LAS VEGAS — Riders from the West and Southwest dominate the National Finals Rodeo, but in saddle bronc riding, two of the top riders are from Iowa and Minnesota.
Wade Sundell of Boxholm, Iowa, just south of Fort Dodge, has the fourth-best average score after six rounds of the NFR, the "Super Bowl" of rodeo in the United States. He's also fourth in the season standings with $134,897 in winnings.
Tyler Corrington of Hastings, Minn. is fifth in the NFR and sixth ($130,679) in the world standings.
Sundell pocketed $14,724 in prize money for coming in second in Sunday's fourth round and $18,630 for winning Saturday's third round.
The strong showing at the NFR has him within striking distance of winning the 2013 world championship. He was eighth in the world in 2009, second in 2010 (coming down to the 10th round of the NFR), third in 2011 and fourth last year.
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Three Wright brothers -- Cody and twins Jesse and Jake -- of Mllford, Utah, occupy three of the top five spots in the standings.
After Monday's fifth round, Corrington said, ""I'm happy where I am right now. The last time I was here, I won $40,000 out of the whole deal, and I wasn't sad leaving.
"It's such a great rodeo that you can't complain about anything."
All-around chase over
Trevor Brazile secured his record-breaking 19th gold buckle when he won the all-around championship during round six on Tuesday at the NFR.
Brazile, of Decatur, Texas, clinched the crown when the only other all-around competitor in contention, heeler Jade Corkill of Fallon, Nev., was unable to rope his steer with header Clay Tryan of Billings, Mont., during round six. Header Brazile and heeler Patrick Smith of Lipan, Texas, went on to win the round in a time of 4.8 seconds.
Brazile has earned $312,579 in 2013 compared to $153,159 for Corkill. Brazile has won 11 of the past 12 world all-around titles, including the past nine in a row. He broke a tie with steer roper Guy Allen, who was the first individual to attain 18 gold buckles.
In team roping, Tryan, who has earned $151,292 and Corkill, who has made $149,661, still lead the world standings.
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In barrel racing, Taylor Jacob of Carmine, Texas, placed first in an NFR-record time of 13.37, breaking the record of 13.46 set by Carlee Pierce in 2011.
In bareback riding, Casey Coletti of Pueblo, Colo., placed first for the second consecutive round with an 86.5 on Smack Daddy in round six. World standings leader Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., who is seeking his fifth gold buckle, missed out when his feet were in the wrong position at the beginning of the ride on On Tap in round six.
In bull riding, three-time world bull riding champion J.W. Harris of Mullin, Texas, remained well ahead in the world standings lead with $197,390 after finishing second in round six with an 86 on The Grinch.
In steer wrestling, Dean Gorsuch of Gering, Neb., finished first in 3.2 and has won two NFR rounds. Casey Martin of Sulphur, La., who didn't place among the top six in the fifth round in 4.2, remains first in the standings with $126,366.
In tie-down roping, Justin Maass of Giddings, Texas, won the sixth round with a time of 7.2 Six-time world champion Cody Ohl of Hico, Texas, who didn't place among the top six in 8.9 in round six, still leads the world standings with $148,879.
