Nicole Driggers finally had her chamce to shine in the spotlight with a $4,326 win in 16.43 seconds at the Old Fort Days Rodeo in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to kick off her summer run aboard Blazin High Octane, “Nitro.”
“I’m still processing everything,” Driggers, 29, said. “It was such a long week to wait out. We’ve been second so many times, but this is my first (ProRodeo) first-place win! When it’s that long of a process, finally getting there and you finally have a good horse—the best horse I’ve ever had—finally having it come together is amazing.”
After drawing up in a less-than-ideal pattern, Driggers nearly skipped out on Fort Smith.
“I drew slack everywhere I entered,” Driggers explained. “I was up at (the Will Rogers Stampede in Claremore, Oklahoma) on Wednesday, then stayed with some friends until Fort Smith’s slack on Sunday. I almost went home, but it turned out to be an amazing week. Our friends were so fun and welcoming—we even went on a helicopter ride! Fort Smith was a huge cherry on top to the week.”
Nitro stays spicy when it’s warm-up time at the rodeo, and he was exceptionally excited at the Arkansas rodeo.
“Normally I find a patch of grass by myself because he hates other horses and will literally throw me off,” Driggers said. “I couldn’t find anywhere to go off by myself, so I took him to the warm-up pen and he was ducking, diving and wouldn’t even lope a circle. I found a shady spot to cool him down because he was dripping sweat, and then he was back to himself before it was time to run.”
Although she didn’t find somebody to video her pattern, Driggers did her best to recount the events prior to her run and Nitro’s feel throughout the run, where she put nearly .02 seconds on the entire pack of barrel racers.
“There’s such a long alleyway there, and he took off,” Driggers recalled. “I was like ‘Alright, he wants to go!’ He just hauled butt and it felt flawless—he ran his heart out. I couldn’t hear my time when I came out. I thought they said I ran a 16.4, but I didn’t know for sure.”
After Driggers cared for Nitro and returned to the arena to check on times, she found herself staring in disbelief at the time sheet: she really did outrun the entire pack. She text her husband, two-time world champion, Kaleb Driggers and confirmed her excitement, then called her mom with tears in her eyes.
“I feel like I finally have enough horse to win, but this really proved it to me.” Driggers said.
Driggers’ Reset
Washington native Driggers didn’t grow up in a rodeo family, but fell in love with horses at a young age. Her parents, Deborah and Jim Riggle supported her passion, and she competed in reining, pole bending and barrel racing at local events until she was in high school, then switched her focus exclusively to barrel racing.
“I knew what the NFR was, but I didn’t know about much else except for local jackpots,” Driggers explained. “It was always my goal to make the NFR.”
She dove in headfirst to rodeo, learning valuable life lessons over her first few years on the trail, and constantly working to find the perfect horse that could make her NFR dreams come true. She entered heavily, ultimately burning herself out on the trail.
Then several years ago, Driggers took a leap of faith, selling all her finished horses and committing herself to training young horses and fine-tuning her own riding abilities. One of her decisions was to take a chance on bringing Nitro into her program. The 2012 gelding by Blazin Jetolena and out of My Bellezza by Merridoc was trained by Cheryl Murray and had a less-than-ideal reputation.
“I had sold everything and was riding with anybody who would let me work with them,” Driggers said. “About three-and-a-half years ago, I stumbled across (Nitro) on Facebook. I’ve always thought that Cheryl does an amazing job of training one, and I told her that I wanted him. She said ‘Are you sure?’ then told me all these horror stories about him bucking and other things. I just loved his look and bought him sight unseen, no vet check.”
From her first ride on the horse, Driggers knew he was meant for her. They clicked on the first day of riding and established a close bond nearly instantly. Then came the hard seasoning process.
“When I got him, I had 0 confidence and he lacked confidence,” Driggers said. “I didn’t want to stay home in the Texas summers, and even though everybody was telling me he wasn’t ready, I started entering him. We started at the amateur rodeos, and he started to learn how to handle ground and things. It took until this year that I started knowing he would always stand up, find his barrels and run his hardest. He really lit up at the rodeos, he loves them so much more than jackpots.”
