There’s one performance left in Albuquerque, N.M., and it takes place tonight. Once the final results are in, it will help us get an idea of what happens in the world standings with just one week left in the 2012 season.
The New Mexico State Fair Rodeo offers the biggest purse of all event that took place over the last few days, so it will be a difference-maker heading into the stretch run of 13 ProRodeos.
Yeah, it’s coming down to the wire, and it’s awfully fun to watch. If you’re anywhere close to one of the rodeos scheduled for the next week, I suggest you make your way there. I’ll be at the American Royal in Kansas City, Mo., and it’s the second-largest ProRodeo event on the schedule. A lot will be happening inside Hale Arena.
Why is it such a big deal? Men and women are scrambling to get one of those 120 spots for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the 15 place-settings for the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping.
Take Albuquerque. Bray Armes leads steer wrestling with a 3.7-second run. The Gruver, Texas, cowboy is 19th in the bulldogging world standings, and winning a rodeo with that much money in the purse should move Armes into the top 15. But he’ll need another good run next weekend to stay there.
As important as the Justin Boots Championships are, it won’t do much for those contestants on the bubble. Only the top 12 cowboys and cowgirls in the standings get the chance to play in Omaha, Neb. They’re pretty much just padding their income and securing their place in Las Vegas.
So it’ll come down to those other rodeos to help us fill out the finals qualifiers. Good luck to all those out there that are chasing their dreams.