After a big sweep one year ago, Jordan Driver returns to San Diego Rodeo with confidence and a deep appreciation for the hospitality the contestants are shown.
The San Diego Rodeo is returning to downtown California Jan. 16–18. There are several big stories being watched, one being the return of defending barrel racing champion Jordan Driver.
Now in its third year, the San Diego Rodeo has quickly distinguished itself from traditional winter rodeos. The event is hosted inside Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. It is a unique invite only event that does a great job blending elite rodeo competition with a major market production, nightly concerts and a festival style atmosphere that has drawn tens of thousands of fans each night since the beginning.
For Driver, the venue and the event represent more than just another stop on the road these rodeo athletes travel. This event symbolizes opportunity and growth.
Last January, the Garden City, Texas, cowgirl delivered one of the most dominant performances the San Diego rodeo has ever seen. Driver swept the barrel racing outright, winning every round, and the shootout. She did so while switching horses mid event, only proving that the winning constant wasn’t the horse underneath her, but her horsemanship itself.
As she returns for the 2026 edition, Driver has plans on repeating the result and is also focused on building momentum early in the year for her larger goals too.
San Diego played a key role in that winners mindset last season.
“What really stood out to me the most about the San Diego Rodeo, and what makes me so excited to get another invite, is the overall hospitality and atmosphere we’re greeted with the moment we arrive,” Driver told Rodeo Roundtable. “From the very beginning, you feel valued not just as a contestant, but as a professional athlete.”
She noted that, unlike many rodeos where competitors and livestock are often an afterthought, San Diego sets a different, and very appreciated tone.
Jordan explained, “They have a whole off-site facility rented for us and our horses, and we’re treated just as important as the players who play at Petco Park,” she said. “You truly feel like you’re getting to compete for an audience that’s thrilled to have you there. That, combined with the atmosphere and the money added, is something special. This is easily one of my top three favorite rodeos of all time.”
The sense of professionalism matters, especially for an athlete like Driver, who has spent the last two seasons inside the WPRA’s top 30 and is pushing toward her first National Finals Rodeo qualification.
While Jordan has just barely missed the NFR in 2025 after navigating horse injuries and inevitable setbacks, her performance on major stages have continued to show her dominance and her place among the sport’s best.
San Diego also comes at a pivotal time in Driver’s career. The former Tarleton State University standout is now fully focused on the professional ranks, bringing a mature perspective shaped by years of the highest level of competition and adaptability. These are traits that were on full display when she switched horses during last year’s San Diego run without missing a beat at all.
Adding to the excitement surrounding her return is the momentum within her support system of course. Driver is quick to credit much of her success to her team, not only her horsepower but also including her mother, Jennifer Driver. Also on the list is her boyfriend, Gus Galliard, who enters 2026 fresh off a PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding Rookie of the Year season. Driver and Galliard also both qualified for the NFR Open later this year after winning average titles at the Texas Circuit Finals; iron sharpening iron.
As the San Diego Rodeo continues to grow, introducing rodeo to new audiences through their huge sold out crowds, high profile concerts and a polished presentation, Driver’s return shows what the event has already proven well. When rodeo athletes are treated like the professionals they are, the performances rise to meet the moment. This kind of excellence should be the standard.
With a new season underway and familiar confidence beneath her hat, Jordan Driver, and many other talented athletes return to Petco Park not just chasing a repeat title, but aiming to let San Diego once again set the tone for what’s possible in 2026.
Stay tuned for updates on Rodeo San Diego and the 2026 season.