It’s the final push for the 2023 ProRodeo barrel racing regular season, and this week’s ProRodeos had major implications on the race for a spot in the National Finals Rodeo.

All eyes were on the Pendleton Round-Up during the weekend of September 15, but this meant that few paid attention to the cowgirls who snuck South to pick up big money. With Pendleton and the West Texas Fair & Rodeo in Abilene being the last two stops on the Playoff Series tour for 2023, both were critical to the 2023 NFR Race.

Read: Why Barrel Racers MUST Pay Attention to the 2023 NFR Playoff Series and the Governor’s Cup

Kassie Mowry bagged the win, but the talk of the week was No. 2 finisher, Ashley Castleberry. Castleberry has been creeping up the 2023 world standings at breakneck speed since Cowboy Christmas, and she’s the wild card in terms of the NFR bubble race. Not only did she earn $3,035 in Abilene, she won second at the New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo in Albuquerque, worth $4,877. She also earned $1,352 for a win in Buffalo, Texas, giving her a grand total of $9,264 on the week.

Castleberry was seated No. 20 in the world standings with $75,540.85 on the year across 91 rodeos as of September 15—a far cry from previous No. 15 lady, Stevi Hillman’s $92,964. It is true that Hillman will look to move up the world standings this week after bagging the Pendleton win, but Castleberry’s quickly closing the gap (Click here for full Pendleton Round-Up Results). She’ll have a projected earnings of $84,804 after this week—plus, she’s sitting in the previous No. 8 position in the Playoff Standings, meaning she may have clinched her position into Sioux Falls’ governor’s cup, where that gap can be closed even more rapidly.

Stay tuned for updates all week long as we monitor Sioux Falls entries and projected world standings information.

Listen to this week’s full ProRodeo report on The Rundown.

ProRodeo barrel racing results, September 11-17, 2023

New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo

Albuquerque, N.M., Sept. 13-17

1. Liz Pinkston, 14.99 seconds, $6,097; 2. Ashley Castleberry, 15.22, $4,877; 3. (tie) Jimmie Smith and Bailee Switzer, 15.35, $3,506 each; 5. Sissy Winn, 15.36, $2,439; 6. (tie) Wenda Johnson and Kiersten Pettus, 15.39, $1,677 each; 8. Emily Beisel, 15.42, $1,372; 9. Hailey Kinsel, 15.46, $1,219; 10. Stevi Hillman, 15.47, $1,067; 11. (tie) Tibba Smith and Quincy Sullivan, 15.51, $838 each; 13. Sara Winkelman, 15.53, $610; 14. (tie) LaTricia Duke and Christina Gould, 15.54, $381 each.

West Texas Fair & Rodeo

Abilene, Texas, Sept. 8-16

1. Kassie Mowry, 17.17 seconds, $3,794; 2. Ashley Castleberry, 17.21, $3,035; 3. Hailey Kinsel, 17.22, $2,466; 4. Paige Jones, 17.23, $1,897; 5. Jordan Driver, 17.26, $1,518; 6. Sydney Graham, 17.31, $1,138; 7. Kenna Kaminski, 17.33, $948; 8. Quincy Sullivan, 17.38, $854; 9. Emily Beisel, 17.39, $759; 10. Jordan Kirkes, 17.44, $664; 11. Cheyenne Wimberley, 17.45, $569; 12. Leslie Smalygo, 17.46, $474; 13. Paige Dove, 17.47, $379; 14. Ilyssa Riley, 17.48, $285; 15. Dena Kirkpatrick, 17.51, $190.

Othello PRCA Rodeo

Othello, Wash., Sept. 15-16

1. Summer Kosel, 17.09 seconds, $1,660; 2. Coti Fuller, 17.25, $1,423; 3. Cheyenne Allan, 17.37, $1,186; 4. Teri Bangart, 17.38, $1,028; 5. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 17.42, $791; 6. (tie) Grace Gardiner, Lisa Lockhart and Rachel Stoller, 17.43, $474 each; 9. Kalli McCall, 17.55, $237; 10. Doskie Edwards, 17.59, $158.

