The Back Number Breakdown
By Dee Yates
Not long ago, a Ropers Sports News subscriber called our office with a question that comes up just about every year. They wanted to know why contestants in some events get to count more rodeos toward qualifying for the National Finals than others, and why NFR back numbers don’t always match the world standings. After that conversation, we went looking for answers and turned to the research of Kendra Santos, a world-class writer, podcaster, and respected rodeo historian and fact checker. Her published explanation helped clear up the confusion, and for anyone wanting to read more, her full piece is available on her Facebook page.
Each December, when the NFR back numbers are released, fans often wonder why a cowboy who’s ranked lower in the world standings might show up in Las Vegas with a smaller back number. The reason is simple: the world standings and the NFR back numbers measure different things. World standings include only official earnings—the money won at a limited number of rodeos designated to count toward a contestant’s season total. NFR back numbers, however, include all money won throughout the season, both official …
Before each season begins, contestants in every event vote on how many rodeos will count as official for the standings in their event. For 2025, those limits are: bareback riding – 100 rodeos, saddle bronc riding – 100, bull riding – 125, steer wrestling – 85, and tie-down roping and team roping – 80 each. These numbers are decided by the competitors themselves to balance opportunity and travel demands.
The all-around race follows its own set of rules. To keep things fair between events, only 70 rodeos can count toward the world all-around standings. Cowboys chasing that title must also declare before competing whether a rodeo will count toward that total. If a contestant chooses to mark a rodeo unofficial and wins there, the money still goes in his pocket but won’t appear in his world standings. It will be included in his NFR back-number total, though, which often causes the difference fans notice.
A few more details round out the picture. Stand-alone events such as PRCA Xtreme Bulls don’t count toward the all-around race since not every member can enter. Ground money—when only one rider makes a qualified ride—counts toward the world standings only in bull riding. Steer roping money counts toward both the all-around race and the NFR back numbers, even though the steer ropers have their own finals earlier in the season.
Women’s events follow similar rules. Barrel racers can count up to 100 rodeos toward their standings, while breakaway ropers can count up to 80. Both must compete at a minimum of 25 rodeos to qualify for their respective finals. Barrel racers cannot include winnings from non-PRCA-sanctioned events.
When it’s all said and done, NFR back numbers represent the total money a contestant won during the season, while world standings show only official earnings within each event’s set limits. The system might look complicated from the outside, but it’s designed to level the playing field across all disciplines and reward the cowboys and cowgirls who worked hard and won consistently all year long.
So, to that subscriber who called—now you’ve got the inside scoop. The cowboys set the limits, the PRCA enforces them, and together they tell the full story of who earned their spot under the bright lights in Las Vegas.
The 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo lineup is officially set, showcasing the highest-earning competitors of the season across every discipline. In the All-Around, 1. Stetson Wright $391,670.61, 2. Wacey Schalla $358,985.70, 3. Dylan Hancock $161,494.24, 4. Brushton Minton $147,463.82, 5. Paden Bray $112,952.83, 6. Tanner Green, 7. Seth Hall, 8. Cole Clemons, 9. Jake Clay, 10. Coleman Proctor, 11. Slade Wood, 12. Chet Weitz, 13. Chance Oftedahl, 14. Myles Kenzy, 15. Marcus Theriot.
In Bareback Riding, 1. Rocker Steiner $303,547.32, 2. Sam Petersen $221,901.45, 3. Bradlee Miller $207,474.02, 4. Jess Pope $203,629.04, 5. Cole Franks $200,362.07, 6. Kade Sonnier $171,507.03, 7. Garrett Shadbolt $168,261.06, 8. Dean Thompson $166,535.63, 9. Jacek Frost $143,543.04, 10. Cooper Cooke $142,593.79, 11. Jayco Roper $139,774.86, 12. Waylon Bourgeois $137,863.80, 13. Wacey Schalla $136,108.92, 14. Mason Clements $130,131.01, 15. Tilden Hooper $129,950.66.
n Steer Wrestling, 1. Will Lummus $195,115.71, 2. Jesse Brown $162,156.51, 3. Justin Shaffer $155,773.24, 4. Rowdy Parrott $150,876.62, 5. Tucker Allen $150,867.48, 6. J.D. Struxness $138,672.06, 7. Stetson Jorgensen $136,028.71, 8. Tyler Waguespack $135,824.63, 9. Dakota Eldridge $124,916.06, 10. Kyle Irwin $113,220.46, 11. Scott Guenthner $112,607.29, 12. Bridger Anderson $109,327.58, 13. Chance Howard $108,298.10, 14. Ty Erickson $105,960.29, 15. Gavin Soileau $105,898.52.
In Team Roping (Headers), 1. Kaleb Driggers $198,497.72, 2. Tanner Tomlinson $183,807.11, 3. Derrick Begay $166,201.94, 4. Clint Summers $161,241.61, 5. Dustin Egusquiza $160,703.39, 6. Clay Smith $158,489.89, 7. Andrew Ward $149,054.75, 8. Tyler Wade $143,366.47, 9. Cyle Denison $142,002.37, 10. Dawson Graham $131,934.01, 11. Jake Smith $125,537.03, 12. Riley Minor $125,025.27, 13. Luke Brown $123,302.92, 14. Kolton Schmidt $119,938.20, 15. Lightning Aguilera $114,735.75.
Among Team Roping (Heelers), 1. Junior Nunes Nogueira $198,497.72, 2. Colter Todd $163,849.59, 3. Jade Corkill $161,566.83, 4. Levi Lord $158,321.88, 5. Travis Graves $149,918.88, 6. Coleby Payne $149,293.26, 7. Jake Long $147,308.20, 8. Wesley Thorp $143,366.47, 9. Lane Mitchell $143,031.89, 10. Dillon Graham $131,934.03, 11. Brady Minor $125,025.29, 12. Trey Yates $123,302.91, 13. Douglas Rich $114,787.02, 14. Kaden Profili $113,535.55, 15. Jonathan Torres $111,672.10.