What’s Next for Nicole Driggers?
Nitro wasn’t the only horse to do his part to kick June off, although he did also pick up $879 for a sixth-place tie with NFR qualifier Tracy Nowlin in Claremore prior to her run in Fort Smith. Her younger mare, CM A Swift Corona, “Echo,” picked up her first rodeo check for $219 with a placing in Durant, Oklahoma. The efforts helped Driggers, who didn’t qualify for the major indoor rodeos with lucrative payouts up to No. 28 in the WPRA world standings with $21,632.20 on the year.
Although she’s always had NFR on her goal sheet, Driggers is doing her best to stay patient, take each rodeo as it comes and preserve Nitro as best as she can.
“I’m going to be picky on where I go,” Driggers said. “I want to keep it simple, let him run where I know he can win and has a real chance. I’m not getting wrapped up in going to every rodeo like I used—then you’re exhausted, your horse is exhausted and I can’t do that with him. Mentally, I can’t get too wrapped up in things because I get a lot of anxiety. Yes, NFR is the big goal, but I want to set little goals throughout the summer and just take it run by run.”
What else is going on in the world (standings)?
As of June 05, 2023, the world standings shook up only slightly in Top 20 territory. Coming up the ranks is 2022 NFR qualfiier Leslie Smalygo, who had a stellar week after a slow winter, tying Ivy Hurst for the win in Claremore and picking up three checks in Fort Smith and both Bennington and Strong City, Kansas. She started her climb up the standings and is seated No. 47 with $15,508.19 on the year after the $5,097 week.
Another Great Lakes Circuit native, Austyn Tobey found her groove and picked up checks in Strong City, Cherokee, Iowa, and a win in Bennington to bank $2,831. She now sits No. 46 in the world standings with $16,056.88 on the board.
In Canada, the Sherrylynn Johnson reminded fans of her already impressive legacy in the sport with a $4,089 win at the Grande Prairie Stampede in Alberta, and 2022 Resistol Rookie Roundup champion Presley Smith got the $2,999 payday for the win in Leduc, Alberta. and moved up to No. 32 in the world standings with $20,482.22 earned.
Stay in the loop on all things ProRodeo barrel racing all summer long at Barrel Racing Magazine thanks to Equinety.
WPRA World Standings
June 05, 2023
| 1 | Jordon Briggs | Tolar, TX | $87,509.07 | 7 |
| 2 | Kassie Mowry | Dublin, TX | $66,744.25 | 10 |
| 3 | Sissy Winn | Chapman, TX | $51,821.39 | 25 |
| 4 | Jackie Ganter | Abilene, TX | $51,117.74 | 32 |
| 5 | Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi | Lampasas, TX | $44,243.40 | 18 |
| 6 | Hailey Kinsel | Cotulla, TX | $43,259.04 | 17 |
| 7 | Kelly Allen | Stephenville, TX | $41,836.04 | 46 |
| 8 | Wenda Johnson | Pawhuska, OK | $41,801.98 | 16 |
| 9 | Molly Otto | Grand Forks, ND | $38,621.61 | 12 |
| 10 | Jimmie Smith-Tew | McDade, TX | $37,680.84 | 32 |
| 11 | Taycie Matthews | Wynne, AR | $35,080.63 | 26 |
| 12 | Dona Kay Rule | Minco, OK | $34,172.03 | 19 |
| 13 | Summer Kosel | Glenham, SD | $33,618.43 | 13 |
| 14 | Emily Beisel | Weatherford, OK | $32,528.95 | 30 |
| 15 | Margo Crowther | North Fort Myers, FL | $32,448.85 | 18 |
| 16 | Shelley Morgan | Eustace, TX | $32,211.50 | 16 |
| 17 | Ilyssa Riley | Hico, TX | $31,985.06 | 28 |
| 18 | Sara Winkelman | Big Lake, MN | $31,711.00 | 38 |
| 19 | Lisa Lockhart (G) | Oelrichs, SD | $31,680.01 | 13 |
| 20 | Jessica Routier | Buffalo, SD | $31,461.65 | 13 |
ProRodeo Barrel Racing Results
May 29-June 4
Santa Maria Elks Rodeo
Santa Maria, Calif., June 1-4
1.Kristi Youngblood, 17.41 seconds, $2,816; 2. Jessica Krambeer, 17.45, $2,394; 3. (tie) Taylor Arakelian and Hayle Gibson, 17.47, $1,831 each; 5. Shelby Bates, 17.48, $1,408; 6. Kathy Petska, 17.51, $986; 7. Julie Ketscher, 17.52, $704; 8. Emily Hannaford, 17.55, $563; 9. Kaillee Hamre, 17.59, $493; 10. (tie) Ann McGilchrist and Maren Powers, 17.65, $387 each; 12. (tie) Miley Bunting, Vicky Cook and Meghann McNulty, 17.66, $94 each.
