History has been rewritten.
Rodeo’s richest day and one of the sport’s premier events has officially come to a close, paying out more than $3 million inside Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Featuring the sport’s top athletes, The American Rodeo Championship Weekend once again delivered one of rodeo’s most anticipated competitions.
In a David-versus-Goliath showdown, rodeo’s elite professionals and rising contenders battled on one of the sport’s biggest stages for a share of more than $3 million in prize money, including a piece of the life-changing $2 million bonus awarded to qualifying athletes who won their disciplines. After three rounds of competition, the field narrowed to four finalists in each event, who faced off in a fast-paced shootout round to determine the champions.
The coveted $2 million bonus was awarded and split among three qualifying athletes who defeated the sport’s best.
When the Texas dust settled, qualifying breakaway roper Rickie Fanning, saddle bronc rider Sage Newman and steer wrestler Gavin Soileau stood atop the leaderboard. Each claimed a championship title, earned the $100,000 event payout and shared the qualifier bonus. Each qualifier earned more than $766,000 each from the championship round and bonus money alone. A truly life changing moment.
Their accomplishments were hard-earned against the PRCA and WPRA’s top invitees. Fanning, a South Dakota native, roped her championship calf in 1.71 seconds to secure the title. Louisiana’s Soileau stopped the clock in 3.74 seconds to capture his historic victory, while Montana’s Newman scored 89.25 points aboard Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Larry Culpepper to claim the saddle bronc riding championship.
The headlines continued as invitees and PRCA standouts captured the remaining event titles.
Defending world champion and reigning American Rodeo bareback riding champion Rocker Steiner repeated his success from a year ago, scoring 90.5 points aboard Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Secret’s Out to win the title once again.
In one of the afternoon’s most emotional moments, invitees Clint Summers and Jade Corkill captured the team roping championship with a 4.83-second run. Corkill dedicated the victory to breakaway roper Kelsie Domer’s late daughter, Oaklynn.
Invitee calf roper Kincade Henry continued his impressive 2026 campaign, stopping the clock in a personal-best 6.57 seconds aboard his heart horse, Mario, to earn the championship.
In the barrel racing, invitee Hayle Gibson-Stilwell claimed the title and $100,000 with a 15.428-second run before celebrating with the iconic Polaris victory lap.
Closing out the coveted event, 10-time world champion Stetson Wright secured the bull riding championship with an 89-point ride.
The action came down to the wire, leaving fans and athletes alike on the edge of their seats while adding another chapter to rodeo history as the sport’s crown jewel concluded its 2026 edition of Western sports excellence.