2024 NFR: Dean Thompson and JD Struxness win world titles | National Finals Rodeo | sport

Four bareback riders were alive for Saturday’s world championship on the final night of the National Finals Rodeo.

Dean Thompson was fourth overall but first overall, the average of all driver results at NFR, and had a chance to make a big jump and win the title.

Thompson made the most of his final run. He took second place in the go-round with 88.5 points, won the overall ranking and took the world championship title in bareback riding.

“It’s humiliating. It just confirms that I’m on the right path,” Thompson said. “Everything I did, my training, my attitude, I think it all worked out.”

Thompson was one of eight world champions crowned in a wild finale at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday. For the all-around title, Shad Mayfield added $40,750 by finishing fourth overall in the tie-down rope, giving him the title by $676 over Coleman Proctor.

In the bareback riding, Thompson earned $86,391 in winnings overall. Thompson finished with $412,120 and won the title by $17,934 over Rocker Steiner.

The battle between Thompson, Steiner, defending champion Keenan Hayes and NFR rookie Bradlee Miller was tough, but the margin of victory was bigger than Thompson imagined as he clinched the title with his gold buckle gleaming and sweat still dripping beneath him celebrated brown cowboy hat.

“I placed just high enough to be average,” he said. “The lead was so narrow. They said four guys could have won. … What a crazy 10 days.”

Thompson, from Altamont, Utah, only won one round at NFR, but his consistency helped him emerge as champion against the rest of his young and talented competition.

“I was just so consistent that I think it paid off,” the 22-year-old said. “When I left NFR last year, I honestly didn’t know if they could be beaten, guys like Keenan. It’s pretty humbling for me to stand here.”

JD Struxness also benefited from the overall result and won the world championship title in steer wrestling. With a time of 3.6 seconds, he placed second in his heat and finished eighth overall to secure the world title.

Struxness added an additional $8,150 by winning the overall. The six-time NFR qualifier from Milan, Minnesota, won the world title by $1,508 over Will Lummus.

“We knew the scenarios somewhat,” Struxness said. “We hadn’t calculated them all, but we knew there had to be a little movement on average to give me a chance.”

The 30-year-old said this morning while drinking coffee with his wife that he would be confident going into Saturday once he knew what course he had chosen.

“There was just something different about this run,” Struxness said. “I don’t want to say I put in extra effort because I think I put in a lot of effort, but it was one of those things where I knew what I had to do. I just really opened up and let it hang on the leash. I took some risks to maximize control and be faster.”

In other title matches, Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp won their second consecutive team roping title. Ryder Wright won his third saddle bronc riding title.

The 2024 NFR Champions:

Riding without a saddle

Dean Thompson

Altamont, Utah

Age: 22

World Championships: 1

Season win: $412,120

NFR revenue 2024: $239,924

2024 NFR go-round wins: 1

Steer wrestling

JD Struxness

Milan, Minnesota

Age: 30

World Championships: 1

Season win: $309,220

NFR revenue 2024: $161,954

2024 NFR go-round wins: 1

Team roping (header)

Tyler Wade

Terrell, Texas

Age: 32

World Championships: 2

Season win: $316,480

NFR revenue 2024: $169,742

2024 NFR go-round wins: 3

Team roping (heeler)

Wesley Thorp

Throckmorton, Texas

Age: 29

World Championships: 3

Season win: $316,480

NFR revenue 2024: $169,742

2024 NFR go-round wins: 3

Saddle bronc riding

Ryder Wright

Beaver, Utah

Age: 26

World Championships: 3

Season win: $479,957

NFR revenue 2024: $228,649

2024 NFR go-round wins: 2

Abseiling to the tie-down lashing

Riley Webb

Denton, Texas

Age: 21

World Championships: 2

Season win: $475,213

NFR revenue 2024: $258,306

2024 NFR go-round wins: 3

Barrel racing

Cassie Mowry

Dublin, Texas

Age: 42

World Championships: 1

Season win: $457,808

NFR revenue 2024: $117,038

2024 NFR go-round wins: 5

Bull riding

Josh Frost

Randlett, Utah

Age: 29

World Championships: 1

Season win: $476,886

NFR revenue 2024: $265,823

2024 NFR go-round wins: 2

All around

Shad Mayfield

Clovis, New Mexico

Age: 24

World Championships: 2

Season win: $335,474

NFR revenue 2024: $111,061

2024 NFR go-round wins: 0

Contact Alex Wright at [email protected]. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X