Rocker Steiner Shines in Round 2 Win of Wrangler NFR

LAS VEGAS

Courtesy of the PRCA

During Round 2 of the 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, bareback rider Rocker Steiner's championship chase went haywire.

After entering the NFR as the season leader, he missed the whistle in Round 2, taking him out of the average race and ultimately costing him his first PRCA World Championship.

Steiner rode with a chip on his shoulder all season and made the most of his opportunity during Round 2 of the 2025 NFR on Friday night in front of 17,731 spectators at the Thomas & Mack Center. The world leader matched up with Bridwell Pro Rodeo's Silver Beaver for an 88-point trip to win the round and add $36,668 to his ledger.

"It felt great. That's one that I was scared of," Steiner said. "In the second round last year, I got thrown off and it took a world championship away from me. And obviously, going into my next second round, that's something that was in my head. When I have a horse that I'm a little bit afraid of, I just try not to think and let my body react."

Steiner said he was pretty disappointed after an 82.25-point ride in Round 1 which left him outside the money in 12th place.

"I was pretty down," Steiner said. "I set the new season earnings record (in bareback riding), and was busting my ass. Then I went home, and every day I was thinking about winning the first, second and third rounds. When that doesn't happen and you don't even cash a check, you get a little sad…But I had a great horse today."

Wacey Schalla, who's locked in a heated battle with Stetson Wright for the PRCA All-Around World Championship, finished second in the round with an 86-point ride on Harper & Morgan's Sippin Firewater.

Steiner's round win at his fourth NFR marked the sixth of his career and moved his season total $350,215 and pushed his lead atop the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings to over $113,000 with eight rounds remaining.


TUCKER ALLEN PICKS UP EMOTIONAL WIN IN ROUND 2

After missing the pay window in Round 1 of the NFR Thursday, Dec. 4, Tucker Allen shined out of the box with a time of 3.6 seconds to take the win in Round 2.

The $36,668 payday catapulted Allen from seventh to No. 2 in the world standings, putting him just behind season leader Will Lummus as he chases his first gold buckle.

"The start is kind of what made the difference, almost breaking the barrier," Allen said. "But being that close, it just makes you that much closer to the steer. And that was kind of honestly the big separation."

This year marks the second trip to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas for Allen, who began his PRCA bulldogging career in 2017.

He placed as high as second last year, and fourth overall in the average. Picking up his first round win was a long time coming for the 26-year-old cowboy. A stuntman in Hollywood when he is outside the arena, Tucker knows how to keep his composure.

But Friday's Round 2 win was memorable for him.

"(I) got a little emotional," Allen said. "I never do that, but most of my family's back home in California. Kind of hit me."

JAKE SMITH/DOUGLAS RICH PICK UP ROUND 2 WIN

Team ropers Jake Smith/Douglas Rich started the NFR strongly in Round 1 with a third-place finish.

It was the second time roping inside the Thomas & Mack for Smith. Rich is making his third appearance this year. In 2024, they left Las Vegas with just under $100,000 in earnings.

After two rounds of the 2025 NFR, they're more than halfway to that mark after picking up the Round 2 win with a 3.9-second run.

"It was awesome. I mean, you dream of nights like tonight," Smith said. "To finally make it happen, it was sweet."

The win was the first for Smith at the NFR. For Rich, the veteran of the duo, he's been at the top of the leaderboard in a round before.

He collected the biggest check in Round 6 of the 2021 NFR, when he partnered with Coy Rahlmann.

Rich's experience paid dividends for the duo all season and paid off big in Round 2.

"It's something you dream of," Rich said. "And for it to actually happen, it's pretty special."


BRENNAN REBOUNDS, TOPS ROUND 2 SADDLE BRONC RIDING

Damian Brennan jolted his NFR chances in Round 2 of the saddle bronc riding.

