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LAS VEGAS — Record runs, gold-buckle bids and hard-earned checks defined Round 6 of the National Finals Rodeo on Tuesday night, where several Midwest and Plains cowboys continued to grind through a demanding week at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Team ropers Tanner Tomlinson and Travis Graves delivered the headline moment, stopping the clock in 3.4 seconds to set a new Round 6 mark before 17,213 fans. The pair surpassed the 3.6 set moments earlier by Clint Summers and Jade Corkill. The win pushed Tomlinson to No. 1 in the PRCA header standings and moved Graves to No. 2 among heelers.
“This was a tough round, and you’re trying to rope the first available hop,” Graves said. “Everybody was going at them tonight.”
Bareback Riding: Pope, Shadbolt Hold Ground
Kade Sonnier claimed his first NFR round victory with an 88 on Land of Fancy. Kansas standout Jess Pope of Waverly finished 12th with an 81.5 but remains firmly in the world title conversation. Pope sits fifth in the PRCA world standings with $266,857 and fifth in the average at 508.25 on six head.
Nebraska’s Garrett Shadbolt posted an 84.25 for eighth and continues to climb in the average, where he is seventh overall. Colorado’s Mason Moody of South Dakota (Letcher) remained outside the payoff Tuesday and continues his push through the back half of the NFR.
Steer Wrestling: Struxness Slides in Average
Ty Erickson’s 3.5-second run delivered his second round win of the week and vaulted him to No. 2 in the world. Minnesota’s J.D. Struxness recorded a tough 13.8 but remains fifth in the average at 44.1 seconds on six head. He sits sixth in the world with $201,505.
Saddle Bronc Riding: Patterson Continues Consistency
Statler Wright took the round with 90 points on Renegade, continuing his breakout NFR. Kansas bronc rider Weston Patterson of Waverly turned in an 84-point ride for 12th. Despite missing the pay window, Patterson remains 13th in the average and 12th in the world standings with $212,715.
Tie-Down Roping: Pruitt Steady in Deep Field
Louisiana’s Joel Harris won the round with a 6.8. Nebraska’s Riley Pruitt of Gering clocked a 9.0-second run, placing 10th. Pruitt continues navigating one of the tightest tie-down fields in years as Brushton Minton holds the average lead.
Bull Riding: Moody Battles Through Deep Pen
Utah superstar Stetson Wright won his third bull riding round of the week with an 88.5 on Insurrection, continuing a dominant NFR across multiple events. South Dakota’s Mason Moody of Letcher came up short Tuesday but remains in contention for late-round payouts with four rounds remaining.
Team Roping: Summers, Corkill Nearly Steal the Night
Before Tomlinson and Graves’ round-winning run, header Clint Summers and heeler Jade Corkill appeared poised to claim the record after posting a blistering 3.6. Summers and Corkill remain atop the average standings through six rounds at 25.5 seconds.
“That was some great team roping tonight,” Graves said. “The steers were great, and everybody was going at them.”
What’s Next
With four rounds left, several territory cowboys remain in striking distance in the world standings and average races:
• Jess Pope, Kansas — 5th in world, 5th in average
• Garrett Shadbolt, Nebraska — 11th in world, 7th in average
• Weston Patterson, Kansas — 12th in world, 13th in average
• Luke Mackey, Colorado — 11th in the world
• Mason Moody, South Dakota — fighting through a stacked bull riding pen
• Riley Pruitt, Nebraska — steady in tie-down
• J.D. Struxness, Minnesota — 5th in average, 6th in world
Full PRCA results from all events are available at prorodeo.com.