Grande Prairie Stompede
Grande Prairie, Alberta, June 1-4
1. Sherrylynn Johnson, 15.22 seconds, $4,089; 2. Cranna Roberts, 15.29, $3,471; 3. Bayleigh Choate, 13.37, 2,862; 4. Carlee Otero,15.39, $2,453; 5. (tie) Justine Elliott and Brooke Wills, 15.41, $1,738 each; 7. (tie) Taylor Manning and Dona Kay Rule, 15.42, $1,220 each; 9. Traci MacDonald, 15.43, $716; 10. Braidy Howes and Bertina Olafson, 15.44; $562 each; 12. Val Gillespie, 15.46, $409.
Canyonlands PRCA Rodeo
Moab, Utah, June 2-4
1. Terri Wood Gates, 14.65 seconds, $1,113; 2. Amanda Butler, 14.66, $954; 3. Taycie Matthews, 14.77, $795; 4. Steely Steiner, 14.83, $689; 5. Taylor Hildreth, 14.94, $530; 6. Sophie Nolen, 15.06, $424; 7. Kim Schulze, 15.07, $318; 8. (tie) Vickie Carter and Jessica Miller, 15.10, $186 each; 10. (tie) Kailey Mitton and Shawnee Williams, 15.11, $53 each.
Hand Hills Lake Stampede
Craigmyle, Alberta, June 3-4
1. Kennedy Smith, 16.40 seconds, $1,530; 2. Dona Kay Rule, 16.56, $1,311; 3. Bailey Hines, 16.61, $1,093; 4. Lynette Brodoway, 16.64, $947; 5. (tie) Colby Bonnett and Lane Wills, 16.77, $656 each; 7. (tie) Brooke Wills, Rylee McKenzie, Traci MacDonald and Sheena Dunham, 16.78, $273 each.
Old Fort Days Rodeo
Fort Smith, Ark., May 29-June 3
1. Nicole Driggers, 16.43 seconds, $4,326; 2. Tracy Nowlin, 16.62, $3,461; 3. Sarah Waguespack, 16.65, $2,812; 4. (tie) Wenda Johnson, Kassie Mowry and Sissy Winn, 16.68, $1,730 each; 7. Ashley Castleberry, 16.73, $1,081; 8. Erin Wetzel, 16.84, $973; 9. Leslie Smalygo, 16.86, $865; 10. Mataya Eklund, 16.88, $757; 11. (tie) Katie Halbert, Ivy Hurst and Bryana Lehrmann, 16.89, $541 each; 14. Tandy Meyers, 16.92, $324; 15. Alex Jones, 16.93, $216.
Durant Pro Rodeo
Durant, Okla., June 2-3
1. Stevi Hillman, 16.15 seconds, $1,533; 2. Emma Charleston, 16.35, $1,314; 3. Sydney Graham, 16.36, $1,095; 4. Taylor Johnson, 16.37, $949; 5. Victoria Procter, 16.43, $730; 6. Stephanie Fryar, 16.46, $584; 7. (tie) Ashley Parks and Abby Pursifull, 16.48, $365 each; 9. Nicole Driggers, 16.58, $219; 10. Tristen Spivey, 16.60, $146.