The Australian cowboy just missed the pay window with an 86.5-point ride on opening night but brought his best to the arena on Friday night. He matched The Cervi Brothers' R. Watson's Prairie Fire for a 90-point ride to win his third round in his third trip to Las Vegas.

"It felt amazing," Brennan said. "It's really good to get things rolling out here so early, so I'm pumped and ready to keep rolling."

Brennan's trip pushed him to the top of the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings with $324,821, passing the defending PRCA World Champion, Ryder Wright, by less than $3,000.

Brennan credited R. Watson's Prairie Fire for setting him up for success.

"That was outstanding," he said. "He gave me every opportunity for me to go out there and showcase what I'm made of. It's every bronc rider's dream to get to be able to do something like that."


MAYFIELD, YATES, HANCOCK SPLIT ROUND 2 WIN IN TIE-DOWN

Shad Mayfield was animated inside the Thomas & Mack Center following his Round 1 win on the first night of the 2025 NFR.

The trip to the pay window closed the gap set by season leader and twice-defending champion Riley Webb and set up Mayfield with the opportunity to further close the gap with momentum on his side.

Mayfield did just that in Round 2 with a 7.8-second run that matched the times set by Marty Yates and Dylan Hancock for a share of the round win.

"I feel really comfortable here this year and I'm just having fun," Mayfield said. "When I back into the box, there's no pressure on me. I'm in the mindset that it's just another run and making the best run I can."

Now with $75,845 in earnings in two nights, the gap between Mayfield and Webb has diminished to just over $1,600, putting the Clovis, N.M., cowboy in position to jump to the top of the world standings with another trip to the pay window in Round 3.

Yates' share of the round win comes after an 8.1-second run in Round 1 to make the pay window.

An 11-time NFR qualifier, Yates doesn't feel too much pressure from the bright lights of Las Vegas. He maintains his composure and approaches it like every other run.

"It's an awesome feeling to get started good here at the NFR," Yates said. "The first few rounds … when you don't start off good it's hard to go back. To split this round and place in the first round, it's a pretty good start. Just gotta keep climbing the mountain and see where we end up."

A share of the Round 2 win was a breath of fresh air for Dylan Hancock after a 9.3-second run in Round 1 kept him just outside of the money.

The 21-year-old is in his second NFR, placing sixth overall last year in the average and the final world standings. He now stands at No. 3 in the standings, just behind Mayfield and one spot ahead of Yates.

"It was awesome to bounce back," Hancock said. "Roping is the same game every night. You try not to change much."


STETSON WRIGHT SHINES AGAIN, TAKES ROUND 2 BULL RIDING WIN

Stetson Wright is a man on a mission.

After taking both the saddle bronc and bull riding titles in Round 1, he entered Round 2 riding an even bigger wave of momentum than when he arrived in Las Vegas following his title at the Boot Barn Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeo in November.

Now, after four total rides, Wright is halfway to the $200,000 NFR earnings mark after making it to the pay window in saddle bronc yet again and winning bulls with an 89.5-point ride on Cowtown Rodeo's Orbit.

"I couldn't have dreamed up any better than this," Wright said. "The hard work and dedication, it pays off."

In Round 1, Wright was paired with Powder River Rodeo's Big Shasta, a bull he rode just a month prior in his return from injury.

Round 2, however, offered a draw against an unridden bull.

Orbit's time in the bucking chutes began in the 2024 season, where he went out seven times with a 100% buck off rate. In 2025, he made 14 trips to the arena with no qualified rides.

It wasn't until Wright climbed on its back at the bull's first trip to the NFR that his undefeated streak came to an end. Par for the course for the all-around leader and No. 1 bull rider in the World Standings.

"I saw that he hasn't been ridden, so I texted Hayes Weight and asked, 'What's the deal with him?'" Wright said. "He said he was going to get wild. It just worked out the way it needed to."

The win brings Wright's season total to just over $859,000. He maintained his lead over Wacey Schalla in bull riding by more than $37,700 and in the race for the all-around world title by $91,000.


