BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN
After winning the World Championship in 2017, it took Marcos Costa four years to return to the NFR, but he’s back and in good position to make a run at another Gold Buckle.
Costa is No. 6 in the PRCA World Standings and trails No. 1 Shane Hanchey by about $62,000, though, Costa may have the hot hand heading into the Thomas & Mack Center.
The Brazilian was the champion of the ProRode Tour Finale in Salinas, banking more than $17,000 in the last weekend of the 2021 season. He was 11.2 seconds in the Shootout Round.
COSTA IN SALINAS
Earlier in September, Costa won $7,500 for his victory at the Tri-State Rode and made around $2,000 in by placing second at two other rodeos in the month. He won a total of $34,000 and moved up six spots after starting September No. 12 in the PRCA World Standings.
Costa’s other big performances this year came in Reno and Calgary. In Reno, he was second in a round and finished fourth at the rodeo. He won more than $8,000.
COSTA IN RENO
In Calgary, Costa placed in three Go-Rounds in pool competition and finished second in the Showdown on Sunday to win more than $12,000 toward the PRCA World Standings.
Costa also won more than $2,000 for runs at the Sandhills Stock Show and Rodeo, Dixie National Rodeo (Mississippi), Southeastern Livestock Exposition and Rodeo (Alabama), Guymon Pioneer Days (Oklahoma), Black Hills Roundup, Missoula Stampede an Kitsap Stampede (Washington).
The last time Costa made the NFR, he won the RAM Top Gun Award and the Average in addition to the Gold Buckle. In 2016 and 2017 combined, Costa made more than $500,000.
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