BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN
With Lefty Holman out for the season, the PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding bubble looks a little different than it did two weeks ago.
Logan Hay is No. 18 and has rode himself into striking distance of the Wrangler NFR by winning the Meagher County Labor Day Rodeo (Montana) and the Magic Valley Stampede (Idaho) last weekend. At the end of August, he also won the Golden Spike PRCA Bronc Riding Classic. Hay was No. 23 in the world just three weeks ago, but still has some work to do as he’s about $7,000 behind No. 15 Sage Newman.
If Hay does not stay hot, it’s down to five cowboys for the final four spots in Vegas as No. 12 K’s Thomson and No. 16 Teagan Smith are separated by just $3,600.
Thomson won the Kitsap Stampede on Aug. 27, but since then he has only ridden three of his last six broncs and earned one check for $795.
Cody DeMoss is now hot on Thomson’s heels after putting together two good rides at the Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo in Raleigh. DeMoss also won second at the Pioneer City Rodeo (Illinois) on Sept. 5. DeMoss has made the NFR 13 times, but the last one came in 2017.
In 14th is Spencer Wright, the 2014 World Champion. Wright is only about $800 out of 16th and he rode well in the first weekend of September, placing on three of his four horses.
Sage Newman, like K’s Thomson, is looking for his first Wrangler NFR berth, which would be a massive accomplishment for a cowboy who had never finished in the Top 50 prior to this year. Newman was second behind Hay in Meagher County and also won the Long Go in Ellensburg giving him $5,500 to his name already in September. He’s currently holding down the final NFR spot.
Less than $400 behind Newman, however, is Tegan Smith, who would also be a first-timer in Vegas. Smith’s 80.71 average score is the best of his career and he has more 85-point rides this year (25) than he did in the previous three years combined (17). His biggest win of the season came in Reno.
