesley Thorp pulled the money steer at first out in Round 8 after a string of less-than ideal draws—and he didn’t waste it. 

Wade and Thorp tied the team roping world record with a 3.3-second run in Round 8 of the 2023 NFR, worth $30,706 a man, putting them second and first in the world, with $226,833.77 and $244,061.04 won, respectively. They’re fourth in the average with a time of 50.00 on seven head.

That gives them a chance to let their hair down with two rounds remaining, going all-out to give themselves a chance at the day money and at the 2023 PRCA world title. 

“I’ve never considered myself to be the fastest header or a world champion, so I’m just glad to be in this spot,” Wade said. “Ironically, I’m not nervous at all. It’s going to fall how it falls, so just to be in the race, it’s cool. Really, I say that, and maybe when I nod it might be different, but I’m just going to rope the cow and see how it happens.”

If the rodeo ended after Round 8 and aggregate money were calculated in, the team would drop to second in the world standings with $263,978.62 and $281,205.89, behind aggregate leaders Andrew Ward and Buddy Hawkins, who each have $283,745.16 on the year.

NFR 2023 Round 8 Team Roping Standings

— TRJ —

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