A showgirl during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Tilden Hooper of Carthage,Texas rides "Redzilla" while competing in bareback riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Sterling Crawley of Stephenville, Texas gets bucked off of "Copper Cat" while competing in saddle bronc riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Chase Brooks of Deer Lodge, Mont. competes in saddle bronc riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Trey Benton III of Rock Island, Texas rides "VJV Whiskey Hand" while competing in bull riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Wade Sundell of Boxholm, Iowa rides "Lock & Load" while competing in saddle bronc riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Orin Larsen of Manitoba, Canada rides "Imperial Beach" while competing in bareback riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Carman Pozzobon of British Columbia, Canada competes in barrel racing during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
An aerialist performs during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Shane O’Connell of Rapid City, S.D. rides "Night Fist" while competing in bareback riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Sage Kimzey of Strong City, Okla. gets upended by "Mortimer" after completing his bull ride during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Tyler Bingham of Honeyville, Utah gets bucked off of "Joker" while competing in bull riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Kyle Irwin of Robertsdale, Ala. competes in steer wrestling during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Jake Long of Coffeyville, Kan. competes in team roping during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Chase Brooks of Deer Lodge, Mont. rides "Alpha Dog" while competing in saddle bronc riding during the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Competitors get ready for the start of the first night of the National Finals Rodeo after the opening ceremony at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
The National Finals Rodeo started its annual 10-day run at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday.
