World Champion Heeler Cory Petska is joining forces with a new heading partner: 8X NFR qualifier Kaleb Driggers.
Petska confirmed that, for the remainder of the 2020 season, he will team up with Driggers, who has been roping with heeler Junior Nogueira since 2016 and currently sits at 23rd in the 2020 PRCA | RAM World Standings.
“I’m looking forward to it (roping with Driggers),” Petska told ProRodeo.com. “To get an opportunity like that doesn’t come around very often, so I’m very excited. We’re hoping to start roping together in Reno (Nev., June 19-27).”
Nogueira will now look to team up with another header but has not yet announced who it will be. He has said, however, that the change in partnership was decided upon amicably.
“We just decided to do something different,” Nogueira told ProRodeo.com. “We are good buddies. I’m kind of different than everybody, people take this as a business, and I understand. A lot of (guys) get mad, but I respect everybody’s decision. I don’t hold anything back, and (Kaleb) and I are still friends. … I don’t know yet who I’m going (to rope) with. I have to make a decision pretty soon.”
We have a feeling that the Nogueira — a 6X NFR qualifier who became the first Brazilian world champion in PRCA history with the all-around title in 2016 — will have no trouble finding a new partner.
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