This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Led by three-time world champion Kaycee Feild, Utah will once again be well-represented at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Ten Utahns have qualified for the National Finals, which will be held Dec. 4-13 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
The top-15 money winners in each event earned invitations to the NFR. The 2014 regular season officially ended Tuesday.
Feild, who is from Spanish Fork, has won the last three world bareback titles and owns a big lead going into the upcoming National Finals. He has earned $172,383 this season — $45,000 more than second-place Steven Peebles of Redmond, Oregon.
"I'm feeling great physically and mentally," Feild told ProRodeo.com following a win last weekend in Omaha.
After competing in "about 60" rodeos this season, Feild feels primed for another world title run.
"… Once you get to 75 or 80 rodeos, you get more bumps and bruises, which doesn't allow you to ride to your full potential," he said.
Caleb Bennett of Morgan also qualified for the NFR in bareback. He is eighth in the current world standings with earnings of $84,225.
In saddle bronc, four Wright brothers from Milford qualified for the National Finals.
Cody Wright is second in the world standings with earnings of $111,093. Jesse Wright is eighth after pocketing $77,495. Spencer Wright is 13th with $60,264. Jake Wright is 14th after earning $59,795.
For Cody Wright, this will be the 12th National Finals Rodeo of his illustrious career. He won world titles in 2008 and 2010. Jesse Wright won the world championship in 2012 but needed a late surge this year to secure his top-15 finish among saddle bronc riders.
"I'm riding way better right now than I have all year long," he told ProRodeo.com. "I was fighting my head and my saddle there for a few months, but now I got it all turned around and it feels great."
Other Utahns who qualified for National Finals include Spanish Fork's Clint Robinson in tie-down roping, Neola's Nancy Hunter in barrel racing and Honeyville's Tim Bingham and Randlett's Joe Frost in bull riding.
Pending an official review of 2014 earnings, Lehi's Tom Lewis missed qualifying in steer wrestling by $64. He finished 16th in the season standings.
Twitter: @sluhm