PROMOTIONAL SECTION Columnist Neal Reid tells stories from the arena NFR PAGE 3

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2013 NATIONAL FINALS

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Travis Graves, left, and Kaleb Driggers compete in the event on the first night of the National Finals Rodeo on Thursday at the Thomas & Mack Center. The two are going their separate ways after the NFR, but will pick up new partners next year. Driggers will team with Patrick Smith, and Graves will partner with Smith’s teammate, Trevor Brazile. Team’s breakup natural Ropers say shaking things up keeps them competitive year after year

By PATRICK EVERSON lost sight of trying to win a world title draw worth a darn,” Driggers said. worry about my job and do my part.” LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL this year.” “Now we’ve made (some) clean runs, we Driggers and Graves surely will Driggers entered the NFR second cashed two nights in a row. We just need be quite competitive again next year, among team roping headers, and Graves to keep doing what we’ve been doing. because their new partners are also hen the National Finals was second among heelers, which is This is what we do for business, to make among the best in the world. Graves will Rodeo wraps up on where both remained through Monday’s money. If we keep doing that, the world join 10-time all-around world champion Saturday night at the fifth round. Driggers has earned title will take care itself.” Trevor Brazile, and Brazile’s longtime W Thomas & Mack Center, $127,981 and Graves $132,603, including Graves of Morgan Mill, Texas, teammate, Patrick Smith, will pair up Kaleb Driggers and Travis Graves will $14,724 apiece for taking second in the acknowledges the impending team with Driggers. head their separate ways, which is not fourth round and another $7,813 each switch enters his mind, but not so much “Sometimes you just need to change uncommon in team roping, even among for taking fourth in the fifth round. that it’s affected his focus. it up,” Graves said. “Team roping is the best duos. Driggers nearly got a world title in “It makes it hard, I’m not gonna lie,” complicated. There aren’t too many But until then, both of them will keep 2012, taking second while helping Jade Graves said. “But Kaleb and I have people that do team roping together trying to help each other grab a first Corkill of Fallon win the heeler world worked together all year long, and for very long. Trevor and Patrick have world championship gold buckle. championship. Corkill moved on to rope these 10 days at the NFR are the most roped together for seven years. That’s a “We’re good buddies,” said Driggers, with Clay Tryan this year, and those are important time. I’ll do my job and do the long time.” from Albana, Ga. “It’s kind of like any the two that Driggers and Graves are best I can do, and let the rest take care other business deal. You finish one job, trying to catch. of itself. ▶ SEE TEAM ROPING PAGE4 and move onto the next job. I’ve never “The first couple of nights, we didn’t “I feel really good. I’ve just got to Audience loud at Thomas & Mack Center RODEO Family Owned and Operated Complete Auto Repair &Maintenance Home of the $10 Oil Change SALE OFF ANY SERVICE OR REPAIREPAIR OF $200 OR MORE. FullyyFull Functional

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Page 4 • Wednesday, December 11, 2013 a Las Vegas Review-Journal NFR

KALEB DRIGGERS TRAVIS GRAVES

Event: Team roping World standing/earnings: Driggers (header), second, $127,981; Graves (heeler), second, $132,603 Residence: Driggers, Albany, Ga; Graves, Morgan Mill, Texas National Finals Rodeo qualifications: Driggers, three (2011- 13); Graves, five (2008, 2010-13) Noteworthy: Both ropers are seeking their first world championship. Driggers teamed up with Jade Corkill of Fallon, in the 2012 season, and Corkill won the world heeler title, while Driggers was second among headers. Graves partnered with Clay Tryan in the 2012 season, and Graves finished eighth in the world header standings. Driggers and Graves will again change up partners for the 2014 season; 10-time all-around world champion Trevor Brazile and partner Patrick Smith are splitting after a seven-year run, and Graves will join Brazile, LARRY SMITH/PRCA PRORODEO while Driggers will ride alongside Smith. Header Kaleb Driggers, right, keeps things steady as heeler Travis Graves, left, goes in for the kill during competition Sunday at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center. ▶ TEAM ROPING: Audience of NFR fans is loud at Thomas & Mack Center

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “I enjoy all of it,” he said. “Sure, when rope.” prime motivation at this rodeo. you don’t do good, you’re disappointed. Driggers is on his third trip to the “This rodeo is about the money. It’s Regardless of how the week finishes But with the money you can win, you NFR. He and Graves have pocketed gotta be the money,” he said. “We can out for these teammates, it won’t taint can’t beat that. And all the fans. These $22,536 apiece through five rounds of make more this week than we make all Graves opinion of the NFR. This is his are huge rodeo fans, and it’s loud. It’s the roping, but Driggers knows there’s a year. It’s nice to come and rope for that fifth trip to the season-ending event. best place in the world you could ever pile of cash yet to be won, and that’s his kind of money.”

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