Streaks end, continue in NFR’s fifth go-round

One streak ended and another continued Monday night at the 58th National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

The victorious go-round run of 18-year-old saddle bronc star Ryder Wright ended at four when the NFR rookie failed to earn a score as the rich rodeo reached its halfway mark at the sold-out Thomas and Mack Center.

Wright, the Utah teenager and reigning National High School Finals Rodeo champion in the bronc riding, had astounded the pro rodeo world by winning his the first four go-rounds. But he was bucked off Monday night.

Another winning string continued, though, as JD Struxness won the steer wrestling for the third night in row.

Meanwhile, the world championship hopes of a Montana man faded a bit.

Cut Bank roper Dustin Bird and his partner, Russell Cardoza, received a damaging no-time in the team roping. Bird, the 36-year-old header making his fourth NFR trip and seeking gold buckles in both the team roping and all-around, failed to make a clean catch and thus prevented Cardoza from even throwing his loop.

It was the second no-time of the rodeo for the Bird-Cardoza team, which opened the door for the other top contenders for the coveted PRCA all-around championship.

Junior Nogueira took advantage.

Nogueira, a heeler, and parnter Kaleb Driggers tied for first place in the team roping with a swift 4.0-second effort. Each won more than $20,000 for the effort, and that enabled Nogueira to supplant Bird atop the all-around race.

With five go-rounds left at the $10 million NFR, Nogueira leads Bird by about $7,000 in the battle for the all-around gold buckle.

Like Bird, Helena steer wrestler Ty Erickson is another Treasure State star seeking his first world championship. Erickson, who entered the NFR leading the bulldogging, failed to place in the first three rounds before placing fourth on Sunday night. The former Helena Capital basketball star followed that with another fourth-place effort on Monday, thanks to a 3.9-second run that left him in eighth place in the all-important average race.

The average race in each event, which includes all 10 go-rounds, pays eight places and features a $67,269 prize for a first-place finish.

The average could well carry Montana native Lisa Lockhart to her first world championship. Lockhart, of Oelrichs, S.D., is making her 10th straight appearance at the NFR. Lockhart, who grew up in Circle, and her fine buckskin gelding “Louie,” did not place Monday night. But the barrel racer, who won the third go-round and has placed in three of the five rounds so far, is in second place in the average race.

“It’s a super barrel race and I hope it’s been as exciting for the fans as it’s been for us,” Lockhart told TV announcer Joe Beaver before the rodeo.

When asked about the consistency of “Louie” and the fine run he made on Sunday, Lockhart smiled.

“Oh my gosh,” she said. “It’s such a sigh of relief. He’s made about 64 runs in here and they’ve all be pretty much like that. I’m very blessed in that manner.”

Lockhart said no matter what, this week is special.

“Regardless, it’s been awesome,” Lockhart said. “It’s fun to play the game.”

Meanwhile in bareback, Power’s Jessy Davis again made it to the eight-second whistle. But the NFR veteran was again unable to earn a check. Davis posted a 75-point ride that finished out of the money.

Wyoming bareback star JR Vezain was also unable to place in the bareback. An 82-point score has Vezain, whose father, Justin Jarrett, is from Great Falls, in sixth place in the average.

There is much drama in each event, but young bronc rider Ryder Wright has been making most of the history and headlines. No NFR rookie had ever won four straight go-rounds. He is the son of two-time world champion saddle bronc star Cody Wright.

Ryder’s father and brother, Rusty, are also among the 15 bronc riders competing at the Thomas and Jack. Ryder’s uncles, Jake and Jesse Wright, are also former world champions who are riding this week.

Go-round winners Monday included Jake Vold (89 in bareback), Struxness (3.5 in steer wrestling), the duos of Levi Simpson-Jeremy Buhler and Driggers-Nogueira (4.0 in team roping), Jacobs Crawley (89 in saddle bronc), Caleb Smidt (6.7 in tie-down roping), Amberleigh Moore (13.62 in barrel racing), and Scottie Knapp (87 in bull riding).

The rodeo continues Tuesday night at 8 (CBS Sports Network TV) at the Thomas and Mack.