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5.0 (1 vote)

There will be fitful nights of sleep in store for several cowboys over the next 48 hours. As the 2012 rodeo season officially ended with the last bull ride at San Bernardino, Calif., on Sept. 30, the watch to see who will sneak into the Wrangler NFR - and who will see their bubble burst - was on.
The following results are what we know as of Oct. 1, and nothing will be official until the auditors have had their say on the final world standings. Also, competitors have two weeks to file an appeal. So the waiting game begins.
In one of the closest and most drama-filled scenarios in end-of-season rodeo history, team roping heeler Dakota Kirchenschlager has apparently edged Kollin VonAhn by $3 for the 15th and final NFR spot. Yes, VonAhn will be spending December at home for less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
"Whether it was $3 or $300, it's all the same," VonAhn said. "For 10 minutes when I found out I missed it by $3 I could not believe it. Then I was over it. I could have made it by $1. I'm fine with it. This year's plan didn't work. We'll come up with a new plan and be ready to go next year."
Kirchenschlager and partner Spencer Mitchell - who was 14th before last weekend - earned $1,164 each at Kingman, Ariz., for taking first. Then, in what was Kirchenschlager's last chance at his first NFR qualification, the pair took second at San Bernardino to earn $2,014 and both will be headed to Las Vegas.
"Having to win every run the last week of the regular season is why we rope," Kirchenschlager said. "What a rush. What we work for all year long is to put ourselves into that position. If you can't, you need to find a different job."
VonAhn's partner, Nick Sartain, also had a weekend to forget. He and his partner each only had one rodeo left in their count and didn't come up with any money. It left the door open for Turtle Powell to cruise past Sartain and into the last spot.
After winning the 2011 world title with Jhett Johnson, Powell will return with partner Dugan Kelly, whose NFR hopes survived the weekend as well.
"We snuck in there at the last second," Kelly said. "Turtle wasn't even in the top 15 - we'd been chasing it all year. We've been watching the standings, and the bottom three have been flipping every week, like musical chairs. We were just lucky enough to be in the right spot when the music stopped."
In another case of a cowboy looking for his first NFR berth, steer wrestler Bray Armes finished off a crazy two-week run to overtake 2007 World Champion Jason Miller for the last bulldogging spot.
Armes had two rodeos left in his count before the Sept. 22-23 weekend. He chose wisely when he picked Albuquerque, N.M., and Kansas City, Mo., as his two.
After picking up the win and $3,430 in Albuquerque, Armes knew he had to win - or split the win - at the American Royal to have a chance. Miller held a $2,271 advantage before Kansas City, but when he didn't earn a penny and Armes split first with Todd Suhn, it vaulted Armes to 15th by $55 and the miraculous comeback was complete.
"That run I went on is something that's not supposed to happen, so I have to give the credit to God for giving me my abilities," Armes said. "It sure was special to be able to do it like that."
Even if the auditors found $56 for Miller and Armes was left out, he hasn't lost perspective on his great 2012 season.
"It really was an awesome year either way and to just be in the position I was, to have a chance, was crazy," he said. "Jason is a good friend, but I am excited to be going and I'm looking forward to next year, too."
Tie-down roper Clif Cooper was the fourth man to jump into the top 15 on the last day of the rodeo season, and he sure cut it close. The 24-year-old picked up two small checks in Bakersfield and Poway, Calif., but still needed to win at San Bernardino on the night of Sept. 30, in his last run of the regular season.
His 7.5-second run was enough for first place and $1,818, which put him above Ace Slone by $298 to clinch his third straight NFR qualification and join brother Tuf Cooper in the lineup.
Slone, who entered the weekend in 14th, was passed by both Cooper and 15th-place Bradley Bynum as he fell short in his quest for his first trip to the Finals.
• Ralph Williams is going back to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping for the second year in a row. With checks totaling $2,265 at the Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo in Stephenville, Texas, on Sept. 29, Williams, 54, was able to move from 16th to 14th place in the world standings and bump Chris Glover out of the last spot in the NFSR.