In Saddle Bronc Riding, 1. Ryder Wright $293,994.02, 2. Damian Brennan $278,153.12, 3. Dawson Hay $268,621.07, 4. Zeke Thurston $244,268.49, 5. Kade Bruno $215,065.42, 6. Brody Wells $214,707.37, 7. Zachary Dallas $198,403.28, 8. Sage Newman $196,495.28, 9. Statler Wright $181,871.98, 10. Brody Cress $180,091.95, 11. Weston Patterson $173,735.41, 12. Stetson Wright $165,336.46, 13. Q Taylor $157,561.67, 14. Ben Andersen $149,661.35, 15. Lefty Holman $144,872.18.
In Tie-Down Roping, 1. Riley Webb $305,132.00, 2. Shad Mayfield $256,310.00, 3. Kincade Henry $186,718.38, 4. John Douch $174,969.71, 5. Dylan Hancock $172,104.48, 6. Riley Pruitt $165,787.48, 7. Marty Yates $156,610.51, 8. Tom Crouse $147,808.43, 9. Brushton Minton $145,643.52, 10. Joel Harris $140,854.95, 11. Zack Jongbloed $137,678.37, 12. Ty Harris $137,196.54, 13. Haven Meged $133,805.27, 14. Kyle Lucas $129,297.74, 15. Shane Hanchey $126,956.85.
Among Team Roping (Heelers), 1. Junior Nunes Nogueira $198,497.72, 2. Colter Todd $163,849.59, 3. Jade Corkill $161,566.83, 4. Levi Lord $158,321.88, 5. Travis Graves $149,918.88, 6. Coleby Payne $149,293.26, 7. Jake Long $147,308.20, 8. Wesley Thorp $143,366.47, 9. Lane Mitchell $143,031.89, 10. Dillon Graham $131,934.03, 11. Brady Minor $125,025.29, 12. Trey Yates $123,302.91, 13. Douglas Rich $114,787.02, 14. Kaden Profili $113,535.55, 15. Jonathan Torres $111,672.10.
In Saddle Bronc Riding, 1. Ryder Wright $293,994.02, 2. Damian Brennan $278,153.12, 3. Dawson Hay $268,621.07, 4. Zeke Thurston $244,268.49, 5. Kade Bruno $215,065.42, 6. Brody Wells $214,707.37, 7. Zachary Dallas $198,403.28, 8. Sage Newman $196,495.28, 9. Statler Wright $181,871.98, 10. Brody Cress $180,091.95, 11. Weston Patterson $173,735.41, 12. Stetson Wright $165,336.46, 13. Q Taylor $157,561.67, 14. Ben Andersen $149,661.35, 15. Lefty Holman $144,872.18.
In Tie-Down Roping, 1. Riley Webb $305,132.00, 2. Shad Mayfield $256,310.00, 3. Kincade Henry $186,718.38, 4. John Douch $174,969.71, 5. Dylan Hancock $172,104.48, 6. Riley Pruitt $165,787.48, 7. Marty Yates $156,610.51, 8. Tom Crouse $147,808.43, 9. Brushton Minton $145,643.52, 10. Joel Harris $140,854.95, 11. Zack Jongbloed $137,678.37, 12. Ty Harris $137,196.54, 13. Haven Meged $133,805.27, 14. Kyle Lucas $129,297.74, 15. Shane Hanchey $126,956.85.
Among Team Roping (Heelers), 1. Junior Nunes Nogueira $198,497.72, 2. Colter Todd $163,849.59, 3. Jade Corkill $161,566.83, 4. Levi Lord $158,321.88, 5. Travis Graves $149,918.88, 6. Coleby Payne $149,293.26, 7. Jake Long $147,308.20, 8. Wesley Thorp $143,366.47, 9. Lane Mitchell $143,031.89, 10. Dillon Graham $131,934.03, 11. Brady Minor $125,025.29, 12. Trey Yates $123,302.91, 13. Douglas Rich $114,787.02, 14. Kaden Profili $113,535.55, 15. Jonathan Torres $111,672.10.
In Saddle Bronc Riding, 1. Ryder Wright $293,994.02, 2. Damian Brennan $278,153.12, 3. Dawson Hay $268,621.07, 4. Zeke Thurston $244,268.49, 5. Kade Bruno $215,065.42, 6. Brody Wells $214,707.37, 7. Zachary Dallas $198,403.28, 8. Sage Newman $196,495.28, 9. Statler Wright $181,871.98, 10. Brody Cress $180,091.95, 11. Weston Patterson $173,735.41, 12. Stetson Wright $165,336.46, 13. Q Taylor $157,561.67, 14. Ben Andersen $149,661.35, 15. Lefty Holman $144,872.18.
In Tie-Down Roping, 1. Riley Webb $305,132.00, 2. Shad Mayfield $256,310.00, 3. Kincade Henry $186,718.38, 4. John Douch $174,969.71, 5. Dylan Hancock $172,104.48, 6. Riley Pruitt $165,787.48, 7. Marty Yates $156,610.51, 8. Tom Crouse $147,808.43, 9. Brushton Minton $145,643.52, 10. Joel Harris $140,854.95, 11. Zack Jongbloed $137,678.37, 12. Ty Harris $137,196.54, 13. Haven Meged $133,805.27, 14. Kyle Lucas $129,297.74, 15. Shane Hanchey $126,956.85.
