Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz.

More often than not, Chance Kelton rides away from the Lazy E Arena with a nice payday.

Last year it was $10,000 for having the fastest go-round at the Timed Event Championship. He blistered the field with a 46.4-second fourth go-round on Saturday night. That time was more than two seconds faster than Trevor Brazile’s 48.7, which finished in second place.

But the Timed Event isn’t the only competition in which Kelton excels. A three-time team roping qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the Arizona cowboy has returned to the Lazy E Arena each of the last three Novembers as a qualifier to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping.

In fact, Kelton was the high-money winner in two of his three trips to Guthrie for the steer roping finale – he earned $28,615 in the 2011 championship and $38,938 in 2009; he finished second in the average both seasons.

The 1993 National High School Rodeo Association’s team roping champion, Kelton has proven his merit time and again in a pro career that began in 1994. This weekend is just another notch on his already-worthy belt.