IN THIS ISSUE: • Barrel Bash, Carthage, MO, pg 8 • Paul Humphrey Phase One, Drill Three, pg 21 • Racing In the Rockies, Montrose CO, pg 25 • Fall Classic, McCook, NE, pg 27 • Fizz Bomb, Gillette, WY, pg 32 SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 // Volume 14: Issue 36 • Blue Collar Breeders - Fizz Bomb, pg 43 Published Weekly, online at www.BarrelRacingReport.com - Since 2007 RAM NATIONAL CIRCUIT FINALS CHAMPIONS! Rafter W Minnie Reba & Nellie Miller — page 2 PAUL HUMPHREY DRILL — page 21 FIZZ BOMB FUTURITY Fairway Ta Fame & Sara WInkleman — page 32 BLUE COLLAR BREEDERS UknowMyDaddyisSlick & Molly Otto — page 43 photo by Roseanna Sales Photography Nellie Miller & Rafter W Minnie Reba Capture RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo Title By Tanya Randall 2017 WPRA World Champion Nellie Miller added RAM Na- tional Circuit Finals Rodeo Champion to her resume after winning RNCFR CHAMPIONS the COVID-rescheduled event, held September 10-13 in Greeley, Rafter W Minnie Reba & Nellie Miller Colorado. The Cottonwood, California, barrel racer rode her family- raised 12-year-old mare Rafter W Minnie Reba (“Sister”) to $11,155 First Down Dash in earnings. Dash Ta Fame SI 105 “I felt like it was the first arena I’ve been to this year that’s really SI 113 Sudden Fame fit her,” said Miller, who wanted to thank her family and sponsors KS Cash N Fame SI 98 for their continued support through this challenging year. “We’ve Easy Jet gone to a lot of places we had never been before up until now. Easy Charett SI 100 Greeley just really fits her style.” SI 99 Miller had entered the Greeley Independence Stampede during Miz Disco Chick SI 91 the Fourth of July run a few times before in the past, but she never had much luck. Rafter W Minnie Reba “It was just always weird stuff that would happen,” she said. “I 2008 Bue Roan Mare always knew she could do good there if I ever got the opportunity. White Lighting Ike Being there for (the RNCFR), I was really looking forward to it Blue Light Ike because I thought she would do good there.” Blue Belle Gill A past California Circuit Champion, Miller had qualified for the Espuela Roan RNCFR as the reserve champion in the circuit after Megan Cham- pion won both the year-end and average titles at the conclusion of Donna’s Blue Boy the California Circuit Finals Rodeo in 2019. Azul Chips Mouse At Greeley, Miller and Sister turned in the first and third fastest Chips Roanie time of the event. They placed third in the first round with a 17.28, Rider/Owner: Nellie Willer; Breeder: Sam Williams sixth in the second round with a 17.44 and tied for third in the aver- age. After the two rounds, the top eight 2020 WORLD STANDINGS THE RUNDOWN w/Nellie Miller in the average advance courtesy of www.wpra.com - Unofficial as of 9/14/20 Rafter W Minnie Reba “Sister” 14.1 hands, 1,100 lbs. to a semifinal. The BIT: Sherry Cervi Gag with a twisted wire mouthpiece top four from the 1 Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi $82,929.66 38 SADDLE: Larry Coats semifinal make up the 2 Hailey Kinsel $70,538.77 34 SADDLE PAD: Best Ever Pad championship round. 3 Jimmie Smith $63,832.50 49 LEG GEAR: Professional’s Choice fronts only In the semifinal, Miller and her roan 4 Dona Kay Rule $55,406.25 40 SHOEING: Aluminum on front, steel rims on back rocket posted the fast- 5 Jill Wilson $53,204.97 31 FEED: Total Equine est time of the event, 6 Stevi Hillman $52,067.97 45 HAY: Alfalfa a 17.11, to win the 7 Shelley Morgan $51,158.14 44 SUPPLEMENTS: Equithrive round of eight. Run- 8 Jessica Routier $50,115.47 40 ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES: Back On Track wraps, Flexi-Neb, Soft Rides ning last in the finals, 9 Tiany Schuster $49,280.34 60 TRAINING/CONDITIONING: Riding every day, more outside than in the arena. they clocked a 17.19 to 10 Cheyenne Wimberley $46,331.91 59 During the COVID Shutdown, Miller heeled steers on Sister. claim the title. “They worked so 11 Emily Miller $41,349.66 41 SPONSORS: Wrangler, Total Equine, Best Ever Pads, 12 Gauge Ranch, Boot hard on the ground,” 12 Lisa Lockhart $38,378.51 42 Barn, EquiThrive, Platinum Trailers and Haleakala Walnut Shelling, Inc. she noted. “I think 13 Wenda Johnson $37,907.15 19 they had some new 14 Ivy Hurst $35,794.29 49 Although she won a nice chunk of change, money from the equipment that they 15 Brittney Barnett $35,735.47 73 