Four-time NFR qualifying bull Rider Clayton Sellars Doctor is released by the NFR

Clayton Sellars of Fruitlandpark, Florida, will no longer perform at the 2024 National Finals Rodeo. The Cowboy finished the regular season strong, winning the $30,000 round of the Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, SD to punch his ticket to the NFR. Sellars also benefited from several Xtreme Bulls events throughout the season, betting large sums of money.

The 2018 Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association Resisol Rookie of the Year performed very well in high school and college rodeo, qualifying for the national finals at both levels. Sellars narrowly missed qualifying for the NFR this year, finishing in first place. 19th in the world rankings. He qualified for the NFR every year from 2019 to 2021. Sellars was placed in rounds and average at the NFR all three years.

After a three-year break from Vegas, Sellars returned in 2024 and experienced something of a roller coaster ride at the NFR. He prevailed in seven rounds but won round 3 for a profit of $34,774. Commentators suspected that something was bothering the top bull rider throughout the event. It is not confirmed whether this injury was sustained earlier in the week.

The following is from a press release on prorodeo.com:

“LAS VEGAS – Veteran bull rider Clayton Sellars was withdrawn from Round 9 Friday night at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge due to a groin injury. Since he missed Round 9, Sellars will also have to sit out Round 10. Sellars finished eighth in the PRCA | Ram World Ranked $252,140, ​​making his fourth appearance at the Wrangler NFR and first since 2021, earned $44,774 in Las Vegas. Sellars won Round 3 with an 87.5-point ride on Stockyards Pro Rodeo’s Hard Rock.

Sellars will have to sit out the final two rounds of the 2024 NFR, but it is unknown whether that is due to the nature of his injury or the rules of the game. According to the PRCA, “An injured participant may withdraw with proper medical clearance from a doctor on the official medical staff of the NFR. If he/she is eliminated, he/she must be eliminated in at least two consecutive rounds of an event before competition resumes.

We currently have no further information regarding Sellars’ injury. I wish you a speedy recovery, Clayton Sellars. We hate to see someone’s NFR end this way.