Brazile closing in on another world title

Brett Hoffman

Trevor Brazile is roping in the cash these days.

In the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world all-around standings, Brazile has $254,364, which is well ahead of the total he had on the same week in 2007 ($235,238) when he was on his way to the single-season earnings record of $425,115.

Brazile’s all-around earnings total is more than $110,000 ahead of second-place Clint Robinson, as he seeks to earn his seventh all-around gold buckle and tie the record held by Ty Murray.

Brazile, who lives in Decatur, has the commanding lead after winning the tie-down roping title at the Sept. 24-26 Justin Boots Championships in Omaha, Neb.

Brazile clinched the title after turning in a time of 7.2 seconds in the finals and earned $20,731. He also pocketed another $5,808 in team roping.

The $835,000 all-star rodeo in Omaha featured 12 qualifiers in each event.

In saddle bronc riding, Isaac Diaz of Stephenville clinched the title after turning in a final round score of 86 to edge J.J. Elshere by a point. He earned a total of $21,523 in the three-day rodeo.

The big payday was much-needed for Diaz, who arrived in Omaha ranked 16th in the world title race. That’s one slot away from what it takes to qualify for the December Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

But after winning the late season rodeo, Diaz is ranked eighth in the PRCA world standings with $80,574 and is assured of qualifying for the NFR for a second time.

However, winning was a little nerve-racking at times. There was a four-way tie for third place in the semifinals, and Diaz only made it into the four-man finals based on a tiebreaker. He had the second-best two-head average among those who ended up tied, and that got him the last seat in the four-man finals, according to the PRCA.

J.W. Harris of May continued his seasonlong dominance of bull riding. A 91-point ride on Velvet Elvis of Four L and Diamond S Rodeo assured the reigning PRCA champion of his 22nd win at a PRCA rodeo.

Harris earned $26,099 in Omaha. In the PRCA standings, Harris is ranked first with $216,723, almost doubling the earnings of second place Steve Woolsey, who has $108,444.

Defending world barrel racing champion Lindsay Sears finished as the Omaha rodeo’s highest money-winner after earning $32,787. Sears, a former Texas Tech star who has homes in Nanton, Alberta, and the West Texas town of Ropesville, won three of the four rounds including the final in 13.85 seconds. It was her third consecutive year to win the Omaha rodeo.

In bareback riding, Ryan Gray, another former Texas Tech star who has homes in Cheney, Wash., and the West Texas town of Petersburg, clinched the title after turning in a 92 in the final round aboard Classic Pro Rodeo’s Big Tex. He earned $32,171.

In steer wrestling, Luke Branquinho, of Los Alamos, Calif., paced the field with a 3.4 and earned $31,731. David Key of Caldwell, and Brad Culpepper of Ashburn, Ga., won the team roping title after posting a 5.6 and each earned $20,643.



A bullish show — The PBR has scheduled its biggest one-day event ever at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on Feb 20. The winner of the Dickies 2010 Iron Cowboy Invitational is expected to earn more than $300,000. TeamPBR Fan Club members began buying tickets on Monday (800-732-1727). The general public, starting Friday, can buy online at Ticketmaster, by phone at (800) 745-3000 or at Cowboys Stadium.



College rodeo update — The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Southern Region season begins this weekend with the Northeast Texas Community College Rodeo. It’s the first of 10 scheduled regular season shows for 2009-10. Some other schools that compete in the region are Sam Houston State, Panola College, Hill College and Trinity Valley Community College. Stephen F. Austin and Texas A&M.