RNCFR doesn’t count toward the WPRA World Standings. Miller were using. It had 16 Ryann Pedone $35,159.43 61 currently sits 45 in the standings with $14,144 won after entering 26 snowed the day 17 Jessica Telford $32,298.58 38 rodeos. before, so we were The severe lockdown on the West Coast completely ruined all wondering what it 18 Ashley Castleberry $27,949.81 61 19 Kathy Grimes $25,618.38 43 Miller’s regular routine. COVID forced her to attend many new would be like. They rodeos this year. worked really hard to 20 Carly Taylor $25,414.46 40 “None of our California rodeos happened this year, which hurt get it good. It was re- www.BarrelRacingReport.com ally awesome ground.” Ram National Circuit Finals Continued on Page 3 Ram National Circuit Finals Continued From Page 1 us,” she said. “I haven’t felt like anything has really fit my horse. I’m “It was like the Great Family Road Trip, really,” she laughed. glad that I know what those rodeos are like for horses I may have “The kids had a great time. We went and visited Bear Country in in the future. As far as Sister goes, I think our regular track is more South Dakota. My brother lives in Arkansas and he always comes suited to her. out to visit us in California. This year, we were able to go spend Sister, a daughter of KS Cash N Fame out of Espuela Roan, by some time with him. We did a lot of cool things, and it was cool to Blue Light Ike, prefers her rodeos along the Pacific Coast in the see the different things they did at the different rodeos. That part California and Columbia River Circuits that typically have a longer of it was fun.” run on firmer footing. Miller is currently headed to Gooding, Idaho, her last planned “She’s used to those kinds of arenas and that type of ground,” rodeo of the season. It’s possible that her strong performance at Miller said. “Everything further East is a little deeper and she RNCFR bumped her high enough in the ProRodeo Tour Standings struggles a little in deep ground. Nothing really suited her this year, that she’s eligible to compete at the Gold Buckle Beer ProRodeo but that’s just the way it goes.” Tour Finale in Rapid City at the end of September. Should she Like many competitors this summer, Miller was able to take make the cut Rapid will be her last rodeo for the 2020 season. advantage of a slower schedule and fit family activities with her two daughters along the way. THE RACE TO THE FINISH... There are only 2 weeks left in the 2020 WPRA Barrel Racing season and the race to secure a spot in the Top 15 and run at this year’s very unique NFR setup in Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX is in full swing. The fight for the last 2 spots has tightened up heading into the last 15 days. Ivy Hurst currently sits in the 14th position with $35,794 and only $59 back in #15 is Brittney Barnett with $35,735. Ryann Pedone is just $576 back of Barnett in #16 and Jessie Telford is just $3437 behind Barnett in the #17 position. So 4 girls are going to battle it out for 2 elusive spots. Also with the amount of money available at Rapid City, SD ProRodeo Tour Finale, whoever gets into that rodeo has the chance to jump up in the standings and could give #18 & #19 cowgirls, Ashley Castleberry & Kathy Grimes a chance at jumping up in the mix. Buckle up it is going to be a wild couple weeks! Only 15 rodeos remain! RODEOS LEFT ACCORDING TO WPRA.COM SCHEDULE: • Abilene, TX, $5,000 added, 9/11-9/19 • Gooding, ID, $10,000 added, 9/17-9/19 • Mineral Wells, TX, $1,000 added, 9/17-9/19 • Springhill, LA, $3,500 added, 9/17-9/19 • Texarkana, AR, $5,000 added (pending), 9/17-9/19 • Buffalo, TX, $1,500 added, 9/18-9/19 • Hot Springs, AR, $1,000 added, 9/18-9/19 • Redmond, OR, $2,500 added, 9/18-9/19 • Medicine Hat, AB, $4,100 added (pending), 9/18-9/19 • Dickinson, ND, $3,000 added, 9/19 • Woodstown, NJ, $1000 added, 9/19 • Rapid City, SD, $40,000 added (pending), 9/22-9/26 • Hanna, AB, $2,100 added (pending), 9/25-9/26 • Stephenville, TX, $3,000 added, 9/25-9/27 • Woodstown, NJ, $1,000 added, 9/26 Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo // Sept. 10-13, 2020, Greeley, CO Finals: 1 Rafter W Minnie Reba 08 bluro. m. Ks Cash N Fame-Espuela Roan, Blue Light Ike Nellie Miller Sam Williams 17.19 $3,880 2 Freckles Ta Fame 09 sor stud Dash Ta Fame-Frenchmans Freckles, Frenchmans Guy Shali Lord Spitz Quarter Horses 17.43 $2,910 3 Fiery Miss West 11 pal.