Our very own Justin McKee was asked by 11-time World Champion and 19-time National Finals Rodeo barrel racer Charmayne James to be the assistant coach of her team at the first ever Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo.
The two of them put together a roster that includes competitors who have a combined 79 NFR qualifications and 17 World Championships, three of them cinched a title in 2023.
“There was a lot of strategy went into putting that team together and because it was a draft there were trades available and we took full advantage of that opportunity,” McKee said.
This is a rodeo that requires strategy and that is something that James and McKee took into account when building this team. That is why they picked Caleb Smidt, the veteran, and Westyn Hughes, the hustler, as their tie down ropers. They picked Wenda Johnson and LaTricia Duke in the barrel racing specifically because of the controllable horsepower that each brings to the table and more.
The Misty Mountain Hop took it one step further when they had set up a mock arena and ran a practice of the two-header style event. It was in that moment that McKee realized just how monumental this rodeo will be.
The other five teams are led by multi-time World Champion and Hall of Fame rodeo icons. Cody Ohl and the Convoy, Sid Steiner and the Jokers, Bobby Mote and the Free Riders, Trevor Brazile and the Low Riders, and Fred Whitfield and the Sledge Hammers are who you can keep an eye out for.
The action-packed day is May 17 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.