HOCKLEY, Texas - Eight-time world champion Fred Whitfield is ready to throw his first loop at his 18th National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. This year's event marks the 50th annual NFR and action gets underway on Dec. 4 and runs through Dec. 13, when the world champions in each event will be crowned.
Whitfield enters this year's Finals eighth in the world with $72,647. Josh Peek of Pueblo, Colo., leads the tie-down roping field with $153,771. Prior to last year, Whitfield hadn’t missed an NFR since his first qualification in 1990. However, after being sidelined for the first half of the 2007 season, he fell just short of qualifying but is glad to be back in the Entertainment Capital of the World.
“We rodeo all year to get to Las Vegas and it doesn’t get better than the NFR,” said Whitfield of Hockley, Texas. “I am not as close to the top spot as I had hoped, so I have my work cut-out for me at the finals, but with the amount of money up for grabs each night and in the average anything is possible. I plan to give them a run for their money.”
Besides the competition, Whitfield will stay busy making sponsor appearances during the 10 day event. He will be signing autographs for Cinch Jeans, P&P Trailer Sales and Cimarron Trailers as well as the MGM Grand.
P&P Trailer Sales and Cimarron Trailers will be conducting a Fred Whitfield Roping School drawing at their booth at Country Christmas at the Sands Convention Center. The sweepstakes begins on Dec. 4 and ends on Dec. 13. The winner will receive a day and a half private roping clinic with Fred Whitfield to be held January 17-18, 2009 in Hockley, Texas. The winner will also be provided hotel accommodations and meals for Saturday, January 17. The drawing is open to all legal residents of the United States and Canada that are 18 years or older. The winner will be announced at the Cimarron Trailers Booth at the NFR country Christmas.
Whitfield has once again teamed with the MGM Grand and he will be signing autographs in the lobby of the MGM Grand, along with three-time world champion bareback rider Will Lowe, bareback rider Royce Ford, five-time world champion saddle bronc rider Billy Etbauer, tie-down roping standings leader Josh Peek, on December 9 from 11 a.m. to noon and again on December 11 from 11 a.m. to noon. The group is also scheduled to participate in the Celebrity Poker Tournament on Saturday, December 13 starting at 10 a.m. at the MGM Grand.
For a complete list of Whitfield’s schedule visit www.fredwhitfield.com.
Each night’s performance will be televised on either ESPN2 or ESPN Classic. For a complete broadcast schedule visit www.prorodeo.com.
