Brazile has rest of field tied up

Trevor Brazile's quest for the all-around world championship was a topic of conversation the past four years at the Nationals Finals Rodeo.

Would he win it? Would he clinch before the last of 10 performances? Will he ever catch Ty Murray's record of seven all-around titles?

A year ago, he won his fourth straight to tie Murray's mark. It was Brazile's seventh all-around crown in eight years.

When the 52nd annual NFR opens its 10-day run tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center, the question could be: Can he clinch another one tonight?

Brazile has started the world's richest rodeo with bigger leads than what he'll start with tonight at 6:45 p.m. Still, he owns an almost impossibly insurmountable $158,950 cushion over Canadian steer wrestler Curtis Cassidy in the all-around chase.

That's only half the story. Brazile is qualified in calf roping and team roping, making him the only one of 119 contestants who will compete in more than one event in the $5.875 million rodeo. In the past few years, Brazile's closest challengers in all-around also competed in two events.

There might not be much all-around drama as Brazile, from Decatur, Texas, has nearly wrapped up the title, but storylines are still plentiful, as they have been since the Finals moved from Oklahoma City to the Thomas & Mack in 1985.

Following are breakdowns of each event, with top money winners, other qualifiers, reigning champions and a short overview:

ALL-AROUND COWBOY

TOP CONTENDERS: 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, $296,411; 2. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, $137,461; 3. Ryan Jarrett, Summerville, Ga., $103,163; 4. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., $102,233; 5. Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore., $100,074.

2009 CHAMPION: Brazile

OVERVIEW: Brazile is No. 1 in calf roping -- in which he won world titles in 2007 and 2009 -- and is eighth among team roping headers. He placed second for the year with $79,785 in steer roping, which held its finals the first weekend of November.

BAREBACK RIDING

TOP CONTENDERS: 1. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., $159,024; 2. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., $136,452; 3. Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, $108,056; 4. Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, $105,234; 5. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., $89,385.

OTHER QUALIFIERS: 6. Dusty LaValley, Bezanson, Alberta, $88,015; 7. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, $85,406; 8. Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo., $82,586; 9. Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., $81,850; 10. Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., $80,172; 11. Jason Havens, Prineville, Ore., $75,877; 12. Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, $74,148; 13. Matt Bright, Azle, Texas, $74,145; 14. Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., $71,797; 15. D.V. Fennell, Neosho, Mo., $64,485.

2009 CHAMPION: Mote

OVERVIEW: Gray, 27, won eight rodeos this year and shared titles in four others. His biggest payday was at RodeoHouston, where he won $55,350. He is competing in his sixth straight NFR. He placed in three rounds a year ago and finished the season ranked sixth in the world.

STEER WRESTLING

TOP CONTENDERS: 1. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, $110,473; 2. Todd Suhn, Hermosa, S.D., $101,791; 3. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., $92,703; 4. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., $90,142; 5. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., $86,113.

OTHER QUALIFIERS: 6. Matt Reeves, Cross Plains, Texas, $82,391; 7. Cody Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, $76,433; 8. Jule Hazen, Ashland, Kan., $71,091; 9. Dane Hanna, Berthold, N.D., $68,937; 10. Ethen Thouvenell, Napa, Calif., $67,068; 11. Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif., $66,187; 12. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., $62,542; 13. Wade Sumpter, Fowler, Colo., $61,407; 14. Kyle Hughes, Olney Springs, Colo., $57,399; 15. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., $54,332.

2009 CHAMPION: Lee Graves (did not qualify)

OVERVIEW: The bulldogging championship race will again be one of the most closely contested. A year ago, less than $10,000 separated the top three, and this year $20,000 separates the top four. Missing from the Finals is reigning and two-time world champ Lee Graves, who had surgery in March to repair a torn biceps tendon.

TEAM ROPING

HEADER

TOP CONTENDERS: 1. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont., $146,608; 2. Chad Masters, Clarksville, Tenn., $116,721; 3. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas, $106,327; 4. Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont., $88,822; 5. Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore., $88,200.

OTHER QUALIFIERS: 6. Britt Williams, Hammond, Mont., $86,744; 7. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas, $81,115; 8. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, $80,974; 9. Brady Tryan, Huntley, Mont., $72,868; 10. Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas, $69,811; 11. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz., $69,056; 12. JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas, $68,819; 13. Nick Sartain, Yukon, Okla., $67,098; 14. Ty Blasingame, Ramah, Colo., $67,092; 15. Keven Daniel, Franklin, Tenn., $62,603.

2009 CHAMPION: Sartain

HEELER

TOP CONTENDERS: 1. Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., $147,653; 2. Cory Petska, Lexington, Okla., $122,184; 3. Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., $116,721; 4. Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore., $90,051; 5. Bobby Harris, Gillette, Wyo., $87,695.

OTHER QUALIFIERS: 6. Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, $83,972; 7. Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, $83,030; 8. Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas, $81,771; 9. Caleb Twisselman, Santa Margarita, Calif., $72,947; 10. Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas, $70,467; 11. Broc Cresta, Santa Rosa, Calif., $69,919; 12. Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., $69,675; 13. Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., $69,056; 14. Kollin VonAhn, Durant, Okla., $67,098; 15. Cody Hintz, Spring Creek, Nev., $65,557.

2009 CHAMPION: VonAhn

2010 PAIRS (Header first): C. Tryan-Graves, LeMond-Petska, Masters-Corkill, Powell-Cresta, Crawford-Cardoza, T. Tryan-Skelton, Williams-Harris, Brown-Lucero, Brazile-Smith, Daniel-Twisselman, B. Tryan-Long, Lovell-Koontz, Begay-de la Cruz, Sartain-VonAhn and Blasingame-Hintz.

