Ah, the infamous bubble race.
The all-night drives. The coast-to-coast red-eye flights. The precious time spent in the arena and on the road—all in hopes of making it to the “Super Bowl” of rodeo, the National Finals Rodeo (NFR), held each December at the historic Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
For professional rodeo athletes, their dreams hinge not only on the prestigious glory, but also on the unprecedented payouts available in the postseason. With the opportunity to nearly double a year’s worth of earnings in less than two weeks, qualifying for the NFR is as much a financial milestone as it is a career goal.
Only the top 15 in each event earn that coveted ticket to the richest rodeo in the world—and the opportunity to become a world champion.
The stress of the final six weeks of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) season is unmatched. With major stops like the Pendleton Round-Up and Cinch Playoffs at the Washington State Fair Rodeo still on the schedule, anything can happen.
The bubble race doesn’t discriminate between NFR veterans and Resistol Rookies—it offers everyone a shot at a top-15 finish.
But veteran wisdom can be priceless. Just ask world champion header Andrew Ward.
Ward, a five-time NFR qualifier, is once again on the verge of punching his ticket to Las Vegas. After winning the Farm-City Pro Rodeo with 2025 partner Jake Long, the duo sits squarely in the bubble race—Ward in 15th and Long in 13th as of the Aug. 15 PRCA world standings.
The Farm-City Pro Rodeo in Hermiston, Oregon, proved to be a pivotal stop for the team roping duo. With the event nearly doubling its prize money to an impressive $600,000 total payoff, it was a must-attend rodeo.
Earning nearly $12,000 each at the Columbia River Circuit stop, the pair credited the committee for its ongoing support and effort to grow the payout.
“It was such a great rodeo—when one pays this well, you can’t afford to miss it. We are extremely grateful for the committee and thank them for adding the money,” Ward said.
While the payday was crucial to Ward’s campaign, his veteran mindset keeps him focused on the task at hand—not the standings.
“I try not to pay too much attention to the standings. In a position like this, you truly have to take everything steer by steer and see how it all works out,” he said.
The Edmond, Oklahoma, cowboy explained that the “steer by steer” mentality keeps him from getting caught up in the “what-ifs” that come with bubble race conversations.
Ward and Long, who have already captured wins at the Home of Champions Rodeo, West of the Pecos Rodeo and Greeley Stampede this season, look to carry their momentum through the Northwest run and finish the season inside the top 15.
Keeping an Eye on the Bubble Race
In every event, the bubble race is a constant topic of conversation among cowboys and cowgirls on the verge of an NFR berth—those who count every dollar twice and hope to conclude the season on October 1 in the top 15 of the world. Sometimes, the line between qualifying for the NFR and missing it comes down to a single paycheck, rodeo or run.
The bareback riding bubble race is shaping up to be especially thrilling. All-around cowboy Wacey Schalla has found late-season wins, cracking into the top 15. Less than $18,000 separates Schalla, currently 13th, from 2024 NFR qualifier Weston Timberman, who is in 17th.
In the saddle bronc riding, less than $5,000 separates 15th through 17th place—three NFR veterans in Kolby Wanchuk, Ben Anderson and Lefty Holman—making for a nail-biting finish.
Steer wrestling, known for its tight races, is even closer this year, with less than $3,000 separating 14th through 19th place.
The breakaway roping bubble is also razor-thin, with less than $2,000 between Arizona’s Macy Young and Colorado’s Erin Johnson, keeping both athletes and fans on the edge of their seats.
With less than six weeks remaining in the season, competitors are pedal-to-the-metal, battling odds, draws and conditions to secure their names in rodeo history. Fans can follow the action in real time on The Cowboy Channel and The Cowboy Channel Plus app.