2012 PRCA WORLD STANDINGS
All-around
1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $213,847
2. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb. 144,465
3. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore. 120,987
4. Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore. 96,289
5. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo. 94,668
6. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah 85,681
7. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont. 81,340
8. Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas 79,386
9. Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla. 76,774
10. Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah 74,020
11. Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas 68,547
12. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D. 59,373
13. Seth Glause, Cheyenne, Wyo. 53,899
14. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta 52,563
15. B.J. Campbell, Aguila, Ariz. 49,721
16. Paul David Tierney, Oral, S.D. 48,891
17. Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M. 48,050
18. Clayton Moore, Pouce Coupe, British Columbia 46,690
19. Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif. 44,132
20. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. 37,406

Bareback Riding
1. Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah $141,639
2. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb. 140,781
3. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas 127,069
4. J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo. 112,337
5. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore. 110,770
6. Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas 104,564
7. Jessy Davis, Power, Mont. 88,043
8. Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La. 80,266
9. Caleb Bennett, Morgan, Utah 73,218
10. Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore. 66,688
11. Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo. 66,633
12. Matt Bright, Azle, Texas 64,480
13. Brian Bain, Culver, Ore. 58,879
14. Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla. 58,299
15. Jared Keylon, Uniontown, Kan. 54,478
16. Dusty LaValley, Bezanson, Alberta 48,800
17. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash. 48,767
18. Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D. 46,767
19. Caine Riddle, Vernon, Texas 46,572
20. Josi Young, Kimberly, Idaho 45,266

Steer Wrestling
1. Ethen Thouvenell, Napa, Calif. $98,695
2. Wade Sumpter, Fowler, Colo. 88,275
3. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb. 87,209
4. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif. 85,345
5. Matt Reeves, Cross Plains, Texas 75,871
6. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore. 75,834
7. Casey Martin, Sulphur, La. 71,055
8. Gabe Ledoux, Kaplan, La. 66,933
9. Todd Suhn, Hermosa, S.D. 66,136
10. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas 64,653
11. Les Shepperson, Midwest, Wyo. 63,779
12. Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif. 60,591
13. Beau Clark, Belgrade, Mont. 52,821
14. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah 48,014
15. Bray Armes, Gruver, Texas 45,852
16. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo. 45,797
17. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis. 44,514
18. Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D. 43,697
19. Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore. 42,815
20. Travis Carnine, Stanfield, Ore. 41,997

Team Roping (header)
1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $132,254
2. Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn. 117,475
3. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga. 110,228
4. Keven Daniel, Franklin, Tenn. 97,930
5. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont. 94,322
6. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas 91,381
7. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont. 90,391
8. Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas 89,469
9. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz. 88,094
10. Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont. 85,748
11. Brock Hanson, Casa Grande, Ariz. 71,498
12. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz. 69,968
13. Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore. 69,388
14. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif. 66,868
15. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas 64,508
16. Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla. 60,551
17. Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas 58,810
18. Ty Blasingame, Ramah, Colo. 55,873
19. Manny Egusquiza Jr., Madison, Ga. 55,589
20. Garrett Tonozzi, Fruita, Colo. 50,092

Team Roping (heeler)
1. Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas $133,754
2. Clay O'Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev. 111,043
3. Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev. 106,137
4. Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont. 97,430
5. Travis Graves, Jay, Okla. 92,822
6. Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas 91,381
7. Paul Eaves, Millsap, Texas 86,817
8. Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz. 86,665
9. Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan. 84,685
10. Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas 80,573
11. Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore. 75,207
12. Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas 69,253
13. Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M. 62,529
14. Dugan Kelly, Paso Robles, Calif. 60,835
15. Dakota Kirchenschlager, Stephenville, Texas 60,554
16. Kollin VonAhn, Durant, Okla. 60,551
17. Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas 59,343
18. Brad Culpepper, Poulan, Ga. 56,986
19. Tyler McKnight, Wells, Texas 53,164
20. Kinney Harrell, Marshall, Texas 49,772

