BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
Trevor Kastner’s career has caught a terrific second wind.
After making the NFR three times in a row from 2011 and 2013 - including Top 10 finishes in ’12 and ’13 - he did not return to Vegas again until 2018.
In his 30s, he’s proven he’s still one of the most consistent bull riders in the world as 2022 marks his fourth NFR in the last five seasons. And this year, could be his best in a decade.
The 34-year-old enters the NFR No. 6 in the PRCA World Standings and with career high marks in riding percentage (47 percent), Go-Round wins (12) and 85+ point rides (20).
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
Spanish Fork Fiesta Days Xtreme Bulls, $22,505
Ground money can sometimes be a bull rider’s best friend and that was the case for Kastner in Utah. Among a field of 31 bull riders, only two made the whistle and Kastner was one of them. His 86 points won him the rodeo and more than half of the total payout. It wasn’t like Kastner benefited from a lack of competition in Spanish Fork, either. Fellow 2022 NFR qualifiers Josh Frost, Trey Kimzey, Creek Young, Tristen Hutchings, Trey Holston and Reid Oftedahl all competed.
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, $14,167
Kastner went 4-for-5 in San Antonio including cashing a $6,000 check for his 87-point ride in the Finals. He finished third behind Sage Kimzey and JR Stratford.
HIGHEST MARKED RIDES
Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo, 91 Points
At the very well paying one-header in California, Kastner covered Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s High Rise to win by 6.5 points. He received a check of more than $6,700.
Pasadena Livestock Show & Rodeo, 89 Points
On the final weekend of the season, Kastner rode Chanler’s Dream of Universal Pro Rodeo to win 1.5 points. That same weekend, he also won Omaha’s River City Rodeo and placed in an Xtreme Bulls event in Oklahoma City.
Iowa’s Championship Rodeo, 87.5 Points
Kastner’s August ended with a win at the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo and started with a win in Sidney, Iowa. Overall, Kastner won four times that month and banked nearly $20,000 from them.
NOTABLE WINS
Woodward Elks Rodeo, 85.5 Points
The 85.5-point ride on Black Panther gave Kastner, a native Okie, his only one in his home state in 2022.
Wichita Falls PRCA Rodeo, 84 Points
One of the aforementioned August wins, Kastner was the only to make the whistle in two performances and got all $4,772 allotted to the bull riders.
Mustang Seeds Xtreme Bull, 87.5 Points
Kastner was 2.5 points clear of anyone else in the field as he rode a South Dakota bull, Sutton’s Mr. Clean, to victory in the Mount Rushmore State.
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