COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) announced the field of contestants who have qualified for the 2008 Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo (DNCFR) presented by U. S. Smokeless Tobacco on March 19-22, at the Holt Arena at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. The DNCFR is the crowning event of the PRCA’s 12 circuit system of regional competition. Each circuit sends its year-end champion and its finals champion to compete for the national circuit championship. Among the 189 contestants will be nine world champions and one defending national champion from the 2007 DNCFR, Colt Braden of Dewey, OK, who won last year’s DNCFR team roping crown with Jake Long, will be back with the goal of become the DNCFR’s first back-to-back winner since bareback rider Deb Greenough and legendary team ropers Jake Barnes and Clay O’Brien Cooper did so in 1995 and 1996.
Among the nine world champions competing will be reigning and two-time World Champion Bareback Rider Bobby Mote of Culver, OR.; reigning World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Taos Muncy of Corona, N.M.; and reigning World Champion Bull Rider Wesley Silcox of Payson, Utah, They’re joined by six-time World Champion Cody Ohl of Hico, Texas (tie-down roping, 1997-98, 2001, 2003, 2006; all-around, 2001); steer wrestlers Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, CA (2004) and Mickey Gee of Wichita Falls, Texas (1999); team ropers Matt Sherwood of Queen Creek, AZ (2006) and Patrick Smith of Midland, Texas (2005); and bull rider Cody Hancock of Taylor, AZ. (2000).
Cody Ohl and Matt Sherwood are also the only world champion cowboys in the field to have also claimed a DNCFR title, doing so in 1997 and 2005, respectively.
Along with Braden, Ohl and Sherwood are several other past or reigning DNCFR champions who are scheduled to compete for national titles. On this list of previous DNCFR champions are five tie-down ropers – the others being Brad Goodrich of Hermiston, Ore. (1999), Bill Huber of Albia, Iowa (2002), Nate Baldwin of Blackfoot, Idaho, and J.D. Kibbe of Portales, N.M. (2006). Other former DNCFR champions in the 2008 field are: bareback rider Tom McFarland of Wickenburg, Ariz. (2003); steer wrestlers Stockton Graves of Newkirk, Okla. (2006) and Matt Gilbert of Camp Crook, S.D. (2003); and barrel racer Rachael Myllymaki of Simi Valley, Calif. (1999).
Since the inception of the circuit system in 1975 qualifying for the circuit finals has become a much sought after honor for competitors, especially those who while still considered professionals may also be “weekend warriors” only competing on weekends and within their own circuit. For these competitors winning the coveted qualification for the DNCFR is the top prize of the season. These competitors most likely would never qualify for a Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and thus qualifying for the DNCFR for many has been the stepping stone from “weekend warrior” to full time competitor.
2008 Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo Contestant List
The following is the competitor field for the 2008 Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo as of Feb. 20, 2008:
Bareback riding
Steven Anding, Crossroads, Texas, Texas
Noah Bayes, Adrian, Ore., Columbia River
Andy Bolich, Belgrade, Mont., Montana
Matt Bright, Loudon, Tenn., Southeastern
Bob Cross, Browns Mills, N.J., First Frontier
Jessy Davis, Payson, Utah, Wilderness
Kaycee Feild, Elk Ridge, Utah, Wilderness
Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo., Mountain States
Jared Green, Socorro, N.M., Turquoise
Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., Badlands
Chris Harris, Itasca, Texas, Texas
Marv Hurley, Bakersfield, Calif., California
Tom McFarland, Wickenburg, Ariz., Turquoise
Scott Montague, Rapid City, S.D., Badlands
Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., Columbia River
Dustin Murray, Midwest City, Okla., Prairie