Mt Pleasant Rodeo
Mt Pleasant, Texas, June 1-3
1. Kristin Hanchey, 15.44 seconds, $2,309; 2. (tie) Emily Beisel and Sydney Graham, 15.56, $1,789 each; 4. Victoria Procter, 15.61, $1,385; 5. (tie) Keyla Costa and Ilyssa Riley, 15.69, $981 each; 7. Erin Wetzel, 15.74, $577; 8. Jessi Wade, 15.79, $462; 9. (tie) Ashley Castleberry and Stevi Hillman, 15.80, $375 each; 11. Emma Charleston, 15.83, $289; 12. Madison McCaffity, 15.85, $231.
Pioneer Days Rodeo
Clovis, N.M., June 1-3
1. Dena Kirkpatrick, 15.26 seconds, $1,783; 2. Emily Beisel, 15.34, $1,528; 3. (tie) Dani Buhler and Baillie Screws, 15.35, $1,188 each; 5. Molly Pritchard, 15.41, $849; 6. Kenna Kaminski, 15.48, $679; 7. Preslie Reid, 15.51, $509; 8. (tie) Kaylee Barker and Lydia Bierschwale-Luce, 15.58, $297 each; 10. Janie Johnson, 15.59, $170.
Crossett Riding Club
Crossett, Ark., May 31-June 3
1. Sidney Forrest, 17.24 seconds, $1,891; 2. Taycie Matthews, 17.48, $1,621; 3. Ashley Castleberry, 17.54, $1,351; 4. (tie) Sydney Graham and Kristin Hanchey, 17.60, $1,036 each; 6. Ashley Rogers, 17.71, $720; 7. Sissy Winn, 17.72, $540; 8. Kelly Allen, 17.75, $360; 9. Jamie Olsen, 17.77, $270; 10. Martha Smith, 17.80, $180.
Hugo Pro Rodeo
Hugo, Okla., June 2-3
1. Wenda Johnson, 15.22 seconds, $1,802; 2. (tie) Timber Allenbrand and Stephanie Fryar, 15.40, $1,416 each; 4. (tie) Jamie Olsen and Sissy Winn, 15.43, $987 each; 6. Victoria Procter, 15.46, $687; 7. Sadie Wolaver, 15.47, $515; 8. Ashley Rogers, 15.48, $343; 9. (tie) Taylor Johnson and Tracy Nowlin, 15.50, $215 each.
Flint Hills Rodeo
Strong City, Kan., June 1-3
1. Victoria Procter, 17.66 seconds, $1,435; 2. Ivy Hurst, 17.84, $1,230; 3. Jacey Bair, 17.86, $1,025; 4. Shanna Simmons, 17.88, $888; 5. Tracy Nowlin, 17.91, $683; 6. (tie) Emily Beisel and Austyn Tobey, 17.92, $478 each; 8. Taylor Johnson, 17.93, $273; 9. Leslie Smalygo, 17.95, $205; 10. Jordan Swan, 18.09, $137.
Fort Herriman PRCA Rodeo
Herriman, Utah, June 2-3
1. Taycie Matthews, 17.28 seconds, $1,311; 2. Gracie Beckstrom, 17.56, $1,123; 3. Anita Ellis, 17.66, $936; 4. Stacy Glause, 17.74, $811; 5. Terri Wood Gates, 17.79, $624; 6. Steely Steiner, 17.86, $499; 7. Katelyn Udy, 17.88, $374; 8. Shawnee Williams, 17.93, $250; 9. Sue Smith, 18.00, $187; 10. Amberley Snyder, 18.04, $125.
Bennington PRCA Rodeo
Bennington, Kan., June 1-3
1. Austyn Tobey, 17.73 seconds, $1,340; 2. Leslie Smalygo, 17.86, $1,149; 3. Andrea Haden, 17.90, $957; 4. (tie) Taylor Johnson and Paige Jones, 17.91, $734 each; 6. Ivy Hurst, 17.97, $511; 7. Chelsie Shoop, 18.02, $383; 8. Ivy Saebens, 18.04, $255; 9. Emily Beisel, 18.06, $191; 10. Torey Foemmel, 18.19, $128.
