Steer wrestling star Ty Erickson on world title pace at NFR

Helena steer wrestler Ty Erickson continued his strong surge toward a world championship Tuesday night as the $10 million National Finals Rodeo continued in Las Vegas.

Erickson placed second in the sixth go-round and took the lead in the average. With four more nights of rodeo remaining, the former Helena Capital and Montana State star is on pace to win his first world championship.

Erickson had a 3.8-second run on Tuesday. It was the fourth straight night the 6-5, 245-pound Erickson has placed in the bulldogging. Erickson, a 27-year-old making his fourth straight NFR appearance, has 2016 earnings of more than $230,000 and needs four more solid runs to maintain his spot in the average and clinch a world championship.

Meanwhile, it was another solid night for rodeo stars with Treasure State stars at the sold-out Thomas and Mack Center.

JR Vezain, a Wyoming native who has extensive ties to Great Falls and lives now in Melstone, tied for first place in the bareback riding with an 88-point marking. Vezain, whose father is former NFR bronc rider Justin Jarrett of Great Falls, has placed in four of the six go-rounds.

Former world champion roper Clay Tryan of Billings and his partner, Jade Corkill, continued their hot roping with a 3.8-second that placed third in the team roping. The Tryan-Corkill tandem tied for first place in Monday’s go-round and followed it up with another clean run on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Dustin Bird of Cut Bank and his partner, Russell Cardoza, posted a no time in the team roping.

In the barrel racing, Montana native Lisa Lockhart failed to place. Lockhart and her prized buckskin gelding “Louie” placed in the previous three go-rounds and tied for first place on Monday night. Lockhart grew up in Circle and lives now in South Dakota. She and Louie won the NFR average last year.

The event continues Wednesday night at 8 and is televised on the CBS Sports Network.

Vezain, Bird and Erickson are among the stars who will be competing next month at the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals in Great Falls. The MPRF are Jan. 11-13 at Pacific Steel and Recycling Four Seasons Arena.