HAILEY KINSEL'S STRONG START TO NFR CONTINUES WITH ROUND 2 WIN

Hailey Kinsel fell just short of a round win to open the 2025 NFR on Thursday, Dec. 4, riding her prized horse, Sister, to a 13.70-second run, just four-tenths of a second behind round winner Kassie Mowry.

Kinsel and Sister turned it up a notch in Round 2, taking the title with a 13.53-second run to claim $36,668 in earnings and the No. 1 spot in the world rankings.

"She's just been hungry since we got here," Kinsel said of Sister, this year's Nutrena Horse of the Year presented by AQHA. "It's funny, last night she was acting like it was Round 9 of the 2024 NFR. She was pumped up and ready for the moment. My goal was just to stay out of her way and help conserve some of that energy.

Kinsel said she laid off Sister in Round 2, allowing her some freedom out of the alleyway.

"Last night, I queued her to turn early because of how strong she practiced," Kinsel said. "But when she took off, she was soft. Tonight, I told myself, 'Don't control her so much and just trust her to get to her spot.'"

Kinsel now leads Mowry by $4,000 in the standings with eight rounds to go.

"If I could battle with anyone, I'd pick her (Kassie Mowry)," Kinsel said. "She's pretty great. But all these girls are. They rise up to the challenge and push you to try a little harder every time."

2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results
Second round, Dec. 5, 2025
Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

Bareback Riding: Second round: 1. Rocker Steiner, 88 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeos' Silver Beaver, $36,668; 2. Wacey Schalla, 86, $28,980; 3. (tie) Garrett Shadbolt and Dean Thompson, 84, $18,630 each; 5. (tie) Waylon Bourgeois, Sam Petersen and Kade Sonnier, 83.75, $5,126 each; 8. Mason Clements, 83.50; 9. Jess Pope, 83.25; 10. Cooper Cooke, 82.25; 11. Jayco Roper, 82; 12. Cole Franks, 81.75; 13. Tilden Hooper, 81.50; 14. Bradlee Miller, 79.75; 15. Jacek Frost, NS. Average leaders: 1. Wacey Schalla, 172.25 points on two head; 2. Cooper Cooke, 170.75; 3. Waylon Bourgeois, 170.5; 4. Rocker Steiner, 170.25; 5. Jess Pope, 169.75; 6. Dean Thompson, 169.5; 7. (tie) Garrett Shadbolt and Sam Petersen, 168 each; 9. Tilden Hooper, 166.5; 10. Cole Franks, 166.25; 11. Bradlee Miller, 165.75; 12. Kade Sonnier, 165.25; 13. Mason Clements, 165; 14. Jayco Roper, 161.5; 15. Jacek Frost, 85 points on one head. World Standings: 1. Rocker Steiner, $394,572; 2. Wacey Schalla, $284,501; 3. Jess Pope, $267,448; 4. Cooper Cooke, $265,555; 5. Sam Petersen, $249,447; 6. Waylon Bourgeois, $242,294; 7. Bradlee Miller, $226,937; 8. Dean Thompson, $224,145; 9. Cole Franks, $210,362; 10. Garrett Shadbolt, $209,311; 11. Kade Sonnier, $186,633; 12. Jacek Frost, $153,543; 13. Jayco Roper, $149,775; 14. Mason Clements, $140,131; 15. Tilden Hooper, $139,951.

