Tucker Allen competed in his 12th National Finals Rodeo go-round Friday and won the night with a 3.6-second steer wrestling run, earning a trip to the South Point for the buckle presentation.
(PHOTO BY GREG WESTFALL)

 

LAS VEGAS – It’s eight miles from the Thomas & Mack Center to the South Point, but the resort is the place every cowboy wants to be after each go-round at the National Finals Rodeo.

The South Point hosts the nightly Montana Silversmiths Go-Round Buckle Presentation, and nightly winners are presented trinkets to go along with their prize money. Steer wrestler Tucker Allen made his first trip to the southern side of Las Vegas Boulevard, stopping the clock in 3.6 seconds to win Friday’s second round and pocketing $36,668 for the feat.

As part of the celebration, winners sometimes splurge on a limousine or a party bus to enjoy the venture.

“I might have to do that,” said Allen, 26, a two-time NFR qualifier from Ventura, California. “I have a right blinker out on my truck, so we probably should take a limo.”

He was certainly enjoying his moment in the bright lights in the City of Entertainment. In his second straight trip to ProRodeo’s grand finale, Allen earned his first nightly title through 12 rounds of competition.

“I knew he was a round-win chance,” Allen said, referring to the steer with which he had been matched. “I knew I could place within the top three for sure on that steer, because I knew I could catch up in a good spot. I told myself to try to blow the barrier out and risk breaking it.”

The start is vital, especially in that building. The arena is built on top of the basketball court, so the dimensions are small. Fast times need quick break off the starting line. The steers are provided a head start with a barrier line placed in front of the contestant. If the cowboy doesn’t give the cow enough of a lead, a broken barrier will result in a 10-second penalty. If there is a delay and the steer gets too big a lead, then the time will likely be too slow to collect cash.

Allen time the start just right. Riding Banker, the 2025 PRCA/AQHA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year owned by traveling partner Justin Shaffer, Allen got to the steer quickly, then turned the animal on its side in a hurry. It’s just what the doctor ordered for the California bulldogger, who earned $92,000 a year ago at the NFR but was hoping for a better showing – a good portion of his earnings came from finishing fourth in the average, finishing with one of the fastest cumulative times on 10 runs.

“Nobody really remembers fourth, so I told myself, ‘Be more aggressive, take more risk and just get greedier,” Allen said. “Don’t worry about the average and treat each run like a one-header. I was lucky to get out, and Banker worked great. Justin hazed outstanding, and I was happy to do my job.”

In addition to owning the horse and being an NFR qualifier himself, Shaffer served as the hazer for Allen and Jesse Brown, helping keep the steers lined out for both cowboys.

“Banker is the horse of the year, and he’s just a freak of nature,” Allen said. “He’s so sharp off the line, yet he runs such a good pattern, is broke and has a good mind. It makes it so simple where you hit the cory and not worry if he’s going to flinch. You can take your start and just put your hand down, and he’s going to run in the perfect spot and let you do your job.

“Justin is one of the greatest hazers there’s ever been; he’s just so cowboy. His ability to haze from all the colts he’s started, the day-work and just being a cowboy. I think a lot of the hazers are good cowboys. That’s why guys trust them in hairy situations.”

Making the NFR is a huge accomplishment in rodeo. There were dozens of cowboys within range of advancing, but only the top 15 on the money list at the end of the regular season earn the right to play for the biggest pay in the game. Winning a round takes everything up a notch.

“It’s pretty surreal,” he said. “I know this is something you dream of as soon as you start learning how to bulldog and rope and do anything in rodeo. I don’t get emotional, but I almost got a little emotional in the (television) interview. My stepdad, Teddy Robinson, is the reason I’m here today. I just had to give him a shout-out, and it kind of choked me up aa little.

“He’s coming out to rope (next) week, but I just wanted him to know when he was at home watching on TV that I appreciate everything he did for me.”

Allen is also doing a lot for himself.