The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge has made its return to Las Vegas, Nevada’s Thomas & Mack Center, December 2-11, 2021. The NFR, which found its home in Las Vegas beginning in 1985, has returned in 2021 after being held in Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, in 2020 due to COVID.
According to the ProRodeo Cowboys Association, the record-setting payout at this year’s NFR is $10,257,048. This total includes guaranteed prize money of $1.2 million for all NFR qualifiers and $9,057,048 in competition prize money. The stock contractor pay, which is 30 percent of the contestant payout, is increased to $3,077,114. Between 2015 and 2020, the NFR paid out $10 million—$8.8 million in competition prize money and $1.2 million guaranteed for all NFR qualifiers.
The Top 15 barrel racers of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association will be running at $1,132,131 over the course of the next 10 days. Go round winners will take home $26,997 per round and the aggregate championship is worth $69,234. Each go-round will pay six places in the barrel racing for a total of $87,087, while the average is worth a total of $261,261 dispersed through eight placings.
Each Go Round Payout:
- $26,996.97
- $21,336.32
- $16,111.10
- $11,321.31
- $6,966.96
- $4,354.35
Average Payout:
- $69,234.17
- $56,171.12
- $44,414.37
- $32,657.63
- $23,513.49
- $16,981.97
- $11,756.75
- $6,531.53
We wish every contestant fast, safe runs and a fruitful 10 days as they head down that hallowed alley at the Thomas & Mack Center arena. Stay with us through the course of the NFR for recaps, results and stories on the elite horse and rider pairings here in Las Vegas.
The 2021 National Finals Rodeo qualifiers in barrel racing and their regular season rodeo earnings:
- Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX $113,528.59 60 rodeos
- Jordon Briggs, Tolar, TX $102,618.20 55 rodeos
- Shelley Morgan, Eustace, TX $94,229.33 55 rodeos
- Dona Kay Rule, Minco, OK $84,989.96 62 rodeos
- Jessica Routier, Buffalo, SD $78,847.28 49 rodeos
- Cheyenne Wimberley (G), Stephenville, TX $77,132.30 77 rodeos
- Amanda Welsh, Gillette, WY $76,919.48 59 rodeos
- Nellie Miller, Cottonwood, CA $75,519.15 47 rodeos
- Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Lampasas, TX $73,785.70 92 rodeos
- Emily Miller-Beisel, Weatherford, OK $73,473.14 82 rodeos
- Stevi Hillman, Weatherford, TX $71,178.49 73 rodeos
- Ivy Saebens, Nowata, OK $70,806.08 65 rodeos
- Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, OK $67,384.56 25 rodeos
- Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD $65,043.71 68 rodeos
- Molly Otto, Grand Forks, ND $64,172.51 77 rodeos
