Night Two of the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo picked up exactly where Round 1 left off. The Thomas & Mack was electric as we watched more stories unfold.
In the bareback riding, season leader Rocker Steiner delivered the comeback story fans were hoping for. Last year in Round 2, Steiner was knocked unconscious after taking a hip bone to the head. Round 2 derailed his world title chase a year ago. But, tonight, the Texan erased that memory and redeemed himself.
Steiner was a commanding 88 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Silver Beaver, securing the round win and strengthening his lead in the standings. Behind him was Wacey Schalla with 86 points, staying firmly in contention for two gold buckles.
The steer wrestling saw Tucker Allen power through the Round 2 win with a smoking 3.6 second run aboard Banker, the Horse of the Year owned by Justin Shaeffer. Ty Erickson, riding Crush, followed with a 3.9, while season leader Will Lummus regrouped from his Round 1 no-time by posting a 4.0, tying with Bridger Anderson. Lummus’ check tonight keeps him solidly in the race, but its too early to make any major predictions.
In the team roping, Jake Smith and Douglas Rich came out on top. Their 3.9 second run is the first sub 4-second time of the 2025 NFR, earning them their first round win of the week. A tight three way tie for second landed at 4.1 seconds with teams Ward and Long, Graham brother, and Schmidt and Torres.
The saddle bronc riding delivered a big moment when Australian bronc rider Damian Brennan, who narrowly missed the 2024 world title, threw down a massive 90-point ride on The Cervi Brothers’ R. Watson’s Prairie Fire. The ride not only won the round—it pushed Brennan ahead of Ryder Wright in the world standings. It’s early, but Brennan has made his intentions clear. Behind him were two of the sport’s greats. Stetson Wright and Zeke Thurston, tied for second with matching 89 point rides.
The tie-down roping ended in a three-way split at the top. Dylan Hancock, Shad Mayfield, and Marty Yates each stopped the clock at 7.8 seconds. For Mayfield, this marks back-to-back round wins that are rapidly closing the gap on season leader Riley Webb. Coming into the finals, Webb held a comfortable lead, but after two rounds, it has shrunk to just a bit more than $1,000. The world title race will likely come down to the wire.
Nothing surprising in the barrel race as Hailey Kinsel took another trip to South Point. Kinsel and Sister clocked a 13.53, earning their 26th NFR go-round win. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi followed in second, making it a one and two finish for two multiple-time world champions. Kassie Mowry, who won Round 1 on Will, placed again and continues to lead the world standings.
The bull riding capped the night with another dominant performance from Stetson Wright, who has gone two-for-two now. Despite facing the eliminator pen, Stetson conquered Cowtown Rodeo’s Orbit for 89.75 points, marking his second straight round win in the bull riding. Wacey Schalla kept the pressure on with 88.5 points, refusing to give Wright any comfort in the all-around or bull riding races. At the moment, Stetson is sitting first in the bull riding, first in the all-around race, and has already climbed to fourth in the saddle bronc standings.
Round 2 built on the excitement and it tightened nearly every race to the gold. The stakes have been raised for several season leaders. With eight rounds left, nothing is decided, and anything is still possible.