2022 WRANGLER NFR ROUND BY ROUND RECAP By Ann Bleiker, Photos by Kenneth Springer
that Wenda Johnson won the first round in and she and Sister stopped the clock in 13.61 seconds. After a downed barrel in round No. 1, Kinsel put the pedal to the medal and sped through the cloverleaf pattern in typical fashion. “The first night we spooked at the judge that is right inside the gate that makes sure we come down the alley, but she is just so boogery, that it set her off and cut off my angle going to the first barrel, and we were off from there,” said Kinsel of her run on opening night. “She is just so fast that she doesn’t really give me time to make a timing error, so I had that step by the first and sent me funky coming around headed to the second barrel. I was just a tick behind, and I said she is just so fast that you can’t be a tick behind. “Tonight, I was just determined to keep her square in my hands going into the alleyway, sit back a little bit so when she was running so hard to the first barrel, I could make sure I could be in position and get her to find that first barrel corner. After that it is a lot easier.” Kinsel will move up to run first on the ground on Saturday. “It is awesome because I know she is feeling confident and not having to run through ruts and if she is confident, we can just keep the gas pedal down, so that is the goal,” noted Kinsel on plans for the third round. Finishing second in the round was Margo Crowther in a time of 13.72 seconds. Crowther of North Fort Myers, Florida, is making her first appearance at the Wrangler NFR and is currently third in the average. Johnson had another solid night taking third in a time of 13.75 seconds and leads the average in a time of 27.32 seconds on two runs. Reigning world champion Jordon Briggs is still the No. 1 barrel racer with $205,034 won on the year and is second in the average with 27.62 seconds. Briggs is looking to repeat as both average and world champion after 10 rounds in Las Vegas. Prior to the barrel racing the legendary Charmayne James was honored with an NFR icon award and had a banner unveiled in the Thomas and Mack. The 11-time WPRA World Champion and ProRodeo Hall of Famer joins two other Hall of Famers (Trevor Brazile and Ty Murray) in receiving these inaugural awards in 2022. ROUND 3: TWO WINS OUT OF THREE ROUNDS FOR KINSEL AT WRANGLER NFR
ROUND 1: JOHNSON STEALING MONEY IN VEGAS AT THE 2022 WRANGLER NFR
Wenda Johnson rode Steal Money “Mo” to kickoff the first round of the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and she was stealing the money from top 15 barrel racers. Johnson and Mo stopped
the clock in 13.57 seconds to take the victory lap and $28,914. This is Johnson’s third trip to the Wrangler NFR and second here in Las Vegas. Being a very meticulous rider, the experience she and Mo gained last year coming down the alleyway at the T&M proved fruitful on night No. 1. “We started building confidence in an alley last year and this year I feel he is a little more game on, focused and ready to go,” said Johnson of the experience gained in in 2021 in Las Vegas. “He was a little excited before I went, so we will work on that as we go forward and try to keep him a little more flat footed and ready to step in the alley lineup and make his run.” Johnson has two very talented horses with her in Las Vegas but chose to go with Mo as Mac takes a little more time to adjust to new surroundings. “They are both so amazing and talented,” said Johnson of both horses owned by High Point Performance Horses. “The only reason I am going to wait on Mac for a few rounds is it takes him a little longer to acclimate. I have noticed that every time I have come out west whether for Reno (Nevada) or here last year, he can still come out and clock but if I give him a little bit more time to acclimate to the dry climate, he will fire a little bit more for me. I don’t think I have a wrong choice.” Kassie Mowry was second in a time of 13.65 seconds aboard CP He Will Be Epic “Will” with reigning world champion Jordon Briggs taking third after being on top of the ground. Finishing fourth, making her first Wrangler NFR appearance and running 15th was Leslie Smalygo and Gus with a 13.80. ROUND 2: KINSEL KICKED IT INTO HIGH GEAR IN ROUND 2 IN LAS VEGAS Three-time world champion Hailey Kinsel and Sister were in
Hailey Kinsel could get used to a Groundhog Day like the last two with wins at the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. After a downed barrel in the first round, Kinsel of Cotulla, Texas, has reeled off back-to-back wins.
championship form during the second round of the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. Kinsel was third out on the ground, same position
Kinsel won the third round in a time of 13.59 seconds. The only barrel racer faster thus far was Wenda Johnson on night No. 1 in 13.57 seconds. “Absolutely,” responded Kinsel when asked about getting used to
14 WPRA NEWS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023
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