Steer Wrestling: Second round: 1. Tucker Allen, 3.6 seconds, $36,668; 2. Ty Erickson, 3.9, $28,980; 3. (tie) Bridger Anderson and Will Lummus, 4.0, $18,630 each; 5. (tie) Jesse Brown and Tyler Waguespack, 4.1, $7,688 each; 7. Chance Howard, 4.3; 8. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and J.D. Struxness, 4.4 each; 10. Scott Guenthner, 4.6; 11. Rowdy Parrott, 5.0; 12. Dakota Eldridge, 5.5; 13. Kyle Irwin, 9.5; 14. Gavin Soileau, 14.3; 15. Justin Shaffer, NT Average leaders: 1. (tie) Ty Erickson and Tyler Waguespack, 8.1 seconds on two head each; 3. J.D. Struxness, 8.6; 4. Jesse Brown, 9.1; 5. Scott Guenthner, 9.3; 6. Tucker Allen, 9.5; 7. Chance Howard, 9.7; 8. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Rowdy Parrott, 10.5 each; 10. Kyle Irwin, 13.7; 11. Stetson Jorgensen, 14.4; 12. Gavin Soileau, 28.5; 13. (tie) Will Lummus and Bridger Anderson, 4.0 seconds on one head each; 15. Justin Shaffer, 5.4. World Standings: 1. Will Lummus, $223,745; 2. Tucker Allen, $197,535; 3. Tyler Waguespack, $190,181; 4. Jesse Brown, $182,802; 5. J.D. Struxness, $170,752; 6. Ty Erickson, $167,019; 7. Justin Shaffer, $165,773; 8. Rowdy Parrott, $160,877; 9. Stetson Jorgensen, $146,029; 10. Kyle Irwin, $145,300; 11. Bridger Anderson, $137,957; 12. Dakota Eldridge, $137,873; 13. Scott Guenthner, $132,070; 14. Chance Howard, $118,298; 15. Gavin Soileau, $115,899.

Team Roping: Second round: 1. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 3.9 seconds, $36,668 each; 2. (tie) Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, Kolton Schmidt/Jonathan Torres and Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 4.1, $22,080 each; 5. (tie) Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell and Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 4.2, $7,688 each; 7. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.5; 8. (tie) Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord and Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 4.7 each; 10. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 5.8; 11. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 8.9; 12. Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 9.2; 13. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 10.2; 14. Lightning Aguilera/Kaden Profili and Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, NT. Average leaders: 1. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 8.3 seconds on two head; 2. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 8.7; 3. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 9.8; 4. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 9.9; 5. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 10.8; 6. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 12.7; 7. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 13.7; 8. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 13.8; 9. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 18.9; 10. Lightning Aguilera/Kaden Profili, 4.0 seconds on one head; 11. (tie) Kolton Schmidt/Jonathan Torres and Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 4.1 each; 13. Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 9.2; 14. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 10.2; 15. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, NT World Standings (headers): 1. Tanner Tomlinson, $210,958; 2. Andrew Ward, $210,114; 3. Kaleb Driggers, $208,498; 4. Jake Smith, $194,087; 5. Clint Summers, $186,618; 6. Derrick Begay, $176,202; 7. Dustin Egusquiza, $170,703; 8. Clay Smith, $168,490; 9. Cyle Denison, $165,605; 10. Dawson Graham, $164,014; 11. Lightning Aguilera, $161,404; 12. Tyler Wade, $153,366; 13. Kolton Schmidt, $152,018; 14. Riley Minor, $135,025; 15. Luke Brown, $133,303. World Standings (heelers): 1. Junior Nogueira, $208,498; 2. Jake Long, $208,367; 3. Jade Corkill, $186,944; 4. Douglas Rich, $183,337; 5. Travis Graves, $177,070; 6. Colter Todd, $173,850; 7. Levi Lord, $168,322; 8. Lane Mitchell, $166,635; 9. Dillon Graham, $164,014; 10. Kaden Profili, $160,204; 11. Coleby Payne, $159,293; 12. Wesley Thorp, $153,366; 13. Jonathan Torres, $143,752; 14. Brady Minor, $135,025; 15. Trey Yates, $133,303.

