Brazile wraps up NFR title

LAS VEGAS — Trevor Brazile wrapped up his record ninth all-around championship Sunday during the fourth round of the National Finals Rodeo.

Brazile, from Decatur, Texas, has earned $305,582 this season, $167,808 more than second-place Shane Proctor of Grand Coulee, Wash. Proctor had to win the bull riding round in order to stay in contention, but failed to make a qualifying ride. Proctor also competed in saddle bronc riding during the season.

“It’s just nice to have it done,” Brazile said. “To clinch it this early kind of lets a guy let his hair down in the single events.”

Brazile, who has topped $300,000 for a record six consecutive seasons, has already won the steer roping title and is competing in the finals in tie-down and team roping. He has won 16 championships in his career to tie Jim Shoulders for second place. Guy Allen holds the record with 19 championships.

“When I came into this game, I was one of the guys that was saying those records would never be broken,” Brazile said. “It doesn’t seem real to me to reach that 16th title. My career has been more than I could ever dream it would be at this point.”

In team roping, header Brazile and heeler Patrick Smith of Midland, Texas, were second in the round with a 4.7-second run. Header Clay Tryan of Billings, Mont., and heeler Travis Graves of Jay, Okla., stayed in first place in the world standings with $131,957 each after failing to place among the top six.

Header Luke Brown and heeler Martin Lucero, both of Stephenville, Texas, won the round in 4.3. In tie-down roping, Brazile failed to earn a check, finishing 14th in 14.9.

Matt Shiozawa of Chubbuck, Idaho, won the round in 7.3.

Tuf Cooper of Decatur, Texas, who didn’t place among the top six, is first in the world standings with $161,465. Hunter Herrin of Apache, Okla., fourth in 7.7, is second with $126,292.

No local cowboy won prize money on Sunday.