BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN
The barrel racing bubble has several cowgirls with plenty of pedigree battling for he final few spots in the 2021 Wrangler NFR.
Screenshot via ProRodeo.com
Cheyenne Wimberly first made the Wrangler NFR in 1997 and 1998 and has returned in 2019 and 2020. This year, she’s looking to make it three straight as she sits No. 12 in the WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings with $55,623. Wimberly has impressed as she most recently won just over $2,597 in Ellensburg for winning the First Round. She also took first in the Gem State Stampede on Aug. 29 and fourth in Walla Walla on Sept. 5. Those two rodeos earned her just over $4,000 combined.
In 13th with $55,384 is Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, one of the most decorated barrel racers of all-time. The two-time World Champion made around $14,400 in August. Pozzi Tonozzi has spent a majority of the summer between 9th and 14th in the World Standings.
After a terrific run at the end of July into August, Stephanie Fryar sat No. 8 in the world Aug. 9. Since then, however, she has won just one check of more than $1,000 and fallen down to No. 14, about $4,000 in front of Nellie Miller, who is trending in the opposite direction. Since the Caldwell Night Rodeo, Miller has won money on 9-of-11 runs and banked more than $10,000 since Aug. 21.
Coming off her first NFR qualification in 2020, Jimmie Smith is currently the first cowgirl on the outside looking in. She is about $2,400 behind Miller.
Less than $300 behind Smith is Shali Lord, who from Aug. 10-30, placed at seven rodeos and won about $9,000 total. Lord has been steadily climbing the standings since the middle of July, going from No. 26 on July 12 to No. 17, where she currently ranks with $47,752.
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