Saddle Bronc Riding: Second round: 1. Damian Brennan, 90 points on The Cervi Brothers' R. Watson's Prairie Fire, $36,668; 2. (tie) Zeke Thurston and Stetson Dell Wright, 89, $25,431 each; 4. Ryder Wright, 88.25, $15,377; 5. Statler Wright, 86.75, $9,463; 6. Lefty Holman, 85.75, $5,914; 7. Brody Wells, 85; 8. Dawson Hay, 83; 9. Zachary Dallas, 82.75; 10. Ben Andersen, 82.5; 11. Q Taylor, 82.25; 12. Sage Newman, 81.5; 13. Kade Bruno, 76.75; 14. Brody Cress, 74; 15. Weston Patterson, NS. Average leaders: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, 179 points on two head; 2. Damian Brennan, 176.5; 3. Zeke Thurston, 176; 4. Ryder Wright, 175.25; 5. Brody Wells, 172.75; 6. Lefty Holman, 171.25; 7. Statler Wright, 171; 8. Sage Newman, 169; 9. Q Taylor, 167; 10. Ben Andersen, 165.75; 11. Dawson Hay, 165; 12. Kade Bruno, 164.75; 13. Zachary Dallas, 164.25; 14. Brody Cress, 159.75; 15. Weston Patterson, 88.5 points on one head. World Standings: 1. Damian Brennan, $401,114; 2. Ryder Wright, $366,684; 3. Zeke Thurston, $342,981; 4. Stetson Dell Wright, $331,471; 5. Dawson Hay, $278,621; 6. Brody Wells, $272,021; 7. Kade Bruno, $246,948; 8. Sage Newman, $224,829; 9. Statler Wright, $217,303; 10. Weston Patterson, $212,715; 11. Zachary Dallas, $208,403; 12. Brody Cress, $190,092; 13. Lefty Holman, $183,852; 14. Q Taylor, $167,562; 15. Ben Andersen, $159,661.

Tie-Down Roping: Second round: 1. (tie) Dylan Hancock, Shad Mayfield and Marty Yates, 7.8 seconds, $29,177 each; 4. Haven Meged, 7.9, $15,377; 5. Tom Crouse, 8.1, $9,463; 6. Joel Harris, 8.5, $5,914; 7. (tie) Shane Hanchey and Brushton Minton, 8.6 each; 9. John Douch, 8.7; 10. Riley Mason Webb, 9.0; 11. Zack Jongbloed, 13.5; 12. Ty Harris, 14.6; 13. Kyle Lucas, 16.1; 14. Kincade Henry and Riley Pruitt, NT. Average leaders: 1. Shad Mayfield, 14.6 seconds on two head; 2. Marty Yates, 15.9; 3. Tom Crouse, 16.0; 4. Joel Harris, 16.1; 5. Brushton Minton, 16.6; 6. Riley Mason Webb, 16.9; 7. Dylan Hancock, 17.1; 8. John Douch, 18.0; 9. Haven Meged, 18.1; 10. Shane Hanchey, 18.4; 11. Zack Jongbloed, 23.6; 12. Ty Harris, 38.6; 13. Kincade Henry, 9.8 seconds on one head; 14. Kyle Lucas, 16.1; 15. Riley Pruitt, NT. World Standings: 1. Riley Mason Webb, $333,762; 2. Shad Mayfield, $332,155; 3. Dylan Hancock, $211,281; 4. Marty Yates, $201,701; 5. Kincade Henry, $196,718; 6. Tom Crouse, $185,901; 7. Joel Harris, $185,749; 8. John Douch, $184,970; 9. Riley Pruitt, $175,787; 10. Brushton Minton, $165,106; 11. Haven Meged, $159,182; 12. Zack Jongbloed, $147,678; 13. Ty Harris, $147,197; 14. Kyle Lucas, $139,298; 15. Shane Hanchey, $136,957.