Extreme Events Championship Rodeo
Waconia, Minn., June 2-3
1. Jamie Lenzner, 15.27 seconds, $859; 2. Hallie Fulton, 15.60, $747; 3. Jillian Zaun, 15.82, $635; 4. Lindsay Leverington, 15.87, $523; 5. Cindy Baltezore, 16.00, $411; 6. Kiley Dalchow, 16.07, $299; 7. Alyssa Gabrielson, 16.14, $187; 8. Morgan Kowitz, 16.16, $75.
Leduc Black Gold Pro Rodeo
Leduc, Alberta, June 1-3
1. Presley Smith, 13.20 seconds, $2,999; 2. Toni Dixon, 13.38, $2,549; 3. Lynette Brodoway, 13.39, $2,099; 4. Melissa Thiessen, 13.41, $1,799; 5. Mariah Mannering, 13.44, $1,499; 6. Kareen Warren, 13.45, $1,050; 7. Taylor Manning, 13.46, $750; 8. Liz Pinkston, 13.50, $600; 9. Rylee Wilson, 13.51, $525; 10. (tie) Shelby Spielman, Justine Elliott and Kennedy Smith, 13.52, $375 each.
Cherokee PRCA Rodeo
Cherokee, Iowa, June 1-3
1. Emily Griffin, 15.58 seconds, $1,178; 2. Austyn Tobey, 15.74, $1,010; 3. Annie Herr, 15.84, $842; 4. Caitlyn Clair, 15.87, $730; 5. Alyssa Gabrielson, 15.91, $561; 6. Tasia Behnke, 15.93, $449; 7. Hallie Fulton, 15.99, $337; 8. Branda Marsh, 16.00, $224; 9. Sandi Brandli, 16.04, $168; 10. Nikki Singler, 16.08, $112.
Mesquite Championship Rodeo
Mesquite, Texas, June 3
1. Jo Fisher, 15.06 seconds, $763; 2. Reaganlynn Gambill, 15.37, $664; 3. Abby Pursifull, 15.38, $564; 4. Teresa Turbeville, 15.40, $465; 5. Davie King, 15.60, $365; 6. Tyra Kane, 15.69, $265; 7. Brooke McGehee, 15.72, $166; 8. Kacy Riley, 15.78, $66.
Cowtown Rodeo
Woodstown Pilesgrove, N.J., June 3
1. Karissa Landis, 17.89 seconds, $466; 2. Jenny Guzzi, 17.92, $405; 3. Christina Mulford, 18.00, $344; 4. Jacqueline Weitzman, 18.01, $284; 5. Peyton Ridgely, 18.05, $223; 6. Ali Montgomery, 18.14, $162; 7. Sandra Pomykala, 18.25, $101; 8. Nycole Cochrane, 18.79, $41
151st Silver Spurs Rodeo
Kissimmee, Fla., June 3
1. Kristin Hanchey, 15.72 seconds, $551; 2. Angie Hammock, 15.86, $479; 3. Emilee Jackson, 15.88, $407; 4. Michele Davenport, 15.91, $336; 5. Bobbie Alcazar, 15.93, $264; 6. Dallas Sawczak, 16.01, $192; 7. Caitlin Okolovitch, 16.02, $120; 8. Audra Flamm, 16.04, $48.
151st Silver Spurs Rodeo
Kissimmee, Fla., June 2
1. Michele Davenport, 15.80 seconds, $623; 2. Kristin Hanchey, 15.84, $541; 3. Bobbie Alcazar, 15.91, $460; 4. Wendy Culberson, 16.10, $379; 5. Taylor Smith, 16.14, $298; 6. Dallas Sawczak, 16.19, $217; 7. Payton Bush, 16.27, $135; 8. Shelly Weaver, 16.43, $54.