Buffalo Pro Rodeo presented by Bill Fick Ford

Buffalo, Texas, Sept. 15-16

1. Ashley Castleberry, 17.03 seconds, $1,352; 2. Wenda Johnson, 17.17, $1,159; 3. Katelyn Scott, 17.22, $966; 4. Preslie Reid, 17.28, $837; 5. Jamie Olsen, 17.40, $644; 6. Natalie Bland, 17.52, $515; 7. Andrea Busby, 17.54, $386; 8. Sierra Scott-Williams, 17.71, $258; 9. (tie) Sydney Graham and Jessica Watkins, 17.72, $161 each.

Oldstoberfest

Olds, Alberta, Sept. 15-16

1. Lisa Zachoda, 17.31 seconds, $2,181; 2. Sissy Winn, 17.32, $1,854; 3. Taylor Manning, 17.33, $1,527; 4. Kirby Penttila, 17.37, $1,308; 5. Trista-Rae Wilson, 17.40, $1,090; 6. Kalli McCall, 17.55, $763; 7. (tie) Lane Wills and Vanessa Leggett, 17.60, $491 each; 9. (tie) Kylie Whiteside, Jordyn Tresidder and Jayden Wilson, 17.61, $327 each; 12. Bradi Whiteside, 17.68, $218.

Hanna Pro Rodeo

Hanna, Alberta, Sept 15-16

1. Colby Bonnett, 12.22, $1,258; 2. Lynette Brodoway, 12.31, $1,079; 3. Bradi Whiteside, 12.41, $12.41, $899; 4. Diane Skocdopole, 12.46, $779; 5. Kylie Whiteside, 12.48, $599; 6. Karli Cowie, 12.53, $479; 7. (tie) Lisa Zachoda and Farrah Fogg, 12.54, $300 each; 9. Kyla Simmons, 12.61, $180; 10. Lakota Bird, 12.63, $120.

Marysville Stampede

Marysville, Calif., Sept. 16-17

1. Emily Harryman, 17.64 seconds, $844; 2. Madison Camozzi, 17.79, $723; 3. Tracy Ash, 17.83, $603; 4. Shelby Bates, 17.89, $522; 5. (tie) Taylor Arakelian and Deeana Horner, 17.92, $362 each; 7. Ann McGilchrist, 17.94, $241; 8. Sami DeForest, 17.97, $161; 9. Kathy Petska, 17.98, $121; 10. Ali Anton, 18.09, $80.

White County Fair Rodeo

Searcy, Ark., Sept. 15-16

1. Taycie Matthews, 15.73 seconds, $854; 2. Cindy Patrick, 15.83, $743; 3. Ashley Rogers, 15.91, $631; 4. Erin Wetzel, 15.99, $520; 5. (tie) Kristin Boardman and Ari-Anna Flynn, 16.07, $353 each; 7. Taylor Johnson, 16.24, $186; 8. Mollie Thrasher, 16.29, $74.

Laton Lions Fall Round Up

Laton, Calif., Sept. 16

1. Madison Camozzi, 15.85 seconds, $561; 2. Kelsey Cadwell, 15.94, $488; 3. Julie Ketscher, 15.95, $415; 4. Ann McGilchrist, 16.00, $342; 5. Karly Camozzi, 16.12, $268; 6. Kellie Goldstein, 16.16, $195; 7. Macee Nunes, 16.33, $122; 8. Cathy Cagliari, 16.35, $49.

Crowley’s Ridge Saddle Club Charity Rodeo

Forrest City, Ark., Sept. 15-16

1. Lucy Ferch, 16.51 seconds, $490; 2. Mollie Thrasher, 16.65, $426; 3. Emilee Jackson, 16.69, $362; 4. Erin Wetzel, 16.82, $298; 5. Reagan Adkins Nelson, 16.90, $234; 6. Casey Johnson, 17.03, $170; 7. Ryan Adkins, 17.26, $106; 8. Christy Roy, 17.82, $43.

Garland County Fair and Rodeo

Hot Springs, Ark., Sept. 15-16

1. Ashley Rogers, 14.99 seconds, $490; 2. Lakken Bice, 15.03, $426; 3. Brittney Sporer, 15.13, $362; 4. Kristin Shoppa, 15.26, $298; 5. Taylor Johnson, 15.29, $234; 6. Kelsey Howard, 15.48, $170; 7. JJ Baldwin, 15.67, $106; 8. Jammie Tinker, 16.15, $43.