Kyle Irwin is making his return to the Thomas and Mack as the No. 9 ranked steer wrestler in the PRCA World Standings.
The Alabama bulldogger came close to winning the World Championship in 2014 at his first National Finals Rodeo and again in 2017.
With 10 rounds to go, it is still anybody’s game in the steer wrestling come Dec. 1.
Irwin has been there before and done that as this is his sixth National Finals Rodeo qualification. It might be his year to win it all.
Look back at some of his regular season highlights before we head to Las Vegas.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
NFR Open, $15,354
At the inaugural event in Colorado Springs, Irwin got faster with every run. A sixth place finish in the average after rounds one and two, Iwrin went onto win the Semifinals with a 4.1-second run. From there, a 3.8 got him the win in the Final Round and he climbed higher in the World Standings.
Cinch Playoffs, $11,725
In the inaugural year-end event in Puyallup, Irwin turned in three runs between 3.8 and 4.0 seconds and finished in the Top 3 of all three rounds. The biggest check, $8,125, came from his second place finish in the Finals. World No. 1 Stetson Jorgensen left the champion.
National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, $5,013
Irwin placed on three of his four runs with his biggest check being for $2,466 for sharing third with Adam Musil in the First Round. He advanced to the Finals, where he split seventh at the prestigious Denver rodeo.
FASTEST TIMES
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, 3.3 seconds
In Bracket 1, Round 3 of San Antonio, Irwin threw down his fastest time of the year to get the round win. Stopping the clock at 3.3 seconds he won the round by four tenths of a second securing his spot in the Semifinals and earnings of $2,500.
San Angelo Rodeo, 3.6 seconds
Irwin would get a time of 3.6 seconds in San Angelo to tie for fourth in Round 2 with Tyler Pearson. This run would also add over $3,000 to his season earnings.
NOTABLE WINS
Cody Stampede, 3.4 seconds
At the Wyoming rodeo, Irwin would throw his second fastest time of the year and it would end up getting him the win as well. A 3.4 would add over $6,000 to Irwin’s earnings and he would walk away from Cody as the co-champion.
MEET THE NFR ATHLETES IS PRESENTED BY MONTANA SILVERSMITHS #everybucklehasastory #goldbucklebound