Two team roping pairs that have both partners in the Top 5 won Round 8 of the event Thursday night.
Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira are both No. 2 in the world after they each collected a check of more than $23,000. Brenten Hall and Chase Tryan, who tied Driggers/Noguiera with a 4.30-second run are now both in fifth.
“Well, we’ve had a terrible Finals so far, and I had the flu for the first five rounds,” Driggers said. “It wasn’t enjoyable to go back to the room after each round, but the last few nights we went back to how we rope all the time.”
As for the other pair, Hall said he doesn’t really know what happened on their run.
“I can tell you everything about the first seven rounds, but the round we actually won I can’t remember anything,” he said. “It’s huge to me, this is my first Finals and to win it with a guy who put so much trust in me is a great feeling.”
Both Hall/Tryan and Driggers/Nogueira are trying to catch Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, who did not place Thursday.
Riley and Brady Minor are both No. 3 in the world after trying for third with Jake Cooper/Caleb Anderson. Both pairs stopped the clock at 4.40.
Team Roping Header World Standings (NFR money in parentheses)
1. Clay Smith - $241,319 ($90,807)
2. Kaleb Driggers - $177,038 ($58,583)
3. Riley Minor - $173,860 ($76,211)
4. Chad Masters $168,990 ($73,461)
5. Brenten Hall - $162,599 ($73,673)
Team Roping Heeler World Standings (NFR money in parentheses)
1. Jade Corkill - $199,445 ($90,807)
2. Junior Nogueria - $174,357 ($58,583)
3. Brady Minor - $173,860 ($76,211)
4. Joseph Harrison - $171,739 ($73,461)
5. Chase Tryan - $160,018 ($73,673)