Whoever said money can’t buy happiness has obviously never qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo because money makes the world of ProRodeo go 'round.
With 24 PRCA competitions across North America worth $954,326 last week, it took quite a bit of prize money to keep pace and even more to gain ground within the 2019 PRCA | RAM World Standings. From June 10-16, 23 ProRodeo athletes won enough to climb the ranks within the Top 15 of their respective events.
Cowboys know it’s easier to maintain a position at the top than it is to play catch-up when trying to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Every dollar counts, and making the Top 15 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings early establishes a solid base and builds a cowboy’s confidence as the summer run approaches.
Nobody knows this better than tie-down roper Adam Gray who jumped six places in the world standings, going from 21st to 15th. The Texas cowboy picked up checks at three Lone Star State rodeos last week: $1,191 at the Coleman (Texas) PRCA Rodeo, $691 at the Mesquite (Texas) Championship Rodeo, June 15, and $573 at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Posse in Cleburne, Texas.
The 35-year-old cowboy is on the cusp of reaching the $1 million milestone in career earnings since joining the PRCA in 2008. As of June 17, he was $25,333 shy of joining the ranks of the select few who have achieved the feat in ProRodeo.
Gray is a four-time qualifier for the Wrangler NFR (2009, 2011-12, 2014) and has come close to making his fifth qualification three times since his last appearance in Las Vegas, placing 17th in the world standings in 2015-16 and 2018.
Cowboys will have 21 PRCA competitions to choose from through June 23, including the Wainwright (Alberta) Stampede and Rodeo de Santa Fe (N.M.). The Reno (Nev.) Rodeo also kicks off this week for the 100th time, but the cowboys won't see the fruits of their success there until the rodeo's conclusion June 29. With plenty of prize money on the table, big jumps are sure to happen again.
The following cowboys also moved up within the Top 15 last week...MORE
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