Paige Jones has finished off the 2023 season at No. 15 in the WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings, qualifying for her very first trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
“I am so excited and I have been seeing a lot of throwbacks to the grand entry and just pictures of the back number ceremony and everything from last year, I am definitely very excited and counting down the days,” she said. “I feel like I’ve always thought about that moment (taking in the crowd during grand entry).”
After finishing the season at No. 17 last year, just outside the Top 15, Jones turned that loss into motivation to turn up the heat and earned her way to Las Vegas this year with the help of her horse Bazinga.
“Throughout the summer he just continued to amaze me and be consistent and he won rodeos that I never dreamed me and him could do,” said Jones.
Jones is joined by an impressive group of first timers at this year’s NFR including Taycie Matthews on Pop Rocks at No. 4, Summer Kosel on Apollo at No. 9, and Ilyssa Riley on Thriller at No. 10.