OVERVIEW: Leaders Tryan and Graves set regular-season earnings records this year in the PRCA. Before the NFR begins, they are about $42,000 short of the full season marks. Big deposits were made to their accounts when they won $35,955 apiece in September at the Justin Boots Championships in Omaha, Neb.

Logandale's Randon Adams, who won the 2008 world heeler title, missed qualifying by $3,676 and one position in the standings.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING

TOP CONTENDERS: 1. Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas, $106,808; 2. Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, $102,937; 3. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, $99,292; 4. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., $98,964; 5. Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., $86,125.

OTHER QUALIFIERS: 6. Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, Mont., $85,328; 7. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., $82,503; 8. Shaun Stroh, Dickinson, N.D., $80,913; *9. Rod Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, $77,693; 10. Jeff Willert, Belvidere, S.D., $75,211; 11. J.J. Elshere, Quinn, S.D., $70,875; 12. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., $62,310; 13. Scott Miller, Boise, Idaho, $60,922; 14. Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, Alberta, $58,353; 15. Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, $57,336; 16. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, $56,908.

2009 CHAMPION: Kruse

OVERVIEW: This is the tightest championship race in the NFR. Less than $8,000 separates leader Harter from No. 4 Muncy. Harter, 29, took over the lead after winning $28,446 in the Justin Boots Championships, one of nine rodeos he won this year, including the Reno Rodeo. He tied for first in two others.

One rider missing from the event: Billy Etbauer. The 45-year-old Oklahoma cowboy rodeoed part time this year and finished the year ranked 36th. The five-time world champ competed in the last 22 Finals.

Canadian Rod Hay qualified for his 20th NFR but withdrew with a leg injury two weeks ago, allowing Jesse Wright to move up to the 15th spot and compete in his first NFR. Wright's older brother Cody Wright, who qualified third, won the 2008 world championship.

CALF ROPING

TOP CONTENDERS: 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, $142,736; 2. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, $107,369; 3. Stran Smith, Childress, Texas, $99,118; 4. Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla., $98,321; 5. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., $96,896.

OTHER QUALIFIERS: 6. Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla., $92,092; 7. Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash., $89,174; 8. Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, $88,609; 9. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas, 84,305; 10. Ryan Jarrett, Summerville, Ga., $79,972; 11. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, $79,170; 12. Joseph Parsons, Marana, Ariz., $77,822; 13. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, $76,498; 14. Clif Cooper, Decatur, Texas, $72,974; 15. Jerrad Hofstetter, Portales, N.M., $72,836.

2009 CHAMPION: Brazile

OVERVIEW: Brazile has a tight reign on the field with a big lead as he goes for his second straight world title in the event and his third overall.

Returning to the Finals after missing last year is eight-time world champ Whitfield. And never count out six-time world titlist Ohl as a contender.

Moapa Valley High graduate Matt Shiozawa, a four-time qualifier, didn't make it this year.

BULL RIDING

TOP CONTENDERS: 1. Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah, $137,392; 2. Shawn Hogg, Odessa, Texas, $114,753; 3. Steve Woolsey, Payson, Utah, $112,017; 4. Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo., $101,619; 5. Clayton Williams, Carthage, Texas, $98,169.

OTHER QUALIFIERS: 6. Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo., $95,755; 7. Chad Denton, Berry Creek, Calif., $95,279; 8. J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas, $87,803; 9. D.J. Domangue, Houma, La., $87,105; 10. Dustin Elliott, North Platte, Neb., $80,291; 11. Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D., $78,846; 12. Corey Navarre, Weatherford, Okla., $76,354; 13. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., $73,579; 14. Seth Glause, Rock Springs, Wyo., $65,139; 15. Cody Whitney, Asher, Okla., $64,547.

2009 CHAMPION: J.W. Harris

OVERVIEW: Harris is the two-time reigning world champion but trails Silcox by $50,000 before he even nods his head at his fifth NFR.

The 25-year-old Silcox has competed in five of the last six Finals, winning the world title in 2007. He owns eight titles this season, including the PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour.

Elliott, 29, will compete in his fourth NFR and first since 2006, when he began devoting his riding to the Professional Bull Riders tour. He qualified for this year's PBR World Finals, where he won $97,333 and finished the year ranked 10th. He is the first since 2006 to qualify for the PBR World Finals and the NFR in the same year.

WPRA BARREL RACING

TOP CONTENDERS: 1. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., $179,852; 2. Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta, $133,952; 3. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, $114,452; 4. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., $100,248; 5. Jill Moody, Letcher, S.D., $86,651.

OTHER QUALIFIERS: 6. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., $80,601; 7. Nellie Williams, Cottonwood, Calif., $72,633; 8. Kelli Tolbert, Hooper, Utah, $72,360; 9. Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif., $67,140; 10. Sherrylynn Johnson, Henryetta, Okla., $60,746; 11. Jeanne Anderson, White City, Kan., $57,543; 12. Tana Poppino, Big Cabin, Okla., $55,582; 13. Angie Meadors, Blanchard, Okla., $52,473; 14. Benette Barrington, Lubbock, Texas, $51,584; 15. Sydni Blanchard, Albuquerque, N.M., $49,904.

2009 CHAMPION: Cervi

OVERVIEW: The top three riders this year are the same riders who finished the 2009 season in the top three -- and in the same order in the Women's Professional Rodeo Association event. Cervi, 35, is the veteran who won a record $146,927 in the Finals last year to earn her third world title and first since 1999.