Saddle Bronc Riding
1. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah $133,098
2. Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa 114,036
3. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La. 113,504
4. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M. 100,751
5. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah 82,339
6. Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D. 76,366
7. Cody Taton, Corona, N.M. 75,067
8. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah 74,553
9. Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas 69,888
10. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb. 67,751
11. Sterling Crawley, College Station, Texas 67,267
12. Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas 65,860
13. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D. 65,837
14. Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas 65,459
15. Tyrell Smith, Cascade, Mont. 52,311
16. Luke Butterfield, Ponoka, Alberta 51,498
17. Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, Mont. 48,265
18. Samuel Kelts, Millarville, Alberta 45,054
19. Troy Crowser, Whitewood, S.D. 44,770
20. Cody Angland, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia 40,567

Tie-down Roping
1. Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas $144,001
2. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas 124,421
3. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas 103,659
4. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla. 99,564
5. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah 94,934
6. Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas 88,400
7. Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas 83,726
8. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La. 79,215
9. Houston Hutto, Tomball, Texas 79,102
10. Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla. 74,758
11. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho 72,032
12. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas 69,987
13. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas 69,091
14. Bradley Bynum, Sterling City, Texas 66,840
15. Clif Cooper, Decatur, Texas 66,369
16. Ace Slone, Cuero, Texas 66,071
17. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla. 63,153
18. Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash. 53,141
19. Jake Hannum, Plain City, Utah 51,890
20. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo. 51,001

Steer Roping
1. Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas $62,745
2. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan. 62,201
3. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas 59,321
4. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas 57,888
5. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D. 40,361
6. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla. 39,415
7. Kim Ziegelgruber, Edmond, Okla. 38,373
8. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla. 35,315
9. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla. 32,975
10. Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas 31,474
11. Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz. 31,200
12. Rod Hartness, Pawhuska, Okla. 29,585
13. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas 29,439
14. Ralph Williams, Skiatook, Okla. 28,499
15. Cody Scheck, Ellinwood, Kan. 28,070
16. Chris Glover, Keenesburg, Colo. 27,959
17. Marty Jones, Hobbs, N.M. 26,639
18. Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas 24,408
19. Cody Garnett, Barnsdall, Okla. 23,656
20. Howdy McGinn, North Powder, Ore. 21,808

Bull Riding
1. Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas $159,869
2. J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas 152,629
3. Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas 109,743
4. Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo. 100,274
5. Seth Glause, Cheyenne, Wyo. 94,170
6. Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D. 90,191
7. Trevor Kastner, Ardmore, Okla. 88,457
8. Cody Samora, Cortez, Colo. 80,593
9. Tate Stratton, Kellyville, Okla. 78,019
10. Shane Proctor, Grand Coulee, Wash. 76,376
11. Cody Whitney, Sayre, Okla. 74,336
12. Beau Schroeder, China, Texas 71,297
13. Clayton Savage, Casper, Wyo. 65,979
14. Brett Stall, Detroit Lakes, Minn. 65,882
15. Tag Elliott, Thatcher, Utah 63,912
16. Corey Maier, Timber Lake, S.D. 61,769
17. Chris Roundy, Spanish Fork, Utah 57,820
18. Cody Rostockyj, Hillsboro, Texas 57,160
19. Tyler Willis, Wheatland, Wyo. 53,529
20. Tim Bingham, Honeyville, Utah 53,186

*2012 Barrel Racing (through October 1, 2012)
Barrel racing standings, provided by the Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), are unofficial, subject to audit and may change. Unofficial WPRA Standings are published by the PRCA as a courtesy. The PRCA is not responsible for the verification or updating of WPRA standings.

1. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas $170,967
2. Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta 136,322
3. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas 127,296
4. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas 122,416
5. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz. 93,062
6. Nikki Steffes, Vale, S.D. 86,722
7. Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla. 86,281
8. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore. 81,863
9. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D. 72,462
10. Benette Barrington-Little, Ardmore, Okla. 68,394
11. Kelli Tolbert, Hooper, Utah 63,681
12. Lee Ann Rust, Stephenville, Texas 61,587
13. Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif. 60,882
14. Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb. 60,777
15. Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo. 54,852
16. Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas 53,931
17. Robyn Herring, Huntington, Texas 52,201
18. Sammi Bessert, Loma, Colo. 52,138
19. Sydni Blanchard, Tucumcari, N.M. 50,612
20. Liz Combs, Eltopia, Wash. 46,737