POCATELLO, Idaho -- Knowing they had to be "really fast" to have a chance to stay alive in the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, brothers Riley and Brady Minor were faster than anybody's ever been at Holt Arena.
Their 4.1-second run in the second round was a tenth of a second quicker than the arena record set by Richard Eiguren and B.J. Campbell in 2002.
Now they just have to wait. Having issued a no-time in the first round Thursday, they will advance to Saturday night's semifinal round only if no more than five of the eight teams who had qualified times in the first round put up legal times again during the Saturday noon matinee -- the completion of the second round.
"I just wish I hadn't messed up last night (Thursday)," said heeler Brady Minor. "I just hope we can slip in somehow and still have a shot at that ($20,000 voucher for a) Dodge Truck."
If the Minors believe in fate at all, they have reason to be optimistic. Like the Minors, Eiguren and Campbell are from the Columbia River Circuit, and they won the DNCFR the year they broke the record. More? Brady Minor rides Dugout, a horse he bought from Campbell eight years ago.
At the very least, they can take comfort in the fact that they did everything they could to help their cause.
"The second team out (David Key/Rich Skelton) was 4.7 and we had to win first to maybe have a chance to keep going," said Riley Minor. "Our steer was supposed to just be OK. We went as fast as we could and it turned out pretty good."
"Riley roped really fast," Brady Minor said. "He made sure the run went fast."
When his primary horse, El Rey, was injured last week, steer wrestler Ollin Hannum had to come up with viable option pronto and he went for a horse he "knew and trusted."
Riding Coby Jones' horse Bear, and with Jones acting as hazer, Hannum had a run of 3.7 seconds, which was fastest in the second round Friday night and just three-tenths off the oldest DNCFR record on the books, Mike Smith's 3.4 in 1990.
"I needed to make a big jump to have a chance at Saturday night," Hannum said, "and now I'm confident I'll make it there."
California tie-down roper Wes Lockard had the night's fastest time in his event (7.7 seconds) also while riding a borrowed horse.
"It wasn't a very good calf, but I got a great start on this little horse Roanie I'm borrowing from one of my good friends in Las Vegas," Lockard said. "I saw this horse a lot when I went to school at Nevada-Las Vegas. A high school kid (Tyler Kenyon) was riding him and he stopped rodeoing for a while, and I asked if I could borrow him. I just couldn't ask him to work any better."
Faced with possible elimination, defending DNCFR champion and reigning World Champion J.W. Harris came through in a big way with a rodeo-best 90-point ride on Rafter H Rodeo's Who's Next. Because the bulls have bucked off 75 percent of the riders through the first three days of the rodeo (27 of 36), Harris went from a tie for last into a tie for third in the average entering Saturday's matinee.
"That little bull is kind of deceiving," Harris said. "He looks like he's pretty good to ride. He's wanting you in and out of there (pulling the rider side to side) all the time."
One night after winning the first round with an 86-point ride, Bobby Mote had the highest-scored ride of the second round Friday night and is suddenly feeling very good about his chances at that Dodge truck he wants so much.
Mote earned 87 points on J Bar J Rodeo's Faded Jeans to lead both the round and average standings, pending the completion of the second round. His 173 points on two head is eight points ahead of Jared Keylon in second place.
"That's an awesome horse," Mote said. "He bucked. He jumped really high in the air for a couple of jumps. I was glad to be there when the smoke cleared."
Christina Richman continued her hot streak with a time of 14.92 seconds in the barrel racing, which was the fastest of the night and good enough to put her in the average lead as well.
"I don’t think the ground was holding quite as well tonight," Richman said. "And, after getting so close to the first barrel last night, I rode a bit more conservatively because I wanted to be sure to keep off all of them. That is not easy for me because I really just like to go all out."
Taos Muncy, the 2007 world champion saddle bronc rider, served notice he is going to be a factor for the title here with an 86-point ride on Korkow Rodeo's River Rat. It put him atop the leader board in the second round and tied for third in the average.
"I've seen him a bunch and always wanted to get on him," Muncy said. "I was lucky to draw him here."
WWW.ProRodeoLive.com will air live coverage of both sessions of the DNCFR today, at noon and 7 p.m.
Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo
Holt Arena, Pocatello, Idaho
Bareback riding: Second round: 1. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 87 points on J Bar J Rodeo's Faded Jeans; 2. Tim Shirley, Grant, Colo., 84; 3. Jared Keylon, Fort Scott, Kan., 82; 4. Teddy Athan, Livermore, Calif., 80; 5. (tie) Chris Harris, Itasca, Texas; Scott Montague, Rapid City, S.D., and Scotty NeSmith, Russellville, Tenn., 79; 8. Bud Munns, Snowville, Utah, 78; 9. Bee Jay Scott, Otley, Iowa, 76; 10. Buck Lunak, Cut Bank, Mont., 71; 11. Wyatt Hancock, Taylor, Ariz., 69; 12. J.C. Smith, Aspers, Pa., 53. Average leaders: 1. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 173 points on two head; 2. Jared Keylon, Fort Scott, Kan., 165; 3. (tie) Chris Harris, Itasca, Texas, and Scott Montague, Rapid City, S.D., 161; 5. Teddy Athan, Livermore, Calif., 155; 6. Bee Jay Scott, Otley, Iowa, 152; 7. Bud Munns, Snowville, Utah, 148; 8. Scotty Nesmith, Russellville, Tenn., 146; 9. Wyatt Hancock, Taylor, Ariz., 142; 10. (tie) Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., and Tim Shirley, Grant, Colo., 84 on one head; 12. Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., 83; 13. Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 80; 14. Josh Shackleford, McGee, Mo., 79.