Scotty NeSmith, Russellville, Tenn., Southeastern
Scott Owens, Toston, Mont., Montana
Bee Jay Scott, Otley, Iowa, Great Lakes
Josh Shackleford, McGee, Mo., Great Lakes
Tim Shirley, Bailey, Colo., Mountain States
Tyson Thompson, Merrill, Ore., California
Justin Williams, Desoto, Kan., Prairie
Steer wrestling
Joe Bell Sr., Greensboro, Md., First Frontier
Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., California
Jacob Burks, Lancaster, Wis., Great Lakes
Kyle Callaway, Gillette, Wyo., Mountain States
Matt Deskovick, Ramona, Calif., California
Shawn Downing, Silver Star, Mont., Montana
Ronnie Fields, Oklahoma City, Okla., Prairie
Mickey Gee, Wichita Falls, Texas, Texas
Matt Gilbert, Camp Crook, S.D., Badlands
Josh Granell, Havre, Mont., Montana
Stockton Graves, Newkirk, Okla., Prairie
Shawn Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore., Columbia River
Nick Griffith, Donville, Ala., Southeastern
Seth Hadlock, Liberty, Utah, Wilderness
Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., Columbia River
Casey McMillen, Craig, Colo., Mountain States
Brad Morgan, Brandon, Miss., Southeastern
Damian Padilla, Rio Rico, Ariz., Turquoise
Matt Reeves, Pampa, Texas, Texas
Craig James Smith, West Haven, Utah, Wilderness
Ivan Teigen, Camp Crook, S.D., Montana
Kirk Trumpower, Clear Spring, Md., First Frontier
Clayton Tuchscherer, Cortaro, Ariz., Turquoise
Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., Prairie
Team roping (Heading)
Paul Beckett, Laramie, Wyo., Mountain States
Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore., Columbia River
Billy Joe Berry, Rainsville, Ala., Southeastern
Colt Braden, Dewey, Okla., Prairie
Tommy Edens, Gatesville, Texas, Texas
Jerod Farella, Newcastle, Wyo., Mountain States
Daniel Green, Oakdale, Calif., California
Wayne Knutson, Clifton Hill, Mo., Great Lakes
Shaw Loiseau, Coleman, S.D., Badlands
J.B. Lord, Piedmont, S.D., Badlands
Richard Lowe, Tucson, Ariz., Turquoise
David Motes, Tolar, Texas, Texas
Carmine Nastri, Ballston Spa, N.Y., First Frontier
Matt Robertson, Stephenville, Texas, Montana
Adam Rose, Willard, Mo., Great Lakes
Nick Sartain, Alva, Okla., Prairie
Matt Sherwood, Queen Creek, Ariz., Wilderness
Colby Siddoway, Argyle, Texas, Wilderness
Chuck Smith, Townsend, Del., First Frontier
Justin Spence, Modesto, Calif., California
Jake Stanley, Hermiston, Ore., Columbia River
Russ Sullivan, Peralta, N.M., Turquoise
Jimmy Tanner, Tifton, Ga., Southeastern
Cody Tew, Belgrade, Mont., Montana
Team roping (Heeling)
Randon Adams, Logandale, Nev., Wilderness
Jade Anderson, Goshen, Utah, Wilderness
Evan Arnold, Santa Margarita, Calif., California
Jeff Brown, Joplin, Mo., Great Lakes
T.J. Brown, Payson, Ariz., Turquoise
Russell Cardoza, Knights Ferry, Calif., Columbia River
Tommy Crane, Whitewood, S.D., Badlands
Shannon Frascht, Alva, Okla., Prairie
Derick Freeman, Dadeville, Ala., Southeastern
Levi Garcia, Albuquerque, N.M., Turquoise
Todd Hampton, Chowchilla, Calif., California
Coby Jones, Gatesville, Texas, Texas
Kyle Lawrence, Dover, Fla., Southeastern
Kory Mytty, Lolo, Mont., Montana
Ryan Powell, Porterville, Calif., Great Lakes
Shawn Quinn, Schuylerville, N.Y., First Frontier
John Robertson, Polson, Mont., Montana
Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas, Texas
Ryon Tittel, Pueblo, Colo., Mountain States
Dean Tuftin, Prineville, Ore., Columbia River
Kollin Von Ahn, Sac City, Iowa, Prairie
Chad Wahlert, Fort Morgan, Colo., Mountain States
Joe Williams, Perkiomenville, Pa., First Frontier
Matt Zancanella, Aurora, S.D., Badlands
Saddle bronc riding
Chad Alesky, Monroeton, Pa., First Frontier
Rusty Allen, Eagle Mountain, Utah, Wilderness
Justin Arnold, Santa Margarita, Calif., California
Everett Ashurst, Douglas, Ariz., Turquoise
Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., Great Lakes
Jake Costello, Newell, S.D., Montana
Isaac Diaz, Davie, Fla., Texas
J.J. Elshere, Quinn, S.D., Badlands
Alan Frierson, O'Brien, Fla., Southeastern
Curtis Garton, Sulphur, La., Southeastern
