A crystal ball might predict which NFR Playoff Series Finale qualifiers will be able to capitalize in Puyallup on September 8-11 to come from outside the current top 15 and jump into NFR contention. With no such crystal ball we did come up with the handy spreadsheet below to help inform the NFR Playoff and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world standings “what ifs.”
Barrel racers who are currently on the outside looking in at a coveted spot among the top 15, but who are in the NFR Playoff Series standings could benefit greatly from the $74,500-added event – like No. 20 in the world standings and 23 in the NFR Playoff Series standings Lisa Lockhart, as an example. One go round in Puyallup pays $3,600 and winning the Playoff finals pays $13,000, which could do much to shake things up considering little more than $4,000 separates 11th and 15th in the current world standings. Barrel racers will make two runs, back-to-back with the fastest eight cumulative times going to the semifinals and the top four to the finals.
| READ Playoff Impact: Fast Facts about the NFR Playoff Series
2022 NFR Playoff Series Barrel Standings & WPRA World Standings
NFR Playoff Series Standings as of August 25, 2022 – World Standings as of August 31, 2022
Who Qualifies?
The ladies you will see in Puyallup are the top 23 in the NFR Playoff Series standings who enter. The 24th qualifier is the winner of the national championship for the 2021 ProRodeo circuits, and that is 2022 NFR Open Champion Barrel Racer Cheyenne Allan.
| READ Winning Hand: Cheyenne Allan Rides RCA Royal Flush to 2022 NFR Open Championship
Per the event ground rules: “If an event winner from the NFR Open does not enter or is already qualified based on Playoff Series Standings, the next highest ranked contestant(s) from “Top Four Round” of the NFR Open who has entered the Finale and who is not already qualified based on the Playoff Series Standings will be accepted. If the top four contestants from the NFR Open do not enter the Finale or are already accepted based on the Playoff Series Standings, the next highest ranked contestant in the Playoff Series Standings who enters will be accepted (will not exceed 24 entries).
Barrel racers who made the Top Four Round of the NFR Open were Allan, Jordon Briggs, Shelley Morgan and Leslie Smalygo, all of whom are among the top 23 in the Playoff Series Standings aside from Allan.
According to the WPRA website, entries for Puyallup are open Friday, September 2 through Tuesday, September 6 meaning that NFR Playoff Series rodeos in Filer, Idaho; Ellensburg and Walla Walla, Washington, happen before Puyallup entries close so those who perform well at these rodeos can slip into Puyallup.
WHO: 240 of the world’s best rodeo athletes
WHAT: Over $1 million in prize money will be paid across nine events during five rodeo performances.
WHERE: Washington State Fair Grandstand
WHEN: September 8-11, 2022
WHAT: The Cinch Playoffs at the Puyallup Rodeo is the culminating event of the NFR (National Finals Rodeo) Playoff Series which has featured top rodeos across the country in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA). Rodeo contestants in the PRCA competed for points in bareback and saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, team and tie-down roping. Additionally, WPRA members in breakaway roping and barrel racing earned points to qualify for the Cinch Playoffs.