Steer wrestling: Second round: 1. Olin Hannum, West Haven, Utah, 3.7 seconds; 2. Todd Suhn, Hermosa, S.D., 4.1; 3. Kyle Hughes, Olney Springs, Colo., 4.4; 4. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 4.5; 5. Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 5.4; 6. Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif., 10.8; 7. Justin Morehouse, New Ross, Ind., 14.0; 8. (tie) Ace Campbell, Livingston, Ala., and Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 14.8; 10.(tie) Beau Franzen, Sidney, Mont.; Cutter Parsons, Marana, Ariz., and Darren Morgan, Fort Edward, N.Y., NT. Average leaders: 1. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 9.5 seconds on two head; 2. (tie) Todd Suhn, Hermosa, S.D., and Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 10.0; 4. Olin Hannum, West Haven, Utah, 10.3; 5. Kyle Hughes, Olney Springs, Colo., 10.5; 6. Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif., 17.2; 7. Ace Campbell, Livingston, Ala., 20.5; 8. (tie) Erik Johnson, Eltopia, Wash., and Cutter Parsons, Marana, Ariz., 5.7 on one head; 10. Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., 6.0; 11. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 7.5; 12. Beau Franzen, Sidney, Mont., 8.0; 13. Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, 9.6; 14. Dean McIntyre, Wickenburg, Ariz., 11.1.
Team roping: Second round: 1. Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 4.1 seconds (breaks arena record, 4.2 seconds, Richard Eiguren/B.J. Campbell, 2002); 2. David Key, Stephenville, Texas/Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 4.7; 3. Tate Dempewolf, Broadus, Mont./Charlie Lenning, Billings, Mont., 5.1; 4. Mark Brockmueller, Irene, S.D./Dustin Harris, O'Neill, Neb., 6.3; 5. Ty Smith, Edmond, Okla./Jace Crabb, Mangum, Okla., 10.2; 6. Ben Ray, Bertrand, Mo./Jason Stroup, Gordonville, Mo., 15.2; 7. Mike Pivetti, Hollister, Calif./Mike Christensen, Bakersfield, Calif., 15.5; 8. Darren Morgan, Fort Edward, N.Y./Casey Cox, Fort Edward, N.Y., 17.1; 9. (tie) Ty Blasingame, Ramah, Colo./Ryon Tittel, Pueblo, Colo.; Brian Winn, Annabella, Utah/Randon Adams, Logandale, Nev.; Will Lynd, Springhill, La./Lane Salley, Belmont, La., and Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Cory Petska, Lexington, Okla., NT. Average leaders: 1. Mark Brockmueller, Irene, S.D./Dustin Harris, O'Neill, Neb., 13.7 seconds on two head; 2. Mike Pivetti, Hollister, Calif./Mike Christensen, Bakersfield, Calif., 35.4; 3. Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 4.1 on one head; 4. David Key, Stephenville, Texas/Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 4.7; 5. Tate Dempewolf, Broadus, Mont./Charlie Lenning, Billings, Mont., 5.1; 6. Cody Odell, Como, Texas/Mickey Gomez, Holland, Texas, 5.2; 7. (tie) Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz./Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, and Ty Blasingame, Ramah, Colo./Ryon Tittel, Pueblo, Colo., 5.5; 9. (tie) Matt Robertson, Augusta, Mont./Justin Viles, Cody, Wyo., and Nick Sartain, Yukon, Okla./Jett Hillman, Jones, Okla., 5.6; 11. Paul Mullins, Shafter, Calif./Todd Hampton, Chowchilla, Calif., 6.8; 12. Brett Price, Faith, S.D./Paul Griemsman, Piedmont, S.D., 7.1; 13. Ty Smith, Edmond, Okla./Jace Crabb, Mangum, Okla., 10.2; 14. Jay Tittel, Pueblo, Colo./Cole Cooper, Grand Junction, Colo., 11.2.