Jake Griffin, Powell, Wyo., Mountain States
Jake Hayworth, St. Anthony, Idaho, Montana
Weston Ireland, Sallisaw, Okla., Prairie
Mike Johnson, Tampa, Fla., First Frontier
Red Lemmel, Faith, S.D., Badlands
Ben Londo, Pendleton, Ore., Columbia River
Sam MacKenzie, Jordan Valley, Ore., Columbia River
Matt Marvel, Winnemucca, Nev., California
Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., Turquoise
Mike Outhier, Utopia, Texas, Texas
Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., Prairie
Colin Stalley, Riverton, Wyo., Mountain States
Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., Prairie
Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, Wilderness
Tie-down roping
Nate Baldwin, Blackfoot, Idaho, Wilderness
Marty Becker, Edmonton, Alberta, Montana
Jesse Egan, Gridley, Calif., California
Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore., Columbia River
Tyler Fagerhaug, Wessington Springs, S.D., Badlands
Bud Ford, Everman, Texas, Texas
Brad Goodrich, Hermiston, Ore., Columbia River
Todd Graff, Ainsworth, Neb., Badlands
Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., Prairie
Bill Huber, Albia, Iowa, Great Lakes
Chad Johnson, Cut Bank, Mont., Montana
Matt Kenney, Onawa, Iowa, Great Lakes
J.D. Kibbe, Portales, N.M., Turquoise
Rick Kieckhefer, Prescott, Ariz., Turquoise
Clay Kobza, Portales, N.M., Mountain States
Wes Lockard, Susanville, Calif., California
J.R. Myers Jr., Felton, Pa., First Frontier
Garrett Nokes, McCook, Neb., Prairie
Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, Texas
Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., Mountain States
Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, Wilderness
Justin Thigpen, Waycross, Ga., Southeastern
Tony Wells, Wilmar, Ark., Southeastern
Chuck Smith, Townsend, Del., First Frontier
Barrel racing
Jeanne Anderson, White City, Kan., Prairie
Sarah Attea-Sinatra, Alden, N.Y., First Frontier
Sandi Brandli, Mauston, Wis., Great Lakes
Diann Bukowski, Falcon, Colo., Mountain States
Kelly Carr, Henryville, Ind., Great Lakes
Wendy Culberson, Okeechobee, Fla., Southeastern
Stacy Dial, Vista, Calif., California
Jana Griemsman, Piedmont, S.D., Badlands
Brandie Halls, Carpenter, Wyo., Mountain States
Brittany Hofstetter, Portales, N.M., Turquoise
June Holeman, Arcadia, Neb., Prairie
Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, Wilderness
Kelli Kamm, Stanfield, Ore., Columbia River
Lindsay Knaff, Winston, Mont., Montana
Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., Badlands
Kathee Martin, Elgin, Ariz., Turquoise
Shelley Murphy, Helena, Mont., Montana
Rachael Myllymaki, Simi Valley, Calif., California
Jodi Rush Cuccurullo, Carrollton, Texas, Texas
Annesa Self, Valley View, Texas, Texas
Debbie Stahl, Pendleton, Ore., Columbia River
Carrie Thompson, Morton, Miss., Southeastern
Robin Weaver, Mahaffey, Pa., First Frontier
Tracee Young, Delta, Utah, Wilderness
Bull riding
Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo., Mountain States
Ted Bert, Modesto, Calif., California
Thomas Bert, Modesto, Calif., California
Richard Bird, Cut Bank, Mont., Montana
Jay Dunford, Menoken, N.D., Badlands
Chad German, Groesbeck, Texas, Texas
Jeremy Gilreath, Sebeka, Minn., Great Lakes
Terrance Granger, Tuba City, Ariz., Turquoise
Cody Hancock, Taylor, Ariz., Turquoise
Shawn Hogg, Odessa, Texas, Texas
Tyler Johnston, Bridger, Mont., Montana
Justin Kennedy, La Porte City, Iowa, Great Lakes
Nathan Klassen, Wagoner, Okla., Prairie
Justin Koon, Grapevine, Ark., Southeastern
Poncho Limas, Weatherford, Okla., Prairie
Branding Manning, Birdsboro, Pa., First Frontier
Marcus Michaelis, Caldwell, Idaho, Columbia River
Tyler Miller, McClure, Pa., First Frontier
Clayton Savage, Cheyenne, Wyo., Mountain States
Jerry Shepherd, Nephi, Utah, Wilderness
Wesley Silcox, Payson, Utah, Wilderness
Tony Smart, Newton, Miss., Southeastern
Dustin Smith, St. Paul, Ore., Columbia River
Charles Zoss, Forestburg, S.D., Badlands
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