The Plot Thickens With Ninth Round Win For Kinsel

By Ann Bleiker

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – The ladies of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association are putting on a show at the 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge in Las Vegas, Nevada, and everyone will be on the edge of their seats on Saturday night to see how this storyline plays out.

Hailey Kinsel and Sister won the first three rounds of the Wrangler NFR and then Kassie Mowry and Jarvis took over the headlines. On Friday night during the ninth round Kinsel and Sister retook the headlines and the No. 1 spot in the world standings.

            “What a race,” said Kinsel, who leads the world with $401,012. “It has been amazing to watch every night, and I am just happy for everyone that has made some money and others who are still trying, I am pulling for those. It hasn’t all been shiny but the fast times and go round wins and Kassie’s incredible week on Jarvis. There is a reason we all voted him Horse of the Year. It has all been pretty exciting and I am just happy to be in the thick of it.”

            Sister gave her signature head shake coming down the alley tonight and everyone that has watched this team knew something magical was about to happen as the last gunner out on Friday night.

            “Everyone seems to like the head shake and I don’t necessarily prefer it as it is very hard on my back,” Kinsel said with a chuckle. “She was ready to go, and I could tell. I am just glad by round 9 she is still feeling this great.”

            The round win tonight marked Kinsel and Sister’s 25^th round win tying the icons of the sport – Charmayne James and Sherry Cervi. James won rounds on three different horses, while Cervi won on five different ones, but Kinsel has won all of hers aboard Sister.

            “That tells me that is Sis’ record not mine,” said a very humble and honored Kinsel. “I always have this thought in the back of my head that I want to win a round on another horse but for now I don’t want to win a round on anything but that horse. I think it is so cool we were able to get that done for her to have that accolade because that is pretty dang cool.”

            And to join James and Cervi means a lot to Kinsel.

            “They are the Mount Rushmore of barrel racing so to do anything that those ladies have done and know they have both been supportive of me is great,” stated Kinsel. “I know it is not easy to watch your own records get broken as I have had that happen to, so to them I just want to say thanks for supporting me and believing in this sport and trying to grow it because with them putting on clinics is how people like me got here 10 years after they did. I hope I can be just as gracious in the future to the next record breakers.”

Mowry and Jarvis had a costly second barrel penalty finishing the round in a time of 18.35 seconds. She dropped to fifth in the average with 130.53 and Kinsel now sits sixth in the average with 131.73. Mowry does still lead the Ram Top Gun Standings with $228,152 to bareback rider Bradlee Miller’s $212,848.

            Mowry is second in the world with $390,435 so the world title will come down to a single run. Mowry will be the first gunner out on the 10^th round with Kinsel running 12^th.

            The only barrel racer to have nine clean runs thus far is Andrea Busby, who is competing at her first NFR. She is in position to set a new average record as she has 122.57 on nine, so she just needs a 14.25 or better to set the record. The current record was set in 2021 by Jordon Briggs with 136.83 seconds on 10.

Tiany Schuster is second in the average with 128.27 on nine and has been bringing the bling nightly as she is also competing for the Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed Award presented by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Tonight, is the final night for fans to vote as the winner will be announced prior to the 10^th round. The winner will receive a cash bonus of $5,000 and specially designed scarf slide. Schuster won this award at her last NFR in 2020.

            Tenth and final round action gets underway, Saturday, December 14 at 5:45 p.m. PT LIVE on the Cowboy Channel.

Average results: 1. Andrea Busby, 122.57 on nine; 2. Tiany Schuster, 128.27; 3. Ashley Castleberry, 128.95; 4. LaTricia Duke, 129.78; 5. Kassie Mowry, 130.53; 6. Hailey Kinsel, 131.73; 7. Emily Beisel, 133.14; 8. Carlee Otero, 133.23.

Rd. 9 results: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.48, $33,687; 2. (tie) Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, OK and Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.56, $23,364 each; 4. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.58, $14,127; 5. Ashley Castleberry, Montgomery, TX, 13.63, $8,693; 6. (tie) Emily Beisel, Weatherford, OK and Shelley Morgan, Eustace, TX, 2,717.

Rd 8 results: 1. (tie) Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX and Shelley Morgan, Eustace, TX, 13.45 seconds, $30,155 each; 3. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, OK, 13.47, $20,104; 4. Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, OK, 13.51, $14,127; 5. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.59, $8,693; 6. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 13.61, $5,433.

Rd. 7 results: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.19 seconds, $33,687; 2. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.47, $26,624; 3. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.48, $20,104; 4. Abby Phillips, Marshall, TX, 13.60, $1,127; 5. Dona Kay Rule, Minco, OK, 13.61, $8,693; 6. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 13.63, $5,433.

Rd 6 results: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.25, $33,687; 2. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.49, $26,624; 3. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.54, $20,104; 4. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 13.72, $14,127; 5. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.73, $8,693; 6. LaTricia Duke, Zephyr, TX, 13.79, $5,433.

Rd 5 results: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.43 seconds, $33,687; 2. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.51, $26,624; 3. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, OK, 13.53, $20,104; 4. (tie) Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, and Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 13.57, $11,410 each; 6. Hailey Kinsel, 13.59, $5,433.

Rd 4 results: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.43 seconds, $33,687; 2. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.59, $26,624; 3. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.61, $20,104; 4. Tiany Schuster, Krum, TX, 13.68, $14,127; 5. Halyn Lide, China Spring, TX, 13.72, $8,693; 6. (tie) LaTricia Duke, Zephyr, TX and Shelley Morgan, Eustace, TX, 13.75, $2,717 each.

Rd 3 results: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.48, $33,687; 2. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.58, $26,624; 3. (tie) Tiany Schuster, Krum, TX and Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.65 $17,115 each; 5. LaTricia Duke, Zephyr, TX, 13.67, $8,693; 6. Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook OK, 13.84, $5,433.

Rd. 2 results: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.48 seconds, $33,687; 2. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.51, $26,624; 3. Tiany Schuster, Krum, TX, 13.53, $20,104; 4. Ashley Castleberry, Montgomery, TX, 13.62, $14,127; 5. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.65, $8,693; 6. Abby Phillips, Marshall, TX, 13.66, $5,433.

Rd 1 results: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.38 seconds, $33,687; 2. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.55, $26,624; 3. Abby Phillips, Marshall, TX, 13.63, $20, 104; 4. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, $14,127; 5. Ashley Castleberry, Montgomery, TX, 13.75 $8,693; 6. (tie) Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, OK and Shelley Morgan, Eustace, TX, 13.84, $2,7167 each.