Saddle bronc riding: Second round: 1. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 86 points on Korkow Rodeo's River Rat; 2. Jake Costello, Newell, S.D., 85; 3. (tie) Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, and Bobby Griswold, Geary, Okla., 82; 5. J.J. Elshere, Quinn, S.D., 78; 6. Jake Griffin, Powell, Wyo., 76; 7. Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 72; 8. Justin Browning, Lake Charles, La., 71; 9. Mike Outhier, Utopia, Texas, 61; 10. (tie) David Rubel, Grantville, Pa.; Elliot French, Hollister, Calif., and Frank McKay, Ontario, Ore., NS. Average leaders: 1. Jake Costello, Newell, S.D., 168 points on two head; 2. Bobby Griswold, Geary, Okla., 164; 3. (tie) Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, and Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 161; 5. (tie) JJ Elshere, Quinn, S.D., and Jake Griffin, Powell, Wyo., 153; 7. Justin Browning, Lake Charles, La., 147; 8. (tie) Mike Outhier, Utopia, Texas, and Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 145; 10. Tate Owens, Platteville, Colo., 83 on one; 11. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 79; 12. Roy Johnson, Etna, Calif., 78; 13. Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., 77; 14. (tie) Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, Mont.; Elliot French, Hollister, Calif., and Frank McKay, Ontario, Ore., 76.
Tie-down roping: Second rounnd: 1. Wes Lockard, Susanville, Calif., 7.7 seconds; 2. (tie) Bryant Mikkelson, Buffalo, Mont., and Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas, 9.2; 4. Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla., 9.3; 5. Brad Goodrich, Hermiston, Ore., 9.8; 6. J.C. Malone, Roy, Utah, 10.5; 7. Justin Thigpen, Waycross, Ga., 10.9; 8. Matt Charles Kenney, Onawa, Iowa, 20.3; 9. J.R. Myers, Felton, Pa., 21.9; 10. (tie) Joseph Parsons, Marana, Ariz.; Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., and Justin Scofield, St. Lawrance, S.D., NT. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Wes Lockard, Susanville, Calif., and Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla., 18.3 seconds on two head; 3. (tie) Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas, and Brad Goodrich, Hermiston, Ore., 18.5; 5. J.C. Malone, Roy, Utah, 18.9; 6. Bryant Mikkelson, Buffalo, Mont., 19.8; 7. Justin Thigpen, Waycross, Ga., 20.3; 8. Matt Kenney, Onawa, Iowa, 28.1; 9. Joseph Parsons, Marana, Ariz., 8.1 on one head; 10. Justin Scofield, St. Lawrance, S.D., 8.6; 11. Skyler Moore, Mt. Vernon, Mo., 9.2; 12. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, 9.5; 13. Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla., 9.7; 14. Chad Johnson, Cut Bank, Mont., 9.9.
Barrel racing: Second round: 1. Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif., 14.92 seconds; 2. (tie) Tammy Bruso, Dothan, Ala., and Tracee Young, Delta, Utah, 14.97; 4. Jana Isaac, White Swan, Wash., 15.16; 5. Bobbie Jo Bohlman, Eland, Wis., 15.20; 6. Janna Beam, Hallsville, Texas, 15.22; 7. Laura Lambert, Wiggins, Colo., 15.27; 8. Jolee Lautaret, Kingman, Ariz., 15.35; 9. Theresa Walter, Billings, Mont., 15.40; 10. Jennifer Romriell, Broadalbin, N.Y., 15.45; 11. Britany Fleck, Mandan, N.D., 19.95; 12. Mary Burger, Pauls Valley, Okla., 20.16. Average leaders: 1. Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif., 29.66 seconds on two runs; 2. Tammy Bruso, Dothan, Ala., 29.93; 3. Tracee Young, Delta, Utah, 30.02; 4. Janna Beam, Hallsville, Texas, 30.24; 5. Laura Lambert, Wiggins, Colo., 30.28; 6. Jana Isaac, White Swan, Wash., 30.43; 7. Theresa Walter, Billings, Mont., 30.47; 8. Bobbie Jo Bohlman, Eland, Wis., 30.54; 9. Jennifer Romriell, Broadalbin, N.Y., 30.79; 10. Britany Fleck, Mandan, N.D., 34.84; 11. Mary Burger, Pauls Valley, Okla., 34.97; 12. Jolee Lautaret, Kingman, Ariz., 35.81; 13. Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 14.70 on one run; 14. Kelsi Elkins, Aztec, N.M., 14.87.
Bull riding: Second round: 1. J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas, 90 points on Rafter H Rodeo's Who's Next; 2. Rankin Lindsey, Hillsboro, N.M., 82; 3. Steve Woolsey, Payson, Utah, 80; 4. (tie) Jacob Tyner, Sacramento, Calif.; Clayton Savage, Casper, Wyo.; Austin Ambrose, Fletcher, Okla.; Shawn Waite, Prineville, Ore.; Cole Hermanson, Mandan, N.D.; Cody Buller, Glendive, Mont.; Scott Sellers, Pequea, Pa.; Friday Wright II, Moss Point, Miss., and Matt Pojanowski, Woodville, Wis., NS. Average leaders: 1. Steve Woolsey, Payson, Utah, 160 points on two head; 2. Rankin Lindsey, Hillsboro, N.M., 159; 3. J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas, 90 on one head; 4. (tie) Beau Schroeder, China, Texas, and Jesse Pohlmann, Fort Scott, Kan., 87; 6. Jacob Tyner, Sacramento, Calif., 76; 7. Austin Ambrose, Fletcher, Okla., 73.
