Record ride buoys barrel racer

Almost every world championship race in the 10-day National Finals Rodeo is too close to call after Thursday's eighth go-round.

Other than Trevor Brazile winning the all-around title on Dec. 3, the only championship buckle that can begin to have a name engraved on it is in barrel racing.

Sherry Cervi doesn't want to know, but she could go shopping today for new leather to hold what almost certainly will be her third barrel racing world championship buckle.

Cervi put forth a Thomas & Mack Center-record effort Thursday that almost leaves her nearest pursuer, Canadian Lindsay Sears, in the dust of Cervi and her horse, Stingray.

Cervi completed the three-barrel, cloverleaf pattern in 13.49 seconds -- three-hundredths of a second quicker than the 4-year-old record.

That performance, before an announced crowd of 17,458, came two days after she became the first barrel racer to make $2 million in a career.

"Is this really happening?" Cervi said after winning for a third time and finishing in the top six in six of the past seven go-rounds.

"It's been one of those years you dream about. I had momentum from last year's Finals."

A year ago, she was the NFR's big money winner with $146,100 in 10 days. She has won $76,262 the past eight nights to push her season total to $256,113.

Cervi leads Sears by $77,722 with two go-rounds left. The most Sears can win is $79,934 with two victories, and she would need disastrous runs by Cervi for Cervi to be eliminated from contention for any bonus money for NFR aggregate totals that ranges from $4,237 for eighth to $44,910 for first.

Cervi, 35, of Marana, Ariz., is on the cusp of her third world championship and first since 1999 but refuses to look at the standings or listen if someone tries to tell her the size of her lead over Sears.

"I have no idea and don't want to know," she said.

Cervi said it wouldn't matter how big her lead was, and, if she knew, she wouldn't ride cautiously to protect it.

"I don't safety up. No way," Cervi said. "That's not what I set out to do."

None of the other contestants is in a position to safety up.

It looks as if each of the men's events will come down to Saturday's final go-round.

Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., drew closer to money leader Steve Dent of Mullen, Neb., in bareback riding when Mote tied for first and Dent finished out of the money. It was the second straight night Mote won or tied for first.

The closest two-man race is in saddle bronc riding, where leader Cody Wright of Milford, Utah, and Wade Sundell of Boxholm, Iowa, placed second and fourth in the round. Wright leads by $8,700 and is first in the NFR event standings, and Sundell is second.

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.