Paul Murdock roped all week to eventually find himself in the driver’s seat of a brand-new Ram truck after winning first and fifth in the Holiday Auto Group #9.5 Truck Roping at the Cinch USTRC National Finals.
The 46-year-old from McLeod, Texas, sealed the deal with a 31.33 on four head with Levi Berry to win $16,000, then backed it up with a fifth-place finish worth $5,900 with Austin Lopez.
That’s how you end up driving home with the keys to a new Dodge 3500.
“I just got out good and gave good handles,” Murdock said. “In these ropings, it’s not always how fast you are—it’s how well you set it up for your guy.”
The father of three kids and husband of 23 years, who normally heels, flipped the script for the week, knowing his chances to spin good cattle for his partners were better than the alternative.
“I knew my odds were better roping with these younger guys,” Murdock said.
With Berry, everything came together, working towards the 31.33 that locked in the win. With Lopez, even after a tougher third steer, they stayed in it and held on for a top-five finish.
Underneath him was a 17-year-old mare named Megan, a homegrown horse that goes back to Zann Par Bar and Shining Spark. For a family that stands a few studs and has anywhere from 50-70 brood mares, this mare was the obvious choice to head on this week.
“My dad rode her great-grandmother. I rode her grandmother and her mother,” Murdock said.
For Murdock—who pastors a church and runs a vacuum truck business with his wife—the moment hit different.
“I’ve won some things before, but nothing to this caliber,” he said. “I’ve been on a two-month sabbatical from my church—my wife and I have been there 15 years—so I’ve been roping.”
He’s won saddles and trailers, even a used truck years ago—but not like this.
“I’ve never won anything like a new truck,” Murdock said.
By the time the weekend rolled around, he’d already made his way through multiple ropings starting in the #12.5 on the heel side and working his way to the truck roping. It was a long week—but well worth it by the time it was over.
“I am very thankful,” Murdock said. “For my family, my church—and my Lord.”