2007 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Final Review Podcast of the Winners and Losers

The final round of the 2007 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo was as exciting as any rodeo fan could ask for. With none of the titles determined until each event ended, all anyone could do, cowboy and cowgirl contestants, family, friends, and fans could do was wait until the completion of each round. The book makers and handicappers in Las Vegas must have had smoke coming out of their computers as each event neared completion.

Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, had the only “lock” on a world championship as the final round began, but that was for the all-around title, not an event. In November he won the Steer Roping National Finals held annually before the Las Vegas event.

In order of events, the first to receive a gold buckle for a world title was Bobby Mote, Culver, Oregon, in the bareback bronc riding. Mote, the 2002 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world champion bareback bronc rider entered the WNFR leading the field in his event and managed to be just one of three contestants to lead the standings going into the finals and win a title.

Steer wrestling was a wild affair and the man who entered the finals thirteenth, Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyoming, won the world championship as well as the average at the finals. Miller’s bank account received quite a bump by winning $116,434.29 at the finals and made his year-end earnings $178,767.80. The Wyoming cowboy has been adopted by the cadre of professional steer wrestlers who live in Sonora, Texas, and who, all taken together could make the Dallas Cowboy’s front line, offense and defense look puny.

Team roping was the most uneven event at the 2007 WNFR. That is not because of the quality of the ropers. The event/ropers just seemed to be jinxed from the first to the last round. Competitors like Speed Williams would have bankrupted the Vegas casino forecasters by not winning at least three or four rounds. The consistency that is normally associated with team roping must have had a voodoo spell on it. The eventual world champion winners are Chad Masters, Clarksville, Tenn., header with $183,101.55 and heeler, Walt Woodard, Stockton, Calif., $177,132.12.

Saddle bronc riding had a rookie emerge as a world champion. Taos Muncy, Corona, New Mexico, won $201,132.98 for the year. His final ride in the bronc riding was not a thing of beauty as the bronc, Bar T Rodeo’s Miller’s “Wheel” did everything but pull a knife on him. The horse had no timing and was a true eliminator. But, the New Mexico youngster “cowboyed up” and made a qualified ride. Once again, Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., had a chance to win a world title but, the great bronc “Cool Alley” deposited him to the turf in about three seconds and cost him the average money that could have made him the world champion. DeMoss ended up third for a world championship and the runner-up for 2007 was Rod Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, who was the only bronc rider to manage to ride all ten bucking horses in the bronc riding this year and won the WNFR average.

The tie-down calf roping title was won by Trevor Brazile. Yet, it was a constant fight to hang onto the title as Del Rio, Texas, roper Houston Hutto dogged Brazile the entire contest. Close on everyone’s heels was the reigning world champion, Cody Ohl of Hico, Texas, who won the average. Brazile nearly lost the championship by missing with his first loop and having to take a second loop to manage to stay in the average on his final calf. His time was 15.4, while Hutto was a 7.8 and Ohl was 14.0. Flashing back to round one of the roping when Hutto had not called for his calf and the gate man released him, makes one wonder “what if” he had cried foul and had another chance for clean start? He roped and tied the calf in 11. 6. Hutto, the professional, simply took the time and moved on.

The barrel racing was a nail-biter and Brittany Pozzi-Pharr, Victoria, Texas, who entered the WNFR in the lead, managed to win the average in the finals and a world championship. With $259,712.84 in her Wranglers, the Texas cowgirl will have a great Christmas. In 2008 everyone who enters barrel racing will keep checking their rear-view mirror for Lindsey Sears, Nanton, Alberta. Sears won five rounds in the barrel racing will be a force to be reckoned in the years ahead. Pozzi-Pharr however, is not a competitor to back down and should make barrel racing in 2008 for a world title a good reason not to go for popcorn or a beer when the ladies ride.

Bull riding produced a new champion, Wesley Silcox, Payson, Utah. Silcox won the average and the world title by riding seven of 10 bulls. He was the only bull rider to ride seven bulls or more at the rodeo. Winning $117,932.69 at the finals and $228,941.78 for the year would, under normal circumstances, make a guy relax however, the PRCA rodeo season runs from October 1, 2007 to the end of September, 2008. Some rodeos that count for the 2008 championship have already been held and the race is on once again. From now until around the first of January contestants can take a couple of weeks and spend the holidays with family and friends.

January 3-5, the Texas Circuit Finals will be held in Waco, Texas. Only the top 15 cowboys and cowgirls qualify for the Texas Circuit Championship and the rodeo is as exciting as the WNFR with many of the WNFR qualifiers competing in Waco.

January 4-5 and 9-12, Odessa, Texas, kicks off the 2008 calendar season for PRCA rodeos and Southwest Texas LIVE! will cover that and, many other PRCA rodeos all year as well as the 50th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Podcasts will be featured this year from PRCA rodeos and selected PBR bull riding events. On-line articles, podcasts and print articles will cover the sport of professional rodeo and the men and women that make it America’s sport.

A special thanks to Houston Hutto, Clay and Rusty Sewalt for being the Good Will Ambassadors for Del Rio, Texas, as they travel the United States and Canada on the professional rodeo circuit.

This review of the 2007 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo was underwritten by Del Rio Feed and Supply, 11 E. Gibbs, in Del Rio, Texas. To sponsor our next rodeo podcast series, or to become part of the broadcast series, please contact Southwest Texas LIVE! 830-469-4054.