It’s a 🔪 Knife Fight 🔪 on the Barrel Racing World Standings Bubble 🫧

With Just $8,877.99 separating No. 12 and 19 in the WPRA World Standings, it's going to be a battle to the wire to see who will be in Las Vegas in December, but a few cowgirls have their position all but sealed up.
Kassie Mowry Professional Barrel Racing World Standings
Kassie Mowry and Famous Ladies Man got the win at The Calgary Stampede in 2022. Image courtesy Calgary Stampede.

The final countdown is on as the leading Women’s Professional Rodeo Association barrel racers strive to secure a position inside the top 15 bound for the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo taking place December 1-10 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Barrel racers are allowed to count up to 100 rodeos toward their world standings pursuits, but none of the top 20 have come close to hitting their maximum count, which further thickens the plot.

Here’s a look at who is safe, who is sweating and who is on the outside looking in.


🟢 Green Zone 🟢

The “Green Zone” represents the cowgirls who are *almost* guaranteed a position among the elite at the Thomas and Mack Center this December.

No. 1: Jordon Briggs, Tolar, Texas

Earnings: $175,875.84

Rodeos: 29

Jordon briggs and Rollo barrel racing
Jordon Briggs and Rollo setting a new arena record of 16.96 seconds at Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo. Image by Western Edge Photography

No. 2: Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, Oklahoma

Earnings: $118,747.19

Rodeos: 26

“There are many things in my life that keep me busy, therefore I prioritize the most important things first. My love for the Lord and to serve others, spending time with family, work and horse responsibilities, and so on. Each day I strive to live life to the fullest and enjoy each moment of whatever it is I am doing.” 

— Wenda Johnson after her win at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo

No. 3: Dona Kay Rule, Minco, Oklahoma

Earnings: $114,115.81

Rodeos: 28

Learn about Rule’s Win in San Angelo, Texas.

No. 4: Stevi Hillman, Weatherford, Texas

Earnings: $103,826.82

Rodeos: 41

NFR teammates Stevi Hillman and Famous Lemon Drop won two rounds during the 2021 NFR.

No. 5: Sissy Winn, Chapman Ranch, Texas

Earnings: $100,991.45

Rodeos: 56

Winn Wins Texas Circuit Finals Championship


🟡 Yellow Zone 🟡

The “Yellow Zone,” represents those ladies who have a firm foothold in the top 15, but are not quite through sweating it out with the amount of money left to be won on the ProRodeo trail.

See how the NFR Playoff Finals in September could impact the 2022 World Standings.

No. 6: Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas

Earnings: $91,657.25

Rodeos: 19

Note: By earnings, Mowry has enough money won to be considered “Green Zone,” but she has yet to meet the required 25 rodeo minimum that is required for NFR qualification.

Kassie Mowry rocketed up the standings after her new arena record and event win at the Calgary Stampede. Image Courtesy Calgary Stampede

No. 7: Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas

Earnings: $85,825.29

Rodeos: 46

Hailey Kinsel, Professional Barrel Racer
Hailey Kinsel. Image by Roseanna Sales

No. 8: Shelley Morgan, Eustace, Texas

Earnings: $82,248.82

Rodeos: 46

No. 9: Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Lampasas, Texas

Earnings: $81,559.82

Rodeos: 47

The 2022 California Rodeo Champion Barrel Racer Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi. Image by Phil Doyle Photography

🔴 Red Zone 🔴

The “Red Zone,” is on the inside of the bubble. These cowgirls need to continue to win throughout the 2022 regular season in order to fend off those challengers outside the top 15. With just $8,877.99 separating No. 12 and 19, the race to the NFR is sure to be a true battle through the last week of September.

No. 10: Bayleigh Choate, Fort Worth, Texas (Resistol Rookie)

Earnings: $78,473.04

Rodeos: 64

Bayleigh Choate wins Ponoka, Alberta.

No. 11: Michelle Darling, Medford, Oklahoma

Earnings: $71,029.43

Rodeos: 44

No. 12: Jessica Routier, Buffalo, South Dakota

Earnings: $68,499.88

Rodeos: 46

Jessica Routier professional barrel racing
Jessica Routier and “Missy,” made the short go in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and picked up third place. Image by Robert Rosales/Natural Light Photography

No. 13: Emily Beisel, Weatherford, Oklahoma

Earnings: $68,215.57

Rodeos: 61

No. 14: Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, Oklahoma

Earnings: $67,279.83

Rodeos: 41

Leslie Smalygo Cheyenne Frontier Days Barrel Racing
Leslie Smalygo finished second at the Cheyenne Frontier Days. Image by Robert Rosales/Natural Light Photography

No. 15: Paige Jones, Wayne, Oklahoma

Earnings: $65,336.89

Rodeos: 46

Paige Jones Professional Barrel Racer
Oklahoma barrel racer and 2020 WPRA Rookie of the Year Paige Jones and 10-year-old Famous Hayday tear into the first turn at the 2022 Greeley Stampede. Image by Rod Connor

👀 Outside Looking In 👀

No. 16: Margo Crowther, North Fort Myers, Florida

Earnings: $63,138.07

Rodeos: 68

No. 17: Cheyenne Wimberley, Stephenville, Texas (Gold Card)

Earnings: $61,854.67

Rodeos: 51

No. 18: Ivy Saebens, Nowata, Oklahoma

Earnings: $60,250.20

Rodeos: 33

No. 19: Taycie Matthews, Wynne, Arkansas (Resistol Rookie)

Earnings: $59,595.76

Rodeos: 60

Matthews drawing a check aboard Heavenly Firewater.

No. 20: Katie Pascoe, Morro Bay, California

Earnings: $50,595.76

Rodeos: 41

Katie Pascoe barrel racing
Katie Pascoe won the 2022 St. Paul Rodeo. Image by Bill Lawless

Looking for ProRodeo results to see how these ladies made it into the top 15? Find them here:

Stay on Track: August 2022 Week No. 2 ProRodeo Tracker

Hot Tracks: Week 1 August ProRodeo Tracker

ProRodeo Results: Summer’s Hot in Cheyenne

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