The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo has reached an exhilarating midpoint with Round Six delivering an abundance of thrilling moments that set the tone for the competition ahead. Team ropers Tanner Tomlinson and Travis Graves showcased their prowess by setting a new Round Six record with an impressive 3.4-second run, just one-tenth of a second shy of the arena record. This remarkable performance not only solidified Tomlinson’s lead in the heading world title race but also placed Graves in a strong second position in the heeling standings. Both athletes have now accrued $92,798.60 each at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Currently leading the heeling world title race is Jade Corkill, who, along with his partner Clint Summers, remains the only team to rope all six steers so far, giving them a strategic advantage in the average race.
In the bareback riding category, Cajun competitor Kade Sonnier captured his first go-round buckle riding Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Land of Fancy, scoring 88.0 points and securing a $36,668 payday, followed by celebrations at the buckle ceremony.
The steer wrestling division saw Ty Erickson shining brightly as he clinched the Round Six title with a swift 3.5-second run. He currently trails season leader Will Lummus by $44,602 but is well-positioned thanks to a strong average performance. Tucker Allen is also in the mix, leading the steer wrestling average with an impressive combined time of 28.5 seconds across six heads.
Statler Wright continued his family’s legacy in saddle bronc riding by winning Round Six with a remarkable 90-point ride on Wayne Vold Rodeo’s Renegade. His victory was closely contested, with Kade Bruno finishing just behind at 89.0 points aboard Frontier Rodeo’s Frontier Medicine. Wright celebrated his win at the South Point Hotel and Casino Buckle Ceremony.
Tie-down roper Joel Harris captured the Round Six buckle with a thrilling 6.8-second run, elevating him to fourth place in the world standings with a total of $251,396 earned this season. Meanwhile, reigning world champion barrel racer Kassie Mowry fortified her title defense with a standout performance, clocking in at 13.42 seconds on her horse, Cornbread. This victory not only advanced her in the average but also extended her lead in the overall standings by $24,000.
Stetson Wright continued his historic performance by winning the bull riding title in Round Six with an 88.5-point ride on Stockyards Pro Rodeo’s amasestays.com Insurrection. This success has brought his NFR earnings to $267,212.
As competitors and fans eagerly anticipate Round Seven of the 2025 NFR, The Cowboy Channel is set to provide comprehensive daily coverage at 4 p.m. Eastern, featuring programming such as Deep Dive and Zero In presented by Cinch, NFR Tailgate, Western Sports Roundup presented by Ariat, and Rodeo Live presented by Tractor Supply. The Wrangler NFR coverage will continue at 8:30 p.m., followed by the NFR Final presented by Mahindra at 11:30 p.m., and the nightly NFR Buckle Ceremony at 12:30 a.m.
