LAS VEGAS - The City of Lights continues to be a profitable place for tie-down roper Tyson Durfey.
The Savannah, Mo.-born cowboy who now lives in Colbert, Wash., roped and tied his calf in 8.6 seconds Sunday night at the Thomas & Mack Center to place second in the fourth go-round worth $10,006. It boosted his National Finals Rodeo earnings to more than $40,000 - an average paycheck of $10,000 a round
Only two ropers fared better than Durfey: Clint Robinson of Spanish Fork, Utah, who finished the round with a 7.9-second run and earned the biggest paycheck, $16,766; and Stran Smith of Childress, Texas, whose 8.0 was worth $13,251.
Durfey continues to lead the way in the all-important average race, having roped four calves in 32.1 seconds. Smith is 1.1-seconds behind – the NFR-average title is second only to a world title in prestige.
But winning the average is also a major part in winning a championship in rodeo, where the players in each event who earn the most money at the end of the NFR are crowned world champions. The contestant with the fastest time in the timed events or highest score in the rough-stock events through all 10 rounds will win the average and the $43,000 paycheck.
Durfey has now earned $114,899 and is fifth in the tie-down roping world standings. He trails the standings leader, Josh Peak of Pueblo, Colo., by less than $40,000.
Durfey wears pink during each performance in which he competes – carrying rodeo’s Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign to the next level – in an effort to raise money and awareness in the fight against breast cancer. He has teamed with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure campaign, and in January 2008, he donated a portion of his 2007 earnings to the organization.
Donning attire made available through a commitment from Cinch Jeans, Durfey definitely makes his presence known in and out of the arena at rodeos across the country. Now competing in his second straight NFR, the two-time Canadian tie-down roping champion is putting his cause before millions of viewers on national television as ProRodeo’s grand finale is broadcast across the ESPN networks.
In 2006, Durfey was the first American to win an event championship in the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association. This past November, he edged the field of tough competition at the Canadian Finals Rodeo to win his second title. Now he’s hoping that success translates into success at the NFR.
For more information www.tysondurfey.com