Barrel Racing: Second round: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 13.53 seconds, $36,668; 2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.58, $28,980; 3. Katelyn Scott, 13.71, $21,882; 4. Tricia Aldridge, 13.73, $15,377; 5. (tie) Emily Beisel and Kassie Mowry, 13.77, $7,688 each; 7. (tie) Hayle Gibson-Stillwell and Megan McLeod-Sprague, 13.80 each; 9. Wenda Johnson, 14.08; 10. Julie Plourde, 14.17; 11. Tayla Moeykens, 14.73; 12. Lisa Lockhart, 18.53; 13. Carlee Otero, 18.56; 14. Andrea Busby, 18.98; 15. Halyn Lide, 19.13. Average leaders: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 27.23 seconds on two head; 2. Kassie Mowry, 27.43; 3. Katelyn Scott, 27.52; 4. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 27.70; 5. Tricia Aldridge, 27.84; 6. Julie Plourde, 28.43; 7. Tayla Moeykens, 29.69; 8. Lisa Lockhart, 32.32; 9. Emily Beisel, 32.62; 10. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 32.68; 11. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, 32.70; 12. Andrea Busby, 33.15; 13. Wenda Johnson, 33.42; 14. Carlee Otero, 37.45; 15. Halyn Lide, 39.09. World Standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $261,965; 2. Kassie Mowry, $257,801; 3. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $239,610; 4. Emily Beisel, $206,694; 5. Lisa Lockhart, $201,350; 6. Megan McLeod-Sprague, $184,975; 7. Carlee Otero, $178,494; 8. Katelyn Scott, $178,023; 9. Tricia Aldridge, $176,022; 10. Anita Ellis, $156,992; 11. Halyn Lide, $154,614; 12. Tayla Moeykens, $152,561; 13. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, $150,032; 14. Wenda Johnson, $148,428; 15. Andrea Busby, $143,099; 16. Julie Plourde, $128,276.

Bull Riding: Second round: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, 89.5 points on Cowtown Rodeo's Orbit, $36,668; 2. T.J. Gray, 89, $28,980; 3. Wacey Schalla, 88.5, $21,882; 4. Ky Hamilton, 88.25, $15,377; 5. Luke Mackey, 86.75, $9,463; 6. Jesse Petri, 85.5, $5,914; 7. JR Stratford, 85.25; 8. Qynn Andersen, Hudson Bolton, Tristen Hutchings, Bryce Jensen, Rawley Johnson, Mason Moody, Jordan Spears and Hayes Weight, NS. Average leaders: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, 179.25 points on two head; 2. Wacey Schalla, 177; 3. T.J. Gray, 176; 4. Ky Hamilton, 174.25; 5. Luke Mackey, 171.5; 6. Jesse Petri, 161; 7. J.R. Stratford, 85.25 points on one head; 8. Hudson Bolton, 85; 9. Mason Moody, 83; 10. (tie) Qynn Anderson, Tristen Hutchings, Bryce Jenson, Rawley Johnson, Hudson Bolton and Jordan Spears, NS. World Standings: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, $527,546; 2. Wacey Schalla, $489,751; 3. Ky Hamilton, $402,728; 4. T.J. Gray, $305,335; 5. Tristen Hutchings, $302,882; 6. Hudson Bolton, $207,812; 7. Luke Mackey, $196,231; 8. J.R. Stratford, $191,459; 9. Jesse Petri, $183,060; 10. Hayes Weight, $180,988; 11. Qynn Andersen, $171,987; 12. Jordan Spears, $170,713; 13. Bryce Jensen, $167,043; 14. Mason Moody, $166,060; 15. Rawley Johnson, $158,778.

All-Around: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, $641,141; 2. Wacey Schalla, $550,497; 3. Dylan Hancock, $200,671; 4. Brushton Minton, $166,927; 5. Jake Clay, $142,536; 6. Paden Bray, $112,953; 7. Tanner Green, $101,314; 8. Seth Hall, $100,966; 9. Cole Clemons, $99,801; 10. Slade Wood, $98,651.