BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN
Unlike many of the events, there is only one spot in the NFR in the bareback riding that is likely up for grabs as Zach Hibler sits in 15th with No. 14 Taylor Broussard more than $8,000 clear of him.
However, behind Hibler, there are four cowboys with a realistic chance to catch him. In 16th is three-time NFR qualifier Mason Clements ($56,595), No. 17 is five-time NFR qualifier Ty Breuer ($54,934), 15-time NFR qualifier Will Lowe is in 18th ($51,771) and Wyatt Denny, a three-time qualifier, is No. 19 ($50,999).
Screenshot via ProRodeo.com
Hibler has spent the last two months knocking on the door of the Top 10 before falling to No. 15 over the last few weeks. In September, Hibler is 7-for-9 and averaging 80.3 points per qualified ride.
Now just $627 behind Hibler is Mason Clements, who has finished in the Top 10 three times since 2017. The Utah cowboy has gotten familiar with the NFR bubble, he finished 16th in 2019 and has spent the last two months between 19th and 16th in the PRCA World Standings.
Ty Breuer is about $2,300 out of making the NFR again after missing last year’s due to injury despite finishing in the Top 15. The North Dakota cowboy started the season’s final month outside of the Top 20 but has gotten back into contention by winning checks on nine of his last 10 rides.
After finishing 23rd in 2020, Will Lowe has a chance at returning to the NFR for the first time since 2018 this year. He is $5,500 behind Hibler, but there is much more than that up for grabs in Salinas. Overall, the two-time NFR Average champion has won seven rodeos and the most recent win came at the Meagher County Fair (Montana) on Sept. 6.
No. 18 Wyatt Denny made three straight NFRs from 2016-2018 and hasn’t been back since. Denny has yet to win a check of more than $1,000 in September but he has a great opportunity tonight to change that in Salinas aboard Calgary’s Arbitrator Joe.
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PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding Bubble Report, Sept. 21
PRCA Bull Riding Bubble Report, Sept. 23
PRCA World Standings heading into this weekend’s ProRodeo Tour Finale