The first round of NFR brings broken records and history-making paychecks

Jason Aldean went first as the star fans looked on. Then the cowboys and cowgirls flocked to the arena to showcase their incredible talent. The first round nerves are now over – some will have to shake them off and start again tomorrow, while others can take a deep breath and know they have done what they came to do.

When riding bareback, the fringes flew and the horses bucked violently. When the last horse bucked, a newcomer to the National Finals Rodeo took the first-round win. Weston Timberman of Columbus, Mont., scored 87 points at J Bar J’s Drunk Monkey. His efforts would earn him the first paycheck of the 2024 event, worth $33,687.18.

The steer wrestling oxen didn’t want to play – or maybe that was exactly their plan. They were strong and some were just difficult to catch. Three of the strong rodeo men exceeded average on the first night. Scott Guenthner was being overtaken, JD Struxness and Dalton Massey both tried to throw off their wheels but ended up running out of time. Massey suffered a small fall but emerged unhurt.

Will Lummus of Mississippi was the fastest man of the night as he stopped the clock at 3.7 seconds. He only had a small lead over the field as there was a tie for second place between Cash Robb and Rowdy Parrot at 3.8 seconds.

The team’s ropers set the arena on fire as they rode in. Fast time after fast time proved difficult for the round, but in the end there was a new Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association record in Round 1.

The previous first round record was 4.0 seconds and was actually held by three different teams. In 2014 it was Turtle Powell and Dakota Kirchenschlager. Five years later, Tyler Wade and Cole Davison did it again in 2019. In 2021, Wade and Trey Yates again set the record of 4.0 seconds.

We can confidently say that Wade is enjoying the first round of the NFR. After holding the record since 2019, Wade teamed with Wesley Thorp to defeat the Horns and Heels in a scorching 3.7 seconds to write his name into the record books. For Wade, it was just a matter of engraving his name there one more time.

However, Wade will receive the biggest check from his first-round wins this year by depositing $33,687. The win also propelled this team to first place in the world rankings – and there was still a lot of rodeo left.

The saddle bronc riders are always on the right track and have certainly not disappointed. Four-time Cowboy World Champion Zeke Thurston showed why he has competed in the NFR nine times. Aboard Frontier Rodeo’s Coffee Yellowstone, the man from Big Valley, Alberta, Canada scored 86.5 points, good for the first-round win.

Ryder Wright of Utah was only half a point behind, keeping the family name at the top. Second place put him just over $2,000 behind world ranking leader Damian Brennan.

The crowd is enthusiastic about the tension ropes. We watched the “Fred and Cody Show” for years. Then who can leave out 26-time world champion Trevor Brazile? In front of it was a legacy of the “house that Joe built.” Well, the story certainly revolves around the 20-year-old cowboy from Denton, Texas. Reigning world champion Riley Webb is building his own legacy.

“After watching a few races tonight, the round was won with a 7.7 and to be honest with the caliber of ropers here that was pretty soft. I knew if I just followed through with my plan and went faster, I would get a good check. “I just did my best to beat the calf, not the competition,” Webb said.

He carried out his plan and threw his hands up after 7 seconds. The victory moved Webb into second place in the world championship standings.

Smoke quickly! This is how you would explain barrel racing. Four-time world champion Hailey Kinsel broke her record in the first round. She previously held the record of 13.51 from 2018. She made that time look like a walk in the park when she finished tonight. As DM Sissy Hayday and her incredible jockey completed the pattern at the Kickoff Race of 2024, the clock read 1:38 p.m. She was first out and stayed at the top of the scoreboard throughout the field. A new record and another round win go home to Cotulla, Texas.

Trey Kimzey got the best of Burch Rodeo’s Cookies and Cream. Together, the talented duo scored 87.5 points, securing victory in the first round. Cooper James of Erda, Utah, secured second place with his 86-point score on Trump Train from the Dakota Rodeo Series. It may be a record that nine of the 15 players lasted the full eight seconds to earn a qualifying score.

The second round will bring more action, quick results and certainly broken records. Rodeo On SI continues to provide you with the best coverage.